This was the Britney/Justin cheating scandal meets SMASH. This is all you need to know.

Kathleen Rosenberg, better known as pop superstar Katee Rose, fell out of the limelight a decade ago when she caused a scandal by cheating on her boy band heartthrob boyfriend with one of his bandmates, Cal Kirby. After facing constant rejection due to her "reputation," she finally has the chance to fulfill her childhood dreams of being on Broadway. The only problem? The show is being directed by none other than Cal Kirby, who pretty much let her take all the heat for their actions all those years ago.

This was extremely fun for me, specifically, as both a boy band kid and a theater kid. This author does such a good job of repackaging real celebrity drama and turning it into cute romcoms, and I think this was even better than Funny You Should Ask. We are following THREE timelines (Kathleen and Cal at theater camp as teens, their days on tour as popstars, and present day working on their Broadway show), but it never felt difficult to keep track of where we were, and frankly the transitions were much less jarring than I found them to be in Funny You Should Ask. And because we're seeing them together at all these different points in their lives, there are so many opportunities to create romantic tension.

Kathleen is sometimes hard to root for – particularly when it feels like she's not being a very good friend to her best friend Harriet – and that can be frustrating. But I really enjoy a story where the author can get me on board with a hard-to-like protagonist, and Kathleen does show some growth throughout. My main gripe is that the ending felt just a bit rushed/abrupt, and somehow both Cal and Kathleen should have had to do a bit more groveling for their past wrongs.

Overall, this is so cute and so fun. Highly recommend for anyone who hates Justin Timberlake, tbh.

**Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

If you were (are) a boy band, pop princess, pop music fan then you'll appreciate this one from Elissa Sussman! This book takes you on a second-chance romance journey with Kathleen Rosenberg (aka Katee Rose) as she finds herself presently auditioning for a chance to live her dream of being on Broadway while also flashing back to her pop music past and the decisions made that led her to where she is today. Kathleen is given the opportunity to make the comeback of her dreams thanks to her writer/composer best friend Harriet. The only catch is that it is being directed by the man who played a role in her pop princess downfall, Cal Kirby. While I did like Kathleen's character, I really adored Cal and Harriets characters the most. I appreciate how Sussman transitions from now and then which allows us to live through the experiences as opposed to just being told by the main characters what took place. I read most of this book in one day, I was hooked! This is my first time reading a book by this author but I am definitely going to check out her previous work because I absolutely enjoyed this one!

What I liked:
- Now and then timeline
- Second chance romance
- Jewish summer camp and representation
- Characters in their 30's. Unfortunately, in this book that didn't mean they were more mature.
- NYC setting (Hall of Gems! Chocolate rugelach!)
- The cat was my favorite character who showed the most growth and stayed out of the drama

What I didn't like:
- Washed up pop stars
- Repetitive conversations
- Single POV
- Cheating
- Fat shaming/body image issues weren't addressed fully
- Miscommunication
- Messy relationships, no one learned anything the first time around
- The acting/theater references were over my head, I skimmed through many of those conversations. I was bored and this was a niche topic that may not engage many readers.

I loved 'Funny You Should Ask', so was excited to get the chance to read Elissa Sussman's next book. The two share a lot of qualities in common - we've got a shared history between our characters, we've got flashbacks to what could have been, we've got celebrity intrigue, and of course, we've got the looming question of what could be now.

I appreciated this story's exploration of a romance between flawed characters. The beginning and demise of their past relationship felt grounded and plausible. The added social commentary on how much more a past mistake would be held against a woman than a man also felt very realistic. The novel managed to utilize the second chance romance, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lover tropes all without coming off cheesy.

But, at times I wished that I had felt the developing connection between the two love interests more. I definitely felt it in the flashbacks, but in the present day, I wasn't totally swooning for their love story. It made sense to me why they would work through their issues to work together, but I wasn't totally invested in them ending up together. Even so, I enjoyed reading their story and wish I could see their play brought to life!

**Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review**

(I plan to post on my tiktok @__joyreads and my blog tygreperl.com for publication day)

A huge fan of Sussman's previous work Funny You Should Ask, Once More With Feeling is just okay.

A decade after losing her popstar career, Kathleen Rosenburg is done with being Katee Rose, but she is forced to face the past when former fling, boy band member, and reason she lost it all Cal Kirby is her new Broadway director

I struggled with this book. Although the premise is interesting (a kind of callback to Britney/Justin) and the pure drama and mess of it all held my attention, I can't say I loved the reading experience.

