I loved this one! It is such a nostalgiac, personal, and critical look at what it means to have been a woman in the 90s/00s without feeling campy. Or, rather, campy in the good way. I really recommend to anyone who wants a little bit of pop culture history in their life!

All the nostalgia! I absolutely loved every moment of this book. It took me back to the good days when friends were everything and *NSYNC was life.

Such a fun and nostalgic read. Kennedy is a master of word-play and offers some excellent insights into the way millennials have been shaped by diet culture, feminism and the shifting media and corporate culture over the past few decades.

But she really shines when throwing it back to the memories of pop culture and trends from those days. A delightful reminder of all things slumber party, a time when the mall was THE destination and AIM away messages were the windows to our souls.

Now it might be time to declutter those 20-year old Vera Bradley bags living in storage downstairs.

This book was phenomenal! A blast from the past. I really enjoyed everything about this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc of this book.

Kate Kennedy has an incredible ability to articulate millennial nostalgia in a way that lends depth and substance of so many things deemed trivial because they cater to the interests of young women. She explores how pop culture has shaped our generation for better and worse in a nuanced, often funny (always punny) way. Listeners of the podcast will find a lot of familiar ground, but in an even longer form.

Kate is a refreshing voice with a fresh take on the female ‘older’ millennial experience. As someone who straddles the ‘xennial’ line myself, her perspectives on purity culture, the emphasis on gaining male interest in the 2000s, our love affair with brand identification in the 90s and early aughts, as well as her personal reflections on her individual experience were like reading my own diaries from those times in my adolescence and early adulthood. Beyond excited to see what she writes next! In the meantime, I have her podcast, Be There in Five, to keep me company.

I have never related to a book more than I have this one. I loved this book and will definitely be sharing this with my millennial friends and patrons at the library.

I am a fan of Kate Kennedys work, and regularly listen to her podcast, so I was really excited to receive an advanced copy of her book, and overall really enjoyed it. I thought her writing was beautiful and thoughtful, and I appreciated how deeply she was able to dig into the unseen parts of pop culture, such as socioeconomics, generational changes, and patriarchy, and tie this to the life stages that women experience. I also love how she discusses research and brings it into the cultural zeitgeist. She reminds me of a science educator but for pop culture, which I mean as a compliment. The one part of this book that was difficult for me was the organization. Each chapter has several distinct sections and the through line for these sections was sometimes weak, making chapters difficult to follow at times. Her pop out sections also felt disjointed from the rest of the chapter at times, and I wonder if different visual organization, or just having more chapters would make this aspect of her book clearer and easier to read. I also could see the audiobook being easier to follow because Kate uses so much wordplay and is an incredible speaker which may translate better to an audiobook format. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my friends and sisters. Thank you to netgalley and St Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a walk down memory lane! It has all of the 90s things I love. References to so many pop culture gems. I enjoyed this a ton. Kennedy is witty and funny and super knowledgeable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

Kate Kennedy is my spirit animal! I have always felt so in sync with her since I started listening to her podcast Be There in Five a few years ago. I was beyond thrilled to know she was writing a book. One in a Millennial is perfect for the women of a certain age (a millennial), but I think the feelings behind the pop culture will resonate with a broader audience. The nostalgia evoked from this book is unmatched and will definitely give you all the feels. Kate touches on topics of mall stores, American Girl dolls, and Taylor Swift and how these topics relate to feminism, equality and how women's topics don't always get the importance they might deserve. If you are a listening of Kate's podcast you will be used to her "rambling" style, but if not this might be something you'll need to get used to. She has important things to say though, so it's worth it, promise!

I could not have been more ecstatic to get a hold of this book and consumed it in days! Such an insightful, even deeper dive (and that's saying something for the Be There in Five podcast fans!) into all things millennial nostalgia. I laughed, cried, and felt so many heartwarming moments throughout this read. Loved this so much!

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I felt truly seen by Kate’s musings about growing up in a millennial world and cannot wait for everything she has yet to say!

One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy was seriously a blast to the past!
Finally a book for us millennials! And not just any book but THE BOOK!
WoW! Kennedy really hit every nostalgic feeling.
From the AOL Instant Messenger, American Girl Dolls to the damn Spice Girls! I was there and relived it.
Now being a mother in my 30s and jamming out to my 2000s or Pop2K music I miss those early days and Kate bright it all rushing back.
This book is fun, heartwarming and made me think back to when I was a teen.

After reading her book now I’m going to check out her Podcast! Because she is now a favorite of mine!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing
eARC!

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
From pop culture podcaster and a voice of a generation, Kate Kennedy, a celebration of the millennial zeitgeist

One In a Millennial is an exploration of pop culture, nostalgia, the millennial zeitgeist, and the life lessons learned (for better and for worse) from coming of age as a member of a much-maligned generation.

Kate is a pop culture commentator and host of the popular millennial-focused podcast Be There in Five . Part-funny, part-serious, Kate navigates the complicated nature of celebrating and criticizing the culture that shaped her as a woman, while arguing that great depths can come from surface-level interests.

