Simone and Her Books

As the title suggests, this one was totally and completely fine.

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman came to me randomly. I was in the middle of finishing up a romantasy series and I knew I had to take a break from the fantasy. I’d read Funny You Should Ask a few years back and absolutely loved it, so when I saw this book would follow Gabe Parker’s sister and her sorted love connection, I knew this would be the perfect escape for a little while.

And it turned out to be such a great escape. Honestly, if you’re looking for a relaxing romance with a little bit of that grief talk, then this one is for you. While I read this in the comfort of my home, I could imagine myself at the beach or by the pool with this one beside me. It wasn’t the most challenging story to read and it had some themes to keep me interested.

The story follows Lauren, a 40-something widower who is just trying to stay sane. With a teenage daughter, a small business, and a brother who flits in and out of her small town when not making it big in Hollywood, Lauren’s life lacks just one thing; love. It’s only been three years since her husband tragically passed away and for the most part, no one’s really caught her eye. That is until she visits her brother in Philadelphia and meets his handsome costar Ben Walsh; a British actor who’s claim to fame is a YA-retelling of Sense and Sensibility.

The most intriguing component to this story was reading about a middle aged woman who has lost the love of her life and looking to figure out life after love. With a dual timeline from before and after her husband’s death, there’s an interesting juxtaposition on who Lauren used to be and who Lauren is now. You see the wild child who had multiple partners and barely graduated from high school and then you see the charismatic mother who is doing her best.

It’s the same person, but two very views and what Elissa Sussman conveys here is how love can change us; how we’re molded into being by the people we choose to surround ourselves with. How grief takes us to a different place and maybe even how love can bring us back to who we used to be. I loved Lauren’s portrayal here. She’s messy and an overthinker, considerate and logical. She thinks not only for herself, but for her daughter as well and that shapes a person.

The story does fall short, though. Her relationship with Ben felt a little surface-level, which surprised me when she said she was falling for him. There were also some themes introduced that weren’t deeper explored making me wonder why they were added in the first place. But the book was still enjoyable, the characters were interesting, and it took my mind off my busy schedule.