A review by beanie_bob
Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

funny lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This was on the cusp of 3.5/5⭐️ but I don’t believe I was the most compatible reader for this book. I like some musicals, but it’s not one of my  passions. I think theater fans would be more likely to enjoy! It was just okay for me.

The thing that worked best for me in Once More with Feeling was the tension and slow(ish) burn between Kathleen and Cal throughout their lives. I think the author did a great job establishing a very specific but believable enemies to lovers scenario. I understand that Kathleen holds resentment from how the media, and everyone, including Cal, treated her when her career blew up. At the same time, I see how Cal’s been harboring heartache all the while, and covering it up with frustration when they have to work together. Nicely done.

The next best element was the backstory of Cal and Kathleen (or Katee Rose) as teen pop idols. Honestly, so much more my thing. There are some interesting thoughts lightly touched upon here about child stardom, double standards, and the fake-ness of fame. Their initial interactions in this time are also very sweet.

Actually, after the 50% mark I was feeling hopeful for a 3.5⭐️, maybe even leaning towards a 4⭐️. But a few things held me back, especially in the third act. Mainly with how Harriet and Kathleen’s friendship is handled, but there is a particular Romance Book Thing that stuck out to me as well and some issues with the ‘antagonists’ (if you can call them that) in this book. Spoilers below!
  • There’s a third act break up. Which isn’t a hard no for me, but it really made me feel like Kathleen hadn’t learned her lesson at all? I understand it’s to protect Harriet (who will reappear on this list) but it all seems like too much of a repeat of the past. She’s in therapy, she’s an adult, she has literally been there done that. So…why break up when you can just talk like grown ups?
  • The fight between Kathleen and Harriet needed to happen much earlier, if it was going to happen at all. Instead Kathleen just keeps telling herself ‘I need to value my friendship with Harriet more’ while doing nothing. Then, in the fight they say some really terrible things to each other. I understand why Harriet was upset (Kathleen lied and broke a promise) but she really went for the old wounds and slut shamed Kathleen. Then Kathleen doubled down and implied that Harriet was nothing without her. They were intentionally hurting each other. Both these ladies are supposedly in therapy...
  • Rachel, the mean girl from camp, drops off in the middle of the book, never to be seen from again. Even though she’s sleeping with the producer and actively trying to steal Kathleen’s role. Imagine her as a less developed version of the mean girl from Camp Rock.
  • Ex-boyfriend Ryan comes back into the story in the present for almost no reason? I don’t know, I guess to give Kathleen closure via the satisfaction of turning him down.
  • I feel like Harriet’s characterization overall was off. I started out really liking her, then I something about the gumbo+movie night scene pulled me out of the story. The only black character is from Harlem and cooks gumbo. On the one hand, good for her - Harlem is historically black, and gumbo is divine (sincerely, one of my favorite foods). On the other hand…this feels cliche? Stereotypical? I dunno, just made me question some things.
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