Making the case for the slick-sounding album's place in music history seems a considerable undertaking. Yet author Wallwork presents more than enough plausible evidence about the band's place in pop culture through research and interviews with those who worked with the boys during its heyday. She aims to explain why this album still resonates with her and the band's mostly female audience (now in their 40s), and she tackles her subject on multiple fronts: the science, particularly the psychology, of why music from people's teen years sticks with them well into adulthood; the genius of the band's creator, Maurice Starr, who was also responsible for its music; and the personalities, talents, and musical influences of the five band members. In some ways, this book is not so much a band biography or album history as it is a story about fandom. Even elitist rock fans who don't remember the New Kids fondly will find that Wallwork's work may crack their hard, cynical shells.
Kirkus Reviews
What makes Wallwork's book so great is that you can use it to understand how YOU fell in love with `that band' from your teenaged years, and why you can't let them go, no matter how you think your tastes have changed. Wallwork refused to apologize for her fandom, and instead invited you along to understand why you feel the way you do about your version of New Kids on the Block.
Bearded Gentleman Music
With this book, Wallwork isn't trying to convince readers to like New Kids on the Block. Rather she just wants to understand her own fandom. She wants to make sure she's not looking at it through the lens of nostalgia, something everyone has questioned at least once with something they remember fondly. Hangin' Tough will remind fans why they love NKOTB and will make others think differently about the group.
Examiner