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.

Growing up in the 90s/00s many playground lunchtimes were spent "performing" as popstars with my friends. While none of our lunchtime aspirations came into real-life fruition (for which I'm grateful) it's crazy to see the other side of pop stardom. I'm glad none of us ended up in the toxic celebrity world like Amber did. It's the perfect read for anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s/00s with that shared history and context that Honey brings.

Thank you to Zaffre + NetGalley for the opportunity to read Honey before it releases on 25th June 2024 #Honey #NetGalley

Amber Young has an astonishing singing talent and lives for the attention that fame brings, desperate to be loved by the public. This book takes a close look at fame and the ruthless path young people have to traverse in order to make it in the music industry. The schedule is brutal and its shocking the lack of care these young people receive. I really felt for Amber trying to work out who she is when a corporate machine has decided how she should present herself. It really made me think about young popstars like Britney and the way they were exploited by the press and the industry. A really well written novel that fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will enjoy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

A nostalgic book exploring 90s/00s pop culture and the story of a teen pop star. Reminded me of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera!

The book explores the highs and lows of pop fame. Compellingly writing. Would recommend to anyone, especially those who grew up in the 90s/00s!

Honey by Isabel Banta
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 25 June 2024

Isabel Banta's "Honey" captivates with its exquisite writing, marking a stunning debut novel.

Following Amber Young, a burgeoning pop star in the 90s, it delves into the complexities of womanhood under the glare of fame.

From the outset, I sensed the allure of "Honey," foreseeing either a rapid page-turner or a journey of savouring its literary enchantment. Surprisingly, it evolved into the latter. Every sentence held a profound beauty, compelling me to enjoy each moment within its pages.

"Honey" closely resembles an autobiography, unfolding through the first-person POV of its protagonist, Amber. Spanning various timelines, it commences in 2002, before leaping back to 1990, immersing readers in Amber's childhood experiences at school.

The narrative is deeply touching and heartwarming, characterised by the strong presence of Amber's voice and attitude. Her likability shines through, portraying her as a determined young woman.

"Honey" is a remarkable nostalgic journey, skilfully written to captivate readers and immerse them in the story of a woman striving for her dreams, while also evoking a feeling of disgust at the mistreatment she faces from various industry figures.

Thank you so much to Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre, and the author, Isabel Banta, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I was addicted reading this in one afternoon. Everything from the judgements on these characters to their own insecurities, the fact that they are so young going through this whirlwind journey of fame and still learning who they are. It fascinated me. It has all the draw of your favourite celebrity gossip magazine but in a novel that allows you backstage access that fans never get in real life too. Loved it!

Following the Britney memoir, Honey feels claustrophobic and right on the edge os seedy with the pitch perfect pop culture references,and too close to the truth. It has been compared to Daisy Jones but the uncovering of the history in a linear first person perspective feels closer to Evelyn Hugo to me, and I was pushing on despite the creeping unease of this reading experience as Amber's rise to fame (or more accurately, her endless pursuit of acceptance and love) is chronicled like an never ending merry go round. I don't know I enjoyed it about half way through because the constant male gaze made my skin crawl, however realistic it is, but I just couldn't stop reading it. And I am so glad I didn't, for the euphoria of Amber discovering her autonomy and voice finally eclipses the visceral references to desire for a thoroughly satisfying ending.

This book is so enthralling from the beginning to the end. The main character Amber was so likeable and her journey from a nobody to a superstar was well chronicled. Her love interests were described beautifully and just how a young girl would feel. The supporting characters all had a part to play in the book without taking over the storyline. I particularly loved the ending which was years later - a proper epilogue!

As someone who was growing up in the nineties, this took me right back and I loved it.

This was a quick, easy read and the author did a great job of capturing the 90s cultural references of the time.

The book is a work of fiction that reads like an autobiography and it so much more of an addictive read as a result of it.

I liked the reflection of media attention on young popstars at the time and just how damaging and impactful this could be.

I enjoyed reading about Amber as a character.

This was the perfect nostalgic throwback and I could not put it down

I was really intrigued by the premise of Honey, not least because it is set in my era. The late 1990s and early 2000s was a period where I was just getting into music myself and Isabel Banta does an absolutely sterling job of recreating this time, particularly the pressure on popstars to look and behave in a certain way. As a young person, I may not have always recognised this, and I found it interesting to look back on these times in a different light.

Honey is told in the first person by Amber, and this gives the reader plenty of opportunity to get to know her and understand the way she is thinking and feeling at different points in her journey. I often felt sorry for her, and I ultimately wanted her to be happy. She's surrounded by some interesting characters, especially Gwen, Wes, Axel and Sonny, who all play an important part in her life and despite never hearing directly from their point of view, Isabel Banta gives us a good idea of what they are like, which helps us to sympathise (or not) with them and understand their motives.

I also loved the song lyrics, Wikipedia entries, magazine articles and quizzes which broke up the main text. These are absolutely spot on as I remember them and really helped to create the atmosphere of the time in the novel.

