Sweet Heat

A Novel

De: Bolu Babalola

Narrado por: Weruche Opia

BOLU BABALOLA IS… “A queen of romantic comedy.” – Oprah Daily • “Incisively funny.” – Entertainment Weekly • “A really great romance writer.” – Quinta Brunson, Harper's Bazaar • “Keeping the hope for true love alive and enjoyable.” –Shondaland • “A rom-com expert.” – New York Times

A Rolling Stone Most Anticipated Book of Fall

Two exes. One summer wedding. Zero chance of escaping the heat.

Prepare to laugh, swoon, and fall head over heels with this irresistible standalone romance from Bolu Babalola, the bestselling author of Honey and Spice, a Reese’s Book Club pick.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kiki Banjo hosts the popular podcast The HeartBeat, solving romantic conundrums and dishing out life advice. But behind the mic, career setbacks and a devastating breakup have left her hanging on by a thread. As she’s preparing to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend’s wedding, everything starts to unravel, and Kiki is left wondering if she ever had the answers.

Then Kiki finds herself face-to-face with the Best Man, her ex-boyfriend, Malakai—the smooth-talking, absurdly handsome, annoyingly perceptive man who stole her heart and then shattered it. While Kiki’s approaching rock bottom, Malakai’s been on the rise as a filmmaker, and now they have no choice but to play nice until the wedding is over. Both are hell-bent on ignoring the smoldering chemistry between them, but as they navigate the chaos of wedding plans, career ambitions, and Kiki’s growing fears about the future, they can’t ignore the spark that’s only getting hotter.

They just have to get through the summer. So why does it feel like playing with fire?

“Babalola’s sharp sense of humor, slick pop culture references, and keen sense of the zeitgeist . . . offer a refreshing portrait of what modern love really looks and feels like."" — Time

“Babalola expertly blends sex with societal discourse in ways that echo Jane Austen and Nora Ephron.” — Vanity Fair

""Babalola soars in her rich depictions of intimacy and relationships, in all their grandeur."" — The New York Times Book Review

Poetic love

Love. Love. Slow burn 2nd chance romance. Beautifully written with realistic characters, and laugh out loud dialogue.

Touching story, excellent narration

I really enjoyed the culture, the wit, getting to know the characters. This story filled me in a way that the highest New York times Best Sellers never do. The experiences of the characters felt so real but also ethereal at the same time.

Just When You Think It Can’t Get Better

Weruche Opia does it again bringing us expertly and perfectly into the world of Kiki and Kai. Honey and Spice is such an excellent jumping off point for their story to continue. To join their journey has been an honor. The emotion and complex textures of feeling Babalola evokes with her exquisite writing makes the experience of this story wholehearted. I wasn’t the same after reading Honey and Spice, I’ve probably read it now at least 10 times chasing that initial high. There are no words for how Sweet Heat has left me. Just irrevocably changed. This book was sheer and utter perfection.

Im crying !!!!

This book also so amazing it definitely held a lot of emotions everywhere. I’m literally crying right now. It was so good!

Beautiful Storytelling

As an avid reader of Honey & Spice, I eagerly anticipated this continuation of their captivating narrative, delving into the lives of the characters I had come to cherish. Bolu Babalola’s writing style is a harmonious symphony that resonates deeply with me. She transcends mere storytelling, weaving a tapestry of words that are both poetic and enchanting, yet grounded in realism and relatability. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking an immersive and emotionally resonant literary experience.

Phenomenal.

Bolu Babulola’s pen is outstanding. The prose in her books is matched by few. These characters will never leave me.

Best romance I’ve read

I love this couple sooo much, since I got invested in them in “Honey and Spice.” Here, they are incredible, and even more incandescent. They speak with such rich feeling and emotional intelligence! I learn from them even as I enjoy hearing about their super cool endeavors and fashion choices and friends. And I love how much I want to root for both of them, not just Kiki. They are 100% my favorite couple, of any genre.

Now that I’ve finished, my main comfort is hoping Babalola will continue her incredible work. Thanks to her for giving voice to characters this believable and yet extraordinary at the same time.

Oh yeah, and I’ve got to say the reading is—wow! She performs each character so I see them right before my eyes. With nuanced regional accents and even different intonations based on who they’re speaking to and what they’re saying. Her performance is a master class in itself.

THIS is how you do a second chance romance!!

I loooooved to this book!! I was worried that it wouldn’t compare to Honey & Spice, (which was a five star read for me in 2023) but it totally held its own. I loved the writing style (of course), the maturity of the characters, the way that their love evolved and grew, the comedy mixed in throughout the book, the chapter titles. Overall, just a very well written book, heavy on the VERY. This is how you do a second chance romance. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

*I immersive read this (listening to the audiobook while reading) so I have to shout out the amazing narrate as well, Weruche Opia (same narrator from Honey & Spice) did a excellent job making this story come alive.

*** MAKE SURE TO READ HONEY & SPICE FIRST ***

Incredible!

The love and passion this book was written with just oozed out! I laughed. I cried! I fell in love over and over! Omg, this was an awesome listen!

Deliciously Good

The words. The cadence of the story. Scotch and Kai. I was thoroughly impressed with how this story exceeded my love for the first. The progression of their love, their lives, felt natural. Evolved. I would LOVE to see this on screen.