Mona Acts Out: A Novel

by Mischa Berlinski

“What a treat, what an absolute delight this warm, funny novel is. … [Berlinski]’s written a sharp analysis of something dark, and he’s made it a pure pleasure to read.”—Constance Grady, Vox



“The journey of Mona Acts Out is insightfully, entertainingly multitudinous."—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times



"Extravagantly brilliant and darkly funny.”—Ann Levin, Associated Press



"Rhapsodic and enlightening about Shakespeare, full of fun on every page, Mischa Berlinski’s Mona Acts Out is an early literary delight of 2025."—Marion Winik, Minneapolis Star-Tribune



"Sharp-witted and weighty. …Berlinski deserves a standing ovation for this bravura performance."—Publishers Weekly





Celebrated stage actress Mona Zahid wakes up on Thanksgiving morning to the clamor of guests packed into her Manhattan apartment and to a wave of her in-laws are lurking on the other side of the bedroom door; she’s still fighting with her husband; and in just a few weeks she will begin rehearsals as Shakespeare’s Cleopatra, the hardest role in theater. In an impulsive burst, Mona bounds out the door with the family dog in tow (“I forgot the parsley!” is her lame excuse) to find her estranged mentor, Milton Katz, who was recently forced out of the legendary theater company he founded amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Mona’s escape turns into an overnight adventure that brings her face-to-face with her past, with her creative power and its limitations, and ultimately, with all the people she has ever loved.


Beguilingly approachable and intricately constructed, at once funny and sad and wise, Mona Acts Out is a novel about acting and telling the truth, about how we play roles to get through our days, and how the great roles teach us how to live.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, New York, Theatre, Book Club, Audiobook, Literary Fiction

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2025

About the author

Mischa Berlinski is the author of novels Fieldwork, a finalist for the National Book Award, and Peacekeeping. He has written for the New York Review of Books about Haitian politics, has tried to buy a zombie for Men's Journal, and investigated a woman who married a snake for Harper's Magazine. His writing has appeared in the Best American Essays and the Best American Travel Writing.

He is the recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award and the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Addison M. Metcalf Award.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

“All things considered, time was nothing but a gift.”

Relationships are complicated. And, sometimes it takes time to realize that they are truly a gift that is given to us. At least the ending of this book, if you can make it that far, will lead us to see this. And, I’d like to believe I haven’t given away any spoilers. That is not what I like to do in my reviews.

So, why did I go for this book?

I think it was the book cover that initially attracted me to this novel. And, that the premise alluded to the protagonist escaping her life briefly with her beagle dog, Barney.

I liked that idea.

Have you ever just wanted to pick up everything and your precious pet and just go somewhere comforting to escape the chaos of the world?

Still, would this premise be enough to sustain the story? And, was that really the essence of the premise? I was just presuming it was when I was daydreaming my life away in the book cover.

Back to the review.

I will say this much…I am not one for characters that need illegal drugs to get by in their life. So, when that happens, I wince. I feel uncomfortable, and uncertain I want to even continue reading. I recognize that flaws in character can add to a story, but using drugs to give it a comedic flair or any story build-up just isn’t my thing.

Just like I don’t like prison stories, or abusive characters. There already is too much ugly in the world.

Do I need to read it, too?

Mona, an actress is escaping her household, in a drug-like state of mind, to find her mentor director who was accused of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement. (Another icky trigger warning.)

Why? (No spoilers from me.)

But I will say this. I just found myself becoming more uncomfortable. And, I couldn’t help but ask myself…

How will I get myself through this story?

Answer…

To be honest, not easily.

As Mona struggles to come to terms with her marriage, with a Trump like father-in-law and too many other characters in this story to keep track of, I found myself coming up with excuses to exit stage right from this book.

The only one I was hanging on to hope for was Barney. Maybe you may feel differently. Not about Barney, but this book.

You might want to consider again my first paragraph, and then consider other reviewers before making your final decision about reading this book or not.

