A celebrity second chance love story that is also a love letter to musical theatre? Sussman checked all the boxes and then some! I loved Kathleen, Harriet and Cal’s passion for musical theatre and their determination to support one another and get to Broadway together.

I was immediately invested in Cal and Kathleen and their story as former childhood sweethearts who, after a decade apart, wind up working together and must address what broke them. I love a second chance story and Sussman excels at writing this trope (Funny You Should Ask was a favorite of mine last year!) as she infuses all the emotion and pining and she draws readers with alternating an timeline. I do wish we had more of Cal’s POV - I think it would have helped cement his and Kathleen’s chemistry.

One thing I greatly appreciated was that Sussman addresses the blatant double standard and wildly sexist unsolicited commentary society provides in regards to women and their personal lives, relationships, health, aging, appearance, etc. I’m grateful Sussman called this out as there is still much work to be done!

Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet story and can’t wait to read what magic Sussman creates next!

My first book by Elissa Sussman and I really enjoyed the book! This book has second chance, dual timeline, but the POV is given in the FL. I wish it was both the ML and the FL but I still enjoyed the past and present timeline this book followed. Im usually not a huge fan of showbiz type of romance but this one I enjoyed and it was an easy read. I haven't read Elissa's other book so I cannot really compare and contrast, but I did enjoy this book so I am going to check out her other book!

"Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review*

When I saw another book by Elissa Sussman was coming out, I immediately went to request it. I really enjoyed Funny You Should Ask. So I just knew this one would be good as well. I usually do not go for music/music theater related stories but I really enjoyed how Sussman portrayed the performances and how the characters felt about performing. The alternating timelines were so well done. I think that is one of Sussman's strengths. The past help set the stage for perfectly for the "now" while also maintaining their own unique tension and drama. The tension and connection between Cal & Kathleen throughout the entirety of the novel was *chefs kiss." You definitely knew they were meant for each other before they did. This book is full of self reflection, redemption, strong female friendships and one hell of a slow-burn. It is a memorable second-chance romance to say the least!

I’ve been looking forward to the follow-up to Funny You Should Ask. This was pretty good, but it did not hold my attention as well as FYSA.

I received an ARC copy from netgallery for a honest review and my opinions are my own.

This book will pull at your heartstrings and make you love it all at once. It jumps back and fourth between the past and present. Which I like because you get to know the characters more. These characters were developed well and this story took my breath away. I highly recommend it!

Funny You Should Ask was one of my favorite reads of 2022, so I was over the moon with Once More with Feeling was announced. So a HUGE thank you to Elissa Sussman, Random House and Net Galley for the ARC. I devoured this book immediately.

The set up to this book is very similar to Funny You Should Ask, in the best way. Dual timelines, Second Chance, POV of FMC only. It follows the FMC on her road to Broadway since her fall from fame. In the past timeline we see what exactly happens to cause the fall, although it is briefly explained in the prologue. In the present we see her being forced to reconnect with Cal who is now directing the potential Broadway show. I feel like their history would cause Kathleen to hold a bigger grudge against him, and they do bicker and fight but it just wasn't giving enough "enemies" before they become lovers again to me. However, it is pretty obvious they are not over their feelings of each other to ever be true enemies. I also wasn't a big fan of Kathleen's best friend in this story, she just kind of annoyed me throughout the present timeline. I much preferred Whitney and would have loved to see more scenes with her! However those tidbits didn't sway me from enjoying the book. It was cute, and I loved the FMC and MMC's characters.

Overall it was a very enjoyable read, and I loved it. I would definitely recommend it especially if you love a good second-chance romance.

pop stars? musical theatre? friends to enemies to lovers? no notes. this did everything this type of book is supposed to do. this author lets you live where they live, and then root for them.

Thank you to Random House, Elissa Sussman, and NetGalley for the Arc of Once More with Feeling.

This is the first Elissa Sussman book I’ve read, and if her other books are like this than I’m going to be reading them all soon!

I really can’t find a thing I didn’t like about this book. If I had to pick something I think it would have been nice to have a few seems of the aftermath of the scandal that hit Kathleen.

The characters were hilarious, were believable, and most of all I enjoyed every single on the the main characters which is nice.

If you like romance, second chances, or books about theater I think this is definitely one for you to pick up.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley! i am so happy i got this book when i did, it pulled me out of a reading slump.

okay. I knew nothing about this book going in - and I think I'd like to keep it that way moving forward with ARCs. didn't read the description, I just vaguely assumed it would be about/around an MC who was a celebrity.

the prologue hooked me.

second chance romance is my fave trope and this book really reinforced why. the time jumps weren't overwhelming or distracting, nor did they impede the progression of the plot, which I really appreciated.

sometimes i wish there were more characters? MC's parents/family seemed more like an idea, and same with Cal. idk not really a critique, it only really vaguely bothered me.

I definitely wanted an extended epilogue - the HEA was so so so so short. that would be my only critique.

I enjoyed this book as it was a quick read and the pace was steady. It was fun and lighthearted as Elissa Sussman does well.

I personally would have liked to see even more of Harriet, as she was underutilized in my opinion.

I also would have enjoyed seeing the progression from camp to fame, it was a piece of the past we didn't fully see connect.

While I think there were areas that needed improvement, I still enjoyed this book and am excited to see whatelse Sussman will do.

