I would like to thank NetGalley and Abrams Press for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review. I wasn't able to finish the book before it was archived. I have long been a Whitney fan and remember where I was when I heard she passed. This book lays out Whitney's life so well. I wish I could have finished it but I thank you for the opportunity to start it at least.

Definitely a book for Whitney Houston fans and those who already have delved into her life. I found the reader sometimes needed a little background on her. This is not he ordinary type of biography. It's more a short collections of tales and history surrounding Whitney Houston.

I loved this book so much. I love Whitney Houston so much, I was so sad when she passed and still is to this day.

"But we cannot let ourselves off the hook if we are going to create a different environment - not just for our celebrities, but for ourselves."

I sincerely applaud this author because this wasn't your normal "let's sensationalize" Whitney's fall from grace that we have grown accustomed to seeing. Didn't We Almost Have It All revisits the societal context of all events involving Whitney's career as well as her parent's grooming and beliefs led her to not being her full self. This is not your typical story of an addict who succumbed to their disease.

Kennedy forces us to take a look at ourselves and the role we play in building up and tearing down one's self-esteem. Parents are instrumental and charged with protecting us from harm even if it is from other family members. It isn't our place to say someone isn't "black enough" when they are simply being themselves. It is most definitely not our place to police anyone's bedroom except our own. And, let's not get started on what folks will post for likes in which each of us will click on their degrading picture/story/video because we simply can't turn away from other's hardship.

We as a people thrive on other's downfall, just as much if not more, than seeing them win. It is through this lens that Kennedy recounts Whitney's life. Didn't We Almost Have It All helps us to remember the ceiling that Whitney shattered by becoming a Black pop princess and forces us to look into how each of us contributed to her downfall.

If you’re looking for a life to death tell-all about Whitney Houston, this isn’t the book for you. The author makes that clear at the very beginning and I appreciated that going in. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting, the way he shares his love and passion for Whitney by focusing on her talents is felt on every page. We also learn more about the obstacles she overcame before her fall from grace. And also, how we ridiculed her and let her down.

Kennedy shines a light on the criticisms and pressures she faced as a black artist in the 80’s + 90’s world of MTv. She was never “black enough” or “too wholesome” for unforgiving commentators, yet she still broke barriers and paved the way for black female artists and actresses to come. Also discussed is the obvious dark sides of Whitney’s life, the parts that were displayed on tabloids everywhere: her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown, the drugs and childhood sexual abuse.

This biography also addressed race, culture and the music industry. There are mentions of other big music stars, from Michael Jackson to Mariah Carey. Her history with Gospel music is a major theme at the beginning. At times, I did find myself skimming through these sections because it was a little drawn out and more than I wanted to know and sometimes took away from what I wanted to learn about her.

Kennedy reminded me how much I love I loved her music, jamming out to with my mom and sister in our living room. She was such a HUGE part of my childhood; I even dressed up as Whitney Houston for Halloween when I was 10 years old. 😆 While reading this, I played Whitney’s albums in the background and it was so nostalgic and sad at the same time. Knowing what we’ve lost when we left us. I spent time on YouTube watching old interviews and music videos. I’ve added The Bodyguard to my watchlist because after reading this, I NEED to watch it again. To hear her belt out “I Will Always Love You” again.

Fans of Whitney, pop culture and good ol’ R&B will enjoy this read! Be prepared to go down the Whitney rabbit hole and reminisce on how good we had it with her music!

Thank you NetGalley and Abrams Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

More of a collection of essays of factors in Whitney Houston's life and the author's thoughts on them than a true and full biography - if you know that going in, you will get it. It also makes for a quicker read for me personally.

Solid points on how we treat people in the public eye (and private, of course) who struggle with addiction or mental illness or any sort of visible rough patch, what we demand of people who are famous and of Black women and women in general, and the overall concept of shame and how that colors our world. We dishonored Whitney during her struggles, and that's on all of us.

A beautiful tribute to one of the most talented singers ever. Great storytelling without being salacious or mean..A worth it read.

Whitney

When I saw this book listened on NetGalley I immediately requested it no questions asked. I grew up listening to Whitney Huston’s music and will still belt out and preform to I Wanna Dance with Somebody. This year will mark 10 year since the anniversary of her death, and I can still recalled when the news of her death broke.

The Forward by Brandy was great, and it was so interesting to see someone who grew up listening to Whitney and then working with her.

This was such a power memoir and I so glad to have read it. Right from the start it really makes you think about how you treat people and how sometimes making someone the joke may end up having some dire consequences. How words are really powerful and we never really know what people are dealing with in their own lives. How important it is to let people live and be true to themselves instead of the box the society as a whole tries to put them in.

