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American Fantasy
From New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.
When the American Fantasy cruise ship sets sail for a four-day themed voyage, aboard are all five members of a famous 1990s boyband, and three thousand screaming women who have worshipped them for thirty years.
Newly divorced and with an empty nest, Annie is on board as a lark to appease her sister. Once a diehard fan of the band as a teen, her tastes have matured, and she feels out of place amid the sea of bedazzled, air-brushed t-shirts bearing the singers’ faces. Yet when the lights come up and the idols of her youth begin to sing before her, something is unlocked. “Maybe that was nostalgia after all, the music a direct vein to her childhood, the least complicated part of her life. A short cut to happiness.” Between the slushy alcoholic drinks, the music of her youth, and the thousands of middle-aged women acting like lovesick teenagers, Annie finally reconnects to a long-submerged part of herself. By the time she befriends one of the band members -- not just a celebrity but someone also in need of a friend -- she feels like anything is possible. But a lot can go wrong on a ship ruled by hormones and hope, frustration and fantasy.
Packed with wisdom, heart, and laugh-out-loud reflections on fame, youth, nostalgia, marriage, and middle age, Emma Straub delivers a richly textured, uplifting story about the magic of revisiting youthful feelings, and the even greater magic of starting anew.
When the American Fantasy cruise ship sets sail for a four-day themed voyage, aboard are all five members of a famous 1990s boyband, and three thousand screaming women who have worshipped them for thirty years.
Newly divorced and with an empty nest, Annie is on board as a lark to appease her sister. Once a diehard fan of the band as a teen, her tastes have matured, and she feels out of place amid the sea of bedazzled, air-brushed t-shirts bearing the singers’ faces. Yet when the lights come up and the idols of her youth begin to sing before her, something is unlocked. “Maybe that was nostalgia after all, the music a direct vein to her childhood, the least complicated part of her life. A short cut to happiness.” Between the slushy alcoholic drinks, the music of her youth, and the thousands of middle-aged women acting like lovesick teenagers, Annie finally reconnects to a long-submerged part of herself. By the time she befriends one of the band members -- not just a celebrity but someone also in need of a friend -- she feels like anything is possible. But a lot can go wrong on a ship ruled by hormones and hope, frustration and fantasy.
Packed with wisdom, heart, and laugh-out-loud reflections on fame, youth, nostalgia, marriage, and middle age, Emma Straub delivers a richly textured, uplifting story about the magic of revisiting youthful feelings, and the even greater magic of starting anew.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
2551 people are currently reading
82128 people want to read
About the author
Emma Straub
29 books5,998 followersEmma Straub is the New York Times‒bestselling author of the novels All Adults Here, Modern Lovers, The Vacationers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. Straub's work has been published in twenty countries, and she and her husband own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,324 reviews
March 28, 2026
im sorry but i just didn’t vibe with this at all, im actually shocked i didn’t DNF 🤷🏼♀️ there was nearly nothing going on in the plot and i personally couldn’t relate to any of the characters.
pros: some funny moments, narration on audio by Marin Ireland kept me listening/didn’t make me DNF, concept of 90s nostalgia was relatable, the cover is gorg
something finally happens around like 80% in (80!!!!!!!) but it doesn’t really develop and leaves open ended which was like, okay?
it follows a bunch of women from all over who get to go on a cruise with the hit band of the 90s (think: millennials going on a cruise with The Backstreet Boys). but honestly, that’s like all that was going on 🤣
i also didn’t get the POV/point of Sarah???!!!
anywho… for me, this could be a skip.
pros: some funny moments, narration on audio by Marin Ireland kept me listening/didn’t make me DNF, concept of 90s nostalgia was relatable, the cover is gorg
something finally happens around like 80% in (80!!!!!!!) but it doesn’t really develop and leaves open ended which was like, okay?
it follows a bunch of women from all over who get to go on a cruise with the hit band of the 90s (think: millennials going on a cruise with The Backstreet Boys). but honestly, that’s like all that was going on 🤣
i also didn’t get the POV/point of Sarah???!!!
anywho… for me, this could be a skip.
April 12, 2026
I liked the story, and the characters were really rich. I also liked how we got their backstories. But unfortunately, nothing really stood out for me.
It seems like rock band stories are a hot topic at the moment, so each new one needs to stand out just a little more to feel like an epic book for me.
