👌🏻what i liked:
I was rooting for Kathleen and Cal the entire time. They were extremely likable and relatable characters. This was a beautifully written second chance romance for childhood lovers. I felt like there was more emotion to this one than there was in Funny You Should Ask. I’m also a sucker for the then and now parallels.

🙃 what i didn’t like:
There wasn’t as much romance as I thought there was going to be. It all seemed to be in the past and was few and far between. The romance in the present seemed to be lacking on the emotional connection that the past had. The present felt like all lust.

🥰 special thanks
Thank you to NetGalley, Elissa Sussman, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Once More With Feeling is a romantic comedy that checks both the friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-loves boxes.

Kathleen and Cal first meet at theater camp when they are both selected to preform solos, They become involved in a love triangle that both of them blames the other for. Now that time has passed they are bitter towards one another.

When they both become involved in the production of a play, aiming to make it to broadway, they have to face their sour feelings for one another. Kathleen's resentment of Cal still lingers, though she must work to move past this to ensure the success of their project. As time goes on their old feelings resurface, and Cal and Kathleen must determine whether or not a relationship is worth the success of their careers.

Overall, I found that this book fell a bit flat. I enjoyed the story and characters, however, I was not invested in Cal and Kathleen's relationship. Sometimes the fights or kisses felt out of place, and in the end, I felt like I did not really care if they ended up together. I still enjoyed Elissa Sussman's writing, though I enjoyed her first release more than this one.

Don't ask me how I read this in one sitting.
I think when a formula works, just like the saying goes don't fix anything that isn't broken.

This gives such nostalgia especially if you are a kpop fan, a pop fan or even an artist fan from various decades.

Totally recommend to read, heck even the audiobook version is also great as well.

Thank you to netgalley for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one, I think I prefer her other book, Funny You Should Ask though. I like how she writes the tension between people. I also liked the then and now timelines, I think that format really lends itself well to the story. I love a good friends to lovers and second chance romance.
I just didn't like that Kathleen cheated on Ryan, even though he was not good for her and she was young, I just don't like cheating in books.

Once More with Feeling was my FAVORITE read of the summer and I wish I could unread it so I could read it again for the first time.

OMwT was my first Sussman read and her writing is nothing short of whimsical. She weaves together an enchanting blend of emotions, music, and the transformative power of second chances by introducing us to Kathleen and Cal, two teenagers at a broadway summer camp who, after performing two solos, share a sweet moment that ended as soon as the summer did. When they meet some-odd years later, Kathleen has transformed into international pop star Katee Rose who just so happens to be dating Cal's boyband mate, Ryan. Their lingering summer feelings for each other turn into a disastrous love triangle that leaves only Katee ruined: no boyfriend, no agent, no career.

When now-Kathleen and Cal meet for the third time while working with the former's best friend and playwright Harriett (who has written a show whose main character is inspired by Kathleen. While the duo try to bury the hatchet, their banter is both witty and real - the dialogue was one of the best parts of the story. I inhaled this book, eager to uncover the flawed history behind Kathleen and Cal.

Ultimately, Sussman does a fabulous job creating both a genuine story and cast of characters, full of emotion that weaves together second chance romance, enemies to lovers AND childhood sweethearts.

I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it as much as Funny You Should Ask. As a huge boyband, pop star and broadway/theatre geek, I love that aspect of the plot so much! Definitely very nostalgic for us millennials haha.

As a famous childhood singer, Katee cheats on her boyfriend who is a member of a famous boy band and gets cancelled.. She loses everything, including a relationship with Cal who is also part of the boy band... In present day, Harriet, Katees's best friend, has written a Broadway show. Katee gets the star role and Cal is the director.

When I began reading the book, the alternation between past and present moments was a lot to take in. The chapters were only a few pages long, and it was hard to even remember the names and keep the characters straight in my head. As I read on, that did lessen so that it was not a change in the timeline every other chapter. Once you read main highlights of their history, it becomes much easier to follow and to stay engaged with the story.

When the story begins, you know that Kathleen is no longer in the spotlight making music - because of her own actions. It makes rooting for her not easy to do. Once you learn more about her backstory, Cal, their relationship, and their friend group, it's not a challenge to want her to live out her dreams.

On paper, Kathleen is the bad guy and Cal is the disloyal friend. Yet Elissa Sussman makes you only want the best things for the two of them. You want the them to have their happy ending.

If you're looking for a good slow-burn, second-chance, friends to lovers and now enemies to lovers book, *Once More With Feeling* is for you.

This book didn't blow me away but it did keep me entertained throughout the entire story. I found the beginning to be a little bit of confusing. The characters seemed a little one note and didn't really develop as the story went on. It felt more contemporary rather than a romance fully. There were heartwarming elements and I really enjoy a story about second chance romances.

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!