Honey.

Isabel Banta's debut novel, "Honey," explores the world of pop princesses in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The story follows Amber Young, who is scouted at a talent show and signs with agent Angela Newton. Despite releasing hit records and music videos, Amber constantly feels overshadowed by her industry peers and is criticized for being too sexual. The novel delves into Amber's efforts to break free from her manufactured image and write her own music. While the friendship between Amber and her wholesome pop star friend Gwen has moments of resonance, the conflicts lack believable drama, and the romantic relationships lack emotional credibility. Overall, the novel is described as long on style but short on substance. [Extracted from the article]

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