Totally and Completely Fine is a companion book of Funny You Should Ask, which was Sussman’s debut novel. It is the story of Gabe’s sister Lauren, a single mom and widow, falling in love with a young actor. While it was nice to be in the same universe as Gabe and Chani for a while, I was not as taken with Lauren and Ben. I thought the commentary on the age gap, Ben’s sexuality, and Lauren’s regrets from her younger years were really interesting… and the author did a great job honoring Lauren’s marriage while still keeping readers rooting for her new relationship. All in all, I enjoyed this book— just not as much as its predecessor. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

This book did more of a number on me than I had anticipated. Elissa Sussman’s three books aren’t consecutive so much as overlapping with characters and even scenes spanning all three so it’s definitely worth reading Funny You Should Ask and Once More With Feeling prior to this one. I absolutely love how the books are connected and it’s so fun when you encounter an overlapping scene.

Lauren is Gabe Parker’s sister (aka hot movie star from Funny You Should Ask) and was a wild child when she was younger but is now a middle-aged mom of a moody teenage girl, a widow after her beloved husband (and Gabe’s childhood best friend) was tragically killed three years ago. Sensing his sister needs a change of scenery, Gabe invites her and his niece out to the movie set where he’s filming where she meets Ben Walsh, the extremely hot Irish/Hawaiian 30-year-old costarring with her brother. There’s an instant attraction but Lauren comes with a lot of baggage. When she leaves, they continue texting but it eventually falls off until he reappears in her Montana hometown, planning to act in a play at the new theatre her brother is opening. I was expecting a somewhat angsty but cute romance but this novel is so much more. It’s really a story about Lauren’s grief after her husband’s death, how she has to go on living long after he’s gone and be there for her daughter even when her daughter acts like she hates her. It’s very much about her both feeling an attraction that she could act on towards someone else while simultaneously missing her husband so much it hurts. There is A LOT of emotion in this book but it’s touched on really beautifully and, I think, very realistically and relatable. I loved Lauren and her budding romance with Ben who is just insanely hot and their chance at a happily ever after.

Thanks to Random House/Dell via Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved this. I was a big fan of Funny You Should Ask so it was great to visit with Gabe and all the rest again. It was a beaus story of grief and loving in a different way then you had a before. I also love a romance that has older main characters. This checked so many boxes for me. Highly recommend!

This is a painfully beautiful story of grief, growth, and second chances with a dash of Hollywood for some fun. I was not emotionally prepared for the last third of the book, but I found it quite a lovely read overall. What’s a few tears when your characters are working through the grief of losing loved ones after all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

I devoured this book in one sitting. I’ve read several of the authors books and loved them. So, I didn’t even read the description before diving into this book.

I was a bit hesitant at first, as the beginning sets up the book to potentially quite sad. A grieving widow recounts the husband she had loved so much and had lost. While it was a story about her experience of grief. It also told the story of complicated relationships, overcoming fear, and lovable character's. This is a perfect book to just get lost in for a few hours.

I loved the characters and the relationships they have with one another. While the story includes Hollywood stars, the way it’s written makes it seem so relatable.

Thank you to #netgalley and #ElissaSussman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elissa Sussman has once again NAILED the famous person-regular person trope! I absolutely devoured Funny You Should Ask and Once More With Feeling, so I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Totally and Completely Fine and Elissa did not disappoint!

Ben Walsh is so dreamy and I loved following along with Lauren and Ben's journey. This book isn't all sunshine and rainbows and it was a really good glimpse into life after loss and how grief shows up in our relationships (romantic and not).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I did enjoy this story, out of the three books this is the first one where I really felt the male POV was needed to really solidify and sell the romance between Lauren and Ben. While it's understandable on Lauren's hesitance with things casual and serious with Ben her "now' actions and thoughts start to become repetitive at times while the "then" storyline does help break that up, having Ben's POV would have further given additional context to the story and insight to their developing feelings and insight into why he stuck around when her actions would be contradictory and push him away. Enjoyed seeing Gabe and Chani again and him reconnect and repair his relationship with his niece and sister. Also enjoyed getting Lauren and Spener's lover story grieving along with her over her losing him and rooting for her, while shouting at her at times that it is ok for her to find love again preferable and thankfully with Ben.

