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A review by chelsaat
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
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
"The game will always be the game, but make sure you're at least an equal player."
At an elite British University, Kiki runs a popular radio show geared towards her fellow Black women on campus, talking about how to stand up for themselves in the confusing uni dating scene. Malakai is the hot new player on campus. Can a fake relationship between the two of them help bolster both their reputations?
I liked this a lot! It definitely had some “Dear White People” vibes, with its sharp commentary on what it’s like to be part of a small contingent of Black students at a majority-white university. There’s a lot of lingo that I as a white American had to look up, and the plot slowed down a bit in the middle, but at the end of the day it didn’t matter. I ended up connecting with these characters’ rich inner lives quite a bit and really enjoyed spending time in Kiki’s head.
And this book is FUNNY. Bolu has always been one of my favorite Twitter follows, and I loved her collection of short stories. I’m really happy her debut novel was just as sharp and witty as I was expecting. The romance was hot and the banter was spicy. A perfect summer read.
Also, when I can read The Reign of Ifekonia??
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At an elite British University, Kiki runs a popular radio show geared towards her fellow Black women on campus, talking about how to stand up for themselves in the confusing uni dating scene. Malakai is the hot new player on campus. Can a fake relationship between the two of them help bolster both their reputations?
I liked this a lot! It definitely had some “Dear White People” vibes, with its sharp commentary on what it’s like to be part of a small contingent of Black students at a majority-white university. There’s a lot of lingo that I as a white American had to look up, and the plot slowed down a bit in the middle, but at the end of the day it didn’t matter. I ended up connecting with these characters’ rich inner lives quite a bit and really enjoyed spending time in Kiki’s head.
And this book is FUNNY. Bolu has always been one of my favorite Twitter follows, and I loved her collection of short stories. I’m really happy her debut novel was just as sharp and witty as I was expecting. The romance was hot and the banter was spicy. A perfect summer read.
Also, when I can read The Reign of Ifekonia??
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer