"The game will always be the game, but make sure you're at least an equal player."

At an elite British University, Kiki runs a popular radio show geared towards her fellow Black women on campus, talking about how to stand up for themselves in the confusing uni dating scene. Malakai is the hot new player on campus. Can a fake relationship between the two of them help bolster both their reputations?

I liked this a lot! It definitely had some “Dear White People” vibes, with its sharp commentary on what it’s like to be part of a small contingent of Black students at a majority-white university. There’s a lot of lingo that I as a white American had to look up, and the plot slowed down a bit in the middle, but at the end of the day it didn’t matter. I ended up connecting with these characters’ rich inner lives quite a bit and really enjoyed spending time in Kiki’s head.

And this book is FUNNY. Bolu has always been one of my favorite Twitter follows, and I loved her collection of short stories. I’m really happy her debut novel was just as sharp and witty as I was expecting. The romance was hot and the banter was spicy. A perfect summer read.

Also, when I can read The Reign of Ifekonia??

This was a fun book with a cute story. I had a hard time understanding some of the lingo, especially the parts that weren’t in English but I still enjoyed the book.

Honey & Spice is a combination of general fiction, new adult and romance. I've seen some people call it a rom-com. But it did not feel like that to me. It is Reese Witherspoon's book club's July pick.

I think that a lot of people will enjoy this book. But I just didn't love it. And I struggled to finish it.

There were still definitely things that I did like:
Kiki is the host of a popular student radio show Brown Sugar. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book. The book is set at a British liberal arts university. And Kiki is known for playing her favorite R&B songs and offering the women at the campus romantic advice.

I also really loved Kiki's best friend and how many of the Black students worked together throughout the book.

I liked Kiki's advisor and how she encouraged her to apply for a prestigious internship.

And Kiki herself was pretty cool. She was smart and sassy and did not take any crap from anyone. She has a loud mouth and she is not afraid of anything.

So then why didn't I love this book? I love seeing POC represented. But I think that the writing style was maybe too literary fiction-esque for me. The book deals with school politics and lots of drama which was all just okay for me. There was romance, but I wasn't really invested in it.

This book was a lot of fun right from the start. The writing style took a bit to get used to--it's very dense and there's a lot going on at all times. Despite the adjustment, I think the style really suited Kiki well and helped to show her personality better.

The most important elements to me when reading a romance are how well the characters and their chemistry are brought to life through the writing. Babalola definitely succeeded in carrying that chemistry across. Kiki was so easy to relate to with the fact that she was not trying to get attached to any of the men on campus. I also just love the premise of a college radio show. It's such a common practice, but I don't really see it used as a plot device. The use of the show as a crutch to Kiki worked so well. And Malakai. What a sweetheart. The way the two characters come together just felt very realistic to a college romance.

It took me a while to finish this book, however, which is something that really isn't great for a romance. Along with the dense writing, I felt that there were a lot of different storylines going on at once. It made it a little hard to focus on the romance. Some of the side plots could have been edited down for a more easily consumed story, but I really did think this was a fun romance. And I'll always support college romance (we do NOT have enough of those!)

I think Kiki herself is what makes this romance so compelling. We get to know her right from the beginning. She is sarcastic, a bit abrasive, and hilarious. But, underneath it all, she is insecure and terrified to fall in love. We get to know some of her history and where her insecurity stems from and it made me emotional in a way I wasn’t expecting. There are also great female friendships that form throughout the novel and that was maybe my favourite thing about the story. It was so nice to see!

Malakai was a fun love interest. There is a moment that very much appealed to my book-loving heart and I swooned. You will know what I mean when you get to that scene. It was so sweet!

My only gripe with it is something we often get with fake dating (which is a trope I love!) and that is the misunderstandings that happen. It is so clear that they have feelings for one another but Kiki just doesn’t see it! I think that it all comes down to her insecurities, so I can’t fault her for it. The third act breakup was frustrating for me, but it resolves itself quickly.

I forgot to mention that Kiki is the host of a radio show targeted toward women within the Afro-Caribbean community at her university. I loved that we got snippets of the show throughout the novel. Also, Malakai is filming a documentary about couples who date in college, so we see some of those interviews as well, which was fun. Oh, and I want to mention that I am always intrigued by the pop culture references that authors choose to include. Why Twilight!?

Overall, Honey & Spice was a fast-paced and sweet romance that definitely has some spicy scenes!

