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Honey & Spice #1
Honey & Spice
Introducing internationally bestselling author Bolu Babalola's dazzling debut novel, full of passion, humor, and heart, that centers on a young Black British woman who has no interest in love and unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a fake relationship with the man she warned her girls about
Sweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together...
Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she's made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of "situationships", players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as "The Wastemen of Whitewell," in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink.
They're soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won't be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper?
A gloriously funny and sparkling debut novel, Honey and Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue that will make you weak at the knees.
Sweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together...
Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she's made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of "situationships", players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as "The Wastemen of Whitewell," in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink.
They're soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won't be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper?
A gloriously funny and sparkling debut novel, Honey and Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue that will make you weak at the knees.
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2022
4138 people are currently reading
98745 people want to read
About the author
Bolu Babalola
8 books2,255 followersBOLU BABALOLA
is a British-Nigerian woman with a misleading bachelor's degree in law and a masters degree in American Politics & History from UCL. She feels it is important to state that her thesis was on Beyoncé's "Lemonade" and she was awarded a distinction for it. So essentially she has a masters degree in Beyoncé. A writer of books, scripts, culture pieces and retorts, a lover of love and self-coined "romcomoisseur", Bolu Babalola writes stories of dynamic women with distinct voices who love and are loved audaciously. She is a big believer in women being both "Beauty and the beast". She is not a fan of writing her own bios.
is a British-Nigerian woman with a misleading bachelor's degree in law and a masters degree in American Politics & History from UCL. She feels it is important to state that her thesis was on Beyoncé's "Lemonade" and she was awarded a distinction for it. So essentially she has a masters degree in Beyoncé. A writer of books, scripts, culture pieces and retorts, a lover of love and self-coined "romcomoisseur", Bolu Babalola writes stories of dynamic women with distinct voices who love and are loved audaciously. She is a big believer in women being both "Beauty and the beast". She is not a fan of writing her own bios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,287 reviews
December 2, 2024
this book is a lot.
it is not realistic, it does not progress logically, it does not care about following the precedent it has set for itself. it's kind of confusing and everything happens really fast and emotionally and the romance and the friendships essentially just spring up fully formed like the greek gods who popped out of zeus's head.
(you read that correctly. this is, ostensibly, a romance, and the love story that is, presumably, the plot doesn't really unfold in any sort of narrative way. but it's fine. we have 300 pages of dialogue to get through.)
what it IS: fun. it's funny and silly. it's 99% conversations made just for the terminally online.
by book standards, i don't know how much i loved this (no plot, characters kind of hard to track), but if i pretend it was a blog or 1,200 tweets i'm like...masterpiece.
bottom line: a great book for when you really want to be scrolling.
-----------------------
tbr review
pinning my happiness hopes dreams and optimism on whether i like a romance novel again. which is kinda romantic if you ask me
it is not realistic, it does not progress logically, it does not care about following the precedent it has set for itself. it's kind of confusing and everything happens really fast and emotionally and the romance and the friendships essentially just spring up fully formed like the greek gods who popped out of zeus's head.
(you read that correctly. this is, ostensibly, a romance, and the love story that is, presumably, the plot doesn't really unfold in any sort of narrative way. but it's fine. we have 300 pages of dialogue to get through.)
what it IS: fun. it's funny and silly. it's 99% conversations made just for the terminally online.
by book standards, i don't know how much i loved this (no plot, characters kind of hard to track), but if i pretend it was a blog or 1,200 tweets i'm like...masterpiece.
bottom line: a great book for when you really want to be scrolling.
-----------------------
tbr review
pinning my happiness hopes dreams and optimism on whether i like a romance novel again. which is kinda romantic if you ask me
March 30, 2023
“The world is doable when she is near me.”
oh i was invested in so much... this was the best romance ive read in years! highly highly highly recommend! but as much as i loved the romance, the friendships were really the star of this for me. healing, and hope, and building new friendships, and rebuilding old friendships. and seeing platonic breakups be even harder than romantic breaks ups so much of the time, and the trauma that can come from that... very beautiful and powerful to me. i loved this completely.
♡ buddy read with penny
♡ evie's amazing spotify playlist
trigger + content warnings: racism, colorism, harassment, unwanted touching, police brutality, cancer, sick parent, hospital/medical talk, talk of cheating, anxiety, trauma, mention of throwing up, blackmail, unwanted photos being taken, parent cheating in past
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
January 17, 2023
god! tier! romance!!!!!!
September 13, 2022
5 stars One of the best books I’ve read this year
December 28, 2022
the pop culture references were driving me fucking insane!! as much as i love the fake dating trope i hate that it’s so over done to the point that most of these books don’t even make sense as to why it’s done. their reasoning for fake dating was very weak. i also found kiki really annoying like im sorry i just know a lot of people that are like kiki and they get on my damn nerves! so does she tbh. it reminded me of dear white people which i love but sometimes i just want to escape all of that and read a regular romance book.
Read
May 14, 2022Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that a handful of people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
Includes some spoilers plus discussion of parent with cancer (parent survives), and sexual assault/rape (hypothetical only).
Well, this book is a delight.
Something that’s bit complicated about the broad sub-genre of, shall we call it, “contemporary-set books with strong romantic elements and illustrated covers” (or CSBWSREAIC for short) is that it comfortably (and rightly) encompasses a variety of approaches, and yet all such books are usually interchangeably marketed as romcoms. And let me be very clear that I have no problems with not all CSBWSREAIC being romcoms. Moreover, I don’t believe that something isn’t a romcom just because it also contains serious themes. What I don’t love, however, is when I’m being promised by the publisher that something is an effervescent riotous lol-ride when it’s actually about, I don’t know, death and--more importantly--doesn’t contain any fucking jokes.
Anyway, while I am not trying to set myself up as the Romcom Adjudicator (by the power vested in me by me), for my money, Honey & Spice is a romcom in the sense of romcom, not in the sense of a CSBWSREAIC. Its story is inextricable from its themes—which are serious ones of race, identity, friendship, love, self-agency, and personal growth—but it’s also just joyous to read and funny as hell. Between the bants, which is sparkly, and the narrator’s swaggeringly cynical voice, I did indeed lol.
The heroine, Kiki, is a student at Whitewell College in southeast England. While she holds herself somewhat aloof from the cliques and power-games of the Afro-Caribbean Society (who are always, above all else, united in their need to carve spaces for themselves within the overwhelmingly white-majority campus) she is nevertheless an established figure amongst the Black caucus of Blackwell (the name of the Whitewell ACS) because of her campus radio show, Brown Sugar. Here she plays her favourite R&B songs and offers romantic advice for the women of Blackwell, helping them maintain their self-respect as they navigate the complexities of dating in a world awash with toxic masculinity.
