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The Extra
Gabby Mays wishes she had her future figured out, like her gorgeous roommate Anna-Marie, who has just landed a role on the hit soap opera Passion Medical. Gabby would give anything to find a career she's half as passionate about as Anna-Marie is about acting—and a love life that isn't comprised of nights with a party-sized bag of Doritos and her Netflix account.
When Gabby becomes a recurring extra on Passion Medical, she finds a job she's surprisingly great at. Even better, her old crush and ex-boss—the sexy, sweet Will Bowen—is writing the scripts, allowing Gabby lots of quality flirting time at the craft services table.
But between feuding divas, fake Emmys, and Gabby's growing concern that Will might not see her as anything more than a friend, her life on set is quickly becoming a drama worthy of the soaps.
When Gabby becomes a recurring extra on Passion Medical, she finds a job she's surprisingly great at. Even better, her old crush and ex-boss—the sexy, sweet Will Bowen—is writing the scripts, allowing Gabby lots of quality flirting time at the craft services table.
But between feuding divas, fake Emmys, and Gabby's growing concern that Will might not see her as anything more than a friend, her life on set is quickly becoming a drama worthy of the soaps.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2019
861 people are currently reading
1308 people want to read
About the author
Megan Walker
32 books81 followersMegan Walker lives in Utah with her husband, two kids, and two dogs-all of whom are incredibly supportive of the time she spends writing about romance and crazy Hollywood hijinks. She loves making Barbie dioramas and reading trashy gossip magazines (and, okay, lots of other books and magazines, as well.) Megan has also written several published fantasy and science-fiction stories under the name Megan Grey.
For more on The Extra series, or to sign up to receive bonus content and all the latest series news, visit www.extraseriesbooks.com
For more on The Extra series, or to sign up to receive bonus content and all the latest series news, visit www.extraseriesbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
February 6, 2021
Women's Fiction / Coming of Age
Lazy day read. Interesting characters with recognizable family dynamics in outrageous setting.
A sweet, seemingly organic romance, yet not the main focus of the book
Lazy day read. Interesting characters with recognizable family dynamics in outrageous setting.
A sweet, seemingly organic romance, yet not the main focus of the book
January 25, 2021
This is more what I consider chick-lit than romance with it's single PoV heroine finding herself through the course of the story. The story that is contrived to an extent, but makes up for it with humor and some truly fantastic character moments, particularly in Gabby's family.
Indeed, the weakest aspect is the romance. Will is kind of a non-entity, what with being engaged to a woman he's obviously incompatible with and thus spending little real time with Gabby. I didn't see how she could actually fall in love with the guy, frankly. They just didn't have any time.
But the rest of the plot was engaging and funny and I was totally down for spending time with her as Gabby figures out what she wants to do with her life. I particularly liked her journey of discovery with relation to her family of perfects. She feels so broken because they are all so successful and she doesn't even know what she wants to do with her life. So as that all fell apart and Gabby had to come to terms with how broken everybody is, really, she also had to let go of all the excuses she had built up around her floating along directionlessness; not least in reframing that floating as experimenting with things she might like so that she could become more deliberate about it.
And the whole plot with her brother and his drug addiction was handled way better than I expected and with real heart and understanding and without the easy answers people like to throw around with that kind of life-destroying problem.
So this is 3½ stars. And normally, with a story where the romance was so poor, I'd be rounding down. But I laughed enough, and enjoyed all the other characters and interactions, that I'll be rounding this one up. And I'll be explicit with the caveat that you really do have to suspend some disbelief for the humor to work and all the soap opera threads to come together both on and off set.
A note about Chaste: I think part of why the romance didn't work is that there was never any room for even hints of intimacy—both physically and emotionally. So there was some kissing, but never anything more. We do hear about the shenanigans of others, but never anything on-page or in explicit detail.
Indeed, the weakest aspect is the romance. Will is kind of a non-entity, what with being engaged to a woman he's obviously incompatible with and thus spending little real time with Gabby. I didn't see how she could actually fall in love with the guy, frankly. They just didn't have any time.
But the rest of the plot was engaging and funny and I was totally down for spending time with her as Gabby figures out what she wants to do with her life. I particularly liked her journey of discovery with relation to her family of perfects. She feels so broken because they are all so successful and she doesn't even know what she wants to do with her life. So as that all fell apart and Gabby had to come to terms with how broken everybody is, really, she also had to let go of all the excuses she had built up around her floating along directionlessness; not least in reframing that floating as experimenting with things she might like so that she could become more deliberate about it.
And the whole plot with her brother and his drug addiction was handled way better than I expected and with real heart and understanding and without the easy answers people like to throw around with that kind of life-destroying problem.
So this is 3½ stars. And normally, with a story where the romance was so poor, I'd be rounding down. But I laughed enough, and enjoyed all the other characters and interactions, that I'll be rounding this one up. And I'll be explicit with the caveat that you really do have to suspend some disbelief for the humor to work and all the soap opera threads to come together both on and off set.
A note about Chaste: I think part of why the romance didn't work is that there was never any room for even hints of intimacy—both physically and emotionally. So there was some kissing, but never anything more. We do hear about the shenanigans of others, but never anything on-page or in explicit detail.
April 26, 2019
This is one of the cases where I feel like I have to explain my review a little. There is a base suspension of disbelief that I found required for this novel to work. The framework of the novel is all these people working in LA in and around a soap opera production, and the thing is their real lives mirror this soap opera environment to an almost exaggerated degree. We don't quite get to secret babies and selective amnesia, but everyone has dramatic problems, or is a diva, or is sleeping with someone they shouldn't be or... etc, etc. I found as long as I accepted this set up then I could accept the rest of the book was an interesting romance, but if I started trying to really force reality on the set up everything else fell apart on me.
