REVIEW: Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

In Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman, Kathleen Rosenberg might be looked at as a washed-out has-been in her mid-thirties, but there was a time in her late teens to early twenties that she was a worldwide pop star–aka, Katee Rose. Her secret dream all the way back to early childhood, though, was to be a Broadway star. And now as an adult, Kathleen somehow has the chance to fulfill that goal. But of course, there’s a catch. Isn’t there always? Her career will be firmly in the hands of director and choreographer Cal Kirby if she agrees to star in her BFF Harriet’s musical, Riveted!. Unfortunately, Cal, one of the former members of the huge boy band CrushZone, was a big part of why Kathleen’s career took a nosedive back in the day after they had a steamy night together…while she was dating Ryan, Cal’s bandmate.

‘My brain and my body were not in agreement over how to handle Cal. My brain wanted to keep him at arm’s length. My body… Well. It wanted to handle him. Carnally.
My body was an idiot.’

The chemistry Kathleen and Cal noticed the first time they met at theater camp in their mid-teens is still blazing away so many years later. Which makes it difficult for her to focus on doing her best first during the audition and then the workshops that follow. But Kathleen is determined to make her closest friend Harriet’s musical a success. And to finally let go of her hard feelings against Cal. Once she tries to form a working friendship with him and their days rehearsing become long and exhausting, Kathleen longs for a chance at more than being friends with Cal. But if they give in, will it harm their careers again? Or even the show? Or will it turn out to be the best thing they’ve ever done?

“Everyone is going to think I slept with you to get this job,” I said.
“Probably,” he said. “Until they see you perform. Then they’ll know the truth.”
“Which is?”
“That this is where you’ve always belonged,” he said.
I didn’t know if he meant the stage or his arms, but it didn’t matter. Both were true. Now, and forever.

Set in the frenetic theater district in NYC with a dual timeline that made this a bittersweet, nostalgic–but thoroughly satisfying–read, ONCE MORE WITH FEELING was another winner by Elissa Sussman.

‘I didn’t like how aggressively I was careening between feelings of complete resentment and knee-knocking lust. Neither was helpful, both simultaneously was even worse.’

Content Warning: View Spoiler »Cheating, marginalized female(s). « Hide Spoiler

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING was an absolute blast of a second chance romance. But even more than that, it was filled with laughter, terrific friendships that changed over the years–which we got to see in that dual timeline–and a love of dance and music which carried three characters through everything life threw at them. And where I’ve not read too many novels set in the theater world, let alone on Broadway, it was so very easy to get completely immersed in the hectic behind the scenes moments with our talented cast.

The story itself was told from Kathleen’s POV, both present day and in the flashback chapters. I really thought Elissa Sussman was clever (and smart!) in how she wove those moments in from Kathleen, Cal, and Harriet’s past–particularly the one at the very end of the book. *swoon* Without giving spoilers, I can say that the trio forged a friendship at theater camp in their mid-teens. Kathleen soon became a world-famous pop princess (dubbed Katee Rose) while Cal was one-fifth of a hugely successful boy band. Harriet was on her own journey to becoming a lyricist and musician. Until it all fell apart for Kathleen, aka Katee, and subsequently for Harriet.

To say there was a lot of animosity between Cal and Kathleen was putting it mildly. And rightly so on both of their parts, in my humble opinion. Working together on Harriet’s musical Riveted! was the steppingstone to put the past behind Kathleen and Cal as well as acknowledge that their attraction hadn’t faded well over a decade later. It was messy and complicated. It had the potential to ruin their careers–well, more so Kathleen’s…again–as well as harm the musical’s chances for getting picked up on Broadway. But did our couple give it a shot? Yes. They eventually did. And it was everything.

QOTD: Have you ever been to a Broadway show? If so, what did you see?

Book Info:

Publication: May 30th, 2023 | Dell |

A former pop star finds herself back in the spotlight–along with an old flame from her past–in this “friends to lovers” meets “enemies to lovers” romance from the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask.

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. Katee 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, Katee 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?