It seems like rock band stories are a hot topic at the moment, so each new one needs to stand out just a little more to feel like an epic book for me.
April 9, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up, for this 90's boy band on a cruise ship novel. I liked this book well-enough, but NGL - a whole lot of that was because I'm in my cruising era & I really liked the cruise ship setting & activities. I've never done a theme or charter cruise though and I wasn't into 90's boy bands (more NIN & RHCPs) so the music part was kinda meh. The 50'ish FMC was well-written though & reconnecting with your younger self is also something I understand. Overall, it was just okay
April 22, 2026
4.5⭐️ Newly divorced, empty nester Annie is aboard a 4-day themed cruise featuring all five members of her once-beloved 1990s Boy Talk. But a solo trip to the past becomes a chance to see things anew.
Once you board the American Fantasy, it’s easy to be swept out to sea with Annie, Boy Talk, and the rest of the gang of complex, quirky characters. The 90s boy band nostalgia here is fierce, making it incredibly easy to connect and vibe with. And the heartfelt dilemmas each character was experiencing and how they used this once-in-a-lifetime, or every summer (depending on who you asked) experience as a form of reflection added incredible emotional depth.
🎧 Marin Ireland can simply do no wrong. Her ability to exude emotion throughout both the prose and dialogue is unlike any other narrator out there. She makes this an absolute must on audio. Even better, make it an immersive read with print and audio.
Read if you like:
▪️90s nostalgia
▪️character centric novels
▪️boy band culture
▪️books set aboard ships
▪️smooth as silk writing
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Riverhead Books and PRH Audio for the advanced copies.
Once you board the American Fantasy, it’s easy to be swept out to sea with Annie, Boy Talk, and the rest of the gang of complex, quirky characters. The 90s boy band nostalgia here is fierce, making it incredibly easy to connect and vibe with. And the heartfelt dilemmas each character was experiencing and how they used this once-in-a-lifetime, or every summer (depending on who you asked) experience as a form of reflection added incredible emotional depth.
🎧 Marin Ireland can simply do no wrong. Her ability to exude emotion throughout both the prose and dialogue is unlike any other narrator out there. She makes this an absolute must on audio. Even better, make it an immersive read with print and audio.
Read if you like:
▪️90s nostalgia
▪️character centric novels
▪️boy band culture
▪️books set aboard ships
▪️smooth as silk writing
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Riverhead Books and PRH Audio for the advanced copies.
December 8, 2025
Book Report: American Fantasy by Emma Straub
The Emma Straub fan in me is SCREAMING 🚢🎤✨ This book is everything I never knew I needed. All I knew going in was…a cruise…a ’90s boy band, and a middle aged heroine… say less.
American Fantasy follows Annie…newly divorced…newly fifty and feeling a little adrift who boards a nostalgia packed boy band cruise and finds herself reconnecting with a part of her she thought was long gone. Between slushy drinks…screaming fans and the music of her youth. Annie stumbles into friendship…desire and a spark of possibility she didn’t know she still had💫
The story unfolds day by day on the cruise which makes it feel like you’re right there for four chaotic…emotional…delightfully bonkers days at sea. I adored the cast of characters (each with their own story!) and I truly had no idea where any of it was heading…even at 80%. By the end I was completely charmed and a little emotional.
The lineup for an American Fantasy style author cruise? The possibilities are ENDLESS. 📚🛳️
Emma Straub continues her streak of books that deserve adaptations and this one would make my millennial heart burst💖
“What an indignity, to give your entire life to something and to always be the last choice.”
Thank you @riverhead for making my 2026 ARC dreams come true!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
The Emma Straub fan in me is SCREAMING 🚢🎤✨ This book is everything I never knew I needed. All I knew going in was…a cruise…a ’90s boy band, and a middle aged heroine… say less.
American Fantasy follows Annie…newly divorced…newly fifty and feeling a little adrift who boards a nostalgia packed boy band cruise and finds herself reconnecting with a part of her she thought was long gone. Between slushy drinks…screaming fans and the music of her youth. Annie stumbles into friendship…desire and a spark of possibility she didn’t know she still had💫
The story unfolds day by day on the cruise which makes it feel like you’re right there for four chaotic…emotional…delightfully bonkers days at sea. I adored the cast of characters (each with their own story!) and I truly had no idea where any of it was heading…even at 80%. By the end I was completely charmed and a little emotional.