So given that The Extra is an amusing second chance romance featuring Gabby May. Gabby is a girl with a problem, namely that she has no idea what she wants to do with her life and is drifting about trying to find her purpose. She's recently lost her job and dropped out of college. Needing employment of some kind she applies to be an extra at the soap opera where her roommate works and there bumps into a man she had a crush on some time ago and hijinks ensue.
The pacing of The Extra is brisk and it's a quick read. It's written first person present tense, which is not one of my favorites. However, the authors handled it well enough that I could ignore the things I don't like about FPPT, though on a few occasions it bumped me out of the story.
I enjoyed the running jokes with the the Chinese American fusion restaurant and Karin, the other extra, became a favorite among the secondary cast. The writing is pop culture heavy, though as it's my kind of pop culture I didn't mind that.
All in all it's a strong 3.5 which I'm rounding up to a four.
Content: Some language including at least one fbomb, very mild violence mostly in the form of cat fights and one punch from a deity, there is a subplot about drug abuse and social drinking, and a whole lot of off screen sex.
So given that The Extra is an amusing second chance romance featuring Gabby May. Gabby is a girl with a problem, namely that she has no idea what she wants to do with her life and is drifting about trying to find her purpose. She's recently lost her job and dropped out of college. Needing employment of some kind she applies to be an extra at the soap opera where her roommate works and there bumps into a man she had a crush on some time ago and hijinks ensue.
The pacing of The Extra is brisk and it's a quick read. It's written first person present tense, which is not one of my favorites. However, the authors handled it well enough that I could ignore the things I don't like about FPPT, though on a few occasions it bumped me out of the story.
I enjoyed the running jokes with the the Chinese American fusion restaurant and Karin, the other extra, became a favorite among the secondary cast. The writing is pop culture heavy, though as it's my kind of pop culture I didn't mind that.
All in all it's a strong 3.5 which I'm rounding up to a four.
Content: Some language including at least one fbomb, very mild violence mostly in the form of cat fights and one punch from a deity, there is a subplot about drug abuse and social drinking, and a whole lot of off screen sex.
August 8, 2021
A cute little love story. Since it is the first in a series it spent time developing the characters, but it still managed to deliver on the romance. Our heroine is trying to make a decision on what she wants to pursue for a career. She feels that everyone else has their lives figured out and she can't seem to nail anything down. (I feel for ya, Babe. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up and I'm a grandmother.) So she falls into a part as an extra on a soap opera and likes the chance to do what she does best. Be in the background. Watch people.
Great story, excellent characters.
Great story, excellent characters.
April 23, 2019
I adored this book. I just read another review where the reader didn't like certain aspects of the book, but those were the aspects that really made this book shine for me. I loved the support characters and cannot wait to see them in future books. I also loved the family drama in Gabby's life because it really pushed the book from "just a beach read romance" to a story with depth and a lot of potential for expanding into a great series. So, whatever floats your boat, I suppose. If you're looking for a fun romance that will brighten your day, pick this one up. And then move on to the next one!
April 20, 2021
3.5⭐!!
This is the first book in "The Extra" series. Gabby Mays gets a regular role as an extra on a soap aeries called "Medical Passions", that her roommate Anna Marie, plays a main character. He sexy ex boss that she used to have a crush on is the one writing the scripts. This was a funny, light, total "soap opera" book. I enjoyed it. Sometimes you just need a book that's a little escape from the seriousness in the world, and this was a good one. It's not a long book at all and I read it pretty fast. Brought back memories of when I used to watch the Soaps back in the day! Lol...lots of drama.
This is the first book in "The Extra" series. Gabby Mays gets a regular role as an extra on a soap aeries called "Medical Passions", that her roommate Anna Marie, plays a main character. He sexy ex boss that she used to have a crush on is the one writing the scripts. This was a funny, light, total "soap opera" book. I enjoyed it. Sometimes you just need a book that's a little escape from the seriousness in the world, and this was a good one. It's not a long book at all and I read it pretty fast. Brought back memories of when I used to watch the Soaps back in the day! Lol...lots of drama.
September 18, 2023
3.5 stars for this one … it was cute but I didn’t really feel invested in the characters or their relationships. There were a few laugh out loud moments for me though, and I enjoyed the story.
dnf-2021
September 12, 2021DNF . Let’s get everyone in this book therapy .
August 8, 2023
Drama filled comedic rom 👏🏻 I definitely enjoyed listening and am excited for the next ones!
Read
September 4, 2021This was awful and for what?
The Extra is about a woman named Gabby who doesn't have her life together. When her roommate lands a major role on a soap opera, Gabby gets a job as an extra on the show. As it turns out though, her old boss (and crush) is the one writing the scripts.
This was so damn messy and ridiculous. I'm glad I didn't pay anything for it and yet I still want a refund. There was so much cheating, emotional and physical and just all around BS girl hate. Why tf was there so much cheating in this jesus. Everyone was cheating on another and I'm like why though.
Gabby is an adult but she really acted like a whiny teenage girl through all of this. So the guy she likes, Will, is engaged. Of course his fiancee is a super asshole because I guess otherwise Gabby would be the asshole for flirting endlessly with him? Nope Gabby is still an asshole and this was all trash.
The family aspect was a mess and Gabby's entire family was annoying. The soap opera and extra part was kind of fun but honestly this book is disappointing.
The Extra is about a woman named Gabby who doesn't have her life together. When her roommate lands a major role on a soap opera, Gabby gets a job as an extra on the show. As it turns out though, her old boss (and crush) is the one writing the scripts.
This was so damn messy and ridiculous. I'm glad I didn't pay anything for it and yet I still want a refund. There was so much cheating, emotional and physical and just all around BS girl hate. Why tf was there so much cheating in this jesus. Everyone was cheating on another and I'm like why though.
Gabby is an adult but she really acted like a whiny teenage girl through all of this. So the guy she likes, Will, is engaged. Of course his fiancee is a super asshole because I guess otherwise Gabby would be the asshole for flirting endlessly with him? Nope Gabby is still an asshole and this was all trash.
The family aspect was a mess and Gabby's entire family was annoying. The soap opera and extra part was kind of fun but honestly this book is disappointing.
October 10, 2019
When one career door slams in your face, another one opens. In L.A, who’s NOT desperate to get into the acting world? Certainly not Gabby. But, to her friend, landing a role in a daytime soap opera was a dream come true.
Since losing her job, Gaby certainly had more time on her hands. Of course, she was going to miss all the things money could buy. That’s when her friend suggests she be an extra on the soap opera. An extra for Passion Medical. Suddenly, Gabby is thrust into the world of acting.
This was an okay story. It didn’t really captivate me that much, but it was easy to read and witty at times. Story really drags you in the Hollywood scene, which, at times, can be vapid and shallow, but I liked the character and the writing was pretty good.
Since losing her job, Gaby certainly had more time on her hands. Of course, she was going to miss all the things money could buy. That’s when her friend suggests she be an extra on the soap opera. An extra for Passion Medical. Suddenly, Gabby is thrust into the world of acting.
This was an okay story. It didn’t really captivate me that much, but it was easy to read and witty at times. Story really drags you in the Hollywood scene, which, at times, can be vapid and shallow, but I liked the character and the writing was pretty good.
September 19, 2019
Boy, how shallow are people in LA
Gabby didn't need a date. She needed therapy. About the third, "oh poor pitiful me." I decided this would be a slog fest and just kept reading. Am I supposed to identify with a woman just flitting through life because it's hard to dream whenever the people around you are perfect. How about No. Cause some of us had our dream taken by a cruel hand of fate, but we still get up in the morning. You get up you move on however you can and, try not to become bitter. Everyone of the people in this book are narcissistic self indulgent trolls who wouldn't know a real emotion if it kicked them in the teeth. They are so busy running and being a false image of what a person is supposed to be that they never grow up. And when reality tried to set in in this book--her brother's addiction and her parent's losing all their money-it's quickly swept under the rug. Real gets replaced by cheap soap opera drama that the reader can't distinguish what's important to Gabby. Because none of it is. Not a single event in another person's life is important to Gabby.
Gabby didn't need a date. She needed therapy. About the third, "oh poor pitiful me." I decided this would be a slog fest and just kept reading. Am I supposed to identify with a woman just flitting through life because it's hard to dream whenever the people around you are perfect. How about No. Cause some of us had our dream taken by a cruel hand of fate, but we still get up in the morning. You get up you move on however you can and, try not to become bitter. Everyone of the people in this book are narcissistic self indulgent trolls who wouldn't know a real emotion if it kicked them in the teeth. They are so busy running and being a false image of what a person is supposed to be that they never grow up. And when reality tried to set in in this book--her brother's addiction and her parent's losing all their money-it's quickly swept under the rug. Real gets replaced by cheap soap opera drama that the reader can't distinguish what's important to Gabby. Because none of it is. Not a single event in another person's life is important to Gabby.
February 27, 2020
Extremely heart touching. Gabby is wonderful. She is so relatable that I found myself laughing and crying with her. She is so real that I wish I could meet her. The way she grows in the book is truly inspiring.
The funny, sad and all the other parts of the book make you love it. I am honestly so in love with these characters. I can't wait to read about Anna Marie next. The writing is simply awesome and swoon worthy. I love this series already.
The funny, sad and all the other parts of the book make you love it. I am honestly so in love with these characters. I can't wait to read about Anna Marie next. The writing is simply awesome and swoon worthy. I love this series already.
January 5, 2021
FREE book on Audible.
Fluffy, pretty shallow and predictable...
Fluffy, pretty shallow and predictable...
October 29, 2024
Entertaining, New Adult, no-sex, chick-lit dramedy set in Los Angeles
Gabby Mays is a 23-year-old technical virgin, who is a college dropout. She is a middle child between an older sister and a younger brother, who are both successful, high achievers, and she also has successful, high-achiever parents. Gabby has held a number of jobs over the past few years, and was fired from several of them because her heart just wasn't in the work. She has dated multiple men over the years, but they were all losers. One of the best parts of her current life situation is Anna-Marie, her roommate of several years, a beautiful actress in her early twenties. Anna-Marie is a sweet-natured Midwesterner, who is a loyal and supportive BFF to Gabby. When Anna-Marie lands a role on the hit soap opera, Passion Medical, she suggests to Gabby that she might enjoy joining Anna-Marie on the set of the show as an extra. The demand for Gabby's services will be intermittent, but the pay will be much better than anything she's earned in her previous employment. Based on Anna-Marie's recommendation, Gabby is hired and soon realizes, to her delighted surprise, that she enjoys the work. But what she enjoys even more is running into 20-something Will Bowen, who is one of the writers on the soap opera. Gabby had a crush on Will two years before, when he was her supervisor at a bookstore where she worked as a sales clerk. But before they had a chance to develop a friendship that might have led to romance, Will terminated her employment when she accidentally set fire to the microwave in the break room. When Will approaches Gabby on the set of the soap opera with a big smile, as if they are long-lost friends, Gabby has tentative hope that maybe, this time around, they might actually go out on a date. Only to find out that Will has been dating the assistant director, Sarah, for the last two years, and they have been engaged for over six months.
