Encinitas plays a huge role in actor Lukas Gage’s new memoir — but not how you’d expect

Actor and San Diego native Lukas Gage’s new memoir, “I Wrote This For Attention,” should particularly grab the attention of local readers who might not recognize the deeply troubling version of life in Encinitas that he depicts.

The “White Lotus” star’s book has it all: summer camp, fist fights, Moonlight Beach, marriage, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, Jennifer Coolidge, prom, the Northern Lights, sex, surfing, a coming-out story, twins, an absent father, Kim Kardashian, incarceration, house arrest, Sydney Sweeney, gambling, rehab, a Hummer limo and a super-cool grandmother. And much of it takes place in the San Diego region.

Gage writes with the style of a young person — with the benefit of hindsight, growth and a now-booming Hollywood career — attempting to find meaning and message in a profoundly complicated early life, without sparing a single devastating or delightful detail.

Gage grew up around Vista, Carlsbad and Encinitas and attended San Dieguito Academy. Now 30, he describes in the book finding acting, including his first role in a wart-removal medication commercial, as a sort of solace amid a childhood surrounded by drug use. He used the commercial money to move to Los Angeles at age 18 and start acting classes and then earned small TV roles before his breakout appearance on “Euphoria.”

Since then, he has appeared as an actor on TV and movie screens in shows such as Netflix’s “You,” as well as movies such as “Road House,” “Smile 2” and “How to Blow Up A Pipeline.” Upcoming projects include the screen adaptation of “People We Meet on Vacation” and a new iteration of “Prison Break.”

He recently answered questions about his book, his life in Encinitas and his acting career. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Do you find yourself in San Diego much anymore?

A: I do. Not as much as I’d like to. As much as possible, for the holidays and summer time, I definitely try to go down there. I still go to the (San Diego County) Fair for Fourth of July. I see my mom and my dogs, and go to the beach, get a burrito.

Q: For those who haven’t read your book, you don’t paint Encinitas in the best light, particularly how challenging it was to have painful experiences there but to be in such an idyllic environment. Can you elaborate?

A: Yeah, I think that it is an idyllic, beautiful place that feels like paradise. I mean, everything looks like it’s a post card in Encinitas and I do love it. I have such fond memories and I’m so grateful to grow up there. But I think there’s some darkness of that time in my life, I would say, that’s more of a reflection of where I was at. And I think, for the most part, the thing that I was shedding light on, is kind of the opioid issue that is around North County and San Diego.

Q: Is that something that led you to “White Lotus?” Because that is such a theme of those seasons — taking you to a beautiful place where something dark is happening below the surface.

A: I think it just worked out that way. I think it’s why a lot of people resonated with “White Lotus” and I think hopefully it’ll be something that people resonate with this book. Looks can be deceiving and when you have these people in these environments where there’s wealth and there’s success and there’s all these things — I think that you can start to get bored and things are more complicated than they appear and you can have these existential crises when you’re in these places. I think there’s just nuance to it. Just because things look pretty on the outside doesn’t mean there isn’t stuff going on underneath.

Q: This is one of the more deeply personal books I’ve ever read. What made you decide to open up so much?

A: I think that I have to constantly make myself feel uncomfortable to make myself feel comfortable as a writer. And I think (also) with acting honestly. I think if I’m not stretching myself and pushing myself into those uncomfortable places to share then I don’t think I’m doing a good job. And I think it was also cathartic to share my story and challenging for me. And I know when I read nonfiction and autobiographical books, like the things that I connect with the most, are, you know, where people had their shortcomings and had their failures. You can learn so much about people who are not like you and figure out where you guys align, whether it’s someone you have a lot in common with or someone that you don’t feel like you share a lot. That’s where we find humanity.

Q:  A lot of it I couldn’t relate to but I still had strong feelings reading it.

A: I love that you said that because even in the name (“I Wrote This For Attention), I wanted a name that was self-deprecating, and self-aware and kind of in on the joke, but I also think that there is an element that is legitimate in that statement. I think everyone in some way or another wants attention and to be seen and validated.

Q: What can you share about your experience filming the movie adaptation of the Emily Henry novel, “People We Meet on Vacation,” which premieres on Jan. 9?

A: I had such a good time doing it. We filmed in Spain. Emily Henry is one of the best writers out there. I’ve always been obsessed with books — fiction more so, I grew up really loving fiction and got into nonfiction later — but I’ve always loved book-to-film adaptations. I think that’s the first one I’ve ever done. So to get to be a part of that and, hopefully give justice to the people that have read the book and love these characters, and bring it to life, was such a cool thing for me. It’s like a bucket-list thing that I’ve always wanted to do.

Q: Do you have any interest in trying to adapt a book yourself?

A: Oh, of course. Whether it’s my own book or other people’s books that I’ve read that. There’s been a couple down the line that I’ve tried to get the rights for or meet with the author on to try to adapt. There’s definitely interest there for sure.

Q: Does anything come to mind as far as what kind of carried you through the writing of this book or just some sort of interesting bit about how you pulled it off?

A: I think the biggest thing that I learned from it is writing, to me, is rewriting. So, I just think having that critic/editor in your brain while you’re writing at least first draft is not helpful at all for me. I didn’t have a set schedule, although I probably should have, to meet deadlines, but I had to kind of just write when I was inspired. And sometimes I could get a whole chapter out in one sitting and just write for hours and hours all day long. And then other times it was harder for me. So I think the biggest piece of advice I would give, or the biggest thing I’ve learned, is just let it all go. Let it all out for the first pass. And then, I think I rewrote this book five or six times. So, the first time I just had to not edit while I was doing it, not judge it, I just needed to get it out on planet paper.

Q: Is there another book in you? Are there other nonfiction pursuits you have? A novel?

A: Yeah, I think I have a lot of creative endeavors that I want to achieve and I would say the first thing that comes to mind is writing a fiction book next or writing a book of poetry would be really fun for me. I grew up into that as well and just trying to stretch my brain in that way would be fun.

Warwick’s & USD’s College of Arts and Sciences and Humanities Center present Lukas Gage in conversation with Lili Simmons

When: 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20

Where: Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla

Admission: Free, but $35.01 buys a book and reserved seat

Register: warwicks.com/event/gage-2025