The lineup for an American Fantasy style author cruise? The possibilities are ENDLESS. 📚🛳️
Emma Straub continues her streak of books that deserve adaptations and this one would make my millennial heart burst💖
“What an indignity, to give your entire life to something and to always be the last choice.”
Thank you @riverhead for making my 2026 ARC dreams come true!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
August 7, 2025
really very sweet and charming. i loved the recurring theme of 'making it last forever' vs letting go and moving on even when you're not sure what that next step is. a lot of small moments will make any former superfan laugh when the absurdity of fandom is on display like this and i can only imagine what it would be like if cruises like this really existed (wait...do they...i need to google after this). my main critique is that some of the chapters/scenes felt awkwardly cut off, ending at moments that felt unnatural or just an odd time to walk away. i think there was a lot of opportunity to go deeper into the highlighted characters, it felt like we only dipped just below the surface (although at the same time for the bandmembers themselves that was kind of nice bc it reinforced this feeling of Well i don't know them. lmao). a lot of events were meant to be those heart-stopping nostalgic moments of being a teen seeing your idol but i just didn't feel that same excitement that the characters were feeling. all said and done i would def say this is a good choice for a quick & entertaining beach read and i will always enjoy reading about an older divorced baddie!!!
thank you edelweiss for the opportunity to read this title!
thank you edelweiss for the opportunity to read this title!
April 9, 2026
okay after having sat on this for a few days im ready to articulate my thoughts. this is basically new kids on the block cruise fanfic. the boy group in the novel, Boy Talk, also has 5 members with one gay member who was closeted during their height, and also has a member that looked really young when they were big, and ALSO has a pair of brothers in the band. Im not even into new kids on the block i just googled all of this, and it’s just the same!! Boy Talk which even rhymes with new kids on the block.
Okay. Anyway. Maybe i just am not the right audience for this book. It has some good commentary on fandom spaces but not really anything groundbreaking. The MC is also 50 and fresh off a divorce and like omggg your life is not over!! At 50 you still have so much life ahead of you!
There’s also a subplot in here about one of the MC’s getting a new boss who is Gen Z who “doesn’t know anything” except how to make tik toks okayyyyy lmao. how can you be hating on your tik tok boss when you’re on a boy band cruise 😭
Okay. Anyway. Maybe i just am not the right audience for this book. It has some good commentary on fandom spaces but not really anything groundbreaking. The MC is also 50 and fresh off a divorce and like omggg your life is not over!! At 50 you still have so much life ahead of you!
There’s also a subplot in here about one of the MC’s getting a new boss who is Gen Z who “doesn’t know anything” except how to make tik toks okayyyyy lmao. how can you be hating on your tik tok boss when you’re on a boy band cruise 😭
April 10, 2026
I just couldn’t get on board with this one.
I’m not a boy band fan, but I was expecting the author to get me to the point where I could appreciate the hype. When that didn’t happen I hoped the story would deliver a romance I could get into but that didn’t happen either.
I had high hopes for this one because I loved This Time Tomorrow but it fell flat for me because nothing really happened.
I’m not a boy band fan, but I was expecting the author to get me to the point where I could appreciate the hype. When that didn’t happen I hoped the story would deliver a romance I could get into but that didn’t happen either.
I had high hopes for this one because I loved This Time Tomorrow but it fell flat for me because nothing really happened.
April 18, 2026
American fantasy is not a bad book. The thing is, it’s not really a good book either.
The entire narrative follows a cruise ship with an aging boy band of board. Think new kids on the block or the Backstreet Boys. The fictional band is called boy Talk, and their fans are called talkers 90% of the cruise ship passengers are middle-aged women. Our narrative somewhat follows the band, the various crises they have at this point in their careers, some with substances and divorces, others with lingering issues from the past in some ways they are trying to figure out how to make a life when they can’t do what they have been known to do all along. The women on the cruise ship get to exist in this five day. Period. Where it’s almost like the rest of the world doesn’t appear real. We also follow a couple of women passengers and the cruise ship director.
