First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if, instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

The Rules:

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
• Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

“‘I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!’ Lena shouted, before running up the stairs and slamming her door. 

Over the years, I’d compiled a lengthy list of reasons of why it truly f***ing sucked to be the widowed mother of a teen girl, but at the top of the list was being unable to turn to Spencer right now and ask: ‘Do you think she means it?’”

Oof, this is a heavy start for a romance, but it has so much potential. I’m excited for it.

Do you recognize the lines?

Here’s a hint:

This is an upcoming romance novel.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint:

It’s written by Elissa Sussman.

The First Lines Friday book is:

Totally and Completely Fine.

About the Book:

• Title: Totally and Completely Fine
• Author: Elissa Sussman
• Page Length: 432 pages
• Publication Date: July 8, 2025
• Publisher: Dell

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask comes an inspiring romance novel about honoring the past, living in the present, and loving for the future.

In her small Montana hometown, Lauren Parker has assumed a few different roles: teenage hellraiser; sister of superstar Gabe Parker; and most recently, tragically widowed single mother. She’s never cared much about labels or what people thought about her, but dealing with her grief has slowly revealed that she’s become adrift in her own life.

Then she meets the devilishly handsome actor Ben Walsh on the set of her brother’s new movie. They have instant chemistry, and Lauren realizes that it has been far too long since someone has really and truly seen her. Her rebellious spirit spurs her to dive headfirst into her desire, but when a sexy encounter becomes something more, Lauren finds herself balancing old roles and new possibilities.

There’s still plenty to contend with: small-town rumors, the complications of Ben’s fame, and her daughter’s unpredictable moods. An unexpected fling seemed simple at the time—so when did everything with Ben get so complicated? And is there enough room in her life for the woman Lauren wants to be? Alternating between Lauren’s past with Spencer and her present with Ben, Totally and Completely Fine illuminates what it means to find a life-changing love and be true to oneself in the process.

Links: Goodreads     

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