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Exit Stage Left
Casey Fitzgerald has always been an actress. She’s known it was her destiny ever since she snagged the role of “apple” in her kindergarten’s production of The Food Pyramid. But when she doesn’t get the lead in her performing arts high school’s production of The Sound of Music, she begins to question everything. Not getting the lead means no recommendations, and no recommendations means she can kiss good bye any chance of getting a scholarship to the prestigious New York College of Performing Arts.
After some soul searching and some wise words from her friend Harrison, Casey decides to totally reinvent herself. She’s already ditched her on-again off-again boyfriend Trevor and is interested in the new boy at school, so why not start fresh with everything? But every new destiny she tries doesn’t seem quite right. And when her best friend, Amanda, who did get the lead, starts hanging out with Trevor, Casey’s not sure if she’ll ever be able to leave the drama behind.
After some soul searching and some wise words from her friend Harrison, Casey decides to totally reinvent herself. She’s already ditched her on-again off-again boyfriend Trevor and is interested in the new boy at school, so why not start fresh with everything? But every new destiny she tries doesn’t seem quite right. And when her best friend, Amanda, who did get the lead, starts hanging out with Trevor, Casey’s not sure if she’ll ever be able to leave the drama behind.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2015
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712 people want to read
About the author
Gail Nall
8 books103 followersGail Nall lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her family and more cats than necessary. She once drove a Zamboni, has camped in the snow in June, and almost got trampled in Paris. Gail is the author of the Aladdin/S&S middle grade novels OUT OF TUNE, BREAKING THE ICE, the YOU'RE INVITED series (co-authored with Jen Malone), and BEST.NIGHT.EVER. (co-authored). She is also the author of the young adult novel, EXIT STAGE LEFT (Epic Reads Impulse/HarperCollins). You can find her online at gailnall.com and on Twitter as @gailecn.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 5, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
“I, Casey Fitzgerald, am apparently good at nothing except coming up with the perfect outfit for every occasion, landing second-rate roles in musicals, winning Trevor back, and making other guys need a Valium-induced slumber in my presence.”
This was a story about a girl who loved the theatre, but wasn’t happy when she wasn’t the leading lady.
Casey was just annoying in this story, she was selfish, self-centred, and generally cared about nobody but herself. She was horrible to her best friend, and even wanted her ex-boyfriend back just so someone else couldn’t have him! I mean really?!
The storyline in this was basically Casey moaning because she hadn’t gotten the lead in the play she was taking part in, and generally trying to find some other way to be in the spotlight, because if she wasn’t the lead in the play, then obviously she needed to find something that she was better at!
There was some romance in here, in the form of Casey trying to get her ex-boyfriend back, even though she clearly didn’t want to be with him, just so that a certain other person couldn’t have him! Nice work there Casey. Not.
The ending to this was okay, but to be honest I was just glad to see the back of Casey.
6 out of 10
“I, Casey Fitzgerald, am apparently good at nothing except coming up with the perfect outfit for every occasion, landing second-rate roles in musicals, winning Trevor back, and making other guys need a Valium-induced slumber in my presence.”
This was a story about a girl who loved the theatre, but wasn’t happy when she wasn’t the leading lady.
Casey was just annoying in this story, she was selfish, self-centred, and generally cared about nobody but herself. She was horrible to her best friend, and even wanted her ex-boyfriend back just so someone else couldn’t have him! I mean really?!
The storyline in this was basically Casey moaning because she hadn’t gotten the lead in the play she was taking part in, and generally trying to find some other way to be in the spotlight, because if she wasn’t the lead in the play, then obviously she needed to find something that she was better at!
There was some romance in here, in the form of Casey trying to get her ex-boyfriend back, even though she clearly didn’t want to be with him, just so that a certain other person couldn’t have him! Nice work there Casey. Not.
The ending to this was okay, but to be honest I was just glad to see the back of Casey.
6 out of 10
November 30, 2015
2.5 stars
Fluffy contemporary with an emphasis on musical theater? This book didn’t even have to audition for a place on my TBR’s casting list. This metaphor, however, has been relegated to the stage crew because wow was that bad.
Exit Stage Left was one of those books that I really enjoyed reading but didn’t actually like that much, if that makes any sense. There was a real addictive quality to it for sure, but it was also frustrating for me.
The heroine, Casey, annoyed me a lot. I actually liked some of her less positive qualities, like her jealousy over her best friend getting the lead role in the production, because it can be really hard to be happy for someone, even someone you love, who gets something you wanted. My problem with Casey is that I didn’t really understand the choices she made. Her decision to get back with Trevor instead of trying Oliver, though literally explained to the reader, really didn’t feel right to me somehow. Not to mention that the pay-off when the ship finally resolves is almost nil.
