Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Totally and Completely Fine surprised me by being more women’s’ fiction than romcom. I enjoyed the dual timelines, the LGBTQ+ representation, and revisiting the Montana setting from Funny You Should Ask.
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I started this without knowing it was a spin-off of Sussman's Funny You Should Ask and the MC is Gabe Parker's widowed sister, Lauren. The romance was an afterthought of Lauren's character growth as she navigated loneliness and being a single mom. I was all for the age gap; I am kind of tired of the celebrity trope Sussman has done in the last few novels.

Read if you like:
•Single Parent
•Celebrity Romance
•Age Gap
•Dual Timeline
•MC in her 40s

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Open Door: At least one intimate scene with the reader present, euphemistic language for act and body parts.

Absolutely ate this up. I love a duel timeline it’s going to pull me in every single time. This was a story about love, grief, and exploration. I loved the pacing of the story very much. I’m not always a fan of insta love but felt this was written very well. Cant wait to read more stories by this author.

It’s remarkable how real and raw this book felt. The emotional depth of the story is incredible. It’s a beautiful story of love and grief and how the two intersect. It’s a wonderful love story. The chapters alternate from past to present which I really enjoyed. I loved Funny You Should Ask so I was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! If you haven’t read Funny You Should Ask, I would definitely read that before this comes out so you can get introduced to the characters in the story. I liked that this story presented a real picture of what family can look like. Overall, a beautiful story and I will definitely be rereading when it comes out!

I liked this book!! It was interesting with a good story line and good pacing. I think the themes or past lives, future choices, and decisions are written about in a good way. I like the writing style and the characters in this book

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Loved this latest from Elissa Sussman!! She walked the line beautifully of insta-lust and insta-love. I find that sometimes insta-lust can wind up being insta-love which is not a trope I personally…love. Sussman does a terrific job of showing Lauren and Ben’s chemistry while giving their relationship space to truly grow.

This book was a breath of fresh air. If you enjoyed Elissa’s other books (e.g., Funny You Should Ask), you’ll love her news novel. It reconnects with Gabe and Chani from FYSA, though I barely remember that book—except that I liked it! Also, the MMC is bisexual, and the FMC is in her forties 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Love to see it. We need more of this in romances!

Lauren lives in a picturesque but small town in Montana. She’s the mother of a grieving teenager and recently lost her husband. Now, as a single mother, she’s trying to figure things out.

Lauren’s brother, Gabe, is a film star who invites her and her son to visit him on the set of his new movie. There, Lauren meets Ben Walsh, a super-hot, bisexual Irish actor. They have explosive chemistry—the kind that’s HOT. Lauren realizes it’s been far too long since she’s done anything reckless, and she desperately wants to give in to Ben. However, she has a lot on her plate.

The complications of her past, small-town gossip, and Ben’s fame are hurdles she can’t easily outrun. The story flashes back to her marriage to Spencer, helping us understand how her past is shaping her present.

This book is lovely, and you will adore it. It releases on 4/29!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC. #bookstagram #booktok #bookreview

I want to start by saying this is the first Elissa Sussman book I’ve read. I haven’t read Funny You Should Ask (yet) but I don’t feel it’s necessary to read it to love this book. BUT there are overlap characters from what I’ve read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC. I’m happy to share my honest review.

I’ve read a lot of romance books (especially in the last year), but this was unlike anything I’ve read. It was refreshingly raw and (mostly) relatable. I didn’t know I needed this book, but I feel better and lighter after reading it. I laughed, but really I cried (which I don’t often do). This was so much more than romance. It was about the many layers of grief (from multiple perspectives), a single mother of a grieving child, loving someone with addiction, the impact of purity culture—especially in small towns, all while mixing in friendship betrayal, LGBTQ+ characters, and a 40 something woman taking it one day at a time.

It’s a dual timeline with dual MMCs (Spencer then, Ben now), and the way it’s written makes you feel for both of them in very different ways, just like one would in life. It is rare to only have one love in a lifetime, so the reality of this book showing how Lauren moves on after losing her first love was superbly poetic. It’s not so much about moving on as it is about allowing yourself to move on. Which is heartbreaking AND beautiful. All while she maneuvered being a mom to a 13 year old girl who is angry at the world.