When I first read Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola, I knew that I needed to read whatever came next from her. Honey & Spice was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022 and it did not disappoint. This book is pure perfection to me. Kiki and Malakai have palpable chemistry and are written so intimately that I felt I truly knew them. But even more so, the community around them, their friends, were so vibrant and real that this book just had love pouring out of it in all directions. The pop culture references were sublime. The chemistry sustained me. The banter is next level perfection. I have already consumed this book twice and it may just be my favorite book of 2022. If you like romance, you can’t help but smile and feel butterflies in your stomach while consuming this fantastic novel. Go read it. Now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the editors for the digital arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Babalola does a really fantastic job of crafting a coming of age, college story that centers two people (Kiki Banjo and Malaki Korede) who could completely undue each other but don’t.

I really enjoyed Kiki and Malaki’s chemistry and the progression of their fake relationship into something tangible as they shed all of the secrets that had been holding them back from other people.

I also really enjoyed the emphasis on Black culture at a predominately white institution and what that looks like for Black students and how Black communities come together to protect one another.

I also really enjoyed the friendships that were highlighted throughout the book as well. You can tell that Babalola really went above and beyond to show the importance of relationships outside of romantic ones.

Overall, if you like stories that feature fake dating, college settings, strong friendships, and slow burn romance then definitely pick this one up!

Thank you William Morrow for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

TW: depression, black mail, sexual harassment

Kiki and Malakai are my favorite literary couple, they have great chemistry and a delightful banter. Honey and Spice is real, vibrant, and heartfelt story. The enemies to lovers and fake dating trope was well written. This debut novel covers serious topics such as Mental Health, racism and Family Issues.

Kiki, a university student who host a radio show doesn't believe in love because she didn't want to be hurt again from a previous relationship. Her radio show discusses relationships and she offers advice to fellow students. Malakai casually dates because he isn't sure if he could be in a relationship. Their relationship progressed throughout the book. Kiki and Malakai find themselves in a fake relationship to help their academic aspirations. The vulnerability level is high, Kiki learns to be vulnerable with her friends and her love. Honey and spice is the best rom-com of the summer.

The chemistry between Kiki and Kai was palpable. I loved them as our heroine/hero, so much so, that anytime they weren't on the page together I was bereft! They were the star of the book, but I felt that they didn't get enough scenes together. There were a lot of side characters/plots and by the end of the book, it felt like noise that was keeping me from the iconic interactions between Kiki and Kai. I am a big fan of Bolu, and romance is clearly her strong suit, which is why I just wish there was more of it in this book! Overall, this book was laugh out loud funny - Bolu is as witty as Emily Henry, truly. And I wish she leaned into that more, rather than trying to flesh out side characters.

This was a refreshing, funny, and unique story. Possibly the best New Adult romance I've read in a long time. It was everything I needed as someone who lost a chunk of their college experience to virtual classes. Kiki is a witty, intelligent, and lovable main character that I can only wish to be like.
The story's beginning reminded me of Dear White People with its satirical drawn-out nature. Once Kiki and Malaki started interacting the characters took their own form and the story soared. To finally read a fake dating story that was believable and the romance had a realistic pace was amazing. All the characters felt real and like people, I either went to school with or were in my family. I love that African immigrant kids are getting their messy romance novels. It's been long overdo.
I will definitely be returning to Babalola's work!

The heroine attends Whitewell University and has a popular student radio show. She is focused on making sure that the African-Caribbean Society women experienced no mess in certain relationship situations and problems. However, her credentials become questionable after kissing a known player in front of a huge audience. To fix that, the heroine enters a fake relationship with the hero, and the two ends up finding themselves falling in love with each other.

This is the first Bolu Babalola book that I've read. I enjoyed the friendships that supported the couple. I also liked the university setting and the radio show that the heroine hosted. The author has a clear writing style that is shown in the story. I did find certain parts didn't grab my attention as much as others, but they aren't a deterrent of the book. Overall, an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more Bolu Babalola books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

Kiki is navigating the social drama and her aspirations at university. The university life is fraught with drama, social media EVERYWHERE, and she's trying to find her place as her Brown Sugar commentary permeates the Blackwellian audience on campus.

There were times when the drama seemed so intense to me, I really enjoyed the lead characters and their development.

Thank you to William Morrow and to Netgalley.

