A second chance romance that I really wanted to love but didn't. I loved the author's first book, Honey and spice, but just couldn't get invested in this newest novel set in the music industry world and has a podcasting music lover trying to rekindle things with her ex. The audio narration was just okay but the story just wasn't strong enough to keep me invested. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Sweet Heat is a great second chance romance that really made me understand why Kiki and Malakai broke up in the past and convinced me that they should be together now.

Kiki is an extremely cool main character, and I really appreciated the focus on her career. The emotions and yearning were so well done.

The narrators and production of the audiobook are great!

I was so upset when I read that the sequel was about Kiki and Malakai second chance romance like what do you mean they broke up??? I was so scared going into this sequel but Bolu Babalola delivered.

This is a good second chance story, it was pure, emotional and raw. I loved the banter, the humor, the romance, the sisterhood, the family bond and ofc the spice.

The storyline took us through the grief of different heartbreak, the healing and the rekindling of lost love.
I legit thought I was going to hate Malakai but thank God, instead his character got more depth. I was also glad to read that my girl Kiki is still ambitious and stubborn lol.

Sweet heat is not the cutest love story, it will take you through a roller coaster of emotions but you will love it.

Well done Bolu Babalola you just reminded me why Kiki and Malakai are one of my favorite couples and gave me a perfect picture of their happy ending 🥺

I wanted SWEET HEAT to redeem Bolu Babalola's writing for me because I read the premise and went .... YUP. YUP. This is the book for me. Unfortunately, I had the same problem with it that I had with HONEY AND SPICE, which was that the dialogue was hard to keep up with and so packed full of slang that my head was spinning. I think this book will totally find it's audience and be completely beloved by many ... just maybe not me.

Special thanks to the author & @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy‼️

Sweet Heat is the sequel to Honey & Spice that follows up on the romantic duo Kikiola Banjo and Malakai Korede. After book 1 I think we all assumed the two lived happily ever after. But book 2 begins with Kiki on a date with her current boyfriend Bakari aka “Mr. Full of Himself.” This threw me off and made me go back and read Honey & Spice because I had to know the type of relationship Kiki had with Kai before Bakari came in the picture. Bakari is basically nonexistent in most of the book by the way.

As we get deeper into the novel the author gradually reveals what caused Kiki and Kai’s breakup. And now with her best friend Aminah’s elaborate wedding in the works along with a shared work project the two will finally be face to face after all these years.

While reading I realized one of the biggest mistakes of their relationship was not being open and honest with each other. We even see this occur in Honey & Spice. She held back a lot and once he started going through his own personal issues he pushed her away in the process. But what I loved most about them was the chemistry always being there and every time it was intense and immersive. And there was just something about Malakai always knowing what to say to make a girl swoon and the sex 🥵.

Overall, I think this was a great follow up to Honey & Spice but the long chapters hated it and the burn was way too slow for me. But I did enjoy the banter between all of the characters and the deep connection Kiki and Kai shared. There was drama and necessary conflict that helped move the story along. This was a steamy and heartfelt romance about second chances, what’s meant to be always finding a way, and the heart wanting what it wants. The narrator also did a phenomenal job with the audio highly recommend this series!

sweet heat gave what it needed to give and more. i loved every bit of it. it felt nostalgic in the best way and reminded me why i fell for these characters back in honey & spice. rereading that book first made this one feel even richer, like stepping back into their world but seeing how much they’ve grown.

the banter was sharp, the chemistry was intoxicating making it so hard for me to look away, and the tenderness between them made me smile so much. i loved how their relationship balanced passion with real connection, showing not just the sparks but also the care and commitment underneath it all. the moments of humor, the callbacks to their first story, and the new challenges they faced together all blended into something that felt both familiar and fresh.

this book was fun, heartwarming, and everything i wanted it to be. i closed it feeling full, happy, and honestly wishing i could stay in their world a little longer.

⭐️ 5 stars!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. I loved Honey & Spice, but this one hit even deeper—it’s rawer, messier, and so much more emotional.

Seeing Kiki and Malakai years later, no longer those carefree college kids, made this feel real and grown. The way they’re thrown back together at a wedding and have to face everything they left unsaid was both heartbreaking and beautiful. I felt every ounce of their tension, longing, and vulnerability.

What I adored most:
• The writing is gorgeous—sharp but tender at the same time. Some of the lines literally hurt in the best way.
• The cultural details were woven in so seamlessly—the food, family, and music made everything feel so alive and authentic.
• The second-chance romance worked so well. Nothing felt rushed; their reconnection unfolded in a way that was both believable and worth the slow burn.

If I had one small gripe, it’s that there were a lot of moving parts—wedding drama, family pressures, career stuff—and at times it distracted from Kiki and Malakai’s relationship. The ending also tied things up a little too neatly for my taste.

Still, this book was everything I wanted from a second-chance romance—tender, fiery, and deeply satisfying. Definitely a 4.5-star read for me.

This was such a great second chance romance between Kiki and Malakai. There was angst, steam and I love all the emotions.

As I was listening to their story, I was curious what brought the break up in the first place - they seem so good together. I enjoyed the look backstory that led to breakup throughout the story.

What I really loved was the angst which felt so real with any second chance romances. I could feel the hesitation and how to approach what is next for them.

I also loved the friendship between Kiki and her girlfriends and how seriously she takes her job as the maid of honor.

Weruche Opia did a great job with the narration. I appreciated the Nigerian culture and language sprinkled throughout the book as well.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks @htpbooks_audio for a copy of the audiobook.

This audio book was incredible! Besides the book itself being amazing, the narration brought to life Kiki in a way that totally immerses you in the story with her. Malakai and her HEA is so hard fought, and I was so blown away by the poetry of the writing, by the in depth feelings I had as I read through the book.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for this ARC!

