The Comeback

By: Ella Berman

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK! •

An empowering, behind-the-scenes novel of a young Hollywood actress and the dark secret she’s ready to confront.

One of Summer 2020’s Most Anticipated Novels

Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Oprah magazine, Bustle, E! Online, Popsugar, Goodreads, Today Show online, New York Post, Betches, Better Homes & Gardens, HelloGiggles, Bad on Paper podcast, The Stripe, Shondaland, HuffPost, CNN.com, Mashable

“Beautifully written and compulsively readable…At its core, this book is about redemption, grace, and pain.” (Jenna Bush Hager)

“A novel so full-blooded, so humane, that the pages feel almost warm to the touch. A clarifying, purifying chronicle of a promising young woman gone astray and the story of her comeback. Grace Turner can do it. You can do it, too.” (A.J. Finn)

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 ready to reclaim her life on her own terms.

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 moving and provocative story of justice - a true pause resister about a young woman finding the strength and power of her voice.

©2020 Ella Berman (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Ella Berman's debut novel is a Hollywood tale that packs a wallop...the reader is taken on a journey of self-discovery and redemption...Grace Turner dreams big, suffers and soars. A stunning debut." (Adriana Trigiani, New York Times best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife)

"Berman’s novel of a young woman recruited far too early in her life into the Hollywood machine may be the smartest book I’ve read in the past few years...." (Lithub)

In this compulsively readable story, Berman smartly picks apart the idea of a perfect victim.... It’s a tale as old as time, told compassionately through a fresh new lens." (Mashable)

You have to hear this!

Story has tremendous depth and heart brought to life by Saskia Maarleveld. Don’t miss out.

Great story and very relatable

I love the story because I know it happened to a lot of females in the business but females in general I abused each day no matter what the job they have. if we can give the abuser that punishment that they give us and we carry for the rest of our lives that would be the justice that was needed. there should be a special place in hell for pedophiles and molester.

The narration was fantastic.

Such an important story detail. Grace‘s character was not one dimensional, she was really interesting. 

Keep going

I felt like this book dragged out a bit in the beginning and I couldn’t figure out why until the end. Paints a deep portrait of the victim. It is so good. I can’t wait until it’s made into a movie!

Excellent hollywood story!

Great read. I truly loved it. Loved the authors note at the end, too, it gave a lot of insight as to the timing of this story.

Good listen!

I listened to this one on Audible and a great portion of REALLY liking it is my favorite narrator narrated it. Saskia Maarleveld. She could read the phone book and make it 5 stars.
I enjoyed the story. There were many layers to Graces story of how what she experienced changed her. How her “comeback” and relationships with others peeled off the layers. Especially her friendship with Amelia.
Good beach read/listen. This was a Read with Jenna book club pick.

amazing book

love the narrator!! I try to listen to her all the time!! Ella's book is amazing also!!

I could not put this book down !

I literally listened to this in one day ! It was outstanding. I believe the story of Grace tells the story of many that have been abused and absorb the shame into just wanting to feel numb. This was wonderful keep writing!

Loved every minute of this book! The nuances in each character were so powerful! Thank you for such a good read.

A story worth hearing

I think this book offers many life lessons with the reader. To begin with parents need to be involved. When we leave them with others to raise and educate we forfeit our ability to instill values. It doesn’t matter that it’s Hollywood Paying the big bucks, there is a cost to forfeiting our parental role. More importantly it’s never too late for redemption.