Thanks @netgalley @dellromance and @elissa_sussman for the chance to read an early copy of Totally and Completely Fine. It releases on July 8, 2025.

I have been dying to read Elissa's latest. I am a huge fan of all of her books, and loved the chance to learn more about Gabe's big sister, Lauren, who we met in Funny You Should Ask. This book was unexpectedly emotional and a very real exploration of grief and finding love again after loss. Elissa's beautiful writing had me tearing up. This is a special book told with incredible care and empathy.

Told in alternating timelines, the book charts Lauren's past love story with Spencer, her childhood love and the father of her teenage daughter whom they lost three years earlier, and Ben, a sexy, bi heartthrob who makes her feel reckless in a way she hasn't experienced since high school. As Lauren navigates her daughter's unpredictable moods and missing her late husband, she tries to figure out whether she can explore something with Ben. Is she allowed to want something just for herself?

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: small town, celebrity-normal person, widow, bad boy with a heart of gold

3.5 stars. Oh boy the insta lust with this one was off the charts with this one (but in a way that I was like uhhhhh am I missing something?) It had been so long since I've read Funny You Should Ask that I did get confused at the beginning portion of the book before I realized that the books overlap timeline wise.

But this was a fun read. I think all the flashbacks of showing Lauren's character development were interesting. It does feel like you don't get a good sense of Ben at times though since he obviously isn't in those moments.

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for an ARC of Totally and Completely Fine.

4.5 stars

This really was the full package. Romance, grief, family, addiction, queer community, etc, this book tackles so many different topics deftly and with supreme care. It was so well-rounded that the romance almost fell a bit flat compared to the vivacity of everything else going on — but that’s a nitpick and not an issue. I really loved this & extra points for any book that has a Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead mention.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title has a publishing date of July 8, 2025.

This was a sweet (and a bit spicy) romance, set against the backdrop of grief. The characters were great, and I enjoyed how they grew together. A very enjoyable read.

As someone who loved Funny You Should Ask.. I am so bummed this didn’t hit for me.

It was so instalusty and all over the place. The chapters from the past were emotional and focused on so many different issues it was hard to see where that was going. And then the present day chapters were SO over-sexualized i found myself just rolling my eyes anytime Ben and Lauren interacted. There was no real connection there besides physical and all of a sudden they’re in love? No. Make it make sense. The part I liked the most was truly just that Gabe and Chani were in it.

I just needed.. more idk.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this new Elissa Sussman novel! 4 1/2 Stars--filled with wit, romance, but also deep conversations about loss and grief and addiction. "Totally and Completely Fine" was heartfelt and beautiful--I found myself laughing with Lauren's quick wit, yet tearing up as she tries to navigate life after the loss of her husband. I was hooked on the first chapter, finishing this book in less than two days! Thanks #NetGalley and Random House for this ARC of #TotallyandCompletelyFine -- I highly recommend!

This was just delightful! A really satisfying continuation of the story Elissa Sussman began in Funny You Should Ask. I loved the heroine, Lauren, and the ways she grapples with grief, love and parenting. It’s beautiful and such a needed older (middle aged) romance.

This was a fun romance read. It was definitely not the best romance book ever but it was still a lot of fun to read!

Just ok for me. Decent story but not as good as some of her other novels. But the mai.n characters were interesting and well write character storylines.

Lauren Parker has many roles in her small Montana town. Former teen troublemaker, sister of superstar actor Gabe Parker and most recently, widowed single mother. Although Lauren has never cared much about what people think, she does however feel as though now dealing with the impression of others along with trying to grapple with grief makes her feel like she's adrift in her own life. Enter Ben Walsh, the super sexy, super talented and younger celebrity actor her brother calls a friend and coworker. When they meet on the set of Gabe's new movie, Lauren and Ben instantly have chemistry and for once Lauren can feel that old part of herself, the part that didn't have to play the role of mother or grieving widow. Soon Lauren finds herself balancing different roles and a possible new life - that is if she can get over the rumors and drama her small town bring.

I had very very high hopes for this one! While, I didn't think that the book was "bad" by any means... I feel as though it was lacking the kind of magic that I think Sussman first captured with "Funny You Should Ask." I think the author has some of the aspects from that novel that really made it great in this one, but I think there is something missing plot wise. Her characters still have great dialogue and back and forths, but I think Sussman's usual use of the "THEN" and "NOW" formula of the book didn't feel as important as previous novels. In the beginning it felt useful to the story - with understanding the relationship between Spencer and Lauren, but as we moved closer to the present, it felt as though it dragged.

If you enjoyed Funny You Should Ask, you’ll absolutely love Elissa Sussman’s latest book, Totally and Completely Fine. I highly recommend picking it up when it’s released.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected publication: July 8, 2025

Despite the many heavy topics in this book (grief, complex family dynamics, addiction, coming out, bullying), I appreciated the writing style and little quirks the author mixed in to give the characters depth. There’s dashes of humor that help lighten the story, and more spice than I anticipated. The mix of realism (adult characters without college degrees, working average jobs, living in a small town) & unrealistic circumstances (a famous actor instantly falling in love with an older woman, her rich brother buying her a store to run) was a little jarring for me and felt a little like a mashup of two stories. I was thrown by how quickly a relationship developed out of thin air, but Ben was charming.

