A review by just_one_more_paige
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

 
This was an ALC from Libro.fm a few months ago that I maybe wouldn't have gotten to quite as quickly otherwise. But sometime during these cold January weeks, the heat from this cover really spoke to me, and I decided to give it a go. 
 
Kiki Banjo knows from experience that boys can ruin everything, so she is intent on getting through her university years without getting involved. She's focused on her radio show, Brown Sugar, that is going to help her into the future opportunities she wants, as well as put all her knowledge in avoiding players and heartbreak to good use, sharing it out to her community of women to protect them as well. But when a public interaction with the newest "wasteman" at Whitewell University, Malakai Korede, threatens her reputation, as well as the popularity of her show (putting her place in a prestigious summer program in jeopardy), Kiki has to do some quick thinking to save it all. It turns out, she and Malakai both have projects (her radio show and his videography) that could mutually benefit, so they hatch a plan to grow listenership/viewership by fake dating and using that relationship as a collaboration theme for their projects. As Kiki and Malakai spend time together, learn about each other, and realize they have some really natural rapport, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake...even if they keep trying to deny it. 
 
This was a really strangely juvenile-feeling new adult/university-aged romance. Like, all the dialogue and plot points were mature enough (as far as being right for college), but the hang ups related to cliques and everyone knowing and being all up in everyone else's lives/relationships (and caring about it all so deeply), felt really high school to me. I mean, maybe Whitewell is a small university, so knowing everyone is more possible, but I feel like, in my experience, everyone did not know (or at least know about) everyone like this. But yea, while I feel like this should have read like a new adult read, it just had a really YA vibe to it, for me. Otherwise, like I said the dialogue (or monologue, in reference to Kiki's voice in her radio show and internally), was snappy AF, in a great way. Kiki's observations of people and the wordplay and allusions she uses throughout are spectacular: smart, snappy, lit. And her dialogue with her friends, but especially with Malakai, was gorgeously quick, snarky and had fantastic multi-layered meaning. That writing was the highlight of this reading experience for me. 
 
Looking a little more at the story, it was solid, if nothing special, as far as fake-dating romance goes. As usual, one of the two in the relationship was more into it from the beginning, so waiting til the other person figured out that it was real is...the exact kind of tension you would expect. However, as that wait was happening, I have to say that I really liked watching the friendship of the relationship between Kiki and Malakai grow. Seeing them each start to open up to each other in a more platonic way was refreshing, and a great message/precedent regarding the importance of having social connection and people to confide in. There was a moment of profound vulnerability about two thirds of the way through the novel that was relatable and well-written-real without having to go overboard with the drama to manipulate it into feeling more intense. It was lovely to watch Kiki come out from behind the walls she built for her own emotional safety to make social/emotional connections and come into her own in her greater community as well. While I felt like some parts of that side-plot were sort of forced into the overall book, as opposed to fitting as smoothly as they could have, I could see the thought and intent that was there and appreciated that. 
 
A couple last notes. There was some pretty strong commentary of the power of gossip and social judgement, the way it crushed Kiki once, and almost twice, that I felt like was well placed and, especially in this age of internet/cyber-bullying, quite timely. I see how it made Kiki as closed off and jaded as she was, and also it was a great example of how having a strong community is one of the best resources for fighting through something like that. It may not seem like a big deal to older readers, but in adolescent and young adult realities (a group I work with closely), it really is that affecting. Also, like, I know romances need this "third act drama" as part of the formula, and the rift that happens here makes sense based on their personal baggage and stuff...but this finale was challenge-filled enough to keep interest and bring things to a head without what felt like a little bit of a forced breakup. I understand a fight, because tensions and stress are high, but that would have been enough, in my opinion. But also, this is always my least favorite aspect of most traditional romances, I tend to feel like it's overdone/forced more often than not, so take that commentary with a grain of salt, I guess. 
 
If you want sharp, astute writing, with some solid social commentary about relationships, I definitely recommend this romance. Be prepared for a slightly more youthful perspective than you might expect from college-aged protagonists, but with some real emotional depth to back it up. It was light on steam, because the MCs wanted it that way, and I respected their communication and respect for each other on that point. It also gave a lot of space for a deep interpersonal relationship of similarities, banter, and support to grow as well (not that those cannot happen simultaneously, but it's nice to see those aspects highlighted on their own sometimes). Overall, this was for sure an enjoyable read, if not a new favorite.  
 
 
“…I’d been walking around like I’d swallowed a star: fiery, celestial, delightfully volatile, and beaming everywhere.” 
 
“So this is what I know. I know what it feels like when I get the perfect shot. When the light hits a certain way, and someone's expression is the perfect display of emotion. It feels like you've hit on something sacred. That's how I feel when I look at her. She's the perfect shot. And the perfect shot isn't about being flawless, it's about the truth. She's the truth to me. Clarity.” 
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