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Honey
A coming-of-age story that follows the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young as she navigates fame in the late-1990s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom
It is 1997, and Amber Young has received a life-changing call. It is 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.
Isabel Banta’s debut novel redefines the narratives of some of the most famous pop icons of the 1990s and 2000s. It reimagines the superstars we idolized and hated, oversexualized and underestimated, and gives them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.
It is 1997, and Amber Young has received a life-changing call. It is 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.
Isabel Banta’s debut novel redefines the narratives of some of the most famous pop icons of the 1990s and 2000s. It reimagines the superstars we idolized and hated, oversexualized and underestimated, and gives them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
About the author
Isabel Banta
2 books101 followersIsabel Banta is a writer, book publicist, and indie bookseller based in Brooklyn. She graduated from the University of Virginia. Honey is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,583 reviews
March 20, 2024
This book had all the makings of being right up my alley (I started it the day after I received it over the other 30 books I have on my TBR pile), but it just didn't work for me. It was decent, but at the end of the day, I didn't particularly care about these characters or what was going on in their lives... their self-reflection at the age of 19 rang false and the relationship between Gwen and Amber and Amber and Wes just didn't feel legitimate or real. With this type of book, I want to feel what these characters are feeling and going through, but it never pulled any kind of emotion out of me.
June 13, 2024
ugh this one had so much potential but was lacking a lot in execution for me.
the synopsis was so intriguing (a young girl turns into a mega pop star) and those plots always get me but with books of similar storylines (think Daisy, Evelyn, Hayley Aldridge, etc) this was lacking!
i saw all meh reviews so didn’t expect much, but the only reason i did read it is bc my queen Brittany Pressley narrates the audio format. if you do read this one, try that version!
i felt like everything was halfway done… her relationship with Wes… the ending (why couldn’t we get a chapter with the ending instead of an article telling us what happened??)… even her being a popstar was such halfway flushed out? like show me what it was like being a popstar!! being famous!! being rich!! touring!! being popular!! being everything…
TLDR; had potential but lacking all around. will ultimately be forgettable!
the synopsis was so intriguing (a young girl turns into a mega pop star) and those plots always get me but with books of similar storylines (think Daisy, Evelyn, Hayley Aldridge, etc) this was lacking!
i saw all meh reviews so didn’t expect much, but the only reason i did read it is bc my queen Brittany Pressley narrates the audio format. if you do read this one, try that version!
i felt like everything was halfway done… her relationship with Wes… the ending (why couldn’t we get a chapter with the ending instead of an article telling us what happened??)… even her being a popstar was such halfway flushed out? like show me what it was like being a popstar!! being famous!! being rich!! touring!! being popular!! being everything…
TLDR; had potential but lacking all around. will ultimately be forgettable!
March 9, 2024
Isabel Banta’s, Honey, is a beautifully written debut novel that follows Amber Young, a rising pop-star in the 90’s, and the fluctuations of being a woman in the spotlight, especially during this period of time. I knew within the first few pages of this novel that Honey would be a book that enthrals me, and it would have me either devouring the pages or taking my time to appreciate the beauty and the magic behind every sentence. It surprisingly turned out to be the second option. I wanted to savour every last moment of the novel.
Honey covers an extensive range of topics such as the objectification and the unfair treatment of women by the media, how society often sows dissension between women, the contradictory standards for both men and women, misogyny, the power of dynamics, and so much more.
One of the main things I loved about Honey was the vividness of Banta’s characterisation. It had me wanting to google the characters’ names as I was utterly convinced they were real people. Banta made the vision of the world of ‘90s pop stars come to life that made the unfortunate events Amber found herself in seem so relatable yet I simultaneously felt as though I was learning something new. It made me realise just how bad we as a society treat women who are in the spotlight. The novel read very similar to a memoir, but with the atmosphere and the evocative beats of Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Through Amber, the reader gains an insight into the often dark and exploitative world of Hollywood and the silent suffering of many women who dare to venture in. Honey showcases the real and the raw, and the often difficult methods women have to implore to reach the top, as their male counterparts benefit from their exploitation. I felt a sense of exasperation on Amber’s behalf for the way in which the people around her persistently tried to control her, convert her image, and suppress her voice. How some of the things Amber was continuously admired for were used to raze her back to the ground. How there are so many possible ways to be a woman, yet none of them ever seemed to be enough. I found Amber’s story bears a resemblance to themes that were discussed in Britney Spears’ memoir ‘The Woman In Me’. I think we owe so many women who are in the spotlight an apology. While Amber’s story of being a pop-star during the 1990’s is a unique premise, I think many of the issues that were discussed inside of the novel are universal and I’m certain many people will resonate with at least one part of the story.
I can’t recover from discovering that Honey is Banta’s debut novel. She is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and the way she writes makes it feel as though she has been writing and publishing books for years. Please buy this book when it’s released so I have even more of an excuse to talk about it!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books, and the incredible Isabel Banta for providing me with a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m so excited to read more of Banta’s work in the future.
Publishing date: 25 June 2024
Honey covers an extensive range of topics such as the objectification and the unfair treatment of women by the media, how society often sows dissension between women, the contradictory standards for both men and women, misogyny, the power of dynamics, and so much more.
