oh, i loved this. i think i loved this more than ‘funny you should ask’ like. the friends to lovers to enemies with second chance just so good. plus the cheating made it even better. i just couldn’t stop reading this one. i love a good celebrity romance and this just hit all the right spots. i also loved kathleen and cal a lot. the cover is also just so pretty, i loved the art style. elissa sussman has a good thing going.

thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

In the beginning these characters are so clearly based on Britney and Justin in the early 2000s and I was here for it!

This book has dual timelines (that in this instance are particularly confusing)
that jump around from then and now to show what happened in the past vs. what is going on now in the lives of former pop sensation Katee Rose and member of the boy band CrushZone, Cal. Who first met many years ago at a summer camp for theatre kids. You know in the beginning that 15 years ago in the height of their careers there was a scandal that alleged Katee cheated on Cal and it tarnished her reputation and they haven’t really talked in years.

Present day Katee is now auditioning for a role in an off Broadway show that her best friend Harriet and Cal are both heavily involved with. This is where Katee and Cal begin to know each other again as adults, at the same time she is still dating fellow member of CrushZone Ryan.

This book had so much potential to be great but it just fell flat. The timelines were jumbled and confusing and the reasoning for the characters behavior when “twists” were revealed was unsatisfying at best. I felt like all the relationships were surface level with no real emotional investment.

There are some really cute moments and I was definitely interested in what was going on but so much was happening and the timelines aren’t always clear that made the reading experience both frustrating and confusing, including why Harriet felt so worried about telling Katee her secret I just didn’t fully understand her reasoning.

I really liked Funny You Should Ask so I’m excited to see what else Sussman puts out in the future!

3 stars

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Okayyyyyyy this is literally one of the cutest books ive ever read!!! as a self proclaimed y2k boy band aficionado, i knew i would be obsessed. luckily this turned out a little less britney and justin and consumed me for HOURS. i literally could not stop reading this book and since its the first by elissa sussman, i will not be reading her back log lol!!

Elissa Sussman is so good at unfurling a story full of complicated feelings and personal history between characters. While there is of course the fictional high fantasy of former child stars as the storyline, there are very real complex lifelong friendships and love full of a lifetime of hurt along with it. It was a great slow-burn angsty read. This was my second from the author and I would auto-buy anything she publishes!

Thank you to NetGalley/Random House/Ballantine/Dell for the opportunity to review an ARC.

After her career as an international pop sensation came to a screeching halt, Kathleen Rosenberg (once known as Katee Rose) is ready to reinvent herself as a Broadway performer. And with her best friend workshopping a new musical with a starring role she wrote specifically for Kathleen, her dream is within reach. But when Kathleen’s childhood crush — and the man secretly at the center of the scandal that ruined her music career — is tapped as the musical’s director, can they keep their messy history in the past?

Once More with Feeling puts romantic tension and juicy celebrity drama centerstage. Elissa Sussman expertly crafts the love story of two artists set across three timelines, building to a powerful finish worthy of a standing ovation. This stellar romance has all the passion, energy, and showstopping moments of a real Broadway musical.

Once More With Feeling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once More With Feeling was a love letter to musicals, and I totally loved that. It brought me right back to my days rehearsing in the pit orchestral during high school. If you have ever loved musicals, definitely check out this romcom centered around one.

Dual time lines can be tricky, but I thought Elissa Sussman did so well with it. Kathleen and Cal had so much chemistry and it was done well with the slow build. I also really enjoyed Harriet throughout the story. Kathleen was almost too much at times but I thought she redeemed herself in the end.

Thanks to @netgalley for this eARC. Check out this book when it comes out at the end of May!

A second chance romance was just what I needed to get me out of my reading funk. Katherine Rosenthall (Katee Rose) has made her fair share of mistakes in life, and it seems as though she’s paid the price. This story of second chances was heartwarming. The characters were all well developed. If I had any complaints, it would be the back and forth with present and past.

She's done it again. I love Elissa Sussman's writing, and the way that she lets you see the behind the scenes of celebrities. This book is about a former pop star, Kathleen, who has to work with a former flame that really blew up. Kathleen and Cal have been meant for each other ever since they did theater camp together, but now that they are adults, and they have one big scandal caused by the two of them hooking up and destroying Kathleen's career, they can barely stand each other. Lots of anger and miscommunication. AND he's the director of the broadway show she's starring in as her comeback. Kathleen has a lot of trauma from the way the world rejected her after she made her mistake, and it takes a while for her to clear the air with Cal. Meanwhile, it's really interesting to follow along as the play goes from rehearsals to previews to Broadway. Kathleen does a lot of growing up in this book, and the final ending feels well-earned.

I definitely recommend this book, and if you love musical theater, I couldn't recommend it more highly.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

Book Review✨
Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUB DATE: May 30, 2023

First, thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for my eARC copy of this read for an honest review!

I absolutely adored this book! A round of applause for @elissa_sussman

I’m always here for an enemies to lovers troupe and second chance love! 🥰

I couldn’t get enough of the banter between Kathleen and Cal! An all in the feels slow burn but I love the flashbacks between past and present to tie it altogether sweetly.

I am a fan! Can’t wait to read Funny You Should Ask soon as it’s also been on my TBR and I was able to snag it on a kindle deal! 🤓

Get it if you can! That is all! As always, happy reading! 💕

Once More with Feeling, indeed! Elissa Sussman's second book was just as good as her first (Funny You Should Ask). She's definitely found a formula that works, but this second-chance romance did not feel like a repeat. I loved the theater setting! The author creates great chemistry on the page. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Cal and Kathleen play out now vs. then. I also enjoyed the BFF relationship between Harriett and Kathleen, and seeing it grow and evolve, as they both have some a-ha moments.

