When a former pop star enrolls in college, the last thing she expects is A-plus chemistry with her psychology professor in this sexy and tender romance from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lynn Solomon.
Ramona Wilder has spent her whole life in the spotlight. After a hit kids’ TV show, she transitioned into music, singing in arenas around the world and becoming an icon for millions of teenage girls. Now at age twenty-six, exhausted by the inhumane lack of privacy, she’s done—with all of it. She wants a chance at normal, whatever that might mean for her. And she’s starting with college.
Professor Nick Navarro is recently divorced but determinedly optimistic, allowing himself a very reasonable ten minutes per day to wallow. When his department calls a meeting about a celebrity enrollment, he plans to treat whoever it is like any other student. Except when Ramona blazes into class and causes an uproar, the typically easygoing professor is rattled, maybe for the first time in his career.
Ramona loves the way she flusters him, taking every opportunity to push Nick’s buttons, though what she really wants is to unbutton them completely. When a crisis brings them closer outside of class, they begin a tentative friendship amid an undeniable attraction. But Ramona can’t be so easily finished with her old life, and they’ll both have to confront their pasts if they want a chance at something real.
Ramona Wilder has spent her whole life in the spotlight. After a hit kids’ TV show, she transitioned into music, singing in arenas around the world and becoming an icon for millions of teenage girls. Now at age twenty-six, exhausted by the inhumane lack of privacy, she’s done—with all of it. She wants a chance at normal, whatever that might mean for her. And she’s starting with college.
Professor Nick Navarro is recently divorced but determinedly optimistic, allowing himself a very reasonable ten minutes per day to wallow. When his department calls a meeting about a celebrity enrollment, he plans to treat whoever it is like any other student. Except when Ramona blazes into class and causes an uproar, the typically easygoing professor is rattled, maybe for the first time in his career.
Ramona loves the way she flusters him, taking every opportunity to push Nick’s buttons, though what she really wants is to unbutton them completely. When a crisis brings them closer outside of class, they begin a tentative friendship amid an undeniable attraction. But Ramona can’t be so easily finished with her old life, and they’ll both have to confront their pasts if they want a chance at something real.
Title: Extracurricular
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Expected Publication Date: July 14, 2026
Review:
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for supplying me with a copy of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've not read any titles by this author before. I have seen them around but haven't had a chance but the reviews have been good so I wanted to give her a try. And I was not disappointed at all. I enjoy a really well written forbidden love story and Solomon did a really good job with this while also including an age gap!
Romona Wilder has retired from being a pop star after years of abuse from the industry. She's gone back to school at UCLA to see where she wants her to go. Nick Navarro is just off a divorce from his childhood love. He's trying to make a new life for himself but is also having a hard time moving on. What does keep him going is his niece and his job as a psychology professor at UCLA. When Romona chooses his class as one to take, he is skeptical she is in school for the right reasons, But there's an attraction between them that neither seems to be able to ignore. As they grow closer as "friends," Nick finds himself at risk of not only losing his job but also losing his heart.
Romona is a fabulous character. She is extremely well developed. It was easy to relate to her despite having no association in the music industry. So much has been brought to light in the last few years about how pop stars are treated and what they go through and Romona's character embodied so much of that. I was impressed with how Solomon addressed some very difficult topic in this book: abuse. Romona's character was emotionally and sexually abused by those she trusted. It took pulling herself out of the industry and an accusation of assault against her ex-boyfriend to reveal these things to her. She is slowly learning none of what she went through was ok and trying hard to take her life back. She does not expect her attraction to Nick, nor does she expect the friendship they form and now it supports her.
Nick is such a golden retriever but with a bit of a dominant side hiding beneath. I loved his character. His own trauma, while different from Romona's, was just as powerful in shaping who he is. He's experienced so much pain. I really loved how he and Romona had honest conversations with each other that helped them truly understand one another. And I love his relationship with his niece. It's just so sweet that they are so close and she feels like she can come to him and call on him for things.
I'm not going to lie, the plot for this one is messy. It was hard for me to see a good outcome in the distance while reading this. I just could not see how things would work out. And the actual attraction was little on the fast side for me. It was not insta-love, but I wish there was just a bit more build up to it. Thankfully, Solomon does choose to give us happiness at the end (I'm not good at total heartbreak). And she does it without the third act break up which I was very happy about. Solomon explores self-discovery, growth, and resilience. Both characters work through their traumas and help each other realize it's ok to be a little messy.
What this book did was made me realize I need to read everything Solomon decides to write. Her pacing was on point. Not too quick, not too slow. But just enough to have me finishing this in less than 24 hours. And her plot was so much more than just a romance. It's a story about kindness. It's about accepting yourself despite the traumas in your past. Accepting those are part of who you are and will help you grow into who you can be and feel safe doing it. A story that touches on so many deeper themes beyond chemistry and spice. Definitely one of my top reads this year!
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