I was sold on this book as a Britney Spears meets Daisy Jones and the Six read. It was beautifully written and tackled some big themes, especially how (un)glamorous fame is, the power hungry individuals in the music business and how creativity can be compromised by them - and the cost of individual freedom when you’re thrown into the limelight. I enjoyed it, but the one thing missing for me was a bit more pace and unpredictability in the plot. Huge thanks to the author and publisher for this advance review copy. Views my own. 4*

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

As Amber embarks on her solo career and her fame intensifies, she increasingly finds herself reduced to a body, a voice, an object. Surrounded by the wrong kind of people 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.

@mythoughts—- Young girls manipulated by the music celebrity world. In this novel you follow Amber as her career takes off as a single artist. She is portrayed as a self obsessed , sex crazed , insecure young girl . Amber and her mothers relationship is quite a sad one and she was left to her own devices most of the time. I didn’t particularly warm to any character at all and the music scene which was probably described correctly however I was a bit bored. This was a coming of age , developing artist , set in the 90’s novel it reads like an autobiography of life. If you enjoyed Daisy jones and the six and want some nostalgia over the 90’s girl band scene then this may be for you !

A really enjoyable read that is a fascinating insight into the toxic world of celebrity, fame & wealth.

A well written page turner that transports the reader back to the 90s/00s, it really made adult me look back at my teen celeb loves very differently.

I loved this book - it is reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six and explores a girls rise to stardom, the double standards public figures are held to and the effect societal views can have on young women.

This was a wonderful character study drenched in infamy and scandal – unpicking the glitz to show the grit beneath. I loved how this was a tale of reconnecting with an inner artistry and unlocking your voice.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

This is an interesting read, the story of young teens going through the steps to stardom. How family and friends affect them then the massive part public perception and the press plays in their lives. Its a good insight into the behind the scenes pressures and struck a chord with how many young singers have had struggles such as Britney Spears. The book shows well the progression with age and maturity the singers go through.

Honey was such a great read! I like pop music and pop stars, so am very aware of dual nature of fame when it comes to pop stardom. From X-Factor contestants revealing how they were really treated to the tragic tale of Britney's conservatorship, it's a brutal world when you're a all-singing, all-dancing commodity. Albeit a talented one.

In Honey, this darker side of the industry is explored really well, alongside the hunger that Amber (our pop star) has. Amber was such a well written character, I felt like she was real and was fully invested in her story.

Really immersive and easy to read in tone, I'm excited for the next book from Isabel Banta.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is a timely exploration of the fame of young female popstars in the early 2000s. If you remember that period, you can see the parallels and echoes of artists like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera throughout. However, Amber is far from a cliche or two-dimensional character. The narrative draws you in and I pretty much read the whole book in a few hours. It's not a hard read, but it certainly leaves you with some thinking to do.

The blurb enticed me in with comparison to daisy jones & the six.

Interesting story & insightful on how manipulative & lonely being a pop star was in the 90’s.

It was a ok read.

A book about pop stars in the 90s…..insecurity fame and chaos……a coming of age story about someone with talent and lack of confidence grows…….slightly slow and not an awful lot happens but an easy read

In 1997, Amber Young’s life transforms with a chance to join the girl group Cloud9 and escape her small town. As she steps into the spotlight in Los Angeles, she encounters fellow rising stars Gwen Morris and Wes Kingston, navigating the glittering yet treacherous world of fame.

As Amber's solo career takes off, her depth fades, overshadowed by the demands of stardom. Surrounded by exploitative figures and driven by a quest for success, love, and connection, Amber's journey underscores the fragility of public image and the risks of a single misstep.

Isabel Banta’s debut novel offers a fresh take on 1990s pop culture, exploring the complexities of celebrity through Amber’s experiences. While the book captures the era's challenges and the harsh realities of fame, it occasionally feels repetitive, and the ending lacks depth, leaving some threads unresolved.

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Honey by Isabel Banta was the perfect summer read and TBH perfect for any time of the year. Amber as a character at times grated on my sensibilities, but that was testament to just how well she was written. Afantastic account of life lived in the limelight, loved it

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre and the stunning author Isabel Banta for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This was my most anticipated read of the year - a Daisy Jones & The Six style book but set in the Britney era sounds absolutely perfect for me.

