Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

25 reviews

brie_is_reading's review against another edition

funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

cady_sass's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Sexism, Misogyny, and Racism

samone2's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

kayladaila's review against another edition

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

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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

shaipanda's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely LOVEDDDD this omgggg - 100% a 5 star read and honestly definitely one of my top romances of the year if not of all time?? I don’t even know how to explain everything was so so good in this but just everything was ughh fucking perfectttt - especiallyyyy the chemistry between the main couple(s) 

the only small issues I had with this were that I thought it was slightly weird to just drop the conclusion of the storyline with Rianne in the middle and then never really address it much again? I appreciated why the storyline was there but also I thought the way it was done was slightly stilted. The other thing was I didn’t love that there was a 3rd act break up in this cause I just don’t love those anyways but I did appreciate that at least it was done pretty well

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Racism

Minor: Toxic friendship and Cancer

aparizo704's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Alcohol, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

yolie's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

4.75

I loved this book and enjoyed reading it. Babalola really brings you into the world of the Blackwellians (the unofficial name for the Black student population at the Whitewell University in England).
Kiki is a fantastic protagonist, from her witty remarks and insight into life on the campus to the growth her character undergoes once she loosens control, you’re rooting for her the whole way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Police brutality

Minor: Stalking

blkbookbae's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

this was everything

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, and Racial slurs

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Not gonna lie — it took several chapters and an embarrassing number of Google searches for this white, small-town, Gen X American to get the vibe of this one, but it was ultimately worth the effort. If I weren't so old and out of touch, I'm sure I would've enjoyed it even more. As-is, here's what I loved:

• a strong, complex, nuanced main character
• one of the best book boyfriends I've ever read in recent memory
• sizzling banter and gorgeous prose
• so much sister solidarity and friend support
• Afro-Caribbean, specifically Nigerian Londoner, voices centered and supported with beautifully cast context
• a couple of squee-worthy, next-level, book-nerd gestures that were absolute perfection

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Cursing, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abandonment, Cancer, and Infidelity

slut shaming, non-consensual photos / revenge porn, blackmail, police harassment

rebekahg876's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Misogyny

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Cancer and Toxic friendship