Honey

An engrossing and textured page turner, which explores the way the media treated pop stars at the turn of the century.

I really enjoyed reading this book as it delved into the more toxic and hidden side of celebrity. Beyond the wealth are people with feelings and relationships that aren't picture perfect.

The current reassessing of 90s/noughties pop culture has been as fascinating as it is vital, something which continues with this wonderful book. The story of a teen pop star, Banta does a wonderful job of exploring the highs and many lows of the bright lights of fame. So compellingly written, I couldn't put it down.

This was a poetic take on the music industry that held me fascinated over two days. I could see where some high profile artists had been used as the initial base for characters, but they were always developed into different, unpredictable directions. I found them believable and rounded and cared about their progress.

The author's use of language elevated this novel beyond a simple tale of show business. I liked the linear structure, but felt that there was no conclusion to the book. That may have been the point, that their lives continued and this was just a glimpse of their past and present

I loved this book in all honesty.

A very different perspective of teen starlets and since im of roughly the same age it all resonates with me.

Its a journey with Amber to discover herself, she wanted this life but what does she want from life. The book keeps you turning the pages and I was hooked with the storyline. Almost like the magazines of the time, will this romance last will her album chart how will it work out for her.

Well...read it and find out !

A beautifully written book that provides a nuanced take on the life of a young female pop star in the late 90s/early 2000s. I couldn't put it down. Isabel Banta perfectly captures what it's like to be a teenage girl and I loved seeing Amber discover who she is and what she really wants.

This book was great, I found that I was cheering Amber on to be successful, even though it was inevitable, Banta makes sure she keeps Honey grounded throughout. Reading this I felt invested within Honeys life, she wants stardom, but what does she want? The rest of the characters Banta created were interesting too. It was a great read and I think this is going to be one of 'the' best sellers of 2024!

This is about a girl who recognises her dreams as a singer. The path to greatness is beset with pitfalls though - like the manufactured “sexy” image she is given. Of course being young and pliable, she doesn’t get what she wants straight away. And the boy she initially falls for starts dating her best friend because that’s what the public seem to like. With her spirit though, I found myself gunning for her to find her own way. It was easy to get into the hectic life Honey leads and there is a pop style to the way the narrative is presented, interspersed with interviews and viewpoints. I enjoyed reading this.

I will probably flesh out this review further at a later date, but this book really surprised me in a positive way. The writing often and surprisingly veered towards the lyrical and didn’t feel sugar coated or simplified for a younger audience. Then again, I’m not too sure as a whole this should be shelved in the Teens and YA section. The character in the present time of the book is 42 which is nearly my age - I think the target audience would be people born in the 80s maybe up until 1990. I’m really enjoying reading about unflinching female friendships recently and it was totally believable that these two characters who were constantly being pitted against each other were in fact best friends,

Isabel Banta’s, Honey, is a beautifully written debut novel that follows Amber Young, a rising pop-star in the 90s’, 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 magic behind every sentence. It surprisingly turned out to be the second option, I wanted to savour every last moment of the book.

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 men and for women, misogyny, the power of dynamics, and 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 in a way that made the unfortunate events Amber found herself in seem relatable, yet I simultaneously felt as though I was learning something new. It made me realise just how badly we as a society treat women who are in the spotlight. It 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, 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 to the ground. How there are so many possible ways to be a woman, yet none of them ever seemed good enough. I found Amber’s story bears a resemblance to the things Britney Spears shares in her own 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 such a unique premise, I think many of the themes that were discussed in the novel are universal and I’m sure many people who read the novel will be able to resonate with at least one part of the story.

I can’t recover from the fact ‘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 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 Isabel Banta for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read more of Banta’s work in the near future.

Publishing date: 25 June 2024

I really enjoyed this book, I found the writing style very immersive. I was hooked in to Amber's story and was rooting for her the whole time. I liked how we experienced Amber's growth as the story follows her through her blossoming career. The characters were well written and developed, I especially liked Gwen and her storyline. I think this book is a great insight into the harsh reality of lifestyle as a popstar and shows the ups and downs of this life in a relatable way. I would recommend this book and will definitely be reading the authors next release.
4.5 stars rounded up.

