Author: Anna Downs
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Audio ALC
Narrated by Aimee Horne; Airlie Dodds; Alan Chu; Angela Tran; Anna Downes; Elisa Colla; Jeremy Waters; Lyanna Kea; Remy Hii; Taylor Owens; Yael Stone
Length: 8 hrs 43 mins
Date of Publication: August 19, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
How far would you go for greatness?
After years of seclusion, the once-celebrated child star Georgia Lane moves to Los Angeles, determined to make a comeback. But as auditions elude her and bills pile up, she quickly realizes that beneath the glitzy facade of LA lies a ruthless and unforgiving city.
That is, until she meets Henry, an aspiring actor, who sweeps her off her feet, connects her with his agent, and brings her to audit a class at the elite acting studio he attends. It’s here that Marianna, The Studio’s head teacher, takes a special interest in Georgia. As she steps into the intense, ego-driven world of The Studio, she finds herself challenged and invigorated by its unconventional methods, which promise to unlock her full potential but demand much more in return.
The more she commits to its ways, the more The Studio transforms into a battleground of ambition, jealousy, and psychological warfare. With each step forward, she feels the grip of her past tightening, Henry’s love turning on her, and Marianna’s mentorship becoming all-consuming. And as the lines between the pursuit of art and the survival of the self begin to blur, everything Georgia holds dear starts slipping away, revealing the true price of a dream. Break Me Down is a testament to the power of art to heal, destroy, and ultimately transform.
An audio original from Macmillan Audio.
MY THOUGHTS:
Break Me Down is the first audio thriller I have listened to. Decades ago, I often fell asleep to mystery radio performances. These were thanks to my mother, and also my great-grandmother, who both fostered a love of mysteries in me. Listening to this full-cast performance gave me a strong sense of Deja vu.
I loved those mysteries and never once thought of rating them on content or performance. That is how it was for me while listening to this book. I loved the full-cast, the sound effects and the story itself.
The story centers around former child star Georgia Lane. Georgia has a chance to relaunch her career, especially with the opportunity to take acting classes at an elite acting school. As Georgia participates in the classes, as well as her childhood memories, the story runs along at a steady pace.
With Jennette McCurdy’s book, I’m Glad My Mom Died, coming back to me in bits and pieces, as well as continued drama when it comes to today’s Hollywood scene, this creative production kept my attention throughout. I hope for the opportunity to enjoy this experience again.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The Safe Place was inspired by Anna’s experiences working as a live-in housekeeper on a remote French estate in 2009-10.
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