Something about Sussman’s writing is so very addictive to me, so I was drawn in by the chemistry and complex storyline… even if there were a lot of things that felt toxic and messy to me. I didn’t particularly like either character and I had trouble rooting for their relationship, but I was intrigued by the multiple timelines and slow reveal of their dynamic. Seeing the contrasts between their former and present selves was really interesting, and Sussman does a great job weaving a memorable, immersive story. It’s got some excellent commentary on pop culture and fame, and I liked how the characters had taken their time to find their authentic selves. However – and this is a big however – there were a LOT of things that drove me crazy, particularly in the first half. It really did feel toxic, and I was not emotionally connected to the romance in any way. I was curious, but I was not invested. And I probably would’ve left this one unfinished had I not loved Funny You Should Ask so much. So definite mixed feelings from me.
The story follows Kathleen, a former pop star who is hoping to have her second big break. Back in the day, she wore a bubbly, friendly persona and was on top of the world. But her career came to a devastating and swift end when the public discovered that she cheated on her universally adored boyfriend with a member of his own boy band. Nothing ruins a reputation quite like that, and Kathleen’s career has never recovered. Years later, she’s up for the lead in a new musical production, and the only major obstacle in her way is the man who played a role in her demise. Cal and Kathleen have been dancing around each other for years, and they’ve never liked each other less than they do now. Through flashbacks and scenes in present day, we piece together the complex nature of their relationship.
Let’s talk about the good for a minute, because there definitely is some. I love how multi-faceted Sussman’s characters are, and how they all act in shades of gray. Kathleen might not be the most likable heroine, but she certainly makes an interesting one. I also liked the use of flashbacks to tell the full story, though there were a lot of moving parts and slow reveals. Their chemistry was excellent. But here’s the thing. There were two elements that drove me crazy, and they overrode everything else. First, Kathleen. Not only did she get a bad reputation for cheating on her boyfriend with the hero, but she’s genuinely a nasty person throughout most of the book, and she repeatedly acts in ways that I just couldn’t get behind. The story is told exclusively from her point of view, so it’s difficult to become emotionally invested in a romance when you don’t like the main character or her actions. Secondly, the writing itself was a problem, particularly the use of the word “said.” I listened to the audiobook for Funny You Should Ask, so maybe that made Sussman’s writing style more palatable for me, but the EXTREMELY frequent use of “said” was noticeable from the start in Once More With Feeling, and once it jumped out to me I couldn’t ignore it. I actually had an ARC copy, but I waited to write my review until I saw the finished version, just to give it the benefit of the doubt. But my Kindle wouldn’t even count high enough to cover all of the instances of “said” – it just noted “1,000+” mentions. Checking two other contemporary romance books of a similar length, each had around 250 mentions of the word. That’s… a significant difference. So, not only was I not loving the romance, but the writing/editing also grated on me. And that’s not the recipe for a successful read. I do think there’s a lot of good stuff going on in this, but it’s overshadowed by some of the more troublesome elements.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MKyi81
Blurb:
From the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask comes “a pitch-perfect second chance romance with off-the-charts tension and chemistry” (Carley Fortune, author of Every Summer After).
Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans, and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that’s why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who’s always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smoldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee’s relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life.
Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal Kirby shows up with the opportunity of her dreams—a starring role in the Broadway show he’s directing and a chance to perform, the way she’s always wanted. The two haven’t spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other, making their reunion a tense battle of wits and egos. Kathleen reluctantly agrees to the musical, as long as she keeps her guard up around Cal. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smolder, and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Kathleen can’t deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you’ve been burned in the past?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MKyi81
I loved Funny You Should Ask!
While I may not have loved Sussman’s sophomore effort, I devoured her debut. It even made my Best of the Year list! You can read the books in either order, they’re standalones.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A restless young journalist with big dreams interviews a Hollywood heartthrob—and reunites with him ten years later to discover exactly how he feels about her in this sexy and engrossing novel
Then. Twenty-something writer Chani Horowitz is stuck. While her former MFA classmates are nabbing high-profile book deals, all she does is churn out puff pieces. Then she’s hired to write a profile of movie star Gabe Parker: her number one celebrity crush and the latest James Bond. All Chani wants to do is keep her cool and nail the piece. But what comes next proves to be life changing in ways she never saw coming, as the interview turns into a whirlwind weekend that has the tabloids buzzing—and Chani getting closer to Gabe than she had planned.
Now. Ten years later, after a brutal divorce and a healthy dose of therapy, Chani is back in Los Angeles as a successful writer with the career of her dreams. Except that no matter what new essay collection or online editorial she’s promoting, someone always asks about The Profile. It always comes back to Gabe. So when his PR team requests that they reunite for a second interview, she wants to say no. She wants to pretend that she’s forgotten about the time they spent together. But the truth is that Chani wants to know if those seventy-two hours were as memorable to Gabe as they were to her. And so . . . she says yes.
Alternating between their first meeting and their reunion a decade later, this deliciously irresistible novel will have you hanging on until the last word.
Read the audiobook review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q72ZnH
About the Author:
Elissa Sussman is the author of the novel, FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK, as well as the young adult novels, DRAWN THAT WAY, STRAY, and BURN.
She has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, a MFA from Pacific University, and in a previous life managed animators and organized spreadsheets at some of the best animation studios in the world, including Nickelodeon, Disney, Dreamworks and Sony Imageworks. You can see her name in the credits of THE CROODS, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG and TANGLED.
She lives in her hometown of Los Angeles with her husband and their two dogs, Basil and Mozzarella.
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