#HoneyandSpice #NetGalley

This was the first book I have read by Ms Babalola and it would not be my last, it most definatley was true to the tile beacuse it delivered all the honey and all the spice.

As the title suggests, this was a sweet yet sexy read, perfect (in my opinion) for New Adult readers.

I was really excited to read this since it's Babalola's debut novel. And, overall, I liked it, but it's just a little young-ish for me. It's set at a college in Britain, and while I remember what it was like to be in college, I probably would have enjoyed this more if I were in college or freshly graduated.

That's not to say that it's not enjoyable -- IT IS. I thought it had a good pace, once you get past the initial chapters which set up the story. And I liked the characters; together they make a well-rounded group of friends. But there are also lots of pop culture references, and a lot of British/Black Brit/Nigerian slang. I got the gist of it, but that required using context clues.

What I liked best about this book is that the characters had depth, and Kiki & Kai were interested in each other for more reasons that just physical attraction. Sometimes, I read books and I think, "why are these characters so 'in love' with each other??" But in this book, you could really tell that they had a connection. I also loved their banter and the way they could read each other. (Speaking of reading, holy cow, does the book Kiki loves so much exist in real life because man oh man would I love to read THAT! If not, maybe it should be the next thing Babalola writes!)

I don't usually like when books are made into movies and tv shows, but I think this would do well as a tv series, especially because of Kiki's show. There was so much in this book that could be explored in depth. (I'm trying not to spoil it!) I would definitely recommend this book if you like New Adult, and I look forward to reading more of Babalola's work!

Honey and Spice's language drew me in right away - the gorgeous rhythms, fast-paced and quick-witted. Kiki is so sharp and quick to call out situationships and players. Advising other women about avoiding players. Loved the insta-attraction between her and Malaki and fake dating is a favorite trope. If you're looking for a quick, giggle-inducing, summer heat vacation read, this is the perfect book.

Honey and Spice will definitely appeal tot the college age crowd or even high school readers.
Kiki has a casual relationship with Zach, which brings her a lot of controversy. To alleviate some of the damage she starts a fake relationship with Malakai, which Of course doesn’t go as planned.
The book is about standing up for yourself, standing together, owning up to mistakes and being responsible for the fallout.
Sometimes I was a little lost with the narrative, but overall it’s a good read.

New adult / college romances aren't my thing anymore, but, perhaps that has to do with the fact that I've:

1. outgrown the genre; and
2. never read a NA romance with characters like me (Black)!

There seems to be more diversity in YA and Adult but NA seems to be lacking in (visual) diversity - so it was great to see it in this book! That said, I think because it was NA it made it a bit hard for me to get into at first - it felt slow at times.

I really appreciated the author's writing and the way Afro-Caribbean culture was heavily embedded throughout this (slang and all) - it felt so relatable and I found myself giggling throughout.

I loved our main girl Kiki - she was a confident, strong and smart heroine and felt so relatable to me in terms of her Blackness and how she felt about relationships.

overall, a fun read! I'd pick up more from this author (esp an adult romance)!

One of my favorite troupes is the fake dating one.

So i couldn't wait to get into this book.

Our main characters are Kiki and Malaki, two Black British college students. Kiki runs the college radio show about dating, relationships, and female empowerment. Malaki wants to be a filmmaker. Our couple finds themselves in a fake relationship and romance follows. Of course. .

What I loved: the diversity of our characters, cultural references ( Beyonce!) a good portrayal of a black woman's experience on a college campus( kid of gave me A Different World vibes in a way).

What I could use more of: spice. Hello? The books is named Honey and SPICE. LOL

But this was a good solid read. Perfect for the summer!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Kiki runs Brown Sugar, a radio show about relationships at her university. She runs into a new guy on campus who is quite the player, Malakai. And she calls out his behavior (if not his name) on her show.

This was a light and fun romance. There were hints of deeper social issues with how Black people were treated on campus, but those were quite minor plot lines. The bulk of the story focused on romance and relationships. I really liked both main characters. Kiki is fierce, and I would love to actually listen to her radio show. And Malakai was so much deeper than she originally saw. The secondary characters were also quite nuanced with individual personalities.

The narration for the audiobook by Weruche Opia was excellent. It was precisely 12 hours long.

Honey & Spice is a fun RomCom set in a British university, featuring a fake romance and at-odds main characters. Kikiola and Malakai are perfectly dueling forces determined to not bend or sway to the other, and their verbal sparring kept me hooked from the get-go.