Bolu Babalola returns to the vibrant world she crafted in her debut novel Honey & Spice with Sweet Heat, the eagerly anticipated sequel that proves lightning can indeed strike twice. Where the first book introduced us to the sharp-witted Kiki Banjo and her complex relationship with Malakai Korede, this follow-up plunges us into the messy, complicated aftermath of their university romance three years later.
The Honey & Spice series has established itself as a cornerstone of contemporary Black British romance, with Babalola joining the ranks of authors creating authentic, dynamic narratives about love, ambition, and identity. Following her acclaimed short story collection Love in Colour, which reimagined classic love stories through diverse cultural lenses, Babalola continues to cement her reputation as a masterful storyteller who understands the intricacies of modern relationships.
A Plot That Simmers with Tension
The premise is deliciously familiar yet refreshingly executed: exes forced back together through circumstances beyond their control. When Kiki’s life implodes—losing her podcast job to industry blacklisting while her family’s beloved restaurant Sákárà faces closure—the last thing she needs is Malakai’s return to London as best man to her best friend Aminah’s wedding. As maid of honour, Kiki finds herself trapped in close proximity to the man who still makes her pulse race and her temper flare in equal measure.
Babalola skillfully weaves multiple narrative threads throughout the story. Kiki’s professional struggles feel authentically rooted in the modern media landscape, where one misstep can derail a promising career. The subplot involving her family’s restaurant adds emotional weight, representing not just financial stress but the potential loss of cultural heritage and community gathering space. Meanwhile, the wedding planning provides both comic relief and mounting pressure as the tension between the former lovers threatens to overshadow their friends’ special day.
The author demonstrates remarkable restraint in building romantic tension. Rather than rushing toward reconciliation, she allows both characters to maintain their justified anger while slowly revealing the deeper wounds beneath their surface hostility. The result is a romance that feels earned rather than inevitable.
Characters Who Leap Off the Page
Kiki Banjo remains one of the most compelling protagonists in contemporary romance. Babalola has allowed her to grow from the university student we met in Honey & Spice into a more complex woman grappling with professional disappointment and family obligations. Her wit remains razor-sharp, but there’s a new vulnerability that makes her even more relatable. The author excels at showing how grief and disappointment can make us behave in ways that contradict our better angels.
Malakai’s character development proves equally nuanced. No longer the charming university student, he’s now a successful filmmaker carrying his own emotional baggage. Babalola avoids the trap of making him either a perfect romantic hero or a one-dimensional obstacle. Instead, she presents a man struggling with his own demons while trying to navigate an impossible situation with grace.
The supporting cast sparkles with authenticity. Aminah, the bride-to-be, provides both comic relief and genuine friendship moments that feel lived-in rather than constructed for plot convenience. The introduction of Taré, the music video director who becomes both professional opportunity and romantic complication, adds layers of complexity without feeling contrived.
Babalola’s Distinctive Voice Shines
The author’s prose crackles with energy and authenticity. Her dialogue captures the rhythms of contemporary Black British speech without ever feeling performative or overdone. The internal monologues particularly shine, revealing character psychology through voice rather than exposition. When Kiki describes feeling “like a note Roberta Flack is going to sing” in Malakai’s presence, we understand both her vulnerability and the poetic way she processes emotion.
Babalola demonstrates particular skill in writing physical attraction and sexual tension. The chemistry between Kiki and Malakai practically steams off the page, but never at the expense of emotional authenticity. Their intimate scenes feel organic to their relationship rather than gratuitous, each encounter revealing character and advancing their emotional journey.
The cultural specificity enriches rather than excludes. References to Nigerian cuisine, music, and family dynamics feel natural and integral to the characters’ identities. Babalola doesn’t explain or over-contextualize; she trusts her readers to either understand or learn, which demonstrates respect for both her cultural heritage and her audience’s intelligence.
Where the Heat Could Burn Hotter
Despite its many strengths, Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola occasionally struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. The middle section sometimes feels cluttered with competing storylines—Kiki’s career crisis, the restaurant’s potential sale, wedding planning drama, and the central romance don’t always blend seamlessly. Some readers may find themselves wishing for tighter focus on the core relationship development.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives perhaps too neatly. After chapters of realistic complications and setbacks, the final act’s solutions to both professional and personal problems feel somewhat convenient. The business opportunity that saves Sákárà, while heartwarming, stretches credibility in ways that may leave pragmatic readers slightly unsatisfied.
Additionally, certain secondary characters could benefit from fuller development. While Taré serves her plot function well, she sometimes feels more like a narrative device than a fully realized person. The romantic rival trope, while subverted in interesting ways, still relies on familiar patterns that don’t quite achieve the freshness of Babalola’s other character work.
A Romance That Transcends Genre Expectations
What elevates Sweet Heat beyond typical second-chance romance is Bolu Babalola’s commitment to examining the real work required to rebuild trust. This isn’t a story where grand gestures and passionate declarations solve deep-seated issues. Instead, the characters must confront their individual growth, communication failures, and the ways grief and disappointment have shaped their defensive behaviors.
The author handles themes of mental health, family obligation, and professional setbacks with sensitivity and nuance. Malakai’s struggle with anxiety and grief feels particularly well-rendered, avoiding both stigmatization and oversimplification. Kiki’s career challenges reflect real industry dynamics rather than convenient plot obstacles.
The London setting becomes almost a character itself, from the bustling energy of Sákárà restaurant to the intimate spaces where former lovers try to maintain professional distance. Babalola captures the city’s diversity and energy without resorting to postcard descriptions.
The Verdict: A Worthy Follow-Up
Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola succeeds in the most crucial way: it justifies its existence as a sequel while standing alone as a compelling story. Babalola has created a romance that feels both contemporary and timeless, addressing modern relationship challenges while delivering the emotional satisfaction readers crave.
While it may not achieve the breakthrough freshness of Honey & Spice, it demonstrates artistic growth and emotional maturity that bodes well for Babalola’s future work. The novel confirms her position as a significant voice in contemporary romance, particularly in representing Black British experiences with authenticity and pride.
For readers seeking romance that combines genuine heat with emotional depth, cultural specificity with universal themes, Sweet Heat delivers exactly what its title promises—a story that burns with passion while maintaining the complexity that makes great literature memorable.
If You Loved Sweet Heat, Try These
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory – Another friends-to-lovers romance with authentic cultural representation
Beach Read by Emily Henry – For enemies-to-lovers tension with professional complications
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – Wedding setting romance with similar humor and heart
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert – Contemporary romance featuring complex, flawed protagonists
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – For workplace tension and banter-heavy romance
Sweet Heat confirms that Bolu Babalola isn’t just a promising new voice in romance—she’s an essential one, creating stories that matter while never forgetting to entertain. This sequel burns bright, leaving readers eager to see where her literary journey leads next.