Everything We Are

The Extra #3

by Megan Walker, Janci Patterson, Stacey Glemboski (Narrator)

Felix Mays has only two goals in life—to play his cello and to stay off heroin. He’s only a few weeks out of rehab and accomplishing both—barely. Then Felix meets gorgeous Jenna Rollins, single mom and half of the rising pop-star duo Alec and Jenna, who’ve practically been voted LA’s cutest couple. Jenna offers Felix a job with the band, and it’s an opportunity he can’t refuse, even though his feelings for Jenna are quickly turning romantic.
Then Felix learns the truth—Alec and Jenna have been broken up for over a year, and maintain their couple-image just for the fans. Jenna is falling for Felix as fast he is for her, but she and Alec have agreed not to date anyone until the band has peaked—and that’s clearly years away.
Felix and Jenna are determined to make it work, despite the strain on their careers, their relationships with the band, and even Felix’s struggling sobriety. A situation this stressful is the last thing Felix needs—and the one thing he can’t bring himself to walk away from.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Audible Audio

First published June 13, 2019

About the author

Megan 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

Reviews

[Addie BookCrazyBlogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix is 30 days sober off heroin and bumming on the street corner, playing his cello for tips, when eight year old Ty comes over to talk to him. Ty is the son of Jenna, whose the first half to the Jenna-Alec duo, a music group that is quickly rising through the charts, based off their good music and their coupledom. It turns out that the couple image that Jenna and Alec present is actually just a facade. Jenna hired Felix to be their cellist for their upcoming tour and Felix quickly agrees-both because he needs a job and because he’s falling for Jenna. Will the two be able to make a relationship work? Will Felix be able to maintain sobriety? First things first: I love the focus on Felix’s recovery. I love how it shows that Felix is on suboxone, a drug that inhibits cravings, while also going to 12 step meetings. Subs can be a difficult debate in the recovery community-a lot of people feel that it means you’re not really clean. That’s bullshit. Everyone’s recovery is different. Even I’m on a medication that curbs cravings or will make me sick if I use and that’s okay. Because it’s MY recovery and no one else’s. Moving onto the rest of the story: Ty is seriously the most awesome kid I’ve ever met and I hope my kid has one liners the way this one does. Jenna is basically me, just in LA form with a kid. So yes, this is absolutely my favorite out of this series I’ve read so far!

[Karsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trauma, mama 🫢

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Extra so much and was sooo excited that the authors, Megan Walker and Janci Patterson, gifted us the next two books in the series!!!
In The Extra, we meet Gabby, an extra on the set of her bestie’s soap opera. I did a review on this recently so please scroll for that review!
In Everything We Are, we follow Gabby’s newly recovering addict brother Felix. He is fully committed to his sobriety this time and finds comfort and solace in his cello. He is “discovered” while playing his cello for tourists by The Hollywood Stars. He is asked to audition for one of the hottest pop bands out there and falls instantly in love with one of the lead singers. The problem is- her and her partner are deceiving their fans by pretending to still be a couple. Felix is a huge complication and threat to the truth. He has to constantly choose his sobriety over all else and that may mean disastrous for his budding romance.
These books are so entertaining and easy to read! They are the perfect go-to books when you are looking for something that you can’t put down! Please go check out this awesome series asap! You will not be disappointed!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Felix and Jenna along with TY Jenna,s son. Felix is 30 days into being a recovering addict to drugs, I like how the authors Megan and Janci deal with the telling of this recovery and how hard it actually is. Anyway to the story, Felix is busking on the street when Jenna,s son TY comes across him after slipping away from mum. Jenna is in need of a new cellist after the last one did a number on the band she is in. Felix ends up joining the team, it's not all plain sailing there are bumps along the way especially when Jenna finds out about Felix and his addiction as the last cellist who was given the boot was a drug addict as well, so her trust is at an all time low. I really enjoy reading the extra series as it's an easy one to follow with great story lines and little TY in this one makes you smile with his personality and wanting Felix to be his daddy. I was gifted this by the authors and I'm leaving a review by my own free will.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Felix... <3 He is breaking my heart - just like I knew he would even before I started reading this story. But he turns out to be a wonderful - if deeply flawed - hero, and the connection he has with Jenna is just swoon-worthy. And then, there's Ty: Jenna's son and force majeure and stealer of hearts.

