I really do think this book needs a different marketing strategy. I requested an advance copy of this because the description said it was a commentary on millennial pop culture when this is really a memoir. The author writes about various topics from her childhood and adolescence through college and her adult working life.

While I enjoyed some of the essays and anecdotes, I found most of the book dragged on and I was skipping parts to just get through it. I wouldn't say this is about the universal millennial experience but is more about the author's unique experiences and while I related to some parts of the book others didn't resonate with me. As a young millennial I'm a bit too young for some of the nostalgic topics that were covered but others were spot on for me. I do think this is a good book for fans of the Be There In Five podcast but I'd never heard of the podcast and haven't listened to any episodes so I'm not invested in Kennedy as a person or in her life. This missed the mark for me but could be enjoyable to those who are fans of the author already.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for a review! This was a very relatable and humorous read for a millennial like myself, and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. It was unique, but I had some trouble fully connecting with the author, and I may have had a better time with that if I listened to her podcast. I felt there was some missed potential here, and it's outside my typical genre. I would recommend this for the millennial girlies out there looking for a nostalgic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of One in a Millennial. Ive never heard of Kate before, or the podcast before; but being an older millennial I figured it would spark some core memories of my own; and I’ll say that at least in part I was able to connect with many of the themes in this book, but it definitely read more like an autobiography and when I had no clue who Kate was, I found it hard to recall connect. I will look up the podcast and go that route to try and get to know her and then try this book again; but for me personally it was just alright.

Enjoyed the nostalgia. I’ve never listened to the author’s podcast so I didn’t realize it was going to be about faith/religion, a bit of a turnoff for me.

If you are a fan of Kate Kennedy and her podcast you will enjoy this book. It's a bit young for me so I had a hard time relating to some of this and found myself skimming some. But the author is so smart and I am in awe of how she breaks down ideas and is not afraid to share her thoughts productively. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

“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.”

Wow, this was so nostalgic and heartwarming. I have never related so much to a book before, being a millennial myself. Loved it!!

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!