A new novel lets teenage hearts throb in middle age bodies

NPR | By Justine Kenin

Published April 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM CDT

Emma Straub's new novel, American Fantasy, delves into the world of aging boy bands, their aging fandom and what they each get from one another.

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All Things Considered

Justine Kenin

Justine Kenin is an editor on All Things Considered. She joined NPR in 1999 as an intern. Nothing makes her happier than getting a book in the right reader's hands – most especially her own.

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