Isabel Banta is a debut author and I look forward to seeing what she does next!

At first I thought this was going to be another 'girl becoming famous and getting exploited' narrative but the author takes it in a much more subtle direction. I loved how Amber gradually gains self awareness and uses it to push her career in a different direction. The friendship between her and Gwen feels messy and real. I've read so many books where the female protagonist is punished for stepping outside her box so this was a refreshing telling. Interested to see where Isabel Banta goes next.

Honey takes you back to the late 1990’s and early 2000s when a multitude of strong female vocalists filled the pop charts - Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera are the names we remember as they challenged strait laced thinking with their carnality and tight, skimpy outfits and songs filled with sexual innuendo and references.

Yet, the challenge and sexuality brought by these young women and girls was for the majority controlled by white, middle class men of a certain age who ran and owned the record labels and industry. They pulled the levers, and the young women were often left to negotiate their own way through the maelstrom of fans and notoriety.

Honey is most definitely a coming of age and growth story, it explores that experience, not the predictable and known ‘Me Too’ theme but, the themes of being plucked from obscurity, of self-belief, of finding yourself and your voice, of friendship, of love, all amidst an industry that profits from sex and sexuality that judges and condemns the young women charting their way through it.

Amber is a teenager, desperate for love, affection, attention and approval. Abandoned by her father at a young age, she wants to be loved and wanted. And for her, the only route is her voice, and like many she sees fame and the music industry as the answer and the prayer.

Amber isn’t alone in her desperate desire for fame and success, and this is clear throughout the book but, what is special are the relationships and friendships she cultivates on her journey, in particular her friendship with her supposed Pop rival Gwen.

Honey is a great beach read, it will take you back to the heady Pop days of the 90’s and Noughties. You will want to listen to the bubblegum pop of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and maybe even the Spice Girls while you read and are transported to the heady and wild world of the famous and notorious!

Thanks to Bonnier Books, Zaffre and NetGalley for the arc of Honey by Isabel Banta in exchange for my honest and sincere review.

I was bathed in nostalgia reading this book. I loved it. It reminded of the early noughties - when Britney was at her zenith. I really loved this book and will continue to recommend it to everyone.
I just reviewed Honey by Isabel Banta. #Honey #NetGalley

What a rollercoaster of a story. Peeling back the layers of the pop idols. The fame, schedule, pressure and rivalries. It's not a pretty picture of what we expect from our stars.
From an early age wanting something different from her reality to the self destruction and ultimately happiness.
A book which will make you think about the music industry and pop stars in a very different light

I have just finished this book and I want to bottle this feeling of pure happy joy at the ending of this book,

Honey is a book which begins as something that feels like Daisy Jones and The Six crossed with I'm Glad My Mom Died as we are introduced to the character of Amber Young who we are told "broke up Gwen and Wes" creating a sort of mystery of how did things get to that point. We are then catapulted back to Amber's childhood where she tells the story of how she came to become a pop star, starting with when a talent agent happened to see her perform at a school talent show.

Amber very much is the titular honey and there are many, many, many men in this book that simply address her as "Honey". At times this is a difficult book to read as Amber is only 17 years-old when her singing career really begins and from the start her sexuality is not really hers as you see her record label manipulate her into essentially playing into the madonna / whore dichotomy: they already have young, virginal pop stars so they need Amber to be the whore. We see the small ways that Amber is seen not as a complete human and men find ways to touch her in seemingly innocent ways but also make jokes about her being "legal". There is a really sinister undercurrent to the book.

I didn't fully understand Amber's storyline with Wes as it was hoping but I think it was something which worked really well in the fuller context of the book as we began to see how Wes was just another pawn to industry whims but there was also a feeling by the end of the book that maybe Amber was really a full person to him either.

As the book progressed and we were able to see the ways that she reconceptualised the life that she had created as something for herself, I really enjoyed the story progression, I feel as though Banta did an incredible job writing this book as this is a story told in first person perspective and it really feels as though Amber matures as the years go by.

The ending of this book was absolutely fantastic and felt earned by the story that this book had been telling. I would have loved to spend more time with Amber but I think there is a certain message about the way that the lens shifts away from her as she is able to reclaim her story as something that it only for her and I can really appreciate that.

REVIEW
cw: alcoholism, objectification, misogyny, body-shaming, termination, queerphobia
In this coming-of-age story, it's 1997 and Amber Young has always wanted to be a singer. When she's offered the chance to join a short-lived girl group 'Cloud9', and soon after embarks on a solo career, she begins to discover the price of fame. Over several years, we follow her rise to fame alongside her friend and musical rival Gwen Morris, and Wes Kingston, a member of the biggest boy band in the world, 'ETA'

