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amberinpieces's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Body shaming, Sexism, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
jennabeck13's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Genre: Romance
About 395 pages
Years ago, Kathleen’s career as Katee Rose fell apart when news broke that she cheated on her boyfriend, Ryan, with another member of his boy band, Cal. Kathleen and Cal’s history goes further back through theater camp as teens. Cal, Kathleen, and Harriett (her BFF) were thick as thieves and all talented in their own respects. That’s why the crew reconnects. Harriett wrote a musical that she wants Kathleen to star in and Cal to direct. Cal and Kathleen never addressed their blow-up years ago, so while they agree to work together, things start out rough. But the longer they are around one another, the more they remember why they couldn’t help but fall in love all those years ago…
Once More With Feeling was a cute, easy read! While it didn’t blow me away, Sussman’s writing style and the second chance love story kept me invested enough to read within a day. I liked the banter between Cal & Kathleen and loved the use of two timelines! But I also felt like the characters in the “now” portions acted extremely immature at times and like they hadn’t grown up since the “then” portions. My biggest qualm though was that it felt way too similar to Funny You Should Ask, Sussman’s other book, so I knew exactly where we were heading from the beginning… While predictable, it was still a cute story!
Favorite Quote: “I believe in the power of starting anew,” he said. “Every show, every role, every performance, is a chance to start fresh. Every day is a new opportunity for success. I don’t plan on judging anyone for what you did yesterday, or the day before, or the year before.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Bullying, and Misogyny
caitlinjadams's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fun read and I continue to really like Sussman’s writing. And the Broadway setting played to my tastes! I did find myself wishing for more of Harriett. She was a more fully formed best friend character than in many romcoms, but not as fully developed as the leads and it left me wanting more because there was clearly more to give.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
stormeno's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Eating disorder
izziepng's review
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
SPOILERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH
i can not decide whether i likes this book or not and could be persuaded either way. it wasn’t a dnf scale bad its just not a great book
none of the characters feel fleshed out. they all have like 1-2 things and that’s it like
Kathleen- was a famous pop singer and cheated on her famous boyfriend with Cal
Cal- has been in love Kathleen for forever and like directing
Harriet- wrote the play thing that Cals directing and Kathleen staring in
and there is nothing else to their WHOLE personality
There are A LOT of apologies in this book and none of them feel like they truly mean anything. Everyone apologizes in this book like 10 times to everyone. they all just kind of accept the apologies and move on. But there is NO GROWTH in any of the characters
Also Cals apology for kind of helping Ryan ruin Kathleen’s career isn’t enough tbh.
He’s like sorry for not saying anything 🥺 yk like i had to save my career because what else was i supposed to so and she’s like yeh fs it’s fine love you too btw.
To sum this book up
- No one really grew as characters
- The characters are plain
- No ones good at apologizing
- Cal isn’t a good book boyfriend
- Kathleen was a kind of shitty person
- Harriet was okayish but also kind of a shitty friend
i can not decide whether i likes this book or not and could be persuaded either way. it wasn’t a dnf scale bad its just not a great book
none of the characters feel fleshed out. they all have like 1-2 things and that’s it like
Kathleen- was a famous pop singer and cheated on her famous boyfriend with Cal
Cal- has been in love Kathleen for forever and like directing
Harriet- wrote the play thing that Cals directing and Kathleen staring in
and there is nothing else to their WHOLE personality
There are A LOT of apologies in this book and none of them feel like they truly mean anything. Everyone apologizes in this book like 10 times to everyone. they all just kind of accept the apologies and move on. But there is NO GROWTH in any of the characters
Also Cals apology for kind of helping Ryan ruin Kathleen’s career isn’t enough tbh.
He’s like sorry for not saying anything 🥺 yk like i had to save my career because what else was i supposed to so and she’s like yeh fs it’s fine love you too btw.
To sum this book up
- No one really grew as characters
- The characters are plain
- No ones good at apologizing
- Cal isn’t a good book boyfriend
- Kathleen was a kind of shitty person
- Harriet was okayish but also kind of a shitty friend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Body shaming, and Cursing
Minor: Antisemitism, Eating disorder, and Child abuse
ktkeps's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Infidelity
hazelgirl21's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment and Bullying
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Infidelity
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
This one is for the pop girlies! I absolutely loved this book I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I found this to be a much stronger and more compelling novel than Funny You Should Ask. This book has all the vibes of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s breakup circa 2003. I loved Kathleen and Cal- individually and together. I easily found myself rooting for their reunion. I appreciated that Elissa Sussman did Kathleen character right by providing context to her career fallout and the injustice of it all. I think the barriers and baggage that Cal and Kathleen had to work through and overcome were really realistic. Same for the friendship between Kathleen and Harriet. I highly recommend that everyone grab this book!
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Bullying
Moderate: Physical abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Eating disorder and Body shaming
rachelshubin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Once More With Feeling was HIGH on my radar this year because of how much I loved Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask. I was let down and I am sad to say it! That won’t stop me from reading her future work though - but I won’t be buying a hard copy of the book like I often do with ARCs that I love.
What I liked: I like the dual/tri-fold timeline of past and present, but I really wish we had gotten Cal’s perspective instead of just Kathleen. I liked the Jewish representation. My favorite character was her cat, (Gefilte) Fish. I love the cover art and how it matches her first book! Also the open door romance scenes were well done, but I just wasn’t feeling either character so overall it underwhelmed me.
What didn’t work for me: I think the whole theatre plot wasn’t my vibe. Kathleen was a flawed narrator, and kind of a walking mess of a person. She did NOT communicate her feelings well to any character, especially Cal. And honestly her friendship with Harriet was not believable to me - mostly because of their fights. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone…which is a problematic feeling when you’re reading a book you want to love. It was really easy for me to put the book down and not want to come back to it. I thought the plot and character development was all over the place and the big secret that “ended” Katee’s career that is continually alluded to, isn’t really revealed soon enough. The book has a lot of conflict that is resolved in the last 10% of the story and that’s too rushed for me as a reader. Also I found myself annoyed at Kathleen’s miscommunication/inability to be direct.
Bottomline: This book just didn’t work for me and if you’re a huge fan of Sussman’s latest adult book - you’re either going to love it or feel let down like I was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
What I liked: I like the dual/tri-fold timeline of past and present, but I really wish we had gotten Cal’s perspective instead of just Kathleen. I liked the Jewish representation. My favorite character was her cat, (Gefilte) Fish. I love the cover art and how it matches her first book! Also the open door romance scenes were well done, but I just wasn’t feeling either character so overall it underwhelmed me.
What didn’t work for me: I think the whole theatre plot wasn’t my vibe. Kathleen was a flawed narrator, and kind of a walking mess of a person. She did NOT communicate her feelings well to any character, especially Cal. And honestly her friendship with Harriet was not believable to me - mostly because of their fights. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone…which is a problematic feeling when you’re reading a book you want to love. It was really easy for me to put the book down and not want to come back to it. I thought the plot and character development was all over the place and the big secret that “ended” Katee’s career that is continually alluded to, isn’t really revealed soon enough. The book has a lot of conflict that is resolved in the last 10% of the story and that’s too rushed for me as a reader. Also I found myself annoyed at Kathleen’s miscommunication/inability to be direct.
Bottomline: This book just didn’t work for me and if you’re a huge fan of Sussman’s latest adult book - you’re either going to love it or feel let down like I was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
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