With her trademark style and vulnerability, “One in a Millennial” is sharp, hilarious, and heartwarming all at once. She tackles AOL Instant Messenger, purity culture, American Girl Dolls, going out tops, Spice Girl feminism, her feelings about millennial motherhood, and more. Kate’s laugh-out-loud asides and keen observations will have you nodding your head and maybe even tearing up.
8
Oh, millennials. Oh, influencers. Oh, what a waste of potential that could be found in their brains if they could climb out of their egos. I am jaded as I have three nieces/nephews (and their “partners”…oh I hate that word!) who are the most entitled, useless, selfish millennials on the planet and although this book did not change my opinion of them, it might … just might … change my idea of millennials in general. For a moment or two.

The book is funny as heck at times and shows some hope for our future … at least one outside of my family unit. #shortbutsweetreviews

I love the body of work Kate Kennedy does because above all, it is always thoughtful. This book is the shining example of that. The millennial woman perspective she brings into the deep but shallow waters of our times and interests. If you listen to her podcast you will recognize her personalized style of writing and when this book comes out I will be running to listen to the audiobook. As an intense, nosy and idealistic dolphin girl who knows all too well unrequited love while all I wanted was to be with my girl pod this collection of stories bring up so much nostalgia and makes me feel incredibly seen. That is another strength of Kate Kennedy and I can’t think of a more insightful guide.

This was such a walk down memory lane! I myself am a millenial, so looking back on all of the key influences from my youth was so nostalgic. It was interesting to see Kate talk about things from the past with fresh adult eyes, because we probably never even thought to do that. We usually just look back with fondness on these things, instead of acknowledging whatever fatal flaws they may have or how they may have influenced our lives in dramatic ways (the chapters about Saved By The Bell and The Parent Trap were really eye opening for me haha.) I would consider this book to read more like short stories; the chapters are longer and focus on different topics. I really enjoyed looking back at all of these things, and enjoyed Kate’s writing style; she definitely gave me Jen Lancaster vibes!

I am a fan of Kate’s podcast, so I was excited to grab an advanced copy of her book. I enjoyed the nostalgia, pop culture references, and general theme about finding your own identity and embracing the “cliched millennial” within each of us. The essay about struggling with college really resonated for another person who always wonders why it wasn’t the “best time of my life.” In general, the writing was very wordy, and the purpose of the essays was often clouded by too many side stories/tangents. I think I would have preferred this in an audiobook format where Kate’s phrasing and puns are better suited.

One In a Millennial is a delightful and thought-provoking journey into the heart of the millennial experience. Kate Kennedy, renowned pop culture podcaster and a true voice of our generation, skillfully weaves together personal anecdotes, social commentary, and nostalgia to create a captivating exploration of the millennial zeitgeist.

With her unique blend of humor and sincerity, Kate delves into the cultural touchstones that have shaped our lives, from AOL Instant Messenger to American Girl Dolls, from Spice Girl feminism to the challenges of millennial motherhood. Through her witty asides and astute observations, she effortlessly captures the essence of our shared experiences, making us laugh, nod our heads in agreement, and even shed a tear.

What sets One In a Millennial apart is Kate’s ability to celebrate and critique the culture that defined her generation. She masterfully navigates the complex relationship we have with our own interests and passions, demonstrating that profound meaning can be found even in seemingly frivolous pursuits. Her vulnerability shines through as she shares her personal journey, offering valuable life lessons learned along the way.

Whether you’re a millennial yourself or simply curious about the generation that has often been misunderstood and misrepresented, this book is a must-read. Kate Kennedy’s engaging writing style, coupled with her deep understanding of pop culture and its impact, makes One In a Millennial a captivating and enriching experience. Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and reminded of the power and beauty that lies within our shared millennial narrative.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

As a fan of Kate Kennedy’s Be There in Five podcasts, I was overjoyed when I read an early copy of her upcoming book, One in a Millennial. This memoir meets essay collection focuses on Kate’s experiences growing up in the 90s, her teen and college years in the aughts, and life as an adult in the 2010s, with each chapter focusing on parts of millennial pop culture. As an early Gen Z’er myself, it was fun reading about the slight overlap between millennial and Gen Z culture (i.e. Limited Too, Hilary Duff, Full House). There is a ton to unpack in Kate’s book, but I especially enjoyed the analysis on how young girls and women’s pop culture interests, anywhere from boy bands to TSwift, should be valued more. I love Kate Kennedy’s writing; her voice shines through, as it’s very similar to her podcast style. Yet, the only struggle I had with the book is that much like her podcast, the chapters are quite lengthy and have a longer/near run-on sentence writing style that made me disengage at times. Overall, very worth the read if you’re interested in pop culture and a Be There in Five listeners.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

While I follow and enjoy Kate’s Insta, I don’t consider myself a “Beth” - I have listened to a few episodes of her podcast and it’s just not for me. I was worried when I started this book. Be warned, it’s definitely wordy and chock FULL of meandering thoughts and wordplay, but if you follow Kate you’ll know that’s just how she speaks. Once I got past the preface and into the nostalgia, I enjoyed myself much more than I expected. I did skim a few parts that felt like a college thesis, and I would have liked more memoir-ish content, but maybe that’s for another book. I really enjoyed the super specific references to the 90s and early aughts, and the Parent Trap chapter brought me to tears. I’m so happy for Kate and can’t wait to see her be a mama. This book will be a big hit with her listeners and will hopefully bring in more nostalgia junkies like me who will be giving her podcast another shot!