Thoughts:
Thank you, @netgalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am not usually a nonfiction girly, but y’all. For all of my millenial friends, this is a must read. I found myself laughing out loud along with her the whole time. And the NOSTALGIA. I feel like we lived the same journey through life and loved the explanations of the experiences we shared and the worldviews we have based on those.
Do yourself a favor, and pick this one up and go through a walk down memory lane of your childhood 🤍

This book releases January of 2024.

nostalgia heaven!!! i adore this more than anything and truly is something special. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I'm a huge fan of Kate Kennedy's podcast, Be There in Five, so I was especially excited to read and review her book, One in a Millennial! It was such a well-written, witty, and fun read, perfectly balanced between engaging longform pop culture narrative and heartfelt memoir. I would recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I didn't think Kennedy was doing anything new in this book. That would have been fine, except she also wasn't doing old particularly well. I just didn't feel like this book brought anything standout to the table.

One in a Millennial made my 30-something teeny bopper self so happy! I related so much to all of Kate's ups and downs through life, having gone through many of the same things myself. Her throwbacks to 90s and early 2000s music, fashion, and gadgets brought back so many fond memories from those years. Overall, this book just made me happy. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the chapter on her "deconstruction" of faith. While I can understand that sometimes things happen that make you question your faith, I think implying that you should turn your back on faith because things don't go the way you think they should is uncalled for. Beyond that, I strongly related to this essay on growing up as a millennial. It was nice to see someone who understands us.

So let me say from the top, I was not familiar with this author before finding this book on NetGalley. I have not listened to her podcast, so Kate is a new entity to me.

I really really wanted to love this book. From the prologue, I thought Kate might be the next Amy Krause Rosenthal with her excellent takes, pop culture references, poetic writing style, and love for wordplay. I loved the first section on the 90s. I mean, the section on American Girl dolls and church camp/the harms of purity culture felt like they were written for me. I was nodding my head along saying “YESSS this is the book I’ve been waiting for!”

But by the second section, the 2000s, I felt like the book had lost its momentum. The author’s takes were sporadic, and it felt like filler, the fluff between the two pieces of bread. The mid drift of this book was - like mine in the early 00s emulating a Britney Spears power outfit - bare.

By the final section, the author was back in her stride, striking a good balance between pop culture references and expanded takes on how the millennial zeitgeist impacts the perception of women. I was back on the One In A Millennial train by the final page.

I really felt like the first section deserved 5 stars, but the inconsistency between the sections and essays made the reading experience for me feel disjointed, netting 3 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Kate's longform, nostalgic podcast Be There in Five, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review her new book, One in a Millennial. It was everything I hoped it would be. Her book of essays about growing up a millennial literally brought me right back to my childhood and had me texting my best friend "Remember when?" multiple times in one week.
My only criticism is at times she can be wordy, but since knowing her from her podcast that she proudly deems as "longform", this is clearly to be expected....And boy, does she really does have a way with words.
I felt understood. At times, I thought "Hey, I wasn't making this up; this really did happen!" "Rain sticks, yessss!" Seldom moments in the book did I feel a little detached (the religious, Jesus camp stuff didn't really resonate with me, but did at the same time....Long story).
I can't wait to read more of Kate's books, because she has such potential in her writing. And let's be honest, there needs to be a whole damn book about how boyband culture shaped our views on love as millennials.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Life has the ability to change in an instant and sometimes there are moments in life that we will forever define as what happened before this incident and what happened after.
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Kate Baker’s young daughter Olivia vanishes among the waves on a beach vacation in a heart-racing, eyes wide moment, only to resurface a moment later. Told through parallel storylines, one where Olivia resurfaces and one that she doesn’t, this book gave off TJR, Maybe in Another Life Vibes and I was here for it.
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Readers witness Kate's journey through grief, loss, and a custody battle, exploring the profound impact of different kinds of loss. This thought-provoking book challenges readers to live with eyes wide open.

Once in a Millennial explores the unique challenges of growing up as a Millennial. Kate Kennedy takes us through the experience with layers of nostalgia, witty pop culture references and personal anecdotes. As a female millennial who also loves thinking about and talking about the "why" we are the way we are, this book hit the mark.

Special shout outs to the 10 Things I Hate About You and Legally Blonde analysis. I also felt especially seen by the Chi hair straightener, going out shirt and wanting to be a designer jean girl discussions. Kate really has away of verbalizing experiences that are ubiquitous but hard to describe.

This book is a meld of cultural commentary and memoir, on what it means to be a female millennial and why. I highly recommend it to millennials, Be There in Five fans and people interested in cultural commentary in general. I read a copy of this book but I think it would be especially great on audiobook. A lot of the chapters feel like Kate is talking directly to you and can imagine myself loving this book on a road trip. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

One of the most relatable and skillfully crafted memoirs I've read in a while. It's so FUNNY and it made me feel seen and heard. As someone who is growing up as a "Zillenial", I felt like I could relate to so many of the topics Kate discussed and it's nice to know that I'm not alone in this crazy journey!

Proud Millennial here. These chapters are way too long and meandering for a memoir. I tried to keep up with where I think she was trying to go but it just seemed like it took her forever to get to the point. I loved the nostalgia and at times I did feel like I’ve never had an original life experience but this needed some hard editing.

First let me start out by saying I am a through and through physical book girlie. Receiving a digital ARC was great, but the pages to turn on an e-book will forever confuse me. Oops I bumped it ahead 3 pages, or was it 4? Each time I did this (a lot) I got excited 1) because I was elongating the amount of time I could check out and feel the nostalgia and 2) because even if I re-read a page or two on my quest to get back to my original spot, I took something new away from the story I read, a new memory unlocked, or just experiencing the general easiness of Kate's words. I can't wait for the physical copy, I can't wait for the audiobook, I will be consuming every form until further notice to feel the hug that is One in a Millennial.

