3.5 STARS // Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Dell and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Having grown up in the age of pop stars and boy bands and being a musical theater kid, Once More with Feeling brought lots of nostalgia and fun. Former teen pop star Katee Rose dated the leading man of boy band CrushZone during her prime. Things all go downhill when she is caught cheating with another member of the band, Cal Kirby. Her career deteriorates overnight and she moves on living a normal life. Years later and after never discussing the scandal all of this time, Cal Kirby and her best friend Harriet ask her to come back into the spotlight to be the leading lady of their Broadway-bound musical. Kathleen is forced to put past grievances aside to be professional, but emotions get high as she and Cal are working closely to bring this musical to life.

I enjoyed this book but found the first 30% or so to be a bit of a slow burn. Once things picked up, I got very into it and was excited to see how everything unfolded. This was a fun summer read about childhood sweethearts and how the rise and fall of stardom can impact relationship. Definitely planning to read more Elissa Sussman books!

I really really loved this book! I enjoyed Funny You Should Ask, but Once More with Feeling was more than I could have asked for. First of all, the setting is incredible! I am a sucker for an friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. The angsty build up is exactly the kind of thing I love in romance books. I really loved this musical setting where both Kathleen and Cal have something to prove. I truly had so many feelings throughout the whole story.

One of the biggest things I loved was the way we had flashbacks to these moments in Kathleen and Cal's lives where they are crossing paths and this whole tension between them is so huge. I also really loved Harriet. She was a great addition to this story and I felt that over all it's hard to not love how incredible this book is. I think I will be reading it again very shortly.

Sussman found her niche with celebrity romance and I'm so here for it! Her writing style is so fresh and engaging- an absolute delight!

Sorry I did not liked it and did not finish it honestly. I do not like Cal and the way his acting. Hearts on Kathleen but the plot on dual timeline was ehh for me like I cannot connect the whole story

I liked this one! I love a good celebrity romance, and the addition of the dual timeline from them being famous as kids was unique. I felt like a little more substance surrounding the major conflict, and it’s resolution would have been nice. The ending felt a bit rushed. All in all though, a fun and quick read!

First, thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC! I enjoyed Funny You Should Ask overall, and so I wanted to read this, especially because it has two of my favorites tropes: friends to lovers and second chance. However, this unfortunately fell flat for me. I’m not sure exactly what was missing, but I never really felt interested/invested in the story and the characters. I didn’t find either of them particularly likable, especially Kathleen. This story is pretty heavily focused on theater/acting/singing, none of which are my things, so maybe if you’re a music person, you might enjoy this a bit more! Still even though it wasn’t my favorite, I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I loved Elissa Sussman's book "Funny You Should Ask" so I was really excited to read this one. The author continues with her humor, smart character growth, and just overall enjoyable writing. The only thing that was slightly negative for me was the whole cheating plot...but that is part of the premise of the book and everything else played out perfectly. This book has two timelines, the "then" (music theatre camp!) and the now...filled with musicals and second chance romance. There were parts I was giddy and so nostalgic...and the ending made me sigh happily. I was invested in both the romance of Cal and Kathleen, but also the friendship of Kathleen and Harriet. Well done! :)

4 stars

I absolutely devoured this book! I had previously really enjoyed Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman but to my surprise this connected with me even more!
Let’s start with the basics. This is a second chance romance with two former pop stars. It definitely has a friends-lovers-enemies-friends-lovers thing going on which I am absolutely feral for. It’s told in single POV of the FMC, Kathleen (Katee). It takes place mostly in dual POV of the present and about a decade ago but also has a little bit from their childhood as well. The story is definitely a slow burn and has one mildly spicy scene.
I loved the setting of the theater world that the characters are in present day. This isn’t something I’m overly familiar with but even though I may have missed a reference or two it really worked as a unique setting for a romance book. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything in this setting before! Cal, the MMC, is absolutely adorable! A golden retriever for sure! The story is so well flushed out. There is a strong plot and intense character development along the way. These two MCs along with the best friend character of Harriett are so complex and deeply flawed. Like real people! It’s my favorite thing to read in romance!
I’ll finish by saying everyone should pick this up and it’s one of biggest surprises of the year! 5 enthusiastic stars! Oh did I mention there is an adorable cat named Fish??!! A big thank you to Random House for supplying with this wonderful book! I bought the paperback too!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute book and it went by really fast. I was reading it and without even realizing it I was almost halfway through already. I loved the idea of creating a broadway show and seeing what could be going on in the beginning stages.

I did have a few complaints though. The subplot with Rachel in the present timeline was dumb and could have been solved with one conversation in like the beginning of the book. I also really disliked the 3rd act breakup here, there was enough friend drama going on at the time that it just didn't seem worth it or needed. Also I really would have loved either an epilogue or for the ending news article to have taken place a little farther into the future.

Even with those issues I had I still really liked it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

This is Sussman's best novel so far. It is a clever homage to the pop stars of the 90s and 00's as well as a love letter to broadway. It is also a wholly believable romance and the characters seem like they leapt from the headlines. Such an enjoyable summer novel. All pop culture nostalgia fans should read this!

I enjoyed reading this! The plot was fun, the characters were likable and I loved Cal. I wish there was an epilogue at the end or just more time with Cal and Kathleen as a happy couple but overall this was fun.

I love Elissa Sussman's debut, Funny You Should Ask, and her second book, Once More with Feeling, did not disappoint. The flawed characters and second-chance romance between Kathleen and Cal were captivating. However, I was disappointed with the ending, as it felt rushed and poorly executed. Despite that, I enjoyed the believable romance, tension, and spice in the story. The back-and-forth chapters between past and present added an engaging touch. If you loved Sussman's debut, you'll adore Once More with Feeling!

The second chance romance is just hitting with elissa sussman 😮‍💨

As much as I loved this story, it's easily get annoyed with Kathleen because I certainly did. But I don't think she is all that bad and just needed help.

Kathleen and Cal have known each other since the day Kathleen begged her family to attend this summer theater camp. While auditioning for roles, Kathleen was put into the chorus with her new friend Harriet, even though she believed she would be better than everyone. However, when Rachel, the one who got the solo, was kicked out, Kathleen took over. This led to Kathleen and Cal getting so close that they had their first kiss on top of a roof.

Kathleen has dreamed of being on Broadway, whereas Cal wanted to show off his dancing skills. But they were teenagers with big dreams and had no clue what the future would hold for them, let alone seeing each other again. Little did they know they would achieve these dreams together in their friend Harriet's play.

Before achieving their dreams, Kathleen got roped into being a pop star named Katee Rose, and Cal was part of a boy band. During this time, Katee was dating a member of the boy band, Ryan, who happened to be the leader of the boy band. Let's say I hate Ryan. Nothing else to be said there, so let's move on. Katee's career ended due to a love triangle between Ryan and Cal, and they did not lead to anything good.

With the past in the past and trying to forward with the future, Harriet has written a play with a lead character named Peggy inspired and made by Kathleen's role. Due to this, they all have to work with Cal since he wants to direct the play and get in onto Broadway. The only problem is he wants Kathleen to audition for the role that was made for her. Although she knows the role is already hers, she doesn't trust Cal, so she agrees to audition while slowly worrying about what will happen.

The audition comes and goes, and the designated part is hers. Which now means they are forced to work together. Due to the past between them, they are forced to be professional, but this ultimately leads them to banter and talk and remember the past. While this happens to be an excellent opportunity for them, feelings start to arise again, but they can't let them happen. Not with what happened in the past that led to fans disliking them for what occurred.

This book was heartfelt. The childhood sweetheart's past adds to the whole story, leading to a good connection between them that makes you root for them to be together.

Once More With Feeling was a fun read that’s full of theater kids, an ex-boybander (which you know I love), Broadway dreams, a tiff between besties, and a friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers second chance romance (whew).

Told with alternating past/present perspectives, this little celebrity romance was a great light read —perfect for the summer and a poolside. The dual timeline was done well and easy to follow, but I wish it would have just been told straight forward. (I also think I’ve just personally read too many past/present timelines recently, ha).

Thanks to netgalley and random house for the ARC!

In Kathleen and Cal met at youth at summer camp, then had a scandal"when they were both pop stars and have not been bought together again due to a mutual friend writing a broadway play.

i wanted to love this the way I loved her first book, but it fell flat for me. I felt like there wasn't a lot of growth in the romance, or the characters. I flew through it, it was an easy read. But I was almost hoping that they wouldn't end up together after all...just to give it some spice.


Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

As a huge fan of both pop music and musical theater, I was built to love Once More with Feeling. The world building made both of the main characters' stories ring true - it's easy to see this happening in real life. I wanted them to succeed as individuals and with one another. It's fun and charming and a great escape. Does anyone else really want a Rosie the Riveter musical now???

Thank you to NetGalley, Elissa Sussman and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book! I do realize that by the time I read this that it had already been released on shelves, but this is a fantastic romantic comedy. For anyone who is looking for a fun, captivating book, this one is for you!

Calling all musical theater nerds and Broadway babies – this one’s for you.

A complicated second-chance romance tinged with friends-to-lovers-to-enemies vibes, the story follows Kathleen Rosenberg, a 30-something former pop star who fell from grace when her opportunistic boyband boyfriend, Ryan, told the world she cheated on him (if you’re thinking Justin and Britney, that’s the vibe). And she did – but as ever, it’s not that simple.

Years and years later, Harriet, Kathleen’s best friend since musical theater camp, has written a Broadway show with a role specifically for Kathleen – the catch is that Cal Kirby (a JC Chasez type), her childhood crush, Ryan’s former boyband member, and the other person involved in The Cheating Scandal, is directing and choreographing the show.

Now: the romance. There’s simmering tension and pent-up frustration and so! many! conflicting emotions! between Kathleen and Cal – it’s crackling chemistry, and having them in a professional director-actor situation adds tons of complexity. Though it’s a slow burn, it does pay off – but I could’ve done with another spicy scene or two, tbh.

Told in both present-day and flashbacks throughout Kathleen’s life, Once More with Feeling is an incredibly fun read, but one that deeply considers the impact of 2000s celebrity culture and what the life of a “scandalous” pop darling might look like once the world has moved on.

Overall, I really enjoyed this (much more than Funny You Should Ask, which fell very flat for me), and also will be humming songs from the Buffy musical episode – also titled Once More with Feeling – for the foreseeable future.

4🌟
1.5🌶️

this book was honestly just fine. the characters were just okay. i didn't feel overly connected to them. i did like the broadway show aspect of it but other than that i didn't tuly *feel* the romance between the two characters.

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman is such a fun summer read. Elissa Sussman did a wonderful job of keeping you engaged with the story and the character development is always fun to watch. I think this was such a great romance and will be recommending it to a lot of readers.