One of the main things I loved about Honey was the vividness of Banta’s characterisation. It had me wanting to google the characters’ names as I was utterly convinced they were real people. Banta made the vision of the world of ‘90s pop stars come to life that made the unfortunate events Amber found herself in seem so relatable yet I simultaneously felt as though I was learning something new. It made me realise just how bad we as a society treat women who are in the spotlight. The novel read very similar to a memoir, but with the atmosphere and the evocative beats of Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Through Amber, the reader gains an insight into the often dark and exploitative world of Hollywood and the silent suffering of many women who dare to venture in. Honey showcases the real and the raw, and the often difficult methods women have to implore to reach the top, as their male counterparts benefit from their exploitation. I felt a sense of exasperation on Amber’s behalf for the way in which the people around her persistently tried to control her, convert her image, and suppress her voice. How some of the things Amber was continuously admired for were used to raze her back to the ground. How there are so many possible ways to be a woman, yet none of them ever seemed to be enough. I found Amber’s story bears a resemblance to themes that were discussed in Britney Spears’ memoir ‘The Woman In Me’. I think we owe so many women who are in the spotlight an apology. While Amber’s story of being a pop-star during the 1990’s is a unique premise, I think many of the issues that were discussed inside of the novel are universal and I’m certain many people will resonate with at least one part of the story.
I can’t recover from discovering that Honey is Banta’s debut novel. She is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and the way she writes makes it feel as though she has been writing and publishing books for years. Please buy this book when it’s released so I have even more of an excuse to talk about it!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books, and the incredible Isabel Banta for providing me with a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m so excited to read more of Banta’s work in the future.
Publishing date: 25 June 2024
July 6, 2024
⭐️ 1 star.
How is this getting so many 5 stars?? None of the characters have any redeeming features,
Amber is written as a narcissistic sex crazed mean girl and the relationship between her and Gwen made no sense.
The song lyric parts were unnecessary and I’m not sure what the point of this books is.
How is this getting so many 5 stars?? None of the characters have any redeeming features,
Amber is written as a narcissistic sex crazed mean girl and the relationship between her and Gwen made no sense.
The song lyric parts were unnecessary and I’m not sure what the point of this books is.
June 4, 2024
I read this book as part of the readalong the publisher hosted. Celadonbooks set me up with 3 other readers. We did a fun collab video on Instagram and I loved it.
I started reading this book and read up to page 143. I noticed Libro.fm has it on audiobook so I finished the story via audiobook.
I enjoyed reading/listening to this book. This book was organized by year starting in the 90s and ending past year 2000. This story followed Amber throughout her music career, from the uncertainty of the beginning to the unexpected ending. Amber was an insecure person when she was young. Her start to music was due to her love of singing. When she went out to auditions, the competition was fierce because others had more lessons than her and they were well prepared than her. Their moms were more supportive and hands on than hers. Her body developed faster than other girls and she was portrayed a different way. At first I felt annoyed that she relied so much on the motivation from others to operate but now, I understand why she lacked the confidence. I am unsure why she didn't try to make more friends instead of fighting so hard to keep one.
This book touches on some big subjects of some years in history, like Bill Clinton, the worry of the apocalypse, and the Twin Towers. It's good to read this book since I lived through this time. There's that popular song, "Let's Talk About S*x Baby" and I think that song goes well with this book. Amber's love life struggled just like her career and her life.
There are actual song lyrics in this book! The audiobook plays music but the narrator didn't sing it.
It's a good read and audiobook. To see someone struggle through the storm before seeing the light. Excellent writing and debut.
Thank you Celadonbooks and Librofm for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
I started reading this book and read up to page 143. I noticed Libro.fm has it on audiobook so I finished the story via audiobook.
I enjoyed reading/listening to this book. This book was organized by year starting in the 90s and ending past year 2000. This story followed Amber throughout her music career, from the uncertainty of the beginning to the unexpected ending. Amber was an insecure person when she was young. Her start to music was due to her love of singing. When she went out to auditions, the competition was fierce because others had more lessons than her and they were well prepared than her. Their moms were more supportive and hands on than hers. Her body developed faster than other girls and she was portrayed a different way. At first I felt annoyed that she relied so much on the motivation from others to operate but now, I understand why she lacked the confidence. I am unsure why she didn't try to make more friends instead of fighting so hard to keep one.
This book touches on some big subjects of some years in history, like Bill Clinton, the worry of the apocalypse, and the Twin Towers. It's good to read this book since I lived through this time. There's that popular song, "Let's Talk About S*x Baby" and I think that song goes well with this book. Amber's love life struggled just like her career and her life.
There are actual song lyrics in this book! The audiobook plays music but the narrator didn't sing it.
It's a good read and audiobook. To see someone struggle through the storm before seeing the light. Excellent writing and debut.
Thank you Celadonbooks and Librofm for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
June 24, 2024
3.5 stars
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s there was a pop culture explosion, particularly in the music industry. While Honey is a fictional story, it is loosely based on the experiences of that TRL generation of teen pop stars and boy bands. Fame can come at a huge cost as the main character, Amber, a young female singer hoping to make it big, will find out.
The author did a good job capturing this time period and how difficult it is for artists to deal with executives, the media, family and friends, and a public who can turn on you in an instant. A well intended story but it does become monotonous after awhile. The ending needed more development as it was rushed to wrap everything up.
Fans of TRL are the ones who will get the most out of this book.
Thank you Celadon for sending me an advance reader’s copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s there was a pop culture explosion, particularly in the music industry. While Honey is a fictional story, it is loosely based on the experiences of that TRL generation of teen pop stars and boy bands. Fame can come at a huge cost as the main character, Amber, a young female singer hoping to make it big, will find out.
The author did a good job capturing this time period and how difficult it is for artists to deal with executives, the media, family and friends, and a public who can turn on you in an instant. A well intended story but it does become monotonous after awhile. The ending needed more development as it was rushed to wrap everything up.
Fans of TRL are the ones who will get the most out of this book.