I'm not a fan of second chance romance especially given the circumstances of Cal and Kathleen's relationship. Too much baggage. Too much hurt. I truly didn't feel invested in them getting back together. I felt like this was a case of been there, done that, learned from my mistakes, and now it's time to put my big girl panties on, hire a therapist, and MOVE ON.

The characters also just fell flat. There wasn't much growth or accountability in any of them. The miscommunication between all the characters felt juvenile and frustrating, especially given how much time had passed. Although fast paced and bingeable, the plot also didn't feel quite right with events and moments that felt more cringe than realistic.

I was missing that extra oomph and self awareness that Funny You Should Ask had in this one. Once More With Feeling is an easy, messy read, but with a little less heart and realism than what I come to expect from Sussman.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance reader's e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading Once More with Feeling! Kathleen Rosenberg is a former teen idol turned Broadway hopeful. After falling from stardom because of an affair with her boy band boyfriend’s band mate, Kathleen begins the work to rebuild her career into what she really wants-to be a Broadway star. Kathleen has one problem, though- the director of the musical she hopes to land a role in is Cal, the man she lost everything over. I loved the way that Sussman intertwined the story with flashbacks from Kathleen’s past and “excerpts” from popular news media. It added a a fun energy to the text and broke things up between chapters. Sussman is excellent at building believable characters and plots. Both main characters were well developed and made me want to keep reading. This book is heavy on the theater references, but you don’t have to know anything about show choir to keep up! 4/5 stars!

📚✨Book Review✨📚

Once More With Feeling
Author: Elissa Sussman

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Notes: I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🎭This is the second book from Elissa Sussman that I’ve read. I really enjoy her style, particularly how she alternates between the past and the present. I think it helps you understand the characters and their motivations, while also acting as a juxtaposition for where they are currently in life.

🎭Man do I love a hero who pines for the heroine since childhood. This book does that so well!

🎭This book does a great job addressing that sometimes what we see as a public persona is not really who someone is. Especially in a world that revolves around social media, the reminder is important.

What I Didn’t Like:
🎭 I really wish that when we see Ryan in present day, time had hit him. I mean, is balding too much to ask for?? 👨🏼‍🦲

🎭Never a huge fan of a third act breakup. I could tell it was coming, but man sometimes I wish it wasn’t so inevitable.

Final Thoughts:
🎭This book took me by surprise. It was more emotional than I was expecting. Also this should come with a warning, that you will immediately want to start adding musical soundtracks to your Spotify playlist (Certainly not complaining about that one!)





#bookreview #reviewsneedlovetoo #readforeverpub #unpopularopinion #booktok #bookstagram #bookfriend #books #bookish #booklover #instablog #romancereader #romcom #fantasybooks

I loved Elissa Sussman's debut novel, Funny You Should Ask, so I was so excited to get to read Once More With Feeling! Unfortunately, this book just wasn't what I wanted it to be. The book is about Kathleen, a "washed up" music star who gets a second chance on Broadway later in life with the man who didn't stand by her when the scandal hit, destroying her career. I liked the characters in general, but the things they said and did to each other was awful. Towards the end of the book, Kathleen gets into a screaming match with her best friend, and they say some truly awful things to each other. Kathleen and Cal (our love interest) never discuss the things they did to each other when they were younger. She just seemingly is over it, even as she's actively upset about it at the beginning. Further, the timing just doesn't make sense with their careers- when they went to camp, boy bands starting at college seems a bit too old, and Kathleen is discussed as the main singer while the boy band is the opening act, but then Kathleen discussed opening for the band at the end of the book.
Overall, this book fell flat and wasn't as good as Sussman's debut, in my opinion.

Really liked this one-possibly even more than her first! Elissa tells a wonderful comeback story that is sure to hook fans, especially fans of theater. I also enjoyed how she tied in the story of what appeared to be the culture surrounding 90s/2000s pop artists, which I was a huge fan of. Elissa also did a great job of creating the romantic tension between Kathleen and Cal. This book is way more than a romance, it also touches on friendship and the main characters own personal growth. Great story.

this book was SO GOOD i think i give it 4.5 stars instead of 4 or 5 but man cal was hot. like oooooh he was given love torn heart sick hottie i adored adored this book! and our queen Kathleen was a DIVA and i LOVED it! i love this author's interest in second chance Hollywood romance and I'll forever continue to read their books!!

"You come alive on stage," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."


Katee Rose was the biggest pop star, sold out concerts, screaming fans type of big. Every dream was finally coming true, but it was all getting too much, and the person she wanted to turn to was Cal Kirby.

It all came crashing down when she broke Ryan LaNeve's heart, her boyfriend, and member of the same band Cal is in. When she cheated on him, he let the whole world know and the public rallied around their favorite CrushZone member.

