First of all, can we all just take a second to appreciate this vibrant and fun cover? Seriously, this is one of those books I would pick up solely for the cover. But there's more to this one than just a pretty cover!

This book was just a big ball of fun! Highly recommend!

I read Honey as part of the Celadon Read Together Initiative.

“Honey is 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

Isabel Banta’s debut novel, Honey, redefines the narratives of some of the most famous pop icons of the ’90s and 2000s. It reimagines the superstars we idolized and hated, oversexualized and underestimated, and gives them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.”

I’ll be honest—Honey is not a book I would have chosen or been pulled to pick up off bookstore shelves myself, but it is one I’m glad I read and am also surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Finding good books that I wouldn’t normally read is probably one of my favourite things about ‘readalongs’ and ‘readtogethers’.

Right off the bat, this book screams 90s. It brings you right back into that pop world that was so prominent of the ‘90s and early ‘00s. Amber Young reminded me soo much of Britney Spears and I couldn’t help but think of her as I read about Amber’s Journey into fame and stardom.

Although this book is heavily focused on a young girl’s dreams of becoming star, it is also so much more than that—it is real, emotional, heavy and raw. Amber’s story pulled at my heartstrings, and even though there were some points in the story where I was frustrated with Amber and the decisions she made, there were other times where I wanted to just hug and console her. Amber was SO alone and had to go through so many hardships alone and I just wanted more for her.

I did love the fact that she had a strong friend in Gwen, but it’s also very sad that this friendship was mostly sustained through missed phone calls and voicemails.

I would recommend this book to anyone who grew up in the 90s or loved following the pop world of the time. I would also recommend the audiobook because it was excellent and Brittany Pressley’s voice added so much emotion to the high and lows of Amber’s journey into stardom.

Thank you to Celadon, LibroFM, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for the gifted copies.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Taking place during the rise of 90s pop music, Honey follows the career of young singer, Amber Young, from girl group member to adult solo artist. As someone who always had a Britney Spears or N’SYNC album in my CD player growing up, I was excited for a fictional take on pop stardom, hoping for an “inside scoop” into the music industry. And while parts of the book checked that box, especially when Amber steps into her own as a lyricist, a good portion focused on her love life vs. experiences with fame, which didn’t hook me as much.

The writing, however, was wonderfully descriptive from start to finish, and there were some passages that spoke directly to my millennial soul! For me, the lyrical tone was the real star of the show and I’m looking forward to seeing what this author has in store for her future novels.

A quick note on the audiobook…Brittany Pressley was amazing, as always, and did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. The audio also excelled at differentiating between Amber’s POV and the interviews/articles sprinkled throughout the novel. Though some formats, like a magazine quiz, translated better on the page vs. when read aloud.

Brittany Pressley is one of my favorite narrators and she can do no wrong. I'm so glad she was the narrator for Honey.

If you grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s, you were possibly hit by the pop fever of female singers. Christina Aguilera, Britney, Jessica Simpson, etc. they make up the character that is Amber Young. She was really a mix of Christina and Britney. She loved singing and found it as a way for her to find affection. When she decided to make it into a career, Honey shows the ups and downs of that choice.

I had higher hopes for Honey, but parts of it fell flat for me. I was glad to have the incorporation of the music in the book as it showed not only Amber's changes as a singer but also those of the pop behemoth she was a part of. There were a lot of characterizations that I didn't understand the motivation for. At times the characters, even Amber, came off as very one note. I wish we could have seen past the early aughts and into Amber's future life, as highlighted by the Wiki page insert at the end.

Honey is the debut novel for Isabel Banta. I think she holds a lot of talent for future novels. I'm intrigued to see what she writes next.

Rating: 3.5

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Since I received the audiobook ARC, I am going to split this review in two parts.

BOOK
This story really drew me in, but I'm definitely a bit of a glutton for memoirs (fake or real) and it was right up my alley. I was rooting for these girls so hard!! I was attached to Amber and I really wanted the best for her, even through all the crap she went through. I will say, I did see parallels to what other 90s and 00s pop stars say they experienced, so it really feels as though the author drew her inspiration from reality. Nothing sounded so farfetched that I wouldn't believe it.

Audio
Regarding the audiobook version, I did enjoy the narrator. Her tone, and the other readers that popped in, was easy to listen to and follow. She spoke clearly and it was quite an enjoyable listen. My only complaint is how they read and expressed the in between chapters where they were reading the songs. That was a little awkward with the funky background music. I did not really care for those portions.

Overall, would recommend, both the book and the audiobook. It was enjoyable and engaging for me.