I don't tend to enjoy most chick lit, but this book offers several intriguing twists on standard, central CL tropes. As is always the case with CL, this story is told from the sole, first-person POV of the FMC, in this case, Gabby. The vast majority of the time in CL, the FMC spends most of the novel, from the very beginning to almost the very end, as a hapless, insecure, downtrodden doormat. In scene after scene, she endures disrespect from her family, her female friend(s), her boss, and her co-workers. At the start of the story, she is typically dating a jerk or a series of jerks, and at the very end of the novel, after she has evolved into a more self-sufficient, self-respecting individual, she is rewarded with the first healthy romance of her lifetime. The twist on these CL themes in this novel is that the FMC Gabby begins the novel in one of the first jobs she's ever held that she's actually enjoyed, working as an extra. This turns out to be a job that she is unexpectedly quite good at, and she is appreciated for her performance by the director and her fellow extras. In addition, she has a close female friend, Anna-Marie, who is very good to her rather than a standard CL, female betrayer. The twist is that it is Gabby's love interest, Will, who is the downtrodden one in a dysfunctional romantic relationship with a controlling female, which he needs to grow up and break free of in order to be with Gabby. She is his reward for good behavior at the end of the novel, rather than the opposite.
It's also a twist on the persecuted-FMC trope in CL that it is Gabby's supposedly successful family who turn out to be far more dysfunctional than Gabby ever imagined herself to be. It is they who must go through a personal growth arc to gain greater humility and greater mental health, especially her addicted younger brother, in order to earn an HEA with Gabby.
One of the main expectations of CL is that it be humorous, which is rarely actually fulfilled, because this subgenre of women's fiction frequently slides into melodrama. There is some drama in this story, especially the subplot with the addicted younger brother, but it is handled sensitively enough that I would not call it melodrama. Most importantly, there is quite a bit of humor in this story and, fortunately, most of it is not slapstick.
I received free access to the audiobook version of this novel through my Audible membership. For that reason, I gave it a try. Judging it solely as what it is, women's fiction rather than romance, this is one of the better works of CL that I have run across. Judging it as a romance novel, it's not very good. I rate the CL 4 stars, the romance 2 stars, and I've averaged that to 3 stars.
The narrator of the audiobook is voice talent, Lisa Flanagan, who does a good job.
Gabby Mays is a 23-year-old technical virgin, who is a college dropout. She is a middle child between an older sister and a younger brother, who are both successful, high achievers, and she also has successful, high-achiever parents. Gabby has held a number of jobs over the past few years, and was fired from several of them because her heart just wasn't in the work. She has dated multiple men over the years, but they were all losers. One of the best parts of her current life situation is Anna-Marie, her roommate of several years, a beautiful actress in her early twenties. Anna-Marie is a sweet-natured Midwesterner, who is a loyal and supportive BFF to Gabby. When Anna-Marie lands a role on the hit soap opera, Passion Medical, she suggests to Gabby that she might enjoy joining Anna-Marie on the set of the show as an extra. The demand for Gabby's services will be intermittent, but the pay will be much better than anything she's earned in her previous employment. Based on Anna-Marie's recommendation, Gabby is hired and soon realizes, to her delighted surprise, that she enjoys the work. But what she enjoys even more is running into 20-something Will Bowen, who is one of the writers on the soap opera. Gabby had a crush on Will two years before, when he was her supervisor at a bookstore where she worked as a sales clerk. But before they had a chance to develop a friendship that might have led to romance, Will terminated her employment when she accidentally set fire to the microwave in the break room. When Will approaches Gabby on the set of the soap opera with a big smile, as if they are long-lost friends, Gabby has tentative hope that maybe, this time around, they might actually go out on a date. Only to find out that Will has been dating the assistant director, Sarah, for the last two years, and they have been engaged for over six months.
I don't tend to enjoy most chick lit, but this book offers several intriguing twists on standard, central CL tropes. As is always the case with CL, this story is told from the sole, first-person POV of the FMC, in this case, Gabby. The vast majority of the time in CL, the FMC spends most of the novel, from the very beginning to almost the very end, as a hapless, insecure, downtrodden doormat. In scene after scene, she endures disrespect from her family, her female friend(s), her boss, and her co-workers. At the start of the story, she is typically dating a jerk or a series of jerks, and at the very end of the novel, after she has evolved into a more self-sufficient, self-respecting individual, she is rewarded with the first healthy romance of her lifetime. The twist on these CL themes in this novel is that the FMC Gabby begins the novel in one of the first jobs she's ever held that she's actually enjoyed, working as an extra. This turns out to be a job that she is unexpectedly quite good at, and she is appreciated for her performance by the director and her fellow extras. In addition, she has a close female friend, Anna-Marie, who is very good to her rather than a standard CL, female betrayer. The twist is that it is Gabby's love interest, Will, who is the downtrodden one in a dysfunctional romantic relationship with a controlling female, which he needs to grow up and break free of in order to be with Gabby. She is his reward for good behavior at the end of the novel, rather than the opposite.
It's also a twist on the persecuted-FMC trope in CL that it is Gabby's supposedly successful family who turn out to be far more dysfunctional than Gabby ever imagined herself to be. It is they who must go through a personal growth arc to gain greater humility and greater mental health, especially her addicted younger brother, in order to earn an HEA with Gabby.
One of the main expectations of CL is that it be humorous, which is rarely actually fulfilled, because this subgenre of women's fiction frequently slides into melodrama. There is some drama in this story, especially the subplot with the addicted younger brother, but it is handled sensitively enough that I would not call it melodrama. Most importantly, there is quite a bit of humor in this story and, fortunately, most of it is not slapstick.
