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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Outing, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
narbine's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 for a type of book I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards! (romance) But too many Beyoncé references lol just seemed shoe-horned in at times tho I understand the author loves Beyoncé and so did the main character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual content
rachaelm13's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
What a lovely book! It was so enjoyable but real at the same time. I love that in romance books because yes a fluffy romance is good sometimes but it just isn’t real. Also really like the female main character, in a lot of romance books I find them kind of annoying or really fake sounding.
Yes people you might have to look up some of the slang/terminology in this book if you aren’t Nigerian or from the UK, get over it, its enriching and allows you to read this fantastic book!
I saw this book recommended a few times and put it on my tbr, then kimmybooks said that the main characters’ communication was so good and it went to the top of my tbr haha sign me up baby we love emotionally mature humans. This book was so well done i didnt even mind that there wasnt really any spicy scenes. I genuinely was rooting for the characters and the love and care was palpable. I do think the time frame of 2 months was maybe short but i feel like lots of romances have similar short timelines.
Also loved how it was set in university/college age instead of working adult age. Loved the characters’ involvement on campus and in the community it really emphasizes how important community is. Also the focus on female friendships was amazing, although maybe a little rushed with the new friendships later in the book.
Loved the growth of Kiki and what she went through I think is similar to what many young adult women go through in the transitional stage from high school to post secondary, found her really relatable. I wish we had a bit more of Malakai’s struggles fleshed out I feel like it was kinda dropped in with his dad and they wasn’t a ton of growth or change there.
Loved the representation and the setting of this book and the celebration of black characters, if you want to read a book about a black girl winning and being loved on read this!
Yes people you might have to look up some of the slang/terminology in this book if you aren’t Nigerian or from the UK, get over it, its enriching and allows you to read this fantastic book!
I saw this book recommended a few times and put it on my tbr, then kimmybooks said that the main characters’ communication was so good and it went to the top of my tbr haha sign me up baby we love emotionally mature humans. This book was so well done i didnt even mind that there wasnt really any spicy scenes. I genuinely was rooting for the characters and the love and care was palpable. I do think the time frame of 2 months was maybe short but i feel like lots of romances have similar short timelines.
Also loved how it was set in university/college age instead of working adult age. Loved the characters’ involvement on campus and in the community it really emphasizes how important community is. Also the focus on female friendships was amazing, although maybe a little rushed with the new friendships later in the book.
Loved the growth of Kiki and what she went through I think is similar to what many young adult women go through in the transitional stage from high school to post secondary, found her really relatable. I wish we had a bit more of Malakai’s struggles fleshed out I feel like it was kinda dropped in with his dad and they wasn’t a ton of growth or change there.
Loved the representation and the setting of this book and the celebration of black characters, if you want to read a book about a black girl winning and being loved on read this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
emfass's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Withholding further thoughts until HarperCollins reaches an agreement with the union.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual assault, Bullying, Police brutality, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Cultural appropriation
cady_sass's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Took quite a while to get going but once the story finds its groove you can’t put it down! For the first time in my life I think I’ll say that the audiobook is the way to read this- I probably would’ve DNFed this because I was having a hard time reading it and engaging with the characters and lexicon (British/Nigerian) but the narrator does a FANTASTIC job.
My only critique of this is that I think it should’ve been YA, which is a weird thing to say but hear me out: there are only two spicy scenes, one is literally the first paragraph of the first chapter and the other places a heavy focus around “being ready” for it. I think tone it down like 2 notches and you could expand your audience! The characters are so young and dealing with complex trauma from their adolescence, while trying to navigate love and the college experience. Smart, well-crafted, and the perfect blend of sweet and spicy (hey, like the title!). I definitely recommend, I think if you’re in your late teens-early twenties this could be a 5 star read for you.
My only critique of this is that I think it should’ve been YA, which is a weird thing to say but hear me out: there are only two spicy scenes, one is literally the first paragraph of the first chapter and the other places a heavy focus around “being ready” for it. I think tone it down like 2 notches and you could expand your audience! The characters are so young and dealing with complex trauma from their adolescence, while trying to navigate love and the college experience. Smart, well-crafted, and the perfect blend of sweet and spicy (hey, like the title!). I definitely recommend, I think if you’re in your late teens-early twenties this could be a 5 star read for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Sexism, Misogyny, and Racism
jencolumb0's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A surprisingly meaty coming-of-age book about relationships, love, and finding oneself. I love (love, love) Babalola's use of language. She has an absolutely phenomenal talent for packing detail and nuance into a single sentence without it spanning pages. I also love her broad and varied cultural references. Know that those two things (appropriately, given Kiki Banjo's character) conspire to move the reader through this work at Babalola's pace, not theirs. It took me a bit to catch on to that reality so, after the initial exhilaration around how she crafts a sentence died down, it was a little bit of a struggle to find the pacing of the book. I got there, though, and it was a worthwhile effort.
Also know that she does some unpacking of patriarchal gaslighting, the use of revenge porn, and related abusive relationship tactics. These subjects are taken on with such astute care and compassion that it was healing and not triggering, but those with particularly recent experiences with those things may prefer knowing that it's a topic discussed in this novel. There's also a bit about parental infidelity, in case someone needs a heads up about that.
Also know that she does some unpacking of patriarchal gaslighting, the use of revenge porn, and related abusive relationship tactics. These subjects are taken on with such astute care and compassion that it was healing and not triggering, but those with particularly recent experiences with those things may prefer knowing that it's a topic discussed in this novel. There's also a bit about parental infidelity, in case someone needs a heads up about that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Racism
Minor: Cancer
kayladaila's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
aparizo704's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There is a part of me that wishes I read a book like this in my college years. The growing pains of life and overall character development of Babalola’s power couple, Scotch and Kai, is inspiringly reflective and honest about the hard truths and persistent effort it takes to become a better person each day. Honey and Spice breezily immerses the reader into an emotional vulnerability boot camp and “How To” guide on holding yourself - and others - accountable to show up as the best version of yourselves.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Alcohol, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
amandalorianxo's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a cute romance intertwined with female friendships and empowering one’s self. The 🥵🌶️ was towards the end ish but steamy 😏 I loved the banter and the way they knew they were flawed but trying to work through their trauma in a somewhat healthy way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol and Medical trauma