While a fantastic audiobook, this story was too sticky for me, edging into a way of writing that I found uncomfortable to listen to

Sadly I could not finish this book. I am usually a huge fan of behind the scenes/celebrity but this one just didn’t hit for me. It just had too much of an immature ick feeling for me. I got to 52% and didn’t really see the story going anywhere so I had to set it down and move on. Could totally imagine this being Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake so if that was a goal of the author that was achieved and could be for you!

I should preface this by stating I'm 100% a pop music nerd/aficionado -- an encyclopedia of melisma, if you will.

This is one of -- if not the best -- pop music-focused fiction novel I've read. And I've read most of them. While I would have preferred a more unexpected trajectory for our POV starlet (the focus on the first half of her being more of an underdog is much more believable in such an oversaturated market, something that was well depicted), I really liked the subversion of the expected tropes. The magazines detail an antagonistic relationship between Gwen & Amber, but behind the scenes their friendship is layered and realistic. The fallout from Wes & Amber's brief affair felt vaguely Britney & Justin-esque but was depicted in the complicated way that first loves typically are.

The focus here was less about the music business writ large but teenage sexuality and the media's attempt to control and capitalize on it. That being the main focus really gave the story legs to feeling believable and both deified and humanized the main characters.

My only real complaint (as an aforementioned pop nerd) was the sparse mention of the 9/11 attacks and *not* how this temporarily ground saccharine pop music to a halt in the United States -- as that would have been an interesting take on media messaging.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time spent with Amber and her friends.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC! This was a title I was really excited to dive into and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint, give my high expectations!

Ok, wow and Happy Pub day to Honey!!! This was so much fun to listen to and it was an exciting and emotional coming of age. Thank you Net Galley and Celadon Books for the arc of the audio book and the e reader.

Set in a time period where boy\girl groups were at their PEAK!!! Oh my gosh this was so good and so sad all at the same time.

Highly recommend the audio book. 4 stars!

I really loved this book! Love that it was set in the 90s so I could relate to the throwbacks and get a glimpse into what it might’ve been like for young girl stars at that time. Amber Young’s personal growth was fun and beautiful to watch, and the support of specific people who were part of her growth was really lovely too. Very Taylor Jenkins-Reid-esque which I love!
Excellent format for an audiobook. Loved the narrator-Brittany Presley is so talented! The snippets from the radio, song lyrics, or magazine articles enhanced the audiobook and set it apart from simply reading it.
Overall, really impressive for a debut novel from Isabel Galant!

As a millennial, I was really excited to read Honey and travel back into the time capsule of the late '90s and early 2000s pop era. I don't think anybody growing up in that time didn't watch MTV, music videos, TRL, and relish in the feeling of what it would be like to be famous—a pop star in a boy band or girl group, buying magazines, and having posters on the wall. With the current hype of memoirs and documentaries highlighting the behind-the-scenes traumas and dramas of that time, I was even more excited to see what would happen in this book.

I think Honey is a chill read and enjoyable enough to pass the time. Unfortunately, I don't think the author pushed it as far as she could have. The early 2000s was a time when misogyny was rampant. The expectations of women in the media were not only clearly sexualized but stereotypical. We saw this in multiple formats of entertainment, not even touching on issues of sexuality and body image. While it felt like the author started to say something, she never pushed the conversation far enough, ultimately making the book feel very safe.

I even felt Banta’s choice to choose a white celebrity was safe, knowing there were groups like TLC and Destiny’s Child around this time. Shows like Making the Band, solo artists like JLo and Selena, and young TV stars becoming pop stars offered so many interesting angles she could've explored. This isn't to say that our main character doesn’t face obstacles, or that the characters around her don’t. It just felt like a lot of the issues weren’t unique to the industry and the main character’s voice never felt personalized or deep enough to deliver the messages the author was scratching the surface of, or to connect with.

Many of her relationships were overly sexualized, which seemed like a missed opportunity to explore other facets of misogyny in the industry. It felt like the author used sex to display misogyny when there were so many more examples that could've been used. I thought maybe the boyfriend might try to steal a song or she might have to battle with going independent, but it seemed like the most challenging aspect of her career was a relationship she knew wasn’t good for her, and the byproduct of that. Though we do see the author begin to explore themes of optics, male gaze, and sexual identity. It all came back to another hookup. For instance, when introduced to Axel, I hoped for a platonic relationship that would focus on Amber’s growth, but it turned into another physical relationship. There was also the introduction of another relationship that felt random, and unnecessary.

Even the side characters with their obstacles and issues were quickly resolved or dropped. For example, Gwen, who could’ve potentially sabotaged Amber’s career, gets an easy forgiveness without true conversational understanding. For me, this book played it safe. With a topic and an era that went so big all the time, I expected so much more.

