ARC REVIEW / The Comeback by by Ella Berman

The Comeback by by Ella Berman

Review

The film industry has been no stranger to sexual assault cases and stories. Starting from the very early days of Hollywood to digital age of now, cases of inappropriate behavior and assault were far too common and overlooked. And with Ella Berman's The Comeback, Grace Turner is no exception. 

Grace's story is all to common: a young teen with infinite talent thrust into the limelight while being groomed by a powerful director. A man who manipulates Grace and sexually assaults her up until he has no use for her anymore. You know of stories just like Grace's, but what you rarely get a glimpse into, is how the victim is feeling, how they're acting. Berman takes you right into how, what, and why Grace is doing what she is doing. Why she is numbing her self with alcohol, drugs and escaping to Anaheim with her parents and then leaving after they don't understand her behavior. 

Being a Los Angeles native, I enjoyed the quick descriptions of the "Hollywood LA" as I have visited and walked many of the locations described. And I started to think, more than likely, a young actress has probably also visited with a background similar to Grace. Similar to her abuse. 

Another thing I enjoyed reading was Grace's interactions with Emilie, the wife of the director. You want to keep reading if she knows or doesn't. Does she overlook her husband's actions or is completely oblivious? I felt that she was a good foil to Grace. 

I couldn't stop reading this and I highly recommend this book. With #MeToo, we need more stories that are about those who were and are silenced.  

About THE COMEBACK

 

A deep dive into the psyche of a young actress raised in the spotlight under the influence of a charming, manipulative film director and the moment when she decides his time for winning is over.

At the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, teen star Grace Turner disappeared.

Now, tentatively sober and surprisingly numb, Grace is back in Los Angeles after her year of self-imposed exile. She knows the new private life she wants isn't going to be easy as she tries to be a better person and reconnect with the people she left behind.

But when Grace is asked to present a lifetime achievement award to director Able Yorke--the man who controlled her every move for eight years--she realizes that she can't run from the secret behind her spectacular crash and burn for much longer. And she's the only one with nothing left to lose.

Alternating between past and present, The Comeback tackles power dynamics and the uncertainty of young adulthood, the types of secrets that become part of our sense of self, and the moments when we learn that though there are many ways to get hurt, we can still choose to fight back.

About the Author

Ella Berman grew up in both London and Los Angeles and worked at Sony Music before starting the clothing brand London Loves LA. She lives in London with her husband, James, and their dog, Rocky. The Comeback is her first novel.

*ARC provided by Berkley*