after adoring elissa sussman’s adult debut Funny You Should Ask i knew i needed to get my hands on Once More With Feeling as soon as possible. unfortunately, i was incredibly disappointed.

all of the emotional depth and complexity that drew me into Funny You Should Ask was severely lacking, or just nonexistent, in this novel. both kathleen and cal were so one dimensional and not nearly as fleshed out as they could have been. kathleen was unlikable, and she had so much potential to be this incredibly complex character but ultimately sussman ended up going nowhere with it. so she ended up just being a mean girl with a big, bruised ego. she spoke of having anxiety and seeing therapists in the past, but that was as far as that went. we also knew her home life wasn’t great, but again, we were given nothing more. cal was just, well he was there. i couldn’t root for these two characters because i didn’t know them. i don’t even know what they looked like? there were no detailed or vivid descriptions of anything. all i knew was kathleen’s hair was going gray and cal has dimples. how old are they supposed to be? we didn’t even get outfit details beyond kathleen saying she looked hot and felt sexy. everything was just so incredibly surface level.

the romance didn’t work for me either. i felt like i blinked and all of the sudden they didn’t hate each other. i also thought cal was forgiven far too easily for letting kathleen’s career get ruined while he stood by and took none of the damage. it takes two to cheat, after all. we also didn’t get enough development of their past relationship. again, i blinked and all of the sudden cal is in love with her. rachel was also just a caricature of a villain, she was a villain for villains sake. and harriet? where do i even begin on that friendship.

a lot of the dialogue also felt very forced, it was obvious that a lot of it existed just to drive the plot forward, so a lot of it didn’t feel real. there were also too. many. sentences. like. this.

all in all, i think what it boils down to is there was too much going on to give this book proper depth. we were given three timelines that jumped around at seemingly random points. maybe just a couple of flashbacks to the past that were more fleshed out would have better suited this, as i usually love a dual timeline. i was really disappointed because i know what sussman is capable of, as she created something really interesting before, and this felt like a whole bunch of drama and nothing. i will still be anxiously awaiting the next book she puts out, because i do believe she is capable of creating really unique romances and i cannot wait for her to do that again

thank you so much to netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review

Calling all millennial theatre nerds!!! Your new favorite book is called Once More With Feeling and you won’t be able to put it down!

Once upon a 2000s time, Kathleen was known as Katee Rose, teen pop star who fell from grace after cheating accusations from her boy band boyfriend went public. Now, years later she has an opportunity to star in her best friend’s musical and show the world she was so much more than auto-tuned performances and dance moves—that is if she can stomach working with the direction Cal, the same guy she was accused of cheating with all those years ago. Yeah, the one who let her take all the heat and hate from the media? That one.

I loved the mash up of theatre and the nostalgia of 2000s pop stars. The author explores three timelines: the present, the heyday of their fame, and then as students at a theatre camp. How she seamlessly weaves the timelines together is a testament to her talent because I’m certain it wasn’t easy, but she made it look and read as if it was.

I am going to be obnoxious about this book until it publishes, it’s that good! It really hit all the marks for me. I was wowed by the line level writing of the Sussman’s debut and this sophomore novel delivers the same succinct prose and snappy one liners I’d hoped for. Definitely a new one-click auto buy author for me moving forward!

Really loved this book read it in almost one day! I loved the nostalgia of the 2000’s pop stars. This book was so well written I liked the second chance romance and seeing the main characters at different times of their lives and their relationship. My favorite part though would be the behind the scenes of a Broadway show! I love musical theater and reading about a musical was definitely entertaining especially for someone who has no musical talent! I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute read! I’m a big fan of second chance romances, but I did have a hard time getting excited about the theater aspect of this story(just not a topic I’m super into!). 3.5/5

Katee Rose was a pop star icon in her younger years but after drama with her then boyband boyfriend, her career and life imploded. Now she’s just Kathleen Rosenberg… older, grayer, and guarded. At long last she’s been given an opportunity to live her musical theater dreams but it comes with a catch. The director is a man from her past and there is drama…

I loved this one. We follow three timelines but they flow so well together. We go to musical theater camp with Katee before she gets her first big break, go on tour as a pop star, and years later as a “has been.” The writing is funny and sarcastic. After the book is released I’ll be returning to include my two fav quotes. They were just so perfectly relatable to me. Though at times I felt like Kathleen’s behavior was so childish and eye roll worthy but probably true to the character of a child pop star with no appropriate parental guidance. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The rumor is that the Justin and Britney drama was the inspo for this story. And that’s definitely what I was channeling as I read it. Usually Hollywood drama is not my jam but I was here for it. Also the same can be said about the musical theater camp vibes… not something I really get into but I loved it.

