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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh the actions of young people and how the repercussions of those actions will follow you into adulthood until you face them and make peace with them.
Also the way Sussman handled Ryan as a character was pretty amazing. I was not expecting that a certain to play out the way it did.
Also the friendship dynamic with Kathleen and Harriet was done really well too.
Also the way Sussman handled Ryan as a character was pretty amazing. I was not expecting that a certain to play out the way it did.
Also the friendship dynamic with Kathleen and Harriet was done really well too.
4.5/5 stars
it's safe to say that elissa sussman is one of my most unpexted new favorite authors. she established in FYSA that she can write a great second change romance, but OMWF took it over the edge for me.
I loved this book! I literally caught myself at multiple moments in the book smiling down at it cause it was so damn cute. the author does a great job with then and now storylines, helping introduce certain plot lines that come up in the future timeline, or providing explanation in the past timeline. it was so cute to watch Kathleen and Cal literally grow up together since there's actually a 3rd storyline from their time at theatre camp together.
speaking of the two of them, I loved both cal and kathleen. normally, I'm not really a cheating apologist in books. but I think I just loved the two of them together so much I completely ignored that. also since Ryan was a total ass. but I loved their hating dynamic and how it slowly broke down. I thought Kathleen was a really well-written female character since her whole storyline isn't just about her romance, but about her overcoming the trauma from her past pop star life and her friendship with Harriet.
I loved the plot itself. how they had already been together before, but since it ruined Kathleen's career, it never went anywhere. I always love a good second chance romance because the characters already know they're attracted to one another, they just need to realize it never stopped. which they definitely did in this book!
I liked this book's commentary on the pop industry for women. it discusses a bit of over sexualization and the unfair standards that many female pop stars have to live up to. and, I also liked how after Kathleen's career tumbles, they discuss how Cal was kinda scott-free in the matter. it really seems realistic since it seems like nowadays, women in entertainment are held accountable for every little mistake, while men literally commit way worse acts and are still hired. while Kathleen and Cal didn't do something completely awful, I appreciated how Kathleen talked about how Ryan practically ruined her career without even acknowledging that it was Cal she cheated on him with.
now, there were some issues I had with the book, which explains why it's only a 4.5 for me. first, I enjoyed most of Harriet and Kathleen's friendship, but I wish they could've had a deeper conversation after their fight. I feel like Kathleen got away a little too easy with some of the stuff she did and said. I also wished that there were more "then" chapters. it seemed like for every "then" chapter, there was 2-3 "now" chapters. it would've been more helpful to see Kathleen and Cal's friendship grow, and show off more of Ryan as a bad boyfriend. it felt as if Kathleen was just telling about her growing distance from Ryan, not showing it. and finally, is oranges really a good scent for cologne? according to the book, it's "intoxicating" when in my mind, it has much more of a tangy scent.
overall, I really really liked this book and I hope that elissa sussman continues coming out with books of the same format in this universe! if she does, I'll be racing to the bookstore to buy one myself!
it's safe to say that elissa sussman is one of my most unpexted new favorite authors. she established in FYSA that she can write a great second change romance, but OMWF took it over the edge for me.
I loved this book! I literally caught myself at multiple moments in the book smiling down at it cause it was so damn cute. the author does a great job with then and now storylines, helping introduce certain plot lines that come up in the future timeline, or providing explanation in the past timeline. it was so cute to watch Kathleen and Cal literally grow up together since there's actually a 3rd storyline from their time at theatre camp together.
speaking of the two of them, I loved both cal and kathleen. normally, I'm not really a cheating apologist in books. but I think I just loved the two of them together so much I completely ignored that. also since Ryan was a total ass. but I loved their hating dynamic and how it slowly broke down. I thought Kathleen was a really well-written female character since her whole storyline isn't just about her romance, but about her overcoming the trauma from her past pop star life and her friendship with Harriet.
I loved the plot itself. how they had already been together before, but since it ruined Kathleen's career, it never went anywhere. I always love a good second chance romance because the characters already know they're attracted to one another, they just need to realize it never stopped. which they definitely did in this book!
I liked this book's commentary on the pop industry for women. it discusses a bit of over sexualization and the unfair standards that many female pop stars have to live up to. and, I also liked how after Kathleen's career tumbles, they discuss how Cal was kinda scott-free in the matter. it really seems realistic since it seems like nowadays, women in entertainment are held accountable for every little mistake, while men literally commit way worse acts and are still hired. while Kathleen and Cal didn't do something completely awful, I appreciated how Kathleen talked about how Ryan practically ruined her career without even acknowledging that it was Cal she cheated on him with.
now, there were some issues I had with the book, which explains why it's only a 4.5 for me. first, I enjoyed most of Harriet and Kathleen's friendship, but I wish they could've had a deeper conversation after their fight. I feel like Kathleen got away a little too easy with some of the stuff she did and said. I also wished that there were more "then" chapters. it seemed like for every "then" chapter, there was 2-3 "now" chapters. it would've been more helpful to see Kathleen and Cal's friendship grow, and show off more of Ryan as a bad boyfriend. it felt as if Kathleen was just telling about her growing distance from Ryan, not showing it. and finally, is oranges really a good scent for cologne? according to the book, it's "intoxicating" when in my mind, it has much more of a tangy scent.
overall, I really really liked this book and I hope that elissa sussman continues coming out with books of the same format in this universe! if she does, I'll be racing to the bookstore to buy one myself!
slow-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The main reason this isn’t a five star read for me is that the male love interest doesn’t do any groveling despite the fact that he played a major role in the world wide slut shaming of the MC. She deserved much much more!!!!
This has a lot of big themes, but I think that the biggest is forgiving your child and teen self.
This has a lot of big themes, but I think that the biggest is forgiving your child and teen self.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship
Nothing life changing here but such a fun, quick read!! As a musical theatre fan and brief theatre kid I loved the setting for this book and all the musical theatre references! Probably a pretty niche book but this really spoke to me. I think Cal could have been fleshed out more and would have loved more Harrier, too, but for a quick romance I loved it.
Yessss! I’m definitely very, very okay with this second chance/celebrity fall from grace/musical theatre romance! Elissa Sussman has found a niche I’m really happy to join.
While Funny You Should Ask was a mix of sky scraping highs with some eyebrows raising lows, I totally liked the flow of Once More With Feeling. I get that people might not like Kathleen that much, but I really think her not being likeable fits her character and everything she went through.
Kathleen used to be the biggest pop star alive. Under her stage name Katee Rose she toured the world, and all the people wanted to be her or to be with her. When her then boyfriend (and lead of a very popular boy band) threw her under the bus, her career was over in a whim.
Kathleen’s career reminded me of Britney Spears, and I’m so glad that we finally come to realize how cruel we are to these talented young people. I’m glad Kathleen got to change the narrative about her as a person.
While Funny You Should Ask was a mix of sky scraping highs with some eyebrows raising lows, I totally liked the flow of Once More With Feeling. I get that people might not like Kathleen that much, but I really think her not being likeable fits her character and everything she went through.
Kathleen used to be the biggest pop star alive. Under her stage name Katee Rose she toured the world, and all the people wanted to be her or to be with her. When her then boyfriend (and lead of a very popular boy band) threw her under the bus, her career was over in a whim.
Kathleen’s career reminded me of Britney Spears, and I’m so glad that we finally come to realize how cruel we are to these talented young people. I’m glad Kathleen got to change the narrative about her as a person.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Musical theatre?? Yes. Loved the stuff about the stage etc. but I mean this was just ok. It had all the right pieces but didn’t lack a punch which was honestly ok with me because I wanted something light.