One in a Millennial brought back so many memories from my childhood. The hanging door beads, dial-up internet, and American Girl Dolls were some of my favorites then and I still look back fondly on getting a new American Girl Doll and accessories at Christmas and playing with my cousins. This does lean towards a memoir in my opinion. I do think this book is the perfect example of growing up in different times and how the things that your are exposed to really shape your character and outlook on life. Millennials are referred to as quirky and this definitely can help explain why. This leads me to wonder if any of us have ever had an original thought (lol).

I did not know that Kate had a podcast, but I definitely plan to look into it after this book.

I’m technically a year too old to be a millennial, but I suppose I identify as one anyway? So many of the cultural touch points referenced in this book resonate with me, from boy bands and Bath and Body Works’ scents (Cucumber Melon forever!) to purity culture and popular-girl handwriting and everything in between.

I’m a regular listener of Kate Kennedy’s podcast, and I particularly enjoy her *super* deep dives on topics like fandoms, influencer culture, reality TV, Mormon mommy bloggers, MLMs, cults, and American Girl dolls, to name a few. And this book, not surprisingly, takes a similar in-depth and analytical approach to topics that are often dismissed as superficial or silly or shallow simply by virtue of being of interest to women.

<i>”Why was I worried my hobbies weren’t good enough, why did I accept that they’d be weaponized against me? Why would I ever let someone who drafts make-believe football teams make me believe I should be embarrassed by my interests?”</i>

The writing style won’t be for everyone—it’s very conversational and stream-of-consciousness, even compared to other memoirs. And the target audience is niche by design. But I found it simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking, and at times quite emotional. Kennedy writes about agonizing over the decision to become a parent (“Childless Millennial” is one of her most-listened-to episodes) and her subsequent fertility challenges, and also about mental health and sexuality.

<i>”Purity culture tells you that abstaining from sexual interactions is what makes you a valuable person, whereas hookup culture solely values your participation. …In both cases, it requires a level of disconnection from yourself and your body and a tendency to listen to those around you for cues about how you should act, where you should have boundaries, and what your sexual behavior means about you as a woman.”</i>

At the same time, so much of “One in a Millennial” is just fun and funny amd punny and nostalgic. The music references alone were a trip down memory lane.

<i>”I get [my mom] not wanting me to scream-sing in fifth grade, “IS SHE PERVERTED LIKE ME? WOULD SHE GO DOWN ON YOU IN A THEATER?” per the Alanis of it all. In fact, I was so committed to sexy song lyrics, one time my parents found the lyrics to Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” in the printer tray, and I’m 99-percent sure it was me who printed them out. I have to laugh thinking about my mom and dad reading a Word document printed out with lines like “picture this we were both butt-naked bangin’ on the bathroom floor” without melody or context.”</i>

I thought Kennedy was honest in acknowledging her privilege as a cis het white woman, though of course ymmv. (“Anything that made me feel different, I changed. Now I see what a privilege it was to not have this disconnect grounded in my identity or skin color or sexual orientation or abilities.”)

In the prologue, she writes that “in my bones, I don’t know how to not care the most.” And I think that care comes through on the page.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.**

Full disclosure: I don't listen to podcasts and due to a busy scheduling juggling work and family, and I don't have time to keep up with pop culture much anymore, so I had never heard of Kate Kennedy prior to this book. But as a millennial myself, I was intrigued by the title and description blurb, which led me to request an arc of this novel. I alternated between reading the digital version of the book and listening to the audiobook, which was narrated by Kate Kennedy herself, so I enjoyed that more.

I was very surprised by how much this book resonated with me and with how much in common I have with the author. From rehashing the trends of my childhood in the 90's (Yes, I was an American Girl doll collector), to experiencing a mass tragedy as college students (Her: The Virginia Tech Massacre; Me: 9/11), to later discussing the political issues that impact women today (See: Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson WHO), this book was a trip down nostalgia lane that connected how (many) millennials like myself evolved within the context of the socio-political-pop culture of our time.

