As a millennial, I was really excited to read Honey and travel back into the time capsule of the late '90s and early 2000s pop era. I don't think anybody growing up in that time didn't watch MTV, music videos, TRL, and relish in the feeling of what it would be like to be famous—a pop star in a boy band or girl group, buying magazines, and having posters on the wall. With the current hype of memoirs and documentaries highlighting the behind-the-scenes traumas and dramas of that time, I was even more excited to see what would happen in this book.

I think Honey is a chill read and enjoyable enough to pass the time. Unfortunately, I don't think the author pushed it as far as she could have. The early 2000s was a time when misogyny was rampant. The expectations of women in the media were not only clearly sexualized but stereotypical. We saw this in multiple formats of entertainment, not even touching on issues of sexuality and body image. While it felt like the author started to say something, she never pushed the conversation far enough, ultimately making the book feel very safe.

I even felt Banta’s choice to choose a white celebrity was safe, knowing there were groups like TLC and Destiny’s Child around this time. Shows like Making the Band, solo artists like JLo and Selena, and young TV stars becoming pop stars offered so many interesting angles she could've explored. This isn't to say that our main character doesn’t face obstacles, or that the characters around her don’t. It just felt like a lot of the issues weren’t unique to the industry and the main character’s voice never felt personalized or deep enough to deliver the messages the author was scratching the surface of, or to connect with.

Many of her relationships were overly sexualized, which seemed like a missed opportunity to explore other facets of misogyny in the industry. It felt like the author used sex to display misogyny when there were so many more examples that could've been used. I thought maybe the boyfriend might try to steal a song or she might have to battle with going independent, but it seemed like the most challenging aspect of her career was a relationship she knew wasn’t good for her, and the byproduct of that. Though we do see the author begin to explore themes of optics, male gaze, and sexual identity. It all came back to another hookup. For instance, when introduced to Axel, I hoped for a platonic relationship that would focus on Amber’s growth, but it turned into another physical relationship. There was also the introduction of another relationship that felt random, and unnecessary.

Even the side characters with their obstacles and issues were quickly resolved or dropped. For example, Gwen, who could’ve potentially sabotaged Amber’s career, gets an easy forgiveness without true conversational understanding. For me, this book played it safe. With a topic and an era that went so big all the time, I expected so much more.

However, I did enjoy the detailed capture of the time. The interviews, the songs, the magazine clip questionnaires really transported me back. Having the audiobook in addition truly enhanced this experience, capturing that 2000s feeling with different voices making it feel like an episode of TRL. You could really feel that energy and effort vibrate from the pages and through your headphones. One thing I would've liked was actual singing for the songs. It felt odd to have music but then just spoken lyrics over top. But hey, I’m just being greedy.

In general, this book is a celebration and a shining light on the 2000s and what it meant to be a rising star. In some ways, it reminded me of watching Crossroads, watching young kids find themselves, discover each other, and mature in the public eye. While I may have wanted something edgier, I think this will be successful, and I hope to see more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this ARC!