Coming of age story for a pop star. It was interesting to read this book. You’re in the mind of a young pop star as she grows up in the lime light. It was a good read even if a bit boring.

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, this is the story of Amber Young and her rise to fame as a teenage pop star

I love story with multimedia approach to telling a story. There’s interviews, magazine articles, and song lyrics to help tell the story. I could see some of my favorite pop stars as a kid in these characters. It was slow at times, but i enjoyed the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone born in 1990 and who grew up during the rise and fall of boy bands and pop princesses I wanted to love this book. The premise sounded amazing and I was so intrigued however I found it kind of dull. It all just seemed to fall flat for me. There was something about the writing that just did not do it for me. I will say I found the last half of the book much better. Parts of it did make me feel like I was in the early 200s so that was done well. Also I liked to try to imagine what pop start each girl represented while I was reading. I feel like the story had so so much potential but it left me wanting more but not in a good way.

This nostalgia-rich book was a fun ride but at some points it was almost TOO much and it pulled me out of the storyline because I was continually trying to tie in the real life equivalent. Overall - solid read, but maybe not my favorite.

A fantastic read! Reminded me a little bit of a Taylor Jenkins Reid story, in case you're into her books. A talented singer trying to make it in the industry experiences all sorts of trials and tribulations throughout her career. The story will capture your interest right from the start.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this. I wanted the drama of 90s-2000s pop stars. And this didn’t deliver for me. I felt like absolutely nothing interesting happened and this could have had way more. I wanted addicting. I wanted glitz and glamour and this fell flat.

Also, I discovered just how much I dislike song lyrics in my books. There was a lot of that here.

Born in the 90s and a 00s girly through and through, it was a no brainer that this was a book I needed to read. This was such a great book and put me in mind of the rising stars during that time, and gave a little more insight into their lives and lifestyles and made for an entertaining read.

I absolutely loved this one. I thought it was done so well and I just pictured Britney Spears the entire time. It was so interesting and addictive but also dealt with deeper topics like sex, feminism, the over specialization of young women, and success as a woman in any industry compared to that of a man. The 90s and 2000s vibes were immaculate as well.

Feels like I am supposed to be reading like a Britney/Christina/Jessica Simpson diaries?

Felt a little flat for me.
Fun though!

This book was just okay for me. It had so much potential and I was excited about it because 90s pop star, hello! But I just felt like it fell flat for me.

I listened to this on audio and Brittany Pressley did an amazing job, but I didn't really connect with the characters and felt like the book and relationships of the characters were not complete. I was left feeling like I needed more.

I also have come to realize, I do not like song lyrics in my books. Most of the time I just skim over them (if physically reading) or tune them out on audio.


I definitely felt this book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it was lacking and left me wanting more. Ultimately, this book is forgettable and probably won't recommend much.

I absolutely loved the quotes in this book. It was beautifully written for a time based in the 90's about a girl names Amber who was a rising pop star. Her life changed after joining a pop girl group. I enjoyed this book and will recommend to my friends and family.

I absolutely loved this book. It definitely gave early 2000s vibes and I wish I could listen to ambers music in real life. Not only was it a fun read but it also brought up some difficult conversations and made me truly root for amber.

Thank you @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

The writing in this novel was absolutely beautiful. With that being said, the beginning of the book ebbed and flowed from great to just okay for me. However, as the storyline continued to build during the second half, I began to appreciate it more.

My heart broke for Amber and Gwen through their ups and downs as they were growing into their owns but definitely rejoiced at the end when they both received what they deserved.

This story had all the potential, but for me, I just needed something a bit more.

One of my favourite debuts of the year! Honey tells the story of the rise of a 90's/2000's-esque pop star, while exploring larger themes that those in the spotlight faced and how they reflected the culture of that era. Banta does an amazing job of letting readers behind the curtain of a life in the spotlight, without it ever becoming cheesy. I will definitely be picking up whatever comes next from this author.

4/5

Thank to Net Galley and the publisher for access to an ebook of this title.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Format: Audio/E-book - thank you @librofm for the complimentary audiobook!

4.5🌟 - I really liked it!

This is giving early 2000s nostalgia!! I love a coming-of-age story and this was so good on audio!

Character-driven and centered on music this one is perfect for fans of Daisy Jones, Mary Jane, and Britney/Christina pop icons!

Honey had so much potential with its premise of a young girl’s rise to pop stardom, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. While Isabel Banta’s writing was undeniably beautiful and filled with great quotes, the story itself lacked depth. The relationships, particularly between Amber and Wes, felt underdeveloped and failed to evoke any real emotion. I wanted to be immersed in Amber’s world of fame, wealth, and music, but the pop star element was barely explored, leaving me craving more insight into that lifestyle. The use of song lyrics throughout also dragged the pacing. I was left feeling like a spectator rather than truly connecting with Amber’s journey.

Would recommend for fans of…
💿 The Woman in Me
💿 The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes
💿 The Daydreams

It’s a well-known fact that I LOVE any book that’s set in the entertainment industry. I’m always searching for stories that feel real and authentic and Isabel Banta’s debut novel, Honey checks all of those boxes.

Honey is the story of Amber Young who gets a chance to change her life by joining a girl group in the late 1990s. From there, she faces numerous challenges and setbacks as she fights for her chance at superstardom.

I feel like many pop star stories have a glitzy, romanticized angle that skims over some of the more difficult elements those characters may face, but Banta addresses them head on in a way that can be difficult to read at times. Amber faced many tough situations throughout the novel and it was sobering to think about how frequently those situations happen in real life. Even though it can be a tough read, there’s a happy ending and it was really nice to see the story end on such a positive and healthy note. And even though the story gets heavy at times, there is a sense of nostalgia that runs through the book, giving the story some balance, and I really loved the mixed media elements like magazine quizzes and Q&As.

While the story clearly draws on the stars of the late 1990s/early 2000s (Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake are obvious inspirations), I also saw a lot of similarities to artists that hit it big later in 2010s, like Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and One Direction, which should make this story accessible for all readers, no matter what era of pop stars they grew up with.

All in all, Honey is a fascinating debut and I look forward to seeing what Banta writes in the future. Honey is out now. Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book in 24 hours, it was that good. Honey is the story of Amber Young and her becoming a 90's pop star while she's still a teen. The book starts when Amber is a child and realizes she's not that interested in anything but singing. Despite her single mom tried to encourage her to take the traditional path (go to college, get a job, get married and have kids), Amber knows deep down she is not meant to be anything but a singer. Even when she knows and everybody around her tell her she is talented, even when she is discovered and signed by a record label, we see her struggle for a big chunk of the book with imposter syndrome. I loved reading about her character development, how she grows into a woman who believes in her talent and has a better relationship with fame. Honey has The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, but with the pop craziness of the 90's. Super entertaining, highly recommend.

Such a fun book! Love the references to the 90’s! The cover alone absolutely makes the reader want to dive in and see what it’s all about!

Since moving my brain has not seemed to settle enough to focus on reading, but this book was full of frothy goodness with just enough depth to keep me engaged. Other reviews discuss that wanted to see more of her being a popstar, but I felt you did get that - but it was clouded because Amber never really sees herself the way those around her do. Her insecurities, her ego, her desire to be loved, all of that make it so you see her stardom through her view which feels dampened. The characters are extremely frustrating at times, but that is also equally fitting of their ages. Overall this book was just right for right now, and I'm glad I finally picked up off my TBR pile.