Of course, like the author, I have the privilege of being a blonde white woman hailing from a middle-class suburban family. So her (and my) experiences highlighted in the book certainly do not speak to all millennials. That being said, it was meaningful to me, and I'm glad I read this book as my last of the year to reflect on the past as I move forward into 2024.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Kate Kennedy for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Not exactly the reminiscing that I thought would be happening, as a millennial myself, but not a bad read. I had to take a couple breaks reading it, the pacing was off.

As a millennial this was a nostalgic read. It gives memoir vibes although it’s not. Perfect if you want to be nostalgic.

As a millennial I was looking forward to reminiscing about boy bands, butterfly clips and Lisa Frank along with the author. I’m not sure exactly what this book was trying to do. It was a bit memoir, a bit history and a bit self-help. The chapters were extremely long and I felt that there was a lot of rambling on.

Honestly, when I first started this book it felt like a reading assignment and I had to put it down for a bit and come back to it. Don’t get me wrong there were some good parts that I enjoyed but overall I think it needed a bit more editing and refining.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Introducing "Millennial Musings" by Kate Kennedy: A Journey through the Pop Culture Phenomenon

Step into the vibrant world of pop culture with renowned podcaster and influential voice of our generation, Kate Kennedy. "Millennial Musings" is a captivating exploration of all things nostalgic, the ever-evolving millennial zeitgeist, and the invaluable life lessons learned amidst the trials and tribulations of being part of a generation often misunderstood.

As both a pop culture commentator and the charismatic host of the wildly popular podcast "Be There in Five," Kate effortlessly blends humor and depth as she delves into the complexities of embracing and critiquing the very culture that has shaped her as a woman. Through her unique perspective, she passionately argues that profound insights can arise from even the most seemingly superficial interests.

Prepare to be enthralled by Kate's signature style, a delightful fusion of wit and vulnerability. "Millennial Musings" is a masterful combination of sharp wit, uproarious humor, and heartwarming anecdotes. With her astute observations, Kate fearlessly explores a wide range of topics, many of which resonate with me, although I am a generation ahead of Kate.

I laughed. I cried. I laughed til I cried.
Pop culture, social media and many other outlets influence us in ways we don’t even consider. I thoroughly enjoyed “Once In A Millinial,” and found myself wanting to read more.

One in a Millennial started off with a fairly interesting (yet very long) prologue. I went into this book excited to reminisce on my parts of my childhood and hoping for something more along the lines of The Nineties which I really enjoyed. However, One is just not as deep or as meaningful as a traditional memoir and not as informative or interesting as a commentary/expose on the time. It felt like it was confused and didn’t know what it was trying to be.

I found myself skimming or reading which not actually absorbing the info. When the book started to feel like homework I had to complete I had to finally throw in the towel.

I just don’t think this book is for me which is why I rated it the way I did. It wasn’t bad and I’m sure people who listen to her podcast really enjoyed it. I didn’t feel right rating it lower because it just wasn’t a good fit. It’s not you, it’s me One.

Thank you netgalley for the arc

I read 40% of One In a Millenial, but ultimately did not finish it. It started out really strong, and as a Millenial, I felt like I could relate to so much of the subject content. However, it’s too long and certain sections just felt like rambling. I do think this book makes a lot of great points about the world in which Millenials were raised and there’s a lot of witty humor, but overall, it just wasn’t succinct enough to keep me going. I think I would have enjoyed this one on audio, and I will check out the audiobook from my library once it’s released. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of One in a Millennial in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun trip through 90s nostalgia but you can definitely tell that the author is a podcaster. Many of the sentences felt like they were a run-on thought rather than fleshed out ideas. I think part of the issue is that I was born in 1995 so I’m *barely* a millennial so I maybe just didn’t relate in the same way as other readers might. I’m also not the biggest nonfiction girlie so this just wasn’t really for me.

I can DEFINITELY see how people will enjoy this though!

“One in a Millennial” does a beautiful job telling the story of the author’s journey within her generational touchstones to become a more well-rounded self-actualized person in her childhood and young adulthood. Funny, sad, introspective essays are woven together to tell the story of one slice of the millennial generation as they age into a more reflective, powerful period of their lives. Loved the longer, deeper view of this group that has become an internet punchline.

I love listening to Kate Kennedi’s podcast and One in a Millenial felt like an extension of that. Kate’s perspectives, pop cultural deep dives, and musings over serious topics will capture the attention of any millennial.

This book is nostalgia and girlhood all wrapped up in a perfect bow. I loved it. Kate is so eloquent and smart and her words come to life on these pages. Highly recommend!

I am not a 90’s baby. I wanted to read this book in anticipation of a 90’s themed convention experience. However, this book is much more a memoir centered on pop culture than the 90’s deep dive it advertises itself as.

Nevertheless, this book was still entertaining. Kennedy is a witty, engaging author, and I found her insights on childhood and the cultural zeitgeist to be valuable. This book masterfully handles experiences both humorous and serious through its clever incorporation of media. Still, I hope that the eventual marketing for this book as it nears publication better matches its actual content.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never listened to Kate Kennedy’s podcast, but now I certainly will. I picked up this book solely based on the cover art and title but throughout this reading experience, I genuinely questioned if I AM Kate? I kept thinking of girlfriends to recommend this to but, at times, I’d think “maybe they wouldn’t really relate to that” but there was not one thing that didn’t hit home for me (though my college tragedy was the suicide of a partner I never truly dealt with/healed from versus Kate’s experience).
I feel this is a must-read for all millennial women. Seriously. Maybe not every topic/memory will connect as it really is a tailored memoir to Kate’s lived experiences, but anyone will find aspects to relate to and learn from. I already have a list of like 25 girlfriends I want to gift this to.
This book is sweet, nostalgic, and heartfelt. I laughed out loud and literally teared up.
Highly recommend.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF at 30%  for me. I thought I was really going to love the nostalgia and the reminiscing, but I found myself bored and skimming through the chapters looking for more substance. I think I like this more in an audio media and I would have made it through an audiobook with a different opinion. 
Sorry but thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*3.5 stars

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. As a millennial, this brought all of the childhood and teenage feels that were super nostalgic. I laughed when one part mentioned the elementary school answer of "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and the general answer was "Marine biologist". I can 100% confirm - this is true. Ask my dad. My literal answer growing up - I actually took oceanography and marine biology in high school lol.

While I enjoyed the early and mid sections of the book. The latter section went into darker millennial topics - which I 100% agree with the author on, however, I thought I was going to be reading a commentary on my childhood feels, not my reproductive rights as an adult millennial woman.

I think marketing on this could have been a bit more specific. Going into this, I had no idea it was a memoir, so I was a bit unfocused for some of the content as I do not follow the author or her podcast.

That said, I do believe millennials will be able to relate to sooo much of this and it was a good read.

First thing, in complete honesty, I don't know who Kate Kennedy is. As a millennial, I was intrigued by the title and synopsis. I was born in 91 and categorized as an elder millennial. I have never related to a nonfiction book so much before. We grew up very different however still went through the same things and same feelings. I had an American girl doll, loved the books, a day bed and an obsession with pop culture. This book was comforting to know that someone else went through the same things. Watching one generation end while the next developed. I think a lot of Millennials would enjoy this book and will definitely be recommending it.

I had fun with this. It might not be the most memorable read, but there are parts that really stand out, especially as someone my age. The physical and audiobook we both equally enjoyable. For a specific crowd, but those who it appeals to will enjoy the reading experience.

I’ve been a big fan of Kate Kenndey and her podcast Be There in Five for many years! When Kate announced she was writing a book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

Reading One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy is like listening to a long(-er) version of a podcast and I just couldn’t get enough! I could hear her voice narrating the stories. I couldn’t stop laughing, smiling and relating.

If you’re a millennial woman who’s enjoyed Kate’s podcast or you’re looking for a laugh, be sure to pick-up ne in a Millennial in January 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.