I received free access to the audiobook version of this novel through my Audible membership. For that reason, I gave it a try. Judging it solely as what it is, women's fiction rather than romance, this is one of the better works of CL that I have run across. Judging it as a romance novel, it's not very good. I rate the CL 4 stars, the romance 2 stars, and I've averaged that to 3 stars.
The narrator of the audiobook is voice talent, Lisa Flanagan, who does a good job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
The Extra is the story of Gabby, A 20 something living in LA just trying to figure out what she wants out of her life. Her roommate is a soap opera star and gets her the opportunity to serve as an extra on the show. We see the drama of the set, the relationships with the people she meets there as well as drama within her family help shape her trajectory in life.
This book had vibes that reminded me of the show Love with Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust on Netflix. Young 20-something characters who are raw and real and genuinely trying to find their way in life and love. I really loved the strong friendship between Gabby and Anna-Maria, it was a positive female friendship. You know, I also love a story set in Hollywood and the over the top drama of the soap opera set made for a fun read.
Thanks so much to the authors for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book had vibes that reminded me of the show Love with Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust on Netflix. Young 20-something characters who are raw and real and genuinely trying to find their way in life and love. I really loved the strong friendship between Gabby and Anna-Maria, it was a positive female friendship. You know, I also love a story set in Hollywood and the over the top drama of the soap opera set made for a fun read.
Thanks so much to the authors for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 30, 2022
Honestly super cute to listen to as an audiobook
February 18, 2023
When you need a quick pick me up chick lit
November 14, 2019
This book is a MUST read! I enjoyed every page of it. I laughed out loud and I shed a few tears as well. Gabby Mays is a twenty three year old woman who is in a holding pattern. She's given up college after three years because she wasn't getting anything out of it. She has been fired from a slew of jobs and the worse part is she does not really care. She just moves on to the next inconsequential job. That is until her actress roommate gets her a job as an extra in the soap opera Passion Medical.
From the moment Gabby sets foot on the TV set her life is turned upside down. I'm not going to give too many details because there is so much that happens in this short novel and the reader deserves to read each page with anticipation.
I will say that the writers did an amazing job in making Gabby relatable at least to me. She is self deprecating in the most humorous way. Whenever anyone is talking to her she just assumes they are about to say something negative about her. I've been there and I feel her pain. For all the laughs there are some hurtful and sad moments; especially the chapters involving her family. There is something her mom gives her near the end of the book that, even now, brings tears to my eyes. As a mom with adult children this gesture, which I will not spoil, from her mom demonstrates what mothers want all their children to know and that is we may be busy, we may be distracted, we may be exhausted but we see you. We know your likes and dislikes and we try to do our best. Most of all we love you. This one little gesture was one page out of the book but it reached inside my heart.
The other thing that brought me joy reading this book was the cultural references. I often make comparisons to characters in books to the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So you can imagine the huge smile on my face when Gabby is watching DVDs of Buffy to drown her sorrows. Speaking of drowning sorrows, I will give one tidbit away because I think must of us can agree on it. Gabby is a big believer in eating your emotions and she can be found in a Chinese American fusion cuisine dive eating the Breakup Tub. I wish this decadent dessert existed for real but I might try a home made version of it.
Lastly, I want to commend the writers. Often when reading a book written by two or more authors there tends to be cracks in the narrative that can be jarring to the reader. That is not the case here. I could not tell who wrote which passage. The story flowed. There was never a lull or dull moment.
The Extra is very much a stand alone novel. It's book one in a series but I believe each book is a stand alone about different characters we meet in each of the books. All the books are available and I will be reading all of them.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the moment Gabby sets foot on the TV set her life is turned upside down. I'm not going to give too many details because there is so much that happens in this short novel and the reader deserves to read each page with anticipation.
I will say that the writers did an amazing job in making Gabby relatable at least to me. She is self deprecating in the most humorous way. Whenever anyone is talking to her she just assumes they are about to say something negative about her. I've been there and I feel her pain. For all the laughs there are some hurtful and sad moments; especially the chapters involving her family. There is something her mom gives her near the end of the book that, even now, brings tears to my eyes. As a mom with adult children this gesture, which I will not spoil, from her mom demonstrates what mothers want all their children to know and that is we may be busy, we may be distracted, we may be exhausted but we see you. We know your likes and dislikes and we try to do our best. Most of all we love you. This one little gesture was one page out of the book but it reached inside my heart.
The other thing that brought me joy reading this book was the cultural references. I often make comparisons to characters in books to the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So you can imagine the huge smile on my face when Gabby is watching DVDs of Buffy to drown her sorrows. Speaking of drowning sorrows, I will give one tidbit away because I think must of us can agree on it. Gabby is a big believer in eating your emotions and she can be found in a Chinese American fusion cuisine dive eating the Breakup Tub. I wish this decadent dessert existed for real but I might try a home made version of it.
Lastly, I want to commend the writers. Often when reading a book written by two or more authors there tends to be cracks in the narrative that can be jarring to the reader. That is not the case here. I could not tell who wrote which passage. The story flowed. There was never a lull or dull moment.
The Extra is very much a stand alone novel. It's book one in a series but I believe each book is a stand alone about different characters we meet in each of the books. All the books are available and I will be reading all of them.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 13, 2022
Gabby Mays feels lost in life after losing her latest job and she can't help but compare herself to her best friend and roommate, Anna-Marie.
She seems to have her life together; a career she's passionate for and a fulfilling romantic life as well.
When Anna-Marie offers her a job as an extra on a soap opera she's working on, Passion Medical, Gabby finds herself enjoying it.
Discovering that she's good at when she discovers her old bold/crush is also working on the site.
