First things first: this was such a good book and I was throughly impressed with it, especially for a debut! I live a far different life compared to that of the main character Amber, who is growing up in the white hot spotlight of the 90s/00s pop scene with all eyes on her but the triumphs and struggles of girlhood are universal, whether you’re famous or not. The writing was gorgeous and raw, the story simultaneously beautiful and painful all at once and overall a book that makes you think about it long after you finished the last page. You’re gonna want to put Isabel Banta on your radar if this is how good she can write from the get go. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

This book has all the ingredients for something that should really be up my alley: Millennial nostalgia, pop culture, coming of age, but something just didn't work for me. It felt like the author came up with the pop culture references then built the story around them, rather than the other way around. Not for me.

This story follows Amber Young as she goes through the journey of becoming a pop star in the 90’s and early 2000’s. It’s a beautifully written book about the fire of wanting to make it in the music industry and the downfalls of what many young women have experienced while trying to make a name for themselves.
I could feel that she was drawn to Wes and that it wouldn’t turn into a good situation for her. Wes comes across as if he really cared for her at first but in the end I think he was selfish.
Her friendship with Gwen is so captivating and I really loved the relationship the two of them shared.
This book had just the right amount of drama to keep me reading.
I enjoyed following her transformations throughout the years and felt like it was a very realistic description of what it would be like to rise to fame during those times.
Overall I really loved the plot, the writing and the characters and gave this book 4 stars.

This book was a marvel, and it's even more impressive considering this is a debut! I thank Net Galley for allowing to discover it through the Spring Buzz book where I got to read its first couple of chapters and I fell in love with the story immediately!

It was fascinatibg to read about Amber Yound ans her rise to fame in tje late 90s which threw me back in the day when I was a fan of girls like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and I related to Amber and her teenage sensation friend Gwen. They met when they were pi ked to be part of a new band, Cloud9. They both ledt the groupe before it became a thing. Instead they focused in becoming solo artists. Amber's rise to success was a bumpy ride, beibg compared to other young female artists. She kept being torn to shreds for being comfortable with her sexuality, for wearing skimpy outfits, for being seen with this or that young male artists (Wes particularly who was a member of boy band ETA). I love the way this book was crafted: we get to travel places around the world with Amber, we read lyrics and CD booklets like we did 20+ years ago every time we were getting our hands on a new album. I do miss those booklets..).

The coming of age of this lost young lady who had zero confidence was beautiful to read. Learning to accept herself and realize she is worth it, she is talented, she is beautiful person, and she should stop waste her time with men who are not worthy of her. Many can relate to her growth, to the mistakes she made,.. and the ending was chef's kiss. I shed a tear or two, I have to admit.

It’s hard to believe this well-written story is Isabel Banta’s debut novel. Much like her novel’s protagonist, Banta clearly has immense talent.

Honey tells the story of Amber Young, an aspiring singer who comes into her own in the bubblegum pop era of the late 90s/ early oughts. The many referenced bands and pop stars may be fictional, but it’s an impressive time-capsule that really takes you back to that era in our culture, as they fit right in. Interspersed in the narrative, there are numerous press releases, interviews, song lyrics and wiki pages that really add to the feel.

I enjoyed this story, and found myself rooting for Amber, both in her career and in her equally tumultuous personal life, watching her grow and change along the way.

Thank you Isabel Banta, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my most highly anticipated release of 2024, so thank you Celadon for the advanced reader copy!

I read this in 24 hours and the nostalgia of the late 90s/early 2000s pop stardom was delicious. I thought this book would read more like a singular pop-star, but instead it was kind of a character study of multiple pop stars at the time merged into multiple characters. Amber, the main character, felt like a cross between Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, which also made a lot of sense after reading that Open Book by JS was mentioned in the acknowledgements.

This read like a memoir in many ways, and the writing was vivid and immersive. I genuinely felt transported back to that time when female pop-stars were pitted against each other and the status of their virginity was more important than their safety, privacy, or wellbeing.

