If she weren’t a writer, Bolu Babalola could be a great cultural anthropologist. Her work is rife with observations that have the richness of field notes ... Those debates about relationships and gender are the heart of “Honey and Spice,” making it a novel of more sweetness than spice, more contemplation than action. As in Jane Austen’s novels, the narrative centers on the war between individual attraction and social constraints in a complex, contentiously hierarchical society. The true stars of Honey and Spice are characterization, banter and sharp social observation, all of which Babalola renders spectacularly. She soars in her rich depictions of intimacy and relationships, in all their grandeur. And Babalola blends the vernacular and rhythms of Black American music with Black British culture, and its fusion of Pan-African influences, making the text even richer ... Expectations for her first full-length novel are high. Sexy, messy and wry, Honey and Spice more than delivers.
... a dishy romp that gives a fresh update to the phony-relationship narrative with a charming and wholly contemporary romance between an ambitious college radio host and the campus playboy ... doesn’t skimp on steamy, swoon-worthy moments ... But that’s not to say that the novel deals in clichés. While the romance genre has long been critiqued for its lack of inclusivity when it comes to featuring books by and about people of color, Babalola’s writing refuses to acquiesce to the white gaze, firmly centering the details of the story in the experiences of Black and African students at a predominantly white institution. The author’s sharp sense of humor (which fans of her social media accounts will recognize), slick pop culture references, and keen sense of the zeitgeist ensure that though her story launches off from a tried-and-true trope, it ultimately offers a refreshing portrait of what modern love really looks and feels like.
... playful ... The social dynamics can make the book feel like a high school rom-com at times—the drive to get into a program at NYU is reminiscent of many high school protagonists’ attempts to get into selective colleges. But it’s a good reminder that the instability and grind of seeking out the next big opportunity that one experiences in high school doesn’t stop when people get to college ... Fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before will appreciate the way Babalola deftly manipulates familiar romance tropes into an expertly crafted story that offers a glimpse into the British Nigerian college experience. Through Babalola’s careful writing, high school-esque cliques meet the complexity of Blackwell Society politics ... Even without the romance driving the plot, Honey and Spice would be a rich text full of incisive social commentary, but I’d be remiss not to mention that Kiki and Malakai are a couple you’ll want to root for. Babalola captures the messiness of falling in love for the first time. Both of them have baggage to work through, and they help each other do that over plantain waffles and parties. The dating might start out fake, but the chemistry is real.
... lyrical, witty, and maintains all the genre trappings that we love in romcoms, while doing something completely new. Kiki is a memorable protagonist – seemingly aloof but soft hearted, confident and funny, and a self-proclaimed nerd, with a heart that she is afraid to risk – and her bond with Aminah is beautiful, with its unwavering support and affection. The romance between Kiki and Malakai is full of moments that feel on par with every iconic scene in your favourite romcoms, from public arguments to big romantic gestures, humour paired with sizzling attraction, and two characters who truly see into the core of each other. Essential reading for any romance enthusiast.
... sparkling ... This isn’t so much a 'will they, won’t they' as a 'when the hell will they finally get it on' kind of story that in essence consists of nearly 400 pages of romantic foreplay as the relationship — sorry, friendship — deepens and intensifies against the socially charged backdrop of campus politics ... Yet what really draws in the reader is not their respective emotional histories — thoughtful, sensitive, extremely buff Malakai is, for one thing, simply too good to be true — but the novel’s running commentary on contemporary race and gender relations ... Throughout, Babalola cleverly invokes the romance genre to interrogate whether romance is even real any more in an era of casual hook-ups and men who reply to an 'I love you' text with 'safe, babes' ... Granted, the plot is desultory. Incident takes second place to feeling and observation, but then, to be fair, you could say the same about Normal People. And those whose grasp on the semiotics of modern pop culture isn’t quite so refined as Babalola’s might sometimes find themselves struggling to keep up. But everyone understands the giddy euphoria of love — a feeling the extravagantly talented Babalola is a particular expert at expressing. Kiki compares her feelings for Malakai as like swallowing a star. That’s a bit how I felt after reading this messy but joyful book.
Funny and charming ... The book unfolds with the ease of a Netflix algorithm-generated miniseries. The usual romcom impediments arrive in the form of gossip, scheming, deception, bad timing and misunderstandings. But Bolu Babalola also teases out the traces of vulnerability and wariness beneath Kiki’s bravado ... Kiki makes for an entertaining narrator and the novel’s countless witty lines come mainly from her inner monologue ... The story often drifts into a heavily Americanised snap’n’sass sitcom register, which sits oddly with its UK redbrick university setting, while the general descriptions, reported actions and exchanges between characters can be strained and clunky. However, the central couple have a beguiling sweetness and Babalola skilfully imbues their scenes with a tender innocence that is romantic.
... a beautiful and witty novel that’s a celebration of love, friendship and Black joy that will wend it’s way into readers’ hearts ... Brimming with Afro-Caribbean culture, British banter, pop culture references, and plenty of steam, this book will appeal to fans of the fake dating trope, novels with a well-developed cast of characters, and feminist romances with strong themes of friendship.
[Babalola's] first novel is the wonderfully indulgent long-form romance her readers have been waiting for ... While many love stories either pit women against one another or ignore women outside the relationship entirely, this story has a strong undercurrent of sisterhood, demonstrating that love comes from all kinds of places, if you’re open to it.
A brilliant and wildly creative young woman with sharp corners and a sharper tongue discovers the softer side of life in Bolu Babalola's dazzling debut romance ... True trust is slow to grow between them, but Kiki's and Malakai's vulnerabilities and innate integrity, not to mention their sparky chemistry, deftly portrayed in Babalola's banter-filled prose, draw them closer and closer together ... Sprinkled with Yoruba words and British slang, Honey and Spice hums with Babalola's unique voice, which is full of energy and sensitive insights, often punctuated with laughter. Kiki and Malakai are multilayered, complex characters who approach life with thoughtfulness, passion, maturity and courage. Readers will especially appreciate how they are not afraid to tackle problems head-on, trusting that their instincts and intellectual abilities will be able to solve any issue. Honey and Spice is a deeply romantic story of two souls who grow closer as they recognize the generosity and humanity in each other. They each have their faults, but their individual imperfections make them perfect together.
... shinning ... Babalola’s debut novel is lyrical and sincere, her prose rhythmic ... Kiki is the epitome of cool; her dialogue oozes with confidence, and her biting wit rolls off her tongue with ease—leaving readers wishing they could play her clever disses on repeat like their favorite song ... Smooth, sophisticated, and sexy.
... vivacious and romantic ... Suffused with music and pop culture references (thanks in large part to Kiki’s vast musical knowledge and her talent for puns), their repartee is quick and clever, with the verbal sparring heightening their physical attraction and making the sexy and effervescent story emotionally intimate and hilarious in turn. Babalola’s expert handling of the messy vulnerability and joyful exuberance of young love makes this a winner.
