I loved this book so much. I was born in 1988 and I swear that Kate Kennedy described my entire life in her essays— right down to stories from her childhood, emotions from certain shows or events, to thoughts I’ve had about the zeitgeist. I laughed out loud SO MANY TIMES while reading and was just smiling through the whole book. I already bought a copy and sent it to my childhood best friend. If you’re a millennial, you’ll want to check this one out! It will give you all the amazing nostalgic feels and will help you feel so validated and happy to have been part of an amazing generation!

This was such a fun read, especially for fans of Kate Kennedy's podcast "Be There In Five". Kate adeptly gets to the heart of the millennial zeitgeist, with a really nice array of social commentary and pop culture nostalgia.

Amazing - a must read if you are a millennial who felt vapid or less intellectual for having pop culture interests over the years.

Kate Kennedy, similar to her podcast Be There in Five (which I already loved), muses about millennial culture, beginning with thoughts about the 90s (shout out to Molly, my American Girl Doll)., AIM Culture, and Youth Group Culture, into the 2000s and today.

Reading it felt like Kate lived inside my brain! A true girls' girl - which is my favorite type of girl! I chuckled at so many pop culture mentions that I had forgotten about. Reading this was like spending time with a likeminded ~so random~ friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I loved this so much. Wow. I loved it so much that I bought the audiobook, too. I am a big fan of Kate’s and feel so excited for her. She has much deserved success with this book.

This was a promising premise, but I feel like it fell flat in terms of being a rich story to be told. It felt like she was just trying to make as many millennial references as possible in as few of paragraphs as possible, which pulled me out of the story and the opportunity to find deeper meaning.

This is not a memoir. But it is a memoir. Like many things millennial, it contains multitudes and Kate Kennedy's book cannot be pinpointed as just one thing. A look at millennial pop culture told through the lens of a woman who lived it, Kennedy uses the stereotypical, middle-class, suburban experience as the framework for how growing up with this specific intersectionality of pop culture and technology as shaped us. I loved it. I resonated with it.

I'm a 90s kid and many points of these essays hit so close to home for me I had to set the book down and take a step back to process. I've reconsidered parts of myself that I didn't realize went back to sleepover dynamics and embraced parts of myself that I could never decide where they came from: is my dislike for math a product of lack of STEM-based experiences, or do I just not like math? At the end of the day, does it really matter, so long as I'm acknowledging it?

This was a deeply thoughtful, accepting book that I'll be gifting to all my millennial girlfriends, without question. Thank you to Kate Kennedy, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

The nostalgia just pouring out of One in a Millennial is unmatched. Kennedy is a favorite Podcaster of mine for her hot takes and unapologetic interest in all things pop culture. Therefore, I had high hopes going into this book and she did not disappoint!

Her stories and anecdotes are (probably) the closest I will ever get to a time machine as this book brought me right back to so many pivotal stages of my life. It was a real treat to be able to reflect back on my own experiences while simultaneously experiencing the comfort of realizing that I wasn't alone in much of what I was feeling.

It was especially eye opening to look back at past experiences, media, and popular cultural events that occurred during those years - except now as an adult woman with, in many instances, a very different perspective on things. (I'm looking at you AC Slater.)

What perfect timing for this book to come out after last year's Eras Tour and Barbie craze. My hope is that we as a society and especially the women of said society will continue to lean in and embrace the things that we enjoy - no matter how silly or frivolous -because the fact it makes us happy is enough.

I will be recommending this book to all my fellow millennials and beyond. And for more where that came from, I highly recommend the Be There in Five podcast.

Kate can do no wrong when it comes to her writing. The only thing I wish is that I waited for the audiobook so I could hear her read it herself! Truly a gift to millennial women.

This was not what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting just a fun nostalgia filled romp through 90's trends and fashions and that is not what this is. It is much more a critical look at Millenial culture and all the things that made us and particularly the author. I probably would have liked this one a lot more had I gone in with the right expectations.

