This book fell flat to me, which I am super bummed about. I was excited to have a new pop star fiction novel in my docket when reading the description and seeing it compared to Daisy Jones & The Six. And yet, it was not that. The beginning was intriguing, showing our main character's rise to childhood stardom, but once the love interest came in, it fell apart for me plot-wise. The 'spicy' scenes were well written and helped the plot, which is a rare plus. Overall, easy read, nothing to write home about, which I am upset about.

“Honey” felt like we got a look into the craziness and loneliness of the pop stars of the 90s and 2000s, that alone made the story very entertaining and nostalgic to read. I loved the author’s writing and honestly shocked it was a debut novel.

* This one gets a bit spicy. check trigger warnings before starting.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio and Goodreads Giveaway for gifting me a physical, digital and audio ARC of this debut novel by Isabel Banta, perfectly narrated by a favorite, Brittany Pressley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In 1997, Amber is discovered at a school talent show. Before long, she gets the chance of a lifetime - to join girl group Cloud9 in Los Angeles. She and fellow singer, Gwen, become friends, along with Wes, a member of boy band ETA. As she eventually goes out on her own, she discovers more and more of the bad side of fame.

This was a total immersion of a book, made more so by my access to all the book's forms. The audiobook was so wonderful and I would definitely suggest that - there was music in the background accompanying the song lyrics and it just put you back into that era. This was a real coming-of-age story that felt real, much in the way that Daisy Jones and the Six did, plus this will give you Brittany Spears vibes. It's nostalgic and will take you back in time. You would like to hope society has changed since #MeToo broke, but... A wonderful debut - can't wait to read more from this author.

🎤Book Review🎤
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Summary: It is 1997, and Amber Young has received a life-changing call. It’s a chance thousands of girls would die for: the opportunity to join girl group Cloud9 in Los Angeles and escape her small town. She quickly finds herself in the orbits of fellow rising stars Gwen Morris, a driven singer-dancer, and Wes Kingston, a member of the biggest boy band in the world, ETA.

As Amber embarks on her solo career and her fame intensifies, her rich interior life is frequently reduced. Surrounded by people who claim to love her but only wish to exploit her and driven by a desire for recognition and success, for love and sex, for agency and connection, Amber comes of age at a time when the kaleidoscope of public opinion can distort everything and one mistake can shatter a career.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My Thoughts- I enjoyed this book so much! My inner 90s 2000s girly just loved this one. It felt like spice girls meets Britney Spears. I loved this book so much, Amber was just such a lovable FMC. This one also included lyrics and songs she wrote throughout the story. It’s really a super creative and wonderful debut. I loved just about everything about this book, highly recommend it !
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QOTD- who is your favorite singer from the 90s and 2000s?! Mine is always Britney Spears, the spice girls, and NSYNC.
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I was so excited to read this one. It exceeded all my expectations and more! For someone who loves celebrity life, an honest look of the other side of things is always up my alley. thank you net galley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The format is a little funky, so I personally think I would prefer it on audio. But I loved the story and the writing was beautiful

"Honey" by Isabel Banta is a delightful and enchanting read that captures the essence of love, resilience, and personal growth. Banta's storytelling is both heartfelt and engaging, drawing readers into a world where emotions run deep and characters come alive with vibrant authenticity.

The novel's prose is beautifully written, with a lyrical quality that makes each page a pleasure to read. Banta has a talent for creating vivid imagery and evocative scenes that transport readers into the heart of the story. Her descriptive language and attention to detail make the settings and characters feel incredibly real and immersive.

The characters in "Honey" are richly developed and relatable, each with their own unique journeys and challenges. Banta skillfully portrays their struggles and triumphs, making readers root for them every step of the way. The relationships in the novel are nuanced and believable, adding depth and dimension to the narrative.

"Honey" is a testament to Isabel Banta's ability to weave a compelling and emotionally resonant story. It's a novel that touches on themes of self-discovery, healing, and the power of connection, leaving readers with a sense of hope and inspiration. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a beautifully written and emotionally satisfying read.