Read if you like:
-90s/00s pop stars
-celebrity gossip vibes
-musical theater/broadway
-second chances
-enemies to lovers
-elder millennial humor
-Emily Henry

I absolutely think you should add it to your TBR. It is set to release May 30. It’ll be the perfect summer binge read.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was absolutely thrilled to get this e-Arc. I enjoyed Sussman’s previous book and this was a treat to receive. Thanks to @netgalley and @atrandombooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Elissa has done it again. She’s found the right formula and it works so well. Switching between then and now, two friends turned enemies are reunited on their road to Broadway.

What I loved most about this book is the banter and Kathleen’s inner dialogue – witty and relatable. I found myself laughing & smiling a lot while reading. It was a little slow at some points, but I was still hooked on the story.

Read if you like:
- Friends to enemies to lovers
- MUSICAL THEATRE!!
- Then and now storyline
- Funny You Should Ask ;)
- Reformed Popstars

My only dislike was how hard Kathleen was on herself even though that’s what makes her relatable, it made me sad/frustrated lol.

There are some discussions on harmful dieting.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Once More With Feeling!

I loved, loved, loved, Funny You Should Ask, so I was so excited to see this one pop into my Kindle. While really enjoyed the characters in this book, as well as the love shown to the performing arts, I still think I prefer FYSA.

The 'then' and 'now' storytelling is always hit and miss for me because I am IMPATIENT. I need to be fully bought in to the book in order for it to work for me, and with OMWF I would say I was halfway there. I do not regret reading this book at all, and look forward to doing an audio reread later this year.

I want to say 4⭐ because I did enjoy the writing and a lot of the book, but some parts really made me mad! 🫣 Fans of music and theatre will love all the theatre/movie/musical references and the Broadway plot theme.
There is a lot going on in this book, but the author does a good job pulling everything together while also making the timelines distinct.
We hear from the NOW timeline with Kathleen, Cal, and Harriet making a musical as adults that they hope will be on Broadway. We hear from Cal, Kathleen, and Harriet from when they were kids at camp. And we hear from them when they were in their early 20's at the peak of their careers as a pop star and boy band star. The dynamic is complex and I did enjoy seeing the different times in their lives.
I was a teen during the whole Britney Spears/Boy band phase so I loved this revival and play on those characters.
If you love second chance romance, enemies to lovers, Broadway musicals, theatre, or boy bands/pop stars you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to netgalley for an eARC to review.

The plot of this book was a little slow moving for me. But, I liked the back and forth between the past and present, and the little snippets of theater thrown in there.

thank you to random house/dell and netgalley for this arc of once more with feeling! when i saw that elissa sussman wrote another celebrity inspired book, with this one being about broadway, i instantly knew i had to read it.

once more with feeling follows kathleen, more popularly known as teen celebrity katee rose, and former secret love cal, choreographer and member of one of the hottest boy bands, as they reunite as older adults. kathleen’s best friend harriet has designed the most perfect broadway show, and has tapped cal to be her director and kathleen to star in the titular role. the only problem? kathleen despises cal after their secret affair caused her rapid fall from fame, and it seems like he left the experience without a scratch on his face. how are they ever going to survive this?

okay. let me just say this: this book is messyyyyyy. with a capital y and an exclamation point. both kathleen and cal are flawed deep characters with a whole lot of baggage, but they clearly were designed for each other and that is so easy to see (even if they can’t see it themselves!!). i adored the now and then timelines and found them simple to follow along with, which is always a plus.

overall if you are looking for a fast paced read this summer, filled with second chances and musical theatre galore, i would highly suggest once more with feeling! thanks again to random house for the early release!!

Ahh this book was just perfect!! I was in a reading slump and this helped me get out! This was such a cute read because the characters were so easy to love!! I absolutely loved funny you should ask so I knew I’d love this one !! Her writing style I just perfect. The story of Kathleen and Cals story was such a heartfelt and heartwarming story, this book was just so cute and I can’t wait for the release!! Thank you netgalley!

This book is like if you combined #haylor with camp rock, and made it a love letter to musical theater

While I find reading about singing inherently a bit cringy, this book was still fantastic

I requested this arc because i had read Funny You Should Ask, which I know this book is not a sequel to, but they feel like they go together. While I liked the plot of fysa better, I was much more engaged in this book. I felt more connected with the characters, and i just couldn’t put it down.

