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.

Described by Holly Bourne as ‘Like Daisy Jones soaked in Britney Spears’ Curious’ you know I was going to be all over this one!

It is 1997 and Amber Young is about to become one of the most infamous pop stars of her era. Plucked from a small town in new jersey Amber is given the opportunity of a lifetime.

The publishers describe Honey as ‘a reimagining of the pop stars of the late 90s and early 2000s, who we idolised and hated, over sexualised and underestimated, giving them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.’

I was born in the late 80s so by the time Britney, spice girls and girls aloud rolled around I was completely on board. Id be so excited getting that latest CD putting it on my CD walkman and practicing all those cringe dance moves in the mirror.
Lately books like daisy jones or Britney memoir have thrown m back to those memories and I was very excited about this book given how it was billed.

The story started just as I would have wished. Immediately I was supporting our leading lady and the fast pace of the book really reflected the fast pace around Amber and how out of control she felt. However once that initial boom had hit the rest of the book felt a bit flat to me. It felt unnecessarily padded out and I felt that it could have been condensed and made a lot more captivating.

The plot just felt to be missing something but I can’t put my finger on what that thing is!

The ending sadly felt a bit flat as well. It was overall ok, and I think if read poolside it would have probably been a lovely way to spend a few hours but it sadly couldn’t match daisy jones for me and I think going into this with the hype around it it just couldn’t live up to the expectation

Honey ⭐️⭐️

I found it difficult to know what to write about this one as I really enjoyed Isabel Banta’s writing style, but found the characters and plot lacking. The first description I saw about Honey compared it to Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six and I think this set it up for failure; my expectations were set too high.

As I mentioned, I liked the writing style, but struggled to invest in the characters and, to be blunt, didn’t really care what happened to them. The premise is full of potential: a coming of age story about a young girl trying to make it as a famous singer, dealing with how woman are viewed and treated in the industry, but I felt it never really got going.

I think this book will be successful on release, but for me, it’s a little forgettable. I was constantly waiting for a change of pace or something dramatic to happen, but was left disappointed. Although this one wasn’t for me, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what Isabel Banta writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book has all the promise of the late 90s and early 2000's drama, with the intoxicating world of pop and celebrity explored by following the life of Amber Young while she attempts to make it big in the industry. Given the recent developments with Britney's book and story, I was excited to read this and explore more of the toxic side of the fame.

Some of the prose is beautifully written, but I did find parts of it jarring - in particular how it seemed to move from amber's POV to interviews with no real subtitles or warning. Banta explores the darker side of fame, and what it means to be a woman in industry who is sexualised and controlled by men. I really wanted to fall in love with these characters but they did not resonate with me, which took away some of the emotional punch for me.

A solid book, which I anticipate will be a popular one!

This was an ok story that was interesting to see a different perspective of the celebrity lifestyle but nothing ground-breaking for me and maybe the wrong genre... Possibly more of a YA

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.

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.

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!

This book just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, the story/writing was too jumpy and it felt very Jackie Collins-esque in places. Some books you connect with and others you don’t; this was the latter for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

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.

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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

Unfortunately this book is not for me. I found it slow moving and a little tedious.

In all fairness I think my lack of enjoyment is more a result of my current headspace than anything else.

"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

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.

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.

Isabel Banta's debut novel, Honey, re-imagines the pop stars of the late 90s and early 2000s, who we idolized and hated, oversexualized and underestimated, giving them the fresh, multifaceted story they deserve.

This story follows the rise to fame of Amber Young, a slightly unlikely but appropriately fame hungry pop starlet at the turn of the late 90s/noughties era, pitted against fellow teen idols Gwen and Savannah - all three have echoes of the pop stars we all remember of that era - virginal and God-fearing Jessica Simpson pitted against Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears who offered a much more sexualised, edgy 'image' that wasn't always to be approved of by [the parents of their huge young fanbase. Amber gets her own taste of stardom and a degree of success, gets mixed up with a messy romance with a boy=band member (who is in a 'showmance'' with her friend/pop rival Gwen) but finds true connection, artistic freedom and eventual true love with mysterious Scandinavian music producer Axel, who sees past the superficial and encourages her songwriting talents. It's an engaging readt the writing style veers from very lyrical, thoughtful description at times to fairly cliched romantic (and strongly sexual) scenes at times - but it's very readable, and anyone familiar with or nostalgic with this era will find plenty to enjoy here!