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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy
8 reviews
quasinaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This was a fascinating read, in part because Kate Kennedy and I have some shared cultural touchstones from our sheer millennialness, but we are also very different people with very different pop culture interests who are at very different points in our lives now. Stellar wordplay and humor, interspersed with touching personal and/or embarrassing anecdotes. A delight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Mental illness
Moderate: Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Sexism
Minor: Mass/school shootings
mynameisrebecca's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.25
You'll probably feel more connection to this book if you listen to Kate's podcast. I thought it was going to be more reflective overall, though it leans very memoir and introspective which wasn't as exciting for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Sexual assault
lexibar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I was provided access to this audiobook by the publisher via NetGalley. I really enjoyed the nostalgia of this book. Limited Too!, American Girl, trundle beds, AIM, oh my! I really enjoyed the author’s commentary on how girls and women are made to feel as if our interests aren’t valid or acceptable by men, and thus society as a whole. I also appreciated that where she could, she mentioned her privilege, but also was honest with the ways in which she struggled with mental health and later on, fertility. This book was perhaps deeper than I anticipated, but it was that depth that made it all the more compelling. I also appreciated that the author addressed how her voice appeared labored at times (there’s a spoiler here, so I won’t say it) because I noticed and it was a bit distracting but I wouldn’t say it was often. But I did notice, so I liked that she explained why. I also personally love when you can hear a narrator’s emotions in an audiobook because it just makes it even more relatable. Overall, I’d recommend this audiobook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Mental illness
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Gun violence
Minor: Rape
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Bullying, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Sexual content
jaklyn_heath_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
The nostalgia was strong in this book. I seriously don’t think I can accurately put into words the experience of reading (listening to) this book. I feel so seen and understood as a female millennial.
The discussions about being a fan girl, being made to feel silly for liking things, the real talk about purity culture at church, and the thousands of references to nostalgic things from growing up both were highly entertaining and served to heal something in me that I didn’t know needed healing.
I haven’t felt this feeling of being deeply understood and like I’m part of a special insiders club in a VERY long time. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world and I will be screaming my praises for this book from the rooftop for a long time to come.
I’m so glad I got to listen to the audiobook as Kate Kennedy narrated it. I LOVED how the producers of the book decided to keep in the parts where Kate’s voice breaks when talking about how much she loves her husband, when discussing a pregnancy loss, when talking about an influential boss who has since passed, and in her acknowledgements. It was so moving to hear the real emotion behind her words.
I LOVED this book. I am telling everyone I know to read it.
The discussions about being a fan girl, being made to feel silly for liking things, the real talk about purity culture at church, and the thousands of references to nostalgic things from growing up both were highly entertaining and served to heal something in me that I didn’t know needed healing.
I haven’t felt this feeling of being deeply understood and like I’m part of a special insiders club in a VERY long time. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world and I will be screaming my praises for this book from the rooftop for a long time to come.
I’m so glad I got to listen to the audiobook as Kate Kennedy narrated it. I LOVED how the producers of the book decided to keep in the parts where Kate’s voice breaks when talking about how much she loves her husband, when discussing a pregnancy loss, when talking about an influential boss who has since passed, and in her acknowledgements. It was so moving to hear the real emotion behind her words.
I LOVED this book. I am telling everyone I know to read it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Mental illness
llehouser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Nostalgic. Funny. Relatable. If you are a child of the 80s/90s/00s (aka a millennial), you are going to eat, pray, love your way through this book.
From vacation boyfriends to Now & Then, Clueless, and AIM, Kate Kennedy encapsulated what it means to be a millennial and relayed her experience in easy-to-digest essays and poems. She pokes fun at millennials in a way only fellow millennials are allowed to do. The interspersed song lyrics felt like little Easter eggs of throwback goodness.
I felt myself either going back to simpler times or thinking about what I still need to discuss at my next therapy session. I also never knew I had such strong feelings about NSync's "God Must Have Spent Have Spent a Little More Time on You" (and is that not the longest song title ever?!). The Parent Trap essay resonated most with me... Kennedy's anecdote from the HomeGoods line has been me so many times.
Absolutely recommend. The audio narration is a gem. I could feel (and often hear) Kennedy's emotion. Her wit and dry humor was refreshing.
From vacation boyfriends to Now & Then, Clueless, and AIM, Kate Kennedy encapsulated what it means to be a millennial and relayed her experience in easy-to-digest essays and poems. She pokes fun at millennials in a way only fellow millennials are allowed to do. The interspersed song lyrics felt like little Easter eggs of throwback goodness.
