e-Audio, 12:00:27
Narrated by: Weruche Opia
Release Date: June 5, 2022
Published by: HarperAudio
Read from: June 14-18, 2022
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Drinking, Sexual Harassment, Misogyny, Racism,
For Readers Interested In: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Celebrity Book Club, AdultIntroducing 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 & Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue that will make you weak at the knees.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Usually I’m leery of books that are celebrity book club picks. But I was actually sent an ARC of this one before I knew it was, so I decided to give it a chance. And Lordt this is going to be cliche, but I’m so glad I did! The way this book had me hooked, y’all I hope y’all don’t immediately write this off like I almost did.
This realistic fiction romance was heavy on the realistic fiction. Like it seemed so freaking real. It was so believable. I got lost in the book and found myself listening to it every chance I got. I remember being so into it that I was telling my husband about it. No he didn’t care about it at all, but I cared enough to tell him about it. And that’s how I knew it was. This book really sucked me into the words and I didn’t come up for air until it was over.
The romance was also super cute. I was legit leery of him at first. Like I didn’t want to like him because of what he did in the beginning. I was like “Umm are we really making this the love interest?” But the more we got to know him, I felt so much better about him. And the more I felt better about him, the more I was swooning lol And can we talk about that time when there was a date to a book signing and there is cosplay involved?! Y’ALL I WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD. lmao The most he’s ever done is dropped me off for one. This seems small, but Lordt to a booknerd like me I felt like this was so romantic lol But overall, their relationship felt really authentic; the way they fell for each other and they way they fought and just everything.
I did feel like there was a lot going on in it though. There is some race discussion, the feminism, the romance, the sexual assault. Usually that would draw me even deeper into a book, but it felt like she never went really in-depth into any of those tough subjects? I don’t know, maybe I’m explaining it wrong, but I just felt like it was never a real focus. Like they were the background? I don’t know. I guess I just wanted more. But when you put it altogether, it worked, so I guess I can’t be too upset.
The characters were like my favorite part. I LOVED the womance/friend dynamic between Kiki and the other girls. And the friendship that her and Malakai had (before they turned into what they were) and the protectiveness he had for her. I ate it up! It was so cute! I did want to know more about her bestie tho. I know there’s a sequel featuring Kiki and Malakai again, but what about her bestie? Especially after Kiki read her in that one scene lol I need to know if she took her advice!
This narrator was great too. She gave great inflections and it was easy to tell the difference between all the characters. And she made me laugh because she knew the exact right times to sound certain ways. Like the way her voice changed when Kiki was upset or crying. The way she sounded when she was happy. And the way she sounded when she was going off on people. Definitely a plus in having an #OwnVoices narrator. They get things that people might not think about right. And those things matter to the people these books are meant for.
This book was a wild ride that I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next. We’ll have to wait tho…. The sequel won’t be out until 2024. Until then I’ll just wonder what the hell either of them did for them to need to be in a situation where there is a second chance involved.
Overall, I give this,
