𝚃𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊☽

SWEET HEAT by Bolu Babalola was phenomenal and everything I wanted a sequel to be. 

It has been years since I’ve read Honey & Spice and Bolu proved again what an incredible writer she is. I was completely captivated by this book. Each scene she wrote was beautiful, emotional and raw; they truly cut you deep.  

It was a perfect second chance romance. 

I missed these characters, seeing their journeys in this read now in their late 20’s was incredible. I found myself connected with them even more on a vulnerable level with this book since Honey & Spice. 

Kiki still remains one of my favourite female characters. Sarcastic with a dry sense of humor, unabashed, and true to herself. I related to her so much in her moments of vulnerability with trying to portray herself as the perfect daughter, repressing her emotions to prevent feeling the pain of it all, and her internal self-doubts.

Being known to hide her emotions and maintaining a hard exterior. I loved seeing her perspective of her relationship with Mal as well as the pain, feelings, and emotions she still harbors for him. 

I love the journey Kiki and Mal take in this story as they navigate through their identities, worth, careers, success, family life, friendships, and their relationship. 

Kiki and Mal showed an honest depiction of what a relationship is as it goes through heartbreak, trials.  and tribulations. Their relationship was paced really well. Their journey isn’t easy or light; it’s filled with real emotions, pain, hostility, resentment, and intense and honest conversations. Raw moments of healing. You can tell they had deep love for each other despite the hurt they caused each other. You could feel that love too in their interactions. 

Mal’s vulnerability was special, it had me teary. The pressures he had placed on himself and his ability to push through with what he went through broke me.

One of the things I loved was seeing the friendships, their group has a special bond that anyone would want to have. 

Overall, this book was perfect. Thank you @shonnareads for being there during this read, I couldn’t have survived without you. 

This was a beautiful ending to Kiki and Mal’s story.