The inevitable spanner in the works comes when Kiki is in the process of applying for a prestigious and competitive summer school placement, and her advisor tells her she needs to expand her listener base, suggesting she team up with a promising new film student called Malakai Korede. Given that Malakai has barely arrived and already has ties to women in several of the Blackwell cliques, plus he’s incredibly good-looking, confident and personable, Kiki immediately concludes he’s insincere and self-serving, dubbing him the “Wasteman of Whitewell” on her radio show. Despite these slightly self-created conflicts, however, and a few misunderstandings along the way, sparks fly between them and they eventually agree to fake date while they’re collaborating on a film about campus romantic relationships with directly ties into a new segment on Kiki’s radio show called Gotta Hear Both Sides.
This is all a teeny bit contrived, but it does mostly make sense in context. I mean, I don’t think anyone would have given a fuck who I was dating at university, but the text establishes that the Blackwell students are forced into a kind of intense insularity with each other because of the hostility/cluelessness of the broader campus (there’s even a debate at one point over whether Black lives matter or if all lives matter). In any case, it’s character driving this book, not plot. The supporting cast, who are diverse not only in terms of racial background but in terms of sexuality and gender identity, are all well-articulated, even the ones who are only fleetingly on page, but particularly Kiki’s best (and at the start of the book, only) friend, Aminah.
Kiki and Malakai, though, steal the show. Malakai is a wonderful hero: sexy, funny, a touch arrogant, not perfect yet willing to answer for his mistakes, but also deeply and nerdishly earnest in a lot of ways, which provides such a welcome contrast to Kiki’s brittle cynicism. Kiki herself is my favourite kind of romance heroine: damaged, flawed, strong, complicated. She’s also kind of a slowburn heroine because we meet her sleeping with a man she doesn’t like precisely because she doesn’t like him and it takes about half the book to really know who she is and understand the forces and experiences that have shaped her. It is, however, an incredibly satisfying journey, especially because it parallels Kiki’s own journey not just to a romantic relationship with Malakai but to a better relationship with herself and the world in general.
I think the other thing this book did superlatively was capture the experience of being in your early twenties at university: that feeling of believing you understand everything, when you understand fuck all, of being sure you know who you are when, in fact, you’ve barely started. I don’t know how to say this without it sounding like a sideswipe, when it’s not at all, because Kiki and Malakai hovered on the borderline of obnoxious for me sometimes, but it was an extremely human, relatable, early-20s obnoxious. They’re both so convinced that they’re “not like” everyone around them and are, at once, alienated and encouraged by that conviction. Over the course of the book Kiki, in particular, learns that .. kind of everyone is both “like” and “not like” everyone else, and it’s really satisfying to see her connecting with her fellow Blackwallians, even the ones she doesn’t necessarily always see eye-to-eye with. It's a subtle maturation arc, one that still allows Kiki to shine as her acerbic outspoken self, and allows for a variety of relationships between women to flourish, including those between ride or die besties, adversaries turned allies, and even potential redemption for someone who wronged Kiki in the past.
Speaking of subtlety, something else I found refreshing and well-judged about the book was its tendency to eschew the bluntest possible story beats, especially when it comes to dealing with conflict and hardship in the lives of its characters. For example, while Kiki was growing up, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, went through quite a harrowing series of treatments, and eventually recovered: I really appreciated this arc because I can’t remember the last time I read a book that grappled with the trauma of growing up with an ill parent. I understand cancer is terrifying, and I’m not diminishing that at all, but it tends to get portrayed in a rather binary way in fiction – i.e., you either don’t have it, or you die from it. Similarly, while at school (and dealing with her mother’s illness), Kiki’s best friend’s boyfriend makes a pass at her. It doesn’t escalate beyond kissing and groping before Kiki manages to make him stop but it still has a tremendous impact both on Kiki’s relationship with her friend and her sense of self-worth, shaping her into the distant, locked-down, self-protecting person she is when we meet her at the beginning of the book.
It’s kind of hard to talk about this, without sounding crass, but I think it’s easy, in fiction as in life, to treat only the most extreme outcomes of particular situations as significant (cancer leads to death, sexual assault/harassment leads to rape) which in turn leaves people who undergo deeply hurtful experiences feeling as if those experiences don’t “count” or weren’t real. Basically, I just found the way Honey & Spice approached its heroine (and indeed its hero’s) pain really refreshing. It makes real space for the nuances of damage without feeling a need to exploit tragedy or reach for extremism. With Kiki, especially, we have a heroine who has been undeniably affected by what she’s been through, but at the same time she is never less than a whole and complex person, who is growing every day. Something that is supported by her developing relationship with Malakai -- which grows into a genuinely lovely romantic arc, full of sharp words, with a soft centre (and y'see, the title of the book is Honey & Spice).
Also bring me more earnest romance heroes please. It is a winning and too rare quality.
POINT IS, I adored this book and it needs to be a movie or a TV series, like, yesterday. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read something that captured the feeling of being in your early-20s—from its dramas, to its vulnerabilities, to its excitements and its infinite potential—so successfully, and with an eye at once kind but unflinching.
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that a handful of people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
Includes some spoilers plus discussion of parent with cancer (parent survives), and sexual assault/rape (hypothetical only).
Well, this book is a delight.
Something that’s bit complicated about the broad sub-genre of, shall we call it, “contemporary-set books with strong romantic elements and illustrated covers” (or CSBWSREAIC for short) is that it comfortably (and rightly) encompasses a variety of approaches, and yet all such books are usually interchangeably marketed as romcoms. And let me be very clear that I have no problems with not all CSBWSREAIC being romcoms. Moreover, I don’t believe that something isn’t a romcom just because it also contains serious themes. What I don’t love, however, is when I’m being promised by the publisher that something is an effervescent riotous lol-ride when it’s actually about, I don’t know, death and--more importantly--doesn’t contain any fucking jokes.
Anyway, while I am not trying to set myself up as the Romcom Adjudicator (by the power vested in me by me), for my money, Honey & Spice is a romcom in the sense of romcom, not in the sense of a CSBWSREAIC. Its story is inextricable from its themes—which are serious ones of race, identity, friendship, love, self-agency, and personal growth—but it’s also just joyous to read and funny as hell. Between the bants, which is sparkly, and the narrator’s swaggeringly cynical voice, I did indeed lol.
The heroine, Kiki, is a student at Whitewell College in southeast England. While she holds herself somewhat aloof from the cliques and power-games of the Afro-Caribbean Society (who are always, above all else, united in their need to carve spaces for themselves within the overwhelmingly white-majority campus) she is nevertheless an established figure amongst the Black caucus of Blackwell (the name of the Whitewell ACS) because of her campus radio show, Brown Sugar. Here she plays her favourite R&B songs and offers romantic advice for the women of Blackwell, helping them maintain their self-respect as they navigate the complexities of dating in a world awash with toxic masculinity.
“Now see, many people think ‘player’ as a gender-exclusive term. It’s a guy smooth with his tongue … in a couple of different ways. Don’t act shy, you know what I mean. This is a safe space, girls. Let your savagery unleash. We are red-blooded women and we have needs, okay? […] But allow me to ask a question, my sisters. If he is a player, are we games? Or are we consoles to be used to help a guy navigate his way to being a man? Our buttons being pressed, being turned this way and that for his progression? […] Aren’t you tired of mandem using your heart for sport?”
