For our August pick, the Zeda Book Club read Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola, a lively, funny, and emotionally layered campus romance that explores love, friendship, and identity through the lens of young Black British life. Equal parts rom-com and coming-of-age story, Honey & Spice celebrates community, self-discovery, and the courage to be vulnerable, even when your heart has learned to stay guarded.
The novel follows Kiki Banjo, a confident and outspoken university student who hosts Brown Sugar, a radio show where she warns her fellow Blackwell students about “wastemen”; emotionally unavailable men who play games. She’s smart, witty, and always in control, until she finds herself caught up with Malakai Korede, the very type of man she warns others about. What follows is a story full of banter, miscommunication, and unexpected tenderness as Kiki learns that love doesn’t always have to mean losing yourself.
One of the aspects that really stood out for us was how Honey & Spice explores complicated mother-daughter relationships. Kiki’s mother, a high-achieving academic, expects perfection and composure, often leaving little room for emotional softness. Their dynamic; sharp, sometimes cold, and full of unspoken expectations, resonated deeply with many of us. It opened a discussion about the emotional distance that can exist between mothers and daughters who love each other but struggle to connect, especially when strength and success are prized over vulnerability.
At Zeda Book Club, opinions about the book were divided. Some of us found it a little immature at first, with all the drama, gossip, and whirlwind emotions felt exaggerated. But then we realized: that is what love in campus looks like. It’s intense, performative, full of unnecessary drama and discovery, and Bolu captures that stage of life so vividly.
What we all agreed on, though, was how refreshing it was to read a young, African romance lead who is smart, flawed, and delightfully real. And while the story is set in the UK, it’s striking how Black and African-centered it remains. There are no white characters at all, which is a bold and fascinating choice. Instead, Babalola builds a self-contained Black world where the focus is entirely on the lives, love, and community of her characters. It’s a vibrant reimagining of what representation can look like; unapologetic, joyful, and self-defining.
Verdict
Honey & Spice is a charming and contemporary love story that balances humor with heart. Bolu Babalola gives us a heroine who is witty, vulnerable, and learning to unlearn her own defenses. It made us laugh, reflect, and appreciate the rare joy of seeing young African love stories centered entirely on themselves.
Zeda Book Club is open to women to join. We café hop and read a new book every month. We meet on the first Sunday of each month in Nairobi. Join the group here. Happy reading!
