Lukas Gage was having one of the shittiest weeks of his life. His beloved grandmother was dying. And Lukas was sitting next to his father, a man who had been mostly absent in his son’s childhood—except when talking to Lukas about tits because he loved nothing more than tits, and listening to Howard Stern on the radio. They were across the street from a building in Century City, where months prior, Lukas had to grapple with the dissolution of his marriage. This week had it all: death, divorce, and daddy issues.
In that room, Lukas did the smartest thing anyone can do in a crisis: doom scroll to see what random people on the internet were saying about him. People were calling him an attention whore—and they were absolutely right. Lukas Gage was no stranger to going viral. He loved attention. As a toddler, he set his room on fire. As a child, he hugged and flirted with women at Hooters to his father’s delight. As a teen, he stole handles of alcohol and cherry cough syrup. He had sex at a restroom in Chili’s, and fell hopelessly in love with a girl who wore an ankle monitor. He became an actor and filmed that scene in White Lotus (if you know, you know). Lukas was scared of attention and yet he craved it more than anything in the world.
I Wrote This for Attention is a riveting, exquisite memoir full of heart that chronicles Lukas’s coming of age in the haunting underbelly of San Diego and clawing his way to stardom. Lukas captures the universal anxieties of transitioning from innocence to adulthood, of feeling too much and nothing at all. Sex and death, fame and familial strife, drug abuse and Raya, I Wrote This for Attention is a remarkable achievement of healing, of vaping through therapy sessions, and of having the courage to forgive the family that hurt you and set yourself free.
I Wrote This for Attention is the deeply personal and brutally honest memoir of actor Lukas Gage, best known for his roles in The White Lotus, You, and Euphoria. It isn’t your typical Hollywood memoir—there’s no glamorizing fame, sensationalism, or attempting to curate a perfect image of himself. Instead, he writes the truth of his failures, insecurities, mental health struggles, and a whole lot more—and it feels deeply intimate and relatable—like a close friend opening up to you about their life. The title “I Wrote This For Attention” has strong significance as Gage admits to his addiction to attention and where he thinks it all stems from.
The book traces Gage’s journey from his tumultuous childhood in San Diego to his rise in Hollywood. He delves into many experiences with family dysfunction, including his father’s neglect and absence, his brother’s struggles with addiction, and his mother’s gambling issues. Gage also goes into detail about his own battles with substance use, mental health challenges, and coming to a realization (and terms) with his queer identity. He also goes into detail about his early attempts at acting, the disappointments and rejections, and the spiral of addiction and impulsive choices that followed. There’s therapy, heartbreak, humor, and a lot of exploration of what it means to crave validation in an age where everyone is watching!
Unlike other similar memoirs, this story isn’t a straight line from a broken to healed person—it’s more like a rollercoaster of realizations that are painful and liberating—and in the end he’s come very far but still has much to work on. It’s very refreshing to hear this level of honesty, and readers will better relate and appreciate his story because of it. It also leaves readers with the sense that this Lukas is a person who will experience the equivalent of multiple lifetimes in one lifetime (and the tremendous growth that comes with it)—so don’t be surprised if Lukas releases an updated memoir down the road that’s just as compelling and even more insightful!
This memoir is also very much a character study of Lukas himself—he examines his flaws and invites readers to look closely at them with him. In a memorable scene, Gage is scrolling online and sees people calling him an “attention seeker,” and instead of denying it, he decides to unpack what that really means. His journey proves that seeking attention isn’t always about ego—sometimes it’s just longing to be understood! His relationship with his parents, particularly his father, is one of the most compelling and heartbreaking parts of the book—and there’s so much love tangled up with resentment, confusion, attachment, and dysfunction. Lukas’s romantic relationships, including his short-lived marriage and its unraveling, are portrayed with incredible honesty and show how his understanding of love (and relationships) evolves over time.
The pacing of this memoir really mirrors Gage’s personality—fast, frenetic, and unpredictable—which makes it compelling and completely unputdownable! The first chapters are vivid, funny, and packed with childhood memories/confessions that will hook readers right away. The midsection is more introspective and digs deeper into his addiction, identity issues, therapy, navigating relationships, and the realities of fame—there are a lot of emotions here, so be sure to have your tissues ready! The final chapters are quicker paced and feel more redemptive, but Gage doesn’t sugarcoat anything or make an attempt to tie everything up neatly—instead it feels more like he’s acknowledging that healing is an ongoing process—and it’s very inspiring, thought-provoking, and suits the tone of the book beautifully!