The inevitable spanner in the works comes when Kiki is in the process of applying for a prestigious and competitive summer school placement, and her advisor tells her she needs to expand her listener base, suggesting she team up with a promising new film student called Malakai Korede. Given that Malakai has barely arrived and already has ties to women in several of the Blackwell cliques, plus he’s incredibly good-looking, confident and personable, Kiki immediately concludes he’s insincere and self-serving, dubbing him the “Wasteman of Whitewell” on her radio show. Despite these slightly self-created conflicts, however, and a few misunderstandings along the way, sparks fly between them and they eventually agree to fake date while they’re collaborating on a film about campus romantic relationships with directly ties into a new segment on Kiki’s radio show called Gotta Hear Both Sides.
This is all a teeny bit contrived, but it does mostly make sense in context. I mean, I don’t think anyone would have given a fuck who I was dating at university, but the text establishes that the Blackwell students are forced into a kind of intense insularity with each other because of the hostility/cluelessness of the broader campus (there’s even a debate at one point over whether Black lives matter or if all lives matter). In any case, it’s character driving this book, not plot. The supporting cast, who are diverse not only in terms of racial background but in terms of sexuality and gender identity, are all well-articulated, even the ones who are only fleetingly on page, but particularly Kiki’s best (and at the start of the book, only) friend, Aminah.
Kiki and Malakai, though, steal the show. Malakai is a wonderful hero: sexy, funny, a touch arrogant, not perfect yet willing to answer for his mistakes, but also deeply and nerdishly earnest in a lot of ways, which provides such a welcome contrast to Kiki’s brittle cynicism. Kiki herself is my favourite kind of romance heroine: damaged, flawed, strong, complicated. She’s also kind of a slowburn heroine because we meet her sleeping with a man she doesn’t like precisely because she doesn’t like him and it takes about half the book to really know who she is and understand the forces and experiences that have shaped her. It is, however, an incredibly satisfying journey, especially because it parallels Kiki’s own journey not just to a romantic relationship with Malakai but to a better relationship with herself and the world in general.
I think the other thing this book did superlatively was capture the experience of being in your early twenties at university: that feeling of believing you understand everything, when you understand fuck all, of being sure you know who you are when, in fact, you’ve barely started. I don’t know how to say this without it sounding like a sideswipe, when it’s not at all, because Kiki and Malakai hovered on the borderline of obnoxious for me sometimes, but it was an extremely human, relatable, early-20s obnoxious. They’re both so convinced that they’re “not like” everyone around them and are, at once, alienated and encouraged by that conviction. Over the course of the book Kiki, in particular, learns that .. kind of everyone is both “like” and “not like” everyone else, and it’s really satisfying to see her connecting with her fellow Blackwallians, even the ones she doesn’t necessarily always see eye-to-eye with. It's a subtle maturation arc, one that still allows Kiki to shine as her acerbic outspoken self, and allows for a variety of relationships between women to flourish, including those between ride or die besties, adversaries turned allies, and even potential redemption for someone who wronged Kiki in the past.
Speaking of subtlety, something else I found refreshing and well-judged about the book was its tendency to eschew the bluntest possible story beats, especially when it comes to dealing with conflict and hardship in the lives of its characters. For example, while Kiki was growing up, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, went through quite a harrowing series of treatments, and eventually recovered: I really appreciated this arc because I can’t remember the last time I read a book that grappled with the trauma of growing up with an ill parent. I understand cancer is terrifying, and I’m not diminishing that at all, but it tends to get portrayed in a rather binary way in fiction – i.e., you either don’t have it, or you die from it. Similarly, while at school (and dealing with her mother’s illness), Kiki’s best friend’s boyfriend makes a pass at her. It doesn’t escalate beyond kissing and groping before Kiki manages to make him stop but it still has a tremendous impact both on Kiki’s relationship with her friend and her sense of self-worth, shaping her into the distant, locked-down, self-protecting person she is when we meet her at the beginning of the book.
It’s kind of hard to talk about this, without sounding crass, but I think it’s easy, in fiction as in life, to treat only the most extreme outcomes of particular situations as significant (cancer leads to death, sexual assault/harassment leads to rape) which in turn leaves people who undergo deeply hurtful experiences feeling as if those experiences don’t “count” or weren’t real. Basically, I just found the way Honey & Spice approached its heroine (and indeed its hero’s) pain really refreshing. It makes real space for the nuances of damage without feeling a need to exploit tragedy or reach for extremism. With Kiki, especially, we have a heroine who has been undeniably affected by what she’s been through, but at the same time she is never less than a whole and complex person, who is growing every day. Something that is supported by her developing relationship with Malakai -- which grows into a genuinely lovely romantic arc, full of sharp words, with a soft centre (and y'see, the title of the book is Honey & Spice).
Also bring me more earnest romance heroes please. It is a winning and too rare quality.
POINT IS, I adored this book and it needs to be a movie or a TV series, like, yesterday. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read something that captured the feeling of being in your early-20s—from its dramas, to its vulnerabilities, to its excitements and its infinite potential—so successfully, and with an eye at once kind but unflinching.
December 16, 2022
This was such a fun read!!!! I love Kiki so much!! Yes, she is annoying sometimes but honestly, she is still someone I would want to hang out with. She has a grim perspective of men and the dating world in general, and she makes many good points. After a while though, you do notice that she has taken a lot of these facts to an extreme and as we understand her more, we understand what the initiations of this are. I loved being on the journey with her as she grew and found a healthy balance between her values and opening up more. I also really liked her friends.
I couldn’t really connect well with Malakai but when a man nicknames you “scotch” because you’re “spicy,” you’ve got to fall in love. It’s mandatory. They were extremely adorable and the chemistry was indeed chemistrying. I found their relationship growth realistic but still enough fun to give us the “book romance” feel.
I loved how much I laughed throughout the book and enjoyed how easy it was to get through it. I think there were many things that were a bit cliche so I can’t claim this was a 5-star book but I would still highly recommend it.
I couldn’t really connect well with Malakai but when a man nicknames you “scotch” because you’re “spicy,” you’ve got to fall in love. It’s mandatory. They were extremely adorable and the chemistry was indeed chemistrying. I found their relationship growth realistic but still enough fun to give us the “book romance” feel.
I loved how much I laughed throughout the book and enjoyed how easy it was to get through it. I think there were many things that were a bit cliche so I can’t claim this was a 5-star book but I would still highly recommend it.
Read
July 26, 2022Absolutely delightful romance, exuberantly and elegantly written (which is a hard combo to pull off), actually funny, and full of longing and hope and all the wonderful things. Set in the tight knit Black community at a majority white university on the usual spectrum between well-meaning patronising cluelessness and overt racism.
The hero is purely delightful in every way, considerate, caring, listening, emotionally intelligent, but still not implausibly perfect. (The fact that this list of characteristics is close to implausible suggests how incredibly low we set the bar for men, and if you nodded at that you need to buy this book immediately.) The heroine is hurt and contradictory sometimes, but shaping herself to be a spectacular person. The relationship itself is very slow burn with delightful UST, but in parallel we see the heroine starting to make female friendships and the importance of that is absolutely equal to the relationship.
