Loved diving back into the FYSA world! I did not expect to get so much Gabe & Chani in this book, it was a pleasant surprise! I definitely caught the Cal choreographer reference too! Lauren (and Lena) have both been through so much and they both deserve the chance to take a breath and move forward towards a happy life. Ben was such a great contrast to Lauren, both of them bringing out another side of the other. I appreciated the realistic way that Lauren looked at Ben and their interactions and loved how he slowly broke that down. There were so many relationships we followed in this book; Lauren & Spencer, Gabe & Lena, Lauren & Lena, Lauren & Spencer, Gabe & Spencer, Lena & Eve AND Ben and Lauren. Personally I would have loved if we spent more time with the central characters but overall a great read!

*Totally and Completely Fine* by Elissa Sussman is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of mental health, relationships, and self-acceptance. The protagonist's voice is witty and relatable, making it easy to connect with her struggles, even when the story tackles heavier themes. Sussman balances humor and emotional depth well, though some parts of the plot feel a bit predictable. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking and engaging read, with strong character development and a satisfying journey toward healing. Perfect for fans of contemporary fiction that blends humor with important life lessons.

I wasn't expecting a novel about older adults when I started this. I also wasn't expecting a novel about grief. Elissa Sussman is one of my "always read" authors so I didn't know anything going in. It was beautiful, watching Lauren navigate how to love again, or even just like again, after going through the loss of her husband and seeing how that has affected those around her. It wasn't a slow burn or really even romantic. The story was Lauren's working through her grief.

Really enjoyed this book! I love a celebrity-normal person story and this one truly delivered on that trope! I appreciated the focus on grief and loved the two main characters as well as the side stories.

Loved it! I fell in love with each character so quickly and so deeply. I become totally invested in their stories. This story felt so real to me, and I contribute much of that to the character development. They felt real, flawed, and authentic.

First off, I LOVED THIS BOOK. Elissa Sussman is a truly gifted writer, and her portrayal of grief was both beautiful and heartbreakingly relatable. I'm currently navigating the grief of losing my mom, and the way Sussman captured the main character's struggle resonated with me deeply. It reminded me of a recent read where a character's long-lasting grief felt shallow and disconnected, a case of "telling" rather than "showing." But Sussman doesn't just tell us about the main character's pain — she invites us into it. We see it in her memories, in the way she tries to keep going, in her quiet, internal moments. It was raw, authentic, and deeply moving.

I also appreciated that the main female character wasn't depicted as some unattainable beauty. Instead, we understood her through the main male character's reactions, which made their dynamic feel all the more genuine. Her blend of snark and wit made her so likable and real, and I loved every bit of it. And those little glimpses of Gabe, Chani, and Ollie? Absolute gold.

Even though the book wasn't heavy on swoon-worthy romance, it didn't need to be. The writing, the emotion, and the depth were enough to make me fall in love with it. I can't wait to own a physical copy later this year — it's a book I know I'll revisit.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dell for the opportunity to read this gem early.

Let me dry my tears.
Damn.
Like I knew I was going to cry, but yeah, grab some tissues. We have a nice blend of happy and sad tears so don’t worry! You get them all!

First off- as a mom of daughters- Lauren and Lena’s relationship fills me with both anxiety and hope for the future. Seeing the mom/teenage daughter push and pull is something I think a lot of people are going to relate to. Add in the element of grief and wow I don’t know if I would have the composure and poise that Lauren does.

Ben, oh Ben. I am here for you, pal. Sign me up because I am very interested in what you’re offering.

Loved this story and all of the side characters as well. I always love when you can build a small town and make me care about more than just the main characters and this book does just that.

Thank you to Dell Romance for the early copy!!

As a fan of Elissa Sussman's previous books, I was eager to dive into *Totally and Completely Fine*, and it certainly delivered. While it’s not exactly a sequel to *Funny You Should Ask*, it helps to read that one first since Lauren is Ben's sister, and there are fun nods to other characters too. This book explores themes of grief, heartbreak, family, and new love, featuring a small-town mom who falls for a younger movie star. The start was a bit slow, but once Lauren confronted her feelings, I was hooked. I loved the dual timelines—“Then” and “Now”—and Lauren and Ben’s relationship had such sweet chemistry, especially with that “he fell first” trope!