However, I did enjoy the detailed capture of the time. The interviews, the songs, the magazine clip questionnaires really transported me back. Having the audiobook in addition truly enhanced this experience, capturing that 2000s feeling with different voices making it feel like an episode of TRL. You could really feel that energy and effort vibrate from the pages and through your headphones. One thing I would've liked was actual singing for the songs. It felt odd to have music but then just spoken lyrics over top. But hey, I’m just being greedy.

In general, this book is a celebration and a shining light on the 2000s and what it meant to be a rising star. In some ways, it reminded me of watching Crossroads, watching young kids find themselves, discover each other, and mature in the public eye. While I may have wanted something edgier, I think this will be successful, and I hope to see more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Honey felt like a memoir about an early 2000’s pop star in that it reads like a real story, not a work of fiction. I kept hoping for bigger character development with Amber than we got, which I guess also made it seem realistic. It made me truly feel bad for her through most of the book, although the ending was a bit redeeming.

The timeline was a little funky. Sometimes a chapter would be the next day or several months later. But it was hard to keep track of how far you were going with just the year at the beginning of the chapter.

While I did think the audiobook narrator did a great job with the voices, the snippets of song were very weird to listen to. There was an instrumental backtrack, yet the narrator would speak the lyrics very monotone. I wish they would have hired someone to actually sing those parts.

honey by isabel banta 💓 a coming-of-age story that follows the rise of singer amber young as she navigates fame in the late-90s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom 🎤

on the surface, this novel is about how our characters handle their fame and the struggles that come along with it but looking deeper its a raw portrayal of insecurities, shame, and the relentless desire for love. this was a real reminder of the objectification endured by women, from struggles with eating disorders to societal pressures on female sexuality. honey was a nostalgic gem without being ✨cringe✨

brittney pressley’s narration was chef’s kiss, the perfect voice for this story! the audiobook also featured radio clips, song lyrics, music backdropped as if you were listening to amber’s latest hits and gossip magazine snippets which really made this story seem SO real. I caught myself wanting to google these characters!

all of the J-14 magazine talk had me reminiscing on my childhood 🥹 the fact that the magazine is discontinued now (as of jan. 2024) is a CRIME. honey was an unexpected five star read for me & I’m looking forward to what’s next for this author!

Oh I really enjoyed this book. I think it was paced well and the braiding together of the different performers was really seamless. I knew right away that I was going to just eat the story up. It was super intriguing and brought to light some struggles and viewpoints I wouldn’t have considered. The friendship she created between Amber and Gwen while also showing that the media portrayed their relationship in a much different way was really insightful. The bits of the media articles and outside views sprinkled in only added to the story. The way Amber embraced the image she was given and chose to play into it instead of fight it showed her dedication, but I the growth she showed as she moved through her career into a songwriter with the help of Axel was beautiful. Overall, I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to Isabel Banta’s debut novel, Honey. This book is out for publication on June 25, 2024. All opinions are my own.

Honey begins to take place in the 1990’s, in New Jersey. Amber Young is a girl living a challenged life with her brother and mother. She has high aspirations of becoming a famous singer, even though no one truly takes the time or serious energy believing in her dream. Her journey begins simply with a school talent show and then with an impressive appearance on Star Search at a young age. Amber learns very quickly of her novice status, as she reflects on what actions she must take to increase her chances of becoming a star among kids her age.

As Amber climbs many ladders trying to attain her ultimate success, she comes in contact with many other singers and performers. The relationships between these characters continued as the novel progressed, cycling in and out of Amber's life.

Amber’s life takes many twists and turns throughout the novel. She experiences ups and downs involving having an absent parent, friendship, love, loss, and malicious gossip. Through it all, Amber does her best to keep her humor and tries to hold her head up high. Amber is fortunate to have a core group of people who she can count on and call upon when needed. She discovers what she needs in order to remain true to herself, while affording her the greatest piece of happiness.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to the decades from the 90's and 2000's. The references of trendy shows, toys/objects, and songs from that era really brought me back! As I listened to this as an audiobook, the narrator recites the lyrics to the songs along with music. The narrator was pleasant to listen to but I would have liked the lyrics to have been sung during these sporadic parts of the book, elevating the listening experience. Honey was an entertaining read. This is a good summer reading choice for anyone who has fond memories of that time period and needs a lighter novel.
3 1/2 stars

Amber is a Popstar without the easy road to success. Her story is full of highs and lows, but she is a character you want to root for. I love the songs, but they didn't work as well on the audiobook.

I was provided both an ebook and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. The audio narration was really well done and I enjoyed the song lyrics and interviews that were interspersed throughout giving it a multimedia feel. I would have liked if the lyrics were sung instead of spoken since this is a book about her singing, but I also understand that may not have been possible.

