Tag: the comeback

August Reading Wrap Up & September To Be Read

Hello, friends!

I have a short wrap up to share with you all. I only read four books in August, and one of them was started months ago, so I only had less than 100 pages left of it.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Rating: 5 out of 5.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Comeback by Ella Berman

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I had a set TBR pile for the month of September but it keeps growing as the days go on. I was also going to finish Greenglass House by Kate Milford, but I ended up just putting it down. I wasn’t in the mood and it didn’t catch my attention enough.

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

“. . . powerful, emotionally resonant novel that captures the hardship, oppression, opportunity, and hope of a trio of women’s lives in nineteenth-century Australia.”

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

“A true-crime podcast host covering a controversial trial finds herself drawn deep into a small town’s dark past and brutal crime that took place there years before.”

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

“Funny, heartfelt, and as lively as any street in Harlem, this cozy family novel is about the connections we make and the unexpected twists and turns life can take.”

Hell in the Heartland by Jax Miller

“The stranger-than-fiction cold case from rural Oklahoma that has stumped authorities for two decades, concerning the disappearance of two teenage girls and the much larger mystery of murder, a possible police cover-up, and an unimaginable truth . . .”

Nightbooks by J.A. White

“Alex has loved stories his whole life. He never imagined he’d be trapped in one.”

The Train to Impossible Places by P.G. Bell

“A train that travels through impossible places. A boy trapped in a snow globe. And a girl who’s about to go on the adventure of a lifetime.”

I’m currently 70 pages into The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.

“When one enters a door, one must be brave enough to see the other side.”

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Book Review: The Comeback by Ella Berman

The Comeback by Ella Berman

383 pages

ISBN: 9780593099513

Published: 8/3/20 by Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Amazon | B&N

383 pages

Goodreads Synopsis:

Grace Turner was one movie away from Hollywood’s A-List. So no one understood why, at the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, she disappeared.

Now, one year later, Grace is back in Los Angeles and determined to reclaim her life on her own terms.

So 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 knows there’s only one way she’ll be free of the secret that’s already taken so much from her.

The Comeback is a powerful and provocative story of justice in the #MeToo era—a true page-turner about a young woman finding the strength and power of her voice.

Review:

Trigger warnings: Eating disorder, cheating, gaslighting, sexual harassment of a minor, verbal/emotional abuse, terrible family relationships, drug abuse, alcoholism, suicidal attempts,

Three stars is not a bad rating. This was very much a page-turner for me, but there were some things that held it back from being a four or five.

This is clearly a sensitive topic to discuss and review; I never want to say the wrong thing and offend someone.

However, this is supposed to be a deep dive into Grace Turner’s psyche after being sexually harassed by her movie director, Able. It does dive into all her thoughts as the story progresses and she runs into familiar friends, lovers, and enemies. I just didn’t think it went deep enough. It stayed up toward the surface. It just repeated the same thoughts over and over again, and I found myself sighing every time the same thought appeared. I understand the reasoning, but for 380 pages, I want something more. The problem is that I can’t tell you what I wanted exactly.

I’m obviously not part of Hollywood, but I can imagine that the picture Berman paints in this novel is accurate. There’s so much toxicity—secrets that are left unsaid because of reputation, fake friendships, blackmailing, etc.

I also expected a harsher revenge novel. I thought the choices Grace made were unlikely and not exciting. The end of some chapters made me think that something incredible was around the corner. *womp, womp, woooooomp*

The ending also didn’t make me feel much of anything. It ended quite quickly for everything that went on throughout the story. Problems were resolved so easily, not that they all ended happily.

I very much enjoyed the writing style. It’s very easy to understand. I’m interested in reading more from Berman in the future. Would I recommend it? If you’re okay with the topic at hand, then I would probably recommend it. There’s a lot of story to get through, but I’ve seen quite a few people enjoy it more than me.

If you enjoyed this, then give it a like and follow my blog. Be respectful and happy reading!

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