Also, the crisis that losing the lead role caused for Casey was believable. She’s now doubting that she can pursue theater and questioning her talent; though an over-reaction, with her scholarship in jeopardy, it’s a real problem. Her response, though, is to consider five other possible careers. The list she creates includes horseback riding and figure skating. The amount she doesn’t seem to know about the world is baffling. The crisis makes sense but the way she reacted was over the top, but not in a way that was funny.
Fluffy contemporary with an emphasis on musical theater? This book didn’t even have to audition for a place on my TBR’s casting list. This metaphor, however, has been relegated to the stage crew because wow was that bad.
Exit Stage Left was one of those books that I really enjoyed reading but didn’t actually like that much, if that makes any sense. There was a real addictive quality to it for sure, but it was also frustrating for me.
The heroine, Casey, annoyed me a lot. I actually liked some of her less positive qualities, like her jealousy over her best friend getting the lead role in the production, because it can be really hard to be happy for someone, even someone you love, who gets something you wanted. My problem with Casey is that I didn’t really understand the choices she made. Her decision to get back with Trevor instead of trying Oliver, though literally explained to the reader, really didn’t feel right to me somehow. Not to mention that the pay-off when the ship finally resolves is almost nil.
Also, the crisis that losing the lead role caused for Casey was believable. She’s now doubting that she can pursue theater and questioning her talent; though an over-reaction, with her scholarship in jeopardy, it’s a real problem. Her response, though, is to consider five other possible careers. The list she creates includes horseback riding and figure skating. The amount she doesn’t seem to know about the world is baffling. The crisis makes sense but the way she reacted was over the top, but not in a way that was funny.
dnf
September 7, 2015I find Casey to be excessively annoying. Since I have so little time to read I have decided to move on from this one.
October 14, 2015
Really adorable sweet romance. Perfect for teens and precocious preteens. Love the drama club setting!
September 21, 2017
Exit Stage Left. Wow.
It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was just boring and generic.
I wasn't a fan of Casey, who was too over dramatic and selfish for admiration from me. I wasn't a fan of any particular characters because they were all underdeveloped and generic for my tastes. None of the characters were particular edgy to me, which shows how cookie-cutter all of them are, which shows a lack of diversity and complexity. To me, Casey was a complete bitch, selfish and impulsive, only thinking about herself and dragging poor, dear sweet Harrison down with her and leading on wonderful, kind Oliver and bitching at Amanda every time Amanda talks with Trevor.
The whole 'Amanda, don't talk to Trevor because if you were my real friend, you would never talk to him' and 'I'm not interested in Trevor because I dumped him four times' act got old real fast. And no one can forget the 'My life is over because I didn't get the lead role' and 'Oliver, your eyes are GRAY!' and 'Driving sucks!' and 'I can never be an actress anymore because of one role'. Puh-leeze. There are so many generic books following the exact same concept as Exit Stage Left that I was not a fan of this book for the lack of originality.
It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was just boring and generic.
I wasn't a fan of Casey, who was too over dramatic and selfish for admiration from me. I wasn't a fan of any particular characters because they were all underdeveloped and generic for my tastes. None of the characters were particular edgy to me, which shows how cookie-cutter all of them are, which shows a lack of diversity and complexity. To me, Casey was a complete bitch, selfish and impulsive, only thinking about herself and dragging poor, dear sweet Harrison down with her and leading on wonderful, kind Oliver and bitching at Amanda every time Amanda talks with Trevor.
The whole 'Amanda, don't talk to Trevor because if you were my real friend, you would never talk to him' and 'I'm not interested in Trevor because I dumped him four times' act got old real fast. And no one can forget the 'My life is over because I didn't get the lead role' and 'Oliver, your eyes are GRAY!' and 'Driving sucks!' and 'I can never be an actress anymore because of one role'. Puh-leeze. There are so many generic books following the exact same concept as Exit Stage Left that I was not a fan of this book for the lack of originality.
September 10, 2015
Full disclosure: I was a drama geek in high school. Reading this book was like being thrust back into those days of eagerly awaiting the cast list being posted, only to be (in my case) perpetually disappointed in being cast as an extra. Gail expertly captures the ups and downs of preparing for a big performance, while also covering the anxiety of teen friendships and relationships. There isn't a single dull moment in this well-written book!
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August 21, 2015Nope, can't get into this at all.
December 22, 2017
Decent writing doe not make up from horrible character and the worst plot ever.
