This second-chance romance takes a little while to get going, but the emotional payoff is worth it. The early chapters focus heavily on Kiki’s current life, which slows the pace, but once Malakai enters, the story comes alive.

Their chemistry is compelling, and the gradual unpacking of their past is both heartfelt and believable.

The emotional climax is raw and satisfying, making the slow build feel earned. Even without reading the first book, it works well as a standalone.

A touching, slightly spicy read with real depth—perfect for fans of slow-burn romance.

Sweet Heat is a steamy, intelligently written romance that will have you hooked once you start reading. Funky, sexy likeable characters and I was rooting for Kiki and Kai from the off. I just couldn’t stop reading!

I don’t know what it is about Bolu’s writing but I just love it, her tone is humorous but also handles the more serious topics so well! I loved Honey & Spice, and I love a second chance romance. Whilst it gutted me to see Kiki and Malakai be split up at the beginning I loved seeing their resolution. One thing I love is the depth of the characters (and even the besties) and overall a really fun book! Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

I'm going to be totally honest this book took me some time to get into, I never read the first one and didn't realise it was part of a series, I figured it out half way though, but you don't need to read the first one to understand this one. the reason it took me so long to get into it was because I didn't understand all of the main characters inner ramblings, at first I didn't think they were necessary but by the end of it I could see that they were so necessary they made up the story and made it believable.

by the time I had got half way through this story I loved it and was thoroughly enjoying it. the chemistry between the two main characters was electric I was routing for them from the beginning and really wanted them to have their happy ending, I was biting at the bit to find out what happened next with them and loved everything about them. I think the fact that they ended up working together helped them to work out their differences.

the wedding of the two best friends was really well written an I'm glad that they were able to do it the way they wanted I don't think they would of been happy if they did it the way their parents wanted it.

this is the first time I have read anything by this author and I am telling you that it won't be the last I loved her writing style and if I was asked to recommend a book it would be this one.

the only complaint I have about this whole book is that you never find out who M is I would of loved to know who's pool Kiki and Kia had taken a dip in at that famous party, yes he said it was him but I really don't believe it 😀

Thanks to @netgalley, the author and publishers for the ARC.

I didn't know that this book was a sequel, so I constantly felt as though I was always a step behind throughout. That being said, this was a lovely book to read. It was wholesome, it was sad, it was spicy, full of tension, all things a good romance should be!
This is a second chance romance trope as its best & I think I'll now need to go back & read the first book, Honey & Spice.

The angst and grief and tension and heartbreak and longing I felt while reading this was overwhelming but I loved it. This book is a masterpiece. Undoubtedly one of the best books of 2025, of any genre.

The moment Kiki and kai see eachother again had me dowwwwwn. And this was only one of the moments that had me wanting to re-read,highlight and grip hold of that romantic read feeling forever.
This book was solid gold.
I felt for Kiki so much. Learning of her life now and her romance had me wanting better for her already.
We are getting to know Kiki. But I think we GET TO KNOW her when Kai re enters her life. There chemistry and connection was impossible to ignore and reading thus book brought me so much readers joy simply from how these two are. And I needed them to have a HEA! I was almost anxious to read on incase they didn't.
Becuase these two carry alot from the past. But this only add more depth to them.
And our pair were clearly in love. But oh those fears they have to get over just made it all the more page turning. I had a few moments of doing what I never do and contemplating looking to the end because I couldn't bear to NOT know if they were OK. I didn't. But I almost did, ha.
What comes from this book is so much heart hitting heart writing and storytelling. This was a next level book for me and if I could afford it would be a must by and keep forever book.

Review: Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

What struck me instantly while reading Sweet Heat was this: Bolu has grown. Her writing has evolved. And so have her characters. From the very first chapter, I could feel the maturity radiating from the page.

Reading this book reminded me of the huge gap between who you are at 21 and who you become at 31. Honey & Spice had this juicy, young-adult energy that captured the uncertainty and chaos of early love. But Sweet Heat brings a quiet power: an exploration of what it means to love deeply, with context, with experience, and with intention. It’s a love that comes with history, healing, and self-knowledge.

I’ve always been honest about how much I struggle with long chapters, and Sweet Heat is no exception in length but it proved something to me: if the writing is good, it’s worth it. Bolu fills her chapters with rich emotion, tension, and momentum. I flew through them because I needed to know what would happen next.