As soon as I saw girl band , late 90's early 2000's and music I knew this would be my kind of read and I wasn't wrong. I grew up in 90s and loved the spice girls and thought me and my school friends would be in a girl band, we practised every lunchtime! The book follows singer Amber who lives in America and all her life has wanted to sing and be famous. She begins in a band but then goes solo and tours with a band across states and the world. I really loved the friendship she had with fellow pop star Gwen. I liked how the topics covered girls growing into womanhood and how men sexualise girls in the industry and in general. I loved the style and writing and will be recommending this book to others. Any book that makes me cry gets a 5 star. Me crying to this book was so expected that I was finishing the last 4 pages in a café on a Saturday day time, very busy and out of no where at the end of the book I just got all the feels and was sobbing in public, testament to how much I grew to love Amber as a character

“His gaze sweeping across her like a lighthouse beam, and she is the ship he is guiding home”

4.5 stars

I royally loved this book. It gave me Brittany Spears/modern day Daisy Jones vibes, and the plot was brilliant. Everything was thought through very meticulously - parts separated into verses, and the inserts of news stories etc. Amber’s character development was enjoyable to read and, despite not liking her at the beginning, I really liked her by the end! I feel like she deserved her wholesome ending and it was really really worth the read!! I just love it when books blur the lines of reality like this! it makes me believe the characters are truly real!
The only negative point I will make, is that at the beginning I felt the chapters were too long and jumpy - switching from past-present as Amber recalls her past. But I got into the swing of things and was hooked!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this gem, in return for an honest review.

I really loved this book. Everyone has dreamt of being a pop star!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy this ARC ebook.

NOT a true story, even if it felt like it throughout. Amber is selected for one of the girl bands - Cloud9 - and her life takes a turn she never imagined.

Media is looking for stereotypes, and so are the producers - suddenly Amber doesn't recognise herself in the way she's portrayed, and her actual feelings are not in line with the narrative, neither are those of her fellow band member Gwen or boy band star Wes. They are all young, and their lives are decided (directed!) by those with money.

"I didn't like to perform. I liked to be loved."

A fantastic debut novel!!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bonnier Books / Zaffre and Isabel Banta for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An incredibly poignant and thought provoking debut from Isabel Banta depicting the rise of pop star Amber Young in the late 90s to early 2000s.

This book read as though it could be a real biography, it was honest and at times raw with the descriptions of life growing up in the spotlight.

This new author will be one I'll be looking for in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took a while to get into this one but honestly it was surprisingly good. I'm drawn to anything to do with famous people and how they live their lives, because it's always messy and fun and I just want to be famous. It's always interested to be reminded that famous people, especially younger famous people, don't have the glamorous lives they are portrayed to have in the media. This also touched well on how brutal the media was towards anyone in the limelight in the 90s and early 00s.

The writing was nice, the characters were written well and the story was compelling.

I'd definitely pick up something else from Isabel Banta.

Back in the 1990s and 2000s pop music was awash with female vocalists, the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. The tabloids speculated endlessly on their skimpy costumes, their sex lives. Fans invested in their relationships, and behind the scenes record labels and managers tried to package them up and control them. What was it like to live in the middle of this whirlwind, to be the focus of all this attention when you're still trying to figure out who you are? That's the idea that Honey is exploring.

When I first picked the book up I was bracing myself for sleazy record bosses and the main character to be a poor, exploited victim, but what emerged was a story of friendship, fortitude and finding your own voice. The music industry markets the main character, Amber Young, as a sex bomb and at first that made me deeply uncomfortable. But Amber is genuinely keen to explore her sexuality. She's a teenager, she's unashamedly looking for love and lust the way other teens are, it's just all happening in the public eye. Some of the sex scenes were still a bit much for me, as she is so young but the tone is honest, not sleazy.

What I loved the most though, was her relationship with supposed pop-rival Gwen. The world assumes they're natural enemies - Gwen is Bubblegum-sweet, Amber is super-sexy - but they never lose sight of who they really are. I loved following both women's journeys and it made me think about Britney et al in a completely new light.

Honey follows Amber Young's journey through the highs and lows of pop stardom in the late '90s and early 2000s. Amber struggles with fame and authenticity, and the pressures of the music industry. I found this to be a captivating read with relatable characters and thought-provoking themes. A absolute must-read!!!

I enjoyed this story about a young girl mapping her way through the music industry. The story of her friendship with another young starlet Gwen, and her romance with a boy band member is an interesting one, highlighting how the media decides to portray someone.The book is well written and although nothing very dramatic occurs, it still makes for a fascinating read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"It is 1999 and Amber Young is about to transform from nice New Jersey girl to one of the most infamous pop stars of her era."