This was heart wrenching and romantic, full of love and longing. This was HOT! The spice was excellent, and was sprinkled throughout. The hottest part? When the mmc said ‘I started going to the therapist you showed me’ okaaayyyy. The audio narration was excellent, I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me about their inner thoughts and woes.

I did not read the first in the series but I’ll definitely be going back. Might be my preference actually, I do love to know how something ends before getting all the information. Kiki is a force of nature and I loved getting to sit in her perspective for the whole book. If romance is your genre don’t even think twice about this series and these characters.

I am still processing my thoughts on this one but I just loved Kiki and Malakai. Their chemistry was so palpable and raw. Being Nigerian myself, I appreciated the bits of Pidgin English, Yoruba language, and Nigerian cultural references sprinkled throughout. I laughed out loud at so many parts that reminded me of my own Nigerian family, though I’m not Yoruba. The friendship Kiki has with her friends is one that all girls dream of. They are hilarious af but also so real and supportive of each other.

The narrator was one of the best parts! Her Nigerian accent was gold! It warmed my heart and made me feel so connected to the characters. It’s always great when you have a good narrator, but it’s something more special when the narrator connects you, not only to the characters, but also to the story.

I didn’t read the first book, Honey & Spice, so I didn’t have much background on Kiki and Malakai going into Sweet Heat, but honestly, I didn’t need it. But I’m definitely going to go back and read it now.

Having read Honey & Spice last month, I was thrilled to dive straight into Sweet Heat. Getting to experience these books back-to-back made the sequel especially a powerful one

Kiki and Malachi were such a compelling couple in book one, so seeing them apart in book two created immediate intrigue. Bolu Babalola’s writing is lyrical, engaging, and full of emotional depth. The romance and tension between the characters felt authentic and gripping.

I found myself completely immersed, staying up late to finish because I just couldn’t put it down. The audiobook enhanced the experience even more the narration carried emotion and nuance beautifully, making the story come alive.

This was a true five-star read for me 5⭐. Bolu Babalola is now firmly on my must-read author list, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Kiki's professional and personal life is in a rough patch but her best friend is getting married. Seeing her ex Malakai for the first time in years, can she put aside their history to get her life together and support her friend?

One of the more sensual books I have ever read. Every moment feels like deep connection. Bolu Babalola explores what love looks like during joy, grief, career upheavel, and so much more.

4/5 stars

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for advanced access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow and Bolu Babalola for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Honey & Spice. I read it in 2023 when I first got back into reading as an adult and it was my first delicious taste of reading about experiences and lives different from mine and it opened my whole world! My reading habits and book choices completely changed after Honey & Spice. And now- being back in Kiki & Malakai's orbit was even more indulgent than the first time!

Second chance romance between a couple that has already had their Happily Ever After is a hard sell- but Bolu Babalola nailed it. She gave us a slow burn of understanding their coming apart for us to truly appreciate their coming back together.

The writing felt like poetry. The rhythm of the prose ebbed and flowed between cheeky banter, existential thought processes, and the best kind of character growth you can dream of. The intimacy was so well done- just as it was in Honey & Spice. It really added so much to the yearning, connection and chemistry.

Narration was spectacular, just as Honey & Spice was! Bringing Weruche Opia back was crucial to continuity in the listening experience- thank you!!

Characters 10
Atmosphere/Setting 10
Writing Style 10
Plot 10
Intrigue 10
Logic/Relationships 10
Enjoyment 10
10
CAWPILE rating method used. All credit to creator Book Roast on YouTube!

I loveddd Honey & Spice and I was so excited to read more by Bolu. Kiki is the host of a podcast and her love life took an unexpected turn. When she is invited be the maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding things really start to get interesting. Malakai is in the filming industry and doing well for himself. He just so happens to be the best man in the same wedding. Kiki and Malakai’s each went through some challenges and I enjoyed seeing their growth throughout the story. There’s tension, angst, the chemistry is hot and I felt so many different emotions while reading. This was such an entertaining audiobook to listen to. The narrator did a fantastic job at bringing the story and characters to life!

Read if you like:
💛female friendships
💛second chance romance
💛forced proximity
💛dual POV

This was legitimately great. I loved the author's previous book as well but this one had a greater degree of maturity to it, combined with some really lovely lyrical language, a hilarious group of friends and a love interest who was complex and interesting. It is maybe a bit too long, but I didn't mind it. Definitely recommend.

Something about this book felt SOOOO romantic. The angst, the emotions, the inner dialogue was all perfection. This was a beautifully written second-chance romance that actually had me rooting for them. The break-up and conflict was so realistic, not overly done, and still managed to hit you right in your feelings. Then we move on to their growth in this book, seeing these two characters come back together, and what a forced proximity does to them. I don't even have the sufficient words to describe how much I loved this book.

The side characters in this book also fit in perfectly and added to the story. I am such a huge fan of this book. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC of Sweet Heat. All thoughts are 100% my own and I'm just so grateful I got to listen to this one early!

🌱| One thing for sure, when #bolu writes a romance it is going to draw you in and hold on tight!! 💪🏾💕✨ IYKYK!! 🙌🏾 Soul mates. Second chances (one of my faves). The chemistry on overdrive. The truth of it all made clear in this sequel.✨🎧| The audio was amazing! Intimate. Palpable. Real. Raw. And layered.✨

Amazing. Seriously incredible. I need to purchase a book immediately to reread and annotate and I never want to reread romance. The depth of this story was so beautiful and I now need to go read honey and spice. 10/10.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced listeners copy.

I absolutely loved Honey & Spice, and was so excited to see this!!

I am very picky about second-chance romances, and I devoured this audiobook. I love KiKi & Malakai and was so invested in their reconciliation.

This story is hot and sweet and I just enjoyed it so much.