The story of Cassidy and her sudden rise to stardom as part of a hugely successful girl group had a little bit of everything - #metoo, abusive relationship, drug use, eating disorders, slimy executive heads, etc. - and that is it’s problem. There wasn’t a Hollywood clique left unused, making this book a little too melodramatic for my taste.

While I understand the comparison of THE UNRAVELING OF CASSIDY HOLMES to DAISY JONES & THE SIX (I would definitely put these on a music-themed or women-in-music themed fiction list together, for instance) I think it does this book a disservice when it comes to reader expectations. They're set in different time periods (70's vs early oo's) written in different structures (oral history vs. multiple perspective) and have very different vibes overall. This one started out really strong, but lost me it a couple of ways: 1. It was drawn out too long, building up tons of suspense early on, then letting it lag beyond the point of interest. Several plot points were over-hyped (the fate of Cassidy's boyfriend) while others were introduced and then fell flat (a sinister stalker who ended up having more bark than bite.) I didn't love the way mental health, eating disorders, and sexual assault were handled (not necessarily problematic, but also not given the depth of attention they deserved) and the ending was a real disappointment (I'm not anti open endings, but when we get next to no real answers, that's annoying.) If you enjoy early aughts nostalgia, girl groups, and behind the scenes drama, this is worth a read, but be prepared for some unneveness in execution.

If you've read celebrity memoirs and the like, you know that there's usually more going on behind a shiny, happy facade. The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes drives that home, giving readers the look behind the lives of a onetime (fictional) superstar pop "girl group". Early on readers learn that (trigger warning) Cassidy, the reclusive former "Sassy" member of Gloss, has died by suicide. In flashbacks from Cassidy's point of view we see her, and the group's ascension to fame and the heartbreaks, abuse, and challenges that came alongside it. Honestly, it's the kind of story that made me furious for all those young and famous who are taken advantage of by powerful people who exploit them for financial gain. This might be fiction but it calls out so many of the problems with ignoring the mental health of those in the spotlight. Really excellent debut.

“Everything about Gloss had made my dreams come true—and ruined my life all in the same fell swoop.”

Do you love music themed fiction? Are you 30ish and grew up with late 90s/ early 2000s pop music and pop culture? Do you like complex stories about strong, complicated women? Then I have a book for you!

Debut author Elissa Sloan’s The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is the perfect mix of fun, cultural nostalgia, a touch of wish fulfillment, and a mystery that gradually unfolds and keeps your mind working and your fingers flipping the pages. You’ll be sucked in on a lighter bubble gum pop taste but stay for the bite. This a book that in less talented hands could’ve been mediocre chick lit but instead straddles the line between literary fiction and mystery. It worked so, so well for me. Fun, but with a depth that brought things deeper.

At the start of the book we meet the present day women of former girl group Gloss. Or at least, three of them. They’re at a radio station promoting a quick cameo in an upcoming movie. It’s immediately apparently that Yumi- aka Tasty, Meredith aka Cherry, and Rose aka Rosy, do not get along. Then suddenly the interview is interrupted with the announcement that Cassidy, Sassy, Holmes, the band’s fourth member has passed away. What follows from here is a dual time frame story where we follow Cassidy’s own rise from reality singing competition to Sassy Gloss while alternating between the other three Gloss members in the present day as they try to piece together what really happened to Cassidy, since each member has reason to believe they are the one who really knew her best.

As I mentioned, at least initially, there’s this level of wish fulfillment where we watch the Gloss girls’ meteoric rise to fame. I remember reading teen magazines and arguing with friends of which Spice Girl we would each dress as for the school talent show. Who of my generation didn’t at least fleeting entertain superstardom, especially as part of a group with your friends? And there’s definite similarities between the Spice Girls and Gloss, if that wasn’t already apparent by their cheeky nicknames. But it’s also a book that draws parallels to a lot that was hidden in those days but is beginning to come to light now- the #MeToo movement, the struggles with drugs and mental health and identity that so many young stars end up having. You start to feel not so bad about not making your tweenage pop dreams a success and your heart aches for the dizzying reality so many of these young stars found themselves in so suddenly.

