While I enjoyed Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask, Once More With Feeling didn’t work for me.

The premise had potential: Katee Rose’s pop star career came crashing down after she risked her relationship and her career for one guy. Now, Kathleen is happy to live a typical life and forget all about Katee Rose. Of course, she comes face-to-face with her past when Cal — that guy — is directing the Broadway show she has a chance to star in. Obviously they reconnect. What else would happen when forced proximity and second chances combine?

Typically a second chance romance with dual timelines will have a reader rooting for the couple to get back together and live HEA. It will lay out the foundation of the relationship, the true connection between them, and a conflict that is easy to see past.

The dual timeline did nothing other than support my disdain for the characters. At no point did I feel that the two belonged together. They had no solid foundation, only the messiest past. Their start was Katee cheating on her almost-fiancé, and while he was definitely using her for fame, it also felt like she was using Cal, and the connection between them never felt genuine.

It felt unrealistic these two could patch things up, especially after so many years. The pacing of this book was sluggish, and I was ready for it to be over a few chapters in.

Should have expected this from Elissa Sussman but I was naive. Still the same cringy dialogue and cheesy plot except this time I'm not impressed. I found both main characters super unrelatable and very childish even during the "present" timeline. I didn't really care for the plot as it did seem to drag on a bit longer than usual but at least the ending closed the loop and helped give closure.

“I'd made mistakes, but I'd paid for them. I'd learned from them. Mostly. I'd continue to learn from them. But not if I kept punishing myself over something I couldn't change. I'd done a bad thing, but I wasn't a bad person. I wasn't beyond salvation. Wasn't beyond love.”

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman is an adult romance that can easily be misconstrued as a YA romance. I adored Elissa's Funny You Should Ask, so I had great feelings about this book. But frankly, I was let down. The dual timeline is great when it's done well, but in this book, it wasn't. The characters weren't the greatest and honestly the book felt flat.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman follows Kathleen Rosenburg, a former pop star trying to rebuild her life after a scandal involving her ex, Cal Kirby, a boy band member. When Cal becomes the director of a Broadway play she’s cast in, they’re forced to confront their past, filled with unresolved tension. Despite the intriguing premise, the second-chance romance lacks emotional depth, leaving their chemistry underwhelming.
The dual timeline structure, meant to highlight their emotional journey, feels disconnected and shallow, with flashbacks that don’t evoke the expected nostalgia. The pacing is uneven, rushing through key moments without emotional weight. While the book touches on forgiveness, personal growth, and the effects of trauma, these themes are underdeveloped in favor of the drama between the leads.
Character development is a major flaw. Kathleen feels immature and self-centered, making it hard to root for her, while Cal is underdeveloped and lacks introspection. The lack of growth and unresolved questions, like Cal's failure to defend Kathleen during the scandal, weaken the story's emotional impact.
Ultimately, Once More with Feeling is a quick, drama-filled read but falls short of delivering a meaningful romance or satisfying character growth. The book’s lack of depth leaves the romance feeling unearned, making it hard to invest in the characters or their relationship.



Disclaimer: This review is based on an ARC received from NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell

I really enjoyed the Author’s writing and was excited to read this after “Funny You Should Ask.” For some reason I can’t get enough of these celebrity books.

This book was cute, but I think it fell flat for me overall. I loved the whole second chance pop stars aspect but the characters felt a little surface level a bit, and the pacing with the time jumps sometimes felt off. This was a fun, light, and easy read but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

A second chance romance between an ex pop star and a band boy. I wanted to like this but unfortunately the chemistry between fell flat.

I surprisingly really enjoyed this book. I wont say it was life changing but I without a doubt enjoyed the journey it took me on. Katee and Cal had a very complicated situation, that at its heart had a deep connection. I love how Elissa explored how woman are the ones who usually take the brunt of media frenzy when a couple breaks up. My only complaint is I wish it was spicier but honestly thats a personal problem. I'm so happy I was chosen for an ARC for this book.