I’ve enjoyed each of her books. Specifically I liked how this story had connections to the characters in her previous book. I also found the conversations around grief meaningful.

Elissa Sussman’s Totally and Completely Fine is a heartfelt, thought-provoking novel that dives into the messy, beautiful, and often painful realities of grief, love, and starting over. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, not just because of its emotional depth, but because it feels so real and relatable.

Lauren Parker is the kind of character you can’t help but root for. She’s never been one to follow the rules—whether as a rebellious teenager, the sister of a Hollywood star, or now, as a widowed single mother trying to find her footing in a small town where everyone seems to have an opinion about her life. When she crosses paths with Ben Walsh, a charming actor working on her brother’s film set, there’s an instant spark. What starts as a spontaneous escape from her complicated reality soon turns into something deeper, pushing Lauren to face the ghosts of her past and the uncertainty of what comes next.

The story unfolds through dual timelines, weaving together Lauren’s past with her late husband, Spencer, and her present with Ben. It’s a beautifully layered exploration of how love changes over time—how it can endure, evolve, and sometimes surprise us when we least expect it. Sussman’s writing is sharp and full of heart, balancing humor and raw emotion in a way that feels authentic. Lauren is a wonderfully complex protagonist—strong yet vulnerable, fiercely independent but still grappling with the weight of loss and the expectations others place on her. Her chemistry with Ben is electric, and while their relationship moves quickly, it’s less about a fairytale romance and more about how connection can help us heal and grow.

But this isn’t just a love story. Totally and Completely Fine digs into so much more—single parenthood, the suffocating nature of small-town gossip, and the pressure society puts on women to fit into certain roles. Sussman tackles these themes with honesty and nuance, especially when it comes to Lauren’s journey of rediscovering herself outside of grief. Her relationship with her daughter adds another layer of depth, capturing the bittersweet process of rebuilding a life after loss.

If you’re looking for a traditional, slow-burn romance, this might not be it. Instead, Sussman gives us something richer—a story about love as a catalyst for self-discovery and healing. It’s contemporary fiction at its best, blending wit, wisdom, and moments that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even see a little bit of yourself in Lauren’s struggles.

Totally and Completely Fine is a beautifully moving novel that reminds us it’s okay to not have it all figured out. It’s about finding light in the darkest places and learning to embrace the messy, imperfect journey of life.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Dell for the chance to read this gem—it’s one I won’t forget anytime soon.

A very enjoyable read, definitely a slow paced novel but let you understand all sides of the main character. One of the best books showcasing grief I’ve read. I could def recommend

Picked this up & finished it in one sitting!! A sweet story about love, grief, and how they can beautifully intersect! Definitely recommend any romance written by Elissa Sussman!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this book expecting to love it as much as Funny You Should Ask. After all, it’s a pseudo sequel about Gabe’s sister Lauren and Gabe’s co-star Ben. And overall it was fine. But I ended up not really feeling a connection with Ben and Lauren. I loved the flashbacks of Lauren’s developing relationship with now - dead husband Spencer. Ben and Lauren’s chapters felt like hormones on overdrive until the end. And don’t get me started on how badly Lauren treated Ben. I couldn’t fathom why he was still pursuing her. The last several chapters brought it all together and those I did enjoy. I just wish that those came sooner. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I will never turn down a celebrity romance, and it was fun to return to Gabe & Chani as secondary characters. I went back and re-read parts of FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK to compare and contrast. This story grew on me as it went along and I liked the exploration of grief and life in a small town - I think there's an interesting parallel to celebrity in the way you can't really escape your branding from high school in a small community. I have quibbles about the writing style and some of the choices around the depiction of Hollywood (I'm sorry, but I truly cannot get on board with a Philadelphia Story remake or an American Bond and I wish they'd talked about Ben being Irish with respect to that - Pierce Brosnan is and they never really discussed that factor), but it felt emotionally honest in terms of the challenges and sacrifices actors and the people who love them have to make.

