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purplepenning 's review for:
Honey & Spice
by Bolu Babalola
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Not gonna lie — it took several chapters and an embarrassing number of Google searches for this white, small-town, Gen X American to get the vibe of this one, but it was ultimately worth the effort. If I weren't so old and out of touch, I'm sure I would've enjoyed it even more. As-is, here's what I loved:
- a strong, complex, nuanced main character
- one of the best book boyfriends I've ever read in recent memory
- sizzling banter and gorgeous prose
- so much sister solidarity and friend support
- Afro-Caribbean, specifically Nigerian Londoner, voices centered and supported with beautifully cast context
- a couple of squee-worthy, next-level, book-nerd gestures that were absolute perfection
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Abandonment
slut shaming, non-consensual photos / revenge porn, blackmail, police harassment