Thank you Celadon for sending me an advance reader’s copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 13, 2024
This was an interesting book for me. I have to say the boy band/pop star princess thing always passed me by so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book. I started this one on audiobook and I almost wish I had stuck with that because I love that narrator and I think she helped me see Amber as a whole person and not just see her poor choices. But I’m on vacation and doing the least audiobooking and I’m not patient so I finished with a physical copy. I did sometimes find the pace a little slow. I struggled to understand some of the characters’ motivations at times. I loved the inclusion of other media especially the songs and the commentary about them. It really helped to bring this story to life. Amber always wanted to sing, but after a brief failure as a child she lost hope. As a teenager floundering in school she reaches for her dream and is shocked to hear she is on her way to California to be a part of a girls’ group. This story is Amber’s coming of age combined with coming into herself as an artist/performer. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up because I read it in one sitting.
June 26, 2024
Published: 25th June 2024
A wonderfully told story about growing up, finding out who you are and exploring the possibilities that exist for you, even when others are imposing their ideas onto you.
The story is of a young singer named Amber Young, who gets scouted at a young age to join a girl band Cloud9, in the era of girl and boy bands, the book then follows Amber's career, with all the highs and lows of being in the public eye and feeling owned by those around her. Being questioned if her ambition is enough, or is it just a desire to be loved and find love.
The story is cleverly set out into the sections of a song, I really liked this style and I really enjoyed the honesty and rawness of what it is like to be a young girl growing into adulthood in the limelight and how others thoughts and opinions shape who you think you are and impact you.
This is a brilliantly written debut novel, I loved the writing style, Isabel Banta has a great way with words, that help you to become immersed in the life of these pop icons of the late 90's early 00's.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Coffee and Kindle Blog
The StoryGraph
Amazon
Instagram
A wonderfully told story about growing up, finding out who you are and exploring the possibilities that exist for you, even when others are imposing their ideas onto you.
The story is of a young singer named Amber Young, who gets scouted at a young age to join a girl band Cloud9, in the era of girl and boy bands, the book then follows Amber's career, with all the highs and lows of being in the public eye and feeling owned by those around her. Being questioned if her ambition is enough, or is it just a desire to be loved and find love.
The story is cleverly set out into the sections of a song, I really liked this style and I really enjoyed the honesty and rawness of what it is like to be a young girl growing into adulthood in the limelight and how others thoughts and opinions shape who you think you are and impact you.
This is a brilliantly written debut novel, I loved the writing style, Isabel Banta has a great way with words, that help you to become immersed in the life of these pop icons of the late 90's early 00's.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Coffee and Kindle Blog
The StoryGraph
Amazon
July 22, 2024
What in the Tina Belcher did I just read??????
This book is proof of why believing the hype train on social media is not always a great idea for yours truly. Buuuuuuut, the FOMO always wins out so of course I got my name on the library list when I saw this title popping up all over the place around release date.
Basically this is exactly what the gif above states. Some Wattpad caliber erotic friend fiction about Xtina, Britney and JT. And it was turrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible. I still can’t wrap my brain around who the target audience is, because although it touts itself as being a "coming of age" story - basically it was a porno with zero plot and a plethora of undercarriage-drying sex scenes that appeared to be written by a teenager. Oof.
April 23, 2024
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy to review!*
I was excited for this one because the concept sounded exciting and it had been compared to Taylor Jenkins Reid, but it ended up being very middling. Still worth the read if you’re desperately curious, but nothing overly special to me.
The writing was fine, if a little basic. The characters we have in here coupled with the overarching storyline gave it the potential to be such a powerful and memorable read, but neither aspect really hit the mark. To give it credit it was extremely fast paced and it did have enough baseline entertainment for me to stay interested and want to finish it, but when I think about what this book could have been and how it had all of the right ingredients coupled with the wrong recipe - I feel so disappointed.
This book introduces quite a lot of complex themes, and the discussions it almost but never quite had really could have turned this book around honestly. It didn’t hit as hard as it should have done considering it’s set in the brutality of the early 2000’s and we all know how that culture was cruel to young women. It attempted to tackle it, but barely made a dent. We start discussing things like fame and misogyny and mental health only to abandon them a few sentences later, it just left the whole book feeling like it had a gaping hollowness to it. We skip around a lot and the depth that these conversations need is just not there, it’s so underdeveloped as a narrative and it’s a real shame because I wanted to sink my teeth into those moments. For instance, and then it’s never spoken about again. I feel like these elements need to be done justice or don’t bother doing them at all, it felt almost lazy. Like we were rushing to finish the book off and wrap it up quickly, when a longer piece with padding would’ve been soooo much better. Also on a vaguely similar note.. here mom is only is this for like two chapters and is conveniently forgotten about which was odd.
Again, I think the characters here were really good and again, had unmet potential. The differing personalities made for some really interesting dynamics and relationship set ups that were juicy. The scandalous element of the book felt half baked though. I honestly didn’t really care about Amber’s romantic endeavours until the end (which I loved) and by then it again, I feel like a broken record no pun intended, it just felt too much too soon. I need time to build emotional connections with the characters, I need to believe their chemistry and their relationship. That didn’t always come across to me here. I enjoyed Amber’s story though and I think her happily ever after and moment of peace was nice.
The inclusion of the multimedia formatting in the book is such a cute and fun idea, but it felt like a half effort. They were seemingly random and didn’t contribute anything to the storyline or character development in a way that was meaningful. I am also of the opinion that song lyrics shouldn’t be written in books, I have no idea what to do with them so I sort of just skim read. The lyrics themselves felt a little excessive too. We have a lot of songs taking up several pages in here, they just felt like filler and a bit of a waste of space. The lyrics themselves weren’t great either, and they didn’t do anything to give Amber depth and personality. I think the book would have been better off without them. They fell flat at best, cringe and embarrassing at worst.
I think this book was fine, and I think Banta is definitely going to be an author I keep reading. They will write a book I will fall wholly in love with, but it wasn’t this one sadly.