And one thing remains true: Bolu Babalola knows how to write love. She writes it with joy, depth, and celebration. Her characters don’t just fall for each other—they choose each other, in spite of (and because of) their flaws, their pasts, and their growth.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC of Sweet Heat. I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it hits shelves 3rd July 2025. If you loved Honey & Spice, you’re in for something even richer, deeper, and yes—sweeter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a second-chance romance that takes a little time to hit its stride—but once it does, it absolutely delivers. I’ll be honest: the first half of the book was a struggle for me. The pacing felt slow, and Kiki’s inner monologues were long-winded and often repetitive. At nearly 500 pages, it felt like the story took too long to get going—especially for a contemporary romance. We don’t even meet Malakai (Kai) until around the 100-page mark, and in the meantime, there’s a lot of focus on Kiki’s current life and relationship with her soon-to-be ex, which I found somewhat dull and unnecessary. There were also several tangents throughout that, while occasionally insightful, didn’t always contribute to the core plot and made the reading experience feel longer than it needed to be. I’ll admit I considered DNF’ing more than once.

But then Malakai enters the picture—and everything changes. The scene where Kiki and Kai see each other for the first time since their breakup had all the tension and emotional complexity I was hoping for. From that point on, I was hooked. Their chemistry was palpable, believable, and just the right mix of sweet and angsty. The emotional baggage they carry from their past adds depth to their interactions, and the slow unpacking of their shared history kept me fully invested. The way they continue to orbit each other, both clearly still in love but hesitant to admit it, made for some seriously tense and romantic scenes.

The emotional climax of the story—when Kiki and Malakai finally talk through everything—is the highlight of the book. The dialogue is raw, vulnerable, and beautifully written. It’s one of those moments where the characters lay themselves bare in front of each other, cutting deep with their honesty but also offering healing. It felt earned and satisfying after all the buildup.

I also appreciated that, despite not having read the first book in the series, I didn’t feel lost. The characters and relationships are well developed, and while having the backstory might have added a layer, this one works as a standalone. The romance felt authentic, and I liked that the characters put in the emotional work to resolve their issues rather than relying on a quick fix.

That said, I could have done without the bridezilla subplot—it didn’t really add much for me and occasionally distracted from the central romance. But overall, this is a heartfelt, slightly spicy second-chance romance that’s perfect for summer. If you can make it through the slow start, the emotional payoff is well worth it.

It’s not every day that an author can take characters that people have loved and attached themselves to and do them justice in a sequel where the premise is a second chance romance in an instance where you never anticipated a breakup.

I have adored Kiki and Kai since they fell into my life with Honey and Spice and I fell deeper in love with their Sweet Heat in this sequel.

My skin was hot from the moment Malakai walked into the engagement party and grew hotter with every stolen glance, heated argument, and messy interaction he had with Kikiola.

It is very hard to write people who are so madly in love with each other but too stubborn to realise that the actions they took to protect their partner were what drove a wedge between them in the first place. I absolutely HATE miscommunication it ramps up my anxiety and several times I was close to ragging out my edges.

However I was invested in this love story and all the supporting elements around it. I am still convinced that this couple is one of the most beautiful I have ever read and BeeBabs writes in a way the sits in your chest and pulls you into the bodies of the characters she’s created.

I felt every frustration, every touch EVERYTHING like if I was living it in real time… there are very few authors who have the capacity to possess a readers.

I am grateful to Bolu and her publishers for this advanced copy of the most perfect sequel to a perfect book. A resounding FIVE STARS ⭐️

As a huge Honey & Spice fan, I've been so excited for this one - while also suffering the thought 'what do you meeeean Kiki and Kai broke up?'

Well, Bolu has done it again. I read the whole thing on a travel day and was frankly irritated every time I had to take a pause. Love these two as much as ever and their turmoil felt totally authentic. It's true to who they are and doesn't erase the relationship we fell for last time. If you enjoyed the first, pick up this one. If you haven't read Honey & Spice but you're a romcom person, pick them both up.

Once I got used to the writing style I enjoyed this. I hadn’t read the first in this series, so I was coming into it without the backstory and, while I’m sure it would have helped, it’s definitely not necessary! The plot is well paced, and the characters are well developed and likeable. The romance was well written; the issues between Kiki and Kai were believable and they put in the work to resolve them. Overall, this is a sweet, slightly spicy second chance romance which is perfect for summer.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Sweet Heat. Kiki and Malakai’s second-chance romance was messy, tender, and so honest. It hit close to the heart. Bolu Babalola’s writing is stunning, funny, intimate, and full of emotional truths. I saw myself in Kiki’s fears and hopes, and I rooted so hard for their love. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun but also so moving.

