Reviewer: Jenna Ballard
Published: 2024
Genres: Pop Culture, Memoir, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Grade Levels: Adult
Content Warnings: Pregnancy loss, infertility
Goodreads Link: One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
Publisher’s Summary:
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.
Review:
It’s hard to pin down one genre for this book because it consistently blends humor, nostalgia, personal anecdotes–both silly and serious–and cultural commentary. Kennedy is a clever and thoughtful writer. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, which I think really added to my enjoyment of this book. Kennedy’s fast-paced speech is a bit reminiscent of Gilmore Girls dialogue–a comparison I suspect she would be thrilled by–and her voice feels extremely familiar and comforting, as a fellow millennial woman, almost like I’m listening to a friend. There are moments when she recounts difficult memories, such as her experience with an ectopic pregnancy, and you can literally hear the pain in her voice as her throat catches or her voice wobbles while powering through the chapter, adding a new level of emotion and intimacy between narrator and listener.
If you, too had a childhood full of shopping trips to Limited Too, dressing up as your favorite Spice Girl, wishing you owned your favorite American Girl, and messaging your school crush on AIM, you will appreciate going along for the ride with Kennedy and might have some of those moments when you pause and think: “Wait, I’m NOT the only person who felt that?!”
