it has been a while since the last time i read contemporary romance—happy ending type of romance. it’s not intentional but i often felt bored with either the premise or the writing, if not both. so when i decided to request an eARC of this book, i had been slightly anxious. elissa sussman succeeded to be one of my favorite authors with her funny you should ask, but it was last year and my reading preferences had changed so much.

and i’m delighted to know that her appeal persists. she had done it right again with this book.

the first few pages of a book would determine the decision to continue reading at all and this book was unputdownable! there was always this feeling of wanting to know more that steadily existed from the start to the end. and i should say it’s such a clever trick to make the reader (me) stay.

the book is pitched as second-chance romance with the combination of friends to lovers and enemies to lovers. but have you heard the term “third time’s a charm”? this is what cal and kathleen are. the third time works. the third time would finally make them the right persons for each other’s time.

the style of how it’s written is similar to funny you should ask, so if that works for you then this would do too.

i’ve always loved the way elissa focusing on resolving the unresolved business in the past by taking it bit by bit. both cal and kathleen are very much still interested in each other (and very horny for each other, especially kathleen) but they didn’t jump at each other the first time they had the chance to. both were taking their times to deal with the feeling that once again resurfaced. and i appreciate that. it convinced me why they deserved the second/third time.

i do kind of feeling like the ending was a bit too rushed. like it suddenly ended when what i needed at the moment was only catching a breath. and for that, i’m a bit sad. it’s not a disappointment but i’d wish it could be a little bit longer. it just felt like it shouldn’t have ended here, like there should be more after that.

there’s a certain part that still leaves me puzzled and probably the very reason why i’d choose gabe parker over cal kirby at any time. if you’ve read funny you should ask (if you haven’t, then this is your sign), you could feel how strong the guilt that gabe felt for ruining everything in the past and how hard he was trying to make it right. this is the thing that i didn’t get from cal. i knew kathleen fucked up, and so did cal but the reasons behind his actions were not explained well in the book—which made me difficult to understand him. we knew he was sorry because he said sorry not because he behaved in a way a person with guilt would behave. he tried to make things right because he believed this was what it should be, not because he felt guilty for being a part of the destruction.

but that doesn’t mean cal is a bad person. no, he is very nice and i love it when he takes control. i just think that he could have been explored and developed more. there were layers to his past that i wanted to know.

i finished this book in less than a day, and i’m already so eager to read it again once the book is out! i hope may 30 will come soon

Thoughts: I usually hate "cheating" tropes of any kind, but this book is the odd exception. The characters were very human and realistic, which I appreciated. I also really enjoyed that these characters were older than the usual romance hero and heroine. Kathleen was an interesting character - I liked reading from her POV. She is a very flawed person, but she doesn't deny those flaws and tries to grow from them. The book overall had a nice pace, and the flashback portions fit in well. This book was also a lovely ode to musical theatre, which is very close to my heart as well. I really related to Kathleen when she talked about her love for performing and connection to the stage.

My only complaint is that I felt like the story shied away from truly emotional moments, which is a shame - it kept me from feeling like I truly knew the characters.

Overall: this was a quick, enjoyable read. While I feel the author could've done more with Cthe emotional scenes, I liked Kathleen and her character development. If you are a musical theatre nerd and and enjoy second-chance romances, I definitely recommend this book. Also, thanks to Net Galley for giving me an Advanced Reader's Copy! This was really fun.

I was already an Elissa Sussman fan after reading Funny You Should Ask, and after reading Once More With Feeling, that’s only reinforced.

Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers? *chefs kiss* I just love to see it!

I was hooked on Kathleen, Harriet and Cal immediately. I loved seeing the depth of their friendships individually and as a group going from kids with big dreams to adults taking huge risks.

I love Kathleen’s redemption arc that encompasses not only her career, but love and friendship as well. There’s nothing quite like proving everyone wrong.

Thank you so much to Random House for this NetGalley ARC!

I love her writing it’s so cozy idk how to describe it. The first 40% were perfect then it fell short for me. I will still be reading every single one of her books from here on out.

Thanks Netgalley for sending me a free ebook for an exchange of an honest review.

After falling head over heels in love with "Funny You Should Ask", I didn't think Elissa Sussman could top herself, but she proved me wrong with "Once More with Feeling". I absolutely adored Kathleen and Cal's second chance love story and inhaled this book in less than 24 hours - I couldn't get enough of these two!

THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL
GAHHHHH
Anyways, thanks Netgalley for giving me an arc for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America's number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans, and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. She finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who's always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smoldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee's relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life...
Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence, and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal Kirby shows up with the opportunity of her dreams--a starring role in the Broadway show he's directing and a chance to perform the way she's always wanted. The two haven't spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other, making their reunion a tense battle of wits and egos. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smolder, and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Katee can't deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you've been burned in the past?
The book had so much potential, and it makes me so mad that it wasn't executed well. I hated that the book only had one pov because we never got Cal's character building and what he went through in his years apart from Kathleen. Kathleen was overly explained, I could tell her favorite color after the first 10 chapters if you asked me, but Cal always remind a mystery throughout the book. I just wish we had explored his character more instead of going on a rant about Kathleen. He wasn't the swoon- worthy guy he was supposed to be because I never, NEVER knew enough about him.
The book obviously reminded me of Funny You Should Ask, and was similar but different at the same time, if you know what I mean. Also, side- note, CRUSHZONE IS DEFINITELY ONE DIRECTION. You absolutely cannot tell me that they are not One Direction, but that's beyond the point. The book did deal with a lot of recovery and self- loathing as well as self- hate (which I did think was a little off, since the woman kept whining about how she cheated on her boyfriend once forever ago, but she was a slut, but anyways). The book also, does include drinking and drugs, so keep that in mind, ofc.
I don't really have any complaints other than Cal's underdeveloped character and for me, personally, that did overshadow the good parts a little. Like their romance and banter was cute but again, just like Funny You Should Ask, their relationship dynamic is not explored a lot until they end up kissing or whatever, which I also did not really love but thats okay.
Overall, definitely could have been done better, but this isn't the worst I've read.

I enjoyed Funny You Should Ask a bunch, so was really looking forward to Elissa Sussman's new novel. Unfortunately, it didn't hold up to my expectations. Once More with Feeling follows Kathleen, a former teen pop star, and Cal, former boy-band member, as they rehearse and prepare a musical written by Kathleen's best friend, Harriet. Kathleen used to date a different member of Cal's band, and she lost all her music deals, etc. when it came out that she cheated on him with Cal. Now, years later, they can't stand each other and haven't spoken since everything went poorly.

The book skips around three different time periods: 1) summer camp where Kathleen and Cal meet as teenagers; 2) When they were at the height of their pop-music fame, and 3) the "present" where they're still dealing with the fallout from the decisions they made as late teen/early 20s stars. The problem with all the jump backs and forwards is you never spend enough time in one time period to build substantive plot and emotion. We get snippets of different important pieces in their history, but it never feels like enough to build motivation based on their feelings. Instead, to move the plot along and feel believable, there must be dramatic moments so Kathleen and Cal can be seen having large realizations. I.e. Harriet "He loves you!" which came out of nowhere and felt really unwarranted...and Kathleen's reaction to it even more so. It would have helped if the camp scenes were cut entirely as they don't build much. We also see Cal and Kath fight so much in the present that when they finally get together it just feels like whiplash and unbelievable.

My other main issue was with the side characters. There's tension between Kathleen and Harriet over historical vs. current fame dynamics, and it just felt like a one-sided friendship. We don't see enough for their history to feel that they're actually friends, and we barely see them interact in the current. My other issue was with the Rachel James character, the one-true "villain" of the story. She's written like a caricature of a mean girl, and it just didn't add anything to the plot. She serves as a device to get Kathleen and Cal arguing and then bonding over their hatred of her, but it just seems mean and catty.

This was a 2.5 read for me. Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the opportunity to review this ARC. I

I’ve been on a celebrity romance kick lately and this one hit the spot! I found this to be a quick and fun read.

Our MC Kathleen is returning to the spotlight for a musical written by her BFF Harriet and directed by Cal, a boy from her past. Kathleen, aka former world touring pop star Katee Rose, has been relatively MIA for nearly a decade since being embroiled in a cheating scandal on tour with two members of the boy band that served as openers on her tour (one of those guys obviously being our hero Cal). In classic early 2000s misogynistic fashion, Kathleen is slut shamed and her career comes to a crashing halt whereas her ex-BF Ryan uses it as an opportunity to expand his career (think Justin/Britney breakup vibes and the Cry Me a River fallout).

Although the public thought of her as a generic bubble gum pop girlie, Kathleen can sing and dance and genuinely has Broadway star quality. She is forced to work closely with Cal and drama ensues.