I also loved how the multi-narrator and time like aspects ended up working. The pacing is fantastic and things gradually pull together in just the right way. What’s also great is there isn’t a singular “whodunnit” sort of mystery here. There’s a lot of secrets and each Gloss girl had her own issues and views of things. It’s not easy to pull off a story that’s so propulsive yet never gives away anything too soon. It was a consistently enjoyable experience, and I’d have read the entire book in a single sitting if I’d had the option. But getting to enjoy it all weekend only prolonged the experience in the best way.

I’m calling it a 4.5 because I have a couple of small quibbles about spoilerish type things that happen and whether certain attitudes were truly reflective of the time period but even with that I enjoyed this so one so much. It was exactly the perfect kind of book to see me through an otherwise difficult weekend and one I recommend in general, but especially to anyone who answers yes to my questions in the opening paragraph.

I would love to see this one optioned for a limited series or movie.

And for full disclosure- I do know the author on a casual basis through bookstagram but I’m retry incapable of BSing a review, even if I wanted to, and as much as I admit I was afraid I might dislike my friend’s story- I truly loved it and feel even prouder to know Elissa. She worked on hard on this and it shows. Grab yourself a copy September 1st!

This story drew me right in from the start. The alternating voices of the characters, including the focus of this mystery, Cassidy, kept the pages turning. The behind the scenes narratives of life as a pop star were authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! A fun summer read, and great for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six.

I was engrossed in this book from start to finish and tore through the entire thing in one night. It was fun and juicy, for sure, but it also tackled difficult topics in a necessary, thoughtful way, and left me with an unparalleled amount of nostalgia for the early 2000s music scene.

The only thing I wished was a smidge different was the pacing towards the end — I felt like it dragged a bit. And I felt like the writing did skew more YA/New Adult than Adult, which was by no means bad, but wasn’t what I was expecting.

I also think it’s important to note that while this novel is, in both structure and subject, reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, the two novels are by no means TOO similar. They each hold their own, and have different vibes. I wouldn’t skip this one just because you read Daisy Jones!

Thanks a ton to HarperCollins, Elissa R. Sloan, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel chronicles the lives of four young women who formed a girl band in the early 2000s. Unprepared for fame and fortune, their lives took turns that changed and devastated their lives.

Thanks to Harper-Collins and Netgalley for this eARC for my honest review.

I was first introduced to this book because it was one of BOTM's August picks. In their description, they had compared this debut to Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six. I decided to choose another BOTM book, then immediately regretted it. Hence why I SQUEALED with excitement when I was provided the eARC.

Although I agree that those plots have similarities, I did find The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes had more grit. I appreciated how all featured characters had their own personal journey and problems and contributed to the story's mystery/intrigue unlike the characters in Daisy Jones.

This book covers a TON of serious topics (racism, same-sex love, physical and mental abuse, suicide, sexual harassment, cancer and depression) and does an amazing job not glossing over any topic and keeping them realistic. I think that's why I appreciated the ending so much. Life. Is. Messy. No matter if you're a normal person or a multi-millionaire pop icon under constant spotlight.

Although I did like the non-linear timeline and multiple POVS, there were moments where I did get confused which timeline I was in. I.e. a random news article from the past would be placed in a present chapter, and I had to flip back a few pages to figure out where I was at or why that was there. It all ended up coming together and making sense, but there were just brief moments of confusion.

All in all, I reallllllly enjoyed this book. So, if you're thinking about getting this book, do it! Don't make my initial mistake of skipping out on it.

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes was so hard to put down. I tore through the chapters and wish there was even more. This novel touches on mental health, assault, trauma, and the pressures that fame and fortune can bring. This book is a great readalike for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. This reads kind of like a blend of YA and adult and upper level YA readers will enjoy this look at a girl group from teen stardom to adulthood. I loved that the author wrote chapters in each girl's voice and let us see the behind the scenes from several different perspectives. This is a beach read with an extra side of thoughtful commentary on what we expect from women in the spotlight and how they're treated once they achieve fame.

