I was completely swept away by this book—every sentence felt like something I wanted to savor. It’s brimming with longing, tenderness, and emotional depth, the kind of story that makes you ache to fall in love that deeply.

At the center is Ms. Kiki Banjo, navigating the beautiful mess of career ambitions, complicated friendships, and a love that refuses to stay in the past. When Babalola announced a sequel to *Honey and Spice*, I never imagined she’d begin with Kiki and Malakai *broken up*—the heartbreak! But what unfolds is a powerful, heartfelt journey of reconnection, self-discovery, and emotional growth that feels as earned as it is satisfying.

One of the standout joys of the novel is Babalola’s use of cultural flavor—literally. The metaphor of *pepper* is used so cleverly, full of heat and bite, adding richness to the emotional tapestry. I did expect more plantain metaphors (a personal hope!), but what we get is vibrant and resonant. And Kiki—oh, Kiki. Her personality leaps off the page: sharp, vulnerable, stubborn, and so full of life. Her fears, her hopes, the way she second-guesses and protects herself—I felt all of it in my bones.

Honestly, I have so many feelings about this book that it’s hard to capture them all at once. I’ll definitely be coming back to write more, but for now, just know this: if *Honey and Spice* held a special place in your heart, this follow-up will leave you full, a little heart-sore, and completely satisfied. You *have* to read it.

Thankyou NetGalley for the arc copy of this book for my honest review, at first the book didn’t hook me it followed Kiki dating life with her exes but it felt like it was a pity party and i understand the pretence behind it but i was expecting a little bit more punch to hook me from the start, as the storyline goes on I thought oo now we are getting somewhere but the tension between Kiki and Kai didn’t hit for me unfortunately I felt it became a good build up and at some ends of the story I felt like I was ploughing through jus to see what the conclusion would become. I felt the book was really long and I couldn’t get on board with the constant references of artists etc

Bolu Babalola's writing is incredible. Honey and Spice was a favorite read of 2022, so I went in with high expectations. Her level of commitment to detail is phenomenal, the witty banter is unmatched, and her level of sensual detail mixed with emotional fervor is utter perfection. However, Sweet Heat did not deliver on the pacing. It was incredibly hard to get through.

4.5

Oh my days. From the title and description I thought this would be a classically spicy, usual romance quick flick. But it felt SO much more than that. The characters were meaty, the plot was recognisable and comfortable but well played out, nothing felt rushed or over explained. Yes it was romance and fun, but it was also a commentary on race and culture and character and so much more. Stunning. 🤩

Sweet, sharp and sizzling!

I devoured this! Sweet Heat is exactly what the title promises: fun, flirtation and a slow burning spark that catches fire in all the right ways. The banter? Immaculate. The chemistry? Off the charts. And the cultural richness and emotional depth sneak up on you in the best way possible.

The characters are well drawn, layered, flawed and funny meaning you genuinely root for them. It is a romantic novel without being cheesy and also empowering without feeling too preachy. I laughed, I swooned and I highlighted many lines.

The voice in this is distinct and refreshing and this book solidifies her as a go to romance author. I highly recommend for a fans of witty, character driven love stories that still pack a punch.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like a previous reviewer, I didn't realise that this novel was a sequel. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Sweet Heat could be read as a standalone novel without reading its predecessor.

Sweet Heat revolves around Kiki and Malakai who, through many and sometimes frustrating misunderstandings, broke up 2 years ago, although we don't immediately find out why.

Sweet Heat navigates Kiki's post-break up era, while she tries to keep her family's ailing restaurant afloat, while also trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and help plan her best friend's wedding as her MoH. All while erroneously thinking Malakai is living his best life in the USA.

As Kiki's best friend's wedding looms and Malakai returns to fulfil his best man duties, Kiki and Malakai must work together (both for the wedding and an exciting job opportunity) they very quickly find that their love hasn't faded, and just maybe there's a hope of laying their past to rest and moving forward to a new relationship together.

Sweet Heat was a charming read full of memorable characters and sizzling romance.

I didn't realise that this was a sequel when I started reading it, though I found it worked well as a standalone. I do wonder if it would have been a five star read if I'd read the first novel, too, as I suspect many readers loved seeing the characters change in ways I couldn't relate to. The characters in this are so rich and vivid that I felt like they were real people! Every time Kai and Kiki shared a scene, I was desperate for them to reconnect, and even though a later miscommunication was a little frustrating, it didn't stop me rooting for them. If I had one criticism, it's the length: I felt the section before Kai appeared dragged a little and could have been really cut down.

5 Stars – A Sizzling, Smart Second-Chance Romance

This story is everything I want in a rom-com: sharp, funny, emotional, and brimming with chemistry. Kiki is a relatable, complex heroine navigating the chaos of adulthood—career hiccups, family pressure, and a best friend’s over-the-top wedding—all while facing the unresolved tension of her first love. The return of Malakai brings a perfect storm of old wounds and undeniable attraction that had me hooked from start to finish. With sparkling dialogue, heartfelt moments, and a rich sense of culture and family, this book is a joyful, heartfelt reminder that sometimes love deserves a second chance. Unputdownable!

This took a little while for me to get into because the internal monologue seems to jump all over the place in terms of memories and current events. However, once I got used to this, I really loved the romance and the realism of being an older daughter and struggling to navigate in an adult world.

Sweet Heat was my most anticipated read of 2025, so I am so grateful to receive an ARC. Bolu has knocked it out of the park yet again. I devoured this book and am now at a complete loss about what to read next. I already can’t wait to read Kiki and Malakai’s story again. Bolu describes perfectly the struggle for creatives when they leave college and older daughter syndrome. All the different types of love, whether it is love you’re unsure about, first love, the love of your girls is described so beautifully throughout this book. I already know I am going to need a playlist to go with this book.

The spice in this book is off the charts. 5 scotch peppers!

Loved it. Already can’t wait to see what Bolu cooks up next.