This story hit a lot of strong points which is best expressed by this quote: “America has a way of making its own gods. It revels in it. It lights the bonfire and watches the flames ick the sacrifice. The so-called ordinary girl becomes a walking advertisement for albums and collectible tour merchandise for tabloids and perfumes. She’s immortal and, simultaneously, tragically mortal.” (This is an arc so quotes can change upon publication, but I feel like this one won’t be touched due to its sheer brilliance)

I loved the music references, the parallels to real life situations that happened with these stars, and that this author decided to make this a collective story verses focusing on only one pop star. All of the characters felt like they were inspired by multiple stars, and it was really cool, kind of like finding Easter eggs like “oh! This sounds like what happened to ____” but she doesn’t make it obvious or a direct match, which I thought was really unique and smart of her to do.

I think if you loved The Daydreams by Laura Hankin or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo this will be a winner for you because I kept thinking about both of those books while reading this one!

This story did feel a little disjointed at times and I would have liked for some parts to have lasted longer/been fleshed out. To put it simply, I just wanted more.

Either way, I thought this was an honest, entertaining, thoughtful, and captivating story about what pop stars experienced 20 years ago. What a gorgeous debut! 👏🏻


Thank you NetGalley & Celadon for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Novels about 90s pop princesses are currently having a moment, and Isabel Banta is here with her contribution by way of her debut, Honey. The lives of the actual “core four” bubblegum pop singers of the 90s - Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore - were portrayed as glistening and golden in the media, as young girls and women the world over aspired to be like their favorite songstress. But in recent years, the veil has been lifted, with many of the women revealing that their careers were built on foundations of abuse and objectification. Honey, which follows a fictional up and coming over-sexualized teenage singer, Amber, is one such tale.

Amber Young knows that she can sing, but breaking into the music industry is a whole other story ... especially when you have an upbringing like hers with an alcoholic mother and absent father. When she is “discovered” at a local event, she is set up with an agent, but actually booking jobs is not easy. However, things turn around for Amber when she is invited to join the girl group Cloud9. In the late 90s, girl groups and boy bands are having their heyday, but Cloud9 is having trouble finding their footing. When Gwen Morris, the “star” of Cloud9, decides to break free and go solo, Amber follows in her footsteps, altering the course of her life.

As a solo singer, Amber finds herself marketed and gawked at for her large breasts and sexy looks. Amber finds it easy to slip into the role of sultry songstress, but she longs for the public to see her for more than just her body. As Amber navigates the exploitative entertainment industry, she comes of age amidst men’s glares and stares. Publicly pitted against Gwen, who in secret is her friend, while also exploring a clandestine relationship with Wes, a member of superstar boy band ETA, Amber attempts to stay true to who she knows she really is, while battling against everything the rest of the world wants her to be. As Amber propels toward stardom, she has to make defining decisions about her career, life, and love, while also combating the court of public opinion, which is watching every move she makes. Is fame worth it when you aren’t even free to just be?

Isabel Banta has delivered an explosive, captivating portrayal of what it was like to be young and famous during the late 90s and early 00s - a time when young stars were used and abused for every hit single they could produce, while being chewed up and spit out over every wrong move that they made. Anyone who came of age during this time in history knows that these hitmakers were portrayed as having perfect lives worthy of emulating down to the minutest of details, and were likely shocked to learn that everything that glitters is not gold, when the young stars, now grown, shared what it really was like to be on top of the world.

Banta’s Honey is insightful and eye-opening, while at the same time being intimate and tender. As someone who loves novels about the entertainment industry, my heart was completely wrapped around this nostalgic, yet scandalous tale.

Oh how I love a good 90s novel! Especially focused on the world of pop stardom that I obsessed over as a child (and still today). I loved these characters and seeing Amber navigate this world and the public’s perception. Was super entertaining!

I really enjoyed the use of the 90s pop star in this world, the characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall realness of the story. Isabel Banta does a great job in writing this and makes you think about pop stars. It had a great overall story and thought the overall story was one that needed to be done.

Thank you Celadon Books and Isabel Banta for the gifted copy.

I'm firmly in the camp of this book was *fine*. There was nothing wrong with it, it just didn't wow me. And at times I felt like maybe it had trouble deciding exactly what kind of book it wanted to be. I loved the nostalgia factor as a kid who grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s, but the emphasis on sex throughout the whole book was something I wasn't really expecting and honestly didn't love. Please don't take that as me trying to shame anyone for their sexuality, it's just not what I thought I was signing up for with this one.

It's clear Banta does have a way with words, as there were some really well-written aspects of the book. I did enjoy one particular thing about the ending, but I do feel it was a bit abrupt considering how much time and detail went into the rest of Amber's story.