Although I found myself rolling my eyes at some of Kathleen’s decisions throughout, I appreciated this lighthearted read. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had read funny you should ask and absolutely loved it so once i heard about this book and read it's premise i knew i had to read this asap and it did not disappoint.As a musical theatre fan i loved all the references straight from the beginning. I read this in a day and couldn't put it down because i just had the absolute best time reading this and after reading it elissa Sussman has became my favorite author

I accidentally read this book in one sitting which honestly probably says everything you need to know about it. Loved this book way more than her debut, I felt the writing was stronger and the story was better plus we love a messy main character! A huge plus for anyone who loves Broadway and dramatic musical moments, but I actually enjoyed the flashbacks too.

Thank you to Dell publishing for allowing me to review this book!

ARC provided by NetGalley! (To whoever approved me, I hope every book you read this year is the best book you’ve ever read.)

3.5 stars (another reminder to Goodreads to give us a half-star option).

I will read anything Elissa Sussman writes.

Her debut, Funny You Should Ask, should be used as reference for all second-chance romances with adult characters. Funny is one of my top ten favorite contemporary romance novels of all time. Gabe is one of my favorite love interests.

Sussman’s sophomore release, Once More with Feeling, follows a former pop-star, Kathleen, a decade after her career-ending scandal and a former boyband member, Cal, who played a part in the scandal but came out unscathed. Years later and completely removed from their former lives, the two come together Once More with (mixed) Feeling(s) to achieve their Broadway dreams.

Admittedly, I did not fall in love with Once More with Feeling, but I did have fun reading. The story ultimately felt as though it was missing something — it needed more depth to the relationship between Kathleen and Cal, more discussion between characters, even the third act break-up felt very sudden and was over too quickly for how important it was supposed to be.

That being said, I’m certain it’s difficult to follow up such a banger of a debut release — especially one that went viral on social media. Once is a solid release following Funny, and this novel has proven to me that Elissa Sussman has perfected her formula.

If you enjoyed the set-up and timeline switch of Funny You Should Ask, Once More with Feeling will hit the spot. Now, when does the next book come out?

Elissa Sussman should run master classes on writing chemistry. Just like Funny You Should Ask, I was absolutely infatuated with the real, flawed, wonderful characters. I was completely invested with the story from page one, the jumps in timelines only adding to the story and pulling me in deeper. You can’t help but fall in love with Cal with his heart on his sleeve and stars in his eyes. And you can’t help but see yourself in Kathleen as she finds her happy. Elissa Sussman made me a fan with FYSA but solidified me as a fan for life with Once More With Feeling.

This book was at the top of my anticipated releases for this year and I was so lucky to receive an advanced digital copy from @RandomHouse & @ElissaSussman in exchange for an honest review. I will be preordering the hard copy of this book and CANNOT wait to read it again once it comes in. I will be posting a full review on my social media channels (@mel.reads.romance) after the books official release date.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

Such a good (and dare I say even better) follow-up to 'Funny You Should Ask'! I LOVED the singer and boyband turned Broadway plot SO MUCH and all the little nerdy references were so fun for a former theater kid like myself. The back and forth between past and present wasn't hard to follow at all like I thought it maybe would be and I really enjoyed the little snippets of WAY back in the story. Such a good read and I can't wait for more from Elissa Sussman in the future!

Wowowowow I really loved this!! I am a sucker for a celebrity romance and this one definitely filled the hole in my heart that only celebrity romances can fill.

Once More With Feeling is a celebrity, popstar, broadway romance that shows Cal and Kathleen’s lives as they are growing up, rising to fame, and then later dealing with the aftermath of their public fall out (and Kathleen’s fall from fame). It is also second chance and childhood friends to lovers, which are some of my favorite romantic tropes. This story had three timelines: the present when Cal and Kathleen are working on a broadway production together to restart their careers, the past when they were touring together as popstars, and the past when they were kids in theatre camp. The “now and then” timelines flowed together seamlessly and I was dying to know what was going to happen in each one - I could not put the book down!

What I loved most about Cal and Kathleen is that they were both flawed characters but it was so easy to root for them because they had been through so much together and were trying to grow from their past mistakes. Kathleen’s decision making skills were mostly impaired and irritating, and although I think her character development was good, I think she needed to grovel more to earn back Cal’s good graces. Cal was a sweetheart and obviously down bad for Kathleen since the beginning even when they were arguing. Their relationship dynamic was so special because they had known each other for most of their lives and could see each other’s true selves despite the negative effects of being in the public eye. It was evident how much they loved one another even though they refused to admit it.