Sadly it didn't click with me as much as I expected it to and by the halfway point I wasn't that eager to pick it back up. I think I wanted it to go a bit deeper into the industry and I wasn't really connecting with Amber (honestly I think a book featuring the side character Savannah might have been more interesting)

One thing I did think was really cool was the inclusion of little quizzes and interviews that were very reminiscent of magazines from that era.

I knew from the description that this book would be right up my street - I wasn’t wrong! 90s babies, this is a must read!

This is a young adult fiction book about a young performer Amber Young and those she becomes friends with. It is 1999 and she is going to become a pop star. She originally considered being part of a group, until she met Gwen. Gwen decides she wants a solo career and Amber follows in her footsteps.

Amber is from a poor family, a missing father and an alcoholic mother, but at least her mum did take her to auditions. Gwen has her mother pushing her every step of the way. The two are from different backgrounds but they both love to sing. Amber is a natural talent when it comes to singing.

The story is very much a coming-of-age one. Following Amber as she is promoted in a certain way and has little say over things in her life. The non-stop tours, recording studios, interviews and promotions. Then a tour with a boyband ETA follows. She gets on well with the group and becomes friends with them. One of the members, Wes, is linked to Gwen, but not is all as it seems.

The book is definitely aimed at young adults and there is a certain feel of this throughout, I think it is the naivety of Amber and also the others as they are manipulated and cajoled into having a persona built up around the image the record companies want. It soon becomes obvious that money is more important than looking after their young charges. i will mention that Amber does have Sonny, he is her guide and someone who will help her and advise her, and my goodness she does need this from time to time.

I liked to see the transformation of the young characters as they try to work out what they want from their lives and how the choices they have are limited by how they appear to the public. As they become more successful then they start to realise they can have a l little more say on what they want, but this takes time and also a lot of guts.

Taking one show, one record, one interview at a time they gradually find out who they are. The talented youngsters are innocent and really don't know what to expect and this is something that does ring true of certain artists of the same era this book is set in, 1999-2000ish.

This is a great story to read and to see how the characters can make their way. It does have some sexual content but nothing too graphic and again is reminiscent of things being reported at this same time in real life. This is a book that has a lot of drama, teen angst, realisation and friendships. An enjoyable read and one I would happily recommend.

Honey by Isabel Banta is an enchanting story that has truly lived up to its anticipation as the must-read book of Summer 2024.

The story is a delightful blend of warmth, depth and vibrant storytelling, making it a standout amongst others. It's engaging and beautifully woven, taking readers on a journey though the lives of it's characters. Is it absolutely compelling, from start to finish.

The characters in Honey are the strongest aspects of this book. Each and every character is portrayed beautifully, holding such unique and interesting stories and background. The FMC faces a journey of self discovery and being resilient along the way. Her entire journey is moving and inspiring.

Isabel's writing style is absolutely phenomenal. She has made honey the absolute beautiful book that it is. Her descriptions are beyond impressive, painting imagery with such detail without being overly elaborate. She has mastered the perfect balance that draws a reader into her world she has created.

Homey earns a well deserved five stars for its captivating plot, relatable characters, and impactful themes. Isabel Banta is definitely an author to watch and I am eagerly anticipate her future works.

An absolutely great read that was very thought provoking. What a debut novel from such a promising author who has clearly done her research. I will certainly be looking for her next book

Amber Young is the product of a broken home but has a certain amount of talent. When her mother's ambitions to make her a child star fail, Amber seems destined for a mediocre life but she wants to sing. Picked to join a short-lived girl group Amber becomes a solo hit. However, her public image as the slutty girl juxtaposed with her clean-cut rivals lies at odds to a simple girl who just wants to be loved.
This book brought back so many memories. The 90s were a time when the pop phenomenon was huge with multiple bands being created and now forgotten. Here Banta explores the difference between public image and private personality and it's a heady mix.

I thought this was a somewhat mediocre novel, charting the rising success of 12 year old Amber Young as she first joins a girl band and then becomes a solo artist. I felt the relationships were all somewhat contrived and/or immature and not particularly relatable. That said, I preferred it to Daisy Jones & The Six, although I wouldn't rush to read another "rock star memoir" style of novel as I don't think they're my cup of tea overall.