Amber Young's ascent in the late 1990s pop music scene is swift and dazzling. Joining the girl group Cloud9 propels her from small-town life to the vibrant world of Los Angeles. Amidst the glamour, Amber's journey is deeply personal as she navigates complex relationships with fellow rising star Gwen Morris and Wes Kingston, a member of the world’s biggest boy band, ETA. As she transitions to a solo career, the public's fascination with her life grows, often overshadowing her own desires and ambitions.

Despite the allure of stardom, Amber confronts the harsh realities of the music industry, where young women are sexualized and isolated. The media and industry pit Amber and Gwen against each other, portraying them as rivals, yet they remain each other's closest allies. Media scrutiny peaks when Amber is unfairly blamed for the breakup of Gwen and Wes.

The story unfolds from Amber's perspective, providing a nuanced portrayal of her rise in the late 1990s and early 2000s pop music scene. One of the novel's greatest strengths is its refusal to vilify any of the characters (even if some deserve it), avoiding the trap of simplistic black-and-white morality.

The focus on genuine female empowerment is particularly refreshing. Unlike the superficial “rah rah girl power” often seen, the portrayal of empowerment feels authentic and grounded. Amber happily owns her identity as a sexual being. Gwen and Amber are true friends -- supporting one another in the ways that only they understand are necessary.

The inclusion of "third-party documents" like song lyrics, Wikipedia entries, liner notes, and magazine articles adds a unique texture to the narrative, enriching the reader’s experience.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It offers a compelling character study and a thoughtful examination of the music industry's impact on young women. Plus, the characters are my contemporaries, so I'm always a sucker for that.

This review will be posted to Goodreads and Instagram June 23, 2024.

Thank you to Celadon for allowing me to be a part of this readalong, and to MacMillan Audio for an ALC as well.

I enjoyed this book set in the world of pop music. In the 1990s Amber becomes a part of Cloud9, an all girl pop group. It's her dream but it doesn't take long for it to realize this dream comes at a price.

This is told from Amber's point of view, and we get different timelines with the 1990s and then the 2000s with older Amber. The audio was well done and made it feel almost autobiographical.

I feel like it gave a very realistic view of the way things were for young women in pop groups in this time period. A sadly realistic view.

It was well written and I couldn't help but be cheering for Amber and she navigates life.

I absolutely LOVED this debut novel! I thought the concept was so unique and relatable for readers who grew up in this time of young pop stars. The characters were fresh and easily connected to artists of the early 2000s. The conflict in the story was engaging and had you rooting for Amber the whole book. I thought each character was well developed and had a good mix of good/bad qualities in each. Very easy read and I devoured it in 2 days!

This book was the Y2K, pop nostalgia, boy/girl band book of my dreams! Fans of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Hilary Duff, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, One Direction etc. should definitely read this book.

I thought that it was really well written, with poetic prose at parts. The incorporation of the lyrics of the songs was also very well done in my opinion, and I typically think that including lyrics is cumbersome and unnecessarily cheesy. They were included with apt timing and in a way that added to the storylines. Not too much of a focus was put on romantic storylines, but instead themes of friendship and character development were the main piece.

The book had cool behind the scenes looks at what could easily have been the pop stars that I grew up with. I’m not sure if the author was intentionally drawing connections to real 2000s stars, but I tried not to think too deeply about that. I didn’t want to miss the story in front of me by confusing bits of real life lore.

I received this book as an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you Isabel Banta and Celadon Books!

I loved this book. I grew up in the early 2000s and 2010s and was (and still am) pop star and boyband obsessed. I absolutely loved that this was written to seem like an autobiography and feel that I connected to Amber so, so much throughout the story. I loved the mixed media element as well. This was so raw and really gives the perspective of the part of stardom that may not always feel worth it. A phenomenal debut.

I originally received the paperback book ARC from Celadon to do a buddy read. Not everyone received their book, so they sent use to NetGalley so we could get to reading together.

I liked the book a lot when I started reading it, then it stalled out. It got to the point I contemplated doing a DNF, but I hate doing that. I got back into a groove for reading it, then it stalled out again.

Overall, I found the book to be decent albeit overhyped.

