Oh, this was so weird and SLOW! I don't know that I'd call it a thriller because it wasn't thrilling. The only thing that kept me going was the production of the audiobook. I wished the content had been less weird, creepy, cultish and more murder mystery. Like the production was so well done. The story was just lacking and missing a point. nothing exciting happens till like 80% and even that was meh. I'd love for more audiobooks to be produced like this tho just better plotline.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced audio edition of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'll start with the highlights: This audiobook production is unmatched. Fantastic narration and effects- it's a pleasure to listen to this book and you can truly be transported into the story thanks to how well the audiobook is produced. The plot definitely kept my interest throughout.

Overall, however, I felt like the book just fell a bit flat for me. I wanted to love it, but it just didn't hit all the marks. The ending brought a lot of intensity but I found myself having a hard time until then relating to the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Child star Georgia Lane moves to Los Angeles to try and get back into acting again after several years. She struggles to have any luck with auditions until she meets an aspiring actor Henry, who she falls for and he introduces her to his agent, Marianna. Marianna immediately takes interest in Georgia and starts to mentor her in the most bizarre ways WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ but at least I did finish it....Enjoy!!





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Former child star Georgia Lane relocates to Los Angeles, determined to reignite her career. She soon becomes involved with The Studio—an elite acting school led by the charismatic Marianna. As Georgia dives deeper, ambition, manipulation, and psychological tension begin to unravel her past and present in unexpected ways.

The story unfolds through Georgia’s emotional journey, set against the high-stakes world of acting. While the pacing is deliberate, it allowed me to connect with the characters and their struggles.

The podcast inserts & news clips embedded snippets which enriched the narrative, providing layered context and grounding the story in real time. I appreciated how they fleshed out the characters and their motivations.

Marketed as a psychological thriller, the tension felt subdued until the final act. For much of the story, I felt like I was reading a drama—or even a romance. The initial setup took time, and it wasn’t until halfway through that the psychological stakes became clear. The thriller elements didn’t seize hold until late, which may disappoint readers expecting a consistently suspenseful pace. If you prefer a fast-paced thriller, this might feel sluggish.

Despite its slow build, I did find enjoyment in the character dynamics and the carefully crafted storyline.

The audiobook narration, however, was excellent. The narration was performed by a full cast, which includes Aimee Horne, Airlie Dodds, Alan Chu, Angela Tran, Anna Downes, Elisa Colla, Jeremy Waters, Lyanna Kea, Remy Hii, Taylor Owens, and Yael Stone. The voices were distinct and engaging, making it easy to follow each character. The format enhanced the storytelling experience and brought the story to life in a unique way. The performances are standout with each voice being distinct and immersive, making character transitions easy to follow. Sound effects and the ensemble cast bring an added layer of drama and realism, which enhances the overall listening experience.

Break Me Down offers a rich, character-driven narrative that delves into ambition, identity, and the dark pursuit of success. If you don’t mind a slow build toward tension, it delivers a meaningful payoff. But if you're after non-stop thrills from start to finish, this one surprises...just not immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this full casted audiobook and the production with the sound effects was SO good. I was enthralled by the web that the spun that shows the toxic relationship that Georgia has with her acting teacher Mariana. It showed the dark underbelly of what a person would do to rise to fame. I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

Break Me Down is labeled as an audio thriller, and I feel that this is extremely misleading. This was a great drama, but labeling it a thriller does the book no favors.

Georgia Lane was a child star. Now, as an adult, she is trying to get back into the game and rise to the top again. She attends an acting school that is not what it appears to be. Mariana, the teacher, is also a leader in this school.

Mariana’s methods are extremely unorthodox, and she pushes her students and followers to their limits. It’s said she gets results, but are the results worth the emotional torture they go through?

If this were marketed as an audio drama, I would have given this very high scores. The narration by a full cast is spectacular, and the use of effects really brings you into the story. I just found myself waiting and waiting for the drama to end and the thriller to begin, but sadly, that never came.

Break Me Down is a great dramatic story about an adult child star. If you go in expecting that, you will have a much better time.

Ok so this audiobook had some positive and negative features. There were multiple narrators which is always a plus for me. There were some sound effects which added to the story so much. I loved the Hollywood podcast portions and the voicemails they were interesting and entertaining. These extra features really made listening to this worth it and bumped my rating up significantly.

With that said, the audiobook was categorized as a thriller and it really didn’t fit that category. The story was just ok, it felt like it just dragged for the first 3/4 of it. The last 1/4 was interesting and twisty. I understand the cult comparisons but I feel like in this case it was a little unrealistic. I struggled with the idea that so many people would just go along with everything Marianna does.

The narrators were all great and they really made the story. I loved the concept of this audiobook I just felt like the story needed something more.

