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.

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!

First off, Elissa Sussman truly is a very talented writer and I am extremely grateful to have received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley. I went into reading, expecting to be met with some things that I don’t usually enjoy as a fan of clean romance and books more targeted to YA. As a Christian reader, I intended to read the book more objectively, but the main characters’ feelings towards Christians made it hard for me to continue and is what ultimately led to my decision to DNF the book. I appreciate learning from others perspectives and being invited to understand the root of their hurt, and I do not desire to invalidate others’ negative experiences— I recognize the extremist behaviors of the religious people described in the book and would absolutely hope not to be found guilty to have anything in common with them. All I can say is that I’m sorry for all who have had Jesus misrepresented to them. PS, I can’t stand people like Diana and Jennifer either! I’m sure the story that unfolds beyond the pages I stopped at is absolutely beautiful, intricately woven, and no doubt will be a tearjerker in the best way.

I think TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY FINE is my favorite of this author's work! When Lauren Parker is in the presence of the famous actor Ben Walsh who also happens to be her brother's friend, she is either babbling with nerves or aggressively bold and flirty. After being a widow for three years, Lauren finds herself brazenly asking Ben for a quick fling while she's visiting her brother on set in Philadelphia, thinking she'll never see Ben again. Months later, after some texting back and forth and just when she thinks Ben and her "fizzled out," he unexpectedly shows up in her small-town in Montana to work on a play with her brother. With her active past, she's worried that small town will hear of her shacking up with a celebrity which will then affect her book and craft store she owns and runs. But she can't deny how Ben is easily able to reconnect her to her wild side and free self. What's is going to take for Lauren to realize that maybe there is potential with Ben and that her happiness is worth exploring?

I enjoyed the emotional depth to the story and characters, the believable chemistry between them and the realness and vulnerability of grief. I really liked the dual timelines that also allowed the readers to see what Lauren's relationship was like with her now-passed husband Spencer and getting to know him as well. I thought they had a really beautiful and special relationship, which it made it all the more sweet and emotional to see Lauren open herself back up to love. As a kid, Lauren was trouble...wasn't afraid of boys in school and was called a slut by other students. Spencer was a goody two shoes who loved school and going to church.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Totally and Completely fine follows Lauren, the sister of famous movie star Gabe, as she navigates being a recently widowed mother of a teenage daughter. When Gabe invites Lauren and her daughter Lena out to his movie set, she doesn’t expect to connect with the his handsome and much younger co-star, Ben. What was supposed to be a one time fling turns into much more when Ben turns up in Lauren’s hometown with Gabe to open a new theatre.

I really enjoyed how this story intertwined with “funny You Should Ask” and did not expect it to be as emotional as it was. I teared up towards the end. Although I was rooting for Lauren and Ben, I was more interested in the story between Lauren and her daughter.

I enjoyed the short chapters and dual timeline- it was a quick read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and an eARC in exchange for an honest review.