It’s not that the narrative drags, it’s almost like it doesn’t exist at all. There’s great nostalgia and the details are great although they are based on boy Talk I did really like boy vans when I was growing up, but definitely not enough to follow them onto a cruise ship or even by an expensive ticket to see Backstreet Boys at the sphere in Las Vegas so what really shines here is the setting, and what it would be like to dive back into something that you loved when you were younger there’s not a big plot to follow, there’s not really a lot of time spent in characterization. That’s where I think this book kind of missed the mark. There are so many characters that not enough time is spent with any one of them that makes us invested in the person’s character development.
That said, it’s just a bit ambitious but overall, I can’t say I’m sorry that I read it. I definitely think if you have a very long TBR, this is one that you could skip or maybe get from the library or borrow it. I pre-ordered it many months ago, and came away a bit disappointed.
The entire narrative follows a cruise ship with an aging boy band of board. Think new kids on the block or the Backstreet Boys. The fictional band is called boy Talk, and their fans are called talkers 90% of the cruise ship passengers are middle-aged women. Our narrative somewhat follows the band, the various crises they have at this point in their careers, some with substances and divorces, others with lingering issues from the past in some ways they are trying to figure out how to make a life when they can’t do what they have been known to do all along. The women on the cruise ship get to exist in this five day. Period. Where it’s almost like the rest of the world doesn’t appear real. We also follow a couple of women passengers and the cruise ship director.
It’s not that the narrative drags, it’s almost like it doesn’t exist at all. There’s great nostalgia and the details are great although they are based on boy Talk I did really like boy vans when I was growing up, but definitely not enough to follow them onto a cruise ship or even by an expensive ticket to see Backstreet Boys at the sphere in Las Vegas so what really shines here is the setting, and what it would be like to dive back into something that you loved when you were younger there’s not a big plot to follow, there’s not really a lot of time spent in characterization. That’s where I think this book kind of missed the mark. There are so many characters that not enough time is spent with any one of them that makes us invested in the person’s character development.
That said, it’s just a bit ambitious but overall, I can’t say I’m sorry that I read it. I definitely think if you have a very long TBR, this is one that you could skip or maybe get from the library or borrow it. I pre-ordered it many months ago, and came away a bit disappointed.
November 21, 2025
When things seem beyond your control and your anxiousness has kicked up a little…. It’s nice to turn in to books that truly bring you joy🥹❤️
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@emmastraub AMERICAN FANTASY has had me smiling from the start. Nothing would make me happier in this moment than escaping to set sail on a 4 day themed cruise with my favorite boy band, The Backstreet Boys, duh.
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What I always love about Emma’s novels is the way she weaves hilarious antics with heartfelt moments- her novels truly give the best feelings as you read.
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Thank you to Emma and @riverheadbooks for sharing this April release with me early - it was the highlight of my week🚢❤️📕
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@emmastraub AMERICAN FANTASY has had me smiling from the start. Nothing would make me happier in this moment than escaping to set sail on a 4 day themed cruise with my favorite boy band, The Backstreet Boys, duh.
.
What I always love about Emma’s novels is the way she weaves hilarious antics with heartfelt moments- her novels truly give the best feelings as you read.
.
Thank you to Emma and @riverheadbooks for sharing this April release with me early - it was the highlight of my week🚢❤️📕
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April 15, 2026
Wow, I did not expect to be waffling between a one-star and two-star rating on an Emma Straub novel. What alternate universe have I found myself in???
I'm a huge kpop fan, and so I expected to love this book and its portrayal of fandom and modern girlhood! And Emma totally gets it. In her words: "On board this ship, they were always girls."
Unfortunately, I felt like this book had so little substance beyond that. I'm surprised that some reviewers described the characters as rich because to me, they felt so flat with very little dimension or depth. I couldn't even keep the boy band members straight in my head other than Keith and Corey (who is obviously Justin Timberlake). Also I felt like there was almost no plot to be found; very little happened until almost 80% of the book, and then the book rushed to an ambiguous ending. The first 80% honestly just felt like a fanfiction about women getting to interact with their favorite boy band. The Sarah POV didn't really add anything to the story for me either, and felt extraneous.
I considered DNFing around 50% but pushed through. 1.5 stars that I'm rounding up for a 2 (Books Are Magic bump).
I'm a huge kpop fan, and so I expected to love this book and its portrayal of fandom and modern girlhood! And Emma totally gets it. In her words: "On board this ship, they were always girls."
