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strawb3rrysugar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really, really liked this book. I'd read another romance book on a whim earlier this year and thought that would be the most I'd enjoy a romance novel for the rest of the year (I like the genre, but I'm very picky about what kind of romance I want to read). The characters are well-developed, the banter is witty and smart, the spicy scenes are genuinely spicy without coming across as cringeworthy, and Malakai is a very sweet, funny love interest who takes genuine interest in Kiki and her goals/interests.
If that alone doesn't convince you to read this book, I will also add that Babalola portrays Kiki's relationship anxiety and struggles with avoiding difficult memories and emotions extremely well. It feels very real and accurate to what it's like to experience that kind of anxiety in real life. And this story can get intensely emotional at some points - I had this audiobook on while doing some at-home work, and I found myself getting teary-eyed all of a sudden over a tense scene in the second act.
In short, if you want a fun and well-written romance, I highly, highly recommend Honey and Spice.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs, Classism, Police brutality, Misogyny, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny and Hate crime
Sexual content for this book is moderate - descriptive, but not graphic. Plenty of conversations about sex and many innuendos, most of them pretty lighthearted. There are many conversations about classism, racism, and sexism concerning Whitewell University. Some mentions of non-black people using the N-word (or trying to substitute it). Malakai recalls a past police confrontation that gets intense, but an older man intervenes to help him. In a flashback, Kiki is almost taken advantage of by her ex-friend's boyfriend while she's drunk. It isn't greatly detailed, but could still be upsetting. Kiki mentions that her mother was sick while she was in high school and how it affected her life. Her mom is still alive in the story, though not a major character.nyquillll's review against another edition
- 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
I appreciate this book for the way it opened up my world just a bit more and for the rawness of university life in England, the dynamics of navigating social circles and sussing out who you can trust, the strange experience of meeting people you just instantly click with who operate on the same frequency as you, the importance of female friendships and building each other up, the significance of seeing someone who looks like you in positions of power and authority to know you can take up that space too, learning when to play it safe and when to take risks, being brave enough to confront misconceptions and break down preconceived notions we have of those around us and how we are perceived by them, how manipulative people can be and the harm it has on multiple people, the importance of owning up to your mistakes and taking accountability, and how beautiful a relationship can be when it's founded on a solid friendship, open communication, and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
Also just screaming at the gentle moments of love being expressed throughout the book,
Graphic: Bullying and Misogyny
Moderate: Gaslighting and Classism
Minor: Toxic friendship
Quotes I highlighted:shaynicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
dylan_tomorrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical content, Racial slurs, Classism, Abandonment, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Violence and Bullying
gellyreads's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Misogyny
daenerystargaryen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Cancer, and Mental illness
gerlinen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
jcnstntn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny and Racism
temi1008's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Racism
Minor: Toxic friendship, Cancer, and Infidelity
kaitlinlovesbooks's review
- 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
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Police brutality