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gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Body shaming
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pedophilia, Infidelity, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness
amyvl93's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a weirdly addictive reading experience for me; is it a masterpiece? Nope. But there's something about Sussman's writing that had me eating Once More with Feeling up.
Loosely inspired (it seems) on Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake; Once More with Feeling is a second-chance romance/enemies-to-lovers story following Kathleen Rosenberg who once performed as teen favourite Katee Rose, before breaking up with her boyfriend Ryan the lead singer of a boyband after cheating on him with Cal another member of the group and being thrown to the tabloid dogs. Many years later, Kathleen and Cal are thrown together again when he signs on to direct the musical that is Kathleen's chance to achieve her childhood dream.
As someone who loves musicals, I was probably pre-disposed to enjoy a book that is set backstage and contains loads of references to musicals and I enjoyed how unapologetic it was in even the most niche references.
It was blindingly obvious how the story was going to work out from the beginning of the novel, and most of the supporting characters aren't hugely well developed but either way I enjoyed myself reading this. I did feel that Cal didn't quite do enough reckoning with the past of his and Kathleen's relationship, however, he was a fairly inoffensive male romantic lead and I liked how into Kathleen he was. I enjoyed Kathleen as a character, her self-assuredness felt quite refreshing.
This was a fun time!
Loosely inspired (it seems) on Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake; Once More with Feeling is a second-chance romance/enemies-to-lovers story following Kathleen Rosenberg who once performed as teen favourite Katee Rose, before breaking up with her boyfriend Ryan the lead singer of a boyband after cheating on him with Cal another member of the group and being thrown to the tabloid dogs. Many years later, Kathleen and Cal are thrown together again when he signs on to direct the musical that is Kathleen's chance to achieve her childhood dream.
As someone who loves musicals, I was probably pre-disposed to enjoy a book that is set backstage and contains loads of references to musicals and I enjoyed how unapologetic it was in even the most niche references.
It was blindingly obvious how the story was going to work out from the beginning of the novel, and most of the supporting characters aren't hugely well developed but either way I enjoyed myself reading this. I did feel that Cal didn't quite do enough reckoning with the past of his and Kathleen's relationship, however, he was a fairly inoffensive male romantic lead and I liked how into Kathleen he was. I enjoyed Kathleen as a character, her self-assuredness felt quite refreshing.
This was a fun time!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Eating disorder
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
savvyrosereads's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Katee Rose was a pop sensation—but then a mistake imploded her career. Now, she’s Kathleen Rosenberg, and she finally has the chance to achieve her Broadway dreams…if she can work with the man who once blew up her whole life.
This book just GOT ME. Elissa Sussman’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and the way she used all of the tropes and themes in this one was so captivating and fun. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself the entire time. In particular, I LOVE how Kathleen is unapologetic about how much she wants the spotlight—a refreshing change of pace from the usual pop star narrative we see in fiction. Also, I’m obsessed with the camp flashback scenes and honestly need someone to write an entire YA theater camp romance right now because, yes. (This probably already exists…if it does and you know about it PLEASE TELL ME.)
I’m frankly not usually a huge second chance romance girlie, but this one handled the trope SO WELL—the characters actually had the chance to really develop their relationship in the “first” timeline, there were legitimate reasons it didn’t/couldn’t work (i.e. not just a frustrating miscommunication), and their reunion felt believable and demonstrated real growth. I want all second chance romances to be like this!
Also, there’s a cat named Gefilte Fish, and honestly that alone should be enough to get you to pick up this book.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: second chance/sort-of-childhood-friends-to-lovers; Broadway/musical theater; plot-and-character-driven hybrids
CW: Misogyny/sexism/body shaming; infidelity
Katee Rose was a pop sensation—but then a mistake imploded her career. Now, she’s Kathleen Rosenberg, and she finally has the chance to achieve her Broadway dreams…if she can work with the man who once blew up her whole life.
This book just GOT ME. Elissa Sussman’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and the way she used all of the tropes and themes in this one was so captivating and fun. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself the entire time. In particular, I LOVE how Kathleen is unapologetic about how much she wants the spotlight—a refreshing change of pace from the usual pop star narrative we see in fiction. Also, I’m obsessed with the camp flashback scenes and honestly need someone to write an entire YA theater camp romance right now because, yes. (This probably already exists…if it does and you know about it PLEASE TELL ME.)
I’m frankly not usually a huge second chance romance girlie, but this one handled the trope SO WELL—the characters actually had the chance to really develop their relationship in the “first” timeline, there were legitimate reasons it didn’t/couldn’t work (i.e. not just a frustrating miscommunication), and their reunion felt believable and demonstrated real growth. I want all second chance romances to be like this!
Also, there’s a cat named Gefilte Fish, and honestly that alone should be enough to get you to pick up this book.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: second chance/sort-of-childhood-friends-to-lovers; Broadway/musical theater; plot-and-character-driven hybrids
CW: Misogyny/sexism/body shaming; infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexism, Misogyny, and Infidelity
analenegrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Her acknowledgments started off by saying, "There are few things more tragic than a theater kid who can't sing, dance, or act" and as a former (barely) theater kid who can't sing AT ALL, I felt that, and this book, so much.
I loved Kathleen and Cal's relationship, especially because I love second-chance romances and celeb romances. Both felt very real and complicated, which I love in characters. Harriet also felt very real, and that third-act fight scene felt necessary to me for Harriet and Kathleen to continue their adult friendship.
My criticisms are few but include disliking how Rachel James was written and some of the strange language used. Rachel James was a clear and not great character based on Lea Michele to some extent, and I think a character like that has to be written with some nuance. Women like Lea and Rachel is written are a bit more complicated than Sussman writes here, and it feels like some internalized misogyny to make this character consistently villainous without a particular reason. My language issue came with how Kathleen would talk at times, especially about her body. At times it felt like internalized misogyny from Sussman but also just awkward, like when Kathleen says Breasts during sex with Cal; women just don't really call them that, in my experience.
All-in-all, a great and fun read!
I loved Kathleen and Cal's relationship, especially because I love second-chance romances and celeb romances. Both felt very real and complicated, which I love in characters. Harriet also felt very real, and
My criticisms are few but include disliking how Rachel James was written and some of the strange language used. Rachel James was a clear and not great character based on Lea Michele to some extent, and I think a character like that has to be written with some nuance. Women like Lea and Rachel is written are a bit more complicated than Sussman writes here, and it feels like some internalized misogyny to make this character consistently villainous without a particular reason. My language issue came with how Kathleen would talk at times, especially about her body. At times it felt like internalized misogyny from Sussman but also just awkward, like when Kathleen says Breasts during
All-in-all, a great and fun read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
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