3.5 ⭐️ - This books starts out as a big fat bummer. Like so strongly that I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish it. But Elissa brings us around in a way that ends up very heartwarming, and I definitely cried. Would maybe still recommend, but I’m unsure.

*free arc from NetGalley*

Thank you to Random House, Dell, and Elissa Sussman for the ARC of this book. I’ve been a big fan of Elissa’s books in the past and was thrilled to receive this advanced copy. While I did enjoy Totally and Completely Fine, unfortunately it didn’t fully connect for me. Lauren is the older sister of Gabe who we met in Funny You Should Ask. Although this is considered a standalone, I don’t think you would know what was going on without reading Funny You Should Ask. It’s been several years since I read it and it feels like if I had completed a reread prior to this I would have enjoyed it more. The book makes a lot of assumptions about what you know about characters. I did enjoy the family aspect of the story and the close relationships between all the characters. The looks back in time were also quite enjoyable although you never really feel a strong connection between Lauren and Spencer. The way grief was handled was quite beautiful and realistic. I did struggle a little with the romance. Ben was just a very flat character to me. I didn’t feel like he was realistic as an actor or that their relationship was realistic. Sometimes when there is a famous person in the book, it just doesn’t feel real. Unfortunately this was one of those times. I look forward to reading what Elissa writes next and all in all did enjoy this one as well!

I found Sussman's first two books to have great, pithy premises but mid execution but a romance about a member of the #younghotwidows club and a hot actor is calibrated to hit me right in the feels.

I absolutely adored Funny You Should Ask and was beyond excited to learn that Elissa Sussman was writing a follow-up novel!

Totally and Completely Fine follows Lauren Parker and her teenage daughter, Lena—whom we first met in Funny You Should Ask. Still navigating their grief after the loss of Lauren’s husband a couple of years ago, both mother and daughter are figuring out how to move forward. While Lauren has devoted herself to managing Lena’s teenage dramas, an unexpected companionship enters her life, making this book utterly unputdownable.

Told through a dual timeline that seamlessly weaves the past and present, this novel offers an intimate look at how Lauren’s past choices shape her present and, ultimately, how she takes control of her own future. I felt like a fly on the wall, completely immersed in her journey, rooting for her every step of the way.

Having read and loved Elissa Sussman’s previous books, I am continually amazed at her ability to craft heartfelt, five-star novels that I devour. Totally and Completely Fine is no exception—I highly recommend picking this one up!

Totally and Completely Fine is a book about grief, love and living without regret. I could not put this book down. Lauren is a widow in her 40s who lost her husband 3 years ago and continues to grieve. Ben is a famous actor in his 30s who is starring in a movie with her brother Gabe. They are immediately drawn to each other and this book follows them from where they meet on set in Philadelphia, back to Montana (Lauren's home town).

I enjoyed the way this book was written alternating with chapters from the present and the past showing us Lauren and her husband Spencer's relationship. Lauren's grief journey is very authentic and I enjoyed her genuine connection to Ben. I enjoyed the strength of this family, the acceptance they had for each other and Lauren's journey to allowing herself to love again.

Thank you Dell, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman left me with mixed feelings. While I really enjoyed her writing, I struggled to connect with the story and the characters. The book starts with some heavy themes, as our FMC, Lauren, navigates being a widow and a single mom, but the way she and Ben came together felt a bit off. The immediate attraction between them didn’t quite feel authentic to me, especially considering Lauren’s grief. I had trouble relating to her, and Ben, as a celebrity, came across as too cliché. The family dynamics were interesting, but ultimately, they didn’t redeem the book for me. It was just okay—definitely not as strong as Sussman’s previous works.

This book was such a fun, unexpected read that I couldn't put it down. I loved how beautifully messy and real the characters and their problems/lives were. I learned a lot about grief and healing though this story, along with being okay with letting yourself be you. I was a little apprehensive of the age difference romance between Lauren and Ben but they were so perfect together that it ended up not mattering as much as I thought it would.

Elissa Sussman's writing is so incredible that she has become an auto-read author for me.