This was a fabulous nostalgic look at the late 90’s early 00’s music scene. It was a great insight into what actually went on behind the scenes not what was printed in the tabloids.

This read like an autobiography which was really enjoyable. The characters were very relatable and real. I really felt for Amber and Gwen they both had to hide pieces of themselves to keep the “public” happy. This book covered a lot of issues. How popstars are portrayed and how women in show business are treated in general.

I could not stop turning the pages!! I loved this book.

4/5 Stars and will definitely look out for more books from this author in the future

Isabel Banta's, Honey, is a beautifully written debut novel that follows Amber Young, a rising pop-star in the 90's. This felt as if I was reading an actual memoir. It was so nostalgic and beautifully written. The characters were well written and developed, I especially liked Gwen and her storyline. I think this book is a great insight into the harsh reality of lifestyle as a popstar and shows the ups and downs of this life in a relatable and down to earth way.

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.

Loved this! This story of Amber; a young girl desperate to sing and destined to become a star. We start with her childhood and see how she is discovered; then joins her first band and later becomes a single performer. We learn of the high and lows of life in the public eye and on the road to fame. I really enjoyed this book.

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This book covered so many relatable topics from that time , and was as if I was reading a biography - Brilliant debut . I was a Ya late 90’s so could really connect with some of the issues raised .

Whilst not my usual genre it was enjoyable ! Well done

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.

Honey has been described as giving Daisy Jones mixed with Britney Spears vibes, so I knew from this comparison alone that the book would be a bit of me.

It is essentially a coming-of-age story, focusing on Amber’s transition from girlhood to womanhood, whilst also being in the spotlight during the 90s and early 2000s, a time where the media and public were notorious for hounding and objectifying female pop stars.

Banta offers a fresh perspective on the pop icons that were mistreated, exploited, idolised and criticised. I often found myself thinking of Britney’s memoir that I read not long ago. The similarities between Amber and Britney are definitely there, and it’s heartbreaking to think about the dark, manipulative side of that industry.

The writing is incredible, and I particularly liked how the chapters were sometimes divided by song lyrics, articles, interviews, and even those quizzes you’d take in magazines to find out which pop star you were. Such nostalgia!

This is definitely not one to miss. Such an exciting debut!

I came to this book not expecting more than a light read tbh, I’d got stuck about half way in with another arc and was looking for something easy and entertaining that could get me back into reading - and boy, did Honey deliver. Once I got into the story about a fifth of the way through, I raced through the rest in a day and a half. I couldn’t put it down and that doesn’t happen v often for me. It reminded me of anything I’d say it would be The Idea of You or maybe a Jackie Collins. Amber is a character that really grows on you, and I loved the way that I invested so completely in her different relationships throughout. The pop era that the book covers is exactly my era so I loved that although if anything I’d have liked a few more period details, there was a part of me that felt as if it could have been set almost anytime in the last 25 years. I also felt like the writing could have been improved with some editing. But these are minor gripes. Overall it was v satisfying and I’ll be recommending it to everyone this summer.

As a teenager in the 90s I loved this. A coming of age story, we follow pop diva Amber as she rises to fame. Pigeon holed as the sexy one and at war with former band mate we get an insider look at the industry as Amber is toured from city to city.
A nostalgic novel, but with a real sharp look at how these teen stars were treated by the public, press and the industry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to review. I look forward to more from Isabel Banta

Following the fictional pop sensations of the 90/early 00s in their careers and their lives, Honey is like a trip down memory lane for this older millennial as there are so many parallel stories.

This story portrays the.darker side of the industry and how the saccharine starlets were probably far from it.

Well worth a read.

This book feels like it was really written by a pop star in the 90s and reminds me of the Britney and Christina supposed rivalry where one was meant to be sweet and innocent and the other one just selling sex and bad behaviour. The book shows you that you should never believe everything you see in the press and that usually the truth is very different. This also shows a dark and seedy side of the music business which over the years we have slowly heard about and how many of these young girls are forced into moulds of how a company wants them to be. A very honest read.

Quite a compelling read and a bit different- I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written. The only bit I didn’t like was the song lyrics which when written down just seem a bit rubbish (maybe that was the point- it wouldn’t be my choice of music!). Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
My eyes could not go fast enough over the page to take in all the words, all the story. I loved this book. 5 stars.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s myself, this seemed like such an important read. There were boy bands and girl bands popping up everywhere (although I know this has always been a thing). We've seen single young artist rise to stardom.

