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Reviewed by Gabriel Santos for Readers' Favorite
On the surface, Paige Huskey seemed like a well-put-together community college professor passionate about her work. But her personal life was crumbling. She struggled to take care of herself, let alone Livvy, her youngest child, who was going through a turbulent period. That's when she started attending local Texas hold 'em poker tournaments. Just low-stakes games between friends and acquaintances. What started as a way to socialize and blow off steam grew into something more as she became a better player and chased greater challenges. This led her to casinos, which transformed her from a competitive player into a compulsive gambler. The Ultimate Comeback is a memoir that chronicles her journey of descent and recovery.
The brutally honest writing kept me coming back for more, though it was a challenging read at times. I know what it's like to feel that life is out of control and broken beyond repair, so many parts hit hard for me. Paige Huskey also does a great job of describing the visceral experience of gambling, especially in a casino. The bright colors, the flashing lights, the illusion of control, and the allure of jackpots. She explains the psychological tricks while showing why they're so effective, even if you're aware of them. The storytelling structure is very interesting, alternating between a certain weekend in 2019 that represented rock bottom and a chronological retelling of the events leading to that weekend. The Ultimate Comeback is a great memoir and an even greater means of raising awareness and reaching out to those dealing with gambling addiction and similar conditions.