I was excited for this one because the concept sounded exciting and it had been compared to Taylor Jenkins Reid, but it ended up being very middling. Still worth the read if you’re desperately curious, but nothing overly special to me.
The writing was fine, if a little basic. The characters we have in here coupled with the overarching storyline gave it the potential to be such a powerful and memorable read, but neither aspect really hit the mark. To give it credit it was extremely fast paced and it did have enough baseline entertainment for me to stay interested and want to finish it, but when I think about what this book could have been and how it had all of the right ingredients coupled with the wrong recipe - I feel so disappointed.
This book introduces quite a lot of complex themes, and the discussions it almost but never quite had really could have turned this book around honestly. It didn’t hit as hard as it should have done considering it’s set in the brutality of the early 2000’s and we all know how that culture was cruel to young women. It attempted to tackle it, but barely made a dent. We start discussing things like fame and misogyny and mental health only to abandon them a few sentences later, it just left the whole book feeling like it had a gaping hollowness to it. We skip around a lot and the depth that these conversations need is just not there, it’s so underdeveloped as a narrative and it’s a real shame because I wanted to sink my teeth into those moments. For instance, and then it’s never spoken about again. I feel like these elements need to be done justice or don’t bother doing them at all, it felt almost lazy. Like we were rushing to finish the book off and wrap it up quickly, when a longer piece with padding would’ve been soooo much better. Also on a vaguely similar note.. here mom is only is this for like two chapters and is conveniently forgotten about which was odd.
Again, I think the characters here were really good and again, had unmet potential. The differing personalities made for some really interesting dynamics and relationship set ups that were juicy. The scandalous element of the book felt half baked though. I honestly didn’t really care about Amber’s romantic endeavours until the end (which I loved) and by then it again, I feel like a broken record no pun intended, it just felt too much too soon. I need time to build emotional connections with the characters, I need to believe their chemistry and their relationship. That didn’t always come across to me here. I enjoyed Amber’s story though and I think her happily ever after and moment of peace was nice.
The inclusion of the multimedia formatting in the book is such a cute and fun idea, but it felt like a half effort. They were seemingly random and didn’t contribute anything to the storyline or character development in a way that was meaningful. I am also of the opinion that song lyrics shouldn’t be written in books, I have no idea what to do with them so I sort of just skim read. The lyrics themselves felt a little excessive too. We have a lot of songs taking up several pages in here, they just felt like filler and a bit of a waste of space. The lyrics themselves weren’t great either, and they didn’t do anything to give Amber depth and personality. I think the book would have been better off without them. They fell flat at best, cringe and embarrassing at worst.
I think this book was fine, and I think Banta is definitely going to be an author I keep reading. They will write a book I will fall wholly in love with, but it wasn’t this one sadly.
July 8, 2024
3.5 stars.
"Honey" by Isabel Banta will make any 90s/early aughts kid reminisce and bask in the nostalgia of a bygone era of TRL, Y2K, 9/11, pop culture frenzies... or it will make you frustrated that it doesn't quite go far enough. It will remind you of the continual media circus Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, the Backstreet Boys, Usher, and *NSYNC went through as many things that happen in this book are dramatized versions of real-life events that happened during my youth. It is all about first loves, coming-of-age, popularity, the limelight, insecurities, fiction versus reality, friendship, attraction, bodily autonomy, and music. It feels all too real to the experiences myself and many young girls went through during the late nineties and early 2000s when a size four was considered "plus size" and when men gleefully made countdown websites dedicated to young stars who would be turning eighteen. This book shines a spotlight on these dark times in a compelling way. Amber has always wanted to be a star, to get the attention she so desperately craves but does not get from her mother. The beginning of the story is quite enticing and gripped me thoroughly, but it all peters out towards the middle-end of the book. I particularly loved the conversation about having kids, the reasons women feel like they have to have them even if they know in their soul they don't want them. There is also an interesting bit about how mothers hate Amber because she is seen as a role model, which she never asked for, and how the media manipulates everything to sell more magazines/newspapers/get more clicks online. Amber struggles to remain herself, to keep her bodily autonomy, to reclaim who she is and how she looks, when everything else is against her. Honestly, Banta could have set this in 2024 and the result would be the same because very little has changed since the 90s. I also liked the radio/magazine interviews, TV clips, and music performances sprinkles throughout the book. It helps break up the monotony of Amber continually making and performing music, the drama between her and Wes, and her friendship with Gwen. There is a lot to like about this book, though it can feel a little repetitive at times. Definitely worth checking out for those of us who remember this timeframe. Finally, I loved Brittany Pressley's narration. She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and she perfectly encapsulates the 2000s-era pop stars depicted in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Banta, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC/ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Honey" by Isabel Banta will make any 90s/early aughts kid reminisce and bask in the nostalgia of a bygone era of TRL, Y2K, 9/11, pop culture frenzies... or it will make you frustrated that it doesn't quite go far enough. It will remind you of the continual media circus Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, the Backstreet Boys, Usher, and *NSYNC went through as many things that happen in this book are dramatized versions of real-life events that happened during my youth. It is all about first loves, coming-of-age, popularity, the limelight, insecurities, fiction versus reality, friendship, attraction, bodily autonomy, and music. It feels all too real to the experiences myself and many young girls went through during the late nineties and early 2000s when a size four was considered "plus size" and when men gleefully made countdown websites dedicated to young stars who would be turning eighteen. This book shines a spotlight on these dark times in a compelling way. Amber has always wanted to be a star, to get the attention she so desperately craves but does not get from her mother. The beginning of the story is quite enticing and gripped me thoroughly, but it all peters out towards the middle-end of the book. I particularly loved the conversation about having kids, the reasons women feel like they have to have them even if they know in their soul they don't want them. There is also an interesting bit about how mothers hate Amber because she is seen as a role model, which she never asked for, and how the media manipulates everything to sell more magazines/newspapers/get more clicks online. Amber struggles to remain herself, to keep her bodily autonomy, to reclaim who she is and how she looks, when everything else is against her. Honestly, Banta could have set this in 2024 and the result would be the same because very little has changed since the 90s. I also liked the radio/magazine interviews, TV clips, and music performances sprinkles throughout the book. It helps break up the monotony of Amber continually making and performing music, the drama between her and Wes, and her friendship with Gwen. There is a lot to like about this book, though it can feel a little repetitive at times. Definitely worth checking out for those of us who remember this timeframe. Finally, I loved Brittany Pressley's narration. She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, and she perfectly encapsulates the 2000s-era pop stars depicted in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Banta, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC/ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
March 27, 2024
Honey is a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s and chronicles the journey of a young woman, Amber, who had always wanted to be a star. In her late teens, Amber is thrust into the limelight when she joins the pop girl group Cloud9. However, she soon learns that being a good-looking, young, famous female in the 1990s comes at a price.
