"Nick was most successful when he stopped trying to be someone else and embraced being a Backstreet Boy." - OMG THIS LINE!! As much as I love Nick, he just needs to come to terms with the fact that he will always be (in terms of his celebrity status) Nick Carter the Backstreet Boy before he will be anything else. It's not such a bad role IMO, but he's definitely tried hard to re-brand himself as someone new; and he's failed every time. That being said, I do feel as though his most recent solo effort has been his best so far. All American is the only solo album of his that I can listen to straight through.

In terms of the story, I am so excited to see what happens when the boys get back together in the professional sense. I have a feeling that it's not going to be as easy as Howie thinks it's going to be. There is definitely going to be some conflict/jealousy on Howie's part once Nick starts interacting with the other guys again. Howie will want all of his attention and he won't get it. Yay for upcoming drama!! :P

Author's Response: I do feel like Nick has embraced being a Backstreet Boy and his role in '90s nostalgia more in the last few years, and I think that goes hand in hand with him getting his life together, finding himself, and reaching a place of self-acceptance. He seems more comfortable in his own skin now than he did in the early to mid-2000s, when he wanted to be a rockstar and then a gangsta and then who knows what. I've enjoyed all of his solo projects, but I like All American the best too. It's interesting reading your predictions on what will happen when the guys get back together, cause that's what I'm writing now (about ten chapters ahead). Thanks so much for the review!