This book shattered my heart completely and then glued it back together with some name brand super glue. I loved every second of this book.

“I don’t think you ever get over someone who died,” Ben said. “I don’t even think you get over grief. You go through it.”

Grief is such a big, scary, hard thing that is so hard to go through. Our FMC, Lauren, has had more than her share of grief in her short life. Her father passed away while she was young, then her husband, Spencer, passed away. Leaving both her and her daughter, Lena, bereft and mourning. This book just had some of the most hauntingly beautiful, real, and raw feelings regarding what it’s like to grieve, I think I cried at least ten times minimum. I loved it.

On a trip to visit her brother, Lauren meets Ben. Ben, who is a handsome actor alongside her brother, bi icon, and has more charm than a man should have. Ben and Lauren’s story was so painfully real(!!) Between working through obstacles, and Lauren’s grief, I JUST CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK, OKAY?

Absolutely no notes. Impeccable book. One of the bests I’ve read ever.

“That I suspected if someone were to cut me open, they’d find nothing but a cobweb-strewn cavern of emptiness and longing. The kind where if you called out, all you’d hear was echoes.”

If you enjoyed Sussman's earlier novel Funny You Should Ask, this is a must-read companion—messier, more emotional, and just as absorbing.

This novel worked for me on many levels. At its core, it’s a layered exploration of grief, love, and identity, centering on Lauren, a widow navigating parenting her grieving teen niece, Lena, while cautiously exploring a new and potentially healing romance. Sussman weaves in backstory with care, particularly Lauren’s relationship with her late husband, Spencer, and her brother Gabe (from Funny You Should Ask), adding emotional depth without weighing the narrative down.

The book thrives in its honest portrayal of middle-aged womanhood—when you're not just someone’s mom, widow, or sister, but a full person still figuring things out. I appreciated the small-town setting, the believable (if fast-burning) chemistry, and the nuanced relationships throughout. One standout moment was a beautifully written scene between Gabe and Lena that tenderly explores addiction and how it impacted Lena.

Still, I wanted more—more from Lauren’s former friendship with Jessica, more of bestie Allyson, and more from Chani, especially given the surprise return of her and Gabe. There’s also a simmering tension with Lauren’s mother-in-law that could’ve used more resolution. And Ollie! There’s story left to tell there.

All in all, Sussman handles a lot—grief, parenting, second chances, identity—with empathy and insight. If you’re a woman navigating your 40s or 50s, this book might hit especially close to home. It's messy in the best way, filled with yearning and real emotional stakes. Here’s hoping we get more time with these characters in the future.

**Totally and Completely Fine** by Elissa Sussman is a smart, witty, and heartfelt novel that explores love, self-discovery, and the messy parts of growing up (no matter your age). Sussman’s sharp writing and relatable characters pull you in right away, making you laugh and reflect in equal measure. It’s the kind of book that feels both breezy and deeply insightful, perfect for anyone who enjoys a charming, honest look at modern relationships and finding your own path.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the eArc!

Genre: contemporary romance

I really enjoyed this one. Things to know before you read. It deals with grief and some critiques on church/purity culture.

I would also recommend reading this one after you have read Funny You Should Ask.

Totally and Completely fine follows Gabe’s sister Lauren and her learning to open her heart again after her husband’s death and also raising a 13 year old through as a single mom. Oh and the man who has caught her eye? Hollywood rising star Ben Walsh, who just happens to be just a little bit younger.

The way Elissa delved into the grief of the loss of a spouse was beautifully done in this one and I really like Lauren and her growth as a character in this story. Also Ben is such a support for her but also just shows up for the people in his life and they balanced each other so well.

The book is told in both flashbacks to Lauren’s past and her present.

One open door scene, multiple fade to black scenes.

Look, Elissa can do no wrong. This book was perfect and I loved every second of it. I laughed out loud, I cried, I squealed, it had everything I could want in a romance book. Already anxiously awaiting whatever magic she comes up with next.

I devoured this book!! It's truly been a while since I was this captivated by a story. Totally and Completely Fine was such a joy to read even in the heartbreaking moments.

Main character Lauren is real and raw. Movie star Ben is somehow also raw and real. I loved learning each of their backstories and watching as Lauren was braver than I ever could be. Lauren and Ben have loads of delicious tension that led to some spicy scenes that I had to skim past, but still the tension was perfection. I just loved everything about this story, even as Lauren and her teenage daughter are learning through their grief. Their heavy anguish after a tragic loss is difficult and all consuming but it was refreshing to see a painful path of a character facing grief. The growth, development and love Lauren and her daughter find felt so redemptive. Gosh, I just loved this story!!!