If you were a Whitney fan, I would definitely recommend reading this book.

If you are struggling with depression, or suicidal thoughts please reach out to someone or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255.

I love Whitney and I am a long-time defender of her. The reason one needs to defend Whitney is because her critics are many and loud. The author of this book about Ms Houston is a much bigger fan than me, and though he doesn’t shy from talking about her controversies, the respect and love that he has for “Nippy” shines through the pages.

The chapters in this book read like essays, at time repetitive with details but each a fascinating standalone mini dissertation about Whitney, but also about 80’s pop music, gospel, New Jack swing, 90’s R&B, the treatment of women in the media, sexual politics at the end of the 20th century, among more topics.

The repetition comes in with certain life details of Whitney’s that get repeated in chapters, and turns of phrases used more than once, such as how Whitney was a “woman who had been in Sorrow’s kitchen and licked out all the pots” or multiple mentions of “sugary” music. This is not a bad thing though because it really allows a person to pick up the book and begin reading at whichever era of Whitney’s they are interested in and get up to speed.

If Whitney had survived, I would have loved to see how she would have been redeemed in recent years as we learned as a society to be more inclusive and understanding. As the author states, “we lost Whitney before we learned to be better.”

This book gets released 2/1/22. I would like to thank Abrams Press for the advanced release copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I will be honest that I went into this book thinking it was going to be something different. When I realized it wasn’t the story on Whitney’s life that I was seeking I stopped reading. The chapter descriptions did not outline what I wanted from her story. Was I only here for the salacious drama, no, but I was expecting more. Honestly, I wasn’t interested in some of the angles and storylines presented.

Although I didn’t give this one an honest chance, I am interested in reading Robyn Crawford’s story. Being Whitney’s best friend, I think that her story would be the most honest and telling.

In 1988, in the middle of a snowstorm, my mother brought me from suburban New Jersey to Madison Square Garden to see Whitney Houston on her Whitney tour. I'll never forget my first concert and thinking that Whitney sure did change outfits a lot. Whitney is a true legend. That voice! I didn't realize all of the criticisms of Whitney's music that she faced through the years -- not good enough, not Black enough, not original enough. Kennedy tells the story of Whitney's family, rise to fame, addiction and death. You leave the book feeling that Whitney never go to be her true self. While some of the book was repetitive, it is a quick and interesting read. Now, I have the Whitney channel on Spotify on repeat. So many great hits.

Beautifully written about a women who is was an icon in our world for so long. This brought to light her life, struggles and how she handled her situation in the spotlight.

Didn’t we almost have it all is an in depth, raw look at who Whitney Houston was! It got down to the facts, no judgement just love for a woman whose voice shaped many lives!

I have always been enamored with the woman behind the strong voice and honestly growing up I didn’t pay attention to the media too much on her life I just knew that her music helped me through so much! After her tragic death, I, as well as many others, was crushed and lost! All the information on her was one way or another. This book sheds light on the lies and really talked about her in a very meaningful way!

The forward from Brandy really hit home and this book just made me fall in love with her and her music all over again!

I did get the chance to not finish this book due to changing capacity. The story and themes sound important and interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Whitney Houston within the context of the times in which she lived. I’ve long had all her albums, and recently added Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits DVD (Amazon) to my collection, which was produced in 2000. Whitney’s music and her videos were part of the soundtrack to my childhood and college years.

Ever since Whitney Houston died, most of the press has focused on the negative of Whitney’s life. Didn’t We Almost Have it All tries to balance that out by focusing on the positives of her life as well. Whitney had a lot to overcome, despite having a voice from God and incredible physical beauty. Her career as a black woman in a 1980’s MTV world that rarely played artists of color just shows how she broke barriers that paved the way for the others that followed.

Not only did Whitney have to fight the white establishment to get air play, she had to fight her own people because her music was pop and not “black” enough for some people like the Reverend Al Sharpton, who called her “White-ney Houston.” Despite those and a myriad of other obstacles, Whitney’s talent overcame those troubles and became a superstar.

The book doesn’t shy away from the dark side of Whitney’s life. The accusations that came out after her death that she was sexually abused by a family member, that her older brothers got her into drugs at a young age, the troubled relationship with her husband, Bobby Brown, no stone is left unturned. Whitney was a flawed woman in an unkind business industry that was unrelenting with it’s pressures on a young woman who lacked understanding family and friends. Her family was part of the problem, if you ask me, always hanging on and asking Whitney for more.

Even though we know all the sad truths of Whitney’s life now, it was still a nice ride down memory lane, with a 21st century context. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from NetGalley and Abrams Press in exchange for my honest review. 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 by Gerrick Kennedy, will be in stores February 1, 2022.