The plot very much reads like an autobiography. It is written in the first person, from Amber’s point of view, and is set within different timelines, starting in 2002 and then jumping back to 1990 when Amber was a child at school.
The book took me back in time and brought up many memories of being a teenager in the 1990s and the girl groups that were around then. I can remember some of the stories in the newspapers and the way that the singers were objectified. Looking back it wasn’t something I thought too much about at the time though, sad really!
The story is touching and heart-warming, and Amber’s voice and her attitude comes across strongly. I found her so likeable. She was certainly a determined young woman.
Overall, Honey is a fabulous nostalgic read. It has been superbly written and makes the reader invest their time in the story of a young woman who wanted so much for herself and be disgusted at the treatment of her by various industry people.
The plot very much reads like an autobiography. It is written in the first person, from Amber’s point of view, and is set within different timelines, starting in 2002 and then jumping back to 1990 when Amber was a child at school.
The book took me back in time and brought up many memories of being a teenager in the 1990s and the girl groups that were around then. I can remember some of the stories in the newspapers and the way that the singers were objectified. Looking back it wasn’t something I thought too much about at the time though, sad really!
The story is touching and heart-warming, and Amber’s voice and her attitude comes across strongly. I found her so likeable. She was certainly a determined young woman.
Overall, Honey is a fabulous nostalgic read. It has been superbly written and makes the reader invest their time in the story of a young woman who wanted so much for herself and be disgusted at the treatment of her by various industry people.
July 8, 2024
Amber felt like a character who was just along for the ride in her own story. It was an interesting read but it didn’t make me feel much. The relationships were a bit shallow overall, I would have liked to be able to connect and attach more with literally any of the characters. Overall it was a good read would recommend to anyone who likes a quick fiction with some heart. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.
June 14, 2024
DNF at 150p….I’m an ‘84 baby. Born and raised in Orlando Florida. This SHOULD have been my book! My teenage years were the years in this book and the author missed by a large margin. This was nothing but a narcissistic teenage drama. This book never captivated the resurgence of the teenage pop scene NOR the absolute magnitude of teenage pop icons of that time. I kept trying to see Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore or Jessica Simpson…hell even Destiny’s Child or Dream…in these pages and I never did. Each of those women represented a different facet of the pop craze and the author clearly wasn’t around for it. I don’t know what she was attempting. Even talking about TRL was flat and TRL defined what became huge at that time.
The main protagonist was the most annoying and narcissistic character I’ve had the displeasure of encountering. Weird, considering this is also the most one dimensional character work I’ve ever read as well. The writing is disjointed. The plot drags. Nothing feels fleshed out. And I just don’t care….which is saying a lot because as a teenager in 1999-2003 in central Florida, I cared A LOT.
And I’m sorry but the lyrics in this book were embarrassing. The sections broken up into a layout that represents a song format were equally awful and so corny.
I wanted to love this. I’ve seen Britney, Christina, Mandy, NSync, BSB and LFO all that their peak. This is a book that should have sent me over the edge in nostalgia. I wasn’t expecting the next great American novel, but I wanted something. Instead I got nothing….
The main protagonist was the most annoying and narcissistic character I’ve had the displeasure of encountering. Weird, considering this is also the most one dimensional character work I’ve ever read as well. The writing is disjointed. The plot drags. Nothing feels fleshed out. And I just don’t care….which is saying a lot because as a teenager in 1999-2003 in central Florida, I cared A LOT.
And I’m sorry but the lyrics in this book were embarrassing. The sections broken up into a layout that represents a song format were equally awful and so corny.
I wanted to love this. I’ve seen Britney, Christina, Mandy, NSync, BSB and LFO all that their peak. This is a book that should have sent me over the edge in nostalgia. I wasn’t expecting the next great American novel, but I wanted something. Instead I got nothing….
February 15, 2024
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.
March 17, 2024
HONEY is my favorite book of the year so far, hands down. The writing is precise and energetic and just plain GOOD! It fits in the popular fake historical celebrity memoir category, but I like it even more than those for its nuance, particularly around sexuality and the vulnerability of coming of age as a young woman in the public eye. It’s incredible that this was written before the Britney Spears memoir came out because it has so much compassion and insight into what pop stars at this time and at this age have gone through.
I really couldn’t put it down - the first 100 pages are mostly fleshing out fictional singer Amber Young’s backstory and relationships with other stars Gwen Miller and Wes Kingston and I love that, so when the sex and romance and fame comes in hot and heavy, you just feel so much for these characters. This is a sexy book! This is a complex book! I’m recommending it to everyone this summer.