Another binge-able read from Elissa Sussman.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for this honest review.

I had my reservations going into this one after how much I loved the author’s debut, Funny You Should Ask. How could any novel bet that one?? Well I was proven wrong! Some how, some way, I loved this book even more than her first! Once More With Feeling is an amazing romance about second chances both in love and in life! I’m a bit of a theater nerd myself so the setting was 100% up my alley! The banter and relationship between the two MCs was golden and I couldn’t have wished for a better ending for these two! If you were a fan of her debut novel you definitely need to check out this new release! And even so I’d suggest giving this one a read, I enjoyed every single second!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

LOVED this book!!! Elissa Sussman will forever be an auto buy author for me. I had high expectations for this book since I loved “Funny You Should Ask”, and it did not disappoint!

Kathleen was a famous teen pop singer until her career ended with a cheating scandal and the world turned their back on her. Cal was a former boy bander who has history with Kathleen. Years later she has her chance of a dream come true opportunity to appear in a Broadway musical, written by her best friend, but directed by Cal, who was another one who turned his back on her when the world did too. They don't like each other anymore and they don't trust each other, but they also both want this play to happen though.

This book was soooooo good! I couldn’t put it down! At first, it gave off Brittney & Justin vibes, but this story was so much better. I loved the dual timeline, the tension, the character growth, and the steam!
This was another amazing book by Elissa and I can’t wait for her next!



📘: Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman
🗓 Pub Date: May 30, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Elissa Sussman, and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads. Will review on retail once published!

Although I did not read Funny You Should Ask, it's been on my TBR for a long time! I have heard great things about Elissa Sussman and was excited to check out Once More With Feeling. I loved the banter in this story and will be recommending me to my friends!

I liked this book more than the author’s last one about the journalist and actor. But I will say, I found the main female character Kathleen pretty insufferable at first. Maybe I was supposed to? But she was incredibly jaded and took things out on people that she probably shouldn’t have. Also, this definitely felt like it was initially based on Britney Spears but it veered into different territory.

I thought Cal was way too patient dealing with Kathleen’s BS. And her best friend Harriet’s problem with her came out of nowhere I felt. However, I did want to know what happened so I kept reading. It did keep me turning the pages.

Overall this was a quick read, just a little spice, wrapped up in a neat bow by the end.

(3.5) Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this novel! I was deeply obsessed with Sussman's debut novel, Funny You Should Ask, so I was extremely eager to get my hands on this one. I am a sucker for good banter, and Cal and Kathleen's did not disappoint. Neither did their chemistry in the "Now" portions of the book. I love a then and now writing scheme in a romance novel, because you can see the parallels and differences between the character's romance throughout time. However, I was disappointed with the lack of chemistry in the "Then" portions of the book. In the same vein, I wish the book was a little bit longer so that Cal and Kathleen's story could have been a bit more fleshed out. I wanted to know more! Lastly, I thought the ultimate conflict was really well done and resolved at a good pace — more authors should take notes!

This is a pretty reliable friends to lovers romance book with a slow burn and some spice (not enough imo). Although I did like Sussman’s debut novel more, this is a perfect read to put you in a good mood.

I really enjoyed the theater setting and the way this second chance romance story was told. Cal was a sweetheart and while I wish I loved Kathleen just a tiny bit more - I still enjoyed their chemistry and loved the connection from childhood. ES has a very unique narrative style that I think sets her apart and it’s always interesting to read her books.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! The first 40% of it was phenomenol - the tension, bitterness and banter between Kathleen and Cal was soooo good. The author has a writing style that makes the story so immersive while also not falling under the more "telling than showing" trap that is common in romcoms. The story fizzled a little bit as the romance became a bigger part of the story, but overall, I was entertained throughout the whole book. This was a very solid sophomore novel from Elissa Sussman!

I love that Elissa Sussman's second book is every bit as good as her first and I can add her to my list of must read authors. This is another second chance second-chance romance, and while it does again involve celebrities, it feels every bit as fresh and interesting as her debut. Kathleen was a famous teen pop story until her career ended with a bang and a cheating scandal. Years later she has her chance of at a dream come true opportunity to appear on Broadway in a musical written by her best friend, but it means working with Cal, a former boy bander who was once an important part of her life until he turned his back on her along with the rest of the world. Oh, and he was part of that cheating scandal. They don't like each other anymore. They don't trust each other. Can they put the past behind them to work together? Do they even really want to put the past behind them?

Kathleen was a layered character. She is still very bruised by the past it does not always cause her to react well to things. It can make it difficult to root for her but she also has so much pride and heart that you cannot help but want t see her get her second chance at fame and at love. I found myself taking her side even when I knew she was acting like a brat, Cal is a steadier, good guy character. Not as interesting but not without appeal. I cared a lot less about the flashbacks to their past encounters and was much more invested in their adult lives and the production they were putting on but all in all this was a book that read from cover to cover without pausing.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read by Elissas Sussman and I enjoyed it even more than the first. Once More with feeling is another second chance romance that will leave you with a really good book high. The book skips between now and then, giving you a more in-depth look at the decades of unresolved feelings between a former popstar and former member of a boy-band who met at theater camp and later had a short-lived romance that blew up in the public eye. Both are trying to revive their careers in theater and are given the opportunity to work together again. Once More with Feeling delivers everything I love in contemporary romance and I also really enjoyed the deeper dive into the world of theater, so intriguing!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Random House for the ARC.