One In A Millennial is Kate Kennedy’s hilarious, yet poignant commentary on the experiences and nostalgia to which many women in their 30s can relate.

As an enthusiast of Kate’s podcast, Be There In Five, this collection of essays shares her clever command of the English language (word play all day!) and contains a stunning analysis of the often maligned culture of a generation.

Are there an excessive number of references to Limited Too? Perhaps. But is she also able to so perfectly articulate the contradictory and impossible expectations placed upon women in our society from the moment they are born? YES! And there are many laugh out loud moments and references that make Kate feel like an old friend you maybe snuck out of the house with to perform a séance in a nearby cemetery. IYKYK.

If this title piques your interest, buy a couple extra copies to pass on to your BFFs; I already did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I've been listening to Kate Kennedy's podcast for a couple of years now, and I was so excited to get to read an ARC of One in a Millennial. This was such a fun, witty, and engaging read. This book is a great look into how pop culture helps shape us and the nostalgia we feel toward it.

I'm not familiar with Kate Kennedy, as I'm not active on major social media and don't listen to podcasts. I wanted to read One in a Millennial because of my generational pride and desperate need for us to be taken seriously--so this did not disappoint.

These essays were incredibly fun, poignant and relatable (to me--I know not everyone will vibe with all of these very specific slice-of-life adventures.) Kennedy reminds us that our past experiences matter, even when people were telling us, as they were happening, that they don't. Coming of age in the 90s and early 2000s was special and complicated and she does an excellent job of illustrating why. I also automatically love any poem that references lyrics to the Hey Dude and Salute Your Shorts theme songs, as they are tattooed on my brain for all of eternity.

The overlong rambling and cutesy word play were a bit much for my personal taste, but she calls herself out on it and I can appreciate that that is her style and she owns it. Do your thing, girl.

Thanks to the publisher and NG!

This book was filled with nostalgia. I am a little older than the author but I did still find some similarities in what she wrote about and it was a fun read. I did not relate to all references as a black woman, however, it was still fun and enjoyable. I would recommend it.

Pros: I assumed I would love this book because of how much I enjoy the author on Instagram and on her podcast Be There In Five, and it was everything I hoped it would be. Kate Kennedy’s voice is genuine, thoughtful, vulnerable, smart, and funny. My favorite thing about her is how relatable she is, which I know has a lot to do with us being the same age and having the same pop culture references (American Girl Dolls! Gilmore Girls! Boy Bands!). My favorite section was about the 1990s, especially the essay about faith/evangelicalism/purity culture.

I plan to read this again on audiobook because the author reads it, and I would love to hear the book in her voice as I’m so used to hearing it on her podcast.

Cons: Although I gave this book 5 stars (which I almost never do), I don’t think this will be the perfect book for every reader because it is an examination of a specific generation. I think readers who are not as close in age to the author will enjoy the book but not deeply connect with it like millennials will.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

My sister in law molly introduced me to Kate Kennedy a few years ago. She’s become a bonding touchstone for us with her relatable millennial ways. So naturally we both freaked when she announced her book. And then I freaked again when I got an eARC of said book.

As someone who lets annual rewatches of gilmore girls and the church of Taylor swift rule their life as well, I knew this would be the book for me. This book was a miserable and magical look back (in the daybed if you will) it dug deep into the darkest corners of my lil brain and remembered all the best and worst parts of the 90s/00s experience. It isn’t a book everyone is going to love and understand and I think Kate does a great job of being transparent about that in her writing. She has pigeonholed the pop culture girly of the early aughts who has some serious religious trauma she is still unpacking into adulthood. Kate has a very special way of making niche people and occasions feel seen I love the heart and soul she puts into her writing. I think this book, much like the Barbie movie, was made for women to take up space and shout their interests loud and proud leaning into their girlhood parts they never fully outgrew. A lot of the now chapter does seem like a long form pod ep with the ranting and the rambling, but isn’t that why we love her? I thank her for sharing what she does with us, we aren’t owed any of it but I’m happy she exists to share.

Thank you St. Martin’s press, netgalley and of course Kate Kennedy for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-galley of ONE IN A MILLENNIAL to read in advance! This book will be published in January 2024!

Kate Kennedy takes a look at what it means to be a millennial. From beginning with dial-up internet to holding it in the palm of your hand, purity culture, and financial crisis, millennials have seen a lot. Pop podcaster Kate Kennedy tells hilarious anecdotes with a little levity in what it means to be part of Generation Y, born between 1981 and 1996.

This was the nonfiction book I didn't know I needed. I connected with so many stories from Kate's own life, and cackled at some of the references. Other portions brought tears to my eyes as different emotions were stirred up. I also was left wondering and reflecting if some of the things she mentioned affected me in the same way. My only "issue" with the book (and I use that word lightly) is how often she uses the word, "zeitgeist." Which was probably on purpose. Kate Kennedy wrote a book I think most millennials will connect with and enjoy. Even if you don't like non-fiction, give the audiobook a try! As a professional podcast creator, Kate narrates her own words, which is sure to bring them to life.

ARC releasing 1/24/24. A series of essays on Millennial pop culture. The author has a popular podcast but I’ve never heard of it; I simply picked up this book because I’m a sucker for nostalgia. I enjoyed this but felt it was more memoir and personal compared to just a dive on pop culture. Although I enjoyed those moments as I too have personal stories around AIM, fandoms, and being deeply insecure throughout in my younger years, it’s not what I wanted to read about. Enjoyable overall, but not necessarily what I wanted from this book.