Take a shot every time it was mentioned that the male love interest was bisexual and then gave nothing to the plot. I felt like the author was hitting me over the head screaming, "Representation!!" with it contributing absolutely nothing. Honestly, this book just didn't do it for me. There was a whole lot of telling and not showing, and the love interests had zero chemistry. Their conversations gave off the vibe of someone who ChatGPT'd, "Write flirting dialogue between two strangers."

Unrelated to the quality of this book, why was this not marketed as a companion novel to Funny You Should Ask (which I LOVED btw), similar to Abby Jimenez's Part of Your World series? I feel like that was a massive missed opportunity since Funny You Should Ask was such a bit hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sending me this book!

I did not expect such an emotional journey for this book, but I’ve read the other books in this interconnected series and I should have LEARNED MY LESSON THEN.

Lauren’s husband passed away three years ago, and ever since, she’s tried to convince everyone (and herself) that she’s totally and completely fine. Even though the grief consumes her at times. Everything reminds her of Spencer, and she misses him deeply, but she also knows that she’s lonely, and misses affection, intimacy, and connection. Enter 30 year old hot, bisexual, slutty earring-wearing movie star Ben Walsh. Lauren instantly connects with Ben, he makes her feel something again, which she hasn’t experienced in a long time.

After a steamy encounter in Philly when she visits the set of the movie Ben is filming with her brother, Gabe, Lauren decides it was a onetime thing. That is, until Ben is in her hometown a few months later working on opening a play with Gabe.

Told through flashbacks to the past, and the events of the present, this book tells the story of a woman trying to find herself again amidst the grief she feels, heal her relationship with her daughter, and believe that she’s deserving of another shot at love with someone who truly sees her, because life is just too short.

This book was a little slow to start, and there really wasn’t MUCH action with Ben for the first 40%, but when I tell you I am sitting here on my couch ugly crying by the end. This book was beautiful. The flashbacks added such a connection to Spencer that inevitably led to a greater emotional payoff at the end of the book. Lauren is such a wonderful character, flawed in ways we all are but nonetheless a loving mom, friend, and sister who’s just doing her best (and who among us isn’t?)Ben is the SWEETEST man there ever was. I think this is Elissa’s best work yet (that I’ve read anyway), and I’ll never forgive her for what she’s reduced me to (jk, ily Elissa THANK YOU).

If you’ve read Funny You Should Ask, or even if you haven’t, PLEASE pick this up when it’s out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy to review!

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. I enjoyed this book and seeing how each character progressed through different life experiences.

Oh... I wanted to like this, really, I did. Something about it was just so uninspiring and monotonous. It wasn't bad by any means, just not good. I think the main reason I didn't like it was how inherently sexual it was. There was a sexual comment every other line, and when books are like that, I immediately know I'll hate them. To me, love stories shouldn't be about lust, but rather about actual human connection. I also have started to lose my taste for celebrity romance novels, specifically because they're mostly lustful instead of cute. I suppose it's more of a me thing than the book's thing.

“She didn’t know that grief felt like the slowest moving quicksand, pulling me down inch by inch, rib by rib”.

I really enjoyed this story and I loved the authors writing style. Grief certainly isn’t easy. It’s really hard to process it. How do you know when it’s the right time to move on? When Lauren meets Ben, they have instant chemistry! I was rooting for them!

I loved how relatable the book is when it comes to grief, finding yourself again and love. This book was beautifully written. I’m planning on reading Funny You Should Ask.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Elissa and
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the E-ARC!

Publication Date: July 8th 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#NetGalley #TotallyandCompletelyFine

I really loved Elissa's first novel, Funny You Should Ask, so I was excited to read this book. I didn't love it and found myself forcing myself to finishing reading. I'd say the best part of the book is the last 10-15%. It was a lot of nothing happening for most of the book which I can understand for the reader to understand the journey the main character is on but it wasn't fun or interesting to read.

4.25 out of 5. Yes I will read the phonebook if Elissa Sussman writes it. I also kind of wish i had more of the previous book in my head, because it was great to revisit Gabe in another context. Although there were some absurd moments, in general it is a fabulous love story and very in the moment with all these movies like The Idea of You and A Family Affair. A hot mother getting her grove on with a hot movie star - i was there for it. The characters are mature, the problems are real and the emotions so true.

Oh the way I just adored every inch of thie book!!!! Elissa Sussman has been an auto buy author for me since Funny You Should Ask and the fact that I loved every character in this book including Gabe and Chani (!!!) is no surprise! I feel so lucky to get to see where they ended up while falling in love with Lauren’s story.

I had high hopes for this book based off the synopsis, but I was unfortunately let down.

I liked the writing style, but the storyline fell flat. I thought the connection between Lauren and Ben was too instant. I know it was supposed to be lust-based, especially based off Lauren’s past, but it didn’t work for me.

Too many things were happening at once. We have daddy issues, relationship trust issues, a moody teenager, and just a ton of women-based conflict issues. I think the author should have narrowed it down a bit.

