Kate’s take on her experience as a millennial women rang true for me in so many ways. The way she weaved together pop culture, girlhood experiences, and the cultural zeitgeist was masterful.

This book felt like a witty, culturally relevant guided tour down memory lane. Being basically the same age as the author, her clever wordplay around moments that left a mark on millennials was spot on. At times it felt like the word play rambled on a little but it didn't take away from my thoroughly enjoying the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I initially thought this book would be filled with nostalgia and anecdotes of someone around my age (with an excellent sense of humor!). Little did I know how much I would relate to this book, as it went much deeper than expected. I felt like Kate was speaking directly to me when she shared her pregnancy loss experience. I’ve listened to her podcast episodes around it but somehow reading it felt much more personal. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

I've related to lots of books in my life, and I'm always stunned when an author speaks to a part of my heart that I don't often see represented.

When I requested this ARC, all I knew was that it was a celebration of 90s/00s pop culture from someone my age. Someone who probably understood my love for E True Hollywood Stories and the Kids/Teen Choice Awards in high school. And that was it.

I read the intro the day I got the ARC approval, and posted to my Stories that Kate is my soul sister. Might seem cheeky, but I meant it. And I was so excited to know I wasn't the only one who loved How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, NSYNC, BSB, Hanson.

But then I read on, and Kate dug deep. She doesn't just celebrate millennial culture. She examines its impact. And I highlighted all over the place.

The True Love Waits message alongside sensual boy band music. It equated : Save yourself for marriage but shape yourself for the male gaze. But by God, don't tempt them! AND those of us who gave all the F's about what others thought tried so hard to find the balance between holy and hot. I got chills. She explained my high school, college & grad school experience. (Though admittedly, I leaned toward holier than thou.)

Enjoying the things we actually enjoy, like pop culture, was superficial. College, careers, marriage, kids. It was expected, not just that it was done, but in that order, and it had to look a certain way. Never mind if it didn't all fit our interests, talents, desires, beliefs.

But millennials break molds... what celebrity looks like. Careers don't have to be 9-5 desk jobs. Risk taking can pay off, and it might be in an unexpected way. And that's how I'm feeling, just over a year into freelancing.

And now I'm off to find a Mean Girls episode of @bethereinfive

This book might not be for everybody, but WOW was this book for me!!!!!!

I’m not a huge nonfic person, but when I saw this was about being a millennial, I was all in.

I loved the mix of stats/history and specific memories from the author. It made me laugh, almost made me cry, and just gave me all the feels.

It was so witty, and it felt like we were texting, more than just reading, and I love that feeling.

So, I think I'm missing the point of this book. It’s well-written, although it reads like one breathless run-on sentence. The author describes the millennial coming-of-age in the 90’s/00’s/and beyond. But…why?

To be fair, I’m an elder millennial. The author claims to be an “older” millennial, and while technically she’s right (1987 vs 1981), I think this book is written for the 1985-1990 crowd, not those of us on the Xennial/Millennial cusp. I simply don’t see a purpose in reliving our childhoods, teen years, 20’s, etc. I requested this on the recommendation of a friend (who happens to be several years younger lol!) and she said it was the best book she’s read in years. Me? 4 stars for excellent writing and also for remembering all the nuances of growing up in the early days of the internet. That level of detailed recall is something I will never have!

I was a DNF at 20%. I may pick it back up in the future,

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy! One In A Millennial is a comedic thinkpieceon the seemingly niche experiences of growing up as a millennial woman, that in hindsight were somewhat universal to this demographic. Kate tackles the important issues, such as hot girl handwriting, mall culture, sleepovers, and 2010s fashion.

Kate artfully describes her mismanaged expectations of adulthood as well and how the media influenced our perceptions and decisions as we aged. While the last third of the book takes a heavier turn, the author is a master at word play and bringing light to our shared experiences. The chapters are long, but this book was fun to pick up and felt like a celebration of womanhood. Definitely recommend if you’re feeling a little nostalgic.

LOVED THIS! As an avid listener to Kate’s podcast I could hear her voice through each essay. She is like the older pop culture obsessed sister that I never had!

A deep dive personal account into the Millennial zeitgeist. Kennedy starts off with the disclaimer that this account is her own experience and she’s not here to represent all Millennials. With that said, I related so strongly to these stories. From slumber parties to American Girl desires to sorority life, it was so relatable.

I would consider myself a “Beth” (avid listener/follower of Be There in Five), so I was already familiar with Kate Kennedy’s long winded narrative. At times, this dragged on in reading format. I think I would prefer audio, listening to Kennedy recount herself.

TW she addresses pregnancy loss and fertility issues. This was the only essay I felt dragged. But I also could see how it was cathartic for her to share her detailed experience.

4.5 stars! Will purchase audio when releases to revisit some of my favorite essays.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for honest review.

I really enjoyed the 90's nostalgia embedded in the first parts of this book, and Kate Kennedy's writing style was witty, refreshing, and fun. The later chapters just didn't seem to interest me as much as the beginning ones- probably because most of the nostalgia evaporated, and I began to feel like she was over-explaining some points. But I did recognize and relate to many of the author's experiences and feelings. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to Millennial women in particular.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this book was so much fun! It's faced paced and easy to read. It was just the right dose of nostalgia for me. I'm really not into Taylor swift and there were quite a few references, but I realize there is a large audience who would appreciate that. Definitely a fun read!

This was a unique blend of memoir and narrative reflection on the millennial zeitgeist. As a millennial myself, I found myself straddling the line between nostalgia, relatability, and divergence as I read about or remembered my own experiences as a 90's kid who was caught between the traditional values of old and the rapid changes ushered in by advances in technology. Kennedy does a good job of illustrating the uncomfortable in-betweeness that we feel or have felt as a collective generation.

It was nice to be seen in this nuanced way. Understood. It was enjoyable to reconnect over memories of boy band obsession, AIM away messages, and pop culture mania, and also to dig deeper into the muck of things like body dysmorphia, feelings of inadequacy, and economic instability that have followed us into adulthood.

A pun-filled and thought-provoking read, through and through!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This book didn’t work for me. I’m a millennial, but I didn’t really relate to most of the author’s experiences. I also found the writing to be on the wordy side.

This book is a must-read for any millennial. I can't tell you how much I related to this book. I felt like Kate Kennedy had opened up my brain and took parts of it to write this book. It was funny but also made me really emotional in parts. Really excellent book of essays!

I wanted to love this book. I enjoy listening to Be There in Five (usually). I will say, this book felt like we were listening to a podcast episode. I didn’t mind that, at least not at first. But I think the more the book went along, the more it felt like it truly was a memoir. I think I’m about 2 years younger than Kate and I grew up within 30 minutes of her, so our childhood was quite similar in many ways. But what was pitched as a millennial-stroll-down-memory-lane turned into her very specific life experiences. Which is fine! Just not what I expected

My little Millennial heart would normally rather read fantasy, romance, or thrillers to help escape from the day-to-day existential crisis that is having lived through American Girl Dolls, Neopets, Limited Too, Xanga, blow-up furniture, Delia*s, BSB/NSYNC/98deg, 9/11, Facebook, side parts, and skinny jeans. However, I am also super into identifying and commiserating with my fellow 90's(ish) babies about how things were like "back in the day" and how the way and time that we grew up in has impacted us now in our 30s(ish).

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The minute I heard of this book, I was *desperate* to read it. And when I got the wonderful opportunity to read an ARC, I had an almost...spiritual time with it. Which sounds silly, but it's true.

It's truly been a revelatory experience for me, a 90s baby and healing millennial. This is intensely a me-centered review, but the things I learned and felt while reading this book coincided with some themes that have been part of my life this year, and touched significantly on some of the ways I've worked to grow and heal and re-learn lately. I appreciate Kate and this book so much.

I feel so incredibly *seen* by these essays, as I'm sure many millennials will. In simple, inadequate words, ONE IN A MILLENNIAL takes a look at the way millennials have been ridiculed for the cliches and tropes of our generation, while being unfairly conditioned for what we would face as we aged. It looks at the ways we are torn between value systems and the ways our age and life phase are held against us, instead of us being viewed a product of our time.

Kate's musings on boy bands, AIM, sleepover dynamics, female communities, college experiences and pregames, and ALL the relatable elements of the millennial zeitgeist consider what we lost and gained along the way of the 90s to now in a deeply thoughtful and engaging way.

"I reminisce about orchestrating digital seductions via AIM, growing up, and trivializing the contents of my own brain," Kate says, "because somewhere along the way, I learned that loving top-forty music or the Mary-Kate and Ashley multiverse wasn't refined."

I've spent most of my late-teenage to adult experiences feeling embarrassed by the cringe of my life, the feelings I had, the things I liked and valued, and how pop culture influenced me. I was embarrassed by it, wanted to distance myself from the way I sought social capital instead of my own happiness.

But this year, my therapy sessions, and Kate's work has helped me in honoring my millennial experiences, reflecting on and analyzing them critically, while not shaming myself for them. Of embracing myself and my multitudes, accepting myself fully for the authentic version that cherishes what my millennial experience gave me while seeking betterment in the world. The things that mattered to me shaped me, and they still do.

Kate aims "to resurrect experiences that previously felt labeled or misrepresented by gender or generation, if only to make a case while I have the headspace that there's so much to our existence worth remembering." I want to remember, I want to embrace, and I want to prioritize my joy.

Funny, witty, and well-written, ONE IN A MILLENNIAL is a stunning book. Kate is a talented wordsmith and pop culture commentator I will always want to hear from. This book on friendship, feelings, fandoms, fitting in, and feminism is exactly what I needed and what I want more of. And like, LONG LIVE THE FANGIRLS.

And it's incredibly thoughtful -- Kate is quick to point out where her blind spots might be, and what her limitations are in covering the millennial experience. I appreciate that very much.

Well, I could write my own novel about how much this book impacted me, but I'll stop here. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy to mark up, treasure, and share with my fellow millennials.

A massive thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. ONE IN A MILLENNIAL is out 1/23/24.

**Also, for us Swifties, I love that Kate addresses the REAL question: "How come there's one 'old Taylor' we've never seen sawing off a plane wing in the 'Look What You Made Me Do' video?" TAYLOR EXPLAIN YOURSELF

I have been looking forward to this book since Kate first announced it and it did not disappoint! I love the long-form narrative style of Be There in Five and One in a Millenial is just as relatable and insightful. I love her nuanced perspective on topics such as Spice Girls, the impact of gender on the type of entertainment society values, AIM, and Limited Too. While this book provided plenty of opportunities to reminisce about growing up in the 90s, it was also full of thoughtful commentary on the impact of those experiences today. I cant wait to purchase this book when it is released and will absolutely recommend it to friends.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Why was I worried my hobbies weren't good enough, why did I accept that they would be weaponized against me? Why would I ever lt someone who drafts make believe football teams make me believe I should be embarassed by my interests?"

Girl.
Phew.

As an elder millenial, I wondered if I would connect with this book when I received the arc from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Thank youuuu). This book could have just been a dump of name dropping millenial buzz words, making it nostalgic with no real substance. It was so much more than that. Part memoir, part nostalgia blast, this book made me want to shout from the rooftops at times, and cry from feeling SO seen at others. Kennedy weaves in themes of feminism and female friendships and articulates exactly how it feels to experience things like growing apart from your childhood friends and making the decision on whether you're meant to a be a mother. From the first line about backpack bead lizards, I was in. In addition to the things that triggered something in my brain ("hit the cell", online relationships, sweet pea hand sanitzer, Mall Madness, Dream Phone, milky pens, going out tops), there were incredibly insightful and poignant discussions of opression, feminism, misogny, beauty and body standards, mental health, fertility, school shootings- this book touched on it all. At times, I thought to myself, "I could have written this". A Little Princess is one of my favorite movies. I drew a sun on the top of all my notes, and told everyone it would be my first tattoo (thankfully it wasn't). "Celebrate we will because life is short but sweet for certain" was literally my yearbook quote. I wanted to be a marine biologist before I realized I suffer from intense sea sickness. MSN away messages were my passion. Either Kate Kennedy and I are kindred spirits, or I've just never had an original experience in my life. Regardless, I felt more seen than I ever have in a piece of literature. I can't wait to recommend this to all of my pop culture loving millenial pals. If you're not lucky enough to be a millenial (lol) then I think there still will be things you'll love about this book. Highly recommend!

My only pre-publisher feedback is that the poems were incredibly hard to read digitally. The light gray on white made my brain hurt so I just stopped (which made me sad).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Super fun read and ride down nostalgia lane!

I’m not a podcast person so didn’t come into this familiar with the author at all, but I do like her voice. However the writing style was a bit odd to me as a more traditional reader I felt it sometimes hard to follow as one intact book. Great for little bits here and there though.