[Crystal FloridaGrams Of3 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly tried to get into this book, but YAWN 🥱 😴. I just couldn't stay engaged. I didn't like a single character.
Thanks to Goodreads for thus ARC for my honest review.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mona Acts Out is not exactly what I expected, and in the end I found it kind of tedious and felt that it would have worked better as a short story.

Mona is a middle-aged actress preparing for the role of a lifetime, Cleopatra, as she is going through a personal crisis in her marriage with boring doctor Phil. The theater company where she got her start is a cultish organization run by a complicated man named Milton Katz who believes in the tired maxim that abuse and sexual impropriety is the path to creating great artists. Milton, who is in his 80s now and suffering the effects of aging, is the subject of a Me Too era whistleblower complaint from women in his company who accused him of sexual misconduct.

Mona feels suffocated by Phil's family, which includes her father-in-law who is consumed by an obsession with the conspiracy theory that Shakespeare didn't really write those plays, as she is still grieving her sister who died of cancer, on a night when they are hosting Thanksgiving dinner.

Stoned and delirious, she runs away with her pet beagle in pursuit of parsley. She soon forgets the parsley and wanders around Manhattan, reminiscing about the good old days in her theatrical career and pondering her marriage to Phil. She winds up at a Starbucks, then at her old castmate's party, where she creates a scene by throwing a dog bone. This woman was one of the most prominent critics of Milton's misconduct, who had some talent but felt her life was ruined by her affair with him and Mona's defense of him. She then ends up at Milton's house, where she confronts the demons of their past and finds him deteroriating but still the glue that holds them together.

Mona and Milton reminded me a bit too much of the dynamic of the Morning Show - a bit stereotypical, though characters like those were common in the art world before Me Too.

I was expecting this to be more of a family story where Mona is dealing with a crumbling marriage and finding her voice after slinking into the female invisibility of middle age. Instead she just kind of accepts that life will be invisible and boring from now on and she has to make her peace with it after a very mild outburst, which I found to be a very deflating message. I think a female author would have handled the notion of female rage better. Instead Mona was the mild-mannered wife who's really an addict who realizes she loves her husband. I also hardly even realized she was a mother to a brooding teenage son, so little did her motherhood factor into her tedious soul searching.

The cast of colorful characters was the best part of this book, and I liked how it was a beautiful love letter to New York and the New York theater scene. But it wasn't the powerful piece of women's fiction that I was expecting and I found that disappointing. Mona had so much potential to be a more interesting character and instead it was a novel without much happening except her wandering the city all night and reflecting on her past.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Alderman · Rating 2 out of 5]

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Sometimes I read a book and I struggle to know- Am I an idiot who doesn’t understand this book or is this book just actually boring as heck? In the case of Mona Acts Out, I think it was just actually very boring and tedious.
I think someone who was involved in the NY theatre scene or someone who’s a big Shakespeare buff would like this much more than I did, but I’m neither of those demographics. I will say, it was well narrated and I feel that’s the only reason I stuck with it for so long. This book jumped from present day to various points in the past constantly, which was a touch confusing. I found Mona pretty boring, unlikable, and her constant protection and ideation of a man who’d proven to be a predator was a bit unsettling.
I wanted to like this book and I thought I would based on the synopsis, but I found this book neither exuberant nor deeply moving.
1.5⭐️ rounded up to 2⭐️ for goodreads

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Mischa Berlinski's debut Fieldwork but haven't read anything by him since. His third novel, Mona Acts Out, is a very different beast. On the face of it, it's another #MeToo story. Mona, a Shakespearean actress, spent most of her career working with famous director Milton Katz and his company. Now she's moved elsewhere and Milton's career is over after a wave of accusations of sexual misconduct from women who worked for him over the years have forced him to retire. Mona Acts Out takes place over the course of a day and a night as Mona walks out of hosting Thanksgiving with her in-laws and embarks on a crazy, redemptive journey across New York. What I really loved about this novel, however, was not its nuanced exploration of sexual politics but the way Berlinski writes about performing, and especially about performing Shakespeare. Mona reflects constantly on how Milton's controversial techniques helped her develop her craft, how she feels particular roles should be played - Isabella from Measure for Measure is a thematic touchstone, as is her upcoming part, Cleopatra - and how truly great productions create their effect on the audience. Berlinski is adept at weaving Mona's inner world into her outer world, mirroring the way that we actually think, so even when Mona's deep in a flashback, we see the way it's affecting the streets where she's walking. And bonus points for Barney, Mona's dog, whose inner world we also occasionally glimpse; so hard to write a dog character without any sentimentality, but still with warmth, and Berlinski pulls it off. I especially enjoyed Barney's transcendent encounter with an egg-and-bacon bagel. 