Since the book deals with some tough subjects like drug addiction, for example, this is not the book for you if you are looking for a lighthearted, fluffy rom-com. Yes, there is romance, and there are plenty of funny and lighthearted moments, but both Jenna and Felix have a lot of baggage to deal with, so there is angst and drama, too.

4.5/5 dang-it-you're-breaking-my-heart stars

[Gilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2 oki first I didn’t realize this was a book in a series second the storyline was different the whole heroin addiction thing but there was so little about his past struggle and in the whole thing the second time all of a sudden he was good um and Jenna , Jenna your not god also she dealt with addiction I mean I understand she doesn’t owe him anything etc and she’s a mom but leave him like that after knowing his 60 days sober did you not think he’d crash ??? Idk how I feel about this book it just wasn’t for me

[Eyleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately by far the weakest of the series so far. I didn't like any of the characters very much.
The ending was surprising though.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could have really liked this if it was a book about everything BUT the love story

[Veron]

Got over 75% through and it wasn’t pulling me in. I just didn’t seem to care if they got together or not.

[Amanda Hugen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would have been 4 stars...

I really enjoyed this book a lot EXCEPT for the Donald Trump bashing... I would have overlooked it if it hadn't have been done multiple times. Pretty disappointed that politics weren't left out, especially in a book that has nothing to do with them. I will say I truly enjoy this series and cannot wait to read the rest. Hopefully this isn't an ongoing issue.

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Gabby's (from "The Extra") addict brother Felix is out of rehab for the third time, and this time he is determined to stay clean.

If not for himself, then, for other around him.

Because, only one month out ıf rehab, he meets Jenna, a member of the music group Alec and Jenna and the attration is instantenious. Jenna also has a little boy, Ty, not from Alec but from someone she met in one of the many party she attended as a pre-teen. Jenna tells Felix that her band is looking for a cellist, since the previous one left the band because of his issues with drugs.

Felix accepts the offer; he will be making money playing the intrument he loves and he will be close to Jenna all day every day. What is there to object, right? However, because of the problems the bpand experineced with the previous cellist, Felix thinks that it might be a good idea to keep how fresh his own drug recovery is to himself for a while.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Well, folks, here is a big big reason for the third-act break-up, maşnly becasue Ty loves Felix and wants him to be his father, and Jenna trusts Felix and lets him take care of Ty. After learning his little drug addiction problem, she starts questioning her unconditional trust toward Felix, naturally.

This story was full of details regarding the pain of being an addict and the hardships of recovery. Jenna was a problematic individual in her own right, after trying almost everything at a very young age and trying to organize her life now, for the sake of her son. It was such a positive journey, though, to read these people's stories as they rediscovered who they are and healed together.

I was annoyed by Jenna's bandmate Alec, though. I mean, I can understand acting as if Alec and Jenna are a couple because that is how the band was formed in the first place and they wanted to maintain that image for as long as possible, but after Felix got in the picture, Alec wasn't trying to maintain the band's image. He was just being petty, what with asking Jenna to mary him in front of fans and claiming thay got married in secret after that. Annoying fellow.

Thankfully, that annoyance was mostly neutralized by Ty, because he was adorable, especially when he insisted that Felix became his father. The scene were he was stuck is Felix's cello case was so cute and funny, it could be my favorite scene in the book.

[madtrekkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix is in the park playing the cello when he meets a young boy that will change his life. Little Ty Rollins introduces his famous mom to Felix. After playing a few songs, a bit of flirting, he is invited to audition to play in her band. Unexpectedly, he falls in love with Jenna, but her life is a lie. To keep up appearances she pretends to be in love with Alec and they create an epic love story which the fans love. Soon Jenna and Felix's love is tested when Jenna discovers he has only 'just' left rehab

Almost at once the reader is drawn into Felix's world and how his life centres around his determination not to succumb to addiction, fighting against the urges, gaining control of himself, rebuilding and repairing his relationship with Gabby and his family. Falling in love with Jenna and his relationship with Ty become central in his life. He wants them. The amount of attention to detail, rich description of addiction, treatment and the triggers of relapse are really well reached, is realistically and compassionately written. I LOVED the relationship between Ty and Felix and how it develops from friendship to being a father figure; the cello case is an absolute highlight! Jenna's troubled past and her relationship with a former bandmate who used drugs really has an impact on her and this dilemma really drew me in as I could understand her decision but I still wanted a HEA!! There's many twists, turns, craziness, humourous, heartbreaks BUT yes!! Ty, Jenna and Felix get their HEA! LOVED it!! Recommended!!

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Everything We Are is the story of Gabby’s newly recovering addict brother Felix and Jenna, half of an rising music duo. While he is working on his sobriety he finds comfort in his cello. He is asked to audition for the band. He falls hard for Jenna but there is a big problem. Her and her partner are pretending to still be a couple.

Felix has to constantly make his sobriety a priority and now the mess about their romance. All of the books in this series deal with real people and the problems they have. I get pulled into the stories, begin to care about the people. I wouldn't say this story is a light read but it isn't gritty either. The story will take you on an emotional journey.

[Emily (crushes.onmy.bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series!

I was not sure about this one because Felix was super difficult in the last couple. But he has quite the character arc!

And I loved him so much in this one! He was so sweet. I loved how this book was mainly from the male POV. It was super interesting. I feel like it’s always dual narration with emphasis on the girl.

I liked Jenna but she sort of annoyed me when she found out about Felix’s issues. I understand wanting to do what’s best for your kid, but seemed super quick to end things before thinking of anything else. Idk. I’ve never had a close one with addiction.

They were a cute couple. Very intense chemistry and sort of an instalove situation which is kind of my weakness lol.

4/5

[Salla Majaniemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

complicated yet full of hope

Main character, Felix, is an addict fresh out of rehab and he finally wants to get his life back together.

I’ve actually been waiting two books already for this moment, so I was happy to see it really was Felix’s turn to find joy in his life. I also became very fond of Jenna so I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

I would recommend this whole Extra series for people who love romance novels but with complex characters and some real issues being dealt with. If you only want shallow easygoing fun then maybe at least this third book in the series is not your cup of tea.

[TrixieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the fluffiness of the first two, this one was not as "fun". But it was good.

I like that we see the constant work involved with sobriety. The anger that you would obviously feel when having to juggle so many things every single day.

I like that we have the discussion here, about whether to medicate or not. That's a pretty contentious issue and it's good to see it addressed.

Ty is a freaking delight. I'm such a sucker for precocious children.

But trigger warnings all over the place for drug abuse and dealing with the fallout of that.

These books continue to be fairly White and cis-het. Sigh.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, just sometimes, the real true story is better than the fairy tale.

Oh how I LOVE this story. Can I just say that Megan and Janci have created perfection! They combined their genius using words and painted a world so believable and raw that I didn't want to stop. I would dream about Jenna and Felix, worrying and wondering how they would fix the problems they faced, and if they could fix them at all.

I cried for them. I agonized with them. I burst out laughing when situations, and especially Ty, reminded them not to take life too seriously, go with the flow, and appreciate the moment.

I cannot wait to start the next book!

Let's go on tour!!!

💝🫂💖

[H]

As aforementioned in my review of The Girlfriend Stage, these books are a little too steamy for me, but I was so curious about Felix after Gabby’s story that I skimmed through this to find out more about him, his past, and the reasons and history behind his addiction and behavior in The Extra. And, from what I saw, he was a compelling, interesting character. I especially loved his relationship with Gabby and his burgeoning relationship with Ty. The instalove with Jenna, on the other hand, was harder to buy, but maybe if I’d read the whole thing thoroughly I would have been sold by the end.