As the days go on, her life becomes just as dramatic as the soap opera she's working on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The story isn't bad, but it was definitely unexpected because it's not really a romance?
It's more of a contemporary coming of age novel but even that feels like a wrong name for it because romance was centered in the story but there wasn't any romance.
Gabby's romantic interest was Will, her ex-boss.
Problem is
Most of the book was about Gabby trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and addressing familial problems but there were instances where romance was sprinkled in.
I don't know, I was just expecting a funny rom-com but it wasn't that and I think that's probably why I didn't enjoy it as much.
It's also not really a coming of age because the major things with her family weren't fully addressed and it kind of felt a little lackluster.
It's a mix of both of a romance novel and a coming-of-age novel, but it didn't feel like either type.
I also wish the blurb just focused on the coming-of-age part of the novel and not highlight the romance part because it's not a major thing and just a background thing that's happening.
It's not a bad story but it kind of left me wanting more romance and the coming-of-age parts of the story and wishing it was about a different couple pairing.
She seems to have her life together; a career she's passionate for and a fulfilling romantic life as well.
When Anna-Marie offers her a job as an extra on a soap opera she's working on, Passion Medical, Gabby finds herself enjoying it.
Discovering that she's good at when she discovers her old bold/crush is also working on the site.
As the days go on, her life becomes just as dramatic as the soap opera she's working on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The story isn't bad, but it was definitely unexpected because it's not really a romance?
It's more of a contemporary coming of age novel but even that feels like a wrong name for it because romance was centered in the story but there wasn't any romance.
Gabby's romantic interest was Will, her ex-boss.
Problem is
Most of the book was about Gabby trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and addressing familial problems but there were instances where romance was sprinkled in.
I don't know, I was just expecting a funny rom-com but it wasn't that and I think that's probably why I didn't enjoy it as much.
It's also not really a coming of age because the major things with her family weren't fully addressed and it kind of felt a little lackluster.
It's a mix of both of a romance novel and a coming-of-age novel, but it didn't feel like either type.
I also wish the blurb just focused on the coming-of-age part of the novel and not highlight the romance part because it's not a major thing and just a background thing that's happening.
It's not a bad story but it kind of left me wanting more romance and the coming-of-age parts of the story and wishing it was about a different couple pairing.
March 5, 2022
Oh my what an unexpected little beauty this was.
I was at a loss for what to pick for my next read so I got my sister to random pick for me and she stopped on this book and so I begun reading…
Oh man…I didn’t even stop. As soon as I started it I read it until I finished it. It was fun and incredibly addicting.
Gabby was an incredible character. She’s stuck in life not knowing what she wants or what to do so she settles on random jobs to try find out what she’s passionate about and in doing so has her becoming an extra in a soap opera whilst also bumping into and old friend
Max was easy to love. He’s smart and funny and always wants to help even if doing that ends up hurting a person. He’s found Gabby funny since they become friends at a store they both worked at until she was fired. He never expected to bump into her at a collage for course’s or see her on the soap opera set he works at.
The two of them together have an adorable friendship. They’re both so supportive of each other and want the best but things can’t always go along so easily especially when feelings start getting involved and you better believe they do.
Watching the development of these two throughout the book has been incredible to watch, I was rooting for them, rooting for the best for them, just rooting for all the good things.
Like soap operas this book is filled with drama and funniness, it’s was an absolute joy to read and now all I want is to go find the other books in the series to read.
Incredible job from these two authors.
I was at a loss for what to pick for my next read so I got my sister to random pick for me and she stopped on this book and so I begun reading…
Oh man…I didn’t even stop. As soon as I started it I read it until I finished it. It was fun and incredibly addicting.
Gabby was an incredible character. She’s stuck in life not knowing what she wants or what to do so she settles on random jobs to try find out what she’s passionate about and in doing so has her becoming an extra in a soap opera whilst also bumping into and old friend
Max was easy to love. He’s smart and funny and always wants to help even if doing that ends up hurting a person. He’s found Gabby funny since they become friends at a store they both worked at until she was fired. He never expected to bump into her at a collage for course’s or see her on the soap opera set he works at.
The two of them together have an adorable friendship. They’re both so supportive of each other and want the best but things can’t always go along so easily especially when feelings start getting involved and you better believe they do.
Watching the development of these two throughout the book has been incredible to watch, I was rooting for them, rooting for the best for them, just rooting for all the good things.
Like soap operas this book is filled with drama and funniness, it’s was an absolute joy to read and now all I want is to go find the other books in the series to read.
Incredible job from these two authors.
May 11, 2021
2.5 STARS
The best parts about this book were the behind the scenes stuff at the soap opera set. There were some funny moments that I enjoyed. Gabby is an extra on the set of Passion Medical and I was entertained by some of the shenanigans.
There's a subplot about Gabby's brother Felix and his drug addiction, but it really didn't fit with the tone of the rest of the book, and didn't go in-depth enough for me to care about Felix.
The romance with Will was kind of weird, 90% of the book he's engaged to someone else! Gabby and Will spent very little time together, so it was hard to see any romance happening.
The best parts about this book were the behind the scenes stuff at the soap opera set. There were some funny moments that I enjoyed. Gabby is an extra on the set of Passion Medical and I was entertained by some of the shenanigans.
There's a subplot about Gabby's brother Felix and his drug addiction, but it really didn't fit with the tone of the rest of the book, and didn't go in-depth enough for me to care about Felix.
The romance with Will was kind of weird, 90% of the book he's engaged to someone else! Gabby and Will spent very little time together, so it was hard to see any romance happening.
