Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I'm always drawn to this book by the cover, they are so gorgeous! However, same as the previous book by Elissa Sussman, this was just an average one. I just did not connect with any of the characters, not sure why :( But I will definitely still read Elissa Sussman's next books!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

3.5 stars. This is a cute book about second chance romance; something that isn't my typical choice of romance. It was a bit hard to root for Kathleen and Cal, I just personally didn't connect with them all that well. The flashbacks felt meaningless, and I definitely skimmed through them at times. Cute and popular, nothing super groundbreaking.

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman

I usually really dislike second chance romances, but I guess this is one of the better ones out there—you’ve hated this guy for 20 years but after a week of forced proximity and one 10 minute conversation you realized you loved him the entire time?? Make it make sense. I appreciate that it was at least realistic plot-wise that they’d maybe like each other in the present, even though the chemistry was a little lacking. The flashbacks have us more insight into the FMC than the relationship, and by the end of the book I wasn’t really convinced that they’re meant for each other. I also really disliked the beloved best friend and don’t really like when romances make friend fights a huge part of the plot, it didn’t really add any depth for me. Also, for a book about musicals/fame/Broadway there was so little explanation for how that stuff actually worked… fairly insignificant but also why are you guys going to Rhode Island to rehearse I don’t get it. Overall though, a very easy light read and I sped right through it and only realized all these qualms when I started thinking about it more.

3.5 stars

Oh my gosh I absolutely loved this book. The characters development, the second chance romance, the setting of the book, it was all done so well. I laughed, I cried, I shook my head at choices made, and cheered on the main character like she was my own friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My review is up on my goodreads and will be up on my Instagram by 8/19/23 @thepiscesbookguide

This book was SPECTACULAR!!

I am a big fan of Sussman’s similar book ‘Funny You Should Ask’ so I was hoping and skeptical is ‘Once More With Feeling’ would live up to the hype and IT. DID!

What a great second chance romance (which means to be Sussman’s specialty)! The author writes in a comical, self-deprecating way with such imagery that it makes you think you’re in her NY apartment with her and her beloved cat, Fish.

The Then and Now sections were perfect counterparts to each other. Telling only what the author wants you to know about that part of the story at that time.

You couldn’t help but fall in love with every single character in this book.

One thing to note is while I loved Funny You Should Ask I thought the feminist parts were mostly unnecessary and especially the last 3 pages of the book, very in your face, when the male character took the female character’s last name. I hated that because it took something away from the book. In this book, the feminism was not as much subdued, but rather portrayed the whole time in the 2 leading female characters. It made the feminism parts much more bearable, dare I say enjoyable, rather than pointed like Sussman’s other book.

Most importantly, the motives for each character were realistic and believable. The reason the two main characters got together the first, second, and third time did not seem corny, but for a reason that was realistic. I LOVE THAT in books.

This book is good for theater nerds, boy band fans, book lovers, and everything in between. Fans of Emily Henry would LOVE ‘Once More With Feeling’ and so did I!

Once More With Feeling is an ode to Broadway and grown-up theater kids (it’s me, hi!) everywhere!

While I enjoyed Kathleen’s narration, she could be a difficult character to like at times. I loved her growth, though, and I thought her flashbacks were so much fun (and cringey in the BEST possible way— the DRAMA!) and added more depth to her character and (sometimes questionable) choices in the present.

As for tropes & vibes, there was some friends-to-enemies-to-lovers angst, themes of found family, drama queen moments, and lots of 90s pop star/Broadway legend energy, and I loved every second of all of it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Elissa Sussman for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to get into this, but I sadly couldn't. I think the plot took a little too long to get going for my preference!

4.5/5 stars!!

I devoured this book!
I was a big fan if Funny You Should Ask so I was very excited for Sussman’s new book.
It by far, exceeded my expectations.
Off the bat, I fell in love with Kathleen, maybe because I related a bit to her.
I liked how it brought to light how women tend to be scrutinized more in the media, and we see how that affects Kathleen and her career. I’m just happy that she got the ending she deserved, accomplishing one of her goals in the process.

I loved the setting of the book, lowkey made me wish I got more into musical theater when I was younger. I think it was great how she incorporated a somewhat play into the book when the story switched back to when Kathleen and Cal were in camp.

Kathleen and Cal were just meant to be, I loved how he understood her and everything she loved. And it’s the fact that they were quite literally tied by an invisible string, since they met for the first time at camp.
Harriet was also an amazing character even with her flaws. I think she was real for her feelings towards Kathleen, but they’re bond was so strong and friendship made me love them more, especially how they resolve their own differences.

I just wished the book was longer! I don’t know but I think I loved the characters so much I wanted more hah.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for the eARC.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

Former child pop-star Kathleen Rosenberg (a.k.a. Katee Rose) finally gets to live her dream -- a leading role on Broadway! But when the director is her old summer camp flame, Cal Kirby, will Kathleen be able to focus on the show, maintain her friendships, and revive her career?