It's university-set so I suppose it could be YA/NA but it doesn't at all read that way. These feel like characters who ar young adults rather than YA characters, if that makes sense: the issues of trust and cliques and politics and bad men could all be played out by people in an office thirty years on. Which isn't to say these aren't convincing students: they really are, in their drama and earnestness. They're *people*.
One thing that seems important: this is very much a book about Black joy. Some bad things have happened to hero and heroine, but while acknowledging their seriousness, we're also well aware they could have been worse: that the heroine's mother survived her cancer, and the shitty men don't get their way, and when a lot of people have the opportunity to be horrible, they choose instead to be friends. That matters a great deal in the context of a publishing industry that all too often equates POC stories with "issues", and validates books by how much trauma and misery they inflict on the characters. Black joy is a political statement, and this book makes it loud and clear (but never glibly).
Delightful, heart-warming, very funny and engaging. A book that chooses to be a massive good time, and succeeds.
The hero is purely delightful in every way, considerate, caring, listening, emotionally intelligent, but still not implausibly perfect. (The fact that this list of characteristics is close to implausible suggests how incredibly low we set the bar for men, and if you nodded at that you need to buy this book immediately.) The heroine is hurt and contradictory sometimes, but shaping herself to be a spectacular person. The relationship itself is very slow burn with delightful UST, but in parallel we see the heroine starting to make female friendships and the importance of that is absolutely equal to the relationship.
It's university-set so I suppose it could be YA/NA but it doesn't at all read that way. These feel like characters who ar young adults rather than YA characters, if that makes sense: the issues of trust and cliques and politics and bad men could all be played out by people in an office thirty years on. Which isn't to say these aren't convincing students: they really are, in their drama and earnestness. They're *people*.
One thing that seems important: this is very much a book about Black joy. Some bad things have happened to hero and heroine, but while acknowledging their seriousness, we're also well aware they could have been worse: that the heroine's mother survived her cancer, and the shitty men don't get their way, and when a lot of people have the opportunity to be horrible, they choose instead to be friends. That matters a great deal in the context of a publishing industry that all too often equates POC stories with "issues", and validates books by how much trauma and misery they inflict on the characters. Black joy is a political statement, and this book makes it loud and clear (but never glibly).
Delightful, heart-warming, very funny and engaging. A book that chooses to be a massive good time, and succeeds.
July 12, 2022
This is probably a good book for a much younger audience. I’m too old for the language, antics and drama in this book. It’s a cute storyline, just not one for someone my age.
January 3, 2023
3.5 stars
User error! User error!
It’s my fault. When I borrowed the audiobook of Honey & Spice from my library, I didn’t notice that the protagonist is a college student.
And I’m not. I’m SO not a college student. I’m 20+ years away from those days, which is why I had some trouble connecting to Bolu Babalola’s debut.
Honey & Spice is a romance novel featuring one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. Kiki Banjo, a young Black British woman, attends Whitewell University where she is the host of her own campus radio show, Brown Sugar. After singling out and publicly denouncing Malakai Korede as “The Wasteman of Whitewell” to her listeners, she suddenly finds herself, out of necessity, in a bogus relationship with "The Wasteman" himself.
Like all good romance novels, there are sparks aplenty and challenging obstacles for Kiki and Malakai to overcome. Self-acceptance and self-forgiveness must be attained before they can move forward, either individually or together.
And even though I struggled in the beginning to engage with Kiki and her story, Babalola’s excellent writing, the incredible audio narration of Weruche Opia, and the depth of emotion underlying it all won me over. I found myself pulling for Kiki and Malakai all the way.
Babalola is a sharp and talented writer; I can see this irrespective of my lukewarm response to Honey & Spice. I still have every intention to read her short story collection, Love in Color, and if her next novel ventures out of the youngish romance genre, I will gladly pick it up. I’m curious to see what else she can do.
User error! User error!
It’s my fault. When I borrowed the audiobook of Honey & Spice from my library, I didn’t notice that the protagonist is a college student.
And I’m not. I’m SO not a college student. I’m 20+ years away from those days, which is why I had some trouble connecting to Bolu Babalola’s debut.
Honey & Spice is a romance novel featuring one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. Kiki Banjo, a young Black British woman, attends Whitewell University where she is the host of her own campus radio show, Brown Sugar. After singling out and publicly denouncing Malakai Korede as “The Wasteman of Whitewell” to her listeners, she suddenly finds herself, out of necessity, in a bogus relationship with "The Wasteman" himself.
Like all good romance novels, there are sparks aplenty and challenging obstacles for Kiki and Malakai to overcome. Self-acceptance and self-forgiveness must be attained before they can move forward, either individually or together.
And even though I struggled in the beginning to engage with Kiki and her story, Babalola’s excellent writing, the incredible audio narration of Weruche Opia, and the depth of emotion underlying it all won me over. I found myself pulling for Kiki and Malakai all the way.
Babalola is a sharp and talented writer; I can see this irrespective of my lukewarm response to Honey & Spice. I still have every intention to read her short story collection, Love in Color, and if her next novel ventures out of the youngish romance genre, I will gladly pick it up. I’m curious to see what else she can do.
February 8, 2023
I finally finished it.
I'm finally free.
The biggest plot twist of the book was actually me making it to the end without DNFing.
I'm finally free.
The biggest plot twist of the book was actually me making it to the end without DNFing.
September 15, 2022
1.5⭐️ All I have to say about this book is I REALLLLLY didn’t like it. I only gave it an extra .5 because I liked the nicknames. That’s it 😌
August 15, 2022
THAT ENDING THAT IS HOW YOU END A FUCKING BOOK
similar like at the SETTING level ONLY to dear white people (said in a complimentary way) this book is not comparable to a show that would end in a nonsensical musical season 😭 just in where it is set and the main character has a radio show
i really like kiki and kai together the banter was delicious
just corny enough to be delicious 🤷🏾♀️
he read her favorite book she said it once and he was on the SECOND book
not over the ending have i read a better public makeup before i don’t think so
4.5 !
similar like at the SETTING level ONLY to dear white people (said in a complimentary way) this book is not comparable to a show that would end in a nonsensical musical season 😭 just in where it is set and the main character has a radio show
i really like kiki and kai together the banter was delicious
just corny enough to be delicious 🤷🏾♀️
he read her favorite book she said it once and he was on the SECOND book
not over the ending have i read a better public makeup before i don’t think so
4.5 !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2024
･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 3.75/5 ★
This was a lot of fun!! 🥹🥹 I went in with no expectations & i enjoyed it sm more than I thought I would. A cute & fun romance that still had a lot of depth 💘💘
“Sometimes beautiful things get messy. Mess is okay.”