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six.

Cassidy loves to sing, she was runner up on the national TV show Sing It, America! After getting second place she returns home in Houston down on her luck when a record agent calls her to ask to audition for a new girl group called Gloss. The group is an instant hit and starts doing world tours.

This book goes between the past and the present with all of the group members of Gloss and the aftermath of Cassidy's suicide.

I read this book because I completely loved Daisy Jones and the Six and this seemed similar. It definitely has the same multiple character viewpoint, story of music band's rise to fame and subsequent fall from favor going on. It's a great read, despite not being quite up on the pedestal that Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels are. It's unique, and the characters are interesting and multi-faceted. Some of the storylines are downright tragic. This book is pretty un-put-down-able. It kept me invested and reading late into the night.

***I received this advance copy form Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.***
If you’re old enough to remember the pop group explosion of the late 90/early 2000’s, the new thrill that came from reality competition shows like American Idol, or the voyeuristic tendencies of Behind the Music, then The Unraveling of Cassidy Jones might be the book for you.
Don’t let its title fool you. Yes, this is the story behind the story of Cassidy’s prematurely fallen star. However, it’s just as much the story of sudden fame that engulfed each member of Gloss, the girl group that catapulted all four girls to stardom.
Cassidy’s tale has perhaps the brightest sheen of sadness, but each girl really had their own demons to overcome. This book highlights how similar experiences with fame can result in very different interpretations of said experiences.
Although the time jumps were executed in a bit of a confusing way, I like how the story allowed you to spend some time with each of the women. In fact, that might be my only real complaint. This wasn’t just the story of Cassidy’s undoing, but rather how fame effected all of them. The detailed story didn’t miss a beat, but the title is somehow, a bit out of tune.

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, mostly because of the peculiar way the author keeps the intrigue element during the whole book. This book mixes a journey towards becoming a pop icon, the glam of the pop world, the negative things that come inevitably with fame, and more sensitive topics such as different kinds of abuse, suicide, drug use, and depression.

The main focus of the book is the rise of Gloss, the biggest pop girl group in the early 2000s, and what events might have lead one of the members (Cassidy “Sassy” Holmes) to commit suicide fifteen years after her abrupt departure of the group. The book jumps between past and present scenes and it’s narrated by Cassidy herself and the other members of Gloss: Merry, Yumi, and Rose.

Cassidy is of course the main character. Her character development was perfectly executed, beginning as an amateur singer from Houston and taking us with her in her path to stardom, which was never easy. She was a lonely, sometimes insecure character, and you see her struggling to figure out her identity and whether she’s the same girl that left Houston to pursue her dreams. In a short period of time, you can see the full sequence of a star being born, thriving, and then going out. If something stood out from this book, it was how the author made it seem as those key elements weren’t that important for Cassidy, until it was too late. It’s a very realistic way of portraying suicide victims. Sometimes you see them going through hard situations and apparently come out stronger, and you miss the warning signs until there’s no going back.

Merry is very lively and probably the most controversial of the group during their entire career. Yumi faces being treated unfairly in comparison to the other Gloss members, and has a hard time at being fetishised by her own fans and the entire industry, which is also racist towards her for her Japanese roots. And Rose… she was the most interesting character in my eyes, coming off as the cold-hearted leader of the group and being especially rude with Cassidy, but also being more complex than she lets on. All of the Gloss girls found a space in my heart quickly and I cared about them and their struggles, messy as they were.

Though it has many characters (something that doesn’t come as a surprise, being a book about the world of fame), they’re all very well-constructed and have a crucial part in how the story unravels. The author made a great job at placing everyone in the right place at the right time, so it’s not hard to get into the story or understand who is who. Almost every single character in Cassidy Holmes is morally gray, and you can’t pin them as saints or devils. They’re very hard to love or hate fully, and that particular detail made the story even more realistic and relatable.

