2⭐ for the story and 4⭐for the narration = 3⭐ overall
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ California
Publication date ~ August 19, 2025
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Audio length ~ 8 hours 43 minutes
Narrators ~ Aimee Horne, Airlie Dodds, Alan Chu, Angela Tran, Anna Downes, Elisa Colla, Jeremy Waters, Lyanna Kea, Remy Hii, Taylor Owens, Yael Stone
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ past trauma, slow burn, short chapters

Our main characters are:
Georgia ~ former child star from Australia who is now an adult trying to get her career going again.
Henry ~ an aspiring actor she meets after arriving in LA and they become an item.
Marianna ~ runs the acting studio in a cult like way.

Since this revolves around acting it's heavy on auditions, acting classes/scenes and trying to make it in Hollywood, which makes sense and can be a snore if you could care less about this world. Since Georgia started her career very young there's references to inappropriate behavior back then. The story does do a good job of showing toxicity and jealousy in the biz.

Overall, this was fine~ish, but it definitely wasn't a thriller, just psychological fiction really. I was not on the edge of my seat at any point and the ending was pretty lackluster. I didn't really like any of the characters either.

There's a very lengthy author's note at the end that I didn't fully listen to because it was close to an hour, but it goes into the author's experience with acting.

Looks like this will only available in audio format.
Narration notes:
I got sent a widget 4 times, so I guess they really wanted me to listen to it 🤣
They had me at sound effects, a fictional podcast, voicemails, news reports, and a cast of 11 different narrators. Some characters did better than others, but overall I really enjoyed the performance.

Break Me Down by Anna Downes is a slower-paced psychological thriller, but what it lacks in speed, it more than makes up for in immersive atmosphere especially in the audiobook format. The narration is phenomenal. I felt like I was part of the story. While out walking, the sound effects from actors screaming to birds chirping blurred the line between real life and fiction. At one point, I genuinely thought I was hearing things from my environment, not the story!

I especially loved how real everything felt voicemails, podcast snippets, acting classes, and news clips all made this audiobook experience unique. This format truly brought the world to life.

The last 20% really ramps up the intensity, but even the slower buildup kept my attention due to the immersive sound design. This is definitely one I’ll need to listen to again there were so many subtle elements that I’m sure I missed a few clues.

If you prefer fast-paced thrillers, this may not be your style—but I still say give it a shot.

SPOILER!!!! Once I heard about the exclusive acting classes in the house, I knew we were heading into cult territory. But watching it all unfold was worth it.

This book was not my cup of tea. I just couldn’t get into it. The audiobook was amazing with the full cast of characters though! Just didn’t connect with the charachters

This was a twisty tale of a child actor all grown up and now finding her way again. When she joins a friend to audit an acting class and the teacher takes a liking to her that starts her acting juices flowing. Now, what will she or anyone with the bug do to when all they want is the fame. So many narrators and characters at times it was hard to keep track of who was who.

I definitely enjoyed this one! It was a great read and the narrator’s voice was so calming. Absolutely would recommend.

🎧ALC REVIEW🎧

Pub date Aug 19th

“I would let this eden swallow me up until I was made of the trees and the trees were made of me”

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

First off the audio production was TOP NOTCH. Full cast narration, sound effects, phone calls, news broadcasts, podcasts, the whole nine. Without that, I feel the story would have fallen flat. The last 10% was great but the other 90% was a bit of a drag.

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the set up of this story with many different narrators and effects that make it feel like a movie! I felt my attention drifting at times but it picked up at certain points towards the end. I enjoyed the concept though. All about what people will do for fame and at what costs. I would recommend if you like mysteries and thrillers but I did prefer her other books personally.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted ALC!

2.5⭐️

I reallyyyy wanted to love this one bc the narration is AMAZING! I loved the mix of full cast narration and single narration. Such an interesting listen!

The story itself was not my favorite. You spend so much time slowly (very slowly) building up to the height of the story, just to be let down with the outcome. I was very underwhelmed with what happened at the end and also very confused.

The narration for this audiobook was amazing i enjoyed the full cast and audio!

