... a heartfelt love letter to Aaliyah ... The engaging narrative follows the life of Aaliyah Dana Haughton ... Drawing on interviews and primary sources, Iandoli sensitively details how Aaliyah was abused by R. Kelly, her former mentor and producer ... The well-written, fast-paced chapters come alive when recounting Aaliyah's efforts to find producers for her second album ... The author also carefully traces the last day of Aaliyah's life, when she and members of her crew died in a plane crash in the Bahamas ... Combining the passion of a longtime admirer with the investigative skills of a journalist, Iandoli pays homage to Aaliyah with a work that will delight fans.
... this book is written for all readers: fans will cherish it, and those who haven’t heard of Aaliyah will be fans by the end of it. Iandoli chronicles Aaliyah’s incredible contributions to the music, fashion, and film industries, but doesn’t shy away from covering the sexual abuse she experienced or the troubling circumstances surrounding her death. She also includes letters from fans that serve as an uplifting, gorgeous tribute.
The short yet remarkable life of 'R&B princess' Aaliyah is paid a moving tribute in this dazzling biography ... Weaving together exclusive interviews and in-depth research, Iandoli succeeds in vividly capturing the artist ... Iandoli writes how fans 'new and old... are keeping her legacy alive.' In highlighting her influential career, this promises to do the same.
... this book amply displays the author’s impressive knowledge of her subject and ability to capture telling details. This unauthorized chronicle is richly detailed and thoroughly researched but also carefully edited to avoid tarnishing her subject’s reputation and enduring legacy ... Readers unfamiliar with the R&B industry—or Aaliyah’s impact on it—are in for an immersive read as the author covers all the insider particulars of her red-hot career. Iandoli dutifully honors the life and the indelible imprint and influence Aaliyah left on the music industry. A fond tribute to the enduring legacy of R&B’s greatly missed 'Queen of Urban Pop.'