This was the first audio thriller of its kind that I have ever read. An acting program where former child star Georgia and her boyfriend give everything to see if they can make it to the top.
This was well produced and the sound design and the voice actors all did a great job. The plot I did find to be a little obvious, but that is also because I have read several things that are similar, but for people who are new to this genre or new to this type of audio I think would have a great time. The way that they talked about method acting was very authentic, it felt very genuine, like those were scenes you would observe in a real acting class. As I said, I loved the full cast and everyone did a great job. I would recommend this!

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I really tried to like the characters for the first 1/3 of the book but I just could not do it. I almost had to DNF this book but I persisted. The audiobook format some may like, but I was underwhelmed by this.

Former child star Georgia Lane has been out of the spotlight for a long time, but she has finally moved to Hollywood and is trying to make it again. She is going through the same dud auditions and working all the same menial jobs as all of the other aspiring actors, when she meets fellow actor Henry. Henry introduces Georgia to his acting coach Marianna and her intensive studio, and Georgia feels like she’s struck gold. Unfortunately, her unconditional trust of Marianna comes with danger that just about everyone but Georgia can see…

When I first saw this book, I thought, “Oo, sounds culty!” so that’s the main reason I went ahead and tried it. To be honest, it was a lot more than I expected! I should first applaud the audio production. The actors are fantastic and the podcast sections, news reports, voicemails, and sound effects made it an immersive audio drama and not *just* a book.

I am not a serious actress, but I am a singer who went through a music program in college. Through my classes and theatre experiences, I got a little taste of acting teachers, and the vulnerability required in order to impress in this industry. If you didn’t cry in front of everyone, what were you even doing? However, when my teachers would tell me to relate with a personal experience, they would tell me not to share it, just to keep it in my own heart. When Marianna initially demanded that Henry and Georgia share their trauma with her and the entire class right off the bat, I knew we were heading into dark territory.

Georgia’s sections are written and acted in a bubbly, cheerful tone so it would be easy to believe that things were going just fine if it weren’t for the people around her making observations about her health and mental state. It sends a really clear message about manipulation, and how the person being brainwashed can have no idea it’s happening.

I even found myself being manipulated at times. I’d think, “maybe so-and-so IS just a jerk!” But then I’d have to remind myself that I had only heard one side of the story from an unreliable narrator. Marianna is adept at blurring the lines between reality and the stage. One wonders if she even knows which is real sometimes. Is her entire life just a work of theatre?

I listened to the discussion between the writer and the actors at the end of the book and was really interested to hear that it was based on the author’s own experiences, and stories she had heard from peers. I think her experience definitely shows!

This might not be for everyone. I wouldn’t call this a thriller or a nail biter, but it’s a really unique exploration of the cult like behavior that young professionals fall prey to every day. It’s fascinating and nerve wracking enough that you will keep listening and will want to know what happens next. Though I never experienced anything like this, my limited experience has shown me that this nightmare could absolutely be reality.

(I would just take 1/2 a star off because the beginning was pretty slow and I almost dipped out. But it eventually sucked me in!)

What in the world did I just listen to? Honestly, I am surprised I made it through this listen. It was a lot. There was so much manipulation in the book. It did not hold my attention in the beginning and by the end, I had to fast forward through the gruesome parts. This was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance listen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, what I liked: The care and attention that went into this full production audiobook is fantastic. With a full cast of characters, I really enjoyed the experience of listening to this well-done audiobook.

What I didn't like: The story. I was disappointed as it seemed to lack direction. I understand author Anna Downes was reflecting on her time in the acting world, but I felt there was little substance to the actual story. I would have liked a more delineated thriller storyline with more cult vibes.

Overall, I can't recommend this one, but I did appreciate the effort!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Break Me Down centers on Georgia Lane, a determined childhood star aiming to make a big comeback. She connects with Henry, an aspiring actor who talks her into joining an adult acting class. There, Marianna, the lead instructor, immediately sees something special in Georgia. Despite Henry's frustration that she's stealing his spotlight, Georgia decides to join the class, setting the stage for a story that quickly spirals into a wild ride.

This audiobook was a fantastic experience right from the start, thanks to its engaging audio style and fun sound effects, including phone recordings and a podcast created about childhood stars. This format truly made the story more immersive and engaging, drawing me in. The book is a gripping journey into manipulation and explores the intense lengths people will go to for fame. The plot took some unexpected turns, and I can say I was definitely not expecting that ending!

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Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 8/19/25.