Lauren’s been trying to convince everyone she’s okay after her husband passed away three years ago, but the grief still hits hard. When she meets Ben, the charming, bisexual movie star, things begin to change for her. Their passionate encounter in Philly leads to some surprising connections, especially when Ben comes back to her hometown. The story is beautifully woven together with flashbacks that really deepen the emotional stakes, linking her past with Spencer to her present journey of self-discovery and healing. Lauren is such a relatable character—flawed yet loving, just doing her best. And Ben? He’s basically the sweetest guy ever! I've got to say, this might be Elissa's best work so far, and it totally had me in my feels.

I totally forgot I was approved for this. I’m so happy I received an ARC. This was completely heartfelt and really dives head first into the topic of grief and starting over. I found this one had so much more depth than her other two novels.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I felt like parts of the plot were underdeveloped. I wanted to see more of the couple's intimate moments because their relationship ended up feeling rushed

I’ve had <i>Totally and Completely Fine</i> preordered for over a year now and it was one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2025, and while I did really like it and loved getting Lauren’s story, it just couldn’t top <i>Funny You Should Ask</i> (which is one of my all time favorite books). There was something about the writing structure that kept me from fully connecting with Lauren, but I did enjoy the dual timelines and getting the opportunity to watch her fall in love with Spencer. All that to say, I think Elissa Sussman did a phenomenal job with Lauren and Lena’s grief and their individual struggles to keep living after the worst happened, and I loved being back in the Parker world.

Totally and Completely Fine is a novel about grief with a side dish of romance. We watch main character, Lauren, recover from the loss of her husband and fall in love with Ben. I wanted to read this follow-up to Funny You Should Ask, and my favorite parts were the appearances of Chani and Gabe. Totally and Completely Fine doesn't quite have the magic of Funny You Should Ask, but I enjoyed getting to know Gabe's sister, Lauren, a little more.

For me, Sussman is a consistent author. Her books are well written; she has good character development; and the romance tends to be believable. And this was no exception. Lauren has a lot to contend with, and most of the book is really focused on her and how she is coping with her loss. The back and forth between falling in love with her husband and then finding a way to move on after his death is handled well. It does, however, swing the story very heavily towards Lauren and results in Ben being very much a secondary and background character. Yes, this is a romance, but it's more about family, including Gabe and Chani. Ben comes across as an interesting character, comfortable in who he is and also aware of what he wants most of the time. Lauren is the one who bounces back and forth and actually strings him along to the point where I did feel bad for him.

I had read Funny You Should Ask before, so it was interesting to see how that story was woven into this one, because it really wasn't linear or, as with many romances, a case of Gabe and Chani popping in after their story ended like a cameo. It was more that Chani and Gabe were living their own story in tandem with Lauren.

There is no need to read about Chani and Gabe first, because there is enough in this book to give them personalities without needing to have read about their romance; however, the book does spoiler a bit of their story so if you do decide to pick up Totally and Completely Fine first, be prepared that it may give you some hints (more than that) about the other book couple.

All in all, a satisfying read and a good story. Romance for sure, but also family focused.

Elissa is a master at blending humor and wit with deep feelings and swoony moments. Can't say enough good things. Delightful!

Celeb + Normie has historically been one of my fave romance tropes. This one was surprisingly heartfelt and tender. I'm just here to report, friends!

Lauren Parker, recently widowed with a surly teen daughter, is also small town biz owner and proprieter, is also sister to Hollywood megastar Gabe Parker--Bond guy, enigmatic front man. When Gabe has Lauren and her daughter meet him on set in Philly, she becomes enamored and tied to (younger) super hot, up and coming actor Ben Walsh. It's all fun and games until he shows up with her brother in small town Montana. Lauren had a "reputation" when she was younger.