I had never read a story set in the early 2000s, and I got nostalgic because of the setting and the elements that made this story come to life, such as the singers being mentioned, the concerts, costumes, videos, etc. The author does a great job creating the pop scene from those years, which I grew up watching on TV and idolising. Many stories focus on the 60s-80s or in present time often, with the 90s and early 2000s set books coming our way, and the author made the most out of the time where she set her story in.

The way the story was told couldn’t have been better. The present and the past wove together to form a clear full picture, and does wonders for the pace and the mystery/intrigue element. Remember that the purpose of the story is figuring out what led Cassidy to end her life...what was the breaking point, what could’ve been so bad to make her think there was no going back. When you feel like you know everything, one of the girls (during present narration) or a magazine article hints at something that rises the interest of what might happen next in the story, keeping the reader on edge at all times.

What made this story so special to me were the last chapters. The way everything ends is, once again, a perfect reflection on what real life situations similar to this one might be like. The author ends the book on a mysterious note and I kind of felt as if I was left hanging, and though in many cases that’s not good, this time it was brilliant. Cassidy Holmes is a book that will open your eyes and make you reflect on many situations. This book is not here to deliver just one message, but several ones. It’s bold and raw, and definitely needed in the world we’re living in today.

Wow, I LOVED this book. I’ve seen a lot of Daisy Jones comparisons and I will say I enjoyed this one much more than Daisy Jones! This book follows along the rise and fall of the Glossy Girls and specifically Cassy’s story. I loved the different points of view, but also how most of the book was told from Cassy’s perspective. It was really interesting to hear her tell her full story but also get different points of views from the other bandmates sprinkled in. This was a really enjoyable read and I will be thinking about this book for a long time!

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes was a fantastic read and hard to put down. The story begins with three members of the 2000s era girl group Gloss finding out that their fourth member, Cassidy Holmes, is dead. The book goes back and forth between 2017 and 1999-2002, told mostly from the perspective of Cassidy in the past, but also from the other three women in the present. This was reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six in the way that I felt immersed in the behind-the-scenes world of a worldwide pop phenomenon, with all the glitz and grime that goes along with it. I couldn't put down this debut and can't wait to read more from Elissa R. Sloan.

What a wonderful, heartbreaking and well written debut novel! I loved this story of ride to stardom and fall from grace. I love to read celebrity memoirs and authorized articles of celebrities. This felt like reading that. Meet the girls of GLOSS an early 2000s girl group that launched to stardom. There’s: yumi- the smart, sweet, Asian who is beautiful but wants to be known for more than her body; Cassidy- a Texas girl who can sing and in some ways is seeking stardom to prove to everyone that she can make it; Meredith who is beautiful, flirty and fun and who knows she has used in her looks in the past- if you got it flaunt it! And Rose - the founder of the group, the toughest shell but the main heart of Gloss. When stardom hits the fame becomes too much for “sassy” Cassidy and she breaks and breaks up the band. Now decades later and set for a reunion tour Cassidy is found dead of apparent suicide. As the girls reel from the news and the reader is let into the back story We see how far stardom breaks a person. Hard to read at times I absolutely loved this book. Deserves every comparison to Daisy Jones as I had to stop reading at times to remind myself it is fiction. One of the best of 2020! Coming September 1! Thanks to @netgalley and @this_is_edelweiss as well as the author @elissareads and the publisher @williammorrowbooks
What a wonderful, heartbreaking and well written debut novel! I loved this story of ride to stardom and fall from grace. I love to read celebrity memoirs and authorized articles of celebrities. This felt like reading that. Meet the girls of GLOSS an early 2000s girl group that launched to stardom. There’s: yumi- the smart, sweet, Asian who is beautiful but wants to be known for more than her body; Cassidy- a Texas girl who can sing and in some ways is seeking stardom to prove to everyone that she can make it; Meredith who is beautiful, flirty and fun and who knows she has used in her looks in the past- if you got it flaunt it! And Rose - the founder of the group, the toughest shell but the main heart of Gloss. When stardom hits the fame becomes too much for “sassy” Cassidy and she breaks and breaks up the band. Now decades later and set for a reunion tour Cassidy is found dead of apparent suicide. As the girls reel from the news and the reader is let into the back story We see how far stardom breaks a person. Hard to read at times I absolutely loved this book. Deserves every comparison to Daisy Jones as I had to stop reading at times to remind myself it is fiction. One of the best of 2020!

THE UNRAVELING OF CASSIDY HOLMES is a story about the rise and fall of a teen star who joins a pop group after competing in a singing competition on TV. the book is told through multiple perspectives and over several timelines, which made it a little hard for me to get into initially, but then I got into the story and enjoyed it. it’s very much the same feel as DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, but I did like that one a bit more. 3.5/5⭐️—it was good. Out September 1.
▫️
thank you to the publisher @williammorrow and @netgalley for the early copy of this book!

“This isn’t the real world, this is Hollywood .”
If you’re feeling nostalgic for all things aughts, like the T-mobile Sidekick or references to some of the biggest celebrity scandals than this book will hit all the high notes.
Ok, so the writing is SUPER cheesy, but honestly, who cares?? This isn’t serious literature. More Spice Girls than Britney Spears, this book traces the journey of four young women who spring to stardom overnight. My problem with the novel was its lack of originality. Unfortunately for me, this book read very juvenile, even though the heavy subject matter of fat shaming, addiction, depression, domestic abuse & suicide are covered. It’s not too often that a book makes me feel old ( or bored) but this one did. I think this might be a case of wrong reader for the right book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thanks to Harper-Collins and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is the story of Cassidy, who places second in an American Idol-style singing contest and Gloss, the fictional millennial girl group she subsequently joins. The story is told from the perspective of the Glossies (Rose/Rosy, Meredith/Merry/Cherry, Yumi/Yummy, And Cassy/Sassy) during their rise to fame and breakup and from the other three members of Gloss after Cassy's suicide 15 years later.

As someone who was a young teen in the late 90s/early '00s, this time is important to my pop cultural memory. Some of the real details of this time (Britney and the snake, Christina's Drrrty) are called out in this book (no Destiny's Child that I remember though, interesting since this is about a girl group). I do think some of the darkness of becoming a star at a young age at that time in pop culture are captured by this book, but I found it really sad that this book that was supposed to really show us Cassidy didn't let us see her in the years between the Gloss breakup and her death. We hear secondhand a bit of what she was up to, the other members of gloss recall running into her, and we get a story from her sister, but we don't get to actually see her. This felt like a little bit of a disservice to Cassidy. In her story, we still have to rely on speculation from the other characters.

This book will be compared to Daisy Jones and the Six, and I think if you enjoyed Daisy, like I did, you'll enjoy this. It is still an interesting look at what fame can do to a person, especially to a child. But because we know Cassidy is gone and Daisy came out the other side, this book felt darker? Sadder? We're not sure there is peace to be found for our girl Cassy, and that's too bad.

One of the side plots I liked most was with Merry's daughter Soleil. Fame is still a beast for kids, but at least the changes to the entertainment industry (and everywhere) by the #metoo movement have changed what behavior is acceptable.

This was an engrossing read (and a debut!), but I think Cassidy's character didn't get to actually tell an important part of her story. This is, of course, how it actually is for famous people and their fans, but I wanted that piece of the story here.

The way this story was formatted was very confusing. With a variety of narrators and timelines, I could not follow this story easily. Most of the narration is told from the different members of the girl band "Gloss" and to be completely honest I didn't like any of them (except maybe Yumi, at times). If it wasn't for the author's ability to highlight the dark parts of being a celebrity, I would have probably rated this only 2/5 stars. The story's message is really its only saving grace. If you are a fan of books surrounding Hollywood drama, you'll probably enjoy this title. Otherwise, I would recommend leaving this one on the shelf.