January 13, 2021
When I was younger, every day from 12:30 till 2 I could be found sitting in front of the TV with my mom trying to figure out what kind of drama Brooke would unleash or who she was married to today. I would try to find a redeeming quality in Victor, and honestly wonder how today’s episode could top the day before. I loved bonding with my mom watching Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful. So to read a rom-com that gives me an insight into the inner workings of soap operas left me beyond excited.
Gabby is delightful and spunky. Though she’s completely lost and has no idea what her next move will be, I love that she continues to try. She never stops exploring and trying new things out. I love her tenacity and her vivacious spirit outshine every failed community college course.
This was such a fun rom-com that focused more on Gabby's journey in finding herself than finding someone who completed her. I loved her journey and how it mirrored a mini soap opera. Though each moment of Gabby’s life seems to get worse at each turn, the absurd situation works for this story. It felt as if I was reading a telenovela and I could not put this book down. I was hooked trying to figure out where and how this story would end.
It was enjoyable to see a positive female friendship where one is a budding actress. I like how they genuinely cared for one another and though Anne-Marie was on a TV show she didn’t let her rising fame ruin or get in the way of their friendship. She never once judged or put down Gabby for consistently losing her job or having no clear path. Instead she offered support to Gabby when she needed it.
I couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t wait to see where and how this story would end. The writing was captivating and entertaining until the very end. I loved how this all played out, the humor kept this book upbeat, and the plot was interesting and complex to keep me captivated. Thank you so much to Meghan for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Gabby is delightful and spunky. Though she’s completely lost and has no idea what her next move will be, I love that she continues to try. She never stops exploring and trying new things out. I love her tenacity and her vivacious spirit outshine every failed community college course.
This was such a fun rom-com that focused more on Gabby's journey in finding herself than finding someone who completed her. I loved her journey and how it mirrored a mini soap opera. Though each moment of Gabby’s life seems to get worse at each turn, the absurd situation works for this story. It felt as if I was reading a telenovela and I could not put this book down. I was hooked trying to figure out where and how this story would end.
It was enjoyable to see a positive female friendship where one is a budding actress. I like how they genuinely cared for one another and though Anne-Marie was on a TV show she didn’t let her rising fame ruin or get in the way of their friendship. She never once judged or put down Gabby for consistently losing her job or having no clear path. Instead she offered support to Gabby when she needed it.
I couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t wait to see where and how this story would end. The writing was captivating and entertaining until the very end. I loved how this all played out, the humor kept this book upbeat, and the plot was interesting and complex to keep me captivated. Thank you so much to Meghan for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2020
3.5 Stars.
Thank you to the author, Megan Walker, for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!
ENTERTAINING.
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I had a good time with this one! I didn’t know much going in but found myself easily drawn in to the writing style and the story at large.
Gabby was a well thought out main character. She had a lot of struggles and over a small amount of pages really showed some growth. I liked that she started to take charge of her life and didn’t rush into what she wanted to do. It’s so hard to pick out what you want to do with your life (hello, I still have no idea) that I felt and have thought the same things Gabby has.
The romance was sweet! It didn’t take up as much page time as I thought it would (or hoped), but it’s cute nature easily charmed me. The emotional cheating aspect was one of the harder things to read. I did like the way the authors addressed this though and thought it was handled much better than I’ve seen in other books (where it’s not even addressed at all, it is a form of cheating!).
You have to lean into the drama in The Extra. Knowing the synopsis and the general idea of the book helped me know it was going to be a bit dramatic, and I ended up really loving the flair of it all. Yes, a bit over the top, yet was the right kind of quirk this story needed. The soap opera plot line was humorous and totally ridiculous, and I was all in for it.
I’m curious about the other books in this series and look forward to checking those out some time!
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: kisses / make-outs; a lot of mentions of off-screen sex
- Trigger/Content warnings: divorce, emotional cheating, physical cheating, bullying, a loved one with a drug addiction
Thank you to the author, Megan Walker, for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own!
ENTERTAINING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I had a good time with this one! I didn’t know much going in but found myself easily drawn in to the writing style and the story at large.
Gabby was a well thought out main character. She had a lot of struggles and over a small amount of pages really showed some growth. I liked that she started to take charge of her life and didn’t rush into what she wanted to do. It’s so hard to pick out what you want to do with your life (hello, I still have no idea) that I felt and have thought the same things Gabby has.
The romance was sweet! It didn’t take up as much page time as I thought it would (or hoped), but it’s cute nature easily charmed me. The emotional cheating aspect was one of the harder things to read. I did like the way the authors addressed this though and thought it was handled much better than I’ve seen in other books (where it’s not even addressed at all, it is a form of cheating!).
You have to lean into the drama in The Extra. Knowing the synopsis and the general idea of the book helped me know it was going to be a bit dramatic, and I ended up really loving the flair of it all. Yes, a bit over the top, yet was the right kind of quirk this story needed. The soap opera plot line was humorous and totally ridiculous, and I was all in for it.
I’m curious about the other books in this series and look forward to checking those out some time!
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: kisses / make-outs; a lot of mentions of off-screen sex
- Trigger/Content warnings: divorce, emotional cheating, physical cheating, bullying, a loved one with a drug addiction
May 5, 2021
Having felt like an Extra—someone forgettable, always in the background, never a star—in her personal life, Gabby finally feels like she has meaning after actually being cast as one for a daytime soap her best friend is in. Despite all the drama both on and off set, she manages to find her direction, her voice, and... possibly love?
The Extra was a fun story starring a few quirky soap opera actors, a likable heroine who you can’t help but empathize with and cheer on, a few annoying family members that come together in the end, and a romantic interest who I’d totally go for. The silly situations that occurred were funny and nice touches. The second half was probably my favorite, and I personally loved the theme of the book.