I’m so torn about this one! It’s one of my fav types of reads right now: an easy reading romance with a showbiz setting. This one just didn’t do it for me though 😔

Part of that is Kathleen is one of the more unlikable protagonists I’ve read recently. She supposed to be a little bit of diva, but her self absorption was too much for me.

I enjoyed last year Funny You Should Ask so much that I’ll keep reading from this author, but this one is just…fine.

Thank you NetGalley, Elissa Sussman, and Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once More with Feeling is a major triumph. Every issue I had with Funny You Should Ask (pacing, too many flashbacks, too many mixed media elements) felt resolved. This book was near perfection.

I loved Kathleen and Cal. They were messy and real and the way they were drawn to each other was addictive to read. Sussman's writing in general is addictive. I read this book in a day and my musical theater heart is so happy.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you to Dell & Netgalley for the ARC. I am a huge Elissa Sussman fan and this book did not disappoint. If you enjoyed "Funny You Should Ask", this has a very similar vibe. I love the warmth throughout the book and felt myself rooting for the Kathleen and Cal. Love the behind the scenes feel of theater kids, pop stars, and boy band drama. Here for all of it. Fast paced and fun to read. You don't want to miss it.

I adored this book. I love an angsty enemies to lovers trope and throw in pop culture references and I am sold forever on this author. Really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics, and even as the complete opposite of a theatre nerd, this book made the ins and outs of creating a play interesting and compulsively readable.. Thank you for the eARC!!

Sometimes the premise seemed too hard to believe - that someone as supposedly famous as the main character could just disappear, but then I thought about the treatment of some starlets in Hollywood and it was more plausible. The chemistry between the characters was electric, and I appreciated that the best friend was a character with actual depth too.

Once More With Feeling was fun to read. Kathleen’s rise and fall from fame mirrors Britney’s and I ate that shit up.
I loved the past/present timeline, that’s one of my favorite ways to piece together a story like this. The friends to lovers to enemies and then back to lovers was done really well, especially the tension when Cal and Kathleen are enemies.
I can’t claim to be the biggest musical theatre person, but I loved following the progression of Harriet’s musical and seeing Kathleen and Cal navigate theatre both as adults and as teens.
I loved the pop star/boy band drama of it all the most. The way Kathleen and Harriet’s friendship is portrayed in a really realistic and believable way, I appreciated showing how even decade long friendships aren’t always solid 100% of the time.
I do feel a little let down by Cal. Maybe I just like when men grovel at the feet of a woman but I just feel like he should have groveled a bit for how he acted at the big past conflict.
Overall, I enjoyed this one even more than Funny You Should Ask.

4.5⭐️

This book spoke to my pop music loving theatre kid heart. If you grew up with Britney Spears you’re going to see a lot of her in our main character back in her height of fame. I really really loved how this book shined a spotlight on how women are treated in the entertainment industry & how they especially sexualize young women. Going through “the past” and seeing everything that was being done to Kathleen made me really understand why she would make certain decisions in the present day parts of the book.

I absolutely loved the present day parts and getting to see a glimpse into all it takes to get a musical off the ground and onto broadway. It warmed my musical loving heart ♥️ I didn’t always like the characters during this part of the book but I understand why they all acted the way they did and I felt like I understood them on some sort of level.

The romance was really good, I liked Cal and may have said “awww” out loud a few times but for me personally it wasn’t my favorite part of the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me a copy for review!

Another amazing second chance romance from Elissa Sussman. This read really gets you right in the feelings. As a young woman, Katee makes a split second choice to act on her long time feelings for someone other than her up and coming superstar boyfriend Ryan. In doing so she effectively ends her career and expects that is that when it comes to her fame and the man she cheated with Cal, Ryans band mate and Katee's former long time friend comes out unscathed. Fast forward to the present, and she is faced with meeting up with none other than Cal (said former flame) to work together on Broadway in a show set to blow up her best friends talent for song writing. What Kathleen doesn't expect is that its not so easy to ignore all those old feelings when working with Cal again and sparks start flying.

Overall it was such a great read for me. I ended up hating Ryan, feeling for Kathleen, and being invested in both the past and the present storyline. I cannot wait until I can purchase a physical copy to annotate the heck out of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my review copy of Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman.

Much like when I read Funny You Should Ask last year I devoured this book and read it start to finish in under 48 hours. Something about Elissa Sussman’s writing and characters just stands out to me apart from most other romances I’ve read recently and I instantly fall in love with the world each time. Not only was Once More With Feeling a fun and heartwarming story about musical theater and never giving up on your dreams but it was also a beautiful depiction of growing, learning from your mistakes, and allowing yourself to be forgiven. Kathleen is a former pop star that had big dreams and was just getting her start at stardom when the whole world turned on her after her boyband member ex revealed that she had cheated on him and bashed her in the press. The book jumps around the timeline of then, her first world tour with her boyfriend (Ryan) and her first love (Cal), and now, over a decade later when Cal resurfaces in her life and gives her an offer she can’t refuse, to play the leading lady in a Broadway production of a show written for her by her longtime best friend. Full of ups and downs and complex emotions this is in my mind a near perfectly done second chance romance that has me rooting for Cal and Kathleen’s happy ending from the beginning.

4.5 stars

This was a fun and lighthearted read. I loved Kathleen and Call’s chemistry. I thought the dialogue is better then Funny You Should Ask.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!