I saw a review that called this book the love child of Britney Spears memoir and Daisy Jones and the Six, which immediately captured my attention!
Loved the vibe of this being a fictionalized story but set in a world/atmosphere we know so well that it almost felt real. I kept wanting to google the characters to see their pictures or listen to their music.
This being said, I found the ending rather rushed. I wish that we could have had a more true closure on certain plotlines rather than the article summary, it felt like how old TV shows and movies would have a brief 'where are they now' moment at the end credits.
While I am glad to have read this, I do think that it will be one that is ultimately middle tier and forgettable in the long run, but I am excited to see what else Banta puts out!

I thought I was really going to like this book but it fell flat for me. I was so intrigued by the premise but the execution was lacking for me. I didn’t connect to the characters or feel that they had much depth.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book! At this time I will not be reading or reviewing. I will update if I do read in the future!

This is a captivating and deeply immersive coming-of-age story that transports readers straight into the glittering, yet often brutal, world of late 90s and early 2000s pop superstardom. Following the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young, this novel offers a compelling look at fame, self-discovery, and the intense pressures faced by young women in the spotlight.

Isabel Banta's writing is truly beautiful and evocative, making Amber's journey feel incredibly real and personal. I was completely drawn into her experiences as she navigates the complexities of the music industry, from the exhilarating highs of success to the harsh realities of objectification and exploitation. The novel thoughtfully explores themes of identity, agency, and the contradictory standards placed upon female artists, all while delivering a strong sense of nostalgia for the era.

While some aspects of the plot felt a touch unresolved, potentially hinting at future stories, the vivid characterization and the unflinching portrayal of the industry's darker side made this a truly engaging read. Fans of "Daisy Jones & The Six" or those interested in the real stories behind pop icons like Britney Spears will find "Honey" to be a compelling and insightful addition to their reading list. It's a powerful and memorable debut that I highly recommend!

I definitely read this story through early-00s-pop-music-obsessed lenses, but that’s okay with me! This felt like a more grown up version of Pop Princess by Rachel Cohn, which was messy as heck and I loved it in seventh grade. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

a nostalgic, sultry look at the y2k pop movement. amber is such a complex and likeable protagonist, and i really enjoyed the formatting and how it leaned into that parasocial connection we have with artists.

Honey is a fantastic look into the life of a pop star. Amber Young starts out as part of a pop star girl group, and then breaks out onto her own. This story recounts her life from that point, how she got there and where she wants to go. I was so invested in the story, and I think it also really helped that I ended up reading the book on audio at the same time as reading an e-book. While I wasn’t necessarily feeling connected to Amber or any of the other characters in the book, it kept my attention and brought me back to the 90’s-2000s to reminisce.
Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

“I think parents can affect us without intending to. By being bad examples, they end up helping us. They show us what not to do.”

“...I finally grasp it - I am inside of my life. This is not a costume I am trying on, this is the skin.”


I had so much hope for this one but a lot of the plot felt unfinished. This was my first read by the author. I got this as the book of the month read as well.

This book just gives complete female rage, desire, and identity but whisper-shouts self-destruction and performance too. It’s all about the masks we wear, the hunger we chase, and the pain we romanticize. Honey wants to be seen but not known, touched but not held. And that contradiction defines the heart of the book. All of our wants of not wanting to be perceived but wanting to be loved entirely.

It’s giving Daisy Jones and the Six and Britney Spears’ memoir. I can’t believe this was their first book.

A bittersweet coming-of-age tale set against the glitter and chaos of '90s pop stardom. Full of nostalgia, heartbreak, and behind-the-scenes insight into the life of a teenage idol—we felt the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

This book screams female rage, desire, and identity—but whisper-shouts self-destruction and performance too. It’s all about the masks we wear, the hunger we chase, and the pain we romanticize. Honey wants to be seen but not known, touched but not held. And that contradiction defines the heart of the book..

Also, let’s not ignore how fame, art, and femininity are dissected here. Banta critiques the way women are consumed, idolized, and then discarded—Honey’s persona becomes a battlefield between empowerment and exploitation.

Honey is less a book and more a feeling—raw, seductive, aching. It doesn’t want to be understood; it wants to be felt. Isabel Banta dares you to romanticize the wreckage, to find beauty in the bruise.

