When I first read the synopsis for Honey, I felt certain this book was written for me. I am a pop music and pop culture fan, raised in the 90s on Britney, Christina, Spice Girls, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. I am intimately familiar with the culture of the VMAs and TRL, of Disney child stars turned MTV mega stars being hounded by paparazzi and sexualized by the media. 

So yes, when I found out that Honey’s plot revolves entirely around this era of pop culture, I was extremely excited. And while the nostalgia is absolutely there and is, in a way, fun to relive, I also found myself wanting more. 

Maybe there is such a thing as being TOO much the intended audience? Maybe I’ve spent far too long deep in the weeds of my own feminist analysis of the 90s pop princess phenomenon, but unfortunately I came away from Honey feeling simply like there was no new ground tread here. 

Honey still gets 3 stars from me for the nostalgia factor and I did really enjoy the female friendship factor of this book, given how women artists continue to be pitted against each other in the media. I would say if you are still reeling from Britney’s memoir and looking to read something similar but fictional, then Honey might be a great choice for you!