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Sweet Heat

The heart-melting new romcom from the bestselling author of Honey & Spice

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Sweet Heat

By: Bolu Babalola
Narrated by: Weruche Opia
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'Hilarious, hot and heartfelt' MEG CABOT
'Romantic, sexy, fun, delicious and important' MARIAN KEYES
'A triumph' BETH O'LEARY

🔥🔥🔥

The most hotly-anticipated romcom of 2025, from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick and TikTok Book Awards winner Honey & Spice...

Not every relationship makes it out of university.
But Kiki and Malakai were supposed to be forever.
Everything was perfect, until it all went up in flames.

Three years after their epic break-up, Kiki's worked hard to forget her first love. But just as she thinks she's got her life under control - jumping into the distractions of her romance-by-calendar-invite boyfriend, and plans for her best friend, Aminah's, wedding - Kiki's career implodes, the family business teeters on collapse, and Malakai returns . . .

As Malakai takes up his role as Best Man opposite her Maid of Honour, suddenly Kiki can think of nothing else: their simmering chemistry, what went wrong, and why it is now impossible to act normal around each other.

Juggling a new job, the prospect of her parents' restaurant being sold, and keeping her best friend from going full bridezilla, dealing with The Ex is the last thing she needs. But somehow the spark between them is only getting hotter - and threatening to ruin everything.

They just have to get through the wedding, so why does it feel like playing with fire?

Heart-melting, hilarious and completely addictive, Kiki and Malakai return in this standalone second novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Bolu Babalola.

💖 LOVE FOR BOLU BABALOLA'S WRITING 💖

'Rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS

'Bolu understands desire better than anyone else' ANNIE LORD

'Incisively funny' ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

'Absolutely intoxicating' CASEY MCQUISTON

'Everything you could ever want from a romance and more - the vibes are simply immaculate' ZOELLA

'Babalola's writing shines' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

'Breathes new life into the genre with its vibrant characters and sexy, authentic voice' RED

'Romance will never be dead, as long as Bolu is writing it' JESSIE BURTON©2025 Bolu Babalola Best of 2025 Contemporary Romantic Comedy Women's Fiction Women's Voices Romance Heartfelt Funny Witty
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Critic reviews

I savoured every word of this searingly sexy second-chance romance. Bolu Babalola is in a league of her own - she has an Austen-like ability to capture the essence of a person, a feeling, in just a line. I didn't think she could top Honey & Spice, but she absolutely has.
Epic! A classic in the making. Bolu delivered-and with extra spice! Fans of Honey & Spice will Eat. This. Up.
Sweet Heat is a reminder that Bolu Babalola understands the minutiae of not only romantic relationships, but also the complexities of human behaviour in every beautiful, strange and sometimes painful circumstance. With both a lightness of touch and a depth of feeling, Sweet Heat is about the love that keeps looking for you no matter the cost, and with Babalola's signature humour, a story you'll want to read over and over again.
Whip-smart, super sexy and brimming with Babalola's characteristic wit, Sweet Heat is an intoxicating read that will make you consider sending a risky text to your favourite ex
Bolu Babalola has become one of the foremost romcom writers . . . Babalola expertly captures the frustration and tension that emerges when we encounter old flames, and asks us to consider how love can be equally transformative and disruptive. It's exactly the kind of book you need this summer
I savoured every word of this searingly sexy second-chance romance. Bolu Babalola is in a league of her own - she has an Austen-like ability to capture the essence of a person, a feeling, in just a line. I didn't think she could top Honey & Spice, but she absolutely has. (Beth O'Leary)
Epic! A classic in the making. Bolu delivered-and with extra spice! Fans of Honey & Spice will Eat. This. Up. (Lizzie Damilola Blackburn)
Sweet Heat is a reminder that Bolu Babalola understands the minutiae of not only romantic relationships, but also the complexities of human behaviour in every beautiful, strange and sometimes painful circumstance. With both a lightness of touch and a depth of feeling, Sweet Heat is about the love that keeps looking for you no matter the cost, and with Babalola's signature humour, a story you'll want to read over and over again. (Ore Agbaje-Williams)
Whip-smart, super sexy and brimming with Babalola's characteristic wit, Sweet Heat is an intoxicating read that will make you consider sending a risky text to your favourite ex (Yomi Adegoke)
Babalola expertly captures the frustration and tension that emerges when we encounter old flames, and asks us to consider how love can be equally transformative and disruptive. It's exactly the kind of book you need this summer.
All stars
Most relevant
I am a 53 year old white woman. There were 2 black children in our primary school and both were in my year. So firstly this story was a cultural education, which I greatly enjoyed. What makes an audio book a pleasure to me is in the first instance, the narration. Excellent, and a joy to have in my head. There is so much I want to say about this book but I just know I will fail to express just how much I enjoyed it as in comparison to the supreme language of the author, mine is lacking.
The pace is spot on. The characters are built up so well, making a strong foundation for this compelling, fiery, soulful, mature love story.
I envy the characters friendships. I envy their strength of character; their clever and witty minds. Of how strong and driven they are; and how successful and artistic they are too. I think if you were around them you would hope for a little of them to rub off on you.
I also loved that they were also human, working their way through self-discovery, grief whilst often misinterpreting things their loved ones did and said. Something we are all guilty of.
Finally, “thank you, for a happy ending”!

Richer than a chocolate gateau

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I could not put this book down, my attention was captured from the begining with a burning desire to finish it instantly. I felt this book deeply. I'm already on my second read!!

captivating, heart pumping, thought provoking rollercoaster a ride to remember

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I enjoyed reading about the female lead journey of pursuing her own carrer, in the in a way that is most authentic to her.

I enjoyed reading about the female lead journey of pursuing her own carrer, in the in a way that is most authentic to her.

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Really enjoyed this and I’m not typically a romance reader. of course it’s nice seeing black British women at the centre of a romance novel but I really became quite invested in all the characters from the love interest to the friendship groups to the associates, it was playful. It was poetic. It was indulgent in the best kind of way. Some of the scenes of intimacy went on for several pages which Was definitely an experience but it made sense in the context of the book. I definitely would recommend. It did have that kind of clumsy feeling in places of TV movies where some things are too tidy or too cliche or completely unrealistic, but that is part of the charm. The performance was so well done and she did a really compelling job of bringing the characters to life and surrendering to this world and at times you almost did forget it was just one actor she really brought the comedy and humanity. She really brought the charm so credit to everyone and well done Bolu.

Joyful and playful escapism

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I loved the maturity of this story. So deep and rich. I felt all the emotions of the characters! I enjoyed the narrator. She did such a great job and it was so nice to listen to.

At times it did feel like she was reading spoken word and I’m not sure if I liked that style or not but everything else? Accent, male and female characters, Yoruba?? Down pat👏🏾❤️‍🔥

This was such a magical and mature follow-up from Sugar and Spice!

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