I really didn’t like this… I was a big fan of Sussman’s other works but this one I couldn’t get into. First it was very confusing that suddenly we were back with the same characters from book 1 and it was confusing to figure out the timeline of this book and book 1. I also just didn’t feel like there was that much chemistry with Ben and Lauren? And the whole thing is that they have this spark and sexual chemistry and yet it all falls flat? There’s also just a lot going on with Lauren and Lena grieving their husband/dad, Lena’s relationship, Gabe’s relationship, and Ben’s problems. It just didn’t feel like we truly got to see Lauren and Ben fall in love. Bummed because I was excited for this but ultimately it just fell flat and I couldn’t root for/relate to/understand the characters

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

LOVED! This was prob my fave book of hers so far. I loved the relationship. Celeb normal is my favorite trope, and this didn't disappoint.

I loved this book and was so excited to reacquaint myself with old characters from the previous book. I am a big fan of Elissa Sussman and how she writes charming characters with witty dialogue. I look forward to reading more of her in the future.

This book was a roller-coaster! I cried, I laughed, It really had everything you would want in a romance. I will say, a lot of the plot felt surface level to me and I would have loved to see more depth. I feel maybe there were too many plot points going on at once. overall still a great read and something I think a lot of people will relate to!

Elissa Sussman has a real talent for writing characters that you deeply empathize with. Her main character here is Gabe’s sister from Funny You Should Ask, Lauren. She is dealing with the loss of her husband and trying to raise her daughter and in walks Ben. I teared up at many, many parts of this book and thought it was her most raw novel yet. It does wrap up quickly; I felt the ending was a teensy bit rushed. But this was a lovely read about grief and falling again.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did. I enjoyed the other books in this series but this one is my favorite by far!! I love how grief was depicted in this and how it just sneaks up on you from random conversation or situations. I liked the romance, but more so towards the end of the book. It was fun, but I was honestly more interested in the family/personal discovery plot of the story. There’s so much more to this book besides the romance. Such a solid book and I really enjoyed it!

As a lover of Elissa Sussman’s last two books, I was so wholeheartedly excited for this one. Unfortunately it fell so flat. It felt like this book was written by someone else entirely. It also felt like a quick copy of The Idea of You. Her writing was completely different, all of the characters (especially Lauren) were so terrible, and all of the relationships felt so one dimensional. I liked the idea that Gabe from the first book was in it, until she infantilized him and made him an immature, pouty, man child. Lauren’s daughter, Lena, was absolutely horrible to her and everyone else, and it felt so unrealistic that everyone just let a 12 year old act like that. The end was anticlimactic and didn’t feel relatable to what the characters would actually do. Overall, so disappointed. The only silver lining was that her writing about grief was really great and well researched. She captured the feelings of grieving so well.

f you’ve read Elissa Sussman’s novel, “Funny You Should Ask” and enjoyed it, I highly recommend picking up “Totally and Completely Fine”! Not only will you continue to keep tabs on the OG couple, Chani and Gabe, but you’ll also have a chance to meet and fall in love (like?) with Lauren, Gabe’s sister (and main character of this novel).

While I enjoyed this book overall, for some reason, Ben’s and Lauren’s love story felt too quick for me to get invested.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I started reading this one and had to stop initially. There were many characters that were never introduced and I felt lost. Here, this is a sequel to Funny You Should Ask. So I went back and read that one before proceeding and I suggest you do the same. This book cross over timelines with FYSA, but focusing on Lauren, Gabe’s slightly older sister. Lauren’s husband passed away in an accident three years prior and she is managing life with their teen daughter Lena. This story is about Lauren getting back into the dating scene after realizing she’s lonely. The timeline bounces back and forth to teenage/new adult when Lauren started dating Spencer to current timeline and her flirtation with Ben, an actor peer of Gabe’s. Topics of grief and family addiction are covered, but I thought it was very surface level. I think if the story went a little deeper on the emotional side, it would have been better. Additionally, I didn’t really buy the love story. It felt more like Lauren didn’t want to be lonely vs true love. If you read Funny You Should Ask, this is worth a read from your library. Otherwise, I think it’s a skip.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for providing book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much Dell publishing for the advanced copy of this title!
4.5/5

I love this author so much. I love how she mixes the fame trope into the everyday life of ordinary people. She always makes her characters relatable and down to earth despite their larger-than-life personas.
I loved that we get a large cameo from characters from 'Funny You Should Ask.'
Being from Montana, the setting of this book was so relatable. The author nailed the nuances of a small town, the state being behind the times, and the personalities of its inhabitants.

I love the simplicity of this book mixed with the depth of the story. The telling of grief, motherhood, starting over, and learning to love again.

I loved ‘Funny you should Ask’ and I was so excited to get this ARC of ‘Totally and Completely Fine’.

Wow what a story about grief, love, friendship and complicated families. I loved the past/present tense. Lauren is such a well developed character and loved seeing her navigate the struggles of her life as a mom and widow. Adored the character of Ben and watching their romance unfold. And of course seeing Gabe and Chani again. I laughed, cried and swooned during this book.

