I am not generally a fan of short stories as a format (I read too fast and I’m too greedy for more) but I loved Bolu Babalola’s collection Love in Colour so much that I have read it multiple times. When I found out she was writing a novel I was so excited, and Honey & Spice absolutely exceeded all my expectations.

First of all, the way Bolu writes is a dream. Kiki’s voice is warm, wry, funny, vulnerable. Through her, every scene, every character is utterly real, completely compelling. There’s something luxurious and chatty about this book - it’s just somewhere you want to spend time.

The romance between Kiki and Malakai is absolutely perfect. The chemistry! The tension! The sparring! The way they are both full, flawed people bringing their own insecurities and histories to the relationship, and muddling through things together. I really appreciated the tender way their romance was expressed - the late night phone call about her favourite books just killed me. It felt like there was a real investment in modelling healthy, life-enhancing relationships without being didactic or heavy handed about it.

I loved the 00’s rom-com vibes, the familiar tropes (fake relationship a personal fave), the little When-Harry-Met-Sally vignettes of the different couples they were interviewing for their film. All of these feelings added to the warmth and familiarity of the book - it’s such a comfort read even when it’s asking tough questions. Also, it is BEGGING to be made into a TV show. It felt like it was all already there - the snappy dialogue, the rich settings, the clothes, the music… it’s such a crisp, visual novel.

I think the thing I loved about this book the most, though is that the friendships are not a secondary storyline, they ARE the storyline. While I’m a sucker for romance and that was handled beautifully, the parts of this book that had me tearing up were the parts about Kiki’s friendships, old and new. This is a gorgeous, stand-out rom-com, but it is first of all a book about love in all its forms, and the way it celebrates sisterhood and the family you choose will stay with me for a long time.

This book just kept getting better and better as I read it.
I adored Love in Colour, it was such a well crafted collection and having read the authors acknowledgements, it makes complete sense that Honey & Spice was actually Babalola's 'firstborn' because it takes the absolute best elements of her short story collection and extends them into her debut novel.
Honey & Spice follows Kikiola Banjo, an incredibly talented radio show host and student at Whitehall University. She's the creator of FreakyFridayz, a club night for the Blackwell community. It's at one of these nights out that Zach, who Kiki has been hooking up with but recently dumped, approaches her in his typical cocky manner and makes her feel truly uncomfortable. In an effort to reinforce the fact that they are OVER, she kisses newbie to the uni, the gorgeous Malakai. It's meant to just be meaningless snog but it's definitely SOMETHING, and when they realise that fake dating could have some major benefits for both of them, they hatch a plan.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure it was for me but a few other reviews mentioned that it improved and I trusted the brain behind Love in Colour so I carried on going and I'm so glad I did.
I loved Kiki and Malakai and the development of their relationship, they had both been burned before and had different but equally difficult childhoods. This added dimension to their characters and meant that the conflict worked well.

The positive female friendships made me smile and the way they worked together to take down the 'Wasteman of Whitehall' was heartwarming but also an effective commentary on misogyny on university campuses.

My absolute favourite element of the book was Kiki's friend and producer, Aminah and her relationship with DJ and music producer, Kofi who's utterly besotted with Kiki's bestie. I would read an entire book just about them.

One of the other fantastic things about this book was the constant references to music, I listened to all of the songs mentioned and they made an incredible soundtrack to my reading.

It's a 4.5 star read for me and I would recommend this to fans of the fake dating trope.

I did really enjoy this book once I got into it, it did take me a short while.

The characters were well developed, the plot unique and I loved the University aspect of it.

Short chapters which I love, easy enough to follow, picture the characters and I also love the title/cover of the book!

This is a book to look out for and an author who’s work I’d love to read more of!

I love a book where all the protagonists are loveable. Honey & Spice gives DRAMA and mess and good food and tunes and romantic friendship and straightening your crown and shutting down shit. Also, Babalola deals very tenderly with the difference between what you think you see and what is actually going down. Everyone is challenged to consider their assumptions and no one is worse off for it.

For other people working in unis, this is an undergraduate drama and I had funny moments of relating profoundly with the mains while knowing I’m closest to the lecturer who challenges people to give their best answers in seminars 😂💀

Delicious. Funny. Sexy. Honey & Spice reminds us how much love and friendship are intertwined