This was the first book I'd read by Elissa Sussman, after hearing SO much about her previous Chris Evans-inspired romance. I didn't read about this book in advance, and I was very pleasantly surprised. As a former theater kid, I really enjoyed this sweet homage. You can tell the author has a sweet spot for musical theater, and it really showed in the niche details! (See: Marie's Crisis, stale Red Vines out of the bucket, and kissing any straight boy in close proximity.) I'm also a sucker for second-chance romances, and this was a great example of this -- a nice slow burn, while still being able to appreciate the nuances in the relationship that were heavily influenced by their past together as summer campers and young pop-stars. The karaoke scene was my favorite, and really got me invested in Kathleen and Cal's relationship. Also, I loved the organization in the time flips; I felt like Sussman revealed details about the characters' intimate knowledge of each other in just the right way, without spoiling or repeating too much.

In all, if you can suspend your disbelief enough to enjoy a contemporary rom-com, and are a reformed theater kid, then you'll enjoy this book as much as I did! I look forward to reading more by Sussman in the future.

Love love love this story! I’m a sucker for second-chance stories and I like how the storyline weaves between the past and present. I feel like some character relationships could have been developed a little more, but that didn’t stop me from reading this in 2 days.

4.25🌟 this book was so cute!! if you're a theater kid, i think you'll really enjoy this. the dual timeline really worked for me in this situation, because i was equally excited to find out what happened in each. these two characters just know each other so intimately, both from their years at theater camp and their years in the music industry, that even when they're bickering, they can still see past their conflict and find the good in each other. also, with this being set amidst a theater workshop, it made the whole situation feel like a powder keg just waiting for the conflict to pop off!

*thank you random house, netgalley, and PRH Audio for the ARC & audiobook!

This is Elissa Sussman's second novel - and similar to her first, it's about second chances at love. This is a story of second chances, redemption & the characters were layered and interesting. This was such an easy and enjoyable summer read! I've recommended it to my book club & have purchased several copies for friends!

This was nostalgia in book form. I feel like reading this I was immediately sucked back into the dram of my adolescence that was Brit Brit and JT but with an adorable twist. Katee and Cal had my heart from the get go and I loved everything about their dynamic. I laughed out loud at so many instances and OMG once the tension finally broke, the slow burn was so worth it. Great read. 4/5 stars.

Read for Bad Bitch Book Club's 2023 Maine Summer Camp Retreat.

I liked this one better than her last book but I think it's a 3.75 for me. I didn't dislike it but Kathleen annoyed me most of the book. I did like her and Cal together so my opinion was higher at the end of the book but I spent most of the book irritated with her.

I didn't love the conflict between Kathleen and Harriet because they could so easily just talk! Miscommunication/no communication is my biggest pet peeve in a book.

It also annoyed me that "then" was two separate time frames, as it was hard to track.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one!

Loved this book! I haven’t had a chance to read her first book Funny You Should Ask but immediately adding to my TBR! This was an excellent second chance romance. It was funny and sweet. I couldn’t get enough!

Funny You Should Ask was one of my favorite reads of 2022, so Once More With Feeling had A LOT to live up to. And while it didn’t top FYSA, I really enjoyed this frothy, dual timeline, second chance romance. Sussman is now 2 for 2 in my books and quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

🎤 “It's you and me, that's my whole world
They whisper in the hallway, "She's a bad, bad girl" (okay)
The whole school is rolling fake dice
You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes
It's you and me, there's nothing like this”

I’m in my celebrity scandalous past/present redemption story era. It’s oddly specific, but incredibly true. (Like my animal POV era 😂)

Elissa’s sophomore novel follows Katee Rose (now Kathleen Rosenberg) in a past/present POV of her time as America’s number one pop star to a Broadway redemption arc. After a huge scandal with her now ex boyfriend, frontman of boy band “CrushZone,” she disappears into obscurity until she reluctantly chooses to re-enter the spotlight 10 years later with none other than Cal Kirby, one of the OTHER members of the former boy band who also destroyed his career that night.

This book was a fun read especially as a millennial girlie picturing Justin and Britney with a fun Broadway twist. It also gave me SMASH vibes with the inception of the musical. I enjoyed the second chance romance, slow burn, enemies to lovers. I think their relationship was very sincere and genuine compared to Funny You Should Ask. Their relationship felt more realistic and I loved that more

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy

#2023ReadsDaniellesVersion #netgalley #elissasussman #oncemorewithfeeling #bookrecs #bookreviews

I can definitely see this book attracting certain readers, especially if they enjoyed the author's first book. I just couldn't get into the book until the last half or so. The ending was enjoyable after it started picking up. This one was wasn't for me but I still think it was an okay read.

This was a quick read, chock full of nostalgia and pop culture references. I absolutely loved the setting and references. It is told in a dual timeline, back in the boy band heyday and then a current timeline. It is a second chance romance, enemies to lovers, and set in a celebrity world. I was kind of annoyed with some of the characters, but overall a good read.

Katee Rose was the pop queen, and was the ultimate people pleaser. Until she wasn’t and her world crashed around her. Her career vanished, and so did everyone around her. Her best friend stood by her, but otherwise she was alone. Until her best friend blindsided her with the news her play is going to be produced and hopefully get on Broadway. She wrote the leading part specifically for her. Only is is going to be directed by *him*. Will they be able to leave the past behind them to get her best friend’s dream on Broadway?

Another Hollywood romance? Yes please! Elissa Sussman seems to know how to write the perfect one! I absolutely loved this second chance, enemies to lovers, Hollywood romance! These characters were so well developed, seriously flawed, and yet I still loved them! The banter, tension, and sweet reunion of Kathleen and Chris was absolute perfection.