I really couldn’t put it down - the first 100 pages are mostly fleshing out fictional singer Amber Young’s backstory and relationships with other stars Gwen Miller and Wes Kingston and I love that, so when the sex and romance and fame comes in hot and heavy, you just feel so much for these characters. This is a sexy book! This is a complex book! I’m recommending it to everyone this summer.
May 10, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
There are so many aspect of this book I enjoyed. Mentions of bearded dragons, Kissimmee FL, first ever awards shows that I grew up watching. (Cuz the book is set late 90s into early 2000s)
When I first sat down to read this I really wasn’t in the mood, but the next thing I knew I’d read 150 pages. Honey follows Amber Young on her rise to stardom, and shows the struggles she endures to get there. It’s raw, brutal at times, and ultimately a thought provoking story.
I really enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it.
There are so many aspect of this book I enjoyed. Mentions of bearded dragons, Kissimmee FL, first ever awards shows that I grew up watching. (Cuz the book is set late 90s into early 2000s)
When I first sat down to read this I really wasn’t in the mood, but the next thing I knew I’d read 150 pages. Honey follows Amber Young on her rise to stardom, and shows the struggles she endures to get there. It’s raw, brutal at times, and ultimately a thought provoking story.
I really enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it.
July 2, 2024
(Thanks to @CeladonBooks #gifted.) 📀𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬📀by debut author Isabel Banta came to me through Celadon’s Read Together Initiative. Together with @thebookishcamper, @themomwithabook and @drealooks_atbooks we traveled through this book a chunk at a time. I don’t do a lot of read-alongs, so it was fun to participate in this one.
𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 is an ode to female singers of the 90’s, with its main character, Amber Young, very much reminding me of Britney Spears. Throughout the story Amber fights hard for the singing career she’s always wanted. Sadly, doing so means giving up much of her personal life and taking on a sort of “sex kitten” persona foisted on her by the higher ups.
I thought this was a really solid, fun debut, that sometimes had a bit of a YA feel to it. It’s perfect for those who came of age in the 90’s or are fans of music from that era. Amber and her contemporaries will take you right back there and you’ll be rooting for her as you go.
𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 is an ode to female singers of the 90’s, with its main character, Amber Young, very much reminding me of Britney Spears. Throughout the story Amber fights hard for the singing career she’s always wanted. Sadly, doing so means giving up much of her personal life and taking on a sort of “sex kitten” persona foisted on her by the higher ups.
I thought this was a really solid, fun debut, that sometimes had a bit of a YA feel to it. It’s perfect for those who came of age in the 90’s or are fans of music from that era. Amber and her contemporaries will take you right back there and you’ll be rooting for her as you go.
June 18, 2024
like daisy jones meets evelyn hugo… but grittier.
thank you Celadon for the ARC!
thank you Celadon for the ARC!
June 22, 2024
Why this girl? If you remove the wrappings of her life, she is nothing extraordinary. Pretty enough, some say. Pretty in an unsubtle way. She's in your face. She's all at once. She is, as she will insist in every interview, just an ordinary girl. But America has a way of making its own gods. It revels in it. 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.
3.5 stars rounded up. If you were a teenager in the late '90s or early aughts, you will recognize many of the characters in this book. Britney, Jessica, Xtina, *NSYNC, even the acclaimed producer Max Martin -- their counterparts can all be found in the pages of Honey: the story of iconic pop star Amber Young, her rise to fame, and the scandals and achievements that shaped her career.
Isabel Banta gets a lot right in her debut novel. She perfectly captures the culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s, largely defined by the feverish, meteoric rise of girl groups and boy bands. Through Amber (who reminded me of both Britney and Xtina at different times through the story) and her counterparts, Gwen and Savannah, Banta explores the artifices of fame, the never-satisfied need for recognition and success, the struggles of being cast in a public persona that doesn't quite fit, the role of public opinion in shaping a career, and what it feels like to live your dream while also lacking anything real and true. There's a lot of interesting commentary surrounding the ways these pop icons were exploited and oversexualized -- but also how they were underestimated, denied agency and often respect in the industry.
I loved the multimedia aspect of the book, which includes web articles, magazine articles and quizzes (man, those quizzes were nostalgic!), and song lyrics. The audiobook, read by Brittany Pressley, has a high production value that includes several song tracks, overlaid with spoken lyrics.
All that said, however, the plot of Honey largely felt like a missed opportunity. I felt like there was a more interesting story to tell about these characters, rather than just casting them as players in a love affair that was supposedly "scandalous." I felt that Banta got to the heart of who Amber was, but never quite excavated the complexities of her relationships with the other characters.
But wow, was Honey ever a fun trip down memory lane for me -- and also a book that made me think about those back-in-the-day pop icons in a completely different light than I was capable of as a 15-year-old girl obsessed with the Backstreet Boys. Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the early reading opportunity.
July 13, 2024
The further I get from having finished this book the less I like it...
I think it's in part because I've read so many of this kind of story because I like them so much. Here though I just didn't see the point? There wasn't really any kind of original take? There are plenty of articles already reexamining what stardom was like for the pop girls of the early aughts and on the fiction front I'd argue that both of Elissa R. Sloan's books tackle different aspects of that from both a singer perspective and as an actress pushed into the breadwinner roll; built up and then taken down by the same systems. Honey doesn't really do that?
Honey is a book about a talented singer and her middling career that goes nowhere really? Always just bubbling under. She has a sort of complicated romantic entanglement with a boy from her past that who does manage to have an explosive career, but even that storyline takes up a lot of valuable page real estate and also goes nowhere.
Ultimately this book feels like it was picked up because reexamining the late nineties and early aughts is what we like to do these days, but the exploration of that here feels incredibly shallow with characters that ultimately won't stick with the readers for long after they finish.
