Quick Summary: An emotionally heavy, second chance romance

My Review: Sweet Heat: A Novel by Bolu Babalola is a love story steeped in nostalgia. This beautifully written multicultural interest standalone is scheduled for release on 9/2/25.

About the Book: "...a sexy, hilarious, and heartfelt standalone novel starring Kiki Banjo, a young woman who hosts a podcast about modern love, even though her own love life is a hot mess. When her ex comes back into the picture, Kiki must decide whether she’s ready to risk it all—or let her heart burn again."

In My Own Words: Passionate love. Entangled hearts. Misunderstandings. Gut-wrenching loss. Life altering separation. Connections. The pain of reconciliation. Rhythms and reunions. The love of a lifetime.

About the Characters/Conflict: Kiki and Malakai had insane chemistry. It was obvious that their story was far from over and that it was still being written. What they shared between them was real, it was familiar, and it was relatable. The flashbacks from their past and the in depth look at their present revealed the depth of their feelings, as well as the serious challenges they faced.

What Made This Story Special: I loved the richness of the culture that was celebrated in this story. The whole vibe - with the food, the music, the language, the family and friends, the commitment to maintaining identity and integrity, the unifying presence of the community built around the identified businesses, and the nod to the importance of history - made this story come to life. It made it memorable.

About the Audiobook: This novel was narrated by Weruche Opia. I confess that this was my first time listening to this narrator. I found her rendering to be really enjoyable and very moving. With so many characters, she did not miss a beat. The voices were distinguishable and easy to follow. The emotional expressions were notable.

My Final Say: I approached this story with a sense of glad anticipation. I was not disappointed. I loved it. The emotions and feelings felt by KiKi and Kai were so deep. I was invested in watching their story unfold. From their initial reunion to their final moments, I was completely captivated.

I appreciated the mental health rep. The author wrote a believable angle. It was good to see.

Other: Because this book was so darn good, I do plan to read Honey & Spice. I cannot wait to see how it all started.

Readers who enjoy second chance love stories, close proximity working scenarios, and slow burn romances should like this story.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Cover: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (HarperAudio Adult | William Morrow), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for providing access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity. I cannot wait to become better acquainted with this writer's body of work. Salute!

So I didn’t know this was the sequel to honey and spice. I haven’t read that yet. Although this book didn’t make me want to pick it up any faster. Honestly, this second chance romance didn’t feel like anything romantic or made me root for them to get back together. I was 30% in before just giving up bc I just don’t care enough to keep listening.

Kiki was very whiny to me and I don’t have much to say about Malakai