Nikki Van NoyNew Kids on the Block: The Story of Five Brothers and a Million Sisters

I love how articulate and meticulous the story is—the boys go into detail of everything since the start of their journey in the ‘80s. Finished it in one day (took me all day to read, but worth it!)

Oh boy, this is a hard review to write.I'm a New Kids fan, have been since I first heard them, followed them through their solo careers and continued on to camp out on the streets of NYC just to see their first "official" reunion concert for the Today Show (even got a broken nose from an overzealous fan going crazy when they came out on stage). I enjoy their music and I've always liked them as a group and their dynamic. I've done VIP. I've even made life long friends thanks to them (currently on vacation with two of them I met via Joe's BBS in 2001). I really do like them and was hoping to get to know them better via the first authorized book about them since their reunion.This being said... this book isn't really for the fans. If you are even a moderate fan you would know most of the details. However, being one of the more hardcore fans, there wasn't a lot here that I felt that I learned about them. The good bits were fluffed up and talked about in detail but the dramas were barely touched upon or discussed, most of them glossed over with a statement and moved on abruptly to the next piece of the story. While I don't expect that they'd have authorized a book spilling lots of dirt and nasty things, I would have liked to have learned more about the fights they had the first time around. The book mentions in passing that Joe was being choked by Donnie on the side of the road but never gave the context behind it. This is an example of one of many incidents such as this in the book. I know no one wants to dwell on the bad things in the past but this was part of their story.I do like the format of the book and how the story was mostly told via quotes, mostly from NKOTB or their families. I agree with other reviewers that there was a bit too much with the fan stories, those are a big part of the NKOTB story but not the only bit. I also liked that the pictures were at the end and told stories on their own. I would have liked to have read the stories that went along with the pictures. Finally, the last section in the book about fans was really sweet and it did touch me. I'm glad it ended on a good note.Overall I think this book is more of the memento kind of book you buy for a friend whom is a moderate NKOTB fan (because all Blockheads already own it) or a book to read if you didn't grow up with them but love them now thanks to BSB. However I don't think it's a must-read for any fan that has kept up remotely with their stories, especially if they follow them on Twitter.

If you love New Kids On The Block you have got the read this book. It is the true story, their story from start to almost present day. The guys talk about what is was like for them when they first started working with Maurice, to getting sued by Greg M, to their huge come back that they did on THEIR TERMS. It was a nice read, nice to hear it in their words. At the end of most chapters there is also a fan story. I loved reading it the first time and I know that I will read it again and again.

Christmas present for my wife. Beats me. She went nuts. Must be really good.

I really enjoyed reading this book more or less for the background information about the NKOTB.I was a fan of their music more so than just the guys.I saw them in concert last year and being too old to have been a Blockhead decided to read the book anyway.I could have done without all the fan commentary but the info from the guys and their parents is what I read the book for.If you just want to read this book for background and biography purposes then this is a great book to read.

My favorite group

Somehow I keep buying this book even though I have more copies than any one human could possibly need!

Love them! Book is great

As a teenager in the late 80’s / early 90’s, I was a massive New Kids fan. As these things often are, it wasn’t an infatuation that stayed with me until I reached adulthood. Indeed, like so many, those teenage passions ran their course and I went on to enjoy other bands. But recently, having a large bout of nostalgia, I started listening to my old CDs again, and in turn, discovered the new music the band had released since their reunion in 2007. As I wasn’t aware of how they actually reformed, this book seemed like the perfect tool to fill me in on those missing years.The book itself isn’t bad, per se, but, in my opinion, Van Noy is over reliant on the viewpoints of fans (I would estimate that half of the book are events as told by fans). She obviously had access to the band and their families while researching her subject - it is an authorised biography after all - but seems to favour detailing what the fans had to say more than the band members. Reading how individuals fell in love with Joe’s blue eyes, or Donnie’s cheeky smile gives the overall impression of a fanzine rather than a biography. By the time I got to the reunion chapters, I started skipping anything said by fans, as it had gotten too tedious.Also, the book purely documents the New Kids as a whole. There is no real information regarding the band’s individual personal lives. One minute we’re reading about how they disbanded (and seemingly single), the next minute we learn that Danny had four children. No mention of his partner or at what point his children were born, or even how they impacted his daily life. Those kind of things would have been interesting, not the tales from fans who packed away their posters and started listening to grunge instead. Joe’s wife is mentioned, but again, there isn’t any details regarding how they met and when they married. I understand that maybe the band didn’t want to divulge their private lives, but seeing how Joe is obviously very proud of his wife and children, as they feature heavily on his social media, I’m sure he would have been more than happy telling their story. And for a biography, the lack of any personal details makes it appear more of a fan book (without the abundance of photos that usually comes with such a thing. There are, sadly very few in this book).It is an enjoyable read for those who were once obsessed with five guys from Boston, it just lacks the quality and depth that are generally expected from a biography. Shame.

What a fantastic book!! I was a tiny bit sceptical about reading it as it hadn't been written by the boys themselves, but I certainly wasn't disappointed!! It charts NKOTB right from the very beginning until now, and is full of quotes from the boys, their family members and the fans. I found it fascinating to read how they came together and started out in Boston with Maurice Starr, their rise to fame, their demise, and of course their comeback. I found out lots of things I didn't know which I never would have been able to find out when I first fell in love with them in 1990!! It has rekindled my love for the boys which sadly disappeared when they did in 1994. It has now set me on a mission to buy the remainder of their albums that I don't have and complete my NKOTB music collection!

Book is exactly as I expected. Lots of great pictures and beautifully put together. A must have for all Blockheads.

I ordered this book just before christmas but was told amazon could not get it. i tried again and recieved a copy. My daughter and i have been to nkotb and back street boys concert in london, so my daughter is huge fan. My daughter loved this book from start to end she was amazed how fans have had some in put in this fab book. This book will make any girl happy. I very highly recommendthis nkotb book.

Such an interesting read, getting the inside thoughts on the reunion and how it all happened. Hearing it from the boys individually gives you some real insight, and plenty of smiles along the way. Really enjoyable read.