[Kathryn Class · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite this being a romance novel, it has a lot of reality in it. I really appreciate it’s realness, rather than it going off into romantic fantasy land... I mean, there’s some of that too. It’s a spunky, real romance you can get emotionally invested in. This one has to do with the complications of relationships after addiction recovery and whether or or it’s possible for the person with the addiction to trust themselves again with a relationship and to find someone who is willing to take the risk of having a long term relationship with someone who has an addiction history.

[Kristyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read this book series, you’d think everyone in Los Angeles moves among the rich and famous! Still, it’s nice to revisit the characters of this series. This particular story plays both sides of the same reality coin. On one hand, you have the harsh realities of drug addiction and recovery. On the other, a love story that requires a big suspension of disbelief. But if you can handle doing that, you’ll find a good story with interesting characters.

[Night Runner · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars for me.

1. Lost a star for bringing divisive politics into the story... Romance is best used to escape from reality and political stabbing left or right is obnoxious to many readers!

2. The reaction to the H's secret was completely senseless as everything he did showed how he changed for the better.

I do appreciate the author touching on tough topics and enjoyed the majority of the story. My biggest deduction was due to the injection of politics.

[Carmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I don't think there's anything that Megan and Janci could write that I wouldn't like. This is about overcoming drug addiction and the fact that rehab can only do so much but the person has to decide for himself that he wants to quit otherwise it's just going to be a cycle. This reminds me of the movie Beautiful Boy where it's the loved ones who suffer so much wanting to save him but all they can do is support him but it is him who has to fight the battle.

[AnneMarie Davee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recovery ♥️🎤💉💙

I like how both Jenna and Felix find a healthy balance to their lives. They have both made some bad decisions in the past, but have fought back.

I’m not sure how realistic it is that someone fresh out of rehab would take on so much, but it works for this story. I would have liked to know more, so I hope later books will give more to how it ends. I’d consider it a HFN book.

[Norma Perez-Kahker · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I said for the earlier books, this series is filled with warmth, humor and moving moments. The dialogue reveals a dynamic between characters that contribute to their development as real world individuals who are going through tough as well as wonderful times and experiences. My favorite interactions, however, are the ones between the 6-year-old boy and Felix. They are hilarious, insightful and heart wrenching. Those excerpts are 4-star worthy, and make this novel worth reading.

[Sierra Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

*SPOILERS*


This was actually my favorite in the series so far! I love Jenna and Felix so much! Very relatable as I had a child when I was not married, so I related to Jenna, and I love that Felix just loves Ty immediately. I also love Felix in general, and I love how real the book gets about addiction, not just for the person going through it, but for the loved ones around them, and the choices they have to make. I was sobbing at the end of this one, but in a wonderful way!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story- it was part romance, part drama, and part real life story lines. I was rooting for the main characters to "win". The dialog was realistic and it was an easy read. Life is complicated and that was reflected in this story and the characters and their relationships. I would try another book from this author.

[Macy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out cute. Then....Jenna is the biggest hypocrite. Couldn't stand her. Felix, a work in progress and trying so very hard. Apparently not good enough for Jenna who was lying about almost everything and in denial about the rest.

[JR Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit too over-wraught for me (tho that could have been due to choices made by the audiobook performers), but I always enjoy classical musician leads, and was very pleased at the presence and handling of addiction & recovery

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to give 5 stars due to the roller coaster of emotions. I laughed so hard and cried several times. The little boy was hilarious! Drug abuse was sad but a true problem for many people. Some parts were redundant.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tell me you know nothing about Los Angeles or the entertainment industry without telling me. This was pretty bad but I gave it an extra star because I think the story of a young recovering heroin addict cellist is a potentially compelling one. Sadly this isn’t that one.