The crux of this book is moving Lauren past her dead ex husband and her past that still seems to scandalize her small town.
There were sections of this one I adored, but it fell short. The retelling of a dozen times that the MMC was bisexual was unnecessary. There was a preoccupation on the character's sexuality that diminished from the narrative. This is a hard line to hold, but this book would have been been bette focused on the main characters.

That said, the representation was great.. I loved the daughter and her relationship with her uncles castmates. Some the relations were a bit too clinical and on the nose. Overall, I did enjoy this.

This one was an emotional read, as it navigates grief, love and starting over. It was beautifully written and there were times where tears fell.

Dual timeline book with a slow burn.

A little unexpected but loved how it all unfolded with a great reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Dell for the chance to read this eARC!

With a cast of characters that feel so real they practically walked off the page, this book is bound to hit even the most emotionally stunted reader directly in the feelings. In a genre full of smut and “get-love-quick” schemes, Sussman creates a romance that is wrapped in a fabric of truth. This book will make you hug your loved ones a little tighter, and will leave you feeling grateful for every fleeting moment of life we have the privilege to live.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read in exchange for an honest review! Totally and Completely Fine follows Lauren, a widow, as she grapples with a teenage daughter and a gossipy small town all while figuring out a relationship with a younger man named Ben, who just so happens to be an actor with her brother Gabe (who you may remember from Sussman's other novel Funny You Should Ask). This book is full of beautiful depictions of grief coupled with a budding love affair.

Heres some things I really enjoyed about this: the conversations about grief, the depictions of a small town, and the genuine love displayed between Lauren and Spencer, her husband who tragically passed away. Sussman's writing really shines in the passages about Lauren and Spencer as they fall in love, as well as Lauren's continued feelings of loss that felt incredibly real. I found myself incredibly drawn to the chapters taking place in the past, even though that was not the focus of the story.

However, I felt that the tones of the past and present chapters were disjointed. Of course, no one expects Lauren to be this forever depressed and sobbing widow who experiences no love for Ben, but I felt Ben and Lauren's relationship fell flat because of how gorgeous Spencer and Lauren were together. Also, Ben and Lauren's relationship is built, at the beginning, on this lust that they have for each other, but because the sex scenes were fade to black, I felt even more disconnected from their emotional or physical connection.

I think that writing a romance novel that focuses on this many things is difficult. There was Lauren feeling isolated in her small town, the death of her father, Christianity as an oppressive force, Gabe's alcoholism, her daughter's sexuality, their money troubles, Ben's family trauma, Gabe and Chani's wedding, and probably more I can't think of. This book struggles with having bitten off more than it can chew, and the love story itself suffers.

I think Sussman has some great chapters in here, but I found myself wanting more and less at the same time with this one.

I liked Lauren in Funny You Should Ask. Her story was so relatable, and I felt for her throughout the book. The book drew me in from the first chapter and it didn’t disappoint. Looking forward to the next novel by this author. Thanks NetGalley for an arc

This was a cute follow-up to Elissa Sussman's “Funny You Should Ask,” featuring more of Gabe and Chani’s story, but focusing more on Gabe's older sister, Lauren. Lauren is a recently widowed 41-year old, now raising her 13 year old daughter alone. Both mother and daughter are still grieving in their own ways. The book alternates between two timelines: Lauren and her husband Spencer in the past, and Lauren and young hottie Ben in the present.

I enjoyed the Lauren/Spencer plotline, but the Lauren/Ben arc was too unbelievable for me. It was a mix of “Nora Goes Off Script” and “The Idea of You,” where somehow a hot young up-and-coming actor falls for a 40-something widowed mother who lives in Montana. And they have nothing in common. I would have gone for it if Ben hadn't been both famous AND young/super hot, but as it was written, it felt more like fan fiction for middle aged women. HOWEVER, as a middle-aged woman myself, I did enjoy suspending reality for a bit to live vicariously through Lauren. 😁

Some trigger warnings: the book does deal with the death of several family members, alcoholism/addiction, and very messy portrayals of grief.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.