Ninety Days in the 90s

by Andy Frye

What would you do if you could time travel—back to the 1990s?

Go see Nirvana’s first gig? Form your own punk band? Play a winning lottery ticket? Buy a bunch of Amazon stock?

That all sounds great, but Derby Derrex has other things on her mind.

Darby is not—repeat not—experiencing an early midlife crisis. (Or is she?) She’s failed on Wall Street and failed in her relationships. And once she returns to Chicago to take over her uncle’s record store, she decides she really needs a “do-over.” Little does Darby know a time machine rumbles under her feet.

Chicago, 1996: Grunge and punk are preeminent. Indie rock tops the charts. Concertgoers are crowd surfing at Lollapalooza. Bands like Smashing Pumpkins rescue our ears from Celine Dion and hair metal. And it's the year Darby left behind her music critic job—along with her true love, Lina. Once she gets back to the 1990s Darby starts trying to fix simple things.

But soon enough she's having a blast, and that’s part of the problem. And she has only 90 days to return to the present or stay back in time forever. Both options are tempting, but Darby has to face the music.

For fans of Portlandia and High Fidelity—and anyone who loves American pop culture, Ninety Days in the 90s is a witty, tender love letter to rock ’n’ roll nostalgia and the power of second chances.

Genres: Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2022

About the author

ANDY FRYE has written for Rolling Stone, ESPN, and Forbes. He’s interviewed hundreds of athletes, as well as musicians who include Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, Morrissey, Jimmy Eat World, Rage Against The Machine, and Alice In Chains.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. It sounded tailor-made for me—time travel, 90s music, Chicago, even Lounge Ax, where I used to go see shows. But, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters, and I found myself wanting more time travel stuff, rather than just 90s music nostalgia. I wish this novel had developed a bit more story about the time travel situation (the how was pretty fascinating) and more on the reality of moving between the 2020s back to the 90s, other than just seeing shows and missing a handful of services like instacart and amazon prime.

Anyway, the 90s alternative refs were fun and the premise was creative. I just wish there was more. Thanks Net Galley for the ARC!

The book Every Anxious Wave by Mo Daviau, for me, was more engaging and still focused on a 90s music and time travel theme.

[Stephanie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! A total cure to my nostalgia. Cleverly written and so dynamic. I loved reliving (what felt like) a million references from my favorite decade. I couldn't recommend this book more.

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ninety Days in the 90s from Andy Frye is a fun read that makes up in nostalgic references what it lacks in compelling plot.

I know that sounds negative but sometimes a book can be relatively fluffy and still be well worth reading. In this case, I think as long as you remember the 90s you will enjoy reading this. Come for the memories and a few interesting characters, don't overthink the plot, it isn't worth the effort. The story hangs together well enough to make the trip down memory lane pleasant. Think High Fidelity but instead of going to old flames to figure out where you might have messed up you simply go back in time.

Some of the fun was agreeing and, of course, disagreeing with the characters on their assessment of the music. Depending how broad your tastes were in the day, you'll nod when a song or artist gets trashed, then turn around and be offended when another one gets the same treatment. Now that is the fun of nostalgia!

I would recommend this to any reader with fond memories of the 90s music scene and a desire for some light reading that will leave you singing songs that will make your children look at you funny.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darby has many regrets she regrets quitting her record critic job and breaking up with Lana the love of her life. When her uncle dies and she inherits his record store she moves from New York back to Chicago where in her opinion she ruined it all. One night at a hole in the wall bar she meets an older gentleman Who claims he watched a Cubs game in person twice. Darby thinks it’s sad that such a spry old man suffers from Alzheimer’s but she is courteous. Later that night she is awaken by a rumbling under her apartment and the record store when she goes to investigate The smart watch she found in some boxes lights up and she sees a subway train stop and the doors open. Dobby is now frightened… Is she delusional? She goes to the Internet to see what she can find. She has heard of the urban myth the gray line that can take you to the past but that’s just a myth right? When she finds routes and rules to the gray line she is nervous but excited! Could she go back and change everything? Could she get her job back and Lana too? She doesn’t know but with a map of the Subway route an old ID and some money she is going to find out. Her first night back she hooked up with her best friend and they go see a new Hindu grunge band is she has the time of her life and that will be what she continues to do until her time runs down and she Musta saw does she want to go back home or stay in the 90s? This book was so much fun not only was it cool hearing about all the old bands especially smashing pumpkins my favorite band ever but it was so cool hearing about cell phones with antennas cable TV it’s so much more it was like a blast from the past and I enjoyed every minute of it. I think Mr. Fry has a winner with 90 days in the 90s it was an awesome fun read! I received this book from net Gally but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

[Orinthia Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me of many famous bands in the 90s! Unfortunately, I didn't really care about the characters in this book and that made the reading experience less enjoyable. I really wanted to like it, but I don't think this book is for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[smell_of_a_book · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨Book review✨
Ninety Days in the 90’s
By Andy Frye

Awww man, this one was a bit disappointing for me!

I was so hyped to go back to one of my fave times, but sadly this just didn’t do it for me.

I felt that the characters were a bit “choppy” and a little all over the place for me.