It's years and years later, and she's ready to come out, this time as Kathleen Rosenberg, and finally chase what makes her happy. The only problem is her happiness comes with strings.. strings named Cal Kirby. She finally is going to Broadway, but Cal is the director and she's not sure how she can stand to be around him after his role in the destruction of her career. But all that time together... it's hard not to let those old feelings come to the surface.

___________________

The buildup in this story is soooo good. Sussman writing this book in three different timelines was perfect, because every piece of Cal and Kathleen's story is essential to their character arcs.

I love flawed and messy characters. Most of the time, this means we get to see their character arc, and we get layers. I think Elissa Sussman nailed that with these two characters. We know right off the bat they cheated with each other, but the rest of the story is them trying to come back from that. There's no excuses, just trying to move on. I loved their dynamic so much. These two who were friends when they were younger, then fell for each other, and ultimately resenting each other? There's so much understanding and feeling. There's no way they werent going to find their way back to each other... even if it meant a lot of bickering along the way.

This book tops Funny You Should Ask for me. I loved the side characters in this one. Harriet is Kathleen's best friend, the one who helped write her music, and wrote the Broadway play they're all working on together. I love that we get to see the way other people's mistakes effect not just themselves and their romantic partners, but the other people close to them too.

This book is filled with all things Broadway, lots of tension, and fantastic character development. Elissa Sussman excels with second chance romance and this book was addicting and fun. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this, no doubt a perfect read if you're a fan of second chance romance, forced proximity, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers again, Broadway in any shape or form, and overall great character arcs

Thank you Netgalley, Elissa Sussman, and Random House Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

-4.75 stars

Some people want to be a doctor, teacher, or a veterinarian when they grow up, but Kathleen Rosenberg knew she needed to be on Broadway. Not just wanted to be: she needed to be on Broadway. After attending a musical theater summer camp, she meets her future best friend and falls into the orbit of Calvin Tyler Kirby.

Years later, Kathleen is Katee Rose, a pop star taking the world by storm alongside her boyfriend, who is 1/5th of boyband CrushZone. Another fifth of that boyband is Calvin Tyler Kirby, the boy from summer camp . Sparks are flying (but with Cal, not her boyfriend) and after a juicy, tabloid-worthy scandal, Kathleen and Cal’s careers are over. After fading from the public eye, Kathleen has the opportunity to do what she has always known she needed to do: be on Broadway. But with Cal Kirby as the director, can these two work together without killing - or devouring each other? Is it even possible to move past all that has happened?

Elissa Sussman is elite in this genre of second chance romances. I will say that I enjoyed this more than “Funny You Should Ask” as a former theatre kid myself. With total acknowledgement that Kathleen and Cal both have flaws, I still really enjoyed their character and banter. The chapters moving between wayyyy back, past, and present were super easy to follow and totally necessary to really understand what Kathleen and Cal mean to each other. The queen of second chance romances weaving in friends to lovers, lovers to enemies, and enemies to lovers? I need more, more, more from Elissa Sussman.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for my digital advance copy of “Once More With Feeling” by Elissa Sussman in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of Once More with Feeling. I really enjoyed this book and would give it a 3.5 stars. The story kept me engaged and all questions I had about the main character's past were answered. I would have liked to have read more about the friendship between Kathleen and Harriet, as this was much more focused on the romance aspect of Kathleen and Cal, as I think this would have elevated the story. Overall, very enjoyable and I really enjoy reading Elissa Sussman's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Elissa Sussman has done it again! "Once More with Feeling" was an absolutely delightful book. I read the entire thing in what felt like a matter of minutes and was smiling ear-to-ear when I finished. The writing was fun, flirty, and filled with charming banter; I loved that our main characters were older and had some history with each other. This would be the perfect book to enjoy while traveling this summer, and I may just have to re-read it while sitting by the beach or pool. Highly recommend!

I was such a big fan of Funny You Should Ask and had really high expectations for this one, and while it was good, fell flat in comparison to my expectations. That being said, it was very enjoyable and I loved watching the characters grow. Elissa Sussman is great at following her narrative. Can't wait for the next celeb installment!

I know a lot of people didn't like Sussman's first book and felt like it was overhyped due to TikTok. And if you didn't like that one... you probably won't like this one either. Luckily for me, I LOVED. the first book and I LOVED this one too.

Cal is the teen and man of my dreams (from both flashbacks and present day). Kathleen is relatable, even for being a teen popstar/adult Broadway star (in the making). Both of them have a very palpable chemistry, and I think the flashbacks did a great job of hyping me up for their present relationship.