And then you know it's not all that it seems. Maybe I didn't know that back then, but I know it now.

Poor Amber. She had a dream that became an I welcome stark reality because people tend to use people.

A glittering whirlwind of nostalgia and familiarity with an intense 90's spotlight. Honey is not to be missed, and how could you?

Detailing the story of Amber, a teenager who gets catapulted to fame when she joins a girlgroup in the height of pop stardom - the early 2000's. Diving deep into the realities of what life in the spotlight was like before everyone had a camera phone may sound more ideal than the 24/7 surveillance of modern day, but the 90's had their own pressures on young women, and getting to experience this journey with Amber, as she also reflects back on her childhood in the 1990's, we see the truth of sexism and mistreatment of women in the music industry ( and well also the general 2000's).

Banta creates a world with flaws that still leaves you wanting to dive headfirst into, the glitz and glamour and sparkle and sequins blind you to the realities of mistreatment of those most idolised.

I couldn't put this down and immediately found myself googling characters as if they were real....maybe I just wish they were!

Glorious, Fun, Coming-of-age, filled to the brim with nostalgia and celebrity you won't want to put it down.

A well written story reminiscent of Daisy Jones & The Six and Songs in Ursa Major - I was thoroughly hooked! Amber's search for stardom masks the deeper search for self, in words that are both lyrical and ugly, just like life, and music, and love. An emotional, funny, moving novel that resonates after you finish it, vibrating softly like guitar strings on a dying chord.
Definitely recommend!

I found this book a really interesting take on fame in the 90's / 00's. I was gripped reading about life as a teenage girl and to see Amber finally discover who she is and what she wants from life. Such a good easy read for the summer.

In Honey we follow Amber on her journey to become one of the world's most famous artists and what it takes to become one. It made me think of all the pop artists I know from the 90s with which I kind of grew up with and trying to guess which artist may represent the characters from the story. Loved the plot and the characters even the flawed ones because of their role in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is a light read and I enjoyed it very much. I suppose there is nothing much to it, a bit like a milder version version of Daisy Jones but it is a page turner and I raced through it.

Amber and Gwen and Axel are great characters, so likeable and I really sympathised with Amber and her struggles with the media. It gives you a bit of insight into how "the talent" are manipulated by the record companies and the sleazy executives and journalists who like to label women according to their appearance, not their talent.

A 4 for sheer readability.

Honey reads like the autobiography I wish britney had written.

It jumps from moment to moment, is raw and honest in the singular perspective and feels like it its more fact than fiction.

The characters contoured thoughts of Britney, Xtina and Mandy Moore for me.
I enjoyed the songs and really hope this release is accompanied by some sort of promotional song!

I really enjoyed this novel which transported me back to a formative time in my own life.

Thanks to Isabel Banta’s excellent characterisations, I was totally invested in the main character’s life - and found it so refreshing to see complex, nuanced female relationships portrayed.

Despite ‘Honey’ being eminently readable, it’s also a searing critique of celebrity culture and the misogyny of the pop music world. It’s no mean feat to achieve this!

Perfect for fans of 00s pop icons like Britney and Christina Aguilera.

This was more of a YA novel than I had anticipated, but definately full of adult themes.
It took a little bit of time for me to get into this, the writing was quite stylised and characters felt a little harsh and unsympathetic (as well as being very young). Plus, the lifestyle of the characters is very far removed from any that most of us would experience - that of wildly famous young American popstars!

However, the themes and experiences of the lead, Amber, are universal, and the author does a fantastic job of narrating the everyday sexism, exploitation, micro-aggressions and fetishisation of young women in the workplace. Amber has to navigate quite a hostile landscape whilst living with her own internal dilemmas. Her interior dialogue is quite mature for such a young person but it did help to outline how women have to question themsleves constantly and whether they have control over their lives, bodies, sexual pleasure, careers etc.

I definitely got and enjoyed the references to the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera etc and it did make me think that while everyone assumes they live such a wonderful, charmed life, behind the scenes the reality is very different and usually quite awful. Plus, there were some great references to how men and the media love pitting women against each other, when they really can be friends!

By the end I was really rooting for Amber and Gwen and even the boys, who - whilst were given much more freedom to make mistakes - were still being manipulated by a much larger money making machine.
Not a read I would normally select but I am glad that I did.

I loved this book, though the style of writing made me feel slightly detached from the characters. But it was a sweeping look at the music industry in the 90s, when I was a teenager, and it rang so very true.