Once More with Feeling

A Novel

By: Elissa Sussman

Narrated by: Jaime Lamchick

“As fun and frothy as a Britney concert mashed up with a musical comedy . . . warm, engrossing, and satisfying in every way.”—Entertainment Weekly

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).

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Entertainment Weekly, NPR, PopSugar

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?

Critic reviews

“Once More With Feeling is as fun and frothy as a Britney [Spears] concert mashed up with a musical comedy. . . . There’s no need to do it once more, as the book is already brimming with plenty of feeling—warm, engrossing, and satisfying in every way.”—Entertainment Weekly

“I’m a huge admirer of Elissa Sussman. Once More with Feeling delivers a pitch-perfect second chance romance with off-the-charts tension and chemistry. Elissa’s deep love of pop culture and the arts makes every page sparkle.”—Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

“This book is catnip for those of us who love boybands, musical theater, and second chances at first love. Written with humor and a fan's eye for adoration, Elissa Sussman has given us another hit.”—Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow

“Once More with Feeling is the angsty, sexy backstage romance of my dreams. Elissa Sussman elegantly weaves the threads of past and present into a love story that’s impossible to put down.”—Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood

“Once More with Feeling puts romantic tension and juicy celebrity drama centerstage. Elissa Sussman expertly crafts the love story of two artists set across three timelines, building to a powerful finish worthy of a standing ovation. This stellar romance has all the passion, energy, and showstopping moments of a real Broadway musical.”—Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved

“Elissa Sussman has given a gift to all of us theater nerds and boy band obsessives. Smart and sexy, infused with crackling chemistry, Once More with Feeling deserves an enthusiastic round of applause. I devoured it in a day.”—Laura Hankin, author of Happy & You Know It

“Sussman . . . dazzles in this smart second-chance romance. . . . Her leads are complex, appealing, and multilayered, and the perfectly paced plot offers real insight into celebrity culture and media slut-shaming. Sussman’s first-rate latest will please her existing fans and win her many new ones.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A winning second-chance romance that’s fun, steamy, and full of crackling chemistry.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Elissa Sussman returns with another dual timeline celebrity romance that explores the pressure cooker of fame and the gift of growing older and wise. . . . Kathleen and Cal’s evolution as a couple is refreshingly complex.”—BookPage

Just ok

I really had to muscle through the first part of this book because the main character was so insufferable and not in a way that made me feel for her in any way. The rest of the book is fine. Performance is stellar.

Eh

The excessive use of: I said/ he said/she said/whatever name said… annoyed the hell out of me and kept distracting me. I feel like the books editor should’ve cleared and brushed some of those out. This book overall just felt like a big “meh.” I’m disappointed to feel this way because I really loved “Funny You Should Ask” when I read it last year.

As I continued the story, I felt like not much was happening in the both present and past timelines.
The tropes and plot were all potentially there….just executed poorly.

Theatre Lovers Will Love this

The theatre references in this book were top tier!! It was just hard to follow at times

Loved it!

The plot really pulled me in and I loved the characters. Can’t wait to see what Elissa Susanna writes next.

super enjoyable

The story was a bit bland in the beginning, but from chapter 30ish, it was great