I did really enjoy the talk about all of the music, and the fact that the main character runs an old Vintage LP store ( I love spending time in those stores)…but it just felt like there was something missing in this story for me. I couldn’t connect to it, and that made me sad as I was a 14 year old in 1996, and was looking forward to experiencing that again through this story.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This one came out on June 1st, check it out and decide for yourself ✌️

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Great premise. Really fun, the story moves along at a quick pace, and I thought Darby embodied the quintessence of the Gen Xer. And who wouldn't want to tinker with the past if you could travel back in time? I know I would. I feel like I had a pretty good run in the 90s but there are definitely some things I would change and it's gratifying to watch the choices Darby makes along her journey. If you loved the 90s and love music you will totally dig this book.

[Marc D'Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written fast paced and a fantastic book. Can't wait to see the film version sometime!

[Maya Grimley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews.

Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews.

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A huge thank you to Andy Frye and Atmosphere Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings due to my inability to finish reading the novel. Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading.

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// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 Stars
Writing: 4/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Plot: 2/5 Stars
Memorability: 4/5 Stars

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// Quick Review //
I enjoyed many aspects of this novel but also was slightly disappointed with the execution of this 90s-filled time travel story.

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// Other Information //
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Page Count: 356 pages
Release Date: June 1, 2022
Series: None
Tag: Fiction, Adult, Science fiction, LGBTQ+, Music, Time travel, 90s

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// Review //
Promising a nostalgia-filled story for those fortunate enough to experience the 90s, Ninety Days in the 90s follows the time-traveling excursions of Darby, a music store owner who just wants to relive the past.

I was fairly excited about this novel because although I was born after the 90s, I still love music and movies from the decade. A lot of the novel focuses on the pop culture of the time, even from the very start. This has its pluses and minuses, as the references to 90s culture at the start of the novel seem to take away from the actual 90s setting during the rest of the book.

The setting was by far the best part of Ninety Days in the 90s. Darby wishes to redo her past in order to change her future and is able to do so by traveling to Chicago in 1996 through the Grey Train. The Grey Train was explained fairly well and was an interesting part of the book. It was nice to know how the time travel aspect worked. Darby is thrust back into the 90s to reunite with old lovers, friends, jobs, and music.

Unfortunately, I found that the plot felt repetitive and slow-moving. Darby traveling back in time is perhaps the most exciting part of the book to me. I will say that I cannot judge the second half of the novel, but the first half was definitely not for me. Though I enjoyed the 90s vibe and culture, I didn’t feel like anything important to the book occurred within the first half of the book. Though the idea that Darby traveled back in time itself is spectacular, the events of the novel seemed to have little to no effect on Darby’s character.

I wish that the leap back in time would have contributed to Darby’s journey of self-discovery and reconciling herself with the past. It would have made her character more enjoyable and realistic while also adding meaning to the plot.

I called this book quits past the halfway point because it felt like nothing was going anywhere, and I accepted that the book just wasn’t for me. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t the target audience, but I had a hard time reading this book. Like I said though, there were definitely things that I really enjoyed and loved reading about.

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[Tony Zale · Rating 1 out of 5]

An inconsequential book. 2020s era Darby Derrex returns to Chicago from NYC with her life at a dead end after a bust in the world of finance. She assumes ownership of her recently deceased uncle’s independent record shop. After being introduced to a predictably quirky set of coworkers, we’re set up for a rehash of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, but that’s more of a head fake than anything. Soon we dive into the meat of the plot - Darby discovers a time traveling El line that lets her travel back to the 90s and relive her past. Was that moment when she departed Chicago for New York the right choice? Should she have stuck to her alternative roots as a music journalist?

A story like this can go one of two ways: the lead realizes that nostalgia isn’t all its cracked up to be, reassesses their current position and rights it... or they have a “return to faith” and resume the life they should have stayed in all along. Unfortunately, the tension between these options never materialized, and I never really cared what happened to Darby. Furthermore, the book's attempts to rekindle the reader’s 90s nostalgia didn’t really hit the mark either. There are handful of legit Chicago references, but also invented venues that seemed like missed opportunities. A large chunk of the book leaves Chicago altogether, and the promised revisits of classic Chicago concerts are not even experienced first hand by the reader, but only as stories Darby submits to her newspaper.

Overall, a quick read, but boring. One star is harsh, but I can’t think of a person I’d recommend it to.

[Cath T · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a letdown.

The title, premise, and covers immediately drew me in but I found the actual plot very flimsy and lackluster. I will say, I really appreciated the uniqueness of the time traveling itself. The set of rules and the method were really interesting, I wish those aspects were explored more. I also really loved Frye's method of introducing characters with mini biographies as it made it easy to follow the cast as it grew bigger and bigger.

Other than those bits, I didn't fall in love with this particular story. The middle dragged, it was hard to invest in Darby in general, and there wasn't any emotion. As much as I loved the amount of music talk, there were times Frye would just list bands or singers without much reason other than they were a part of the 90s. Most of the book can be skimmed (unfortunately) without missing a beat.