I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.

[Kurt Neumaier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm excited to watch the YouTube series about Shakespearean acting that inspired this book! A young Judi Dench and Ian McKellan are in it!

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona Acts Out by Mischa Berlinski is a dive into theatre life from an experienced actress. There are many obstacles women are confronted with in the acting world. Being a theatre geek and Shakespeare lover myself, I found this intriguing and engaging! While Mona's experience isn't what everyone encounters, it's an interesting review of what could happen.

This is a very character-driven story with intermingled relationships. These relationships are not straightforward and makes you think about how the situations presented happen. Agency and authority play a major role in these plays and the book. I enjoyed this reflection of life through the lens of those who play Shakespeare!

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having worked in professional theatre this nuanced though funny debate on art and me too (all among narcissists) hit close to home. Would recommend knowing the basic outline of "Measure for Measure" and "Anthony and Cleopatra".

[HeatherREADS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona’s a middle aged actress, living with her husband in NYC. She’s preparing to play the part of Shakespeare’s Cleopatra, and thinking about former theater director Milton Katz, a mentor of sorts. It’s Thanksgiving and Mona steps out with her dog, Barney, to go buy some parsley needed for the holiday meal.

But Mona’s soul has other plans - she wanders around the city, finally ending up at an old friend’s house where a Thanksgiving party is taking place. This novel is sometimes in the present moment and sometimes there are flashbacks of the past. The reader learns about Mona as a person but also about the other people who loom large in her life - Milton, her husband, Phil, and son, Aaron, as well as her in-laws, niece and her old theater friends.

The most heartfelt parts of the novel are when Mona reflects on her relationship with her sister, Zahra. Zarah has recently passed away from cancer, and this loss is eating at Mona’s soul, as much as she tries to hide it. Her insecurities come to light, despite her public persona of being cool, calm, and collected. She explores her past and reckons with her feelings on all of the topics that swirl around her life.

I liked this novel. The characters became well developed and complex as the story moved forward. No one is all good, or all evil. There are lots of shades of gray. The theater references probably went over my head but I enjoyed them nonetheless. I liked that even Barney the dog had his own preferences and desires, his own personality. The complex relationships explored seemed to be crafted lovingly by the author, who really brought all of the characters to life.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book’s cover immediately captivated me, immersing me in the vibrant world of New York City’s theater scene during its glamorous heyday. Although I did not participate in theater during high school, I have always harbored a desire to have experienced at least one production.

I found the narrative engaging, with well-developed primary and secondary characters, and a well-paced storyline. The novel evokes the opulent atmosphere reminiscent of works like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. As someone approaching midlife, I resonated deeply with the protagonist’s journey.

I received an advance reader copy of the audiobook through NetGalley and RBmedia in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #RBmedia #MonaActsOut

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, insightful, and critical view into the world of theater, New York City, and one woman’s reflection on her life as she enters her later years. Mona, one of the star performers in a Shakespearean troupe, struggles to reconcile her life as she lived it and the modern criticism of the mores of that time. The story asks, how will Mona reconcile her truth and experience while acknowledging that times have changed and she may be left behind if she does not change with them? Humorous, reflective, and insightful; I enjoyed taking the journey with Mona.

A thank you to W.W. Morton for an advanced readers copy.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brava! Well done.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An aging Shakespearean actress abandons a tedious Thanksgiving with her family to wander her neighborhood and ponder her life. I promise it's funny and smart and absorbing.