Love the head and the heart and this new song was playing in my head while reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Definitely recommend!

Loved diving back into the FYSA world! I did not expect to get so much Gabe & Chani in this book, it was a pleasant surprise! I definitely caught the Cal choreographer reference too! Lauren (and Lena) have both been through so much and they both deserve the chance to take a breath and move forward towards a happy life. Ben was such a great contrast to Lauren, both of them bringing out another side of the other. I appreciated the realistic way that Lauren looked at Ben and their interactions and loved how he slowly broke that down. There were so many relationships we followed in this book; Lauren & Spencer, Gabe & Lena, Lauren & Lena, Lauren & Spencer, Gabe & Spencer, Lena & Eve AND Ben and Lauren. Personally I would have loved if we spent more time with the central characters but overall a great read!

*Totally and Completely Fine* by Elissa Sussman is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of mental health, relationships, and self-acceptance. The protagonist's voice is witty and relatable, making it easy to connect with her struggles, even when the story tackles heavier themes. Sussman balances humor and emotional depth well, though some parts of the plot feel a bit predictable. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking and engaging read, with strong character development and a satisfying journey toward healing. Perfect for fans of contemporary fiction that blends humor with important life lessons.

I wasn't expecting a novel about older adults when I started this. I also wasn't expecting a novel about grief. Elissa Sussman is one of my "always read" authors so I didn't know anything going in. It was beautiful, watching Lauren navigate how to love again, or even just like again, after going through the loss of her husband and seeing how that has affected those around her. It wasn't a slow burn or really even romantic. The story was Lauren's working through her grief.

Really enjoyed this book! I love a celebrity-normal person story and this one truly delivered on that trope! I appreciated the focus on grief and loved the two main characters as well as the side stories.

Loved it! I fell in love with each character so quickly and so deeply. I become totally invested in their stories. This story felt so real to me, and I contribute much of that to the character development. They felt real, flawed, and authentic.

First off, I LOVED THIS BOOK. Elissa Sussman is a truly gifted writer, and her portrayal of grief was both beautiful and heartbreakingly relatable. I'm currently navigating the grief of losing my mom, and the way Sussman captured the main character's struggle resonated with me deeply. It reminded me of a recent read where a character's long-lasting grief felt shallow and disconnected, a case of "telling" rather than "showing." But Sussman doesn't just tell us about the main character's pain — she invites us into it. We see it in her memories, in the way she tries to keep going, in her quiet, internal moments. It was raw, authentic, and deeply moving.

I also appreciated that the main female character wasn't depicted as some unattainable beauty. Instead, we understood her through the main male character's reactions, which made their dynamic feel all the more genuine. Her blend of snark and wit made her so likable and real, and I loved every bit of it. And those little glimpses of Gabe, Chani, and Ollie? Absolute gold.

Even though the book wasn't heavy on swoon-worthy romance, it didn't need to be. The writing, the emotion, and the depth were enough to make me fall in love with it. I can't wait to own a physical copy later this year — it's a book I know I'll revisit.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dell for the opportunity to read this gem early.

Let me dry my tears.
Damn.
Like I knew I was going to cry, but yeah, grab some tissues. We have a nice blend of happy and sad tears so don’t worry! You get them all!

First off- as a mom of daughters- Lauren and Lena’s relationship fills me with both anxiety and hope for the future. Seeing the mom/teenage daughter push and pull is something I think a lot of people are going to relate to. Add in the element of grief and wow I don’t know if I would have the composure and poise that Lauren does.

Ben, oh Ben. I am here for you, pal. Sign me up because I am very interested in what you’re offering.

Loved this story and all of the side characters as well. I always love when you can build a small town and make me care about more than just the main characters and this book does just that.

Thank you to Dell Romance for the early copy!!

As a fan of Elissa Sussman's previous books, I was eager to dive into *Totally and Completely Fine*, and it certainly delivered. While it’s not exactly a sequel to *Funny You Should Ask*, it helps to read that one first since Lauren is Ben's sister, and there are fun nods to other characters too. This book explores themes of grief, heartbreak, family, and new love, featuring a small-town mom who falls for a younger movie star. The start was a bit slow, but once Lauren confronted her feelings, I was hooked. I loved the dual timelines—“Then” and “Now”—and Lauren and Ben’s relationship had such sweet chemistry, especially with that “he fell first” trope!

Lauren’s been trying to convince everyone she’s okay after her husband passed away three years ago, but the grief still hits hard. When she meets Ben, the charming, bisexual movie star, things begin to change for her. Their passionate encounter in Philly leads to some surprising connections, especially when Ben comes back to her hometown. The story is beautifully woven together with flashbacks that really deepen the emotional stakes, linking her past with Spencer to her present journey of self-discovery and healing. Lauren is such a relatable character—flawed yet loving, just doing her best. And Ben? He’s basically the sweetest guy ever! I've got to say, this might be Elissa's best work so far, and it totally had me in my feels.

I totally forgot I was approved for this. I’m so happy I received an ARC. This was completely heartfelt and really dives head first into the topic of grief and starting over. I found this one had so much more depth than her other two novels.