Another theme that got to me was that the FMC was taught—and perpetuated—how to stuff your feelings and don’t ask for help. 100% relatable!

The way this was written and the placement of Then vs. Now was wonderfully crafted. It paralleled what I would assume it’s like to be so enveloped by grief and allowing time to help you heal, only for grief to pop up at any time. The ending gutted me. And that’s not a spoiler because I won’t say if it’s happy or sad. You need to make that decision—I’ll just say it was poignant and very well timed/placed.

This book gives a whole new meaning to “When one chapter ends…” and I am so excited for people to read it so it can start great conversations.

Read the content warnings, but also if you were raised believing in purity and abstinence in the church, this book might trigger you. But it might also give you a new, deeper perspective.

❤️Slow burn, steamy with mostly closed doors (which I could discuss how well this was done, too!)
❤️ High school sweetheart
❤️ LGBTQ+ representation
❤️ Widow, single mom
❤️ Reverse age gap

As someone who enjoyed Once More with Feeling, and absolutely adored Funny You Should Ask, I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of Elissa Sussman’s latest adult novel.

This book takes readers on the emotional journey of a grieving widow with a hormonal daughter, recovering alcoholic brother, and a whole lot of judgement from her small town. I love Sussman’s writing style with short chapters that transport readers from the past to the present.

Is it crazy to say that it felt more authentic if these two didn’t end up together? This novel felt like it fell more under the genre umbrella of women’s fiction than romance because to me, (at least compared to Sussman’s other romance novels) the romance felt like more of a subplot to Lauren’s healing journey.

3.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and the author for this Advanced Reader Copy! I adored Elissa's book, Funny You Should Ask, where we were given the smallest glimpse into main characters in Totally and Completely Fine, Lauren and Ben. This was a highly anticipated book for me and it exceeded all expectations!

Lauren wears many hats as a mother to a teen girl, a widow, a sister of a superstar, and an owner of a Montana bookstore. She visits the set of her brother's movie in Philadelphia and meets Benjamin Walsh - a bisexual up and upcoming actor and People's Sexiest Man Alive. The two lead very different lives (age; career; where they call home); however, when they meet, the attraction is instant and undeniable (and they bond over their love of food!).

Lauren and Ben's romance is achingly human - they both have loved ones with an alcohol addiction; they both have experienced being shamed for being sexually active; there's an age gap (Lauren is 41; Ben is 30). They are blunt in their physical attraction to one another and Ben is gentle and patient with Lauren as they navigate their connection beyond the bedroom. There's a lot to consider with Ben only being in the same place as Lauren for a short while and Lauren's daughter and her feelings on their dynamic.

I adored Lauren and her family navigating the impacts of grief, finances, and addiction - they start with a fair share of compartmentalizing and avoidance, which I found highly relatable as we all so often fail to discuss the difficult things. Lauren reflects on the privilege it is to grow older and its a sentiment that can't help but be felt by the reader of this book.

If you read Funny You Should Ask, you're in for treats in Totally and Completely Fine as we get tender and silly moments with Gabe, Chani, and Ollie and references to that Broad Sheets interview that started it all! Elissa has a way of writing about the entertainment industry that feels deeply relatable - it's fascinating to see Gabe and Ben (both actors), the choices (and sacrifices) they make, and where they choose to call home.

This book is filled with:
- lots of laughs
- sexy, heartfelt chemistry
- reflections on grief and addiction
- celebrity x normal person romance
- a man who is transparent with his feelings

Be sure to pick up a copy when Totally and Completely Fine releases on July 8, 2025. In the meantime, read (or re-read) Funny You Should Ask by Elissa!

