I went in with high expectations, which made me in the end left wanting more in the story. I enjoyed reading Amber's journey. I just felt was a little slow at times!

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC!

https://booksformind.com/july-2024-book-reviews/

Here's my review:

90s pop culture was heavily prominent throughout this book. But it has a lot more going on for itself. Yes, the music industry was at the center of the story. But also the way young women, especially ones in the public eye, were perceived by the public in general. It was an okay read, but this wasn't as memorable as I expected it to be. It made me reminisce of the decades mentioned throughout the book, but that's about it. It also got me worked up at the way women are still objectified up to today. Even though this is a work of fiction, the author captured this issue very well. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced readers' copy.

Honey by Isabel Banta is a sweet and touching story about a girl named Honey who’s trying to figure out where she fits in. The book is full of charming moments and has a fun, whimsical vibe as Honey deals with the ups and downs of growing up. Banta’s writing makes Honey’s adventures feel both relatable and heartwarming.

The best part of Honey is how it mixes humor with some real, meaningful stuff about finding yourself and bouncing back from challenges. The characters are super likable, and the story keeps you hooked with its easy flow and feel-good vibes. It’s a great pick if you’re into stories that are both cute and thoughtful.

Set in the late '90s and early 2000s, the story follows Amber Young, who lands a spot in the girl group Cloud9.
“Honey” is a beautiful blend of nostalgia and critique. It’s an empowering coming-of-age tale that’s both heartbreaking and uplifting. If you loved “Daisy Jones & The Six” or are curious about the realities behind pop stardom, add this to your summer reading list!

Honey is a coming of age story that follows Amber Young as she navigates her newfound pop-stardom in the late 90's.

This book felt very nostalgic, and overall it was entertaining. Honey is very character driven and we really got a great picture of Amber as she was going through this pivotal time in her life. Where I felt it was lacking was the depth of the relationships. Most of the side characters felt pretty one-dimensional, so I couldn't get a real feel for their relationship with Amber. In particular, I wanted more from the relationship between Amber and Gwen. It had the potential to be a really impactful female relationship, but it just didn't fully leave the ground.

The ending also fell a little flat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for the ARC!

A heady, deeply felt debut from an author clearly adept at creating full formed characters. Banta's characters grow both emotionally and mentally throughout this strong period piece of sorts.

As a 90s kid and a huge fan of pop stars and boy bands this brought me back. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes of being a pop star and dealing with criticism from the paparazzi and everyone else always having an opinion of your life! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Honey by Isabel Banta is a delightful read. The story is engaging and the writing is enjoyable. This book offers a wonderful reading experience that is sure to please a wide range of readers.

The moment I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read Honey. I was so excited to receive a copy. This book will definitely take you back to early 2,000s music. I enjoyed the book a lot and would recommend it to people who grew up listening to Britney Spears, etc in the early 2000s and anyone who loves music.

Honey has a fast-paced narrative that often feels like it rushes through moments, leaving me wanting more detail and depth. Despite this, the story is usually engaging. The raw and genuine descriptions of the main character's experiences offer a glimpse into the lives of 90s pop stars. The ending comes abruptly, feeling inconsistent with the book's hurried pace which made it seem like it was trying to get somewhere. Overall, it's a decent read, though it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Honey by Isabel Banta - I wanted to love this book but this book was painfully slow. Nothing happening, random banter. I took breaks and came back to this book multiple times and I just could not do it. It was a DNF for me and I rarely DNF books.

Honey by Isabel Banta is a coming of age story set in the savage world of pop stardom during the 90s and Y2K. This is a sad read at first that ends up being a heartfelt account of personal growth, the power of female friendship, strength and even survival. Amber Young, the main character, and her best friend Gwen, with the pink hair, wouldn’t have made it out alive of the music industry if it wasn’t for the strong bond they formed. They each helped other grow up in the public eye and navigate the real world since their naive preteen years, when they first met in a thrown together girl pop group. They both quit and began their solo journeys into trying to make it to the top. This reminds me a bit of how Beyoncé was born out of Destiny’s Child.

Honey is a fairly accurate depiction of how things really were back then, especially after the truth came out. I was a teenager during these years and remember everything; like how very young, impressionable girls, girl pop groups, and boy bands were groomed by either their own parents, managers, and record labels and pushed to do whatever it takes to make it to the top of the Billboard charts or onto Total Request Live with Carson Daly.

The story is set during a unhinged period in music industry. It was scandalous, full of drama, creepy managers, skeezy producers, massive fandoms, MTV, sexualization of kids to make millions, mental breakdowns, paparazzi, and one hit wonders. Amber was recruited at her school talent show at age 7 and made it on Star Search. She is from a broken home with an abusive alcoholic mother, absent father, and zero positive role models. Remember how many kids were recruited from The Mickey Mouse Club? All of this is within the pages of Honey, which made the subject matter relatable and fascinating.

Amber is branded as a sexpot instantly by her record label Lolly, because she kind of of had sex, agreed to admit it, and her competition didn’t. Her entire persona, songs written for her, fashion, videos are all about sex, which blurred the lines between who she really was and what she was showing the world - sex, which she knew nothing about but was obsessed with. This put her through multiple heartbreaks, publicity stunts, and fake narratives pushed by her label all with the singer of a popular Boyband. She was hated, loved, then hated again. Sound familiar?

At some points I just wanted to stop and shake some sense into her. As the story goes on we learn that none of the characters had any real life experience and rarely saw the outside of their tour buses, besides what they were told. NO SOCIAL MEDIA! They didn’t know who they really were, especially Amber and Gwen.

Honey isn’t plot driven, most of it is written in dialogue. It’s a deep character sketch told in first person. Banta’s unique style of writing made me fall in love with the characters and eventually Amber once she realized she could take control of her own life, learned that she wasn’t just a sex symbol, and started working with a producer that believed in her talent and respected the real her.

I highly recommend reading Honey, for anyone who lived through Y2K or wanted to. Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Banta, and Celadon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you grew up in the'90's then this book is for you! Think Brittany Spears, Jessica Simpson, and the Backstreet Boys and 'Nsync...teens who find themselves gaining popularity in the music industry. These stars must learn how to navigate stardom while still being true to themselves. What tabloids plaster all over and the reality of their lives don't match. But it's devistating to some.

This book was so nostalgic! I wanted to pull out 'NSYNC and blare them!

I loved this just as much as I thought I would! Isabel Banta's debut novel is beautifully written, drawing readers into the world of pop icons with a very vivid Y2K vibe.

It follows popstar Amber Young, a teen singer who rockets to fame as part of the girl band Cloud9 during the peak of boy and girl band mania. We follow Amber through the highs and lows of being a celebrity, especially a teen one, as she grapples with public scrutiny and wrestles with her own wants for acceptance and love.

I loved that each section of the book was separated into the verses of a song, painting a picture of growing up under the flashbulbs of fame and the impact that others' expectations can have on one's self-discovery. An amazing coming of age story! <3

Honey is a compelling debut novel that follows Amber Young as she rises to stardom! Throughout the story, she finds her voice in more ways than one. I found Honey to be extremely well written. The layout of this book is unique, because it includes song lyrics, wiki articles, and press articles about Amber, which I thought added a lot to the overall feel of the book. The story felt a little slow when Amber started her journey to stardom, but it quickly picked up. I found myself loving the relationships she made along the way, specifically with Gwen and Axel.
This book had such a fun Y2K vibe and left me wanting more. I recommend this to anyone looking for their next summer read! Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honey follows a rising pop star as she comes of age in the late 90s. The story provides thought-provoking commentary on the mistreatment, pressure, exploitation, and anxiety that comes with being a young woman in the entertainment industry. I highly recommend for fellow 90s kids, fans of pop culture, or juicy novels that read like celebrity memoirs.

"Honey" by Isabel Banta offers a nostalgic dive into the glittering world of late-1990s and early 2000s pop music, following the career of superstar Amber Young. As a millennial who grew up idolizing pop icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and the Backstreet Boys, the premise of this book was immediately appealing. Banta effectively captures the essence of that era, drawing clear parallels between Amber and the real-life pop legends of my youth. The novel’s backdrop, filled with the highs and lows of the music industry, evokes a wave of nostalgia, making it a delightful read for anyone who lived through those vibrant years.

However, despite its promising concept, "Honey" fell short in a few areas. The narrative occasionally felt lackluster and, at times, a bit boring. I found it difficult to connect deeply with any of the characters or become invested in their relationships and struggles. The emotional depth that could have elevated the story was missing, making the overall experience somewhat underwhelming. Additionally, the book’s tone and style leaned more towards young adult fiction, which might not resonate as strongly with readers looking for a more mature take on the glitzy pop scene. Overall, while "Honey" has its nostalgic charm, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a deeper and more engaging read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one! I enjoyed following Amber’s career and seeing her become a star. The story definitely intrigued me & I’m happy with how everything came together in the end.

I really, really enjoyed this book! I think those who like Taylor Jenkins Reid would want to pick up this one as well. Unfortunately, the climax and end fell a little flat for me, but overall it was enjoyable and it kept me flipping the pages! I'm excited about future books from Isabel Banta - really enjoyed the writing style and story telling.

I had a good time with this! I've read enough pop star memoirs/fictionalized accounts of pop stars to be pretty familiar with the beats of this but I liked Amber's voice.

If you like the kind of book this is, you will like this book.