Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

15 reviews

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.5

This was my second read by this author and I certainly enjoyed it more than the first. This author lives featuring Jewish protagonists, and I love that this diversity is being included in such mainstream romance novels. 

I love how this follows Cal, Katherine and Harriet from meeting at theatre camp to accomplishing their biggest dreams, all interconnected by music.  

It deals with rocky relationships (of all types), heartbreak, trauma at the hands of the media and more. Although this made for an interesting plot, and was certainly more engaging than Elissa’s other book, it still left me in a slump. 

The theatre and musical background was preferable to the enemies to lovers interviewer and washed up actor of Elissas other book. 

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gwenswoons's review against another edition

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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


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amberinpieces's review against another edition

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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


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savvyrosereads's review

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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

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wormgirl's review

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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rebecca_arielle's review against another edition

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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

3.0


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hollymileham's review

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emotional funny 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

4.0

the blurb says this book is perfect for lovers of boybands, musical theatre and second chance romance and it was so right. my one gripe is that i dont always love the trope of the past pov section of the book, but i did like how it was handled in this scenario

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stormeno's review against another edition

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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


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laheath's review

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hopeful 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

3.5

Enjoyable second-chance/enemies to lovers/slow burn romance centered around 2 former pop stars, and a mutual friend, who are trying to get a musical on Broadway.  Now that they're adults, they can reflect on how the industry changed them and then decide who they really want to be.  Nothing particularly wrong with this book, except a weak female lead and a rushed ending.  

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summerslittlelibrary's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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