If you've read Elissa Sussman previously, Lauren's brother is Gabe from Funny You Should Ask. That was a 4 star read for me and it was a blast to check back in with Gabe. He played a significant role in Totally and Completely Fine even as a side character.

Totally and Completely Fine is out NOW! Please read it and gush about this story with me!! Thank you Ballantine/Dell and Netgalley for my advance e-arc!!!

Ugh. Books about grief are hard when you're grieving.
But the cover was cute, and I picked it up anyway—and somehow, I hurt my own feelings in the best way.

Elissa Sussman handles loss, memory, and healing with a kind of brutal softness that sneaks up on you. The writing feels effortless, the humor surprisingly sharp, and the sadness… so quietly familiar. It's the kind of story that holds your hand and pokes at your bruises at the same time.

This book wrecked me a little—but I also feel better for having read it.

Thanks netgalley and the publisher!!

I love Elissa Sussman- her debut is one of my all time favorites. Totally and Completely Fine is a wonderful novel.
Sussman has written another satisfying romance. The story is engaging.
This is such a fun book with great characters. I love that you feel as if you're in the situations the characters are in.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.

so i devoured this (6 hour roadtrip helped). I’m obsessed. I loved the Then portions which helped me understand more of Lauren and Spencer’s relationship. I do feel like this book was more about navigating grief and understanding how to move through it vs. get over it. I loved that Ben was able to help Lauren with that. I will literally read anything Elissa Sussman writes forever!

Totally and Completely Fine takes readers back to the world of Funny You Should Ask, as we get to know Gabe's windowed sister, Lauren, as she develops a relationship with Gabe's costar, Ben. I struggled to get into the story, which I think is in part due to Lauren's relationship with her late husband taking up a good chunk of the story. The depth of the relationship Lauren and Ben seem to have in the end didn't feel believable.

I’ve been living under a rock but my god, Elissa Sussman, you’re a talent!

This follows Lauren, a widowed single mom navigating grief, parenting, and a complicated new connection with a very charming, very famous man named Ben. The dual timeline that covers the past with her husband and present with Ben was done so well. It felt honest, layered, and incredibly human.

More than anything I loved how this book made me feel. It’s one of those stories I couldn’t wait to pick back up every time I had to put it down. I laughed, teared up, and totally got caught up in Lauren’s world. Easily one of my top 3 reads of the year so far.

I didn’t realize this was connected to Funny You Should Ask until I was already deep in and it reads totally fine as a standalone (but don’t worry, I’ll be grabbing it toot sweet!

#TotallyAndCompletelyFine #ElissaSussman #FiveStarRead #RomanceReaders #GriefAndLove #SecondChanceRomance #SmallTownLove #BookstagramRecs #BookishFeels #TurningPagesWithKate

This took me a hot second to get into, but once I did, I was really intrigued and had to know how it ended.

Lauren and Lena, mother-daughter duo, live a quiet life in Montana following the death of Spencer (husband/father). The story is told between then and now perspectives, and I really enjoyed learning bits and pieces of the past and current timelines to tie the story together. Lauren and Lena's relationship is rocky. Not only are they both navigating grief, but Lena is in her teenage years and literally anything that Lauren does is embarrassing and eyeroll worthy. Gabe is Lauren's movie-star brother who adores them both but has his own struggles, Spencer was his best friend from childhood through their adult years. Ben Walsh is a famous actor who works along Gabe who Lauren meets one day and has undeniable chemistry with. And so, the story unfolds...

I wasn't speeding to get back to this story, but once I did get back into it, I found myself wanting to know how the story ends. At times I felt that this story was repetitive. I somewhat disliked Lauren and the immaturity I picked up from in the beginning of what Ben and Lauren was.

I might read her other stories!

Funny You Should Ask is one of my favorite books of all time, but Totally and Completely Fine may have overtaken it as my favorite Elissa Sussman book!!! I LOVED getting to return to the world of the Parker family. Following Lauren was wonderful and sad and messy and great. Ben… <3 <3 <3 I love. I’m going to be shouting from the rooftops for all of my friends to read this!!!

I don't think I realized this was a reverse age gap, and a significant one at that. The MMC was not really my vibe- I loved her other books but don't think this one is for me.