Honey's pub date is June 25.

In "Honey," Isabel Banta offers readers a poignant coming-of-age tale set amidst the glitz and glamour of the late-90s and early-2000s pop music scene. Following the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young, the novel takes readers on a journey through the highs and lows of fame, exploring the complexities of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of authenticity in an industry defined by illusion.

Amber's story begins in 1997 when she receives a life-changing opportunity to join girl group Cloud9 in Los Angeles, leaving behind her small-town roots for a shot at stardom. As she navigates the cutthroat world of the music industry, Amber finds herself drawn into the orbits of fellow rising stars Gwen Morris and Wes Kingston, each grappling with their own dreams and demons.

Banta skillfully captures the tumultuous landscape of fame, delving into Amber's rich interior life as she struggles to reconcile the pressures of celebrity with her desire for love, success, and self-fulfillment. Through Amber's eyes, readers are offered a fresh and multifaceted perspective on the lives of pop icons from the '90s and 2000s, redefining the narratives of these superstars and exploring the vulnerabilities hidden beneath their public personas.

Drawing comparisons to Stephanie Danler's "Sweetbitter" and Jennette McCurdy's "I'm Glad My Mom Died," "Honey" promises to captivate readers with its captivating storytelling and raw honesty. By reimagining the stories of some of the most famous pop icons of the era, Banta offers a fresh and nuanced portrayal that challenges preconceived notions and invites readers to reconsider their perceptions of celebrity and fame.

Amber Young’s rise into pop stardom was a heck of a ride. We see it all, and yet it’s realer than any reality show. I loved this book because Amber felt relatable. Talented, but not #1. Trying your best, but it’s never enough for an industry based on old men in boardrooms making decisions. Definitely a lot of Britney inspired situations, but I love her so I was fine with it. I wish Britney had a Gwen in her life and a hands off family. This story was a what if things had gone differently for Britney. If you’re nostalgic for the 90s and Y2K, you’ll eat this up. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy.

Couldn’t put this one down. Put this on your summer TBR. If you liked Evelyn, Carrie or Daisy, or you were a 90s pop star/bands fan, you will love this debut. I especially appreciated the strong female friendship at its center. I admit at first I felt a little disconnected from the MC and was having a little trouble feeling invested but loved the moxie she grew into. Great plot synopsis: “ 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.”

Honey is a biographical style story of a fictious aspiring singer, Amber Young, during the last 90s/early 2000s. She begins her career in a girl group, Cloud9, and she eventually ventures to establish her solo career. She quickly finds herself surrounded by a team who curate her salacious image and exploit her.

This is a coming of age story reimagines the glorified pop star life. Although fictional, the story is certainly realistic and reminiscent of real life pop star stories (e.g., The Woman in Me). The complex dynamics among Amber and the other pop stars was intriguing to read, especially the way the media and “personal image” play a role.

Read if you like:
-Hayley Aldridge is Still Here
-The Woman in Me
-I’m Glad My Mom Died

OH MY GOD??? This was genuinely so good. How is it possible for a story about an up-and-coming pop star in the late nineties to feel relatable to little old me? Anyway, everyone must read this.

This was so nostalgic and beautifully written. I could’ve confused this for an actual memoir. Couldn’t put down and can’t wait for this to come out so I can make all of my friends read it. Thanks Carleton Books for the early copy!

This is the kind of propulsive narrative you can't put down, but ironically, you will also want to slow down to enjoy every beautiful and profound sentence. It's a magical mix of prose and plot, and I found myself underlining every other sentence. I kept wanting to Google the characters' names because I was so convinced they had to be real people--that's how vivid Isabel's characterization is. I loved the protagonist, Amber, and I rooted for her on every page. Banta made the world of '90s popstars come alive in a way that made the plights relatable, and yet, I also felt like I was constantly learning something new. It made me appreciate how badly we have treated women in the spotlight. I think we all owe women like Amber an apology.

BACK TO THE SENTENCES. Banta is a powerhouse of a writer. I would read her grocery lists. I truly believe she is a once-in-a-generation talent and will become the biggest break-out writer of this year. Do me a favor and buy this book so we can talk about it. The fact that this is Banta's debut novel is awe-inspiring. I can't wait to read everything she continues to write forever.