Man, I’m really torn on how I feel about this book. There was so much that I really loved but equally stuff that I didn’t like. Ugh.

The book follows Amber, a rising pop star in the late nineties and early 2000s. It focuses on her relationships, her perception in the media, and her struggle with finding herself.

This has the makings of a book I would love, set in the time period I grew up in, and felt like it could be the 90s/00s version of Daisy Jones. But I think the ideas were there but it just suffered in the execution, it felt really disjointed, and had a bit of an identity problem—the focus was lacking in characterization and plot. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the songs and interviews and other elements, they didn’t add anything for me, there needed to be more or less of them.

I did love the discussion around the expectations of women in the media, and how that compares to the expectations of me. Especially during this time period—we’ve all seen the Brittney doc—and this felt like a cool fictionalized experience of what girls like her likely went through. I loved the time period references, and the exploration of the strength of female relationships (like with her and Gwen). I liked that it really picked up in pace and kept me turning pages, but then it didn’t go anywhere, which made all this cool tension and build up just fall flat.

Thanks NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Am I who other people say I am, or am I who I say I am? Lolli's version of me would take Wes's face in her hands. She wouldn't be rejected--she can't even conceive of that kind of terror."
"As music swells from the speakers, they recognize my song. The waves of validation batter me. For once, I think: I might be gorgeous, might have talent, this all might be mine."

Isabel Banta's debut novel is a coming of age story set in the 90's and early 2000's, chronicling Amber Young's rise as a pop star. And, it is nothing short of amazing. I won't lie and say that it didn't hurt my heart to see a book set in that time period classified as historical fiction but I loved the memories this book woke of music and how it has always made me feel more alive. This story really gave me the vibes of watching that show "Behind the Music" and it was such an interesting peak into the music world. Amber's journey was so emotional and raw as she had to learn how to navigate the music world and all the expectations upon her, being famous and the weight of having everyone's eyes on her, and as she learned who she really is as a person. She made mistakes and learned from every single one. I love how Amber's voice was so incredibly distinct and how her personality shines through, even as she isn't completely sure how much of it is really her instead of how much of her persona is merely what's expected of her. I think it would be incredibly difficult to have to go through that journey of self-discovery with the world watching and judging everything I did. This was such a beautiful, nostalgic, emotional read and if this is indicative of Isabel Banta's talent, I can't wait to read more from her!

Thank you, Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Isabel Banta for gifting me a copy of this incredible novel!

Thanks for the review copy. I’m sure others will like this book more than I did. I’m sorry to only give it two stars but it was hard to read. I didn’t care about any of the characters.

I’m honestly speechless… I haven’t read a book written this beautifully in a VERY long time. I don’t even know where to begin on describing it!

Everything is concise and short sentences which apparently work really well in my brain (I finished this book faster and easier than I’ve ever finished a book before).

The descriptions of literally everything are so beautiful and poetic, and the way the author writes the dialogue is different but clean (not confusing).

I also love the little additions of lyrics and interviews here and there throughout the book.

The characters (especially the main one from which the perspective of the book is written) are so honest, it’s refreshing— there’s no beating around the bush at all in this book. It’s full of raw thoughts, actions, and emotions… very “human”.

The overall vibe of the book is unexplainable until you read it. The time jumps are just so perfectly well done I barely notice them, and the author doesn’t drone on about stuff in the 90s/early 2000s pop world that we already know.

You can tell @isabel.banta did so much research on pop stars of that era— it shines through in the best way possible.

I feel like the ending could have been better, but this is a very “real human” type of book and so I guess the ending fits.

I flew through this book. The mixed media aspect worked so well in telling the story. I think it would work equally well in print. My favorites were the magazine quizzes (I used to love those quizzes. Are they still a thing??) The layout is genius how the sections are broken up like the parts of a song.
I’m a millennial. I grew up admiring Britney, Mandy and Jessica, daydreaming over The Backstreet Boys — the story felt relatable from a fan perspective. It also read like a factionalized version of a pop stars memoir ( I loved Jessica Simpson’s book).
.

It’s a story about music and fame but also love and friendship. Amber Young has always dreamt of becoming a famous singer. She gets the chance to join an up and coming girl group and becomes friends with Gwen, another young singer who is destined to make it big. Once Gwen leaves the group, Amber decides she wants to do the same. Honey is essentially Amber’s memoir with the majority of the story taking place from 1997-2003

2.5 Stars

I thought this would be a 4+ star based off the coming of age, girl group, nostalgic vibe based odd my expectations from the description but, I found it lackluster. Maybe it was my mood, but I just did not connect on any level with Amber or anyone else from Cloud9 really.

It definitely highlighted some of the darker, unfortunate parts of the music industry/business but I feel like it was just missing something. I feel like the relationships needed to ne deeper, and story could've flowed better, but I certainly had some nostalgic related feelings occasionally.

Like a mid 90s pop version of Valley of the Dolls but slightly missing the mark.

Happy publication day to Honey! A fun read, nothing poignant but full of nostalgia for boy bands and pop princesses along with all the blatant misogyny that came with growing up in that era.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

So many things that I liked about this book. It mixes the 1990-2000 everyone wanted to be in a girl group or boy band. But the rising fame and all the things that come with it, It's that question what will you do? Public opinion I'm not sure it would be worth the fame. But I liked the story and characters we have the protagonist, the best friend, the bad boy, the manager and the wild card. It was interesting and it did keep my attention as a big TRL fan back in the day, I think that helped me relate. Over all I liked the story.

Absolutely obsessed with fictional celebrity BTS/tell-alls and this one did more than hit the mark. It was written so beautifully and gave me so much more than I was expecting; I went in wanting a little celeb tea sesh and came out SO EMOTIONAL! I'm so so attached to all of the characters, I was riding so hard for our FMC, and even though I was never an aspiring pop star, the coming-of-age story hit so close to home in so many ways.

sabel Banta’s debut novel, "Honey," is a captivating exploration of Amber Young, a rising pop star in the 90s, and the challenges she faces as a woman in the spotlight during that era. From the very first pages, I knew "Honey" would either have me eagerly turning pages or savoring each word—and it turned out to be the latter. I wanted to linger over every beautifully crafted sentence.

"Honey" delves into a wide range of issues, including the objectification and unfair treatment of women by the media, societal divisions among women, double standards, misogyny, power dynamics, and more.

One aspect I particularly loved about "Honey" was Banta’s vivid characterizations. The characters felt so real that I found myself wanting to Google their names. Banta brings the world of '90s pop stars to life, making Amber’s experiences feel both relatable and eye-opening. It’s a stark reminder of how poorly society treats women in the public eye. The novel reads like a memoir, with the same atmospheric and evocative quality found in "Daisy Jones & The Six" and "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo."

Through Amber’s journey, readers gain insight into the dark and exploitative aspects of Hollywood and the silent suffering of many women in the industry. "Honey" portrays the real and raw struggles women endure to succeed, while their male counterparts often benefit from their exploitation. I felt a profound frustration on Amber’s behalf as those around her constantly tried to control, reshape, and silence her. The traits she was praised for were used to bring her down. The story highlights the myriad ways to be a woman, yet none seem to be enough. Amber’s story echoes themes found in Britney Spears’ memoir, "The Woman In Me," underscoring the need for society to apologize to women in the spotlight. While Amber’s 90s pop-star tale is unique, the issues addressed in the novel are universal, resonating with many readers.

It's astonishing that "Honey" is Banta’s debut novel. Her writing feels like the work of a seasoned author, showcasing her exceptional talent and making her a once-in-a-lifetime writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Honey is a coming-of-age story that profiles young talent in the music industry. It shines a light on the control of labels, managers, agents, etc. and how it affects the kids who just want to be loved, accomplished and accepted. Many are treated like objects to be molded into success. And who is helping these kids grow up when they are sheltered from normal, every day life? The main character is Amber, and we get to see her and others grow from pre-teen to adult in this industry with all its highs and lows.

Banta's writing is superb as she put the reader into Amber's place. I love the descriptions of what she feels, sees, hears and imagines. Amber's observations and interpretations about the others around her are fabulous too. I really like seeing her mature, gain confidence and learn as time goes on. Bravo to Isabel Banta for an excellent and entertaining debut novel! And thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for the eARC.

I flipping loved this. I loved the characters, the development, the relationships over the years. I loved being a part of the story of how Amber found herself and I am so glad that she did. All the stars.

This book gives Daisy Jones & The Six mixed with I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Honey is about the coming-of-age and rise to fame of fictional pop star, Amber Young, set in the late 90s and early 2000s. It stands out from Daisy Jones & The Six because it's about 1) a different musical period and 2) the rise to fame of an individual star versus an entire band. It's similar to I'm Glad My Mom Died not just because of the complicated parent dynamics, but because of how honest and raw the narrator is about the price of fame.

Banta's writing is beautiful and lyrical, which is fitting considering the subject matter. The story offers an interesting perspective on the lives of the real life pop princesses from that era, and it really makes you wonder how much we actually knew about them behind closed doors.

The main reason that it's not a 5 star for me is because of the more "salacious" (as one review put it) scenes. I know it goes along with the themes of the book, but I don't think much would have been lost had those scenes not been included. So that's a disclaimer for anyone who prefers closed door/no spice reads.

If you have been on a kick of reading works about 90s pop stars, like Paris: The Memoir or The Woman in Me, then Honey is the book for you.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Honey is available now wherever books are sold.

📚Review: Honey by Isabel Banta📚

Out now!

A big thank you to @isabel.banta @celadonbooks and @netgalley for the free arc as well as @macmillianaudio for the free alc💖.

✨What it is about:
A coming-of-age story that follows the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young as she navigates fame in the late-90s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom.✨

💭My thoughts:
This story was so nostalgic for me. It’s a turn back to the days before social media really took over everything, and we had DJs and shows like TRL manning music news. It was the time boy bands were super popular, and girls like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson rose up as huge superstars in the music business. At that time, these superstars were both idolized and hated, as well as over sexualized and underestimated. This story really goes deep into all the different scenarios of the time, and gives us perspective into what the artists could have dealt with themselves. It was an interesting dive into the past, and into the lives of people we would never otherwise be able to really know about personally. It was sad to see how distorted things can get thanks to the media, and how mistakes can be amplified, and how one little thing can make or break your career in a blink of an eye. The audiobook was narrated by Brittany Presley and I feel she did a great job portraying the voice of the main character. I also really liked the different voices for the interview segments, and articles within the chapters, and the way the author sprinkled lyrics throughout to kind of link and emphasize the events as they were happening. I feel if the premise is interesting to you, you will really enjoy it, though the plot might not hold up on its own completely if you don’t feel a certain connection with that era. I loved this moment in time and really enjoyed this story.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💿 90s super stars
💿 Coming of age stories
💿 Pop culture/music
💿 Nostalgic reads
💿 Daisy Jones and The Six vibes

⚠️CW: Abortion, misogyny, sexual content, abandonment, addiction.

3.5 stars rounded up
A coming-of-age story of the pop sensation Amber Young as she navigates fame, life, and relationships in the late-90s/early-2000s.

This one was full of nostalgia from my childhood, the age of boy bands, Britney, and Christina. I appreciated the commentary around child stars, especially young girls as they grow up in the public eye - oversexualized and shamed in the most vulnerable time of their lives.

I enjoyed the story, but at the end of the day I just didn’t feel invested in the characters or their relationships. The writing was well done but the narrative was very matter of fact as a series of events. I just wanted…more. What was it like being famous, rich - who was she outside of the media/her relationships. There was plenty of drama, but the delivery was surface level.

🎧 The audio narration by Brittany Pressley was great and kept me listening. It reminded me of I’m Glad My Mom Died, meets a Behind the Music documentary.

All in all a solid debut, I’ll be looking forward to more from Banta.

This book COULD NOT be better timed with the current hype around Female Pop-stars. Think of your favorite fictional celebrity dramas — Daisy Jones & the Six… Verity… Never Lie… The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Most of these start with the story of the author/interviewer before jumping into the subject’s life. I usually find the subject to be the more interesting timeline.

“Honey” skips the interviewer and jumps straight into the subject’s story. I enjoyed this style waaaay more! Amber is telling her life in her words 🤩🤩

Amber wants to sing. It’s the only thing she’s passionate about. She meets Gwen when they audition for a girl’s group but separate to be solo artists instead. Gwen is picked up immediately with her pink hair, wholesome image and dance skills. Amber’s career lulls behind because the label markets her as the sexy & worldly opposite. But she hustles and goes on tour with the boy band ETA, and her childhood crush Wes… who is in a fake relationship with Gwen.

But this is more than a romantic drama. Since it’s first person pov, you get all of Amber’s thoughts on girlhood. I was highlighting every other line! She really took me back to my teens and 20s. The “mortifying” stage of life between girl and woman. Everyone’s commenting on your body and policing your identity before you’ve even had the time to explore your own morals and opinions.

This novel is thoughtful and reflection AND delivers adult romance so thoroughly. You will be taken back to the years you pined for NSYNC (or the Backstreet Boys, respectfully) while marveling at Brittany and other young 'divas'. Best of all, there is a HEA for all involved and it has a healthier resolution than I would have anticipated from the genre. I think I'm going to reread it -- that's how deeply it's burrowed into my mind.

If you grew up in the 90s listening to spice girls, Christina, Britney or Alicia then this book will be so fun and nostalgic for you, throwing you right back into that magical era.

The plot follows a singer named Amber who is “discovered” at a young age and thrown into the chaos and glam of being a famous pop star on the rise, all the hurdles and challenges she has to overcome and how the industry can be corrupt and toxic especially towards young susceptible females.

It reads as a coming of age story along with some heavier important topics which ring true specifically now when we are seeing the dark side of the fame industry on the media on a daily basis and witnessing the likes of Beiber and others open up about what they went through at a young vulnerable age, it seems like a very apt time for this book to come out.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publish date: available now

Honey is about a young girl in the 1990's who escapes her life through singing, and is discovered at a talent show. After Star Search and a brief stint with a girl band, she sets out as a solo artist. She's a self-reflective person...which sometimes made me as a reader forget that she was so young throughout the book. Her mom's character was disengaged. Her best friend was somehow a relationship that often rang false. Her relationships are a mess. Most of that seems congruous with a very young adult on her own in a difficult, demanding career. I enjoyed most of this book, but I never really connected with Amber or any other character. I couldn't make myself care about what happened to her or most of her vapid friends. A decent debut though, and I would read other future works from this author!

Growing up in the 90’s and loving the pop music back then, reading this book was so nostalgic for me! It had total Britney and Christina vibes and I was here for it! This coming of age story was different than others as it followed the rise of pop singer Amber Young and how she handled fame at such a young age. Banta did a fantastic job of showing how the music industry sexualized these young girls and put them against each other to sell albums. I felt like the misogyny was accurately portrayed in this book and at times it was tough to read.

While I loved this book and how it invoked wistful memories of my younger years, I can see how this might not be for everyone. If you didn’t grow up in this era then you may feel lost at times reading it. However, I think that it’s a poignant story and one that females of all ages can relate to.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A debut novel by Isabel Banta, "Honey" brings readers through the life and career of Amber Young in her attempted rise to stardom.

What I really enjoyed about this novel was the focus on growing up in the spotlight. Amber Young starts off innocently enough, auditioning for her dream roles and, ultimately, getting denied in favor of more youthful talent. When Amber eventually gets her big break in a girl's group called Cloud9, her adventure really begins. I loved how Amber took on this career on her own- her mother was supportive in the beginning but with rejection after rejection, eventually mom fades away and allows Amber to truly seek her own path.

The focus of this novel is on Amber's rise to stardom. The thing is, her stardom isn't unrealistic. She doesn't immediately rise to number one. In fact, she never gets to number one. Instead, Banta details the sacrifices and lifestyle changes Amber has to make in order to become famous in a mid-tier celebrity category.

The relationships in this book led much to be desired. While it was a nice balance between career talk and romances/friendships, the relationships as a whole did not feel fully developed. It left me wanting to know more about these characters long after the novel drew to a close. I also wished Banta touched a little more on situations that popped up throughout the book- the mental turmoil experienced with negative press, binge eating and anorexia, more serious issues to shed light on.

Overall, this book was fun pop bubblegum to sit back and enjoy. Banta puts together a solid debut novel that remains realistic on the path to stardom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!