I've recently read The Woman in Me, and there's no way to avoid comparisons. I enjoyed Honey, but kept asking myself why it exists. Not that you have to justify these things, mind you. So, my TL;DR would be: a fanfic rewrite of The Woman in Me where we give Britney Spears a better life and happier ending. Honey was a fun read. I liked most of the characters; I enjoyed Brittany Pressley's narration. The "multimedia" sections were fun; I always appreciate those when executed correctly. There was a bitter sweetness finishing Honey. Britney Spears, may life imitate art and may you find your happy ending. I would like to thank Macmillan Audio for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook.

Honey
By Isabel Banta

Thank you so much Celadon, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the free audiobook. #MacAudio2024

Blurb:
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:
I kept seeing this book all over Instagram and I was getting a serious case of FOMO so when I saw that it was on NetGalley through Macmillan Audio, I knew I needed to request the audiobook! Unfortunately… it did not live up to the hype for me. Although I did find the beginning to be more interesting it was the rest of the story that lost my interest. I thought the narrator was fine but if I’m being honest… It’s not the most memorable audiobook I’ve ever listened to. This is probably just a me thing so I’d just take my opinion with a grain of salt. It simply wasn’t entertaining enough for me and I probably should have DNFd it… but I finished it so I give it a low 3 stars. I hope this one works better for you, should you decide to read/listen to it!

Happy reading 📖 🎧💿

There’s potential here, and the writing isn’t terrible, but this really took a nosedive for me at the end. I realized early on that I was being queerbaited, but I REALLY wasn’t expecting it to be Max Martin self-insert fanfiction. Amber ends up ultimately placing herself on the periphery of the story that matters here, in awe of Axel’s genius. I also think that all of the characters end up making themselves sound vapid and shallow whenever they’re interviewed, which is either fascinating cultural commentary or an absolute mistake. Because I didn’t end up feeling very much for any of these characters one way or another.

I think this book is overflowing with empathy, to its credit, and it’s a pretty capable “we have Taylor Jenkins Reid at home” stopgap. I don’t regret reading it (especially in one day!) but I can’t imagine I’ll ever think about it again.

𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

This was a fun coming of age story of a singer, Amber Young, making her way through the music industry starting at a young age. I enjoyed the main characters Amber, Gwen and Wes and their continued connections throughout the story.

The story covers all the ups and downs they went through in the music industry, it also covered a lot of the drama and relationships that came and went over the years.

I feel like overall it was a good story but I did not feel like there was much of an ending or wrap up to the story. I feel like it just ended and it really didn’t seem like there was a conclusion to anything that was taking place.

I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy in tandem and overall I enjoyed the narrator but I honesty couldn’t listen to the parts when they tried to make it sound like an actual song was being sung. It sounded horrible with the added music in the background. I wish they would have just read it out like it was in the book. I think these reasons just gave me a disconnect to the story and that’s why I didn’t care for it so much.

Oh my goodness I loved the audio of this title. The story in and of itself was a fun, nostalgic read for someone like me- but the audio was far better. Kudos to Brittany Presley for reading the characters like they were written. She really made them come alive!

The best part of the audio were the included music effects! This story was truly an experience with all the interactive features! There is a Spotify playlist and you can actually visit Amber's website and read all about her and the book!

Isabel Banda really captured the essence of the time and brings to light the darker side of 90s pop. Following 4 pop stars and their rise to fame during a time when they were paving the way for modern music. 🎶

This was a great read. It had me captivated, it was fun and I really enjoyed it!