Tropes:
🍯 Fake dating
🍯 Girl who’s sworn off dating
🍯 College setting
🍯 Nigerian representation
The main reason i picked this up was bc of the cover (look how cute that is) but i’ve also been trying to make more of an effort to diversify my reading, especially in romance & fantasy. And i’m actually so good i gave this a try bc it is so good and also super underappreciated! 🫶🫶
I think what this book did especially well was having a balance between being cute & fun, while also tackling serious topics. A lot of Kiki and Malakai’s relationship was super cute and they had great banter, LOTS of tension and so many adorable moments. When malakai read Kiki’s fav book series so he could talk abt it with her?? And then dressed up as the love interest of the series and took her to a book convention where the author signed their books??? I WAS SCREAMING 😫😫🦋🦋 Plus Malakai calling Kiki ‘scotch’ was the cutest thing ever- nicknames are my kryptonite in books, they get me every single time 🫠🫠
However, there was a lot of talk about racism and assault, as well as a few other serious topics. I feel like the author tackled them very well, talking about them with care but also shedding a lot of light on them. The balance between the cutesy atmosphere and the serious topics was done perfectly imo ❤️
Characterwise, i really liked them! 🥰🥰 Not my fav characters ever, but i did feel connected to them by the end of it.
➵ Kiki: she was pretty good fmc! 🫶🫶 Was she a little annoying at times? … yeah. But i really enjoyed her personal journey throughout this book and i feel like she really grew as a people. Plus she was a badass- we love to see it 😌💅
➵ Malakai: ahhh i really liked him!! 🤭🤭 He was hot but also sweet & caring at the same time, and i loved it. All the small little things he did for kiki had me swooningg. When is it my turn?? 😩😩🦋🦋
➵ Aminah: she was such a good side character!! Her and kiki’s friendship was super wholesome ❤️🩹❤️🩹
➵ Zack: pls go die in a ditch thank u 🥰🥰
“My chest had grown a hook for him to hang his smile on whenever he came around.”
However, i did have a few issues. I do think this book was a little longer than it needed to be- like, a romance book with nearly 450 pages?? It was a bit much and i feel like if the beginning was shortened a bit, it would have felt better paced. Plus i think the reason for fake dating was a little wishy washy and it felt like it was just put in there bc it’s such a popular trope. And kiki felt so stupid at times- she was literally halfway to being in love with malakai and he was obviously in love with her, and she kept going “it’s all fake” like girl be so fr 🤨🤨
“You’re the only guy that’s ever held my hand without the intention of getting something from me. You just hold my hand to hold it. To hold me. Like you like doing it or something.”
“She's the truth to me. Clarity. The world is doable when she's near me.” ~ 🥹🥹
Overall, an unexpectedly enjoyable read! 🥹🥹🫶🫶 I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
✔️ Super cute romance
✔️ Talk about racism
✔️ super underhyped book!
✔️ Nigerian + other representation
I thoroughly enjoyed it 🎀
《 2024 Challenge: Book 31 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
Ahhh this was so unexpectedly good!! 🥹🥹 super wholesome romance, very important themes & a great love interest- I really enjoyed it 💓💓
Rtc! 🫶
This was a lot of fun!! 🥹🥹 I went in with no expectations & i enjoyed it sm more than I thought I would. A cute & fun romance that still had a lot of depth 💘💘
“Sometimes beautiful things get messy. Mess is okay.”
Tropes:
🍯 Fake dating
🍯 Girl who’s sworn off dating
🍯 College setting
🍯 Nigerian representation
The main reason i picked this up was bc of the cover (look how cute that is) but i’ve also been trying to make more of an effort to diversify my reading, especially in romance & fantasy. And i’m actually so good i gave this a try bc it is so good and also super underappreciated! 🫶🫶
I think what this book did especially well was having a balance between being cute & fun, while also tackling serious topics. A lot of Kiki and Malakai’s relationship was super cute and they had great banter, LOTS of tension and so many adorable moments. When malakai read Kiki’s fav book series so he could talk abt it with her?? And then dressed up as the love interest of the series and took her to a book convention where the author signed their books??? I WAS SCREAMING 😫😫🦋🦋 Plus Malakai calling Kiki ‘scotch’ was the cutest thing ever- nicknames are my kryptonite in books, they get me every single time 🫠🫠
However, there was a lot of talk about racism and assault, as well as a few other serious topics. I feel like the author tackled them very well, talking about them with care but also shedding a lot of light on them. The balance between the cutesy atmosphere and the serious topics was done perfectly imo ❤️
Characterwise, i really liked them! 🥰🥰 Not my fav characters ever, but i did feel connected to them by the end of it.
➵ Kiki: she was pretty good fmc! 🫶🫶 Was she a little annoying at times? … yeah. But i really enjoyed her personal journey throughout this book and i feel like she really grew as a people. Plus she was a badass- we love to see it 😌💅
➵ Malakai: ahhh i really liked him!! 🤭🤭 He was hot but also sweet & caring at the same time, and i loved it. All the small little things he did for kiki had me swooningg. When is it my turn?? 😩😩🦋🦋
➵ Aminah: she was such a good side character!! Her and kiki’s friendship was super wholesome ❤️🩹❤️🩹
➵ Zack: pls go die in a ditch thank u 🥰🥰
“My chest had grown a hook for him to hang his smile on whenever he came around.”
However, i did have a few issues. I do think this book was a little longer than it needed to be- like, a romance book with nearly 450 pages?? It was a bit much and i feel like if the beginning was shortened a bit, it would have felt better paced. Plus i think the reason for fake dating was a little wishy washy and it felt like it was just put in there bc it’s such a popular trope. And kiki felt so stupid at times- she was literally halfway to being in love with malakai and he was obviously in love with her, and she kept going “it’s all fake” like girl be so fr 🤨🤨
“You’re the only guy that’s ever held my hand without the intention of getting something from me. You just hold my hand to hold it. To hold me. Like you like doing it or something.”
“She's the truth to me. Clarity. The world is doable when she's near me.” ~ 🥹🥹
Overall, an unexpectedly enjoyable read! 🥹🥹🫶🫶 I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
✔️ Super cute romance
✔️ Talk about racism
✔️ super underhyped book!
✔️ Nigerian + other representation
I thoroughly enjoyed it 🎀
《 2024 Challenge: Book 31 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
Ahhh this was so unexpectedly good!! 🥹🥹 super wholesome romance, very important themes & a great love interest- I really enjoyed it 💓💓
Rtc! 🫶
April 5, 2023
This review and others @Bookerification
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love the warm, vibrant colour scheme, as it not only complements the beautiful illustration of Kiki but also makes the design eye-catching.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The lush writing style flows beautifully with rich analogies and witty humour. I especially loved the Afro-Caribbean and pop culture references, which made the narrative engaging and fun. Besides this, natural, well-written dialogues help propel the storyline forward and define the characters.
"The game will always be the game, but make sure you’re at least an equal player."
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite the slow start, I was soon invested in the delightful romance and college drama that emerged. Also, the radio show was a fun and clever element that reminded me of the show Dear White People. While I was irritated by the unnecessary romantic drama towards the end, this allowed for a satisfying ending with heart-warming confessions, so I found myself loving the story and characters more.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I initially struggled to connect with Kiki's character as she is haughty, effortlessly cool and obliviously beautiful. However, as she gradually opens up and faces her past, a delightfully witty and nerdy personality is revealed. This character development adds depth and complexity to Kiki's character as well as relatability.
