This book had me craving plantains.

Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola

This book had me craving plantains.

Kiki Banjo is a bold, outspoken student with a soft heart she keeps hidden. As the voice behind the popular campus radio show Brown Sugar, she’s made it her mission to call out red flags in relationships and protect the women of Whitewell University’s African-Caribbean Society from the games men love to play. But everything changes when she finds herself entangled with Malakai Korede the school’s newest “top player.” Suddenly, Kiki has to fight to protect her reputation, her future, and maybe even her heart.

Thoughts

If you love stories that blend college life with romance, culture, African food, and the freedom of self-expression, Honey and Spice is for you. It’s a captivating read with bold characters and vibrant storytelling that will make you wish you were living on this fictional campus.

It’s been a while since I graduated from college Tennessee State, to be exact—and reading Honey and Spice brought back some of those sweet, chaotic college memories. Though the book is set in the UK, the vibes still hit home, especially the cultural mix and messy romance situations (which, let’s be real, were trash back in my day too). This book was refreshing, and the characters were a joy to get to know, though I had some mixed feelings overall.

Honey and Spice had been on my TBR list for a while, and I finally got to read it thanks to the Libby app (seriously, a game changer if you’re trying to save money while books and everything else are getting pricey!). Back to the love story: Bolu Babalola is a talented writer. She knows how to hook a reader, making her stories fun, lively, and engaging.

That said, I do think this book is geared more toward a younger audience students just starting college or fresh out of high school. As someone in my 30s, I enjoyed it, but probably not as deeply as a younger reader might. The many pop culture references especially to Beyoncé were a bit overwhelming for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love Beyoncé (Beehive, don’t come for me!), but the sheer number of references felt excessive. Still, I appreciated the effort to make the story feel relatable, especially for readers outside of the UK.

What really stood out to me were the Nigerian and African cultural elements like the plantain waffles with honey! I’ve never heard of that, but now I’m on a mission to try it. I also felt the premise of the fake relationship could have used a stronger foundation. It was a bit unclear and lacked depth at times.

I had mixed feelings, but there were moments I really connected with Kiki. She reminded me of myself: a lover of functional romance, a cosplayer, observant and introverted yet still capable of being extroverted when needed. I loved how the book highlighted sisterhood, vulnerability, and the power of friendship. As a radio host for her university and community, she reminded me of the TikTok personality @lifecoachshawn. They both speak on the women worth and reclaiming your power, also making sure you pick and chose the type men you deserve in your life. The one theme I especially admired was how it portrayed the rebuilding of friendships. It reminded me that a friendship breakup can be just as painful as a romantic one, and how vital trust and community truly are.

So yes, Honey and Spice has its charms. It’s definitely geared toward a younger audience, but don’t let that stop you from picking it up. It’s just one opinion mine and if you’ve read it, I’d love to hear what you think!