Author Talk: Alisyn Camerota, "Combat Love"

Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore welcomes CNN Anchor Alisyn Camerota, who will discuss her new memoir, Combat Love, her personal story of growing up on the Jersey Shore in the free-range 1980s.

Alisyn will be in conversation with Darien's Page Berger.

Longing for stability and attachment as the foundation of her family crumbled, Camerota finds the belonging she craves courtesy of a local punk rock band named Shrapnel and their diehard fans. Combat Love chronicles her near-misses and misadventures at clubs like CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, coupled with the sex, drugs, and punk rock of 1980s New Jersey. By the time she leaves home at sixteen, it feels like home had left her long ago. 

Combat Love is also the story of two women, mother and daughter, trying to forge their own paths and independence, and find their own happiness, success and wholeness. Camerota’s story searches for the line between shelter and risk, nurture and neglect, parenting and personal freedom. What are we willing to sacrifice for self-actualization and happiness? What if the answer is your mother, or your daughter?

Join us at Darien Library and hear her remarkable story!

About Alisyn Camerota

Alisyn Camerota is a journalist, author and anchor/correspondent on CNN in New York City.

In her three decades in journalism, Camerota has covered stories nationally and internationally, earning two Emmy Awards for her breaking news coverage of the death of George Floyd and arrest of Roger Stone, as well as the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for her breaking news coverage of Hurricane Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico.

Alisyn attended American University on a Presidential scholarship, graduating cum laude in Broadcast Journalism. Alisyn’s debut novel, Amanda Wakes Up, was selected by National Public Radio as one of the best books of the year, and by Oprah Magazine as “a must read.” Her memoir, Combat Love was published in March of 2024.

About Page Berger

Page Berger is a freelance ghostwriter and writer who pens the bi-weekly Four Top newsletter. She graduated cum laude from Davidson College and earned master’s degrees from Middlebury's Bread Loaf School of English, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Page held positions at the Robin Hood Foundation and Teach For America and worked for several years as the marketing and event director at Barrett Bookstore. Page’s passion lies in fostering community and connection through conversation and storytelling. Learn more at www.pageberger.com.