"Your power is in your truth"
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Malakai is a sweet lead who effortlessly matches Kiki's energy and is given some depth through his experiences and family issues. Besides Malakai, Kiki's best friend Amina is the only other character who stands out due to her substantial role. Although the remaining characters have little depth, they are given defined roles that help bring the story together.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kiki's instant attraction to the mysterious and attractive Malakai develops into something substantial as they get to know and support each other. It soon became hard not to root for them, especially as their actions clearly showed their feelings for each other. On top of this, their natural, playful banter constantly made me laugh and made their connection adorable.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I initially struggled with the narration as Weruche Opia's voice seemed too mature for the narrative. However, as I settled into the story, this became less of an issue since Weruche does a great job conveying the emotions and personalities of the characters.
At the end of the day, I really enjoyed 'Honey & Spice' despite the shaky start. The storyline and characters proved to be much more complex and fun than I initially believed, making this one of my favourite contemporary romances. For another funny romance novel with the fake-dating trope, I would recommend The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love the warm, vibrant colour scheme, as it not only complements the beautiful illustration of Kiki but also makes the design eye-catching.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The lush writing style flows beautifully with rich analogies and witty humour. I especially loved the Afro-Caribbean and pop culture references, which made the narrative engaging and fun. Besides this, natural, well-written dialogues help propel the storyline forward and define the characters.
"The game will always be the game, but make sure you’re at least an equal player."
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite the slow start, I was soon invested in the delightful romance and college drama that emerged. Also, the radio show was a fun and clever element that reminded me of the show Dear White People. While I was irritated by the unnecessary romantic drama towards the end, this allowed for a satisfying ending with heart-warming confessions, so I found myself loving the story and characters more.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I initially struggled to connect with Kiki's character as she is haughty, effortlessly cool and obliviously beautiful. However, as she gradually opens up and faces her past, a delightfully witty and nerdy personality is revealed. This character development adds depth and complexity to Kiki's character as well as relatability.
"Your power is in your truth"
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Malakai is a sweet lead who effortlessly matches Kiki's energy and is given some depth through his experiences and family issues. Besides Malakai, Kiki's best friend Amina is the only other character who stands out due to her substantial role. Although the remaining characters have little depth, they are given defined roles that help bring the story together.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kiki's instant attraction to the mysterious and attractive Malakai develops into something substantial as they get to know and support each other. It soon became hard not to root for them, especially as their actions clearly showed their feelings for each other. On top of this, their natural, playful banter constantly made me laugh and made their connection adorable.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I initially struggled with the narration as Weruche Opia's voice seemed too mature for the narrative. However, as I settled into the story, this became less of an issue since Weruche does a great job conveying the emotions and personalities of the characters.
At the end of the day, I really enjoyed 'Honey & Spice' despite the shaky start. The storyline and characters proved to be much more complex and fun than I initially believed, making this one of my favourite contemporary romances. For another funny romance novel with the fake-dating trope, I would recommend The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.
March 29, 2023
The book was well-written with witty dialogues. My reservation however, was the classical ‘enemies-to-lovers’ set up. For some reason this storyline has become tiresome for me.
June 23, 2022
I got an advanced copy of this book and was so excited after reading the synopsis. I DNF’d around 40%. I just could not get into this book. Slow, slow, slow, slow plot. Teen drama in a college setting. Just too juvenile for me to get into.
February 3, 2025
4.5★s
This at times read like a love island episode(it might just be all the british slang tbf, not sure yet) and at other times it read as a classic romcom. All I know is that I need to see this as a movie at some point in my lifetime. Let’s cancel the fourth wing adaptations idc, I’d much more prefer seeing this.
✧“That. That’s what I mean by you being an assassin. Have you seen your fucking smile? You can make a man do anything with that shit. You’re a straight-up villain.”✧
What I am trying to say is that this was very dramatic. Was I entertained? For sure. Kiki has the best one liners, comebacks and attitude…but she was also at times self destructive.
I fell in love with how this love came to be. From their very first interaction you could tell there was chemistry - they just got each other. How they grew that into a deep friendship built on trust, vulnerability and honesty? Absolutely stunning.
✧“My smile had had enough of being trapped and spilled out, wide and brazen and messy, dripping everywhere. It soaked through my clothes and into my skin.”✧
Two distrusting, lonely people not only finding each other but also the joy for life again made my heart feel warm, my eyes teary and made me want to live in this book forever. There were some chapters and parts I couldn’t help but read over and over again just in hopes that I can commit that feeling to memory.
✧“I didn’t think horoscopes were my thing but his eyes really looked like stars and I suddenly wanted to be an astrologer, to learn how to read them as they flashed at me.”✧
The writing is funny, whimsical, romantic. Combining this with two headstrong leads, in a university town in Great Britain. Focusing on a black community, the politics, the injustices, the fights.
2025 I have committed myself to read more diversely, because every time I do I get to fall in love with new characters, add new perspectives and learn. It’s what I love about reading, and I do think it’s important especially at times like this, finding the compassion and empathy for one another - even if it’s through a “silly little love story”. If you have any recommendations for me, please let me know.
✧“And I figured… that’s why people do it right? Be vulnerable and shit. Because they want to be close to the person who makes it worth it. It’s about connecting with someone who makes you want to try. And she made—makes me want to try.”✧
______________
°. *࿐pre-read:
aaaa ok I am finally picking this up, i've heard such amazing things🤭🧡
This at times read like a love island episode(it might just be all the british slang tbf, not sure yet) and at other times it read as a classic romcom. All I know is that I need to see this as a movie at some point in my lifetime. Let’s cancel the fourth wing adaptations idc, I’d much more prefer seeing this.
✧“That. That’s what I mean by you being an assassin. Have you seen your fucking smile? You can make a man do anything with that shit. You’re a straight-up villain.”✧
What I am trying to say is that this was very dramatic. Was I entertained? For sure. Kiki has the best one liners, comebacks and attitude…but she was also at times self destructive.
I fell in love with how this love came to be. From their very first interaction you could tell there was chemistry - they just got each other. How they grew that into a deep friendship built on trust, vulnerability and honesty? Absolutely stunning.
✧“My smile had had enough of being trapped and spilled out, wide and brazen and messy, dripping everywhere. It soaked through my clothes and into my skin.”✧
Two distrusting, lonely people not only finding each other but also the joy for life again made my heart feel warm, my eyes teary and made me want to live in this book forever. There were some chapters and parts I couldn’t help but read over and over again just in hopes that I can commit that feeling to memory.
✧“I didn’t think horoscopes were my thing but his eyes really looked like stars and I suddenly wanted to be an astrologer, to learn how to read them as they flashed at me.”✧
The writing is funny, whimsical, romantic. Combining this with two headstrong leads, in a university town in Great Britain. Focusing on a black community, the politics, the injustices, the fights.