I had seen so many great reviews of Honey that when Book of the Month had it as a June pick, I grabbed it immediately. Then I got the advanced copy of the audiobook, and ended up listening to it instead. I was so excited for a trip back to the 90s, with pagers and CD sales, ridiculous outfits, and maybe a few bad talk show experiences. Instead, I got a weird mishmash of bland “life on the road” moments, a boy band clearly inspired by One Direction, and pages of dialogue that would never come out of a 19-year-old’s mouth while at an afterparty for an awards show.
I did enjoy the parts of the book that actually followed Amber and her rise to fame. We’ve all seen versions of this play out in real life, and it’s a fun dream to live in. The book follows her from a failed girl group to going solo, starting as an opener for a boy band and growing to sell out stadiums on her own. There’s the well-known pitfalls of falling in love with a boy band member, navigating PR relationships, and the reality of forced body dysmorphia.
And while all of those parts should easily create a book about a popstar, there was something missing. The book’s synopsis claims Amber had a rich inner life that slowly died to give way to her stardom. But there was no inner life the readers got to experience. And honestly, there was no peek at her stardom or shattered career either. There’s entire pages about how Amber was labeled as a more promiscuous figure than her pop-culture counterparts, and even that was boring.
Instead of being a redefining moment for pop culture history, this felt more like a YA coming of age novel. It painted a realistic picture of what working to become a star looked like before the internet, and how isolating and lonely that experience could be. Amber’s narration feels accurate to her age from 17 to early 20s, even when the supporting characters around her feel a little off.
If any of this book's weirdly specific traits caught your eye, you should definitely give it a shot! I’d also recommend it if you absolutely love all things 90s and all things pop. However, if you’ve recently read Britney’s memoir or spent any amount of time in the 90s popstar universe recently, this might fall flat.
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Honey chronicles the highs and lows of the career of fictional pop star Amber Young and her peers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There's so many facets to this book that reflect real-life artists from around that time. I especially saw some of the history of Britney Spears called upon for this story.

Isabel Banta's writing is very poetic and moving. The storyline was a bit chaotic at times but I think that's intended to be reflective of Amber's life and career. Amber and her colleagues and friends are strong characters who are interesting and complex.

This book worked really well as an audiobook. Sprinkled throughout the novel are interviews, lyrics, and article excerpts.

Honey is an impressive debut that's inventive while also serving as a commentary on the way the entertainment industry has historically objectified young women.

Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended: Yes!

I’m so happy I got an audiobook of this one because it was so fun to listen to. There is so much nostalgia of the early 2000s packed into this book! I love the references to pop culture of the time as well as the insight to the music industry. I highly recommend this one!

Isabel Banta’s, Honey, is a beautifully written debut novel that follows Amber Young, a rising pop-star in the 90’s, and the fluctuations of being a woman in the spotlight, especially during this period of time. I knew within the first few pages of this novel that Honey would be a book that enthrals me, and it would have me either devouring the pages or taking my time to appreciate the beauty and the magic behind every sentence. It surprisingly turned out to be the second option. I wanted to savour every last moment of the novel.

I'm giving up on this book around the 50% mark. Though it had all the makings for a perfect story in my opinion, the execution fell flat and I could no longer wait around for things to get interesting. It felt like life was happening around our main character. Everyone was two dimensional, everything was on the surface, even though we were supposed to be feeling these things with her half the time I couldn't even figure out how she felt about the things in her life.

Honey was an incredible book! I am obsessed with this cover and narrator. An interesting story that has you hooked from start to finish.

3.5 Stars

This book is about a girl named Amber who becomes a pop star in the 90's. I felt so sorry for her throughout the book. She is looking for love in all the wrong places. I just wanted to reach out hug her and be the mom to her that her mom wasn't. It totally gave Brittany, Justin and Christina vibes without the Micky Mouse club. I really did not enjoy this book and it honestly made me sad. However that does not make it a bad book. I had a hard time rating it because I think I might just not be in the right age group for this one. I wasn't for me but might be great for you. The narrator did a great job however I think it would of been great to have someone sing the song parts. It was kind of weird because there was music and they were just talking the lyrics.

Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillian audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Exploring the life of a young pop star in the 1990s and early 2000s was fascinating, imbued with a compelling nostalgia that anchored the narrative. The story delves into Amber Young's often poor decisions as she chases her dreams, adding depth to the plot. While the pacing sometimes felt slow and the direction aimless, the narrative eventually found its rhythm, making for an enjoyable read overall.

Amber Young has always longed for love even if she finds it in the wrong places. Growing up with an alcoholic mother and absentee father she seeks attention from anyone, but when she gets a call from a talent scout her life will change forever. Amber soon discovers the love and admiration she receives while singing is none like she has ever experienced. However, she must overcome personal obstacles to get to the top like everyone around her. But this life and admiration comes with a price, it requires unlimited dedication and sacrifice.
Overall rating 3/5
This book is full of 2000’s iconic references and nostalgia. It is also laden with undertones of what was socially accepted in the music industry at this time (and possibly still today). Also it is disturbing how Amber was used to sell sex by the adults in charge, which unfortunately is all too common and needs to be eradicated. Banta brings the gritty reality of this industry to light from within. This book reminded me of Britney Spears' memoir and I could see the resemblance in some of the topics touched in this book. I do wish there was more to the plot other than Amber’s obsession with Wes and Gwen. I wanted more growth from Amber, maybe the second half of the book from adult Amber’s POV.


