Sweet Heat - A Novel

The bestselling author of the Reese''s Book Club pick Honey and Spice returns with a sexy, hilarious, and heartfelt story starring Kiki Banjo, a young Black British woman who hosts a podcast about modern love, even though her own love life is in shambles--but when fate throws her back together with her ex, she must decide if she''s willing to risk it all for a second chance. Twenty-eight-year-old Kiki Banjo hosts the popular podcast The HeartBeat , solving romantic conundrums and dishing out life advice. While she plays the love guru for her listeners, behind the scenes she''s been hanging on by a thread. When a major broadcast deal falls through and her latest relationship implodes, Kiki is left wondering if she ever had the answers. Then Kiki finds herself face-to-face with her biggest mistake: 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 she has no choice but to play nice if she wants to save her career. Forced to work together for the summer, both are hell-bent on ignoring the smoldering chemistry between them. But when their undeniable attraction sizzles back to life, Kiki and Malakai will have to face their fears and decide what they''re willing to risk for another chance. A glittering modern love story, Sweet Heat is about chasing dreams and being true to our hearts.

Riassunto

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 

Relazione

"Inventive, intimate, witty and wise, Babalola's irresistible explorations uplift you from the start. Here is love as freedom, love as deep joy. Romance will never be dead, as long as she's writing it." - Jessie Burton, New York Times bestselling author of The Muse
"Perfection in short story form, 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
"Oh but Bolu Babalola is clever...she finds the perfect new twist for every story that you think you know. Her collection of reimagined fairytales and classic stories is a true delight." - Dorothy Koomson, international bestselling author
"Beautifully written and full of joy. Bolu Babalola is a star." - Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Bolu Babalola [is] this really great romance writer." - Quinta Brunson, Harper's Bazaar
"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
"The British Nigerian version of Emily Henry... Plenty of super-smart banter." - Boston Globe
"Kiki Banjo hosts an advice podcast, but her own life is falling apart. As maid of honor at her friend's wedding, she realizes her ex is the best man in this fine enemies-to-lovers tale." - People
"Looking for some rom-com action? Look no further than Bolu Babalola's Honey and Spice . . . It's messy, it's sexy, and it's a must-read." - Cosmopolitan, Best Summer Reads of 2022
"British cultural critic Bolu Babalola's delightful fiction debut is a work of power and pleasure. Drawing largely from African and Asian folklore - featuring Thisbe, Scheherazade, ?un, Nefertiti, and more - Babalola crafts entirely modern love stories without any of the mistreatment of women that pervades so much mythology. The collection also includes three original stories from Babalola, all of which are more than deserving of their place next to the classics. As Babalola herself describes it, the book is 'a step towards decolonizing tropes of love.' It's also a lot of fun." - Buzzfeed
"Hilarious, strikingly written and poignant, Sweet Heat is a wonderful sequel to Bolu Babalola's acclaimed debut, Honey and Spice." - BookPage
"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
"[A] smart, sexy summer read, which hits your brain and your romance buttons in one shot." - Los Angeles Times, 10 books to add to your reading list in July, on Honey and Spice

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Bolu Babalola
• Editore: William Morrow
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 02.09.2025
• EAN: 9780063306981
• ISBN: 978-0-06-330698-1
• Pagine: 496
• Dimensioni: 152 mm x 229 mm x 35 mm
• Categorie: Narrativa > Romanzi; Family life fiction, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, LITERATURE: WOMEN'S LITERATURE, FICTION: Romance / Romantic Comedy, FICTION: African American & Black / Women, FICTION: Family Life / Marriage & Divorce, FICTION: Coming of Age, FICTION: Small Town & Rural *, LITERATURE: GENERAL FICTION, FICTION: Romance / Holiday *, LITERATURE: AFRICAN AMERICAN, LITERATURE: FAMILY, Modern and Contemporary romance, Literature / General Fiction, Literature / Women's Literature, Literature / African American, Literature / Family