2025 I have committed myself to read more diversely, because every time I do I get to fall in love with new characters, add new perspectives and learn. It’s what I love about reading, and I do think it’s important especially at times like this, finding the compassion and empathy for one another - even if it’s through a “silly little love story”. If you have any recommendations for me, please let me know.
✧“And I figured… that’s why people do it right? Be vulnerable and shit. Because they want to be close to the person who makes it worth it. It’s about connecting with someone who makes you want to try. And she made—makes me want to try.”✧
______________
°. *࿐pre-read:
aaaa ok I am finally picking this up, i've heard such amazing things🤭🧡
February 2, 2023
Super cute book! I loved the all-Black cast and the determination of our main character, Kiki. I also enjoyed reading about her romance with Kai, its fire, ups and downs, and ultimately satisfying ending. I think this book’s genre and I didn’t match well; I wanted a bit more depth from the characters apart from the romance, though it’s a romance novel so I can’t really blame it for that. I also found the writing style occasionally clunky. I definitely agree with Bolu Babalola’s intent and mission in writing this novel though and appreciate her care for her characters.
December 2, 2022
4.75☆ — so where can i find a malakai korede who read kikiola’s all time favorite sci-fi fantasy book series, gives her all of his reactions raving about it, and continues to do even more than just that despite the fake relationship pact! honestly honey & spice was subjectively the most perfect college set romcom i have ever read with ambitious personalities clashing, the fake dating pact aspect, their clever banter, the amount of tension that had me hooked, cliché college societies and gossipy drama, along with women empowerment and going deeper on navigating feelings versus protecting one’s heart. this story had my favorite aspect of layered characters in romances with backstories explaining some of the choices and going about messy feelings they don’t know what to do with. kikiola was a character i could deeply understand but some of her moments overthinking and embarrassing herself were just so funny because of how relatable she is! kiki and malakai truly had me reading with the biggest grin on my face. the most enjoyable reading experience, i loved it so much my hopeless romantic heart may have shed a tear or two at the end. in my personal opinion definitely sets a standard in its own, within the new adult college romance contemporary genre.
January 2, 2023
I was reeled in by the fake dating trope, but was unsure how much I would enjoy reading this book at the beginning. The more I read, the more I was reminded of the show 'Dear White People.' There were so many similarities! Honestly, I almost DNF'ed it, but I'm glad I kept going. The characters began to become more of their "own" opposed to bad 'Dear White People' clones, and the book started to become a cute, new-adult story. The pace of the book was great, and I think the author did a great job of tying things up in the end. The characters were relatable, and the author had them deal with real issues that typically arise in a college environment, especially as Black students. I really enjoyed the sense of community the author built with the characters she created. Focusing on African Caribbean culture throughout the entire book was awesome. Overall, it was a cute story and kept me intrigued for the most part. By the time I finished the book I wanted a part two!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 13, 2022
You don't necessarily have to love a book in order to find value in it. I got off to a sluggish start with Honey & Spice but eventually was able to see the bright spots. I wouldn't say the ship was completely righted but I'm glad I stuck with the book.
University student Kiki Banjo is the host of a radio show called Brown Sugar. She dispenses relationship advice so the women at her school can avoid getting their hearts broken. But Kiki has a bit of an oops moment when she denounces a guy named Malakai only to then go on and kiss him in front of a crowd. In order to save both their reps they go the fake dating route. Kiki isn't one to give up her heart so I'm sure nothing will come out this "phony" relationship, right?
It took a long time for me to find a decent reading groove. At first I thought maybe I'm finally too old for these contemporary romances featuring characters half my age. But I actually think it was the writing style that was the problem for me. Now before I go any further, it is obvious Bolu Babalola is a smart, thoughtful writer. Just because I didn't always click with her writing doesn't mean anything. Some sentences were just overly descriptive to the point it took me out for a bit as my brain hurried to process what I just read. I'd describe it as a disjointed reading experience but again I'm speaking for myself. She's a talented writer and judging by the many positive reviews, I'm more of the odd man out in this situation.
Now, there was a lightbulb moment for me and that's when the characters started talking about a famous scene from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. From there on out I was much more invested in the characters. Such a minor thing but it's what saved the book for me. And that's what is neat about reading, each reader can pull something different from a book.
I guess you could say I liked the final destination even if the trip got off to a bumpy start.
Thank you Avon Romance for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
University student Kiki Banjo is the host of a radio show called Brown Sugar. She dispenses relationship advice so the women at her school can avoid getting their hearts broken. But Kiki has a bit of an oops moment when she denounces a guy named Malakai only to then go on and kiss him in front of a crowd. In order to save both their reps they go the fake dating route. Kiki isn't one to give up her heart so I'm sure nothing will come out this "phony" relationship, right?
It took a long time for me to find a decent reading groove. At first I thought maybe I'm finally too old for these contemporary romances featuring characters half my age. But I actually think it was the writing style that was the problem for me. Now before I go any further, it is obvious Bolu Babalola is a smart, thoughtful writer. Just because I didn't always click with her writing doesn't mean anything. Some sentences were just overly descriptive to the point it took me out for a bit as my brain hurried to process what I just read. I'd describe it as a disjointed reading experience but again I'm speaking for myself. She's a talented writer and judging by the many positive reviews, I'm more of the odd man out in this situation.
Now, there was a lightbulb moment for me and that's when the characters started talking about a famous scene from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. From there on out I was much more invested in the characters. Such a minor thing but it's what saved the book for me. And that's what is neat about reading, each reader can pull something different from a book.
I guess you could say I liked the final destination even if the trip got off to a bumpy start.
Thank you Avon Romance for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
February 29, 2024
4.5! The chemistry and banter was phenomenal - loved the writing, and the audiobook was also great💓
October 3, 2022
It took me a lot longer to listen to this than I thought, and that's not necessarily because I wasn't enjoying it. I definitely was... which is why I'm okay over looking some issues I had here.
I am going to come out and say that the ending is the weakest part of this book. I'm not quite sure why this book is clocking in at under 400 pages. I'm assuming because of the central romance and the imprint we were trying to market this as a romance, and so those tend to be on the breezier side of life. As it was trying to fit itself into the romance box we had to wrap up that thread, and in doing so the book just felt claustrophobic as we entered the last 10 percent or so. I started to dread hitting play both because I knew my time with these characters would soon be over, but also that whatever happened was going to come across as rushed an I fear that I was right.
Now there have been rumblings of another book in this world, mayhaps even a sequel. I haven't tried to substantiate any of that for myself, but I know that I would love to see more of these characters and to get a glimpse at what they'd be up to next.
What really sold this book for me was the caliber of the writing. Ngl you could probably get me to read Babalola's grocery list and I'd have a good time.
There's something about the way the characters were crafted that they felt three dimensional, and that extended to the tertiary level side characters. It's hard enough getting friends in books to come across as real people so Babalola was really out here running laps around the girlies.
When you add on the fact that book feels very commercially, something that could easily be adapted the screen? Like Babalola was out here checking off all the boxes.
I haven't read too many romances this year, but this one pulled me in immediately and has me intrigued for me. I know that Babalola has a collection of stories out already, but as a debut novel it doesn't get much more promising than this.
