American Fantasy - a cruise with a '90s boy band provides enjoyable nostalgia.

Annie is 50 years old and divorced. She and her younger sister Katherine had been huge fans of '90s boy band Boy Talk so Annie bought the two of them tickets on a four-day fan cruise to the Bahamas where they could re-live their former days of fandom. When Katherine, still a big fan, had to cancel, Annie took the cruise on her own. The five members of the band have gone through their own share of life's ups and downs. Corey is the only one who has achieved breakout success, but his life is currently a mess. Scotty finally came out. Terrence was still the weird one, and brothers Shawn, the leader, and Keith, the nice one, are still at odds. Through a series of performances and activities, the fans, known as Talkers, are having a blast. Annie, who had long moved past her obsession with the band, gets swept up in the nostalgia and is drawn to Keith, who is clearly going through a difficult time. 

Author Emma Straub was inspired to write American Fantasy after going on a cruise in 2022, with New Kids on the Block, which explains why this fictional trip feels so authentic. The story doesn't hold many surprises, but for those who were ever obsessed with a band or had a crush on a performer, the idea of recapturing that time in life is very appealing. This book offers a fun, enjoyable and quick read. The audio version is recommended if you are considering it. 

Rated 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: April 7, 2026.

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