This book is for the girls who’ve cried in bathrooms, danced with heartbreak, and kissed chaos on the mouth. It’s not perfect. But neither is pain. And maybe that’s the point.

You want closure, but this book gives you a mirror instead.

I enjoy a good coming of age, fictional musician novel but this one did not live up to the standard set by so many of the others I’ve read.

Definitely touched on some important topics like the over-sexualization of young female pop stars and had me thinking of Britney, whose memoir I had just finished.

Oh my god. This book was the stuff that my millennial heart is made of. A britney spears esque main character who I loved reading about. It was so great to put myself back into that world. Gave me all the nostalgia feels.

Honey by Isabel Banta is an intriguing debut with a unique voice and a vivid sense of place. The writing is sharp and stylish, and there were moments where I was completely pulled in by the atmosphere and emotional undercurrents. Banta definitely has a way with words, and the character work was layered and complex.

That said, the story didn’t fully land for me. There were stretches that felt a bit meandering, and I found myself wanting a stronger connection to the characters’ motivations. Some of the emotional beats didn't hit as hard as I hoped, and I finished the book feeling more intrigued than fully satisfied.

Still, there’s a lot of promise here, and I’d be curious to read whatever Banta writes next. If you’re into literary fiction with a moody, introspective tone, Honey might be a good fit for you.

Thank you so much to Celadon Books & NetGalley for this eARC!

Set against the backdrop of the '90s pop scene, Honey tells the compelling journey of Amber, a teenager with stars in her eyes and big dreams of fame. When she lands a spot in the girl group Cloud9, it seems like everything she’s ever wanted is finally within reach. The flashing lights, the excitement, the whirlwind lifestyle it all feels like magic. But as Amber is thrust into the limelight, she quickly discovers the darker side of the dream she once chased so hard. The book beautifully explores the rollercoaster of self-discovery, identity, and the emotional cost of stardom.

I was genuinely moved by Amber’s story. She’s fiercely driven, and that fire in her makes her so easy to root for. Her voice is authentic and full of heart. One of my favorite parts was her friendship with Gwen—it felt real and grounding, a much-needed anchor in the chaos of her rising fame. The book’s nostalgic touches, especially the early 2000s pop culture nods, gave it such a fun, throwback feel that I loved.

What stuck with me most was the ending, hopeful and full of personal growth. In the end, Amber doesn’t just find success; she finds herself. And that, more than anything, is what made this story so satisfying. The writing was strong, the characters felt alive, and it offered a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the world behind the glitter.

This was such a fun read, it really felt like getting a backstage pass to the lives of '90s and early 2000s pop stars. If you’ve ever wondered what it was really like during that era of bubblegum pop and girl groups, this book totally delivers. I’d definitely recommend it, you won’t be disappointed!

Honey offers a nostalgic journey into the pop music industry of the late ’90s and early 2000s, highlighting both its allure and its challenges. I think this is worth the read.

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 by Isabel Banta follows a manufactured pop princess who was shaped and controlled and sold to the world. I could not read it and not think about Brittany Spears. I hate that too because it's what uncreative reviews said... but damn, if it wasn't wormed in my brain.

Amber Young knew how to hit every mark, but offstage, she drowned in body image, creepy industry power plays, and the feeling that she didn't even belong to herself anymore. Two things that I didn't expect that stuck with me were her backup dancer best friend, the only person who sees her instead of the brand (which was great), and how she watches old performances of herself, trying to remember if she was ever actually happy. (sad, but authentic). I couldn't relate to the characters but that could be generational. I did enjoy the behind-the-scenes aspects but it felt a bit like fan fiction and the language was much younger than I what I felt the characters would sound like. I did listen to the audiobook as well as have the ebook so the voice may have added to that. I recommended this one to my Instagram followers who love pop culture.

The premise of this novel is a fun one and qualifies as a nice "getaway" read, but the character development was lacking to make it a 5-star. Still, many will love this novel and the pop star storyline.

So cute! Couldn’t put it down. Coming of age story about a girl in the late 90s early 2000s and I felt like I was right there along for the ride while reading this book. Must read!