I am going to come out and say that the ending is the weakest part of this book. I'm not quite sure why this book is clocking in at under 400 pages. I'm assuming because of the central romance and the imprint we were trying to market this as a romance, and so those tend to be on the breezier side of life. As it was trying to fit itself into the romance box we had to wrap up that thread, and in doing so the book just felt claustrophobic as we entered the last 10 percent or so. I started to dread hitting play both because I knew my time with these characters would soon be over, but also that whatever happened was going to come across as rushed an I fear that I was right.
Now there have been rumblings of another book in this world, mayhaps even a sequel. I haven't tried to substantiate any of that for myself, but I know that I would love to see more of these characters and to get a glimpse at what they'd be up to next.
What really sold this book for me was the caliber of the writing. Ngl you could probably get me to read Babalola's grocery list and I'd have a good time.
There's something about the way the characters were crafted that they felt three dimensional, and that extended to the tertiary level side characters. It's hard enough getting friends in books to come across as real people so Babalola was really out here running laps around the girlies.
When you add on the fact that book feels very commercially, something that could easily be adapted the screen? Like Babalola was out here checking off all the boxes.
I haven't read too many romances this year, but this one pulled me in immediately and has me intrigued for me. I know that Babalola has a collection of stories out already, but as a debut novel it doesn't get much more promising than this.
August 22, 2022
There are many things I liked about this read…but just as many I disliked. Loved the feminists vibe but it’s just overwhelmingly long!! I don’t think the fake dating trope started into 35-40%. Once they started it was a cute love story but dragged on and on.-
I feel liked an editor should have tightened this one up and it would have been perfect.
I also don’t care for Dear White People and this has the same feel.
I feel liked an editor should have tightened this one up and it would have been perfect.
I also don’t care for Dear White People and this has the same feel.
December 22, 2023
Wow what a great book! Loved the black British culture embedded in this story. Kiki & Malakai have my heart, I loved the scenes of them together, I found myself laughing with them.
The story itself was probably 4 stars to me because the uni setting and school drama this book focuses on I don’t relate to or enjoy anymore at my over 25 age😆
However the characters easily brought it up to a 5 star read for me. I will look back on this book fondly and recommend everyone to read it especially as a black brit🙌🏾
The story itself was probably 4 stars to me because the uni setting and school drama this book focuses on I don’t relate to or enjoy anymore at my over 25 age😆
However the characters easily brought it up to a 5 star read for me. I will look back on this book fondly and recommend everyone to read it especially as a black brit🙌🏾
May 24, 2023
Video discussion/vlog: https://youtu.be/G2MbTclUBHI
New adult college romance between a smart and snarky heroine and the too-perfect guy who just might be her match. This feels almost like it's drawing on The Taming of the Shrew, but updated and feminist. It's fun and nuanced, discussing the ins and outs of young relationships, consent, pleasure, vulnerability, and feminism. All while following two British-Nigerian university students slowly falling for each other. There's some great banter and I overall enjoyed this even if I feel a little too old to fully love it. It feels very fresh and I think a lot of readers will be into it. Great audio narration though! I received an audio review copy of this book from Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.
New adult college romance between a smart and snarky heroine and the too-perfect guy who just might be her match. This feels almost like it's drawing on The Taming of the Shrew, but updated and feminist. It's fun and nuanced, discussing the ins and outs of young relationships, consent, pleasure, vulnerability, and feminism. All while following two British-Nigerian university students slowly falling for each other. There's some great banter and I overall enjoyed this even if I feel a little too old to fully love it. It feels very fresh and I think a lot of readers will be into it. Great audio narration though! I received an audio review copy of this book from Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.
March 5, 2023
3.5
does this book place on current day like 2021 or 2022? if so why do these characters who are college age have the cultural references 30 year old? and y'all know fake dating is my ick
does this book place on current day like 2021 or 2022? if so why do these characters who are college age have the cultural references 30 year old? and y'all know fake dating is my ick
April 16, 2023
This is my second book by Bolu Babalola, I read Love in Colour and while I didn't enjoy it I did see a lot of promise from the author. Added to that, I love her twitter and tik tok presence so when I got a full novel from her, I could not wait to read it.
Honestly, this read like a YA novel. The characters do not behave as if they are in university. The novel was entirely too long with secondary plots that didnt contribute to the plot. The friend from high school... what was that even about. If you love romance, I would say go for it, but expect it to read like a YA.
Honestly, this read like a YA novel. The characters do not behave as if they are in university. The novel was entirely too long with secondary plots that didnt contribute to the plot. The friend from high school... what was that even about. If you love romance, I would say go for it, but expect it to read like a YA.
August 27, 2022
“She's the truth to me. Clarity. The world is doable when she is near me.” 💖
I- I don’t even think I have all the right words to describe how much I LOVED THIS BOOK. The way Bolu Babalola writes is absolutely fantastic! The Nigerian culture representation truly made my heart so warm. I felt like I was reading about a part of myself that I wanted to connect with more.
And the romance!!?!? oh my goodness y’all the romance was so passionate and real and beautiful!!!✨
Malakai and Kiki have such an intense connection that is filled with so much love and honesty. They are so patient and kind with one another. I am an emotional wreck right now because this book made me feel all of the feelings!!🥹
This is the book I plan on making my future mans read because if he doesn’t treat me like how Malakai treats Kiki…I don’t want it!
And y’all the steamy moments between them had me giggling like crazy oh my gosh it was everything!😜
Also every single character was phenomenally written and the connection of sisterhood and overall friendship was such a key point and an amazing part of the story. This is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read…and I’m not being dramatic!! lol I will be thinking about this book for a long time!
So yes, of course I highly recommend reading this book it was spectacularly written and gave me every ounce of serotonin that I needed, truly! I love this book!
"Scotch, thank you. It's the second-best gift I've ever got."
"Second? You shitting me? What's the first?"
"You." ❤️🍯🌶
I- I don’t even think I have all the right words to describe how much I LOVED THIS BOOK. The way Bolu Babalola writes is absolutely fantastic! The Nigerian culture representation truly made my heart so warm. I felt like I was reading about a part of myself that I wanted to connect with more.
And the romance!!?!? oh my goodness y’all the romance was so passionate and real and beautiful!!!✨
Malakai and Kiki have such an intense connection that is filled with so much love and honesty. They are so patient and kind with one another. I am an emotional wreck right now because this book made me feel all of the feelings!!🥹
This is the book I plan on making my future mans read because if he doesn’t treat me like how Malakai treats Kiki…I don’t want it!
And y’all the steamy moments between them had me giggling like crazy oh my gosh it was everything!😜
Also every single character was phenomenally written and the connection of sisterhood and overall friendship was such a key point and an amazing part of the story. This is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read…and I’m not being dramatic!! lol I will be thinking about this book for a long time!
So yes, of course I highly recommend reading this book it was spectacularly written and gave me every ounce of serotonin that I needed, truly! I love this book!
"Scotch, thank you. It's the second-best gift I've ever got."
"Second? You shitting me? What's the first?"
"You." ❤️🍯🌶
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