Georgia Lane a child actress moves back to LA to restart her acting career. There she meets Henry an inspiring actor himself. Soon Henry and Georgia start dating and Henry brings her to an acting class that he is taking. Marianna, the instructor takes a special intrest in Georgia and a group of actors from the class move into Marianna's place know as The Studio. There the actors are forced to perform intesnse scenes that are mentally exhausting. Henry notices the changes in Georgia and tries to get her to leave the studio with him. What happens next no one could even imagine. This is like no other audiobook you will listen to. It has a full cast of characters and is more like listening to a movie or a tv show. I loved this aspect of the audiobook. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

The narration was better than the story. It fell flat for me and it felt almost a little slow. I wanted to like this one so bad, but maybe I wasn’t the intended audience

Wow! This audiobook had everything. A variety of cast for the characters really set the mood. A child film star moved to the California to try to restart her career as an adult. She meets and falls in love just as her life is changing. They are both accepted into an elite acting course but that is where things really start to go south.

This is an audio-only work that was really well put together. It includes a full cast, as well as sound effects that are utilized to indicate phone calls or movement during the filmed portions. This work is told using a multimedia approach, including phone messages, a podcast, filmed portions, new reports, and more. I liked this approach, and the author did an excellent job incorporating these aspects.

Overall, the plot is quite slow. There’s a large focus on auditions and actor training, studying scenes, and interacting with classmates. I wanted a bit more from a few aspects, especially the characters and the cult-related aspect. The characters were difficult to really connect to, which was disappointing but made some sense by the end of the work. The cult-like aspects were on the weaker side because of how slow and undefined the plot was, I think. Tightening that up a bit probably would’ve aided in giving it a stronger feel.

Despite the cover of the work stating that it’s a thriller, its genre is listed as suspense, which is much more fitting. If you’re looking for a slower work with some psychological suspense, you’ll probably enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of Break Me Down by Anna Downes in exchange for an honest review. I was a little worried about the multiple forms of storytelling, from first person narrative to podcasts and others, but I really enjoyed it. Because of this, Downes was able to create a fuller picture and have an interesting perspective of reality in the eye of the beholder. This was a different take on child actors and how vulnerable they can be as they grow up.

This novel was a struggle for me. I'm not a fan of religion in general, and have never allowed myself to be in a codependent relationship, so the idea of giving myself up to faith and allowing control of myself to someone else is truly baffling. Letting someone to tear you to shreds in the name of growth, for any reason, makes no sense and seems highly unhealthy. Huh, I guess that's why I never became an actor.

As well, the audiobook production was very off-putting for me. I enjoyed the highly talented cast of characters, with each character having a separate actor/narrator reading. However the random and occasional background noises -- rifling pages, door slam, footsteps, a strange whistle -- did not enhance the experience. Rather the "are they trying to make it sound more like a play?" effort was clunky and removed me completely from the story each time.

I think if you're an actor, or trying to be, you might find this seeking validation and becoming ensnared in a coaching-workshopping cult story interesting and perhaps even intriguing. For the rest of us, it's too much. Like "are you okay?" too much. I could not sympathize or relate, not at all.

The audio of this book is what got me. I had never listened to a theatrical version with so many pieces and moving parts. I enjoyed the intensity that gave while I listened in the car. It was as if I was able to watch a movie without being tempted to keep my eyes from moving off the road.
Georgia Lane was a child tv and movie star. Her mother, Dusty Lane, got her involved in the biz as a baby and her career really took off when she was about 6 until the age of about 14, when her producer and friend of the family was accused of abuse with some of his minor stars. She and her mother denied everything, but then disappeared from the scene soon after. Many years later, Georgia is not in close contact with her mother, but she decides to head back to L.A. and try to jump back into acting. Things don’t go great initially, but she soon meets Henry, another actor trying to find his way and they begin trying to help each other. Henry invites Georgia to the studio where he takes lessons from one of “the best in the biz”. From there, the story takes the reader on a psychological twisted journey. The more Georgia invests of herself in The Studio, the more twisted the relationships become. What would you do to be great? How far is too far?
This book doesn’t get great ratings, but I really enjoyed this and gave it a 4 rating.
The audio is a full theatrical cast and performance. There are sound effects and phone calls and podcasts and news segments, along with the narration of Georgia and Henry.
The whole premise of a child start coming back to try again and digging into the messiness that is show business was a rabbit hole I enjoyed going down with the story.
The character of Georgia was not a totally likable character which was both good and bad. I don’t mind not liking a character, but I wanted to root for her more than I did. I would have liked to dig into Henry and a couple other characters a little more. I think it would have made the story easier to invest in.
Altogether, I think this was a solid psychological thriller, although the thriller is a bit slow to grow. The psychology of it, though, is really interesting.
I would definitely do it on audio. I especially loved hearing the calls from Georgia’s mother. The way the cast performs was phenomenal. But, I think you have to go into it knowing that it is not a fast-paced thriller twisty. It is a psychological twisty for sure.