Unfortunately, I felt like this book had so little substance beyond that. I'm surprised that some reviewers described the characters as rich because to me, they felt so flat with very little dimension or depth. I couldn't even keep the boy band members straight in my head other than Keith and Corey (who is obviously Justin Timberlake). Also I felt like there was almost no plot to be found; very little happened until almost 80% of the book, and then the book rushed to an ambiguous ending. The first 80% honestly just felt like a fanfiction about women getting to interact with their favorite boy band. The Sarah POV didn't really add anything to the story for me either, and felt extraneous.
I considered DNFing around 50% but pushed through. 1.5 stars that I'm rounding up for a 2 (Books Are Magic bump).
April 8, 2026
I have loved everything else by Emma Straub, but not this one
April 10, 2026
Not my favorite by Emma Straub, but points for originality. I think I understand what she was trying to do in this one. The execution was good, I just didn’t feel as connected as I did from the author’s previous books.
April 8, 2026
I hope I don’t find myself on a cruise like this lol. American Fantasy is a cruise ship that hosts Boy Talk, a fictional 80s/90s boy band, and The Talkers, their super fans. The book follows three characters - Keith, one of the Boy Talk guys, Annie, a 50 year old woman who only came on the cruise because of her sister (who didn’t even end up going), and Sarah, the cruise director.
I know Emma Straub is a beloved author by many, but this was my first time reading her. She has a great writing style and I would check out some of her other books, but the story just did not land for me. There wasn’t really a plot and I did not connect with a single character. I would have DNFed it, but it was short and quick to get through, and I was hoping it would get better.
I hate giving low star ratings. And this is just my opinion. I know some people will enjoy it.
🎧
I know Emma Straub is a beloved author by many, but this was my first time reading her. She has a great writing style and I would check out some of her other books, but the story just did not land for me. There wasn’t really a plot and I did not connect with a single character. I would have DNFed it, but it was short and quick to get through, and I was hoping it would get better.
I hate giving low star ratings. And this is just my opinion. I know some people will enjoy it.
🎧
March 31, 2026
Ahhhhhh! I love Emma Straub!!!!!!!
I am SO thankful to Riverhead Books, PRH Audio, and our wonderful author for advanced physical and audio access before this heartwarming jewel hits shelves on April 7, 2026. I am so in love.
It really does feel like performance cruises are like a thing now, whether it’s a comedy troupe, a cult-fav band or act, they are like SO popular nowadays, and definitely in this fictional scenario - for the heart throbs that are Boy Talk.
Enter The American Fantasy, our entertainment cruise line, and we’re hearing from so many POVs, Boy Talk fans (Talkers), the production team, and the no longer boys (washed up men) from the boy band.
Emotions and tensions are high for everyone and it’s quite literally a recipe for disaster on the high seas and I’m here for the DRAMA!
I am SO thankful to Riverhead Books, PRH Audio, and our wonderful author for advanced physical and audio access before this heartwarming jewel hits shelves on April 7, 2026. I am so in love.
It really does feel like performance cruises are like a thing now, whether it’s a comedy troupe, a cult-fav band or act, they are like SO popular nowadays, and definitely in this fictional scenario - for the heart throbs that are Boy Talk.
Enter The American Fantasy, our entertainment cruise line, and we’re hearing from so many POVs, Boy Talk fans (Talkers), the production team, and the no longer boys (washed up men) from the boy band.
Emotions and tensions are high for everyone and it’s quite literally a recipe for disaster on the high seas and I’m here for the DRAMA!
February 27, 2026
As a fan of Emma Straub’s other works, especially This Time Tomorrow, I was elated to get an ARC of American Fantasy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. From the get go, I was amused by the premise of a New Kids on the Block-esque cruise setting, but the story didn’t really go anywhere from here. The characters in this novel were really one note for me, disappointed with how their lives had turned out so far, simply boiling with unspoken resentment for at least one person or choice in their lives. Perhaps this will read more clearly and resonantly with folks who are also in their fifties? As a late 30s reader, the plot didn’t go anywhere, the fandom, invented, wasn’t interesting to read about, and I felt no drive to continue the novel. Truly, I only finished this one because I trust Emma Straub as a novelist and I wanted to see if she pulled it all together at the end, but really I’m just left with a feeling that I could have spent my time reading a better book.