*Thank you to Isabel Banta, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audio copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

"Honey" brilliantly captures the life of an early 2000s pop star, evoking pure nostalgia and transporting me back to the days of the Backstreet Boys, NSync, Christina, and Britney. This book is a treasure trove of nostalgic feels! While some of the dialogue and banter felt a bit flat at times, the overall plot and character development came together beautifully. Amber's character development felt a bit underdone in the beginning, making it hard to connect with her initially. However, the author truly nailed the pop culture vibes, making the story uniquely satisfying. Brittany Pressley, one of my favorite narrators, did an amazing job bringing this book to life. If you love a blast from the past with all the pop culture feels, "Honey" is a must-read!

Thanks to NetGalley & Celadon Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Narrated by the very talented Brittany Pressley. She always gives a solid performance.
Pop music star and former star search finalist trudges through life with an Alcoholic non attentive Mother, complex friendships, and doubt in her abilities as a pop princess.
Wildly entertaining yet missing the mark for me. It's the typical rags to riches. Girl meets boy and a secret relationship begins.
I did like the characters and the dynamic they had together. I wish the book would not have felt rushed at the end.

Entertaining, immersive, and expertly narrated. A recommended purchase for collection where WF is popular.

Honey is a coming-of-age story set in the spotlight surrounding the pop princesses and boy bands in the late 90s and early aughts.

I can see this one especially appealing to millennials and xennials. I really enjoyed the book once it hit its stride.

It will bring you a bit of nostalgia; will stir up memories of watching Star Search, TRL, and choreographed performances, seeing pop culture scandals pasted across the pages of the gossip rags, and reading Rolling Stone; and will take you back to where you were during some of the major historical events of that time period.

It will make you think about how performers—especially young ones—are cast in the roles that others create instead of being portrayed as who they really are, about public perception versus individual autonomy, and about how both the public and the music labels feel as though they have a sense of ownership of and a right to the performers’ lives and their stories.

It gives insight into how music execs took advantage of these young performers and how those performers tried to find agency in their own careers at such a young age.

Honey includes all of this plus a story of friendship, love, and growth.

Complementing Amber's tale are magazine articles, interview clips, and song lyrics. I love when authors add mixed media to enhance stories like that.

The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, and I firmly believe that her narration can make any book even better. I especially liked her voice and accent for the Scandinavian producer.

The interstitial mixed media sections have a male narrator, where appropriate, and the ones with lyrics include backing song tracks. I highly recommend reading this on audio.

I recommend checking content warnings from a trusted source.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

I'm very torn about this book. The premise is so interesting to me, especially as a lover of pop music, specifically in the 90s. It seems like it was made just for me to read. I just left wanting a bit more from this one. I found the pacing of the book to be slightly off, where I had a difficult time getting into it and then not truly caring what happens to the characters in the book at the beginning. By the end of the book, however, I was definitely in it. The story was certainly entertaining, but it was also just so tragic. The theme of misogyny were certainly alluded to, but I feel like not fully developed, and I wish that Amber, the main character, would have taken a more head on look at the music industry during this time instead of just riding the wave. The story itself reminded me of all the popstars from my youth, and was certainly an interesting "inside look," I just felt it was maybe not executed to the best of its ability and left me slightly unsatisfied. That being said, I did enjoy my time, it was just a like not a love for me. I do think that this book is maybe better enjoyed on audio. I found the narrator brought the character of Amber to life. She certainly gave her a voice, and I appreciated how she read the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I am not sure if i liked this book or not because it gave me very indifferent feelings. Was i drawn into the story and couldn't stop listening? Yes. Did i fall in love with the characters? Not really. But i still enjoyed the story and the storyline. I think this book nailed the setting and how things were for a young girl rising into stardom in the 90s. being a girl that grew up in the 90s and early 2000s following celebrities like britney spears and christina aquilera, this book really painted the perfect picture of what those women experienced. especially now as an adult looking back on that time and how the media, paparazzi, and people felt and treated them and their link to an ounce of sexuality and how it linked to empowerment. This book was kind of giving taylor jenkin reid vibes but not fully. I would recommend it to others.