American Fantasy: A Novel

I'm a true Emma Straub fan. I even mark my calendar with publication dates of her books, so that if I have done the unspeakable, and not preordered them, I can rush to the bookstore and obtain a copy. This book explores a world I've not been privy to-- never been on a cruise, swooned over the Beatles back in the 60's, but never was part of the mob scenes that followed them as they toured the USA. I've just not been so totally enamored of a celebrity. So, this book was interesting, as Annie, a sensible 50 year old recent divorcee, talked into going a cruise focused on a Boy Band of their youth. It was enjoyable, but merely (for me) as light entertainment. There's something to be said for having an experience, as Annie finds out on the show more American Fantasy ship with the Boy Talk band and their "Talker" followers. show less

A delightful romance between a woman and the woman she is becoming.

Through a series of events, Annie, a smart, cultured, sophistiated 50 year old New Yorker, ends up alone on a boy band fan cruise. Annie is newly divorced, has a 20-something daughter who doesn't need a full-time mom any longer, and is having a work crisis. In this cheesy and unexpected milieu, Annie revisits her past and thereby begins to identify her future. It is a surprising place to finally see who she is after years of being defined by external factors: She has been, for her whole adult life, a wife, a mother, and a marketing professional. It is also the story of 30-year-old Sarah, who is running the show and is the capable shepherd of what is essentially a crazy show more 4-day high school dance with (legal) alcohol. These two women are interesting and entertaining, and I enjoyed moving through the book with them. That said, I don't think Straub was successful in bringing their stories together, or in fleshing out the sad and exhausted boy band member whom both women like in different ways.

Overall, fun, light as air, and affirming. An ideal beach read for women over 40. I don't think it reached the heights of Straub's last book, but I liked it a lot show less

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 show more 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! show less

I like Emma Straub — she’s a good writer who brings a sense of humor and eye for the ridiculous details of life to every novel. Her newest, American Fantasy, wades into territory that I normally would not tread, but I stuck with it because, well, Emma Straub. Annie is a recent divorcee who allowed her sister to talk her into a theme cruise with their favorite teenage band, Boy Talk, now in their fifties and still singing and dancing to screaming women. When her sister breaks her leg, she convinces Annie to go without her, setting up a classic mid-life find yourself chick-lit scenario. Did I love this book? No, but any reader looking for a light read filled with funny, clever moments in the aforementioned genre should put American show more Fantasy on their TBR. show less

An old boy band reunites for a cruise on the American Fantasy, a few days during which one of them (Keith) will decide to quit; Sarah, a divorced middle-aged woman, will reframe her life and alter her trajectory; and event organizer Sarah will consider life on land after a breakup with her girlfriend.

Each section starts with the day's agenda aboard the cruise ship, and each chapter within each section starts with the time and location; perspective rotates between Keith, Annie, and Sarah.

Annie originally booked the trip with her younger sister Katherine, but Katherine broke her leg, so Annie is paired with a stranger for a roommate: Maira, a veteran of Boy Talk cruises. At the beginning of the trip, Annie receives an email from her boss show more that her twentysomething intern has been promoted above Annie, despite not knowing how to do the job.

Sarah, too, is dealing with an incompetent intern foisted on her by higher-ups. In her Doc Martens and Carhartts, Sarah is competence personified, a 30-year-old lesbian whose girlfriend just broke up with her but still sends her cat photos.

Keith, younger brother of Shawn, doesn't want to be here, but shows up because he knows the others need the income. But he's dealing with a lifelong frustration with Shawn's bullying behavior and youngest member Corey being an asshole, and he's one panic attack away from walking away.

The three lives intersect, and each changes somewhat, leaving each at a more hopeful place than where they started.

Quotes

...the music one loved in one's youth imprinted on the brain, literally making its own dopamine pathways, which was why people were always dancing in grocery store aisles. (23)

Keith tried not to think about what he wanted because it just made things more complicated. (54)

Keith couldn't imagine where their lives would have overlapped if not at the beginning. (58)

All around Annie, women were dancing and singing, and for a second, she closed her eyes and thought, No one else will ever understand this, except of course everyone standing beside her, who all understood it perfectly....It felt good to be a part of something where your passion was celebrated instead of mocked. (76)

Boy Talk had given him everything, and it had taken everything, too. (90)

None of them had understood, how long life was, how much would change. (135)

The beauty of a one-sided relationship was that there was no disappointment, no holding oneself accountable for mistakes, no thinking about what could have been. There was only her own love, rushing back. (226)

Annie didn't believe in fate, but she did believe that life would give you unexpected gifts when you were ready to receive them. (248) show less

I have read most of Emma Straub's previous works. She brings an interesting take to each of the situations she creates. The territory she deals in is never too deep and overally complex. This book deals with a 50 year old recent divorcee, Annie, who ends up on a 4 day cruise with Boy Talk a boy band from her youth being the main focus. Her sister set it up but broke her at the last minute and insisted Annie go. The story of people revisiting their youth on a floating alcohol fueled cruise is a story in itself. Not something that I do but like all good fiction we get into the heads of key players on the cruise. It is a moment in time so we can't expect a ton of intense back story. I find these type of books entertaining and a way to show more visit parts of the world that I never would. A worthwhile read just as a 2 hour rom-com or a limited tv series can be. show less

The cruise ship American Fantasy sails for four days, featuring five members of a formerly famous boy fand and their aging fans. Annie sets sail alone, planning to spend most of her time in a shared cabin reading since her sister wasn't able to travel with her. She and her sister were once enamored of the band as young teens. Initially resistant to the lure of the band and the women surrounding them, she eventually succumbs to the nostalgic memories and even is involved with one of the band members, evoking feelings she didn't anticipate. This is a light read, perhaps best identified as chick lit.