Spice: A Novel (Fate)

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The lush writing style flows beautifully with rich analogies and witty humour. I especially loved the Afro-Caribbean and pop culture references, which made the narrative engaging and fun. Besides this, natural, well-written dialogues help propel the storyline forward and define the characters.

Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author. If you’re into feisty heroines and charming anti-heroes with alpha-male vibes, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this one 😉 I love the warm, vibrant colour scheme, as it not only complements the beautiful illustration of Kiki but also makes the design eye-catching. The hero is purely delightful in every way, considerate, caring, listening, emotionally intelligent, but still not implausibly perfect. (The fact that this list of characteristics is close to implausible suggests how incredibly low we set the bar for men, and if you nodded at that you need to buy this book immediately.) The heroine is hurt and contradictory sometimes, but shaping herself to be a spectacular person. The relationship itself is very slow burn with delightful UST, but in parallel we see the heroine starting to make female friendships and the importance of that is absolutely equal to the relationship. Initially I could not get into this story, I would put it in the YA category and contemporary romance. There are predictable parts it but lots of funny parts. I enjoyed Bolu Babalola’s writing think this is a wonderful debut novelDespite the slow start, I was soon invested in the delightful romance and college drama that emerged. Also, the radio show was a fun and clever element that reminded me of the show Dear White People. While I was irritated by the unnecessary romantic drama towards the end, this allowed for a satisfying ending with heart-warming confessions, so I found myself loving the story and characters more. Well, there you have it! Five spicy books that will add some serious heat to your book collection. These reads are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and your heart racing. Go ahead and treat yourself to a little indulgence— you deserve it! Don’t forget to let us know which spicy book was your favorite in the comments 💭

And I’m not. I’m SO not a college student. I’m 20+ years away from those days, which is why I had some trouble connecting to Bolu Babalola’s debut.To summarize this book, Kiki who is "different" from the rest of the other girls, doesn't do love, doesn't make friends, is super smart and also has a radio show teaching girls in her college on getting rid of men and situationships, falls in love with Malakai who is "oh so handsome and different from every other boy" because he's not the type of lousy player every other guy is. He's a player but not like other players. Malakai is a sweet lead who effortlessly matches Kiki's energy and is given some depth through his experiences and family issues. Besides Malakai, Kiki's best friend Amina is the only other character who stands out due to her substantial role. Although the remaining characters have little depth, they are given defined roles that help bring the story together. I initially struggled with the narration as Weruche Opia's voice seemed too mature for the narrative. However, as I settled into the story, this became less of an issue since Weruche does a great job conveying the emotions and personalities of the characters.

On the other hand, Troy Brennan is painted as this layered and dangerous hero, oozing with sexy appeal. The interaction between Troy and Sparrow is seriously entertaining, and their relationship develops naturally—there’s no insta-lust or insta-love, which we enjoy.It’s kind of hard to talk about this, without sounding crass, but I think it’s easy, in fiction as in life, to treat only the most extreme outcomes of particular situations as significant (cancer leads to death, sexual assault/harassment leads to rape) which in turn leaves people who undergo deeply hurtful experiences feeling as if those experiences don’t “count” or weren’t real. Basically, I just found the way Honey & Spice approached its heroine (and indeed its hero’s) pain really refreshing. It makes real space for the nuances of damage without feeling a need to exploit tragedy or reach for extremism. With Kiki, especially, we have a heroine who has been undeniably affected by what she’s been through, but at the same time she is never less than a whole and complex person, who is growing every day. Something that is supported by her developing relationship with Malakai -- which grows into a genuinely lovely romantic arc, full of sharp words, with a soft centre (and y'see, the title of the book is Honey & Spice). And y’all the steamy moments between them had me giggling like crazy oh my gosh it was everything!😜

So when she meets a handsome new student Malakai she is puzzled why he has such an affect on her. She digs deep and ignores it. It’s my fault. When I borrowed the audiobook of Honey & Spice from my library, I didn’t notice that the protagonist is a college student. Looking for more bookish content to devour? We’ve got you covered! Whether you’re trying to get out of a reading slump or looking to up your reading game, don’t forget about Bloo, your own personal reading assistant, who will help you out. So, keep exploring, and happy reading! It took me a lot longer to listen to this than I thought, and that's not necessarily because I wasn't enjoying it. I definitely was... which is why I'm okay over looking some issues I had here. This is an actual excerpt from the book. We are reminded everytime that Kiki and her friend are Nigerians in the abroad.The plot centers around Troy Brennan, a feared and downright cruel guy in Boston with a seriously dark past, and Sparrow Raynes, a woman who’s essentially forced into marrying him. At first glance, Sparrow seems like your average woman, but as the story unfolds, you get to see this whole other side to her—tough and super smart. And even though I struggled in the beginning to engage with Kiki and her story, Babalola’s excellent writing, the incredible audio narration of Weruche Opia, and the depth of emotion underlying it all won me over. I found myself pulling for Kiki and Malakai all the way. Romance was a waste of time, a form of manipulation utilised by boys who didn't wash their bed sheets regularly. It existed sure, but I wasn't surrounded by anyone I believed engaged in it properly, with respect for the object of their affection, rather than a thirst to claim; a triumph of acquisition, rather than a triumph of winning affection.”