Honey by Isabel Banta is an ode to the pop singers and bands of the 90s and 2000s. The author has tried to give a voice to those young women who were subjected to innumerable things.

Amber Young has always wanted to sing, and she has a voice for that. After a lot of trials and errors, she does get that chance. But in a world where looks, connections, scandals, and objectification prevail, was she able to survive?

Having grown up in the 90s and 2000s, I definitely know some of the pop stars that this book is based on. Amber, though, is only one character here, she probably is multiple characters combined. There are so many layers of ism's in here that I was not surprised to read about. However, I wish that the author had shown the effect of all those things on Amber. They are just referred to and then skipped right over. I wanted more. The book is good paced, and it does grab the reader. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author.

Thank you, Celadon Books and Netgalley, for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an opportunity for read this book in exchange for an honest review. The book follows an aspiring 1990 pop star. I was a young adult in the the early 90’s and the main character reminded me of Christina Aguilera, and another character was Brittany. Amber, the main character, comes from a modest background with various traumas, her look somehow defines who she will be, how she will behave. She starts in a pop group with the others and eventually goes out on her own…the book follows her trials as a very young woman in a difficult, rumor fueled and substance addled industry. I did not enjoy the book because I was not interested in the characters, but keeping it real and to be fair to the author, the topic is too shallow now that I’m 50 something, that said, I loved Daisy Jones and the 6, I read music biographies, so I expected something else and it fell short for me. I felt like there were so many metaphors that didn’t add to the writing for me, i didn’t really feel invested in the outcome of the story.

I really enjoyed the nostalgia of the early aughts pop scene and public love triangles reminiscent of Britney, Justin, and Christina. It held a mirror up to the way we, as a society, both love and love-to-hate celebrities, and the way women are often held to impossible standards in contrast to their male contemporaries. I felt that, despite the celebrity aspect of the characters, so many of their feelings and experiences were relatable to anyone who has been a young woman and had to come to terms with trying to balance sexuality and desire against society’s Madonna-whore complex. Honey is an interesting look at womanhood and hunger, and the prose has an almost lyrical quality that made the reading experience very enjoyable.

Honey is the journey of Amber Young, a late 90s-early 2000s pop star. For anyone that was a fan of the Britney/Christina era, this book reads like a backstage view into their lives. Honey is about more than just pop stars though, it is about the struggle to find oneself at a young age and the beauty of friendships. Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the copy!

Include a quote from a Britney Spears song? Say less. I adored the line comparing mother’s and daughters to Russian dolls, so poetic when referring to young daughters getting their big break and mother’s living in their shadows- much like the show Gypsy. So I hope that line stays in the final copy of the book once released.

Amber’s journey includes many things expected from a wannabe pop star- Star Search, a troubled family with an alcoholic mom, and the failure of the beginning with a girl group. A little too played out at times. From the girl group she meets Gwen, who also begins a solo career very much mirroring a Christina vs Britney vibe. A little too on the nose. The men are all pretty much creepy and cringey in this one. Amber and the first love interest are so excruciating to read and awkward, I was prepared to skip all those parts. The story is so much better when focusing on Amber coming into her own and her career.

Even though the story lacks quite a bit of depth, maybe that’s the point in reflecting teen pop in the early 2000s, Amber’s transformation was the real “star” of the book. Even lacking points for me for creativity, this could be a good book for you if drawn to any stories of Hollywood and follow girly pop idols of the 90s and early 2000s.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for the digital galley of this book!
90s pop stars, boy bands, drama, publicity, and more! This book gives me very much 90s, Britney Spears vibes when it comes to what happens when you have the spotlight, who you can count on, and how to find yourself when everyone else has already formed opinions about you. It tackled how media treat women, women treat other women, and how women treat themselves.
Did I agree with the lifestyles of these characters? Not really. Did I really like how different it was and impulsively readable it was? Definitely.

I felt like I was slipped right back into the early 2000s. At the time I never would have said I was a fan of Britney or Christina and definitely not Jessica Simpson but reading this made me look back on the emergence of their genre in a much different way. The epilogue was chefs kiss. Pure creativity and I loved it.