Love in Color

Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold

By: Bolu Babalola

Narrated by: Ajjaz Awad, Nneka Okoye, Bolu Babalola, Olukemi Babalola

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

""Love stories by and about marginalized women . . . The heroines are strong and sure . . . Babalola’s writing shines.” — New York Times Book Review

""Absolutely intoxicating."" — Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue and One Last Stop

A vibrant debut collection of love stories from the bestselling author of Honey and Spice, retelling myths, folktales, and histories from around the world.

A high-born Nigerian goddess, who has been beaten down and unappreciated by her gregarious lover, longs to be truly seen. A young businesswoman attempts a great leap in her company, and an even greater one in her love life. A powerful Ghanaian spokeswoman is forced to decide whether she should uphold her family’s politics or be true to her heart.

In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.

With an eye towards decolonizing tropes inherent in our favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across perspectives, continents, and genres. Love in Color is a celebration of romance in all its many splendid forms.

“I am in love with every single word Bolu Babalola has written. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully.” —Candice Carty-Williams, international bestselling author of Queenie

WOW!!!

I love fairy tales and myths, both the original and the retelling. These are expertly, and I cannot emphasize this enough, EXPERTLY woven together. Beautiful job! I am so glad that my book club wanted to read this!

Black Women for the Win

Some of the earlier stories… I appreciated it in general and found as I got deeper into the book that they were more original than the ones that followed. Very quickly, I was able to pick up on a theme that this was about the Black woman, her success, she isn’t inferior but the decision-maker — the one in control. And although I found that some of the stories were seemingly repetitive, it was still so refreshing and just easy to listen to knowing that there will be no drama and that the Black woman will come out on top especially considering the likeliness of that happening in this world — in this country — are limited. So for that, I enjoyed the book and being celebrated and I would recommend it to anyone who is rooting for Black women in this book as well as this author and her future success.

The most lovely book about love

This book was so beautifully written. I loved the updated version of all these stories. Even the stories I was already familiar with still surprised me. It really filled me with joy. I also really appreciated the author's note at the end.

Beautiful, intoxicating journey through love!

Beautiful, intoxicating journey through many shades of love. Told with humor, sharp wit and a freedom that love so deserves. Bravo!!

I want more!

I am not only digging into all the stories retold in this very contemporary series of stories about love, strength, courage... But I'm also longing to find more by Bolu Babalola. After I heard an interview with the author on an NPR interview show I knew I'd have to get this anthology. Her wit and passionate voice certainly comes through the tales. My only disappointment was when it ended.

A fabulous thrilling and romantic group of stories

I most enjoyed listening to this while at work. It made my heart swell with adoration and awe at the loving feelings expressed with each character. I also felt impowered by the characters taking hold of their own realities. They never were a victim. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I hightly recomendation it!

I love everything about this book

Beautiful storytelling and creative reimagining of age old tales. She brings love and myth and archetype to the modern reader breaking free of arcane expectations while retaining the essence of these tales.

awesome tales

really loved the way the author reimagined each tale! the placement of the stories in more modern times brought something out of each story.

A must read for young African women

This book filled with short stories manufactured from folklore, really all tell the same story. In an eloquent and self-investigative way… they remind young African women like myself that we matter and we are deserving of love. I love that Bolu Babalola gave these women newfound agency and autonomy which parallel the modern women as opposed to what women were like in the patriarchal societies when their stories were first written. I cried several times. Well done.

Mostly good short stories

I typically struggle with short stories but this book was pretty good mostly. I read some and listened to some and preferred listening for these. A few of the stories were memorable but I didn’t love the fantasy-based ones so much. Overall a good and quick read.