Is this even a romance? Like truly a romance? In my opinion, no it’s not. I would advertise it as women’s fiction.

*An ARC was received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask, so I was beyond excited to dive into Totally and Completely Fine—and it did not disappoint! I loved how this book brought back characters from FYSA and picked up in a way that felt natural, giving us a fresh yet familiar story that was just as heartfelt and engaging.

While this book has a beautiful romance at its core, it leans more into women’s fiction, exploring grief, identity, and personal growth in such an honest and emotional way. Lauren Parker is a protagonist you feel; she’s messy, real, and trying to navigate life as a single mother while still carrying the weight of her past. Her chemistry with Ben Walsh is undeniable, but what really struck me was how their relationship wasn’t just about passion; it was about healing, second chances, and learning to open yourself up to love again.

Sussman’s writing shines in the way she alternates between Lauren’s past with her late husband, Spencer, and her present with Ben. The emotional depth in this story is stunning—there are moments of longing, heartbreak, and hope that hit so hard. I also loved the small town setting and the added layer of complexity with Ben’s fame, making their relationship feel even more high stakes.

If you’re looking for a book that balances romance with raw, emotional storytelling, Totally and Completely Fine is a must read. It’s about grief, love, and finding yourself again—and I adored every page! 💙

Thank you to NetGalley, Elissa Sussman, and Dell for the eARC of this book.

Maybe it’s a bit unusual to love books about grief as much as I do, but when they’re well done, they’re truly excellent—and this one was no exception. It offers such an accurate portrayal of grief, emphasizing that it’s not something you simply get over but something you move through. It also beautifully illustrates how our hearts are capable of expanding, making room for more love and new beginnings.

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to other readers.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Romance readers pick up this new read by Elissa Sussman. Totally and Completely Fine is an engaging and enjoyable read.

I loved the last two Elissa Sussman books so I knew I’d love this one. This one picks up with characters from Funny You Should Ask. Lauren is a widowed, small-town mom of a angsty teenager. Through her movie star brother she meets movie star, Ben Walsh. Their relationship evolves slowly. This isn’t typical romance as much of this book is about the weight of grief and bottled up emotions. And she writes it so well.

I’ll read anything she writes, honestly.

A great heartwarming story that portrays grief beautifully! I loved being back with the characters from Funny You Should Ask, it makes me want to go back and reread it! Loved watching Lauren navigate her feelings for Ben.

If you wanted a little more to Funny You Should Ask, you need to read this book. It’s about Gabe’s sister, Lauren, but plenty of Gabe, Chani, and Ollie. It’s about love and grief and how our hearts have the capacity to hold both simultaneously. I love Elissa Sussman’s writing. She writes mostly in dialogue and I love her characters. Just like Funny You Should Ask, I would have read several more chapters/books/epilogues if you’re reading this, Elissa.

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman is a 5 star companion novel to Funny You Should Ask. This novel was totally and completely worth the wait! I loved reconnecting with all the characters (Gabe, Chani, Teddy, Lauren, Lena, Ollie, and Ben) and traveling back to Cooper, Montana. Must read!

#TotallyandCompletelyFine #NetGalley

Can we talk?

Whomever is responsible for the splash of colors for the cover and the catchy title deserves some credit. This may be my first read by this author but her distinctive covers capture the eye.

Not quite sure why NetGalley categorized this as New Adult or Romance. It reads more as women fiction. You know, all messy emotions, highs and lows. Past and present. Mothers and Daughters. First loves and New ones.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the advanced copy! It’s always a privilege to receive and review a book prior to publication.

To be candid, I almost DNF’d this novel multiple times. The writing was well-done, but the story and characters fell flat for me. It almost seemed to be doing too much at once and all at a surface-level. Was this a romance? A book about grief and healing? Alcoholism? Coming of age? The characters did not have much depth, and even without needing more about the brother or late husband; I wish the daughter had more of a personality. Lauren’s relationship with Ben was unrealistic and oversexualized. And then it’s over? Great sex means missing out on a huge movie career? Ugh. I don’t know. I’m disappointed. I can’t even think of an audience for recommendations.

I binged this book, I loved it so much. One of my favorite things was how the protagonist really didn’t have to get over petty insecurities; in other books I’ve read with a hunky lead character (often famous) and a small town girl, the woman has to get through a lot of self-consciousness issues but Lauren was just like -
I’m amazing and I have to stuff to work through, but I’m sexy and worthy of love. Refreshing, we need more of it!!!

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars

I would describe Totally and Completely Fine as more of a contemporary than a romance- there is a romance here and it is good, but it's far from the focal point. The book follows Lauren (Gabe's sister from Funny You Should Ask), whose husband tragically passed in a car crash and she is now the single mother to a teenage girl. I loved how the book alternated between the past and present, it helped me better understand Spencer and it didn't take anything away from her romance with Ben. I also like how Elissa Sussman writes female characters- Lauren is a bit older than your average romance protagonist, but with it comes this no-nonsense, honest thought process that I found unique to the genre. I enjoyed this- I thought it was fast and had some great emotional depth!