Elissa Sussman is becoming one of my favorite romance writers. This was a fun enemies to lovers story involving pop stars and former friends. I will buy whatever she writes next.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I enjoyed it for the most part. I thought the characters were well developed although I have to admit that I found the main character Kathleen to be not my favorite. She wasn't the most likable character with how she treated Harriet or her behavior towards Cal. And maybe I am not remembering correctly, but I felt like the explanation of what went down/or each of the main characters attitudes after the whole proposal incident was a little lacking. All of that said, it was an enjoyable read and I wanted to see how it ended.

Elissa Sussman’s “Once More with Feeling” is a delightful and heartwarming read that explores the complexities of love and second chances. The characters are relatable and their journeys are both touching and entertaining. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good story with a lot of heart.

I really loved Elissa Sussman’s other book, Funny You Should Ask, but unfortunately, this book just didn’t hit the same. It was much more serious, however with less depth than I would have hoped for. Additionally, I didn’t feel the romance was as focal or strong as I would prefer in a romance book.

Reviewing so late, but I did so enjoy this one, and have loved selling it. Excellent for the Daisy Jones and Rachel Lynn Solomon lovers!

I love Elissa Sussman- her debut is one of my all time favorites. Once More with Feeling is a wonderful sophomore novel. I will be recommending this for my library's book club!

This contemporary romance offers a refreshing twist on the familiar friends-to-lovers trope, which happens to be my favorite! The author's vivid portrayal of the glitz and glamour of the music industry is captivating, and the characters' internal struggles provide a relatable depth to the story. Katee and Cal's complicated dynamic is both intriguing and heartwarming. Their shared past and mutual resentment create a palpable tension that really worked for me. The author's ability to blend humor, drama, and heartfelt emotion made this a well-crafted romance that I think is an easy one to recommend for readers in the genre!

2.5

While this was never straight-up BORING, it still was very bland. Everything felt rushed and surface-level. There wasn't a lot of depth to the characters or the story itself. Such a disappointing read. I cannot believe this is the same author as Funny You Should Ask (which was FIVE whole stars for me). I'm very interested to see how I feel about Sussman's upcoming release because that will definitely determine if I ever pick up one of her books again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are, as always, my very own.

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pre-release:

i have a major book hangover from Funny You Should Ask. need this nowwwww <3

#coffeeandcurrentlyreading I’m wayyy behind on one of my most anticipated reads! 🙈 I love me some @elissa_sussman 🤩💙📖 so I’m super excited for ONCE MORE WITH FEELING - a huge thanks to @randomhouse for my #gifted copy! Paired with an iced tiramisu cold brew coffee and strawberry cheesecake poptart from @valsdayton and I KNOW I’m going to be having a great start to my week 🥰 what are you reading and sipping?

This was a fun book, and I really appreciated the opportunity to read it! I will recommend this book.

Short Synopsis: Katee Rose is a world famous pop star dating Ryan LaNeve of the hottest boy band, but her career explodes when she falls for Cal another member of Ryan's band. 10 years later, Cal approaches her with the opportunity of her life staring in a Broadway show.

My thoughts: I absolutely adored Sussman's first book, so needless to say I was so excited when I had the chance to read this one. While I really enjoyed the premise, overall I just didn't feel a deep connection to the characters like I'd hoped. I just felt like we got the surface level of the characters and wanted more.

That being said, I am always a fan of second chance romance and celebrity romances and that really worked for me! I especially enjoyed watching Katee make her comeback after her initial career imploded. I also really enjoyed watching the Broadway show process and couldn't wait to see whether it was a success or a flop.

Read if you love:
- Celebrity romance
- 90s pop vibes
- Past/Present timelines
- Second chance romance
- Broadway shows

Didn't love this book as much as the first, but Elissa Sussman always writes fun, beautiful romances with fun pop culture plots. I liked the characters a lot!