I picked this one up thinking it was a biography of Whitney Houston, but that’s not quite how I would categorize it. While there is certainly some background information about Houston, this is more of an examination of the culture surrounding her rise to fame. Kennedy’s in-depth essays about race, culture, and the music industry were thought-provoking and really made me think about the nuances behind stardom. Kennedy talks about a lot about 90s musicians – Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Mariah Carey – as well as Houston’s acting career. I really enjoyed the content of the book and will think about it for some time.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review (in connection with LibraryCon Live!) This in no way changed my rating**

Whitney Houston. A super talented (like once in a generation talented) pop mega icon who soon became the height of jokes for her drug addiction, her race, her music, and anything else people could have made fun of her for. I grew up listening to Whitney's music in the car in the 90s and seeing her play the iconic Fairy Godmother in Disney's version of Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Depending on which parent you ask, I was named for her (which lines up since I have both her first and middle name). Needless to say, she was influential in my music choices growing up. I was very saddened to hear of her passing. So while I don't normally read Nonfiction, I was intrigued to read a more comprehensive biography of her life, especially one that promised to discuss how and why she died against the backdrop of American tabloids and media.

While I got the media section, I didn't ever feel like I got "biography" from this book. There is a LOT of background that eventually gets to how it relates to Whitney, but on more than one occasion I fell asleep while the author went on about the history of gospel music or of Newark, NJ or her family pre-Whitney. This isn't to be rude because I know her mother was influential in her life, but if I wanted to know more about Cissy Houston, I would've looked into a book about her. I want to know about Whitney. I didn't really need the whole, long, drawn out story of how Cissy started in a Gospel group under a different name with her family and she wanted to be a back up singer but her family didn't want to sing non-Gospel music, etc. The book goes on a LOT of long tangents and that's just one example.

I think the writing was fine, but because it goes on so many tangents, it becomes dry very quickly and hard to keep my focus on. As I said, multiple times I fell asleep. It was like reading a textbook for a course about Whitney's life. I just think this book is more "essays on specific areas of Whitney Houston's life" than it is a biography and readers should know that going in. This is going to go VERY in-depth into certain aspects of her career and as a person, including her sexuality and her racial background and how that played a part in how the media treated her. The idea is interesting but it's just not what I thought the book was and when I realized this, it was hard for me to keep focused. It's just not what I was expecting and because that's on me, I'm giving this a 3. It's not the book's fault it wasn't for me but I also don't think I could give higher than a 3 since I feel like it was mismarketed.

Thank you so much for the ARC.
I so appreciate, reading the book on my Kindle.
I enjoyed the book. Getting into the book a bit, I never realized Whitney was born from music royalty. That book has taught me alot. Mainly how difficult it is to get into the music world; regardless of what you specialize in.
I found a bit saddening tho. Whitney went thru alot, From her early years to breaking out in the music scene, upon all sorts of genres. I give her credit. She did keep it together...
I'd give this book 4/5 flowers. You will see my VLOG review at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWi5HH8eTCPSXaaSazIK7Hg
@netgalley @kelliereviews

3 stars
This is an overall look not only at the career of Whitney Houston but an in-depth look at the music industry and all that means. The Whitney part is the draw and the insight regarding the manipulations and PR push make it more of a study of the industry.

There are many books written about Whitney Houston. If you haven’t read any of them and would like a comprehensive look at her life and her downfall, then this book is for you. However, if you’re like me and read just about every book written about her, you may find this book minimally entertaining at best.
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After diving into this digital ARC, I quickly realized it is not just about Whitney Houston. Kennedy’s biography also takes a look at the music industry and pop culture during the time of Whitney’s rise to megastardom. Some of the best stories in the book are about people other than Whitney Houston. I learned a lot about many others. But unfortunately, I didn’t read anything new about Whitney. Everything the author shares I’ve either, read in other books, seen in movies, read in magazines articles or watched during interviews. I must admit, I was a little let down.
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But, how Kennedy’s book differs from other books is the way in which he shares Whitney’s story. He writes about Whitney with care and understanding. He allows the reader to see Whitney’s flaws. Yet, he acknowledges that Whitney was a beautiful spirit that not only suffered, but paid the ultimate price for fame at the hands of a brutal music industry and unforgiving world. Also, Kennedy attempts to provide a heartfelt explanation for Whitney’s downfall and ruin. I appreciate his compassion.
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Overall, I do not consider this a “must read”. It was a little too slow paced for me, and it lacked the ability to hold my attention.
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But, I do love the book’s title and cover!
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Thank you Abrams Press for gifting me this advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
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𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥: 𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 by Gerrick Kennedy, Foreword by Brandy, will be in stores February 1, 2022.