Mona is approaching midlife and doesn't know how she got here. As she walks the blocks, she moves through her past. We dive deeper into her off-off-off Broadway existence, the people who populated that life and the roles she played. Along the way, we meet some of those people in the present, who challenge Mona's perceptions of herself and recollections of her past.

This is a tale of the roles we play - in our relationships, our jobs - and how messily intertwined they can get, how difficult it can be to peel back the mask to remember who we are underneath. Well-written, amusing and at times poignant. This one really surprised me.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of like The Catcher in the Rye if Holden had been a middle aged actress contemplating the state of her marriage, her sister’s recent death, and an upcoming role as Cleopatra, and instead of escaping boarding school is escaping family on Thanksgiving to roam around NYC. And I mostly liked it, aside from the ending (which was a fine, if saccharine, ending - it just didn’t match the tone of the rest of the novel), and the lack of transition between present day narration and flashbacks, which made it difficult to keep track of what was happening when.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona, a middle-aged stage actress at a Shakespeare company in NYC, needed a break from her life and her family... On Thanksgiving Day! She walks out of her home with her dog (and her phone with a soon-to-be dead battery) and goes missing from her life as she revisits her past over the next 24 hours. Mona is funny and relatable and imaginative... following her on this journey was a delight. I so enjoyed it that I almost would give it 5 stars!

[Maxine Rosenfeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first 3/4 of this were so fun. ending didn’t quite pull it together for me, but still a good read.

[Andy Tade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without giving away spoilers, I enjoyed the book and its characters even though many didn’t seem to be truly likable. I’m struggling a bit with the bow that was wrapped and tied around the ending…it feels out of place with the rest of the book.

[Riley Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun literary fiction, and I really appreciated how different from other “mid-life crisis” books the story was. Mona was larger than life yet, her emotions were so incredibly relatable. I loved how dramatic she was, not surprising of a Broadway legend I suppose. The friends and previous co-stars she talks to throughout her day of existential crisis were all interesting, and helped you better understand Mona herself. I can’t say how glad I was when the overused solution of an open marriage wasn’t decided upon, and Mona and her husband still appreciated each other and knew they wanted to remain together. The audiobook was superb, and the narrator really brought the story to life!

[Ed Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, did I love this book! Granted, I am an amateur Shakespearean actor, so the many, many references to the Bard’s plays didn’t fly over my head as they might a less Elizabethan reader. It’s the story of a day in the life of a Shakespearean actress named Mona Zahid, who is a lead in a rebellious and brilliant company led by this guy named Milton. He’s been forced out by reports of sexual impropriety by a former lead actress, who makes an appearance later in the novel. Mostly, Mona abandons her husband, in-laws and daughter of her deceased sister who have gathered in her NYC apartment for Thanksgiving. Mona does a lot of terrible things, thinks about even more of them, yet is utterly compelling as Berlinski weaves the story of her life into her day of irresponsible behavior. The book is often genuinely funny, producing everything from a gentle chuckle to a loud guffaw. And Mona and Milton’s takes on Shakespeare and his characters (particularly his women) are insightful and brilliant. I couldn’t put this book down, and I believe anyone would enjoy it, but the Shakespeare stuff isn’t just a backdrop (as in, say, Station 11 — it’s more central as in, say, Mona Awad’s All’s Well), so it’s a bit dependent on how you feel about that. If you read it and you’re not an aficionado, well, Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

Grade: A (for me)

[Carolyn Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona is a self-absorbed, insecure actress, product of a turbulent family and career, besieged by her in-laws and others on Thanksgiving Day, when she flees to 24 hours of walkabout, reverie about her past and very bad behavior. Turns out she's researching her next role, Cleopatra. The novel is amusing and wise and brimming over with Shakespeare.