I don't want to give too much detail that would give away a lot, but this book has great relationships, a fun plot, and yes it's cheesy but in a way that's enjoyable. Highly recommend!

CONTENT WARNING: infidelity, body shaming, fat-shaming

I really loved Sussman’s last book, so I jumped to request this one when I saw it on NG. And I was fully expecting to fall in love with it immediately. Despite the fact that it’s all about a musical and theater, and I’m totally not a theater or musical person, for some reason, I enjoy it in books.

This one also follows the second-chance romance trope that FYSA did, and it completely makes sense. If something works, stick with it, right? And it completely works in this book as well. The connection between Kathleen and Cal is still there, but it’s buried under the burden of what happened in their shared past. And neither of them is sure that they can get over it. Not even to make a romance work, but to make this Broadway show work. Hence, this one turns into an enemies-to-lovers dynamic as well. Both of these tropes are personal favorites of mine.

We only get Kathleen’s perspective, but we do get to see both the current and past versions of the story. It was interesting to see bits of the past, both when she was young and attending theater camp, and then when she was a bit older and a famous pop star, and finally seeing her now, carrying all the weight of her mistakes and the repercussions that resulted from them.

At first, I really struggled with Kathleen. She’s obviously bitter about what happened in her past, and how Cal reacted to it. Instead of standing by her, he dropped her like a hot potato, and I can completely understand her being upset about that. However, this story takes place many years in the future, and she still takes out plenty of her frustration on Cal, even though her inner voice knows better. It’s like her mouth gets away from her and she says things she doesn’t mean to say and is aware that they won’t be helpful, but simply can’t stop herself.

But, as the story went on, Kathleen grew on me. I loved seeing her confidence increase, and watching her get more comfortable with working with Cal. She grew a lot over the course of the story, and addressed her issues not only in the present but the ones that lingered from the past as well.

On to the romance, which was one of the best parts of the story. The connection between Kathleen and Cal was so obvious right from the start, but watching it develop from when they were young and then mature through the years was really cool to see. And then their second chance together, while they were navigating so many complicating factors, made it feel like they were meant to be but the circumstances just never felt right for them to actually be together. And when they finally did get together, I was so happy for them.

In addition, there’s also an emphasis on friendship, since the Broadway show is written by another person that Kathleen and Cal met at theater camp, Harriet. Harriet grew to be Kathleen’s closest friend throughout her life, and remained close with Cal as well, but that friendship had some issues to face as well. It’s tough to have one friend always be in the spotlight, while the other friend works behind the scenes.

Overall, this was a fantastic and quick-paced read. I loved nearly everything about it, including the Jewish representation throughout the story, the way sexual orientation was incorporated since more than one character is queer and it wasn’t always accepted in the public eye, and the consequences of living life in the public eye from a young age. This is the perfect read for theater lovers, people who enjoy second chance and enemies to lovers tropes, and sweet, meant-to-be couples.

Once More With Feeling was HIGH on my radar this year because of how much I loved Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask. I was let down and I am sad to say it! That won’t stop me from reading her future work though - but I won’t be buying a hard copy of the book like I often do with ARCs that I love.

What I liked: I like the dual/tri-fold timeline of past and present, but I really wish we had gotten Cal’s perspective instead of just Kathleen. I liked the Jewish representation. My favorite character was her cat, (Gefilte) Fish. I love the cover art and how it matches her first book! Also the open door romance scenes were well done, but I just wasn’t feeling either character so overall it underwhelmed me.

What didn’t work for me: I think the whole theatre plot wasn’t my vibe. Kathleen was a flawed narrator, and kind of a walking mess of a person. She did NOT communicate her feelings well to any character, especially Cal. And honestly her friendship with Harriet was not believable to me - mostly because of their fights. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone…which is a problematic feeling when you’re reading a book you want to love. It was really easy for me to put the book down and not want to come back to it. I thought the plot and character development was all over the place and the big secret that “ended” Katee’s career that is continually alluded to, isn’t really revealed soon enough. The book has a lot of conflict that is resolved in the last 10% of the story and that’s too rushed for me as a reader. Also I found myself annoyed at Kathleen’s miscommunication/inability to be direct.

Bottomline: This book just didn’t work for me and if you’re a huge fan of Sussman’s latest adult book - you’re either going to love it or feel let down like I was.

Great followup to her first novel! Loved reading about the romance build up and couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Definitely recommend!

I did not finish this book. I was just incredibly uninterested in the story line. I also didn't like the author's last book so this might just be a case of me having an issue with the overall writing style.