I really struggled with the best friend, and whether she was in the right, or just rude, but her relationship with the mc was similar and I liked how they tied up their relationship, very realistic

Overall I would definitely recommend, but musical haters beware, this might not be the book for you

4.8

I loved Funny You Should Ask, and read really excited to receive an ARC of Once More with Feeling. While the plot is fun and unique, it felt almost too similar to her first book. I love a good second-chance romance and was not upset to see that trope again, but the flashbacks, the fame.. it just felt very much like the first book but not as exciting. Also, the MC (at least in the present, not so much in the flashbacks) was super negative and complainy all the time. I didn't enjoy her character. While I am sure many people will love this book (including theatre kids!), it just didn't hit the mark for me. Still, I will check out Sussman's next book for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED THIS SO MUCH. I thought that Funny You Should Ask was going to be my all time #1 romance book but this has taken the cake for sure. I loved the banter between Kathleen and Cal throughout the whole book.

A fun, nostalgic romcom for any theatre kid! Elissa Sussman captures the heightened drama of being a teenager in the flashback segments. I enjoyed seeing Kathleen’s journey back to performing and forgiving herself for her past. For the most part, it was well researched in terms of the rehearsal process for getting a show from workshop to Broadway, albeit a bit expedited. A feel-good read!

I loved Sussman's first book, so I knew I had to read her next one! If you went to theatre camp as a kid, this book will fill you with nostalgia while also giving you a look at the trials and tribulations of young pop stars. I immensely enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the slow burn of the second-chance romance! Sussman is becoming one of my favorite rom-com writers, as her stories are not only fast reads, but are also extremely funny and the writing is sharp.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Funny You Should Ask, and assumed that I would feel the same about Elissa's second adult novel. For me, this one didn't hit its mark. Perhaps it was the characters. Perhaps it was the plot. I really wanted to like it, but it felt like she was trying too hard to recreate Funny You Should Ask.

If you enjoyed Funny You Should Ask, then you’re probably going to enjoy this one too! Elissa Sussman follows a similar celebrity second chance romance formula, but it doesn’t feel redundant. I did notice at least two nods to Funny You Should Ask, so while these work as standalones, I think it’s more fun to read them together!

Kathleen Rosenberg, better known to the public as Katee Rose, was topping charts as a rising teen popstar. Her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, was a member of the beloved boyband CrushZone. Together, they were the IT couple, and all their dreams were coming true… until *gasp* scandal!! Katee was caught cheating with another member of CrushZone, Cal Kirby, effectively ending her relationship and her career.

That was then… Now, Kathleen has a second chance at reviving her career AND maybe her love life as well 👀

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is told in a dual timeline (actually more like 3 timelines), which isn’t really my favorite. I usually find one timeline more compelling, but that wasn’t the case here. I’m also not really a fan of cheating tropes, but I didn’t mind that here either. I didn’t really like Kathleen (girl is VERY self-destructive lol), but she grew on me. Basically, there were several elements that should have been off putting but somehow worked for me! It was a fun read 🤩

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC ☺️

Elissa Sussman knows how to write a celebrity story/romance. Funny You Should Ask was a favorite of mine last year so to get an early copy of this one I was beyond excited and lived up to all my expectations.

Bits…
A celeb comeback
Pop star/ Boybands
Theatre kids
Tons of Broadway talk!
Flashbacks to younger years… easy to follow!
Second chance romance with a dash of enemies to lovers.

I really loved this one!

As soon as this one is out I’m buying a print copy for my shelf because come on her covers are stunning!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced ecopy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Elissa Sussman for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Kathleen Rosenberg, a former pop star, is given a chance at becoming a broadway star. Kathleen, formerly known as Katee, had a tough go as a pop star. She cheated on her pop star boyfriend with his band member, Cal, leading to the downfall of her career. Harriet, Kathleen’s bestie, is a fantastic songwriter. Harriet wrote a musical and wants Kathleen to star in it. Only problem is, Cal. Cal is directing the musical and wants Kathleen to audition for the role, which bothers Kathleen to no end because it was written for her to play! What happens when Kathleen crosses path with Cal? Also, did I mention that Cal is extremely attractive and a talented director/choreographer? The story is told in Kathleen’s POV, and goes back and forth from the present to the past.
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I LOVED this book. I thought it was so fun and cute! I was reading it slowly because I didn’t want it to end! I thought the characters were interesting. I do wish we could’ve gotten to know Harriet and Cal more though. I feel like they didn’t have as much depth as they could’ve. I think they’re both complex characters and I would’ve liked to know more about them; perhaps, even reading from their POVs? I thought Kathleen was a really great FMC. She is interesting, fun, and snappy. I liked the changes that are discussed with appearance as celebrities age. I think it made Kathleen appear more real.

I think the idea of this book is just so fun, as theatre and the entertainment business are fascinating!

The only thing I wish was different is the ending. I wanted more resolution with Cal and Kathleen. I thought the ending was super sweet, but I wanted more. This is just me not wanting the story to end, but I can’t help it.

I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this book.