I think it's in part because I've read so many of this kind of story because I like them so much. Here though I just didn't see the point? There wasn't really any kind of original take? There are plenty of articles already reexamining what stardom was like for the pop girls of the early aughts and on the fiction front I'd argue that both of Elissa R. Sloan's books tackle different aspects of that from both a singer perspective and as an actress pushed into the breadwinner roll; built up and then taken down by the same systems. Honey doesn't really do that?
Honey is a book about a talented singer and her middling career that goes nowhere really? Always just bubbling under. She has a sort of complicated romantic entanglement with a boy from her past that who does manage to have an explosive career, but even that storyline takes up a lot of valuable page real estate and also goes nowhere.
Ultimately this book feels like it was picked up because reexamining the late nineties and early aughts is what we like to do these days, but the exploration of that here feels incredibly shallow with characters that ultimately won't stick with the readers for long after they finish.
June 24, 2024
In 2002, Amber Young is looking at herself on the cover of Rolling Stone. Even at her still young age, it’s been quite the road to becoming a star. Going back in time, Amber’s more than decade-long journey is revealed. It starts with frustrating auditions and setbacks. Amber's trajectory takes a turn when she is chosen to join the girl band Cloud9. There she meets Gwen Morris, who quickly decides to go out on her own and encourages Amber to also pursue a solo career. The two become successes as the PR teams and media pit them against one another. One as innocent, the other as seductive. As a result, their true identities are no longer their own. Amber’s talent and the music itself seem to take a back seat to her yearning to simply be loved.
In the 1990s, Britney, Christina and Jessica needed no last names. These were iconic pop princesses who dominated MTV and TRL, set trends and sold tons of CDs. Only now are we learning details of what this generation of musical talent went through behind the scenes. In her impressive debut novel Honey, author Isabel Banta vividly captures the spirit of this period. I observed this time through the eyes of a parent, monitoring its impact on my young daughter. Whether this was your era or not, this is a powerful coming-of-age story.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
In the 1990s, Britney, Christina and Jessica needed no last names. These were iconic pop princesses who dominated MTV and TRL, set trends and sold tons of CDs. Only now are we learning details of what this generation of musical talent went through behind the scenes. In her impressive debut novel Honey, author Isabel Banta vividly captures the spirit of this period. I observed this time through the eyes of a parent, monitoring its impact on my young daughter. Whether this was your era or not, this is a powerful coming-of-age story.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
July 1, 2024
very mixed opinions about this one. i thought the premise was fantastic, and there were certainly themes explored throughout that i found fascinating, like the sexualisation and exploitation of young girls in the entertainment industry and how that pressure affects all aspects of the main character's life. i also really liked the writing style. however, there was a haziness about this book that i disliked - it's fast-paced, sure, but it glosses over big issues that pop up every so often, and i wished there had been more development of the mc's main relationships, whether romantic or platonic. despite this, though, i'm always going to enjoy books about fictional famous artists and creatives. 3.5 stars.
June 21, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Where do I even begin? At first, I was weary of this book, but I will not lie. At first, I thought the prose was a bit clunky, and at times, it felt like reading one long run-on sentence. But then, it all started to click.
We are in the mind of Amber Young, a child with aspirations to sing like Whitney Houston and to become somebody. As the reader, the clunky structure and run-on sentences start to make sense because we are in a child's mind. A child forced to grow up very quickly to live the dreams she always wanted.
Honey is very clearly inspired by the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and as someone who adores the 00s and its culture, I felt very giddy reading this. I loved the inclusion of multi-media to show the progression of Amber's career (as I, too, used to play those J-14 games to determine whether Beyonce would be my friend).
Overall, it was a gut-wrenching story that forces all of us to realize how we over-sexualized pop stars back in the day, how men are allowed to dictate how we feel about ourselves, and the complicated relationships we have with people who tear us down but say they love you.
I highly recommend this book!
Where do I even begin? At first, I was weary of this book, but I will not lie. At first, I thought the prose was a bit clunky, and at times, it felt like reading one long run-on sentence. But then, it all started to click.
We are in the mind of Amber Young, a child with aspirations to sing like Whitney Houston and to become somebody. As the reader, the clunky structure and run-on sentences start to make sense because we are in a child's mind. A child forced to grow up very quickly to live the dreams she always wanted.
Honey is very clearly inspired by the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and as someone who adores the 00s and its culture, I felt very giddy reading this. I loved the inclusion of multi-media to show the progression of Amber's career (as I, too, used to play those J-14 games to determine whether Beyonce would be my friend).
Overall, it was a gut-wrenching story that forces all of us to realize how we over-sexualized pop stars back in the day, how men are allowed to dictate how we feel about ourselves, and the complicated relationships we have with people who tear us down but say they love you.
I highly recommend this book!
June 26, 2024
PUB DAY REVIEW
A huge thanks to #partners @celadonbooks for including me as part of the Honey #celadonreadstogether readalong, and to Celadon, @librofm and @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies. 💕
Honey
Isabel Banta
(3.5 to 4 stars)
📖 A coming-of-age story that follows the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young as she navigates fame in the late-1990s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom
This book has so many elements I love: it's a coming-of-age, character driven, music-centered, late 1990s-early 2000s hist fic. On paper, this is *my book* —it should have been a new favorite, but unfortunately I read this during a horrific reading slump, and initially struggled to get into it. It's hard to know if that was due to my slump, or if the story itself just wasn't holding my interest. In most cases I'd have set it aside and picked it back up post-slump, but as it was a readalong, I had to push on. Thank goodness the audiobook became available when it did, because I promptly switched formats. Brittany Pressley's narration is so engaging, she totally saved this book for me. 🙌🏼 I was able to be swept away by the story and nostalgia, and despite the rough start, I enjoyed it in the end. It didn't quite live up to the hype I'd created in my own mind, but it's still absolutely worth the read! ☺️
📌 Available now!