Pub. Date: April 7, 2026
Pub. Date: April 7, 2026
April 2, 2026
Love love loved everything about this book!!
November 17, 2025
Newly divorced Annie sets sail on a four day themed cruise aboard The American Fantasy. The cruise is designed for super fans of the 90s boy band, Boy Talk, the 2000 fans are called Talkers, and Annie is swept up in the fandom, despite being a bit skeptical to start. In these four days, filled with parties, drinking, and very little sleep, Annie rediscovers her love of the music and her ability to re-open herself to life, including an unexpected friendship with a member of the band. Fun from beginning to end, I could not put it down.
April 29, 2026
Once I have a sense of what I plan to say in my reviews I read what other reviewers have posted. Mostly, because I'm curious about where my perspective lands, is it aligned with the general consensus or am I an outlier, but also, sometimes I learn something that may impact my initial view. Like with the book Anita de Monte Laughs Last, other reviewers made me aware of facts that did change how I viewed the book.
Reading other reviews didn't change anything for me this time, the book was just okay, not great or terrible. The concept was way more appealing to me than the actual experience. Why the longish preamble, well I did learn something from the other reviewers worth mentioning.
In the book's acknowledgements the author thanks Susanna Hoff, Lin-Manuel Rivers, Keri Russell and most of all Joe Mcintyre, for their insights. I recognised the first three but wasn't sure who the last person was, it was familiar but I couldn't place who he is. But then I read a 2 star review that called the book "basically new kids on the block cruise fanfic" and I realised Joe is Joey McIntyre, him I know!
Of course I now had to know if there were actual NKOTB cruises and you know what? There were! Eleven times between 2009-2022! So that was an interesting fun fact, and that observation about NKOTB fanfic wasn't far off. But back to the book, while I loved the story's framework it didn't live up to it's potential. Why? Mainly because it seemed like it tried to do too much with too many character perspectives and this got in the way of the overall character development. That and the ending was a bit unsatisfying.
While the band at the centre of the story is possibly a fictionalised version of NKOTB, the book is chock full of 1980's musical references, so anyone nostalgic for that era might enjoy that aspect. If you are expecting the same level of romance and hilarity of the author's prior works, this one may disappoint you.
Reading other reviews didn't change anything for me this time, the book was just okay, not great or terrible. The concept was way more appealing to me than the actual experience. Why the longish preamble, well I did learn something from the other reviewers worth mentioning.
In the book's acknowledgements the author thanks Susanna Hoff, Lin-Manuel Rivers, Keri Russell and most of all Joe Mcintyre, for their insights. I recognised the first three but wasn't sure who the last person was, it was familiar but I couldn't place who he is. But then I read a 2 star review that called the book "basically new kids on the block cruise fanfic" and I realised Joe is Joey McIntyre, him I know!
Of course I now had to know if there were actual NKOTB cruises and you know what? There were! Eleven times between 2009-2022! So that was an interesting fun fact, and that observation about NKOTB fanfic wasn't far off. But back to the book, while I loved the story's framework it didn't live up to it's potential. Why? Mainly because it seemed like it tried to do too much with too many character perspectives and this got in the way of the overall character development. That and the ending was a bit unsatisfying.
While the band at the centre of the story is possibly a fictionalised version of NKOTB, the book is chock full of 1980's musical references, so anyone nostalgic for that era might enjoy that aspect. If you are expecting the same level of romance and hilarity of the author's prior works, this one may disappoint you.
Read
April 21, 2026This is a thoughtful, well-written story, but it's surprisingly quiet for a book about a cruise trapping a (now middle-aged) boy band aboard with their greatest fans.
I think this disconnect between the the product (read in McDonald's CEO's voice) and the marketing explains the book's average rating.
I went in expecting this to be for readers of LOVE OVER BOARD by Kandi Steiner, but really it's for readers of SO OLD, SO YOUNG by Grant Ginder and HEART THE LOVER by Lily King.
I think this disconnect between the the product (read in McDonald's CEO's voice) and the marketing explains the book's average rating.
I went in expecting this to be for readers of LOVE OVER BOARD by Kandi Steiner, but really it's for readers of SO OLD, SO YOUNG by Grant Ginder and HEART THE LOVER by Lily King.
