What do you think?
Rate this book
Excessive
Excessive is a dark romantic comedy created by Emmy Award-winning writer Dan Robert, starring Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live, Father of the Bride, Babylon), Joshua Jackson (Dr. Death, The Affair, Dawson’s Creek), and an all-star cast including Amy Sedaris, Loni Love, Kim Cattrall, Meredith Hagner, Debbie Allen, Heidi Gardner, and Guillermo Díaz.
Paula O’Brien (Chloe Fineman) is a 30-something haunted-house stage manager who has always been told she’s a little “too much”. Over the top. Overwhelming. Just—too much. But what do you do with your “too much” when no one wants it?
After a humiliating turn at the wedding of her childhood best friend (Meredith Hagner), Paula flees Connecticut, leaving her overbearing mother (Kim Cattrall) behind, and follows a series of signs to the city of excess, Las Vegas, in search of her true twin flame.
Enter Victor (Joshua Jackson): a criminally charming bachelor who causes Paula to fall hard. But after Victor vanishes without a trace, he discovers the true meaning of “too much” when she sends thousands of unrequited texts—each message a new stop on this twisted journey through the dark side of romance and magic in Vegas.
Paula O’Brien (Chloe Fineman) is a 30-something haunted-house stage manager who has always been told she’s a little “too much”. Over the top. Overwhelming. Just—too much. But what do you do with your “too much” when no one wants it?
After a humiliating turn at the wedding of her childhood best friend (Meredith Hagner), Paula flees Connecticut, leaving her overbearing mother (Kim Cattrall) behind, and follows a series of signs to the city of excess, Las Vegas, in search of her true twin flame.
Enter Victor (Joshua Jackson): a criminally charming bachelor who causes Paula to fall hard. But after Victor vanishes without a trace, he discovers the true meaning of “too much” when she sends thousands of unrequited texts—each message a new stop on this twisted journey through the dark side of romance and magic in Vegas.
Audible Audio
Published March 23, 2023
12 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 26, 2023
I normally don’t include the full cast audio dramas that I listen to on Goodreads, but this was so exceptional that I had to leave a 5 star review. I’d leave 10 stars if I could. I loved everything about this story so much. And it was performed flawlessly by incredible actors. I can only hope we get more!
April 23, 2023
This was definitely titled properly. It was all over the place and hard to follow at times. I was both overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. I didn’t realize that was even possible so I gave it an extra 1/2 star just for that.
April 28, 2024
I could not stop laughing and I changed my ringtone to crickets just because of this story 😂😂
May 9, 2024
This was an extremely crazy story from beginning to end. Paula was a smat, neurotic person that believed on the #4 based on info she received from a psychic. To earn the respect of her mother and friends, she went to Vegas and experience unimaginable drama. The new friends, new love and new anxieties only made things wilder. The author did an excellent job switching the scenes to make the story funny and totally unbelievable. But the twist at the end was jaw dropping. I hope there's more to this fanatical tale.
April 8, 2023
Soooo... is there a sequel to this? Because that ending was too abrupt and cliffhanger-ish to be an actual ending.
I found the main character to be completely crazy. She was enjoyable to follow and really nice, but the whole time I kept thinking "total nut job". And her decisions the farther along into the story I got seriously confirmed that. It was a quirky read and the voice actors did an amazing job, but I wish the author had finished the story rather than breaking off after such a short time.
I found the main character to be completely crazy. She was enjoyable to follow and really nice, but the whole time I kept thinking "total nut job". And her decisions the farther along into the story I got seriously confirmed that. It was a quirky read and the voice actors did an amazing job, but I wish the author had finished the story rather than breaking off after such a short time.
June 14, 2023
Not my cup of tea
The plot involves a surrealistic, convoluted type of comedy that is not, unfortunately, my personal taste.
Kudos to Audible for moving increasingly into the realm of multicast, audioplay productions, however. The actors are excellent, many of them quite well known and some famous.
The plot involves a surrealistic, convoluted type of comedy that is not, unfortunately, my personal taste.
Kudos to Audible for moving increasingly into the realm of multicast, audioplay productions, however. The actors are excellent, many of them quite well known and some famous.
August 21, 2023
Largely unfunny, this dark comedy is desultory, hard to follow, and all over the place. Listened to on Audible. In the four-and-a-half-hour run time, I laughed few and far between.
November 28, 2023
Fun audio romp.