Overall, I Wrote This for Attention is a moving and incredibly authentic memoir. You can hear Lukas’s thoughts and feelings shine through in every line, and it feels like listening in on a close friend opening up to reveal their flaws, feelings, and self-discovery—all while managing to make you laugh and giving you moments of heartbreak. It’s a perfect memoir for readers who appreciate brutal honesty, humor that comes from pain and heartache, and stories that make you feel a little less alone in your own messy chaos!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of I Wrote This for Attention is read by Lukas Gage, the author, and this marks his first solo audiobook narration. By narrating his own memoir, Gage offers a listening experience that is authentic and deeply intimate. His acting training and experience are evident in his nuanced delivery, capturing the emotional depth of his journey. Anyone familiar with his on-screen presence will recognize that his voice has an extra layer of emotional intelligence and depth in this performance.
Through the audiobook, Gage vividly brings to life the various characters who have shaped his story. His portrayal of his own father is especially compelling, especially the dialogue between him and his father, which authentically captures the complexities of their strained relationship. His talented ability of embodying each character not only adds entertainment value but also makes the listener feel as though they’re witnessing each moment firsthand!
Gage delves into all of his experiences without ever rushing the narration—he sprinkles in well-timed moments of humor and introspection that listeners will appreciate—and this variety of pacing makes the audiobook very engaging. Gage’s voice mostly maintains a consistent tone, which makes it easy to follow and feel deeply personal, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Overall, Lukas Gage’s narration adds authenticity and emotional depth to the story, making the audiobook an unstoppable listen and the recommended reading format! It’s a must-listen for anyone who enjoys memoirs about personal growth, family dynamics, mental health, addiction, and coming-of-age amidst messy chaos!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of I Wrote This for Attention is read by Lukas Gage, the author, and this marks his first solo audiobook narration. By narrating his own memoir, Gage offers a listening experience that is authentic and deeply intimate. His acting training and experience are evident in his nuanced delivery, capturing the emotional depth of his journey. Anyone familiar with his on-screen presence will recognize that his voice has an extra layer of emotional intelligence and depth in this performance.
Through the audiobook, Gage vividly brings to life the various characters who have shaped his story. His portrayal of his own father is especially compelling, especially the dialogue between him and his father, which authentically captures the complexities of their strained relationship. His talented ability of embodying each character not only adds entertainment value but also makes the listener feel as though they’re witnessing each moment firsthand!
Gage delves into all of his experiences without ever rushing the narration—he sprinkles in well-timed moments of humor and introspection that listeners will appreciate—and this variety of pacing makes the audiobook very engaging. Gage’s voice mostly maintains a consistent tone, which makes it easy to follow and feel deeply personal, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Overall, Lukas Gage’s narration adds authenticity and emotional depth to the story, making the audiobook an unstoppable listen and the recommended reading format! It’s a must-listen for anyone who enjoys memoirs about personal growth, family dynamics, mental health, addiction, and coming-of-age amidst messy chaos!
The audiobook of I Wrote This for Attention is read by Lukas Gage, the author, and this marks his first solo audiobook narration. By narrating his own memoir, Gage offers a listening experience that is authentic and deeply intimate. His acting training and experience are evident in his nuanced delivery, capturing the emotional depth of his journey. Anyone familiar with his on-screen presence will recognize that his voice has an extra layer of emotional intelligence and depth in this performance.
Through the audiobook, Gage vividly brings to life the various characters who have shaped his story. His portrayal of his own father is especially compelling, especially the dialogue between him and his father, which authentically captures the complexities of their strained relationship. His talented ability of embodying each character not only adds entertainment value but also makes the listener feel as though they’re witnessing each moment firsthand!
Gage delves into all of his experiences without ever rushing the narration—he sprinkles in well-timed moments of humor and introspection that listeners will appreciate—and this variety of pacing makes the audiobook very engaging. Gage’s voice mostly maintains a consistent tone, which makes it easy to follow and feel deeply personal, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Overall, Lukas Gage’s narration adds authenticity and emotional depth to the story, making the audiobook an unstoppable listen and the recommended reading format! It’s a must-listen for anyone who enjoys memoirs about personal growth, family dynamics, mental health, addiction, and coming-of-age amidst messy chaos!