A huge thanks to #partners @celadonbooks for including me as part of the Honey #celadonreadstogether readalong, and to Celadon, @librofm and @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies. 💕
Honey
Isabel Banta
(3.5 to 4 stars)
📖 A coming-of-age story that follows the meteoric rise of singer Amber Young as she navigates fame in the late-1990s and early-2000s era of pop music superstardom
This book has so many elements I love: it's a coming-of-age, character driven, music-centered, late 1990s-early 2000s hist fic. On paper, this is *my book* —it should have been a new favorite, but unfortunately I read this during a horrific reading slump, and initially struggled to get into it. It's hard to know if that was due to my slump, or if the story itself just wasn't holding my interest. In most cases I'd have set it aside and picked it back up post-slump, but as it was a readalong, I had to push on. Thank goodness the audiobook became available when it did, because I promptly switched formats. Brittany Pressley's narration is so engaging, she totally saved this book for me. 🙌🏼 I was able to be swept away by the story and nostalgia, and despite the rough start, I enjoyed it in the end. It didn't quite live up to the hype I'd created in my own mind, but it's still absolutely worth the read! ☺️
📌 Available now!
June 20, 2024
This was the perfect fictional story that was a mix between the Christina/Britney drama, young Miley, Harry Styles/One Direction, etc. and I ate it up👏
✨fictional pop star🎶
✨sexualizing of young women in the spotlight
✨character driven
✨mixed media - magazine quizzes, interviews, online forums, etc.
✨90s-early 2000s setting - the nostalgia!
✨great on audio🎧
I wasn’t in love at first but I ended up really liking it!! And it’s short so I binged the audiobook in ~5 hours! Definitely recommend!!
✨fictional pop star🎶
✨sexualizing of young women in the spotlight
✨character driven
✨mixed media - magazine quizzes, interviews, online forums, etc.
✨90s-early 2000s setting - the nostalgia!
✨great on audio🎧
I wasn’t in love at first but I ended up really liking it!! And it’s short so I binged the audiobook in ~5 hours! Definitely recommend!!
March 24, 2024
5 stars - Daisy jones meets 90s/00s early pop!
The story follows a young girl, Amber Young, from early childhood auditions to the highs and lows of being a pop icon in the late 90s when pop music was booming.
Every little girl dreams of being famous but when you grow up and realise what it would actually like - having no private life and everything pictured and documented by tabloids - you begin to think differently and we follow Amber and her pop friends realise this as they gain more experience in the industry.
As someone who grew up in the era of top of
the pops and celeb magazines I absolutely loved this one - it’s feels like you are reading about a real singer - someone like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera - sometimes I forgot it was a fictional character someone had made up!
It’s is very current and modern especially with the latest news coming out about the type of world Hollywood actually is - fake, dark and overly sexualised.
Would highly recommend to those who are mid 20s to mid 30s who grew up in the era or for those who used to pour over the latest celeb gossip.
Thank you to net galley for the copy of the ebook.
The story follows a young girl, Amber Young, from early childhood auditions to the highs and lows of being a pop icon in the late 90s when pop music was booming.
Every little girl dreams of being famous but when you grow up and realise what it would actually like - having no private life and everything pictured and documented by tabloids - you begin to think differently and we follow Amber and her pop friends realise this as they gain more experience in the industry.
As someone who grew up in the era of top of
the pops and celeb magazines I absolutely loved this one - it’s feels like you are reading about a real singer - someone like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera - sometimes I forgot it was a fictional character someone had made up!
It’s is very current and modern especially with the latest news coming out about the type of world Hollywood actually is - fake, dark and overly sexualised.
Would highly recommend to those who are mid 20s to mid 30s who grew up in the era or for those who used to pour over the latest celeb gossip.
Thank you to net galley for the copy of the ebook.
June 17, 2024
!! Free Netgalley Copy !!
This book is a mix between The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, that is to say, this whole book feels like something Taylor Jenkins Reid or Mona Awad would have written. Listening to this, there was not a second where I was bored of the character or the story. It was a perfect mix of drama and storytelling, the book didn't stall every time there was a new conflict and I really admire when an author can do that.
I felt drawn to all of the characters in one way or another and I'm glad we got a happy ending because I feel like the main character deserved it.
This book is a mix between The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, that is to say, this whole book feels like something Taylor Jenkins Reid or Mona Awad would have written. Listening to this, there was not a second where I was bored of the character or the story. It was a perfect mix of drama and storytelling, the book didn't stall every time there was a new conflict and I really admire when an author can do that.
I felt drawn to all of the characters in one way or another and I'm glad we got a happy ending because I feel like the main character deserved it.
June 15, 2024
After reading an excerpt, I was hopeful that I would enjoy the novel. It was fun in the beginning, but after a while, it became monotonous like a broken record on repeat. It was the same scenarios of rehearsals, sex, drugs, and partying at different tour locations. And I could not understand the point of having song lyrics and Q&A interviews interspersed throughout the novel.
The characters were pretty shallow, and I didn't care for any of them. Perhaps I got a snobby or holier than thou vibe that didn't sit well with me. And their personalities were similar whether it be male or female. Is that how the recording artists are? Banal?
By the time I read through to 51%, I was pretty much done. An unfortunate DNF, one star.
I received a physical copy of the novel from Celadon Books through the BookishFirst Raffle. I was also invited to read a DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
The characters were pretty shallow, and I didn't care for any of them. Perhaps I got a snobby or holier than thou vibe that didn't sit well with me. And their personalities were similar whether it be male or female. Is that how the recording artists are? Banal?
By the time I read through to 51%, I was pretty much done. An unfortunate DNF, one star.
I received a physical copy of the novel from Celadon Books through the BookishFirst Raffle. I was also invited to read a DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
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