Being born at the forefront of the Millennial generation, I was coming of age right when pop exploded on the music scene at the end of the 90s and into the early aughts. Pop princesses like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson were our idols, and boy bands, such as 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys were the source of many teenage crushes. It was a definitive time for music that shaped an entire generation, and author Elissa R. Sloan is showing up with her debut novel The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes just in time to hit us Millennials with all the nostalgic feels. The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes follows a teenage artist from her early days on a music competition reality TV show similar to American Idol in the late 90s to her rise to pop superstardom as a member of the girl group Gloss, the hottest musical act to hit the scene during the new millennium. But in 2002, Cassidy unexpectedly and abruptly walked away from fame and fortune, leaving Gloss behind and disappearing from the spotlight. Now 15 years later, she is dead by suicide and the world is left reeling, trying to figure out just what went wrong for Cassidy during those fateful years when no one could turn on the TV or pick up a magazine without seeing the Gloss girls splashed across it. Just what is the price of fame, especially when it ends in death? I will be the first to admit that I devoured this scintillating and captivating novel. Celebrities are an object of public fascination, but one can't help but wonder, who are they really outside of the spotlight? The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes explores this concept, taking readers into the life of a pop superstar and showing us the dark and dangerous parts of the music industry; the things that are too often hidden from public view. While music stars show the world a smiling, happy face, there is often much more lurking behind the scenes. And that is what makes this book so compelling, because while music labels promote their artists to look and act perfectly, the story that is shown to the world is sadly often not a true one. The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes will be enjoyed by anyone who has held fascination with Hollywood or celebrities, especially those of the Millennial generation. This book is recommended to readers who also loved Daisy Jones and the Six.
Availability: Book Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes
GENRE: Coming of Age Stories; Multiple Perspectives; Relationship Fiction
THEME: Rich and Famous (These books are saturated with celebrity culture.); We Used to Be Friends (Not all friends are forever. Characters in these stories are dealing with the unraveling -- or aftermath -- of friendships.)
TONE: High-Drama
PACE: Fast-Paced
CHARACTER: Likeable
SUBJECT: Accidents; Fame; Girl Groups; Popular Music; Suicide; Women Celebrities; Women Musicians; Women with Mental Illnesses
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE TITLES: