How a New Kids on the Block Cruise Inspired Emma Straub’s New Novel

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Emma Straub only had one requirement for her latest novel, American Fantasy.

Writing her 2022 novel, This Time Tomorrow—which centers on a woman facing her father’s death who mysteriously finds herself back at her 16th birthday in 1996 and tries to change his fate—was a challenging experience for her.

Writing the book was a deeply personal experience for Straub, helping her cope with difficult emotions before the loss of her father, Peter Straub, who passed away four months after the book was published. She shared in an interview with TopMob News that the process was also incredibly emotional, bringing her to tears daily.

When she started writing her new novel, American Fantasy, she decided to focus on her own happiness. As she explained, she wanted to make the process a joyful experience for herself, and she succeeded in doing so every day.

The journey was, quite literally, step by step.

She explained that she first learned about the New Kids on the Block cruise through an ad on either Facebook or Instagram. It immediately sparked an idea – she described it as a light bulb going off in her head. She didn’t have any details worked out at that point, but she knew it was something she’d enjoy. She then spent about a year developing the concept.

And, yes, “I did go on one of their cruises as research.”

The trip turned out to be important because it inspired a novel about a cruise centered around a boy band. On the cruise, a woman named Annie, who wasn’t thrilled to be there, unexpectedly ran into the band she loved as a teenager.

However, it’s important to note that the band Boy Talk in the story isn’t really based on any specific real-life group.

I grew up loving New Kids on the Block, but I didn’t want my book to be specifically about them. Instead, I researched all kinds of boy bands – I watched documentaries, read articles, and really immersed myself in their history. It was often pretty sad, actually, but I wanted to create a boy band in my story that felt authentic and complex, not just a retelling of NKOTB’s story with different names. I wanted my characters to be fully developed and believable.

The story, called American Fantasy (which is also the name of the cruise ship where it takes place), follows Annie, who is recently divorced, but also shares perspectives from two other characters: Keith, a member of the ship’s band, and Sarah, the head of production.

I really wanted to capture everything about the cruise experience,” she said. “These fan cruises – not just boy band ones – create their own unique and often bizarre atmosphere. I wanted to show all sides of it – the awkward and unpleasant parts, but also the genuinely amazing and uplifting moments. It really depends on how you look at it; for some, it’s paradise, for others, it’s a nightmare, and for most, it’s somewhere in between.

Emily Straub, owner of the popular Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic, also interviewed Joey McIntyre from NKOTB and Susanna Hoffs, lead singer of The Bangles, about their experiences becoming famous in the 1980s.

Straub remembered having a long conversation with Hoffs, a friend she met through the bookstore, about what it’s like to perform songs that are so well-known. She was curious about how it felt to still be connected to work people loved, even decades later.

McIntyre felt the experience resonated with the band Boy Talk, who developed their identity while becoming famous. As Straub explained to TopMob, the core question was about what it’s like to grow up within a close-knit, unconventional group—essentially, what are the relationships like with the other members?

I spoke with many people who’ve experienced both intense fame and the challenges of getting older. That became a major focus of the book, because it’s really about aging. I’m 45 now, and publishing a book feels very different than when I first started at 30. My body has changed, my goals are different, and my perspective on my work has evolved. I wanted to explore these changes, which aren’t exclusive to famous people.

The fans were essential to the overall experience. While the book features plenty of dedicated ‘Boy Talk’ followers – including Annie’s roommate, Maira, a frequent attendee of the Boy Band cruises who helps Annie navigate this world – Straub deliberately focused on portraying the band’s loyal fanbase, known as the ‘Talkers’.

What I really hoped to capture in the book was a sense of understanding for those of us who get completely swept up in fandom – I didn’t want it to feel like it was looking down on that experience at all. And honestly, what I found, just like the character Annie, is that those passions never really fade. It’s not just about boy bands or whatever it is you loved as a kid; those things stay with you, you carry them with you always.

TK

It’s a gift that just keeps offering benefits. As Straub explained, it’s not about looking back with longing, but rather a lasting admiration for who you used to be. She also pointed out a frustrating trend: marketers recognize the power of teenage girls, but younger girls are often overlooked and not given the same respect.

You know, working on American Fantasy really opened my eyes. It made me see how much the pop culture we grew up with actually means – it truly shaped who we are, and I gained a whole new appreciation for it.

What young girls and teens are interested in is important and deserves respect, according to Straub. These interests – whether it’s a young adult romance novel or a dramatic TV show – really do matter.

She explained that rediscovering her passions and appreciating the simple joy of still being able to enjoy them was incredibly important to her.

American Fantasy is on sale now. For more new books releasing this spring, keep reading…

Release: March 10

T Kira Madden’s book opens with Birdie fleeing to the isolated Whidbey Island near Seattle, trying to escape a painful past – specifically, the childhood abuse she suffered at the hands of Calvin Boyer. But her attempt at a fresh start is disrupted when she learns Calvin has been murdered. The story then unfolds through the eyes of three people: Birdie, Linzie (another survivor who publicly shared her story in a popular book), and Calvin’s mother, Mary-Beth, who remains fiercely loyal to him.

Okay, so I just finished T Kira Madden’s first novel, and wow. It’s not always easy to get through, honestly – it really makes you feel things. But she’s so incredibly talented at handling tough subjects, it’s like she’s guiding you through it all. It’s completely captivating and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. Especially after loving her memoir, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls – this book just proves how amazing she is.

Judy Blume has been a constant companion for many readers, from childhood favorites like Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to her novels for adults such as Wifey and Summer Sisters. Now, readers will have the chance to learn about Blume’s own life in a new biography by Mark Oppenheimer. Interestingly, the writing process wasn’t without its challenges, as the author and subject reportedly disagreed on certain aspects of the book.

Tana French, the popular Irish thriller writer known for books like In the Woods, returns with a new novel releasing on March 31st. This book is expected to be the last in the series featuring Cal Hooper, a retired American police officer. Hooper investigates the death of a young woman in his quiet Irish town, uncovering deep-seated conflicts and secrets that surface as a result of the tragedy.

Natalie Heller Mills appears to have it all: a loving husband, beautifully homeschooled children, and a picturesque farm that’s perfect for Instagram. She presents an image of traditional family life to her many followers. But her carefully crafted online persona is shattered when she suddenly finds herself transported back to 1805, with no memory of how she arrived and no idea how to return home. This novel follows Natalie’s journey through both her rise to social media fame and her struggle to survive in the past, offering a surprising and unpredictable look at the world of ‘tradwife’ influencers.

Patrick Radden Keefe’s April 7th article in The New Yorker details the tragic story of Zac Brettler, a British teenager who lived a double life pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch. Given Keefe’s previous acclaimed books, Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, readers might have wondered if there was anything new to learn. However, Keefe delivers a compelling and honest look into the dangerous world of wealth and influence that Zac became involved in, and the tireless efforts of his family to uncover the truth after his death in 2019.

Charlie Jones starts a new job managing a farm shop on a remote island, only to discover another Charlie Jones has also been hired! Both are hoping for a fresh start, but the owners can’t decide which one should get the position. They come up with a solution: both Charlies will work for a few months, and whoever does a better job will keep the job. As they compete, they begin to realize they might have more in common than just a name.

Coming April 7th, “Rainy March” introduces a book witch with a unique gift: she can enter the worlds of books to correct any harmful changes. There’s a catch – book witches can visit, but can’t stay long. When Rainy’s grandfather and a cherished book disappear, she teams up with the fictional detective, the Duke of Chicago, to find them, traveling through many classic novels. Along the way, she’ll uncover family secrets and explore her growing feelings for the Duke.