This was a good book to listen too and the storyline was ok. The book was geared towards a specific audience or so I think but it was still enjoyable and easy to follow. The sending was not expected so I liked it.

The graphic audio was quite good, fun.

I’m not sure what happened, or perhaps, why some things happened? It was quite lengthy though for so little to occur.

I don’t know why Henry was killed. Was it because he posed a threat to the studio? He had already pretty much abandoned the studio and Georgia.

Why (and who) was messing with Georgia’s things?

Was it just a coincidence that Georgia (another victim of the same pedophile that abused Marianna) ended up at this studio? And was Dusty truly not aware of the abuse? Was there abuse? Why was Henry in contact with Dusty?

In the end, Georgia is now becoming basically another Mariana as they expand the studio clientele after fondly reminiscing about Henry. So this is her life going forward? Huh?

It’s unfortunate that the plot (lack there of) didn’t match the performance. Ugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early audiobook edition of “Break Me Down” by Anna Downes, narrated by Anna Downes, Aimee Horne, Airlie Dodds, Alan Chu, Angela Tran, Elisa Colla, Jeremy Waters, Lyanna Kea, Remy Hii, Taylor Owens, Yael Stone, for an honest review. The narrators did a great job with the narration, especially considering they did not do the narration at the same time; they all narrated their parts separately.

This is a psychological thriller featuring Georgia Lane, a child star who quit the business at 17 and then decided to reenter the business years later. When Georgia meets Henry, he introduces her to an acting coach like no other, and Georgia dives into the practice with unbridled exuberance, so much so, she begins to lose sight of who she is and why she loves Henry. When she and Henry are invited to a more prestigious coaching at the Studio, they jump at the chance, but as they increasingly become isolated from their old life, and begin to psychologically break down.

The story has a lot of first-person perspective, as everything was recorded at the studio, so you should be able to feel everything the characters felt, but I didn’t. I really didn’t connect with any of the characters. I felt like they were all acting and not being real (maybe that is just my opinion of actors, as all the people at the Studio were actors). I got lost in the timeline, as there were phone call messages left for Georgia (I think in the current time line, but I was unsure throughout the book), a podcast that seemed to have ended years earlier, when she first disappeared, but I could be wrong, and the current Studio training. There was also nothing compelling you to figure out the story. You might wonder what is going to happen, but you were not on the edge of your seat; the story was kind of boring.

Georgia Lane was a child star in Australia years ago. Now she is in Hollywood trying to make a comeback. Her boyfriend convinces her to take acting lessons from his studio. This results in her being caught up in a cult-like existence. The full cast recording makes for interesting listening. It’s told from many points of view including a podcast element. I liked much of it but eventually I got tired of the acting instructor character. I didn’t understand her agenda and didn’t find her believable. This will appeal to many people but I don’t think it was the right book for me. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for this gifted ALC!

Well this was a blast! Break Me Down was a full audio production that I couldn’t get enough of. I am a sucker for a story about a cult, and this sure was just that. It was brilliant. There aren’t too many twists and turns, but the full cast of audio narrators made this riveting. It felt like watching a drama play out on television. And I feel like the fact that the twists and turns weren’t outwardly bold made more sense. This was a book about a Hollywood cult. It’s all subtle and subliminal. It’s about making people feel lulled and safe before trapping them. And this book nailed that feeling. I absolutely loved it. Anna Downes has something special.

This was the first fully produced audiobook I've experienced, and it was fun! It didn't feel literary-- it felt like watching Netflix-- but I enjoyed it. The plot was thin— and as someone in the entertainment industry, not exactly accurate—so if you're in the mood for something vibey but not deep, this is a good choice.

An interesting take on the life of a grown up child actor and the struggles to make a new name for themselves. I did enjoy the characters and am left feeling sad for Henry.

Child star who stops acting for years and now she’s an adult who wants to get into acting so she’s looking for an acting classes she finds one with a teacher who has very unconventional methods.

Of you liked I’m glad my mom died you will love this one. I absolutely loved this audio because it was full cast and you could hear the footsteps keeps you entertained the entire time. Such a great performance.

3.5 star not much of a thriller more of a drama.

Georgia Lane, a former child star, moves to Los Angeles to revive her acting career but faces numerous challenges. She starts to find hope through Henry, an aspiring actor who connects her with an elite acting studio led by Marianna. As Georgia engages with the studio's demanding environment, she grapples with ambition, competition, and the personal sacrifices required in pursuit of her dreams, revealing the complex nature of art's impact on her life.

I was thrilled to be invited to listen to this audiobook, especially since I loved the author’s latest work! The cast of narrators was nothing short of spectacular, breathing life into the characters and keeping me utterly captivated by the plot.

Now, let me tell you, this writing style is a departure from what we’re typically accustomed to. The audiobook experience elevated the story in ways I never expected; if I had read the book instead, I doubt my rating would have been the same. Seriously, the audiobook made all the difference!

Our main character, Georgia, is young and impressionable, and we get to witness just how far she’s willing to go for a successful comeback. It’s easy to look at someone from the outside and think, “Get out of there! They’re using you!” But the closer you are to the situation, the less you truly see. Georgia’s journey unfolds alongside Henry, Marianna, and a few other intriguing characters. Thanks to the talented narrators, I had no trouble keeping track of everyone, which is a feat in itself!

The secluded setting and the unfolding drama had me pondering themes of brainwashing and manipulation, reminiscent of a cult. Imagine being asked to perform or say things that aren’t even true, all to please your “teacher.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg before things spiral out of control!

If you’re into cult-like vibes, peer pressure, and manipulation, this audiobook will keep you glued to your headphones on a rainy afternoon. It’s a quick listen, and even though it’s a slow-burn murder mystery, I genuinely enjoyed every moment. While the book may not have a massive twist, I wholeheartedly recommend the audio version!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a fantastic production of an audiobook. I was trying to look into it, and I think it was only released as an audio. It is a full cast of characters, complete with sound effects and really reads like more of a movie than a book. It left out a lot of the "he/she said" and things like that, and people were having conversations. I loved it for that aspect.

The story itself was twisty and engaging, about a woman who was a famous child actress trying to get herself back into the industry. She finds herself caught up in an almost cult-like group, cutting off everyone who cares about her, and embarks on a downward spiral.

I was super into the story, but the only downfall for me was the ending. I had a super tough time parsing out what happened in the end, and I had to go back and listen to it three times, and I am still not sure. It made it hard to tell because throughout the whole book, the characters were reading dialogue and rehearsing scenes, and I found it confusing as to what actually happened and what was something they were rehearsing. I would normally rate a book lower for this issue, but I loved the audio and production of it so much, that it all kind of balanced out for me and I just accepted what I wanted to accept.

Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely love the concept of an audiobook exclusive. The story being made specifically for this format worked so well. The inclusion of voicemails, podcast clips, and news alerts really added so much depth to the story that would not have worked as well on the page alone. The narrators were great and really added to the tension of certain “scenes” (chapters).
The story itself was good. I thought that the ending twist was somewhat predictable and felt rushed to me without a completely satisfying conclusion.

A slow burn read that's perfect for readers who are intrigued by the secrets behind the scenes of those who seek to be Hollywood stars. The story follows Georgia, a former child star, Henry, Lola Mariana. It's a multi POV with an incredible full cast narration. This story breaks down and shows what it truly takes to be a star in the industry. It shows the darkness, and how some are literally chewed up and spit out by the industry. It has its highs and lows. This one is character driven and I enjoyed the twists and turns. The audiobook for this one was outstanding!! The narrators, Aimee Horne, Airlie Dodds, Alan Chu, Angela Tran, Anna Downes, Elisa Colla, Jeremy Waters, Lyanna Kea, Remy Hii, Taylor Owens, and Yael Stone were amazing and they truly breathed life into the characters and elevated the story for me. I truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook. The tones and inflections were great and they added depth to the character. I really enjoyed the mixed audio format with podcast segments. Find out if Georgia has what it takes to be a star.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.