This is not normally the type of book I go for, but it was very well written and too me back to my youth when boy bands and pop princesses were all the rage. I was high school and college aged in the late 90's and early 2000s when Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears were the up and coming single female acts and NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys were the all the rage. The ladies were also pitted against the media all the time for different reasons. I'm sure there were others but those are the ones the immediately spring to mind when I think back to that time and how they were portrayed in the media and as I was reading Amber's story.

Amber is our main character and this is told from her perspective as she seeks a solo career as a female pop star. She was discovered at an early age by a talent agent and struggled to break onto the scene among the other stars at the time. She has the talent, but she struggles to find her voice in other ways to find real success. She also struggles to find support, friendship, and love as she tours and tries to build a fan base.

This very much an adult book as it deals with some very adult topics like drugs, alcohol, and sex throughout the book as Amber faces all of those as she tours. While she is comfortable in her own skin, she is over sexualized by her label at a young age, while the other girls her age are able to hold onto their innocence a bit longer. She is called nasty names by the media and doesn't have much support to deal with the negativity of the media and the loneliness that develops when she's on tour for months at a time. She also has issues with her self-worth and connecting with people and building real relationships.

This was very well written and if you are a fan of pop music this reads almost like a memoir despite it being fiction. I really appreciated Amber's character development as the story progressed. This deals with alot of heavy topics, so I'd look up some trigger warnings ahead of time.

I thoroughly enjoyed Isabel Banta’s cleverly written debut novel. “Honey” puts a face to the celebrity icons who have been glorified, villainized, and objectified by the music industry and media. Throughout, Banta peels away the layers while skillfully showing the intense pressure and manipulation used on young pop stars to meld them into someone else’s ideal while revealing the cost of this on young women who are placed on a pedestal to idolize, criticize, and dissect.

Written in first person from Amber’s point of view made me want to google Amber, Gwen, ETA, and Axel to find the truth behind the fiction and listen to their music.  I wanted to read this book slowly to absorb the nuances and contemplate what was happening.

The inclusion of lyrics, magazine quizzes, interviews, and online forums helped to place the narrative in the 90s and early 2000s (the audio book included music too).  The audiobook narration was expertly narrated by #brittanypressley.  The more I learned of Amber’s journey the more I wanted her to succeed while allowing her personality, hopes, and dreams to thrive.

“Honey” makes me analyze the media I read as a teen while I watched MTV and CMT to hear the latest songs of my favourite musicians.  It makes me want to be a voice against an industry who objectified and treated their stars as a “product” to be consumed rather than a real person with hopes, dreams, and creativity to be nurtured.  Throughout, the novel looks at the objectification of women, double standards between men and women, power and perceived power, friendships, trusting oneself, reaching for your dreams, love, sexuality, and acceptance of who you are and all you can be.

“Honey” will make you nostalgic for your teens, cheering for the friendships in Amber’s (and your) lives, and it will make you thankful for having some normalcy in your own life.

Thank you @celadonbooks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the advance digital copies of #honey by @isabel.banta

#isabelbanta #femaleauthor #femalewriter #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #fiction #bookreview #bookrecommendation #youshouldreadthis #comingofage #musicbooks #celadonbooks #netgalley #macmillanaudio @britpressley

HONEY review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

💿This book seems to be alllllll over bookstagram lately so I needed to see for myself just what it was all about! I went into this one completely blind but I had a fun time reading it! The early 2000s vibes were immaculate and I loved listening to the audiobook!

💿Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Amber feels like all her dreams are coming true when she’s asked to be a member of a new all girl pop group. Eventually she decides to leave the group in pursuit of her solo singing career. But the tabloids and society aren’t kind to a young woman trying to make a name for herself in the music industry. Every move she makes is harshly criticized, her body is constantly being sexualized, and she’s constantly comparing herself to her peers. Is Amber really cut out for the life of an early 2000s pop star?

💿This book was so nostalgic for me! The J14 references gave me maaaaajor flashbacks!! Memories of me begging my mom to buy me the latest issue anytime we were at the grocery store. 😂 Buuuuut the “fictional” headlines in the story were all to real to the way celebs (and women in particular) were written about /criticized by the media. I loved the inclusion of various quizzes teen magazines used to include! I enjoyed this one overall but thought parts of it could have been a bit more fleshed out. I’d recommend this one (especially on audio) if you want an early 2000s pop star read!

💿Thanks @macmillan.audio for my digital copy! This one publishes tomorrow (June 25)!!

Quite a glimpse into the life of the super famous growing up in the spotlight. The format was clever and the multiple voices excellent. I did enjoy the main narrator, she seemed to fit the character. Overall, an entertaining and steamy listen.