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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
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:
Yes
a dense but enjoyable romance that i forgot to track until 2025 whoops! but i enjoyed kiki and malakai's dynamic, as well as kiki and her best friend. i usually don't like romance novels (they have such a predictable structure) but this one stood out to me
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:
Complicated
Can I give it 6? Listening to “when we get by” as I write that this my favorite read of the year! So beautifully written and relevant. I needed this poignant black love story so missing in today’s literature. More please. Is there a sequel, a movie? I need more.
girl obviously you guys were in love from the second you met. no need for this fake dating bs.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
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
Bolu Babalola’s Honey & Spice follows Kikiola Banjo, reserved host of university radio show Brown Sugar, who aims to protect her listeners from heartbreak but, in order to land a summer internship in New York, needs to find a new angle for her show. The new angle presents itself as Malakai, new student at Whitewell university who likes dating but is against relationships, and only really cares about getting his film-making career up and running. A fake relationship in exchange for some help with the show Kiki hosts and the film Malakai’s making is all they need, or so they think. I genuinely think all of the characters are loveable. Bolu writes in a way that makes you perfectly understand Kiki, but I also felt like Malakai was relatable, and Aminah, Kofi, Chioma, Shanti, and Simi were all brilliant side characters. My least favourite character was Zack. We all know one of them. I recommend this book because I’ve been obsessed with Bolu’s writing since Love in Colour (literally have a tattoo inspired by that book) but this story was so refreshing. As well as being romantic, it was also so fun, modern, relatable, political, and such a good embodiment of the culture that’s present throughout the story. ‘What if the butterflies flew too close to the edge of my stomach, so he could see the imprints of their wings pressed up against my skin?’
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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