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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.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
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
nenaveenstra's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Infidelity
madscientistcat'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
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs, Infidelity, and Cancer
katiemack'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
4.25
This reads very New Adult, obviously, but it’s more than worth a read even if you’re not twenty years old.
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
viwilliams's review
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs
bxcvi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship
abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Cultural appropriation
blkbookbae'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
5.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, and Racial slurs