March 21, 2020
It took me, like, 6 months to finish this book. I wanted to smack the main character. But it was cute overall.
July 25, 2020
This book had a good storyline but I was unable to enjoy it due to the excessive profanity.
April 4, 2016
Oh my goodness, did I have fun with this one! As someone who spent most of high school in the school musicals (and yes, lost out on parts to friends), I could completely relate to Casey. I was so sure I was bound for the Broadway stage, just as she is, and her panic that not getting the lead is right on point. Theatre is life-consuming, and the possibility of losing that love can be heart-breaking. It'll definitely make you do some not-so-smart things and make you consider some not-so-nice choices. Theatre is a cut-throat world, which is why I probably chose to do it as a hobby, as opposed to a profession.
I loved how Casey and Harrison try to reinvent themselves, in the hopes that they'd be better at something else. The antics that occur made me giggle. And really, isn't that what high school is all about? Trying to find yourself?
This book absolutely brought me back to my high school days (though, I wish I'd tried things like flying lessons!), and kept a smile on my face the whole time. I squealed at some of the geekier stage references (Eponine will ALWAYS be a better part than Cosette), and basically just enjoyed each second for what it was: good fun.
I loved how Casey and Harrison try to reinvent themselves, in the hopes that they'd be better at something else. The antics that occur made me giggle. And really, isn't that what high school is all about? Trying to find yourself?
This book absolutely brought me back to my high school days (though, I wish I'd tried things like flying lessons!), and kept a smile on my face the whole time. I squealed at some of the geekier stage references (Eponine will ALWAYS be a better part than Cosette), and basically just enjoyed each second for what it was: good fun.
August 13, 2016
This is a cute novel. I was a Drama nerd in high school, and, much like Casey in the novel, often played the bigger parts in the school shows. Also like Casey, I tried out for Sound of Music in school. While reading this, my drama nerd daughter was preparing to try out for her first high school musical. So, needless to say, it was a book I could relate to. It's fun and lighthearted, never getting too serious. There were some points when I wanted to hit Casey to get her thinking straight again, because she gets really off course for a while. It ended well, though. The book is very teen without any substantial adult characters. It's got quite a lot of bad words in it, so I'd recommend it for 13+. I think it might not appeal to all teen readers, but it definitely can find its niche with theater folks. All the references to musicals could be missed by people who aren't in that world. People who like the melodramatics of Glee and High School Musical will get a kick out of this story.
January 21, 2016
where do I start? well, this book definitely isn't on my favorites list, but it wasn't awful. I feel like I couldn't finish this book as fast as I normally do because I couldn't get into it, you know? I would read here and there, but not for hours at a time. the main character, Casey, is a total drama queen. the whole Trevor thing annoyed me. I wish she would of saw how much of a jerk he was. anyway, this wasn't really my type of book. like I said though it's isn't absolutely horrible.
September 15, 2015
The main character, Casey Fitzgerald, kept me laughing throughout this book. Whether she was hiding in the bushes to see why she was uninvited to a best friend's party or dressing in costume at school to hone her skills as a method actor, Casey made me laugh out loud as she dealt with getting a less-than-stellar role in the school's theater production.
February 2, 2016
This was such a fun read and it had me laughing many times. It brought back so many memories of high school and preparing for a big production. There's always so much drama going on backstage and Nall really captures the tensions and teens wonderfully in this well-written story. And I suddenly want to watch the Sound of Music again, for 100th time.
August 31, 2015
I'm just gonna say it. I dislike when a girl knows that she's making bad choices, still makes them, whines about it, doesn't really learn anything, and then still gets a happy ending cause some dude has a hero complex. That's this book.
September 4, 2015
I would have liked this book alot more if the main character hadn't been so dense and oblivious in her relationships. I liked most of the characters but their naivete & inability to communicate was very frustrating.
January 7, 2017
High school theater production of a beloved musical. Best friends. Unexpected happenings. Cute guys. You'd think this would have completely captured my attention. I just didn't l0ve Casey enough to root for her. Compelling enough to finish. Just not my fave.
January 13, 2015
I loved this book- it was sweet and funny and heartfelt! Also, it had me humming songs from The Sound of Music the whole time. I consider that a bonus, not a bad thing:)
August 31, 2015
I read an early version of the book and loved it! Such a fun plot with a great cast of characters.
January 9, 2016
This book had some of the most selfish, self-centered, hypocritical, and ridiculous people I've ever read about.
October 1, 2015
If you like shows like FAME and GLEE, you'll love EXIT STAGE LEFT!
March 15, 2016
Casey is very unlikable. But, still a good book
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews