welcome back daisy jones & the six, we’ve missed you! no but seriously if you’ve been looking for a fix after loving tjr, may i present miss isabel banta??? SUCH a good story and filled with so much heart and passion, i felt like she was a real person and it was giving very much 2000s britney (so maybe not as close to tjr, but did you see where i was coming from there?) anyways, highly recommend checking out this book!

I liked the way the author captured the time period in this book. What I had trouble with was connecting to any of the characters.

Thank Celadon for providing with an advanced copy in exchange for writing a review.

Amber has grown up in a single parent household wth her mom and brother. She loves to sing and can thing of nothing else she wants to do. The reader get to embark on her journey to become famous with a few friendships she develops along the way. The books has a primary focus on the 90s when boy or girl bands were a big thing.

I was hoping to enjoy the book more than I did. I struggled connecting with Amber throughout the story. I wasn’t very interested in those bands in the 90s and perhaps if I was the story would have resonated with me more than it. The book did capture my attention enough that I wanted to read it to the very end. I would consider reading another book by this author and I appreciate having had the opportunity to read this book. I liked her writing style and there were some memorable quotes.

Early 2000’s nostalgia at its best! The author captured the essence of the TRL music scene, and the inside of the entertainment industry during that time with impeccable accuracy. I would have liked more from a story development standpoint, and the ending seemed rushed, but I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy myself. I would definitely still recommend!

HONEY by came HIGHLY recommended by Bookstagram and it did not disappoint! Set in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s, the book follows one of the era’s teen pop icons, Amber Young — her career, her rise to fame, and the rumors through out it all.

I couldn’t help but compare the fictional pop stars to our real ones — Britney, Christina, Jessica, Justin. I feel like the book nailed the balance of feeling very real and derivative of real people without crossing over to a complete rip off.

A big part of the story — which should come as no surprise considering how much pop stars are sexualized — was Amber’s own sexuality and how it shaped her career. I loved how headstrong she was as a character— through every challenge she faced, I was rooting for her not feeling sorry for her.

The audio for this one is fantastic! One of my fave audiobook narrators @britpressley brought Amber to life! (There are song lyrics in the book, but they are spoken not sung, btw!)

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i thought this would be one for me with all the nostalgia of it. i even liked the premise of regular girl becomes major pop star but i don't think it was executed quite well. the character building and the chapters themselves could have used more building up because it all felt unfinished. why couldn't we be shown all the little details of being a beloved popstar, especially in her private life and maybe some conflict with public life.

3.5 STARS

Honey is a book of pure nostalgia for someone that grew up in the 90's/early 2000's, which was one of the best musical periods in my opinion. Pop was at the front of the music industry and this book is giving those same vibes (think N'SYNC and Britney Spears).

We follow the MC, Amber Young, as she has her rise to fame and everything/everyone that comes along with that. Being in the public eye, surrounded by people in the industry, the darker side of Hollywood, relationships, power of dynamics, stereotypes...what you would expect. I do feel like the plot was lacking and as someone who grew up in that era, I wanted to have a better connection to the characters.

Loved that the book included song lyrics and articles, it really helped to push that 90's vibe and took me back to reading Teen Beat, Seventeen and magazines like that. I think as Banta's debut novel she did a fantastic job and the nostalgia of it all made me smile.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

This was alright. I wasn't fully vested and felt it was a bit boring. I may try this again on audiobook and see if that helps, but I am not eager to do so.

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

I’m one of the few people who thought Daisy Jones & The Six was way overrated 😬, so to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one.

Honey is about Amber Young, an up and coming singer from NJ who gets a shot at being in a girl group in the late 1990’s. From there, the novel spans the next 5-10 years of Amber’s career, the other boy and girl bands she becomes friends with, her solo breakout, and a behind the scenes look at what it was like in the late 90’s/early 2000’s as a female pop star.

I loved how Banta added in radio transcripts, song lyrics, magazine quizzes and interviews, and other engaging sections without it being TOO much like Daisy Jones was for me. Most of the novel is written as a traditional novel, but adding those spurts of fun excerpts brought me back to the late 90’s, reading Glamour magazine and listening to the Spice Girls with my friends.

I think you may have to be in a certain age group to really connect with this novel. But as a millennial who came of age in the time of Destiny’s Child, the Spice Girls, and N’SYNC, this really hit that nostalgic spot for me. My one criticism is that the characters’ dialogue and thoughts seemed a bit too elevated/mature for an actual 18/19/20 year old in some of the earlier sections. It sometimes made me roll my eyes thinking “there’s no way an 18 year old would have that much insight 😅”. Other than that, I honestly loved this one!! 💿💿

Honey was an interesting and fun read that I was so excited for. It was filled with nostalgia which I absolutely loved.
Once I started this book I was immediately drawn in. Coming of age storytelling is one of my favorite things to read. I felt the characters were well developed and the written was excellent. Amber was an interesting and likable character, and so were our side characters in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celedon for the ARC.

I think I read this at the wrong time because I just couldn't get myself to really care about any of the characters at all. I was really looking forward to it, but it just fell flat for me.

Honey is Gen X and Millennial catnip. A story of a young pop star in the 90s and 00s, we experience all the highs and lows of Amber's burgeoning fame.

There's not a ton of substance in Honey but as a debut novel, I found it soundly plotted and written. This would be a fantastic plane or beach read. It's exciting and glossy. There's a lot to like here and I am excited to see what Banta offers up next.

Early 90’s Britney Spears meets DAISY JONES? I think that’s the best way I can describe this book. I really liked the idea of this book, but I don’t think it was executed as well as it could have been.

I’m obviously no writer or editor, but something was clearly missing in this story. I wouldn’t call it coming of age, but rather a slice of life for our MC, Amber. There was a dash of fanfic too that perhaps rubbed me the wrong way?

It seemed every plot line in the story was half done. Just when you think there’s going to be breakthrough or some big moment of a life lesson, it ends and the author moves to the next thing. The friendships and other characters were lacking and not quite memorable.

I think the concept of an up and coming pop princess was there, but again, missed the mark.

Content warnings: sexism, eating disorder, addiction, pedophilia, alcoholism, abortion

Diving into "Honey" by Isabel Banta, I wasn't sure what to expect. But this debut novel was a pleasant surprise! The story follows Amber, a young singer who navigates the tricky waters of love and coming of age while becoming a rising pop star. Amber's journey is one of vulnerability and excitement, with Banta capturing the angst and thrill of becoming a young adult. Adding the pressures and allure of pop stardom to the mix only heightens the stakes and makes Amber's experiences all the more compelling.

What truly hooked me was the setting—Banta transports us to the pop music scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time of glitter, boy bands, and the rise of teen pop queens. As someone who grew up during that era, the nostalgia was real and incredibly entertaining.

I genuinely enjoyed this debut novel and am looking forward to more works by Isabel Banta. "Honey" is a solid pick if you're in the mood for a book that delivers both heart and heat. It's a vulnerable yet sexy exploration of youth, fame, and the timeless quest for identity and love. Highly recommended for those who love a good coming-of-age story with a pop culture twist.

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

Thank you Netgalley and Isabel Banta for an ARC of Honey in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited when I read the synopsis, and the cover is fun! Unfortunately, it didn't fully execute. At times it felt the same topics were happening and not much growth occurred. Amber feels unworthy- Gwen is dissatisfied- both judged in the media.

When I read the end of the book, I was bummed to learn her and Axel did end up getting married and having a child and we only find out from her Wikipedia page. I wish we could've gotten more of their story as I found the scenes with Axel to be my favorite. Same with Gwen, I thought we would learn she came out officially, but I do remember 2003/2004 still didn't have many artists actively out.

I do believe the author did a great job of showcasing how women are perceived by media and society. It seems the misogyny never dies. Lastly, I hope in an alternative ending Amber cuts her mom, Sonny off and Wes never breathes near her again. He was the true loser.

This novel shows how we view celebrities and how we put them on a pedestal. I think this book shown light on how the music industry views women and the certain standards one must uphold. Trying to maintain an image can become exhausting when it is not authentic for anyone. I loved how the music lyrics, emails, and interviews were added to the characters so the readers could get more context!

After reading reviews online, I can see how this book isn't for everyone. There isn't a crazy juicy adventure book. It's just about Amber and the people who filter in and out of her life because they also have growing careers. She makes a lot of stupid decisions that drive people mad but she is really young & lacks a mentor to help steer her in the right direction a lot of the time. Thank you for allowing me to read this book!!

Honey is a coming of age story based in the late 1990s into the early 2000s told from the point of view of Amber Young, pop star singer. I found the societal judgment and norms somewhat relatable, having entered adulthood around the same time as the main character, minus the fame aspect. This author is clearly talented. I look forward to seeing what comes next, but thought Honey was lacking plot depth, rating it a solid 3 stars.

Many thanks to the author and Celadon Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

What a fun read. I really enjoyed reading this and couldn’t put it down. The characters were amazing. I had fun reading this one!

Pretty boring and forgettable- the story, the characters, the scenes…

Also, whyyyy with the song lyrics? Why?

I really wanted to love this book. It was good, but I wish it had been longer. I needed more background on the characters. I didn’t feel a connection with the main character or her relationship with Wes or her mother. I wish there had been more with her and Axil. I never felt any emotion towards the characters.