Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 17/10/2025
Published by: Review
ISBN: B0DN25ZL2V
‘Sweet Heat’ serves up a spicy, beautifully written, second-chance romance packed with relatable struggles.
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Writing:
Storyline:
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Romance:
Narration & Audio:
I hesitated to pick up this book, worried that it would ruin the charm of Honey & Spice. To my delight, Kiki and Malakai’s journey in this sequel turned out to be the second-chance romance I didn’t know I needed. Their undeniable chemistry, combined with nuanced explorations of themes such as identity, vulnerability, and grief, quickly drew me back into their world. While the heat promised by the title is definitely delivered, I found the spice and romantic angst somewhat overwhelming at times, making parts of the story feel drawn out or repetitive.
The biggest mistake people make is thinking a relationship should be easy just because loving the right person is easy.
The highlight for me was the clever, authentic banter and character dynamics. It was also great to reconnect with the older, more complex character cast. Besides the characters, Bolu Babalola’s writing felt noticeably refined. It has a richer, more poetic flair that skillfully captures Kiki’s complex emotions and keeps the story deeply immersive. The transitions between the past and present also flow smoothly. However, the frequent tangents and pop culture references occasionally pulled me out of the moment.
Who you are is an abundance, not a burden.
Weruche Opia’s narration enriches the audiobook beautifully, with an emotive and nuanced delivery. My only complaint about the listening experience is that the audio effect used for phone calls felt unnecessary.
Discussion Questions (Contains spoilers!):
Q: Do you have any similar book recommendations?
Another book with a similar heartwarming mix of personal growth and romance is All I’ve Wanted, All I’ve Needed by A.E. Valdez. For fans of second-chance romance, I recommend Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. It has characters reconnecting after a complicated past and explores complex themes.
Q: What did you think of Kiki and Malakai’s initial meeting after years apart?
It was so well done! The timing added a dramatic punch, and their chemistry/tension was undeniable. Kiki’s whirlpool of emotions also made the scene feel incredibly authentic, and the hints about why they broke up piqued my curiosity.
Q: Are you a fan of second-chance romance?
They can be hit-or-miss for me. It all depends on whether the characters and storyline resonate deeply or fall flat. In this book, it worked really well because Kiki and Malakai showed emotional maturity and genuine care for each other.
Q: Were you convinced by Kiki and Malakai’s second-chance romance?
Q: Have you ever had an awkward interaction with an ex or someone you were trying to avoid?
Q: Which moment between Kiki and Malakai did you find the cutest?
Q: Have you ever experienced heartbreak?
Q: Have you ever unintentionally taken drugs or alcohol?
Q: What did you think of Bakari?
Q: Do you like receiving flowers? Which ones do you like best?
Q: Like Kiki, have you ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself around someone?
Q: Would you want to start a podcast? What would it be about?
Q: Who’s your favourite music artist and why?
Q: What did you think about Aminah and Kofi’s romance?
Q: Have you been to a fun bachelorette party or wedding?
Q: Were you happy with how the story ended?
Q: Which of the secondary characters stood out most to you?
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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