Book Review: Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
If you are a fan of small-town romance with a hint of Hollywood, you will enjoy Totally and Complete Fine by Elissa Sussman. If you want to bask in a slow-burn romance between single mom and crafty girl Lauren and Ben, an actor with an Irish accent and a kind heart, AND if you enjoyed Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman (Gabe and Chani are back), then read it!
What’s It About?
Lauren lives in the small Montana town where she grew up, helping to run a bookstore and crafty space. She is a talented cook and craft-artist, and she’s navigating life as a single parent to a moody, yet sweet 13-year-old daughter. She’s still learning to live with the grief of losing her husband and childhood sweetheart, Spencer, while also trying to figure out what is next in her life—does she want to change her career, stay in her small town and is she ready to fall in love again?
Photo by Michael Bourgault on Unsplash
Lauren’s brother Gabe is a famous actor (MMC of Funny You Should Ask) who is bringing live theatre to their small town and more importantly, his co-star, Ben. A handsome young actor on the rise who brings a hint of an Irish accent and an open heart—enter Ben Walsh. I loved Ben as a romantic hero; he was honest, open, kind, and understanding. He was vulnerable while also being sexy as hell.
Accepting Help is My Love Language
Tell me why I had to stop reading the book before I fainted when Ben offers to fix Lauren’s broken step. Swoon! He’s a man who’s good with his hands and a hammer.
“He moved closer to me. Brushed hair away from my face.
“Let me fix your step, Lauren.” he said.”
Squealing and kicking my feet. This is peak romance when you’re a single mom like me who has to always change her own batteries in my smoke alarms (LOL).
My Thoughts
The trajectory of the romance was the perfect pace for me and felt like a love story that lived in the real world—no insta-love here, just a (kind of) slow burn romance with some real-world obstacles and delicious tension. Lauren’s story was compelling, as it flashed between Then and Now. During “Then,” Lauren was falling in love with Spencer (brother’s best friend) and dealing with the death of her father.
While romantic, the book had some serious themes of dealing with grief as Lauren is processing the death of her father (Then) and her husband and love of her life (Now) and slut-shaming that Lauren experienced in high school. Lauren also helps her daughter navigate how and when to come out on her own terms and first love. Ben is navigating his rising fame and how it affects his life, including the media’s interest in his bisexual orientation and the loss of his mom.
“Then” chapters helped make sense of “Now.” They shed light on Lauren’s doubts about going all-in on a new high-profile romance with Ben while living in a small town, with gossip and judgment always lurking nearby. Lauren's processing of grief hit me in the feels (it was cathartic) as someone who is dealing with the loss of my dad.
Single Mom Life
As a single mom, I am critical of how single mothers are portrayed, but the good news is: I felt like this book showed a multi-faceted perspective of mom life with the added challenges of solo parenting (including how much emotional energy it takes).
Fan Casting for the Inevitable Film
I can totally imagine Henry Golding as Ben Walsh. Who would you cast for Lauren?
Funny You Should Ask is being adapted into a film. Seated with popcorn please!
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Tropes/genre: contemporary romance, rom-com, small town romance, single mom, brother’s best friend, queer romance, dual timeline
