“The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a page-turning peek inside the glamour and brutality of life as a pop star. Sloan takes us on a wild ride through the world of music video shoots, expensive hotels, and arena tours—showing us the darkness that threatens just below the surface.” —Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones and The Six“I didn’t know I was waiting for a … Six
“I didn’t know I was waiting for a smart, literary writer to craft a novel about the rise and fall of a teen star akin to Britney Spears until I discovered The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes. A witty, bright, hilarious—and at times devastating—read. I loved it.” —Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
Cassidy Holmes isn’t just a celebrity.
She is “Sassy Gloss,” the fourth member of the hottest pop group America has ever seen. Hotter than Britney dancing with a snake, hotter than Christina getting dirrty, Gloss was the pop act that everyone idolized. Fans couldn’t get enough of them, their music, and the drama that followed them like moths to a flame—until the group’s sudden implosion in 2002. And at the center of it all was Sassy Cassy, the Texan with a signature smirk that had everyone falling for her.
But now she’s dead. Suicide.
The world is reeling from this unexpected news, but no one is more shocked than the three remaining Glossies. Fifteen years ago, Rose, Merry, and Yumi had been the closest to Cassidy, and this loss is hitting them hard. Before the group split, they each had a special bond with Cassidy—truths they told, secrets they shared. But after years apart, each of them is wondering: what could they have done?
Told in multiple perspectives—including Cassidy herself—and different timelines, this is a behind-the-scenes look into the rise and fall of a pop icon, and a penetrating examination of the dark side of celebrity and the industry that profits from it.
more
A witty, devastating and ultimately beautiful peek behind the illusion of fame… With a perfect combination of music, drama and depth, The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes takes us on a journey I won’t soon forget. From the opening line to the stunning close, this is a mesmerizing, thrilling and must-read debut.
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a page-turning peek inside the glamour and brutality of life as a pop star. Sloan takes us on a wild ride through the world of music video shoots, expensive hotels, and arena tours — showing us the darkness that threatens just below the surface.
I didn’t know I was waiting for a smart, literary writer to craft a novel about the rise and fall of a teen star akin to Britney Spears until I discovered The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes… A witty, bright, hilarious — and at times devastating — read… I loved it.
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is for anyone who wondered why Britney shaved her head and attacked a car with an umbrella. Salacious and fun at moments, it’s also insightful in the way Sloan examines the toll that stardom takes on these young women’s mental health and personal value.
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes flips fame upside down to expose its underbelly, stripped of glitter and gloss. This story sweeps across time and perspective, but most importantly, through the rise and fall of a dream.
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a novel that is very character-focused, we get a up close and personal account of the four major players of a young girls singing group, Cassidy, Yumi, Rose, and Meredith. Although the book is largely about their stardom and their entertainment personalities, we also saw some of their relationships outside the industry, with each other and with other people they came into contact with over the course of their career. Elissa R. Sloan’s writing is excellent, the characterization is very well-done. It is a very human story with elements of love, friendship, betrayal, trust, and family. If you are a fan of Daisy Jones & The Six, I think you will be a fan of this story too.
DNF at 37%
I tried. I gave this book 3 days, and I just didn’t care about any of the characters or even what happens. I thought this would be a great inside look at a 90’s pop all-girl band (think The Spice Girls) and all the things they have to endure, but it was just so flat.
Also, ANYONE who compares this to ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ should no longer be allowed to read books. This book is nothing like Daisy Jones.
N.O.T.H.I.N.G
I’m giving it two stars because, while I don’t care for it, it is somewhat readable, and there are people out there who will find this entertaining. I am not one of them. I never felt anything for Cassidy, and Rose was just awful. I skimmed the rest of the book to see how it ended, and I’m standing by my decision to DNF this. Life’s too short to read books you don’t like.
Cassidy Holmes was a small town girl, until she became a glamour girl in a quintessential girl band. Sassy Cassy, as she was known, and the other members of Gloss (Rosy, Cherry and Yummy) come alive, the story told in retrospect following Cassidy’s suspicious death. As pieces of her life emerge, so do other aspects of megastardom. This book tackles some thorny issues, including sexualization of women, sexual orientation, and abuse among others. It’s a slow start, but I found myself really enjoying it in the end. Different from the average read.