April 24, 2023
Schulman (Come with Me) delivers an incisive and thrilling account of women who are hounded by powerful men. Meredith Montgomery, a famous young actor, is keeping a low profile in Paris, subsisting on Xanax and ice cream as she works on the tell-all memoir that will unmask “the Rug,” her nickname for the Weinsteinesque producer who assaulted her, then had her blacklisted after she tried to speak out. One day, while being harassed by a pair of sleazy tourists, she is saved by the switchblade-wielding Nina, who offers Merry the help of her organization, W2, which is dedicated to lifting up the voices of women. Turns out Nina’s story is too good to be true—Nina is actually an ex-Mossad spy on the Rug’s payroll, charged with stealing Merry’s manuscript and discrediting her in the eyes of the public. Schulman then shifts perspective to flashbacks of Nina’s war-torn childhood in Bosnia with her family, and shows how hindrances to Nina’s ambitions to become an actor run parallel to Merry’s own hurdles in her career. Though the diptych structure can sap momentum, Meredith and Nina’s intriguing relationship will keep readers on the hook as it evolves and leads to a surprising outcome. This packs plenty of punch.
June 10, 2024
Inspired by Harvey Weinstein's horrific treatment of Rose McGowan, Schulman (Come with Me) offers a story of betrayal and sexual abuse that is equal parts literary fiction, spy thriller, noir, and social commentary. TV star Meredith Montgomery is brutally assaulted by a movie producer who had his enablers deliver her to his hotel room, where they left her to her fate. Unmoored by the attack, she continues associating with the producer and stays in the media spotlight while succumbing to the pull of drugs and alcohol. When the producer's eye falls on another star, Meredith flees to Paris, determined to write a book about her entire ordeal. The plot thickens when the producer hires Bosnian ex-Mossad agent Nina to trick Meredith into giving up the manuscript, in an attempt to lay waste to her reputation. Narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Carlotta Brentan beautifully capture this tragic story, alternating between Meredith's and Nina's points of view. Meredith is not always sympathetic, as her behavior and choices are frustratingly immature; even so, the glimpse into her shattered self is powerful. VERDICT Though uncomfortable and disturbing, this account of one woman's experience of sex abuse and its consequences makes an impact. Recommended for readers of Lisa Taddeo's Animal or Jessica Knoll's Luckiest Girl Alive.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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