Looking forward to reading more of the series!
The Extra was a fun story starring a few quirky soap opera actors, a likable heroine who you can’t help but empathize with and cheer on, a few annoying family members that come together in the end, and a romantic interest who I’d totally go for. The silly situations that occurred were funny and nice touches. The second half was probably my favorite, and I personally loved the theme of the book.
Looking forward to reading more of the series!
October 8, 2019
3.5 stars.
This one’s a soap opera within a soap opera, which may not be realistic but with Middle Child Syndrome so classic I think I might actually know these people.
Anna-Marie is getting her big break, another perfect feather in the ever-fashionable hat of her life. She’s moving forward, toward something she loves and is really good at, and I, as usual, am stuck in some kind of early-adult pothole of pathetic jobs I don’t care about and college plans I can’t muster the interest to see through. She’s moving on, and it won’t be long before she’s left me behind. Like my family.
…could just go about my mediocre life, walking in as needed on the sets of their grand dramas. I have always been an extra in someone else’s show. And that’s when I know Anna-Marie is right; it’s time to start getting paid for doing it.
…he imagines I have dreams, passions I had to sacrifice for survival, like every other normal person. Something I shine at, other than making people look good in comparison.
…for a brief second it occurs to me how bizarre my life has become. In the past week I’ve witnessed a diva fight, killed a CPR dummy, broken a religious icon with my face, and now arguably the hottest man on the planet is following me into my apartment and all I want is for him to leave so I can gorge on junk food and cry to One Direction songs I don’t admit to owning.
Even during the personal awakening of the backbone I was starting to think I’d been born without, I can’t turn away the sharp stab of hope that maybe Will is on the other end. Apologizing. Declaring his love to me. Even just accidentally butt-dialing me.
This one’s a soap opera within a soap opera, which may not be realistic but with Middle Child Syndrome so classic I think I might actually know these people.
Anna-Marie is getting her big break, another perfect feather in the ever-fashionable hat of her life. She’s moving forward, toward something she loves and is really good at, and I, as usual, am stuck in some kind of early-adult pothole of pathetic jobs I don’t care about and college plans I can’t muster the interest to see through. She’s moving on, and it won’t be long before she’s left me behind. Like my family.
…could just go about my mediocre life, walking in as needed on the sets of their grand dramas. I have always been an extra in someone else’s show. And that’s when I know Anna-Marie is right; it’s time to start getting paid for doing it.
…he imagines I have dreams, passions I had to sacrifice for survival, like every other normal person. Something I shine at, other than making people look good in comparison.
…for a brief second it occurs to me how bizarre my life has become. In the past week I’ve witnessed a diva fight, killed a CPR dummy, broken a religious icon with my face, and now arguably the hottest man on the planet is following me into my apartment and all I want is for him to leave so I can gorge on junk food and cry to One Direction songs I don’t admit to owning.
Even during the personal awakening of the backbone I was starting to think I’d been born without, I can’t turn away the sharp stab of hope that maybe Will is on the other end. Apologizing. Declaring his love to me. Even just accidentally butt-dialing me.
February 1, 2021
I read this book in about 90 minutes before work and I adored it. It was incredibly hilarious and charming and I totally related to Gabby. (All my aimless college dropouts in their very early twenties who have intense family problems make some noise!!! Just me? Oh. Okay.)
An aside— I just love stories where everybody but the protagonist is getting laid. Like it’s sort of a plot point in the climax that everybody on set of the soap opera is getting some (apologies for the vulgar, outdated slang) and I think it’s just so charming that Gabby is just this virginal voice of reason. I felt that.
Totally recommend!!
An aside— I just love stories where everybody but the protagonist is getting laid. Like it’s sort of a plot point in the climax that everybody on set of the soap opera is getting some (apologies for the vulgar, outdated slang) and I think it’s just so charming that Gabby is just this virginal voice of reason. I felt that.
Totally recommend!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 28, 2021DNF 36%
This has a lot going for it -- the humor, writing, setting. The heroine's family problems were interesting. (I honestly care more about Felix, her younger brother who gets very little screen-time, more than anyone else in the book.)
All of that pulled me through from about 10%-36%, but there's just not anything going on. The heroine isn't someone I'm really rooting for either - she's aimless, dropped out of college, and doesn't want anything. There's a lot of self-pity, and her situation is definitely accurate to real life experiences, but it's not what I find engaging in a fictional character.
I wanted to love it, but I really didn't.
This has a lot going for it -- the humor, writing, setting. The heroine's family problems were interesting. (I honestly care more about Felix, her younger brother who gets very little screen-time, more than anyone else in the book.)
All of that pulled me through from about 10%-36%, but there's just not anything going on. The heroine isn't someone I'm really rooting for either - she's aimless, dropped out of college, and doesn't want anything. There's a lot of self-pity, and her situation is definitely accurate to real life experiences, but it's not what I find engaging in a fictional character.
I wanted to love it, but I really didn't.
February 23, 2020
A great contemporary romance with an interesting setting and great characters. I’m not usually a romance novel kind of guy, but I enjoyed The Extra even though it lacked spaceships, lasers, dragons and magic. A fun story of romance, self-doubt, and family drama set against the backdrop of a daytime soap opera. This book kept me up far past my bedtime.
February 1, 2022
Nothing to write home about, but cute and enjoyable. As someone who enjoys a good soap opera, I loved the soap opera setting and hearing about all the soap drama. I have one complaint. The main character goes on and on and on about how she doesn't know what to do with her life, she feels like the family disappointment, etcetera etcetera. As a 24 year old who feels like I have no idea what I'm doing half the time, I get it. But at a certain point I was like omg can we please move on?!
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