Sweet Heat is a masterpiece of second chance romance, and I really enjoyed it. It’s on another level. I think it’s safe to say we have a new reigning queen of romantic contemporary fiction.

This is technically a sequel to Honey & Spice, but I do think it is great on its own and not neccesary to read the first one. You can start here. I do recommend reading the first book though! It is just as good. Kiki and Malakai are such great characters, and you'll need to go back to see how it all began, which sort of starts in the first book. Their chemistry is plapable, and evident from book into book two.

Second chance romance is not exactly one of my favorite tropes because it is truly hard to do it justice. It has to be believable, especially in the wake of a previous break up and finding their way back to each other, but I think Babalola handles it with the grace, heat, and humor of a seasoned pro.

Kiki and Malakai are a couple I really rooted for. There is so much tension, so many longing glances, and so many moments where you think they will but they don't. Their breakup doesn’t feel contrived; it feels real. When they come back together, it's from growth and healing and that made it so satisfying. The dual timeline works so well in this book because we see what they were like in the past and the present, and we get to see their history and their full journey, which I loved.

But this book is more than a romance. It’s about growing into yourself. About family, friendship, identity, ambition, and navigating love when you’re still figuring out who you are. Kiki is sharp, funny, and full of vulnerability. Her fears, her fire, her insecurities are all so achingly human. And Malakai? He’s the perfect match: steady, sincere, hot as hell.

Also, the spice was so well done. It is so much more than just your typical scenes; it is growth and love and healing and actually adds so much to the story. These are scenes I think the author excelled at and it really enhanced the story.

Babalola’s prose is perfection; it is funny, poetic, grounded in culture and emotion. The themes of Black identity, sisterhood, and finding your path are woven in with elegance and heart. There are moments of joy and heartbreak, laughter and longing, and through it all, a romance that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bolu Babalola, and William Morrow for the eARC of this book.