Book Review: Honey by Isabel Banta

Honey is a late 1990s and early 2000s coming-of-age novel about a female pop star’s rise to fame.

When tween Amber Young is first discovered at a school talent show, her strong vocals take her from an aspiring child actress to a girl band member, to a solo act, and finally to global fame. But in Y2K, the road to success is littered with beautiful teen pop stars, and she is pitted against other girls just like her. She struggles with romantic relationships, her image in the media, and finding success.

I enjoyed this realistic and gritty portrayal of pop stardom in the early 2000s. Amber reminds me of the many real-life young songstresses of that era and the public’s obsession with their innocence and romantic lives. I also liked Amber’s relationship with former bandmate Gwen and their bond despite their schedules, the tabloid media, and their own secrets pulling them apart. This was an enjoyable debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from Isabel Banta.

🎧 Audiobook notes: Honey is read by Brittany Pressley, who does an excellent job portraying the voice and youthful spirit of the main character.

Disclosure: My copy of Honey was provided by Macmillan Audio for the purpose of reviewing.