I felt myself either going back to simpler times or thinking about what I still need to discuss at my next therapy session. I also never knew I had such strong feelings about NSync's "God Must Have Spent Have Spent a Little More Time on You" (and is that not the longest song title ever?!). The Parent Trap essay resonated most with me... Kennedy's anecdote from the HomeGoods line has been me so many times.
Absolutely recommend. The audio narration is a gem. I could feel (and often hear) Kennedy's emotion. Her wit and dry humor was refreshing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Miscarriage and Mental illness
basicbsguide's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Kate is great! I wasn’t sure how much this would resonate with me as I’m technically considered a Gen X (1979) but 90% of it did. Loved all the pop culture references and her dissection of how those have shaped us. How flawed so many of them are yet they are precious childhood memories for us. We loved Saved By the Bell but Slater treated Jessie like a dumb dumb. How feminism was tainted from an early age and thought of as some enraged woman.
I love that she gives us permission to love surface level things - makeup, celeb gossip, bravo etc while also still allowing for deep meaningful connections with others.
I really appreciated what she shared in regards to infertility. How ingrained it was growing up - playing Mash - how many kids we would have, only to later face that sometimes parenthood isn’t a choice.
I felt like a kid again reading about slumber parties, the mall, dream phone, Now and Then, CPK, gaucho pants lol. She doesn’t corrupt those memories but expands our understanding of them. Giving space for love and growth.
I’ll definitely be reading more from Kate.
I love that she gives us permission to love surface level things - makeup, celeb gossip, bravo etc while also still allowing for deep meaningful connections with others.
I really appreciated what she shared in regards to infertility. How ingrained it was growing up - playing Mash - how many kids we would have, only to later face that sometimes parenthood isn’t a choice.
I felt like a kid again reading about slumber parties, the mall, dream phone, Now and Then, CPK, gaucho pants lol. She doesn’t corrupt those memories but expands our understanding of them. Giving space for love and growth.
I’ll definitely be reading more from Kate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Mental illness
dogbuttsandbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.25
I’ve been following Kate and Be There in Five since the beginning. I literally had a custom doormat! So I was so excited to get an early copy of Kate’s book. But, at the risk of sounding like a mean girl from a Mary Kate and Ashley movie, it was not worth the read. It comes it at a whopping 330 pages, and the chapters take long, meandering trips to get to the point (don’t even get me started on the pages about some song called Quack Diddly Oso in the chapter about sleepovers) — which speaking of, I’m not sure the blurb even knows what the point of the book is? Is it a memoir? Is it an analysis of the early 2000s? I’ve read the whole thing and I’m still not sure.
Kate’s turn of phrase and word play works so well on her podcast, but it is so incredibly heavy handed in this book. I hope it works better on the audio version.
The best parts of this book are the random interstitials and snorkels Kate does into specific pieces of pop culture — this is what I wish the whole book had been. Chapter 11, about how the term “basic” and the way women’s popular interests are used to undermine and discredit 50% of the population was the best chapter and should’ve been the first chapter and outline for the book. I truly wish we could’ve seen more of that conversation. Because girls rule and boys truly drool.
I think Kate is a fun, kind person who has created a wonderful place on the internet, but unfortunately her sheltered life as a middle income white women with almost every privilege on the planet does not make a her the prime person to be the voice of women’s empowerment. Reading dozens of pages about Kate, a thin, white, conventionally attractive, blonde woman wasn’t able to land guys in college … until she shortly after met her husband… just doesn’t sit well in 2023. Despite the hundreds (thousands?) of pop culture references, I remember only a handful about trends and moments that included or would’ve been pivotal for people of color.
All that being said, I know many of her listeners will love this book and in the spirit of Kate’s message to embrace what you love, regardless of others’ opinions, I hope it’s what their dreams are made of (hey now).
The best parts of this book are the random interstitials and snorkels Kate does into specific pieces of pop culture — this is what I wish the whole book had been. Chapter 11, about how the term “basic” and the way women’s popular interests are used to undermine and discredit 50% of the population was the best chapter and should’ve been the first chapter and outline for the book. I truly wish we could’ve seen more of that conversation. Because girls rule and boys truly drool.
I think Kate is a fun, kind person who has created a wonderful place on the internet, but unfortunately her sheltered life as a middle income white women with almost every privilege on the planet does not make a her the prime person to be the voice of women’s empowerment. Reading dozens of pages about Kate, a thin, white, conventionally attractive, blonde woman wasn’t able to land guys in college … until she shortly after met her husband… just doesn’t sit well in 2023. Despite the hundreds (thousands?) of pop culture references, I remember only a handful about trends and moments that included or would’ve been pivotal for people of color.
All that being said, I know many of her listeners will love this book and in the spirit of Kate’s message to embrace what you love, regardless of others’ opinions, I hope it’s what their dreams are made of (hey now).
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the free advanced release copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
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