e-ALC, 13:55:53
Narrated by: Weruche Opla
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Published by: HarperCollins
Read from: August 31- September 2, 2025
Honey & Spice, #2
Source: Netgalley (I received a free ALC from the publisher and Netgalley. This did nothing to influence my review)
Content Warning: Sexual Content, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Grief, Death of a Parent, Racism, Alcohol, Infidelity
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary Romance, DEAR, Sparkly Covers, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Adult, Tear JerkersThree years after their break-up, Kiki’s worked hard to forget her first love. But just as she thinks she’s got her life under control—jumping into the distractions of her romance-by-calendar-invite boyfriend, and plans for her best friend, Aminah’s, wedding—Kiki’s career implodes, the family business teeters on collapse, and Malakai returns. As Malakai takes up his role as best man opposite her maid of honour, suddenly Kiki can think of nothing but their simmering chemistry, what went wrong, and why it is now impossible to act normal around each other.
Juggling a new job, the prospect of her parents’ restaurant being sold, and keeping her best friend from going full bridezilla, dealing with The Ex is the last thing she needs. But somehow the spark between them is only getting hotter—and threatening to ruin everything.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This one I knew was going to be a hot for me. I normally don’t love second chance romance, but I knew that they belonged together from book one, so I had to know what happened to break them up and how they got back together in this one. And I’m glad I stayed around. This was a roller coaster and had me in all my feels, but it was so good!
OK so the first thing I think about when I see this one is the romance. They had such a great relationship that I just could not wrap my head around the reason for them needing a second chance. I thought I had heard wrong when I saw the trope map for this one. But as it turns out, I could see why they needed it. If I tell you this was the most realistic book I’ve read in a long time. And they were the cutest. The way they were trying to deny that they still loved each other was literally Oscar worthy. I gotta say, Kiki stood on business for the most part, but I understand why you got weak in the knees girlie lol
The feels in the book almost put me out of commission. I don’t know how to explain to someone who doesn’t read a feeling like this. This book made me laugh, cry, and I even got mad at something too. This is always a sign that I loved a book, but it’s also funny too Lol Because what do you mean this is a relaxing hobby and you’ve got tears rolling down your face? But yeah, I felt more in this one than I did in the first one. This book is honestly better than the first one because they’re more mature, and their love is more mature.
The characters were most definitely more mature. Kiki was not having the BS from him. She knew what she deserved and she asked for it. She wouldn’t take anything less. Even after what was going on. And I admire her for that. And the way they were able to take that job? Yeah, they’re 1000% better than me because I could never. I don’t think I’d be able to do anything like that with my exes. Especially since they were so close too? Lordt that stressed me out just reading about it so ain’t no way I would have been ok with it happening in real life. And the way she did all of this withouth snapping on ANYONE? (Because let me tell you…. The other ex, the bestie, and Malakai would have all gotten cussed out and walked away from lol I don’t need that kind of drama.
This was such an amazing read, I went back and read some places over again. I really hope to see more from Babalola. I hope it’s more in this series. Even if it’s not for Kiki and Malakai. I would still love to see more in this universe. Because that epilogue?! It wasn’t enough!
Overall, I give this