April 19, 2026
This was cute and feel good! I liked the theme of "what happens after you've lost everything you thought you were supposed to want?"
April 26, 2026
3.5 stars. 🎧
April 30, 2026
You have to understand fanfiction to understand this rating. I'll be back.
April 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
I have to admit… I was bored.
The first 20% had me hooked—I felt genuinely connected and ready to settle in, but after that, it just completely fell flat for me. And it wasn’t for lack of relatability. On paper, I should have connected deeply with the FMC and her season of life, but something just didn’t translate in execution.
I listened to the audiobook, and honestly, that’s what carried me through. The narration by Marin Ireland was solid and kept me engaged enough to continue—otherwise, this might have been a DNF for me. She was enough to have me round up my rating.
The writing itself is objectively good, but it just didn’t maintain my interest beyond that first stretch. That said, I do think a lot of readers will really enjoy the nostalgic 90s boy band elements and the detailed atmosphere the author builds. It just wasn’t enough to fully win me over.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio Influencer program which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I have to admit… I was bored.
The first 20% had me hooked—I felt genuinely connected and ready to settle in, but after that, it just completely fell flat for me. And it wasn’t for lack of relatability. On paper, I should have connected deeply with the FMC and her season of life, but something just didn’t translate in execution.
I listened to the audiobook, and honestly, that’s what carried me through. The narration by Marin Ireland was solid and kept me engaged enough to continue—otherwise, this might have been a DNF for me. She was enough to have me round up my rating.
The writing itself is objectively good, but it just didn’t maintain my interest beyond that first stretch. That said, I do think a lot of readers will really enjoy the nostalgic 90s boy band elements and the detailed atmosphere the author builds. It just wasn’t enough to fully win me over.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio Influencer program which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
April 8, 2026
1.75
I thought this was going to be a love letter to fangirls and fandom culture as a whole but it was a snooze fest like literally we got on a cruise and got off. wow groundbreaking. it didn’t even paint fangirls in a good light. it also weirdly made “ Gen Z would never understand this and they’re entitled” jokes which irritate me to no end. as a Gen Z fangirl who grew up with 1D and 5SOS I didn’t really appreciate the commentary this book was attempting to make in a really bad way. there are other novels surrounding fandom spaces that I think handle conversations way better than this did.
I thought this was going to be a love letter to fangirls and fandom culture as a whole but it was a snooze fest like literally we got on a cruise and got off. wow groundbreaking. it didn’t even paint fangirls in a good light. it also weirdly made “ Gen Z would never understand this and they’re entitled” jokes which irritate me to no end. as a Gen Z fangirl who grew up with 1D and 5SOS I didn’t really appreciate the commentary this book was attempting to make in a really bad way. there are other novels surrounding fandom spaces that I think handle conversations way better than this did.
April 14, 2026
[rounded up to 3.5 stars] I’m not a cruise person in real life, so I’m not sure why I thought I would be on the page? (Oh right, because Emma Straub was captain of this particular ship!)
In the end (and it pains me to admit this since I love this author so much), I agree with fellow reviewer Melissa when she wrote: “Overall I liked the idea of this more than the book itself.”
In the end (and it pains me to admit this since I love this author so much), I agree with fellow reviewer Melissa when she wrote: “Overall I liked the idea of this more than the book itself.”
April 17, 2026
I can’t believe I finished this book. It was so boring and absolutely nothing happened. There were ten thousand characters to keep track of and nothing that distinguished them enough to make it easy to do so. Audiobook would have benefited from multiple narrators. So disappointed because I loved her last book. Listened on audio.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so good. The concept and the execution were fantastic. I really felt for Keith and his messy feelings and threw pressure that surrounded him. This was such a beautifully written book that will stick with me.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.
December 15, 2025
i think for this to work you have to believe that there can ever be an equal footing relationship between a celebrity and a longtime fan. unfortunately, i do not.
April 14, 2026
A 90s boyband is headlining a cruise as a legacy act, and tensions are boiling over between them and also between the staff and guests. What could go wrong?
Emma Straub straddles a line between lit fic and what we used to call women's fiction, and I wish this was a more popular niche.
Emma Straub straddles a line between lit fic and what we used to call women's fiction, and I wish this was a more popular niche.
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