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!

DNF at 18%. It’s incredibly wordy without really going anywhere. Feels like something I’d enjoy reading an article for, I don’t need a whole book. Some funny parts, just not enough for me to want to keep going

I enjoy Kate’s podcast occasionally, so I was curious to read this. But it just reads like a Time Capsule for people who want to know what coming of age was like for people born in the late 80s/early 90s, and I already lived through it myself. I’m not a nostalgia girlie.

DNF

The subject matter felt so pertinent and had a lot to offer, but the pace is so slow that I just did not care about any of it.

In fact, I tried 3 separate times to pick this book up and it never caught my attention.

DNF

As a fan of Kate Kennedy’s Be There in Five podcast, I was overjoyed when I was able to read an early copy of her upcoming book, One in a Millennial. This is 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 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 and 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 has 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/or a Be There in Five listener. My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Unfortunately I did not think this one was very good - the essays were fun pop culture references but I'm not sure there was much of a takeaway there.

What a nostalgic read for a millennial! I was such a fan of this book and loved reading about some of the 90s trends I’d forgotten about- this felt like a conversation with a good friend!

***Thank you, Kate Kennedy, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own***
Release Date: 01.23.2024
I want to preface this by saying I never listened to Kate’s podcast and did not know who she was prior to this book. I went in totally blind.
I am a tried and true millennial. I was born in ’93 and reading this book has made me realize there is NOTHING original about me. I LOVED reading this, Kates cheeky writing really packed a punch. I loved the nostalgia, the reminiscing, albeit sometimes rambling. There was not a single thing mentioned that I was (unfortunately) not (at least a minor) part of. A few things especially poignant for me:
Part I - The 90's:
The late 90's mall culture … oh my god. The best analogy of the entire book - bath and body works = teenage cracker barrel. Then there were the sleepovers with friends on trundle day beds and somehow it was decided that Scream = pipeline to true crime? UHM. YES. How did I not realize this sooner? The best part of the second freezer growing up? THE LUIGIS FROZEN ICE AND THE FUDGE POPs. For real, nothing original has ever happened to me. Then let’s go to our AIM life – trying to find a “boyfriend” while also trying out different versions of yourself, however these “boyfriends” were never always more emotional dumping friends with no real romantic value. AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON PURITY CULTURE – damn, between the Disney starts with their purity rings to how dress code also plays a role into purity culture. SHIT. The best quote of the entire book: “I lost my religion because I wanted to sleep in.”
Part II - The 00’s:
Another non-original thought – how everyone loved dolphins or whales and wanted to become a marine biologist. I’m pretty sure there’s a yearbook circulating somewhere that said I wanted to be a marine biologist / dolphin trainer. On the same topic of school – Mead 5-star notebooks – I STILL use one at my current job, writing my daily reports in them in morning meeting – nothing compares. Handwriting also was something I never thought much on until reading this but there definitely was a way to identify who was mean vs who was nice based off how some of their letters looked. Then comes college and the debate of going out or going out out, really made such a difference. While pregaming for going out it was ALWAYS 99 Bananas, the night ruiner for many. As we get older our bodies change, and diet culture becomes the enemy. Bathing suits become the enemy. Society will always prioritize skinny culture. The chapter on mental health really hit home – I always felt anxious and never knew how to express it and as I got older the feels added to depression.
Part III – Today (2010s?)
Adulthood. Its much different than what we expect, and in some aspects, better. The “she believed she could so she did” quote – UGH. I had this on my nursing school pin and so did half my class. Again, not a damn original thought in my head. Kate mentions the awkward time in life when your entire social calendar is things for your friends - weddings, showers, birthdays and i feel like I just got past that stage of my life

I've been a huge fan of Kate Kennedy and her podcast Be There in Five for years, so I was over the moon to get an early copy of her upcoming book. It definitely didn't disappoint! Funny and rambling (in the best way) and full of nostalgia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

This was such a fun read! It was like talking with my childhood best friend. Kate has so much humor and personality, I'm definitely going to check out her podcast after reading One In Millennial. This book was meant for 90's babies who are now in their 30's but still love Lisa Frank and have a 90's Playlist that they still shamelessly blast.

Kate Kennedy is the unifying thread for millennial women everywhere. Her writing feels both nostalgic and like you're having a conversation with your best friend. Whether you're a longtime fan of "Be There in Five" or just stumbled across this book, you'll love "One in a Millenial" (and Kate!).

Full disclosure: I am an avid fan if Kate’s podcast and was excited to see this available on NetGalley.

The good:
- Excellent level of nostalgia: The milky pens! The away messages! Loved taking a trip down memory lane.
- Very thoughtful analysis of important topics related to feminism and pop culture

The areas of opportunity:
- The introduction was extremely long, I had to put the book down and come back to it a couple times just to get beyond that.
- Sometimes this book felt more like a research paper than a memoir, which I wasn’t expecting. Maybe it isn’t really supposed to be a memoir.
- I found myself skipping a few pages here and there to get through the “bonus” pieces at the end of some chapters.

All in all, a great dose of nostalgia and I am happy to support Kate in this journey. I am worries that I may have DNF’d if I didn’t have previous familiarity with the author’s work. Thank you St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this book.

Excellent. Kate Kennedy is the voice of our generation and I'm here for every word! The way she so eloquently puts words to our shared experience of growing up in a time of mixed CDs and American girls is exactly what I look for in a trip down memory lane!

After hearing friends rave about her podcast, I was excited to see Kate Kennedy's boom available as an ARC. While the nostalgia is fun, it was unbelievably wordy and overwritten. Not every sentence needs a minimum of 97 words, 4 of which were on someone's SAT study list.

I love Kate’s podcast so it’s not surprising that I love her book. She writes just like she talks, so it’s a fast-paced, pun-filled, almost-but-not-quite unhinged delight. Her book validates the “basic” among us, and explores the experience of millennial women, and since it’s written by one of us, it rings true and lacks condescension. I particularly recommend this book to the seventeen magazine, one tree hill, Taylor swift loving millennial girls girls.