The first half of the book is very strong and compelling, with a heroine made of sharp edges carrying the biggest chip on her shoulder. But the second part doesn’t know how to properly untangle the conflict and it fizzles out. There was little character growth, no real reckoning of what happened in the past between the heroine and her romantic lead, and it all felt flat and underbaked to the point that I don’t think this is a couple that will make it just by virtue of her not being as into it as he is. It sucks because all the potential was there on the page during that first half.

As an aside, I have no idea how any of the characters look like or how old they actually are beyond very vague descriptions, which is a valid choice that I don’t have to like, but then the heroine’s BFF, who is the most important secondary character after the hero/love interest, is only described as having “box braids pulled up away from her face in a towering twist” and I don’t know how I feel about the one character coded as Black having all her interiority devoted to being a foil to further what little character growth the white lead had. I also wonder if the heroine is supposed to be modeled after Britney Spears, if Britney were Jewish and Justin had completely derailed and ruined her career, and if so, I don’t know how I feel about it.

I liked Sussman's previous book better, but overall I really enjoy her voice and when her books work for me, they really do grab me.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

When a former pop star is given the role as the head actress in a broadway show she is forced to face an old flame that completely ruined her career while dealing with the emotional fall out of the past and the complicated feelings they have now. Katee Rose was America’s number one pop star, she had it all: a great career, a boyfriend from the hottest boy band CrushZone, and an amazing best friend.... but it’s all destroyed when she cheats on her boyfriend with a fellow member of his band, Cal Kirby. After her career is destroyed, she now goes by Kathleen Rosenberg and has been living an ordinary life... until her best friend’s broadway show is picked up.... and its being directed by the one and only Cal. Her best friend wants her to be the main actress, she wrote the role for her, and now Kathleen finds herself auditioning and confronting the man that broke her heart. Kathleen and Cal can’t help but constantly bicker and fight, their past impacting the way they feel about each other. But Kathleen’s best friend only ask her for one thing: do not sleep with Cal. But Kathleen can’t help the feelings being reignited by him, and their misunderstandings have to be cleared if they want to make it work... but can she make it work this time or will she not only break Cal’s heart again but destroy her friend’s broadway show? Unfortunately for me, I absolutely disliked Kathleen so much. First of all, I do not condone cheating, absolutely none of it, I agreed with Cal, just break up with the guy before starting a new relationship, Kathleen constantly kept making excuses to staying with her boyfriend while pursuing a relationship with Cal, it’s just gross, because as someone who has had that done to them, it’s hurtful, it’s wrong, and I can’t stand it. Kathleen is spoiled, acts bratty, and honestly does not act her age at all, and she’s a terrible friend. Her friend asks her to do one thing, just dont sleep with the director, especially one that she has a history with that could completely impact the show and how the public views the show.. and what does she immediately do? Sleep with him. I seriously, just could not with this woman. Honestly both Cal and Harriet ( her best friend) deserve so much better because this ain’t it babe. There was so much needless drama and honestly I just don’t get the appeal for a second chance romance from Cal’s perspective at all. So while this one didn’t work out for me if you like second chance romances with a bit of music added in, this one might be for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I was burning with curiosity to see what Sussman would do next after Funny You Should Ask. This was NOT the direction I was expecting, but I couldn't be more delighted with what she took on—a book set in the world of musical theater! Fun, sassy, and packed with the gossipy celebrity/industry (fictional) dirt that made her adult debut so much fun.

Once more with feeling is a cute friends to lovers to enemies to lovers book featuring Kathleen and Cal. After a whirlwind theatre camp romance when they were growing up, reuniting briefly as adults, they find themselves putting on a musical with the potential for broadway. I couldn’t help but root for Kathleen as she reinvented herself years after stardom. I also really loved the Jewish representation. I was never really a theatre kid so I feel as though I didn’t fully enjoy some of the references but still found it enjoyable. I liked this book even more than Elissa Sussman’s first, “Funny you should ask”. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a light enemies to lovers read, especially for those interested in musical theatre/broadway.

Elissa Sussman, author with of "Funny You Should Ask", knocked it out of the park with "Once More With Feeling."

Katee is a former pop-princess. She's now working her way toward Broadway thanks to her BFF, Harriet, and former boy band member turned director, Cal. Cal and Katee have a long history; both have apprehensions of working together but believe that they can put the past behind them. Lovers of friends/enemies to lovers and second chance romance with devour this book.

Once More with Feeling gave me all of the feelings. It had humor, it had TENSION, it made me smile, and it just made me all around giddy. The flashbacks of summer camp and former stardom were a joy to read along with Katee and Cal trying their best to be successful in the current day. The timing of events and flashbacks were perfectly spaced. I throughly enjoyed this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Dell for the eARC! (I will be posting my review to my book-Instagram in May!)