December 3, 2023
10 points review:
1 - This book is exactly what the title says it is: excessive;
2 - It was times there was so much happening at the same time, it was quite hard to follow;
3 - That being said, I listened to the audiobook (I don’t think there’s a non-audiobook version), and that may be a reason why it was so hard to keep with it;
4 - The main character is absolutely crazy;
5 - I don’t know how to think about her craziness: I don’t think it was clear enough in the terms of it being a parody for me to get over the fact they made the girl the crazy stalker one;
6 - If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: random;
7 - The writing itself was just normal, with no sense of art whatsoever;
8 - All the characters were just meh;
9 - I kept listening because it entertained me enough in traffic;
10 - Do not think I would recommend this book, honestly.
1 - This book is exactly what the title says it is: excessive;
2 - It was times there was so much happening at the same time, it was quite hard to follow;
3 - That being said, I listened to the audiobook (I don’t think there’s a non-audiobook version), and that may be a reason why it was so hard to keep with it;
4 - The main character is absolutely crazy;
5 - I don’t know how to think about her craziness: I don’t think it was clear enough in the terms of it being a parody for me to get over the fact they made the girl the crazy stalker one;
6 - If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: random;
7 - The writing itself was just normal, with no sense of art whatsoever;
8 - All the characters were just meh;
9 - I kept listening because it entertained me enough in traffic;
10 - Do not think I would recommend this book, honestly.
September 12, 2023
Yes, this was all over the place. If you've ever been to Vegas... I feel like the story being over the top and all over the place is completely appropriate! Yes, Paula is crazy... but at the same time... most women have these thoughts in their mind and just do not act on them in this manner. I loved the different characters and the acting was amazing. The ending left me hanging big time... now I feel like the fool :) Hoping for a part 2!
June 26, 2024
Pretty much gave it a try because it is free with my audible subscription.
But what a fun ride! The voice acting is so good, and the writing is hilarious. I loved every minute of listening to this unhinged love? story. I found myself chuckling out loud the entire time. The story itself is brilliant, and the absurdity is just *chefs kiss*
Yes. Listen to this if you have audible! It’s so quick and enjoyable.
But what a fun ride! The voice acting is so good, and the writing is hilarious. I loved every minute of listening to this unhinged love? story. I found myself chuckling out loud the entire time. The story itself is brilliant, and the absurdity is just *chefs kiss*
Yes. Listen to this if you have audible! It’s so quick and enjoyable.
April 24, 2023
This audible exclusive was the pure chaos that I did not know that I absolutely needed!! The plot had lots of twists and turns that was very unexpected. I loved it!! I am a Joshua Jackson fan- and his character was amazing! He has never portrayed a character like this before and it was delightful. Of course, I am crossing my fingers there is a 2nd season with a fun conclusion. 🤞🏻🙌🏻
May 11, 2023
I listened to Excessive because it’s free in the Audible plus catalog. I liked the cast and it was entertaining. The plot is a little crazy, but funny. It opens with Paula telling her story from a jail cell. It can be a little confusing if you’re not paying attention… a lot happens in a short time. The ending is a little unsatisfying… not sure if they’re making a part 2?
September 6, 2023
Like many other reviewers, this story was just way to over the top. I had to skip ahead every time a character went ultra neurotic and started screeching. The actors did what was written well but it still couldn't save this story.
July 9, 2024
This was too chaotic.
I wanted to empathise with Paula as a fellow 'too much' but the title definitely did her justice.
There was a lot of chaos around Paula. Were all these interactions real, or were some imagined? It was hard to keep track of what was going on.
I wanted to empathise with Paula as a fellow 'too much' but the title definitely did her justice.
There was a lot of chaos around Paula. Were all these interactions real, or were some imagined? It was hard to keep track of what was going on.
October 7, 2025
I really wanted to like it because of the all star cast. And it had so much potential, but WTF was that ending?!?! It was extremely unsatisfying. There were lots of funny moments and twists I wasn't expecting, but that ending was just... there was no resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
This was ALL over the place
May 11, 2023
Great cast, crazy story.
May 24, 2023
Gave up on this early on.
June 13, 2023
The name fits because everyone was wayyy over the top. I laughed a few times. I listened to dyfunction, so many of them need therapy!!
June 29, 2023
Wow toxic misogyny, much??? Plus it's poorly written. Plus plus plus. Terrible book.
August 9, 2023
Uuuummmmm. Not quite sure what I just listened to. Was a hot train wreck mess that I kept listening to.
August 29, 2023
All over the place. All I can think is "WTF did I just read!?"
September 1, 2023
Not sure what I just listened to but it was great
September 14, 2023
What in the holy heck did I just listen to?!
October 10, 2023
Meh. Very weird (but not in a good way) and hard to follow.
December 23, 2023
What the hello did I just listen to! Thank God I didn't purchase. It was included with audible plus membership
January 5, 2024
So much happens in this story! Gets confusing but is fun to read.
March 2, 2024
The cast was good but the story itself was just okay and it was hard to follow at times
April 29, 2024
What even was this?!!!!😭😭
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews