Are you vocal about your opinions and beliefs? Are you confident in who you are and self-assured that no one can cause an imbalance in your inner state? I wish I was as self-confident as Kiki is.

Kiki the protagonist is a Nigerian British undergrad student at Whitehall University. She is a celeb amongst the black community – Blackwell, she’s the queen bee of FreakyFridays, a popular hangout spot and hosts Brown Sugar an in-demand radio show, where she does not hide from her beliefs and uses her voice.

While on campus, she encounters Malakai, a fellow undergrad who changes majors from Economics to Film. This causes his relationship to end. When Kiki finds out she calls him out on her show citing his lack of commitment and warns the Blackwell community not to fall for his theatrics. In her view, Malakai is the handsome boy who knows he is handsome and believes he is the catch.

“He didn’t engage with his attraction to you because he was so sure of your attraction to him, and why bother trying to make you feel good when he assumed everything he did would automatically feel good to you?”

“Honestly, why do so many guys mistake vigour for technique? Like, okay, you want me, this much is clear and frankly, understandable – but what are you going to do with it? Where is the finesse, hun? The clear understanding that you are handling a masterpiece?! You’ve got this far. Appreciate it’’.

Kiki faces challenges in her personal life, she has a fatally ill mother and her relationship with her best friend is rocky. This causes her to retreat and hardly talk to anyone. “Sometimes beautiful things get messy. Mess is okay.”

As the narrative progresses her encounters with Malakai increase and slowly they get close. They decide to work together for a common good, her- winning a prestigious internship, him- winning a filming competition. Creating a film on a talk show about relationships was the lightbulb.

Malakai’s fear of commitment and Kiki’s lack of a dating life makes for some interesting dynamics. The show is something I wish I could tune in to every day. Their conversations flow, seamlessly. Stay close to someone long enough and either you grow fond of each other or resent each other. For this two… Attraction brew.

“The love thing demands that you’re brave/ Seeing people for what they are can be scary that’s like full investment. Responsibility. You have to care and be committed to care. And you gotta care even while preparing for the fact that they’re not going to fit into your idea of perfection.”

“Be vulnerable and shit. Because you want to be close to the person who makes it worth it. It’s about connecting with someone who makes you want to try. And she made me want to try.”

These two characters’ banter is thrilling, and their views and opinions are thought-provoking. Their passion for their respective fields is admirable and their zeal to achieve greatness is inspiring. Babalola’s writing is mature, considerate and humorous. This is a highly romantic book; a proper boy meets girl story from scepticism to like. Give people a chance and they will surprise you. The use of Yoruba in the book was fascinating, a subtle reminder to be proud of our respective heritage.

Honey and Spice is a light read for when you’re in the mood for a romcom, sitcom, or mushy story. It explores growth, vulnerability and the euphoric sensation of falling in love. Can the movie come out already!!