I've seen some reviews saying it's too long for a romcom, and I was initially surprised by how long it is too, but I was actually really glad that it had the space to explore grief/loss and friendships in the way that it did. It ended up being much more layered than I expected. Sure there probably could've been one less argument between Kiki and Kai but I thought it was important that they actually resolved their issues on the page and didn't just fall back instantly into something easy, as that wouldn't feel so believable.

I actually laughed out loud and shed a tear whilst reading this, so it definitely connected with me emotionally. I also loved seeing so many characters who all learn to express their feelings in a healthy way!! But all of them in different ways!! And they all love each other so fiercely and bravely. Beautiful.

There are so many references to Beyonce and online culture that gave the book a light tone but also anchored it in reality. But if you don't move at all in those spaces there might be quite a lot of lines that don't make sense to you 😅

4 stars

TW: parental loss, racism

Although I don't think I was in the ideal readership for this book I did begin to enjoy the stories of friendship and love despite not always understanding the language and references used. As the story progressed I did begin to feel that the author became a little self indulgent in spinning the story out.

I read Honey & Spice a few years ago and really enjoyed the story and the characters so I was really keen to pick up this new book Sweet Heat which is set several years after Honey & Spice. It is told from KIki's point of view and focuses on her life as she juggles family, friendships and relationships as well as career progression. I really enjoyed this focus on late twenties life and enjoyed seeing many of the characters from the first book and how their relationships have changed with time. Although still easy to read the book has a slower pace with beautifully written prose that I really enjoyed. It felt entertaining and honest and I loved being back with these characters.

I really liked Honey & Spice and it was great to return to the two characters years on and see them evolve now that they're a little older with a new set of adult problems and responsibilities. The pace of this one is slow compared with what we're used to seeing in the genre, but readers who didn't have an issue with this in Honey & Spice won't struggle to get into Sweet Heat. This is an author who clearly takes romance seriously and treats the subject with a deep respect - in the worlds she creates romantic love and relationships are a gateway to a meaningful life, even if the characters take a little while to learn the lesson! Definitely looking forward to seeing what this author does next.

I really struggled to stay interested in this book. The story follows a woman navigating life after a difficult breakup, against the backdrop of her friend's wedding preparations.

Even though it was easy to read, it felt predictable and the storyline moved too slowly for me.

Thanks to Bolu Babalola, William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola is a warm, captivating follow-up that fans of Honey & Spice will adore. Three years after their breakup, Kiki is trying to rebuild her life amid career chaos, family struggles, and wedding plans for her best friend Aminah. But when Malakai, her first love and now the best man, returns, the past ignites with irresistible heat.

Juggling job pressures, a family business on the brink, and wedding drama, Kiki must face the unresolved feelings she thought were long buried. The chemistry between her and Malakai is electric, complicated by everything at stake.

This story brilliantly explores the challenges of late twenties life, friendship, love, and personal growth with relatable characters you can’t help but root for.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

“You’re the only thing on earth I want to run to. I can’t ren from you - you’re part of me”

“Getting to love you is what makes my life extraordinary […] I’m never gonna stop loving you”

Sweet Heat is probably one of the best books I’ve read all year! This is the first Bolu Babalola book I’ve read, and I’m convinced she’s the voice of my generation. The way she was able to convey and describe the love Kiki and Kai held for each other, the relationship between Minah and Kiki, and the struggle of job security, I’m genuinely thrown! I am absolutely obsessed with Kiki and Kai; the back and forth and miscommunication were worth suffering through because the way they always found each other, worshiped, and respected each other was so beautiful I can’t even begin to express how much it means to me.

As a Black Brit, I thought Kiki (as well as Minah) was such a relatable character. Her journey, relationship with friends, and her culture were just so relatable. I felt seen, and that type of representation is important. Stories about Black women and the lives we live, the way we love, deserve to be written about, and I’m glad for authors like Ms. Babalola.

If you’re like me and you haven’t read Honey and Spice (which I will do as soon as I can!), this book is a standalone, and you won’t be thrown into the deep end. It’s the perfect start, end, and a love story for the ages! Congratulations, Bolu Babalola; you have a fan in me.