If you are a fan of Kate Kennedy or Be There in Five then I think you will love One in a Millennial. You can really hear Kate’s voice while reading even without listening to her read the audiobook.

If you’re unfamiliar with Kate but are a millennial woman then I am sure you will find something to relate to in this book! So many references & relatability. I fell somewhere in the middle as I’ve never listened to her podcast but have heard her twice on The Bad Broadcast and follow her on Instagram.

Some of my favorite chapters were the ones about AIM (I was an MSN Messenger girlie) Jessie Spano (of Saved by the Bell) & The Parent Trap. The one that spoke the most to me personally was her chapter on religion. It was spot on and I found myself highlighting so many passages and then discussing them with my husband later. If you’ve deconstructed some of the religious teachings you grew up with or have any sort of religious trauma then I would highly recommend.

I follow the author, Kate Kennedy on Instagram and enjoy her everyday commentary, so when I heard she was writing a book I was looking forward to it.... Then I saw the cover and I knew it was a must read! As an older Millennial I really enjoyed reminiscing on long forgotten artifacts and pop culture references from my youth, but I found that the author overly used word play where it started to become annoying. I was reading a digital ARC for the first 3/4 and switched to audio for the last few chapters and really enjoyed hearing the author's words coming from her own voice. Overall, it was a fun read and the last few chapters were my favorite. Loved Chapter 10: The Parent Trap!

Thank you to the author Daisy Goodwin, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of DIVA. All views are mine.

Opening Quote: Somewhere in between the pursuit of passion and the desire for respect and stability, you’ll likely find a lost millennial.... Loc216

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I've never heard anyone else say this, but it's absolutely true. So true that it actually triggered my deep seeded trauma from having experienced being in debt my entire conceivable life: If we really want to play financially doomed millennial bingo, I ...have been tricked into signing up for a credit card not once, but twice, at a football game.... This advertising tactic on college campuses was so predatory it’s now illegal, but credit card companies asking for social security numbers at social functions was just one of the many things millennials were up against that we’re still paying for. Loc91

2. "We were prepared for a world that doesn't exist anymore..." This is true for other people too, and it challenges individuals of all ages. But I don't think this can be said for another entire generation the way it can be said for millennials, who were inadequately educated with computers, given the professional landscape they entered.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Kennedy writes a lot about mental health, both from her own experience, and from the spectre of the Millennial zeitgeist. Her handling of this topic strikes me as being grossly unaware of the existence and impact of stigma, which bothers me immensely. In fact, she stigmatizes her own depression so intensely that it's cringe.

2. This book goes on way too long. It probably feels this way due to repetition and lack of form.

3. The subtitle of this book is a forced alliteration of four unrelated topics: Friendship, feelings, fangirls, and fitting in. The book only covers one of these to any great extent– that being feelings. The rest get lost in the amorphous blob that is this book.

4. This book claims to be a memoir, but it's not really. Goodwin writes more about the zeitgeist of her generation than how she fit into it. I'm not sure how else the publishers would have marketed this one, but I still feel like I didn't get what I came for.

Rating: 💿💿.5 / 5 burned CDs
Recommend? maybe, for true millenials or
X-ennials
Finished: Jan 20 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🗣 memoirs?
📀 2000's soundtracks
🤩 pop culture
😂 humor

This is a DNF for me. As a millennial, I really thought I’d like a look back at my childhood but instead of feeling nostalgic, I was just bored.

💿 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙖𝙡 💿
𝖪𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖪𝖾𝗇𝗇𝖾𝖽𝗒

I had no idea what to expect when I requested this book, but being an early millennial and sort of hating that I am one, I figured why not give it a try. If you were born between 1981 and 1996 you fall into The Millennial generation and I really think you will enjoy this book. I feel like some of the references are probably geared more towards the 80’s babies, but I was definitely taken back in this one!

This book is an exploration of the millennial zeitgeist, delivered by the voice of a generation—Kate herself, a pop culture podcaster. Through the lens of pop culture, nostalgia, and the unique experiences of millennials, Kate reflects on the life lessons learned while coming of age in a generation often criticized. Kate dives into topics like AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, Spice Girl feminism, and her reflections on millennial motherhood. With laugh-out-loud moments and poignant observations, "One In a Millennial" captures the essence of a generation's shared experiences.

I laughed so many times in this book and I saved so many quotes from this book it was hard to choose just one. I don’t know how she remembered all of the things that she did, but as I read my childhood, high school and college experiences came back to me in full force. My one complaint was her description of the sorority experience because mine was not like hers at all, but I understand that these are different no matter where you go, so I get it.

I absolutely loved the first 60% of this book and have never felt so SEEN - going out tops? Strange anxious avoidant behaviors when waiting for an important message/email? Not watching the second VHS tape of Titanic? Check, check and check! I loved how the author connected all of our classic millennial interests to musings on feminism and found it to be quite thought provoking for most of the book. The second half dragged a bit for me and felt a bit overly wordy - but that does seem to be her self-admitted style. I would definitely recommend this to the "basic" millennial gals who want to take a walk down memory lane!

I love the Be There In Five podcast so it was no surprise that I loved this book. Kate's book is fun, fast-paced, and makes me feel seen. This book was a wonderful trip down memory lane and made me feel ok with being "basic".

Kate Kennedy has written an amazing assortment of essays about the experience of growing up in the early 2000s Kennedy has found an amazing way to succinctly describe what it was like to be a girl then and I found myself nodding along to every single sentence Kennedy wrote. Finally, someone who just gets it!

“One in a Millennial” was intense flashback after flashback of what feels like every product and catch phrase that existed during my life ( and it was a bit overstimulating for that reason) but still enjoyable to a girl born in 1983. I was not familiar with Kate Kennedy’s social media fame but was intrigued by the name of the book. There was a few take aways that will stick with me hence the 4 star rating. A well written book overall- I’m sure fans would enjoy even more! I did enjoy the audible version more so if that’s your thing- definitely take that route!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

One in a Millennial | Kate Kennedy

★★★★★

———

Kate Kennedy is my internet best friend. You know that person that you follow and root for and are way too invested in their lives even though they don’t really know who you are? Yeah, that’s this relationship. With the sheer number of hours that she has accompanied me on road trips, late nights up with my daughter when she was a baby, times when I needed distraction during a not so great time in my life, and just daily tasks and chores, it feels like she’s been there for lots of the major events in my life, and I have more than once found myself talking out loud back to her as I listen to Be There in Five. I don’t know how she does it, but Kate really just immediately feels like your best friend.

I was able to attend a live show almost 2 years ago now, and I both laughed and cried through Kate reading the essay that was ultimately the jumping off point for this book. When Kate announced this book, I knew it would be great, but it has blown me away. One in a Millennial is a love letter to all of us who survived The Great War (aka being a girl in the 2000s). There were so many moments in this book of “oh I forgot about that!” or “wow, I’ve really never had a unique experience in my life”, and I love her mix of appreciation for our experiences and analysis of how it maybe wasn’t the best for our perception of reality.

If you’ve experienced life as a millennial girl, I cannot recommend this book enough because it is essentially the book form of the notes you wrote to your best friend in high school and folded in the most unnecessarily intricate way.

Happy release day, @katekennedy! You deserve every good thing 🖤 you’re the Beth

Thank you to @netgalley + @stmartinspress for my ARC!
———

“Somewhere in between feeling one-in-a-million special, I also know the chances I’m alone in a lot of these feelings are a-million-to-none, as many of us grew up being put in boxes but are now left trying to think outside of the box as we do the work of rebuilding our self-worth.”

Such a fun read! I am not a millenial but as a 2001 baby I could relate to a lot of the things Kate wrote in this book (I particularly liked the Taylor Swift references). It definitely felt like a trip to my childhood! I really liked Kate's humor and personality and even though I'm not a big fan of podcasts I will definitely go search for hers and listen to it!