Coming April 7th, Emma Straub’s new novel offers a charming look at fandom through the story of Annie, a 50-year-old divorced woman who takes a cruise dedicated to the boy band she loved as a teenager, Boy Talk. The book honestly explores themes of getting older, celebrity obsession, and how pop culture impacts our lives, all without judging the passion of fans.

What makes Straub’s book so effective isn’t which boy band readers loved growing up, but rather her ability to perfectly capture the magical feeling of that time. She explores the cruise experience through the eyes of Annie, a boy band member named Keith, and a cruise employee named Sarah, but the book’s success lies in its universal and timeless portrayal of youthful nostalgia.

Coming April 14th: Cherry is reeling after her ex turned their relationship into a wildly popular graphic novel, launching him to internet fame. While trying to rebuild her life, she reconnects with an old friend, Russ, who might help her heal and move forward.

Coming April 21st, “The Caretaker” offers a springtime scare. The novel follows Macy, who takes a job caring for a property in the Pacific Northwest despite feeling uneasy. It quickly becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong.

Oh my god, you HAVE to hear about this! It’s coming out April 21st, and it’s set in 2007 Brooklyn – Fort Greene, specifically. We get to follow Alicia Canales as she’s starting over, and honestly? She gets completely drawn into the orbit of this incredibly intriguing artist who lives next door. He throws the most amazing parties, seriously legendary! And it’s all happening at this really pivotal moment, you know, the neighborhood is changing and the financial crisis is just around the corner. Xochitl Gonzalez has done it again – this story is absolutely unmissable, I’m already obsessed!

Released on May 5th, this story follows John-Calum as he returns to his close-knit, religious community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland after struggling in Edinburgh. His father, John, is a respected figure there, while his grandmother, Ella, originally from Glasgow, has always been seen as an outsider. Back home, Cal feels pressure and scrutiny, especially as he hasn’t come out as gay. His relationship with his father is complex, filled with a mix of love, frustration, and even occasional violence.

Ultimately, the core of this complex relationship lies in the shared traits both characters refuse to see in each other. It’s a powerful and honest story exploring the bonds between fathers and sons, the weight of the past, and the challenges of growing up gay in 1990s Scotland—further establishing Douglas Stuart as an author you won’t want to miss.

Scheduled for release on May 5th, this story follows Frankie, who receives a shocking note from her fiancé canceling their wedding just one day before the ceremony. Determined not to waste the money already spent on their honeymoon, she impulsively decides to go to Tofino, a peaceful coastal inlet on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Her childhood friend, George, hesitantly agrees to join her. The trip gives them a chance to reconnect after years of drifting apart – and maybe even discover a romantic connection.

Premiering on May 5th, this story begins when American actress Monica Logue travels to Derry, Northern Ireland, to prepare for a new role in a show about The Troubles, but then vanishes. Her disappearance quickly becomes the main topic of conversation, and everyone has their own ideas about what happened. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various people connected to the show and the historical events it portrays, with the struggles of the show’s writer to finish the script providing a connecting thread.

This film is a moving and often humorous look at how The Troubles continue to affect Northern Ireland, and the strange feeling of watching a difficult past become a tourist attraction.

Coming May 19th, the author of the popular Hollywood Renaissance series returns with a new novel. This time, the story follows screenwriter Verity, who must work with the composer who once broke her heart. Together, they’re creating a biopic about the Harlem Renaissance – a project that could either launch their careers to new heights or lead to their downfall. As they collaborate on the film’s story and music, hoping for an Oscar win, Verity and Monk will be forced to confront their shared history.

Released on May 26th, this new book from historian Hugh Ryan offers a personal and honest look at growing up queer in the 1990s and early 2000s. Building on his previous work, When Brooklyn Was Queer, Ryan shares his own experiences—from early internet chatrooms to the nightclub scene as a student—to explore what it meant to come of age during the Y2K scare and the rise of the internet. It’s a compelling and thoughtful account of a complicated time.

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2026-04-07 16:21