Bolu Babalola’s debut novel Honey & Spice arrives like a perfectly seasoned dish that satisfies every craving you didn’t know you had. Following the success of her acclaimed short story collection Love in Color, Babalola serves up a contemporary romance that’s both achingly familiar and refreshingly revolutionary. This isn’t just another fake-dating romance—it’s a vibrant celebration of Black British identity wrapped in the most delectable enemies-to-lovers packaging.
The Story That Captivates
Kikiola “Kiki” Banjo has built her reputation as the Queen of the Unbothered, hosting the popular campus radio show Brown Sugar where she warns the women of Whitewell University’s African-Caribbean Society about situationships and heartbreak. Her mission is clear: protect the girls from getting their hearts scattered by smooth-talking players. But when she publicly denounces Malakai Korede as one of the “Wastemen of Whitewell” only to kiss him at the very same party, her carefully constructed world threatens to crumble.
What follows is a deliciously complicated fake relationship designed to salvage both their reputations. Kiki needs to save her show and secure her spot in a prestigious summer program, while Malakai requires her collaboration for his documentary project. Neither expects their arrangement to evolve into something real, something that challenges everything they thought they knew about love and themselves.
Characters That Leap Off the Page
Babalola’s greatest triumph lies in crafting characters who feel authentically flawed and beautifully human. Kiki Banjo is a masterclass in complex characterization—sharp-tongued yet vulnerable, fiercely protective yet deeply afraid of her own capacity for heartbreak. Her internal monologue crackles with wit and wisdom, making every page a joy to devour.
Key character strengths:
- Kiki’s protective instincts stem from genuine trauma, not manufactured drama
- Malakai’s “player” reputation masks deeper insecurities about following in his father’s footsteps
- Supporting characters like Aminah and Dr. Miller provide authentic friendship dynamics
- The diversity of the Black student experience is portrayed with nuance and respect
The romance between Kiki and Malakai builds with the patience of a slow-cooked stew, each layer of their relationship adding depth and flavor. Malakai’s transformation from perceived wasteman to devoted boyfriend who dresses as Niyo from Kiki’s favorite fantasy series is both swoon-worthy and character-driven.
A Cultural Tapestry Rich with Meaning
Perhaps what sets Honey & Spice apart most dramatically is Bolu Babalola’s seamless weaving of African diaspora culture throughout the narrative. The frequent Yoruba phrases, references to Jollof Wars, and the fictional Reign of Ifekonia fantasy series create a world where Black culture isn’t othered or explained for white consumption—it simply exists, vibrant and unapologetic.
The university setting of Whitewell perfectly captures the experience of being a minority within an institution that barely acknowledges your existence while expecting you to be grateful for the opportunity. Babalola’s portrayal of microaggressions and the pressure to represent your entire community rings devastatingly true.
Writing Style That Sings and Stings
Babalola writes with the confidence of someone who knows exactly whose story she’s telling and why it matters. Her prose slides between laugh-out-loud humor and gut-punching emotional honesty with the ease of a seasoned performer. The dialogue sparkles with authenticity—these characters speak like real people, not romance novel archetypes.
The incorporation of social media, radio show transcripts, and campus news updates adds contemporary relevance without feeling gimmicky. When Zack’s revenge plot unfolds through leaked photos and viral campus gossip, the digital-age humiliation feels both timely and terrifying.
The Spice: Where the Novel Stumbles
While Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola delivers on most of its promises, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues that prevent it from achieving perfection. The middle section, where Kiki and Malakai navigate their fake relationship, sometimes feels repetitive as they cycle through the same emotional beats without significant progression.
Areas for improvement:
- The subplot involving Zack’s political campaign feels underdeveloped
- Some supporting characters could use more dimensional development
- The resolution of Kiki’s trauma around her past betrayal feels slightly rushed
- Certain plot conveniences strain believability
Additionally, while Babalola’s cultural references enrich the narrative, they occasionally overshadow character development. The extensive discussion of The Reign of Ifekonia series, while charming, sometimes reads more like worldbuilding for a different book entirely.
Themes That Resonate
Beneath its romantic exterior, Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola grapples with weighty themes that elevate it beyond simple escapism. The novel explores how past trauma shapes our capacity for trust, the pressure to be perfect representatives of our communities, and the courage required to be vulnerable in a world that punishes Black women for showing weakness.
Kiki’s journey from self-appointed protector to someone willing to risk her own heart is particularly compelling. Her radio show serves as both armor and authenticity—she genuinely wants to help other women while using their stories to avoid confronting her own emotional needs.
The Series Potential and Literary Lineage
As the first book in what’s positioned as the Honey & Spice series by Bolu Babalola, this debut successfully establishes a world ripe for exploration. While information about the anticipated sequel Sweet Heat remains limited, Babalola has created secondary characters intriguing enough to carry their own romantic journeys.
The novel stands confidently alongside contemporary romance juggernauts while carving out its own distinctive space. Readers who enjoyed Christina Lauren’s beach reads or Kennedy Ryan’s emotionally complex romances will find much to love here, though Babalola’s voice remains uniquely her own.
The Verdict: A Delectable Debut
Honey & Spice succeeds brilliantly as both a romance novel and a cultural statement. Babalola proves that Black love stories can be sweet without sacrificing complexity, contemporary without losing timeless appeal. While not without its flaws—particularly in pacing and subplot development—the novel’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.
This is a book that understands that protection and vulnerability aren’t opposing forces but complementary ones. That sometimes the person you’re running from is exactly the person you need to run toward. And that love, like the perfect plantain, requires just the right amount of heat to reach its full potential.
For readers seeking romance that celebrates rather than tokenizes Black experiences, Honey & Spice delivers exactly what its title promises—sweetness and heat in perfect proportion.
Books to Read Next
If Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola left you craving more culturally rich contemporary romance:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry (for enemies-to-lovers dynamics)
- Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (for fake relationship tropes)
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (for diverse British romance)
- Love in Color by Bolu Babalola (the author’s stunning short story collection)
- The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory (for contemporary romance with depth)
Final words: A deliciously satisfying read that establishes Bolu Babalola as a major voice in contemporary romance
