I don't remember exactly how I stumbled upon Kate Kennedy's podcast 'Be There in 5' but I do know that it has remained one of the things that brings me immense amount of joy over the years. Kate is the founder of what was once a booming doormat business.
Do you remember back in the mid 2010s the doormats that said 'Turn Off Your Straightener'? That was all Kate. Somehow, she started a podcast from that and the rest is history.
Be There in 5 is a millennial girl's dream. Kate discusses everything (in long form, winded context) from American Girl to Bath & Body Works to Mormon Mommy Bloggers. She goes deep on the subjects of girlhood, motherhood, and everything that affects women, no matter the age. Kate is a huge Swiftie, loves Bravo, and is all around a pop culture enthusiast.
She is my millennial icon because she explains the millennial persona, love of nostalgia and that time period so eloquently with humor woven throughout.
When I heard she was writing a book about growing up as a millennial girl, I knew it was going to be an immediate 'yes' and I was even more thrilled when I received an ARC of it from NetGalley.
One in a Millennial is being released on January 23rd, 2024 and if you are a millennial, and you love being one, you need to pre-order it now.
Publisher's Summary
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.
My Thoughts
There was not a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't love this book and it lived up to every expectation I had. Kate's writing style is just like her podcast style; it's long winded, in the best way possible, and is ridden with little jokes and pop culture anecdotes. It's very Lorelei Gilmore (without all the selfishness). If you've never listened to Be There in 5, it might take some getting used to but it's so fun and I know you'll eat it up in no time.
One in a Millennial covers everything from Britney Spears, Limited Too, Going Out Tops, the Internet and Pumpkin Spice fascination. It covers the 1990s-2020s and hits on every major milestone young millennial woman have gone through. It's a look behind the curtain of what it was like to grow up in a time where everything was promised to us, but nothing was delivered.
While the topics Kate discusses might seem surface level, she has a way of deep diving into them and finding the depth and seriousness. She can analyze a situation, a pop culture moment or phenomenon and discuss how that moment shaped us. She allows us to look at things a little differently than before.
This book, and everything Kate puts out, makes me feel so seen. I've always felt deeply connected to pop culture, to the nostalgia of my childhood, and the idea of the millennial generation. We're the last generation to know what it was like before the internet, before cellphones, before streaming services. We're very special in a lot of ways and it makes me sad that so many people dislike us for no reason.
I take being a millennial very seriously, it's half of my personality (half joking, half not) so this book was like coming home for me. It was so funny, so witty, so interesting, and just a good time. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me nod along and reflect on my own memories.
One in a Millennial is a quick, fun, witty, and beautiful read that feels perfect coming off of the year of Barbie, Beyonce and Taylor Swift. 2023 was truly the year of the girl, and One in a Millennial is the best way to kick off 2024.
xoxo
B
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