Holy smokes this is my first book by Elissa Sussman and it will not be my last. Totally and Completely Fine is a heart warming, inspiring love story mixed with feelings of grief, the hard parts of motherhood, and learning how to not care what people think. Lauren is a widowed mother of 13 year old Lena and with a world famous actor brother Gabe Parker. Through Gabe she meets Ben, the hot, young Irish actor who keeps giving her looks like he wants to see her naked. This one time things turns a question of “could this be more?”
My heart felt for Lauren during this read, her grief was palpable and heartbreaking. I felt for her and her daughter so many times, putting myself in her shoes while she navigating her daughter’s emotions like she was walking in a minefield. The love story was adorable and the right amount of spice. Again I’ll definitely be recommending and reading more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts above are my own.

another great book from elissa sussman. this time about dealing with grief and trying to set your life after. i absolutely adore elissa’s style of writing and how she writes and grows her characters. can’t wait to see what more she her up her sleeve in the future

This book took you on such an emotional journey. I loved the dual timeline plot and how real the grief felt for Lauren. I did not want to put this book down. I can’t wait to read Elissa Sussman’s next book!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC of “Totally and Completely Fine” by Elissa Sussman. I really enjoy this authorms works. This story follows Lauren Parker, the sister of Gabe Parker from “Funny You Should Ask”. Lauren is recently widowed, dealing with grief, dating and her teenage daughter. When Lauren travels to Gabe’s movie set she meets his younger co-star Ben Walsh. Sparks fly from the first meeting, but Lauren isn’t sure she can overcome her grief to start a new relationship. At first, this love story presented very one-sided, but as Lauren and Ben bond over their different grief their relationship changes. The story also alternates between the present with Ben and past with Lauren’s husband, Spencer. I don’t know how much I bought into either love story, but the overall message about dealing with grief was very well written. I also liked the family dynamics. They felt very real. I will definitely be recommended this to patrons and friends.

Pre-order this now as it is sure to be one of the highest rated books of 2025. Sussman brings us back to the Parker family in the same timelines set out in ‘Funny You Should Ask’, rather than feeling overplayed it is nostalgic and gives greater insight into her the beloved characters.
This book beautifully deals with the universal themes of love, grief, loss, loneliness, longing, self-discovery and identity while still being an enjoyable read with the fresh romantic scenes readers have come to expect from the author.
Sussman hit it out of the park once again and is sure to delight established fans and attract more devotees with this stunning new release!

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman is a witty, heartwarming journey of self-discovery and love. Lauren Parker is a small-town woman juggling grief, being a single mom, and living in the shadow of her famous brother. When she meets actor Ben Walsh, their chemistry is undeniable, and suddenly, Lauren is questioning everything she thought she knew about herself.

Sussman strikes the perfect balance between humor and emotion as Lauren navigates life, grief, and unexpected love. The relationship between Lauren and Ben is electric, and the small-town drama and family dynamics add just the right amount of chaos. It’s a beautifully messy story about finding yourself and embracing new possibilities.

Totally and Completely Fine is an engaging, fun read with plenty of heart and humor. It’s a book that will leave you laughing, thinking, and rooting for Lauren every step of the way!

Elissa Sussman’s novel combines past and present, weaving a tale with romance and heartache with steamy moments. The short chapters keep you engaged as it tackles tough topics of grief and addiction. Overall a great read.

Overall, I enjoyed this story but found the main characters storyline to be diluted by a lot of side storylines. I wanted more of the “Now” chapters and found myself rushing through the “then” chapters. I felt Lauren was a little too mean to Ben, to the point I wasn’t rooting for them at first because Ben deserved better. I understand Lauren’s hesitations due to age, grief and being a single mom but it was frustrating that she wasn’t communicating why with Ben so it didn’t seem she was running hot then cold on a whim. The book really picked up once she was honest with herself about her interest in Ben.

Elissa Sussman continues to establish herself as one of my favorite contemporary romance authors currently publishing. While this book didn’t quite reach the highs of her previous two for me, I will always turn to her books for complicated and flawed characters who you can’t help but root for and deftly-penned romance weaved in with all the feelings. Sussman is a master of the genre and should be getting more flowers!

Totally and completely loved this book. Following Lauren and her teenage daughter Lena through grief and growth was beautiful. There is plenty of romance in this book, but also love in other forms, especially familial.
Told in first-person, alternating timelines of Lauren’s past love with her late husband and her present exploration of motherhood and meeting someone new, this book was hard to put down.
A few hard themes in this one, including deaths of parent and spouse, so read with care. Also be sure you’ve read the author’s previous works for connection and context. Plus you’ll love them too! 👀

*I was honored to read an ARC of this book via
NetGalley and the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.*