I highly recommend to anyone who loved “Funny You Should Ask,” wants a fast-paced, drama-filled romance, and enjoys a celebrity comeback story!

WOW! I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Once More With Feeling,

I am a big fan of Funny You Should Ask and was so excited to see what Elissa Sussman did next (loved the very subtle call back in Once More With Feeling to Funng You Should Ask!) This next entry is even better in my opinion!

The narrative story telling across 3 timelines was well executed and a creative way to get to know the main characters across their lives. The way their love story was expressed through these timelines was so compelling and hit me straight in the heart.

As a 90s baby and theatre dork myself this book was such a trip. And if you’re neither of these things, you’ll still enjoy the ride.

We’ll be happy to bring in Once More With Feeling to feature on our recommended summer reading shelf!

Thank you to NetGalley, Elissa Sussman & Dell for an arc of Once More With Feeling in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

The Tik Tok sensation Funny You Should Ask was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was super excited to get an advance copy of Elissa Sussman’s newest novel.

This is a friend-to-lovers & then enemies-to-loves trope and I LOVED it!!
Katee is a No. 1 pop star living the dream, while dating the hottest member of a popular boy band, Ryan. But suddenly Katee is more attracted to a different member of that same band, Cal. They both give in to their feelings, but it ends up blowing up Katee’s relationship with Ryan (duh!) and both Katee’s and Cal’s careers. Flash forward – Katee now goes by Kathleen when Cal shows up wanting her to star in a Broadway show he is directing. She is reluctant because they basically hate each other because they both blame one another for the epic failures of their prior careers. But while working together, those feelings begin to resurface. Will they give in once again or keep their distance?

Ok – so I absolutely loved this book. Like LOVED it! The burn was great. The characters were so likeable & relatable. The pacing was great and it left me wanting more. I have no idea how I can wait until her next novel!!! Absolutely snag this one on May 30, 2023!

Full 5/5 Stars!

Once More with Feeling leaves something to be desired. There is just something between the writing and the cover that leaves me feeling as though the book should be in two different genres.

a good read and enjoyed this story. really liked it a lot and the love between this couple. i will read more of her books.

3 Stars Once More with Feeling is an angsty, emotional second chance, friends-to-lovers/enemies-to-lovers romance. Kathleen Rosenberg used to be Katee Rose, the biggest pop star on the planet and loved by millions. That is, until her career came crashing down around her after she cheated on her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, with his boy band mate, Cal Kirby. It’s been over a decade since the scandal, and although Kathleen still loves to perform, she’s had no opportunities except those who want an encore of Katee Rose’s crash and burn. Then, Cal approaches Kathleen with a chance—to adapt her best friend Harriet’s musical Riveted! with the part that was written just for Kathleen. She’s dreamed of Broadway since her, Harriet, and Cal were kids at theater camp, and this is her last shot to revive her career on her terms. The feelings are still there between Kathleen and Cal, who is directing the musical. Is Cal worth risking her career over—again?

This novel did a great job with making you feel how hurt Kathleen still was over everything that had happened with Ryan and Cal. She knew she had a part in what occurred, but she was also a victim of Ryan’s media war against her and was abandoned by Cal when it all went down. I wish we had gotten a bit more of a sneak peak into Kathleen and Cal’s HEA, especially seeing something like them at the Tony’s, winning awards left and right. It was still a satisfying ending and overall a good read.

Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. I didn’t think Sussman’s writing was at her best here - the constant use of “said” dialogue tags feels grating to me - but it’s a solid follow up. This is a New York story told from Kathleen’s POV with triple timelines. We see the summer she met her crush Cal and best friend Harriet at theater camp, her young adulthood as a pop star alongside her boyfriend’s boy band (which Cal is also in), and a decade or so later when she reunites with Cal after he picks up the show Harriet wrote with Broadway dreams. Kathleen is cast in it as a role was written for her in Cal’s directorial debut, and the two are working together when they haven’t spoken in years because Kathleen cheated on her boyfriend with Cal, ruining her career with no support from Cal. The characters, especially Kathleen, aren’t always likable, but it’s an engaging read, sexier than Sussman’s last novel and full of pining.