"As always when Bruce and Sheila made the coffee, they used the wrong kind. The pair of them must have gotten down right onto their creaking knees and delved like cunning ferrets to the back of the cupboard, slipping past the aged ramen, traversing the great wall of antique cereal, to the place where expired coffee lived in an old Maxwell House tin, when just inside the refrigerator door there was not one but two bags of fresh beans from Whole Foods." p. 10

"...those blocks werestill radioactive. The thing about Manhattan was that if you wanted to see someone on purpose, you had to make an appointment for coffee six months in advance. Then one of you would cancel. But if you wanted to avoid someone-- well, best of luck." p. 86

"Mona of infinite variety surprised herself as she inevitably surprised others. She was happy. How good it was to have the luxury of time...All of these were problems for another day. Thank goodness, she thought, that there was time enough for that. All things considered, time was nothing but a gift." p.295

[Erin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mona is a Shakespearean actress famous for her roles as leading ladies and she is about to star in her biggest and most difficult role yet, Cleopatra. However on Thanksgiving eve she kind of loses it and walks out with her dog ostensibly to get parsley. As she walks the streets of Manhattan she reviews her life, her mentor Milton who has been accused of inappropriate behavior with young starlets, her sisters death, the state of her marriage and so much more. Mona has an acerbate wit and as we travel the streets with her and her pup we learn more and more about what makes Mona Mona. This book is very funny and I laughed out loud a few times. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was excellent, great voices for each character. The dialog is clever and crisp. I really liked it. Recommended. 4 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the ARC audio version of this book. All opinions are my own.

[eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Mona is a middle-aged actress preparing for the role of a lifetime, Cleopatra, as she is going through a personal crisis in her marriage. Feeling suffocated by the presence of Phil's family, visiting for Thanksgiving, she runs away with her dog.

Such an interesting insight on the theater world, with incredibly captivating characters, that were so well developed and just felt so real. It wasn't uite what I expected it to be, which left me slightly disappointed, but I still had a good time with it. It's just a fun, quick read that follows as Mona thinks back on her life, professional and personal, while wandering the streets of New York. I listened to the audiobook for this one, and it definitely helped a lot and made it that much more enjoyable!

Many thanks to RBmedia & NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So tempted to give this book 5 stars, but not sure it’s for everyone. Shakespeare, generational gaps, family, aging, #MeToo… lots of themes to unpack.

And Mona is utterly, imperfectly delightful. I can’t decide if I want to be her or just be her bestie.


— Updated for 25 —
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Will re-read & you must read it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Recommend & much to appreciate
⭐️⭐️⭐️ = Enjoyable and delivered as expected
⭐️⭐️ = Not mad at it but wouldn’t recommend
⭐️ = Not sure why I bothered to finish

[Emily DeMeo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Kyra Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense read, even if you know your Shakespeare. Author deftly plans a modern tragedy and romance with their counterparts in theater. You will both love and hate every character in this book, sometimes simultaneously. Each shows its flaws and why they deserve the spotlight.

[gaby carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really interesting story with a very complex set of characters. i don’t ultimately know if i was fully satisfied with the resolution but it’s so fascinating to watch it unfold

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. I really loved this book. Sometimes I disliked almost everyone in it (never Barney, he’s a good dog), but I still wanted to be in a room with them. Or maybe, more precisely, a theater.

[houk · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really hate to admit how much this novel did not work for me, in part due to my predisposition to enjoying anything at all related to the performance of and/or appreciation of shakespeare. and yet! i am so wholeheartedly disappointed with the character beats and subplot that i feel even two stars is a generous rating. yikes.

[Dodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a New York-y book. Mona Acts Out focuses on the theater world and difficulties of succeeding in it. It takes place well before Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault, and Mischa Berlinski highlights women's struggles dealing with lecherous men. Some of the personal interactions are cringe-inducing reading, but there is humor and insightfulness here, too.

[Cheryl Sokoloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A New York based comedy of manners and morals.”

“An exuberant & darkly humorous novel by NBA nominated author Mischa Berlinski.” - Amazon

“A romp that will keep you reading and Laughing too! - Cheryl (me)

Thank you netgalley for the audiobook!