If you grew up in the late nineties when POP was king, you will love this book. Although this is fiction, this feels like it mirrors the lives of musicians like Britney Spears, Nsync, and Christina Aguilera- among others. 
Meet Amber Young- a young talented singer who after starting out in a girl group, is now a solo singer. We get Amber's whole life story- the good and the bad. Amber is a talented singer but doesn't get much attention or praise from her mother, but quickly becomes loved by the public...well loved is a strong word but she becomes famous quickly. She is criticized for just about everything..including her sexuality, which becomes a major storyline in the press. 
This story felt very Britney and Justin. As a lifelong Britney fan, I could see a lot of similarities. I really enjoyed this book. At times, it felt a little sluggish but overall I enjoyed the story.

everything about this novel sounded like it should have worked but somehow nothing did. the character dynamics are superficial and the heavy topics introduced lack depth or proper exploration. a massive disappointment overall.

Had a lot of potential, but it really fell short for me. I wish the characters, relationships, etc. were more developed.

A unique novel about being a young girl growing up in the spotlight. Powerful insight into what it means to be a woman now and in the past.

Thank you to Caledon books for an ARC of Honey by Isabel Banta.

Considering this is the author's debut novel, I wasn't too sure what to expect. All I knew was the premise sounded very interesting and who doesn't love a book about a rising pop girlie. As a pop girlie fan myself, I actually really loved this book. The writing was great and I found myself just diving head first into the story of Amber Young. She is who so many of favorite artists are, exploited and judged by society, and who I find myself understanding and drawn towards. I just couldn't put this book down and I loved the way it was told (in years and in cities that were important to Amber's character.) I especially loved the friendship between Amber and Gwen, I love pop girlies who can be there for each other. I don't know, there was just something really special about this book and I am happy that I am of the few who saw the potential in this.

In Honey, Banta explores the intoxicating highs and devastating lows of fame, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the life of a pop icon. Amber’s journey is both a cautionary tale and a poignant exploration of identity, ambition, and the cost of stardom. Banta’s vivid storytelling captures the essence of the ’90s and 2000s pop culture while delivering a narrative that feels both nostalgic and strikingly relevant.

If you're fascinated by the world of pop stars and the complexities behind the glittering facade, *Honey* is a must-read. Banta’s debut is a powerful and engaging story that resonates with anyone who has ever dreamed of the spotlight.

I couldn't put this book down! It was such a fun nostalgia trip for me. I enjoyed guying what plot lines were inspired from the pop stars of my youth, but also enjoyed some creative diversions, particularly incorporating some LGBTQIA+ plot lines. Having some character development carried by fictionalized Wikipedia articles was really creative, as that's where we typically go now for biographical info on music artists. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

3.5 rounded up. Very nostalgic read, reminiscent of popstars like Britney, Christina, the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. It was a super quick and easy read
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC!

I had high hopes for this book -
I could have grown up with these girls yet they seemed to be almost caricatures - really distorted and unbelievable. Kinda yucked out about all the "sex" scenes. Would have loved to have seen more legit character development and maybe a REAL relationship/friendship (Gwen). This one was a struggle for me sadly. Thanks to Netgalley & Isabel Banta for an advanced copy of Honey.

Isabel Banta's debut novel, Honey is fantastic. The way Amber, the protagonist is written is raw, real and relatable. Within the first couple of pages, I was invested in this novel, the story of Amber, her relationships with her mother, Gwen, and many more. Exploring your sexuality as a woman, is in itself such a challenge, having to do this while there are hundreds of thousands of eyes on you, is a different story. I wish we could have seen more regarding Amber and Axel's dynamic. Overall this was an enjoyable read-3.8 stars!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Isabel Banta for providing me with an ARC.

A really compelling fictionalized account of pop stardom in the late '90s into the early 2000s—putting readers in the mind of characters in the vein of Britney, Christina or *NSYNC. It was a quick, engaging read that appears to be well-researched using memoirs and real accounts of the music industry during this era.

this was sweet and the relationships that the mc go through are so good. I love that the focus is not on teenaged girls hating each other and they remain friends first and foremost

This was amazing! I devoured this in less than a week. I loved the story and the writing was beautiful, so well done. It was interesting learning about the toxicity of the music industry in the 90s.. which I’m sure is also happening right now. Also I love axel ❤️

Short synopsis: The story of Amber Young (a fictional pop stars) rise to fame.

My thoughts: I was so enraptured with this story, I could not stop listening and reading it. I do feel like the end was missing something. It was somewhat abrupt and I would have liked a little more.

Amber was not a very likable character, but in a way I kind of liked that she was flawed. Just a reminder that celebrities are people and they make mistakes. My biggest issue is that Amber was a young adult (barely 17) making such huge adult decisions while in the spotlight and as a prominent role model figure for young girls. Maybe I’m just getting old… But the book did keep mentioning that moms hated her.

Read if you love:
- Coming of age stories
- The music industry
- 90s pop music
- Fictional books written as biographies
- VMAs and MTV

I went in with high expectations, which made me in the end left wanting more in the story. I enjoyed reading Amber's journey. I just felt was a little slow at times!

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC!

https://booksformind.com/july-2024-book-reviews/

Here's my review:

90s pop culture was heavily prominent throughout this book. But it has a lot more going on for itself. Yes, the music industry was at the center of the story. But also the way young women, especially ones in the public eye, were perceived by the public in general. It was an okay read, but this wasn't as memorable as I expected it to be. It made me reminisce of the decades mentioned throughout the book, but that's about it. It also got me worked up at the way women are still objectified up to today. Even though this is a work of fiction, the author captured this issue very well. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced readers' copy.

Honey by Isabel Banta is a sweet and touching story about a girl named Honey who’s trying to figure out where she fits in. The book is full of charming moments and has a fun, whimsical vibe as Honey deals with the ups and downs of growing up. Banta’s writing makes Honey’s adventures feel both relatable and heartwarming.

The best part of Honey is how it mixes humor with some real, meaningful stuff about finding yourself and bouncing back from challenges. The characters are super likable, and the story keeps you hooked with its easy flow and feel-good vibes. It’s a great pick if you’re into stories that are both cute and thoughtful.

Set in the late '90s and early 2000s, the story follows Amber Young, who lands a spot in the girl group Cloud9.
“Honey” is a beautiful blend of nostalgia and critique. It’s an empowering coming-of-age tale that’s both heartbreaking and uplifting. If you loved “Daisy Jones & The Six” or are curious about the realities behind pop stardom, add this to your summer reading list!

Honey is a coming of age story that follows Amber Young as she navigates her newfound pop-stardom in the late 90's.

This book felt very nostalgic, and overall it was entertaining. Honey is very character driven and we really got a great picture of Amber as she was going through this pivotal time in her life. Where I felt it was lacking was the depth of the relationships. Most of the side characters felt pretty one-dimensional, so I couldn't get a real feel for their relationship with Amber. In particular, I wanted more from the relationship between Amber and Gwen. It had the potential to be a really impactful female relationship, but it just didn't fully leave the ground.

The ending also fell a little flat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for the ARC!

A heady, deeply felt debut from an author clearly adept at creating full formed characters. Banta's characters grow both emotionally and mentally throughout this strong period piece of sorts.