Title: Totally and Completely Fine
Author: Elissa Sussman
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Review:

Elissa Sussman delivers an emotionally rich, beautifully layered romance in Totally and Completely Fine, a novel that balances grief, self-discovery, and passion with stunning depth and heart. Told through alternating timelines, Lauren Parker’s journey from tragedy to new beginnings is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, making this book a standout in contemporary romance.

Lauren is a protagonist you can’t help but root for—raw, messy, and achingly real. As a widowed single mother navigating the weight of loss while rediscovering her own desires, she’s a refreshingly complex character. Her chemistry with Ben Walsh, the charming yet complicated actor, is undeniable from the start, but what makes their relationship so compelling is the way it unfolds with tenderness and tension in equal measure. Ben isn’t just a swoon-worthy love interest—he’s a fully realized character dealing with his own struggles, and their connection feels authentic rather than convenient.

Sussman masterfully captures the nuances of small-town life, from the ever-present whispers of gossip to the unwavering bonds of family and community. The dual timeline approach is particularly effective, allowing readers to see Lauren’s love story with her late husband, Spencer, unfold alongside her present with Ben. The contrast between these relationships adds emotional weight to her journey, showing how grief can shape us but not define us.

Beyond romance, this novel excels in exploring themes of motherhood, identity, and second chances. Lauren’s relationship with her daughter is heartfelt and realistic, filled with both love and frustration. The challenges of navigating fame, personal reinvention, and societal expectations are also woven seamlessly into the narrative, making Lauren’s path to self-acceptance feel earned and deeply satisfying.

With poignant writing, witty dialogue, and a romance that burns slow and bright, Totally and Completely Fine is a must-read for anyone who loves deeply emotional love stories with strong, flawed heroines and irresistible heroes. Sussman reminds us that love—whether old or new—doesn’t have to be perfect to be life-changing.

For a romance, it's unexpected that the most surprising plot point was not the central love story but the fact that a grocery store clerk and a hardware store employee could buy a house on salary alone in the early aughts.

The book was...totally and completely fine.

4 ⭐️

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for my ARC.

I enjoyed but didn’t love this second installment in the same universe as Funny You Should Ask. They were so interrelated I almost wished I had reread that one right before reading this.

The grief and mother/daughter storylines were heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I really enjoyed the conclusion to that. For some reason I didn’t love the romance and felt frustrated with Lauren’s self-destructive behavior.

This has a great cast of characters but didn’t hook me as I hoped. But if you’re eager for more after Funny You Should Ask, you’ll gobble this up!

Totally and completely fine was...just fine. I really loved Funny You Should Ask and was excited that this book was going to be a kind of extension of that story. Lauren is a single mom and widow, after her husband tragically died in a car accident 3 years before. When Lena and her 13 year old daughter go to visit Lauren's brother (Gabe from Funny You Should Ask) in LA, she has a chance meeting with another actor. Ben is an openly bi-sexual bad boy who is ten years younger than Lauren. Immediately stars spark and what turns to a strong physical attraction morphs into a more emotional one as Lauren returns to Montana where Ben follows to put on a play. I didn't enjoy the dynamics of their "will they, won't they" as it was extremely dragged out throughout the story. I almost enjoyed the other aspects of the story more than the romance plot: Lauren recovering from her grief over the death of her husband and attempting to keep the peace and support her 13 year old daughter Lena who has her own struggles. The strained relationship between Lauren/Lena and Gabe with his year's long addictions. Funny You Should Ask was excellent and I felt like one of the stronger parts of the story was that there was no to limited "spice" between the two characters. This was not the case for Totally and I found it took away from some of the emotional impact of the story. Maybe if my expectations weren't so high, I would have enjoyed this one more.

This book features Gabe's sister, Lauren, from "Funny You Should Ask." While it's not required, I definitely recommend re-reading or reading "Funny You Should Ask" first for some added context. The story masterfully delves into the complex emotions that come with love and grief, showing how they can coexist simultaneously.

I was particularly impressed with how the author portrayed grief—it's raw, real, and deeply moving. If you appreciate stories that explore the depths of human emotions with authenticity, this book is a must-read!

This was a really good, emotional book that I could not put down. I enjoyed the multiple timelines/flashbacks to fully give an understanding of the story and background. I liked all the characters and the character development.

Lauren is a widow and single mom living in small town Montana. She’s also the sister of Gabe Parker, a famous movie star. When Lauren meets Gabe’s costar, Ben, she feels the sparks of romantic interest for the first time since the death of her husband.

This novel expertly explores grief, and navigating love after grief, while also remaining approachable and heart capturing. I loooooved getting more of Gabe and Chani in addition to the incredible love story that Sussman has written. She’s officially a must read for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

If you loved Funny You Should Ask, you will be very pleased by this. It was so great to hear more about Gabe and Chani from a different perspective, while also learning about Lauren and Ben. I loved that this book focused on a 40-something year old woman rather than the typical 20s-early 30s we normally see in these types of novels. This was very sexy, sweet, and moving, and I really enjoyed every second of it.