What a debut! I couldn't put this down. I empathised with Amber immediately and wanted to hug her so many times. She was such a likeable, yet fallible character. I found the commentary on the differences between how boy bands and girl bands were (and likely still are) treated infuriatingly realistic, from the objectification, and the focus on their weight to the manufactured fights and conflict. My heart broke for Amber when she was dating Wes. I've never understood the idea that pop stars need to seem 'available' or with the 'right' person in order to be marketable to their fans, yet it's still being perpetuated today. The parallels with real-life late 90s recording artists were obvious (at least to me) but worked really well and perfectly captured the era. I loved all of the references to 90s culture including TRL, the teen magazine Q&As, mall tours, and the Teen Choice Awards. It made me nostalgic for that time, that excitement for a new music video or magazine with your favourite singer.
The book also did a great job of showing the late 90s visceral consumption of female pop stars, and how their sexuality was used to exploit them, and subsequently vilify them. I found the commentary on middle-aged men in the press and music business pitting teenage girls against each other in their pursuit of money infuriatingly realistic. Even though I think the real-life pop stars this book is based on probably had much worse experiences, I'm glad that our fictional singers only mentioned a few predatory moments. Still, the author did an excellent job showing how these young pop stars could easily become beleaguered, and jaded.
The supporting characters were all well-observed. I loved Amber's friendship with Gwen, and the boyband dynamic of the members of ETA felt authentic. I loved Axel, the music producer. He was a good friend to Amber and the other singers and was such a sweetheart. There are a few relationship storylines interwoven and without spoilers, I was rooting so hard for both Gwen and Amber to get their respective HEAs.
I particularly enjoyed the way this book was edited. Including Wikipedia articles, song lyrics, and interviews added such a rich depth to the story. I felt like I knew these recording artists, and their music by the end. Despite the rage and frustration I often felt at the way the music 'machine' treated these young women (initially young girls), I loved the way the author showed Amber's development, as she slowly grew in confidence, learning to trust her own instincts, and finding her voice. I won't spoil the ending, but the way I squealed reading that final Wiki page? So happy.

Overall Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Heat Rating: 🔥.5

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own*

Favourite Quotes:

I’m interested in the differences between our groups. How they perform in long-sleeved turtlenecks, covered up like presents for girls to unwrap, while our paper is already discarded on the floor.

I’m starting to think that no unscathed kid has ever entered this industry. You have to have some emptiness, some cavity, that needs filling.

Sonny says Lolli is very happy. In fact, I’ve reinforced my own image. This is who I am, who I’ve always been. Being called a slut and a whore won’t impact my career. Haven’t I been called these things already? Notoriety is preferable to obscurity, hon. This is America’s favorite kind of foreplay.

"You have many things inside you to say.”
What a thing to hear, after a lifetime not hearing it at all. If he’s right, if there was a well inside me once, when did it run dry, rust over? When did I decide the water was all polluted?

“It’s really amazing,” she says sleepily.
“What is?”
“That we’re friends. An entire industry wants us to hate each other. Maybe we have, a little bit. But we also really love each other.”

“What did you want to be?”
“What I am now. I just imagined it differently.”
“Different how?”
“I imagined I would be happy.”

I watch them closely; these men, who have helped and hurt me in equal measure. They have both benefitted from my career, but we all pretend it’s the other way around.

I wonder if two people can really be happy if there’s no one else to see it.

Other men were pans straining in rivers for gold: I could be what they searched for. But I don’t want to be metal anymore.

I am the glass people press their hands against, but inside the tank, twirling in wonder, there is some other, fragile self.

I really enjoyed this, the story of Amber growing up in the spotlight in the 90s, it was a total throwback to my childhood. I’m a 90s kid, and so many things in the book made sense.

I loved the friendship between Amber and Gwen, that is the kind of friendships that everyone should have at least with one person. Someone who is there when you need them, just a phonecall away at any time. I really felt bad for all the young characters in the book, Amber, Gwen, Wes, and the rest. It was like living back through the likes of Britney, and Cristina Aguilera etc, being sexualised at a young age, being made to do so much more than they should have.

If you like throwback reminiscent stories with a load of drama thrown in for good measure, you’ll like this one.

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.

In this book we meet Amber who has been auditioning for singing jobs since she was young. Eventually all her patience and persistence pays off when she gets the call to join a newly formed girl group - Cloud9 - based in La, which also means that she is able to escape her small town life and, more importantly, her family! This book follows her success as she leaves the group to embark on a solo career, detailing all the perils and pitfalls that go hand in hand with stardom as a young single (?) woman... The manipulation, the face, the exploitation, the threats, the worry, the public's perception of who she is, and all the time, dreading that there is nothing that can pull the rug out from under her.
This book was busy and often chaotic but I guess this mirrors what is happening in Amber's life... Especially with regard to her relationships. It also shows how what people perceive others to be is definitely not always what they are, to often tragic consequences.
There are things that are spelled out and others that are hinted at, but all quite sensitive themes, all done with respect.
I can't really say I enjoyed this book, due to it's content, it's not all that happy at times, and being of a certain age, with common sense, I am not sure it really opened my eyes to anything I wasn't already aware of, but it was, in itself, a rather interesting and intriguing glimpse into the life of a bright star, the things she had to do to get there, and those she has to continue to do to stay there.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

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.