Lauren Parker has gone through a few iterations in her life. Teenage hell-raiser, sister to a movie star, and tragically widowed single mother. When she and daughter take a trip out to California to visit with her brother on his movie set she meets actor Ben Walsh. They have instant chemistry and Lauren takes that chance to have that moment for herself and be seen. When their sexy encounter becomes something more Lauren has to decide if there’s room in both their lives for this relationship. He star is rising and she lives in a small town in Minnesota.

Elissa Sussman uses flashbacks about Lauren’s relationship with her childhood friend/husband Spencer as a way to show the reader Lauren is still working through her grief, while at the same time explaining a spirit within that never truly died out, even as she had settled down with her husband and started a family. This “explanation” helps the reader make that jump into how a small town mother can hook up with a beautiful movie star who is more than ten years her junior. That rebellious nature hasn’t completely died out despite her being a single mom raising a teenager who is quite spirited herself.

The relationship between she and Ben was lovely and not to take anything away from the romance of it, stands on its own. However, it’s what she learns about herself as she’s exploring that relationship is the heart of the story. Her grief is balanced by her will to live a full life. She and Ben’s exploration of each other and a possible future relationship is a way to move on from the very loving marriage she had with Spencer. The dual nature of this author’s storytelling was deftly written and really showed Lauren’s growth in all aspects of her life.

I haven’t read all of this author’s novels, but as I was reading I was reminded about how much I enjoy her style of writing. I need to go look at her backlist and see what I’ve been missing out on!

Elissa Sussman always delivers. This one leans less into romance than her previous books and more into catharsis and growth after grief. That shift in focus made space for a lovely, unproblematic love interest, which was nice. (I'm already married and I wish I could date Ben.)

It was hard to go back and forth between "then" and "now" at first (I vastly preferred “now”), but it made for a meaningful ending. I cried a lot!

I am a big fan of Elissa Sussman, and I am going to read every book she writes. I was delighted to receive an early copy of Totally and Completely Fine. Sussman is able to bring depth and heart to books that would fall flat in lesser hands. In her latest work, readers meet recently-widowed, single mother Lauren Parker. Her brother happens to be a famous actor, who introduces her to a younger man who is on the brink of Hollywood superstardom. It's a story that will resonate with fans of The Idea of You.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

this was such an emotional read. it was really great to revisit gabe and chani from <i>funny you should ask</i> and the exploration into gabe's alcoholism and sobriety. I appreciated how this connected to lauren and lena, and, in turn ben. I love how Elissa writes <i>then</i> and <i>now</i> chapters as well; they make the book seem more bingeable.

thank you to netgalley and ballantine for the arc!

Man. The title really sets the expectation for this book—it’s just fine.

There is so much going on. The grief aspect was well fleshed out, but everything else fell a little flat. Everything else being the romance between Lauren and Ben (we don’t actually see the emotional connection between them until the end and that made it hard for me to believe they fell in love…could’ve used more time with them); the queer representation of some characters felt like an afterthought; the religious shame element was brushed off by multiple characters when it could’ve been fleshed out more. The author could’ve cut 50% of the conflict she introduced and had a simpler backstory for some of her characters so that the heart of the story (learning how to move through grief with another and new person) could’ve had a chance to shine.

Also, I had no idea it was a companion book to Funny You Should Ask which is one of my favorite books. The summary does mention Gabe Parker as her bother but it didn’t connect with me that it was the same Gabe from FYSA. In some ways, I felt like I was reading a sequel to their story but told through the eyes of another character and I don’t know that I needed so much of Gabe and Chani OR that I needed Lauren to be related to Gabe. Could’ve cut them and the book would’ve had more space for Lauren’s story.

—
I’m a bit late to reviewing this one but thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I’m not gonna lie - I liked this one wayyy more than I expected to!!🤌 though maybe if I realized it was a companion novel to Funny You Should Ask (which I loved) I wouldn’t have been surprised!

✨single mom x famous actor
✨age gap
✨grief journeys - she’s a widow who lost her childhood sweetheart and her daughter is a teenager trying to both find who she is at a pivotal age but also trying to mourn her father!!
✨they’re “just having fun”🤭
✨then and now timelines!

I love this cast of characters, the literal family and the found family! I loved watching Lauren and Lena’s relationship change and grow and how they both navigated Spencer’s loss - it felt very honest and raw. While admittedly the romance of this was my least favorite part it was still veryy solid! And honestly Ben is a catch🤩 I recommend!