Firstly, I'd like to give a big "thank you" to the staff at Penguin Random House's Dell imprint and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book. I was thrilled to receive it!

About one year ago, the cover of Elissa Sussman's "Funny You Should Ask" drew me in, and I devoured the book shortly after. Then, I discovered Sussman was due to release a second book, and when I looked up the cover... you can imagine my excitement. Thus, I had high expectations for "Once More with Feeling."

And Sussman fully delivered.

The minor issues I had with FYSA weren't present at all in OMwF (and to Sussman, I caught on to that quick reference to FYSA in chapter 10!) I loved the main character in this book, Kathleen. She's lively, dedicated, determined, and real. In fact, every character in this book felt real.

The romance was fun, Cal was a dreamboat, Harriet was a true friend, Ryan was ugh, and Fish was adorable. I wasn't the biggest fan of reading FYSA's constant articles, and I'm happy to report that Sussman mostly left those out of this book. I felt they took me out of the story quite often in FYSA.

I read this book cover to cover in one sitting, and I wish every book made me feel emotions the way this one did. I felt like I knew Kathleen, and I hurt when she hurt and felt happy when she was happy. Sussman is THAT good at her craft.

I recommend any romance-lovers to pick this up as soon as it's released. I know I'll be reaching for a copy to display on my bookshelf, right next to FYSA.

Pop star drama, musicals, friends to enemies to lovers trope… what’s not to love about this one? Readers who grew up during the 90s will love this one. Musical theater fans will love this one. The friendship between Kathleen and Harriet was an added bonus. I really enjoyed this one!

I have Elissa Sussman's book, Funny You Should Ask, to thank for getting me out of a reading slump last year, so I was thrilled when I saw that she would be coming out with another book this year. I was so excited to read this, and it truly didn't disappoint.

Like Funny You Should Ask, Once More With Feeling is centered in the entertainment industry, but this time it follows two former pop stars (and former friends/lovers) who are both attempting to make big steps in their respective careers, one as a director of a Broadway musical and the other as the star. It's an incredibly entertaining "friends to lovers to enemies to lovers" and "second chance" romance and I really enjoyed every second of it just as much as I thought I would.

Without going into too much detail, I really loved how this book touched on the subject of how women are often portrayed in the media after a scandal and how the men in their lives tend to let them take the fall for it. Kathleen's goal to be on Broadway and to be taken seriously years after the scandal that ruined her career reminded me of other celebrities that deserved to be treated with a lot more grace and empathy after difficult moments in their lives (ex. Britney, Pamela, etc), and it made me really love this book that much more for diving into that a bit.

Overall, I really loved this book and I feel so lucky to have been able to read it early. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell for the eARC. I can't wait to pick up the physical copy when it comes out!

Thank you to Dell Publishing for allowing me an eARC of this book!

I want to start by saying that this was most definitely as fun and engaging overall as I expected from Elissa Sussman's second novel. With a story following an ex pop star who fell from grace after a public cheating scandal now trying to make a comeback on Broadway, the concept is undeniably excellent. That said, I had a few issues this time around.

So. Here's the thing. This was definitely fun, and definitely engaging, and I don't doubt many people who loved Funny You Should Ask will love it. Elissa Sussman definitely has a specific vibe to her books, and this one stays consistent to the formula—second chance romance, multiple timelines, celebrity characters (except this time, they're all celebrities instead of just the MMC!), and overall, just a good time. You know you're going to have fun reading her books.

Something I don't remember thinking so often in Funny You Should Ask, however, was the amount of drama for the sake of it. A lot of the more climactic scenes felt over the top, for lack of a better phrase, but then again, I doubt anyone's really reading these for the realism? Some miscommunications end up largely unnecessary, and I had a hard time feeling like some of the character's reactions to big moments felt like the behavior of a real human.

Secondly, Kathleen, our main character, is honestly just a pretty terrible friend. Some of it is central to the plot, but it's a tough watch when we don't see much of any consequences for that in the grand scheme. Her best friend, for reasons perhaps prompted by Kathleen's bouts of forgetting her best friend exists, is also solely there to advance the plot. It was tough to see a character that could've been given some depth pop up only a few times at length throughout, and only when we needed a catalyst for a main character realization. In fact, I found most characters aside from Kathleen to be pretty underdeveloped, and I think that the issue I had as a whole while trying to buy into the story.

I really DID have fun and eat it up just as much as I did her first, but I think this one just wasn't for me. I'd be willing to bet that there's plenty who will disagree with me, though, and I'm sincerely still excited to see what Elissa Sussman comes up with for her next.

This book was a joy to read! The storyline centered on a second chance at love/enemy to lover trope that I could not put down.

Kathleen, a former pop princess, is still paying for mistakes from her adolescence. After admitting to an affair, her ex used Kathleen’s mistakes to bolster his own fame, which resulted in a quick end to her music career. She has spent the last decade avoiding the public and living a silent, but lonely life. When Kathleen is suddenly offered an opportunity of her dreams—to star on broadway, she jumps at the chance to rewrite her own narrative. The only catch, she has to work with a former friend, Cal, who betrayed her after her fall from grace. The story focuses on the broadway play and Kathleen and Cal’s relationship as they advance from hate to something else. I loved that this story focused on a women who wasn’t a hero..it reminds me of Taylor Swift’s song Anti Hero. Kathleen’s resilience and grit are to be admired. The book is written with a dual timeline, which I think flowed perfectly. Just like Sussman’s book, ‘Funny You Should Ask,” this is a must read!

I throughly enjoyed ONCE MORE WITH FEELING. An engaging, charming, second chance love story of Kathleen/Katee, a former popstar not only finding her spark again, but reconnecting with her match, Cal. Knowing that both Kathleen and Cal have hurt each other in the past, it was engrossing to see what it took for them to be able to trust again.

I fell in love with Kathleen and Cal's personalities right away and their genuine love for each other. Cool as a cucumber, Cal knows how to handle Kathleen's bristly and defensive side, softening her. It was fun to see Kathleen battle her feelings of either wanting to be angry with him or to start kissing him. Even despite their history, their belief in each other and their talent never waned. Together, I feel there is nothing they couldn't do that they have their hearts set on.

The ending was perfect, definitely a book that makes you feel so good after reading.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I absolutely loved Funny You Should Ask and Once More with Feeling was one of my most anticipated books of 2023, so thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It has been years since Kathleen Rosenberg, formerly known as major pop star Katee Rose, has been in the spotlight. Her career blew up partly due to Cal Kirby, and she’s apprehensive when he now shows up with the job of her dreams- starring in a Broadway musical that he is directing. While their reunion starts out tense, the connection between them is strong.

I really enjoyed the Broadway/musical theatre and summer camp references throughout the book, as well as the flashbacks which built up Kathleen and Cal’s past. This was a really fun read and I recommend picking it up when it publishes on May 30, 2023.

A peppy romance featuring two former pop singers and current frenemies collaborating on a musical. Cal is the director and Kathleen (aka Katee Rose) is the show’s star - will they be able to put their dramatic past aside and make it to Broadway?!

Once More with Feeling is told from Kathleen’s perspective and there are flashbacks. At times, her present day inner monologues seemed more like something a teenager would write in their diary than the musings of an adult woman. There was a lot of telling and not necessarily showing. And yet…(as Kathleen says/thinks numerous times) it is still a fun and entertaining read!

Cal seems like a sweetheart and I was rooting for him to find happiness and for Kathleen to figure out what she wants and who she has grown into.

Recommended to fans of (former) celebrity romance, second chance/friends-to-lovers, (sort of) enemies-to-lovers plots. Bonus points if you also enjoy musical theatre. Give this a chance if you’re in the mood for a quick, lighthearted read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This is a heartfelt, poignant, genuine, and engaging romance novel that skillfully weaves together the "enemies to lovers" and "second chance" tropes. It tells the story of Kathleen and Cal as they navigate their relationship through time.

The two first met at a summer theater camp when they were teenagers, where they were both selected to perform solos. Kathleen aspired to perform on Broadway, while Cal shone with his dancing skills. They shared an innocent and unforgettable moment on the roof and teased each other during rehearsals. But after the summer ended, they went their separate ways.

The next time they met, Kathleen had become a pop singer named Katee Rose and was dating the lead singer of a popular boy band, Ryan, who was self-absorbed and loved being in the spotlight. Cal joined Ryan's boy band, bringing back memories of their shared past. Things escalated quickly, and Kathleen found herself in the middle of a love triangle. In the end, she lost both guys and her entire career as she was shunned by the press, fans, and agents.

I n the present day, Kathleen's best friend and partner in crime, Harriett, has written a play with a lead character inspired by Kathleen. The two of them find themselves working with Cal, who is interested in directing the play for Broadway. Although Kathleen must bury the hatchet and be professional, her resentment towards Cal for not supporting her in the past still simmers.

Their forced professionalism is soon tested as old feelings resurface, leading to witty and sarcastic banter. Both Kathleen and Cal still blame each other for the events of the past, and they must decide if they are willing to risk their careers for a second chance at love.

Overall, I found Kathleen and Cal's story to be more sincere and heartwarming than the author's previous characters, Chani and Gabe (who had a Chris Evans vibe). This is a beautifully written and emotional story about childhood sweethearts that I highly recommend you don't miss.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Dell for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.



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