I do think this kind of story would work better as a movie or tv show as they don't really need a concrete plot when visuals can do the storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was initially interested in reading 90 Days in the Nineties because I used to work in record shops in the late 1980s/early 1990s and thought this would resonate with my teens/early twenties lifestyle.
But from the get-go, I just didn’t gel with any of the characters or settings. At first I reasoned that it was because it was set in Chicago (whereas I worked in London) and the cultural differences were great enough to keep me from ‘totally getting it’.
Then I thought that my five years or so earlier than the books setting was another reason why I couldn’t connect. In the late 80s/early 90s, alternative Indie was much more D.I.Y and small-scale compared with the corporate Indie of the second part of the 90s. Small potatoes perhaps, but the zeitgeist had a different vibe.
Anyhoo, I could have just put all that aside and enjoyed the book as it was, but unfortunately, my head just wouldn’t let me give it much of a chance.
So my low score, is 50% ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ and 50% ‘ Actually, it is you. I’m just not enjoying this book’!

[Fantasyinpyjamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the nineties all over again thanks to this book!!
Darby a business failure but music fanatic finds out the Chicago Grey line myth isn't so mythical after all. Using the train to time travel back to some of the nineties most memorable music concerts and maybe fixing her life along the way.
I am a massive music fan and book lover so this was a no brainer for me. The main character Darby was instantly likeable and relatable. All the music references mixed in to the story were amazing and really piqued my interest again in old music and how much it can affect us years later.
My only criticism of this book was sometimes the time line was difficult to follow and not overly clear at which point in time we were at. Apart from that I loved, a perfect mix of Sci-fi and music
Thank you to Net galley for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for my honest review

[Reading is Mental Travel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What you get when Back to the Future meets Gross Pointe Blank, without the hitman. Having lived in Chicago, I especially appreciated the references to so many Windy City sites and traditions. Andy Frye has a keen sense of 90’s music and does a remarkable job weaving his critiques into the story. I found myself laughing out loud and thinking that Frye was reading my mind. I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Darby, and seeing what she does with her do-over. Fun read that really pulls you back to Chicago in the 1990’s.

[Debra Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the premise of this book, looking back at the 90s music scene in Chicago, but the story fell flat for me. It calls itself a time travel book but in reality, it’s a story about life back in the 90s and the choices we make in our daily life. If you know that up front, you will find a story about a woman and her choices. You hear about the mainstays of Chicago, music, friends and relationships. Parts are funny and even fun, and other parts move slowly. Overall, it’s a good diversion from your own everyday life. 3.5 stars

[Bianka Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the 90s and love Chicago in the 90s. This book is a fun ride back in time. The book was an easy and fun read and I enjoyed the characters. I tend to read serious books and this was a lovely alternative choice that was fun, funny, and nostalgic. I also appreciated reflecting on the cutural and zietgeist differences between then and now and noticed myself longing for the past as I read this.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oof I did not enjoy this. The premise was good but the whole book was messy. The time jumps were not handled well. In the middle of the book there is a long throwback section of what actually happened in 1996 prior t9 Darby going back in time. This would have been better at the start of the book or just left out completely. Some of it serves no purpose to the story. Just didn’t work out for me.

[Christine Livinghouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really love the concept but I think I was hoping for a more ‘’Peggy sue got married ‘ vibe. This isn’t it. Lots of back and forth and very confusing with little explanation as to where we were In the time period- I wanted relationships and to root for the main character but I couldnt bc she just wasn’t likable to me. I feel very sorry that this wasn’t my cup of tea.- just ho-hum.

[Robussc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t finish, because I couldn’t. Bought on a whim from Andy himself, as the premise seemed fun. Sadly it didn’t live up to it. I didn’t care for the protagonist, Derby, and the plot just plodded along.

Derby apparently has no qualms about going back 25 years in the past and easily lands back on her feet. There just wasn’t enough weight to the story for me to keep going I’m afraid.

[Samara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic journey that is unpredictable and exciting. Time travelling through the eyes of a music critic with fantastic taste and questionable decision making. Props to Andy for a fantastic read! Keeping this one on the shelves so I can time travel back to the 90’s again ❤️

[Andy Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

[Chels S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was drawn by nostalgia but it doesn't provide it. Typical modern writing, shallow, trite, obnoxious, checkbox ticking.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been so much better, but the jumps were a bit all over the place and it was well a bit boring. I get the personal growth and discovery of what if stuff, but for me it was a bit meh.

[Shreya Saxena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright, I think this comes with a biased heart but I'm not a HUGE fan of music mentioned in the book. Hence a lot of the feels related to that was not in the same frequency with me. I'm also not very comfortable with foreign language snuck in between with bare to none translation. The story line was a bit confusing as I was not able to follow through what happened across the 1997 - 1999. And if she was in that timeline then how come she got a job offer but not in her actual timeline?? There we some gaps in my mind regarding the story timeline, but overall I felt the ending was a bit flat. I liked the concept however. It reminded me a jolly version of the midnight library.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a disappointment. I was so excited when I read this premise but the story just fell flat. I felt that Darby was just terribly written and the story itself left a lot to be desired. Thank you Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for the ARC.