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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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Abandonment
slut shaming, non-consensual photos / revenge porn, blackmail, police harassmentrebekahg876'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Cancer and Toxic friendship
shector1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
Wow wow wow I knew this book was going to be amazing before picking it up but once I started reading I just knew this was the book of the year! This needs to be adapted into a movie immediately. This romance has so much heart. I’m obsessed with Kiki- she is tough but sweet a well balanced fleshed out character who anyone can relate to. And what can I say about Malakai? The man had be falling in love right alongside Kiki. Truly the entire friend group is the best. Highly highly recommend everyone to run, don’t walk, to your local bookstore/library and pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Out now! [Thank you so much to Libro.fm and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Kiki Banjo is a college student and the host of a radio show where she discusses relationships and how to avoid heartbreak. But when she is unexpectedly thrust into a fake relationship with Malakai Korede, who she has just dubbed the “Wasteman of Whitewell,” Kiki is about to learn that opening your heart and overcoming your past may just be worth the effort it takes.
I went into this one off the recommendation of a friend but with no specific expectations, and I absolutely adored it.
The audiobook is a masterclass in audiobooks—well acted, well paced, and with brilliant audio touches to add realism (i.e. making phone calls sound like phone calls), so I would absolutely recommend audio as the best format for this one.
As to the book itself, this is a classic college rom-com in all the best ways—it’s witty, charming, and utterly adorable, and I am head over heels for the leading man, Malakai, while also wanting to be best friends with Kiki and her girl group. The plot was moderately predictable, but was also refreshingly deep. Rather than feeling childish or overblown, the issues the main characters had to work through were real and painful and I loved watching them find healing and come into their own.
Finally, I will always love a book that is unapologetically feminist, which this one is, and a book that features Black joy and Black culture (in this case British-Nigerian culture specifically) is even better.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse feminist rom-coms; well-acted audiobooks; sunshine-y male leads who will melt your heart.
CW: Cancer/illness of a parent; discussions of sexual assault/harassment; racism; misogyny/sexism; discussion of off-page incident of police brutality.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Kiki Banjo is a college student and the host of a radio show where she discusses relationships and how to avoid heartbreak. But when she is unexpectedly thrust into a fake relationship with Malakai Korede, who she has just dubbed the “Wasteman of Whitewell,” Kiki is about to learn that opening your heart and overcoming your past may just be worth the effort it takes.
I went into this one off the recommendation of a friend but with no specific expectations, and I absolutely adored it.
The audiobook is a masterclass in audiobooks—well acted, well paced, and with brilliant audio touches to add realism (i.e. making phone calls sound like phone calls), so I would absolutely recommend audio as the best format for this one.
As to the book itself, this is a classic college rom-com in all the best ways—it’s witty, charming, and utterly adorable, and I am head over heels for the leading man, Malakai, while also wanting to be best friends with Kiki and her girl group. The plot was moderately predictable, but was also refreshingly deep. Rather than feeling childish or overblown, the issues the main characters had to work through were real and painful and I loved watching them find healing and come into their own.
Finally, I will always love a book that is unapologetically feminist, which this one is, and a book that features Black joy and Black culture (in this case British-Nigerian culture specifically) is even better.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse feminist rom-coms; well-acted audiobooks; sunshine-y male leads who will melt your heart.
CW: Cancer/illness of a parent; discussions of sexual assault/harassment; racism; misogyny/sexism; discussion of off-page incident of police brutality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
toffishay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
A really awesome, fun, funny, and emotional new adult romance. The characters are so funny and honest and real. I love the romance and the fake dating trope has a special place in my heart. There is also a really powerful message of community and female friendship that I enjoyed. It always makes a romance book more dynamic and multifaceted when there is a lot of depth to the other relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship
churrosmom's review against another edition
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
This book is so much fun! This romance follows Kiki, a British Nigerian university student who runs a radio show giving advice about relationships and f*ckboys to Black women at the university. She concocts a fake dating scheme with the new "wasteman" in town, Malakai. The banter (between the couple and between friends) is impeccable, the friendships are so well done, and the Blackwell (the university's Afro Caribbean Society) world the author created is so vibrant. Every character was so well fleshed out and came to life off the page. I really hope the author follows up with sequels following some of the other women from Blackwell!
For people who don't like pop culture references in books, there are a LOT in this one, but I didn't mind them at all.
Disclaimer: I received a Netgalley eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For people who don't like pop culture references in books, there are a LOT in this one, but I didn't mind them at all.
Disclaimer: I received a Netgalley eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer and Violence
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