Sweet Heat: A Sparkling Modern Love Story of Second Chances, Undeniable Chemistry, and Navigating Life's Twists in the World of Podcasting
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
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Community Reviews
Sweet Heat is a masterclass in when “spinning the block” goes right, but it delivers so much more than just a second-chance romance. If you enjoyed the world of Honey and Spice, this story feels like an essential, heart-wrenching, and ultimately rewarding continuation of that energy.
The narrative follows Kiki and Malakai as they grapple with the painful reality of a relationship fractured by the weight of miscommunication, grief, and external stress. The author does a brilliant job of capturing that specific, hollow ache that comes when you think stepping away is the "responsible" choice for everyone involved—only to realize it just leaves you further adrift. It’s an incredibly relatable look at how we often sabotage our own happiness in the name of protection.
One of the most entertaining aspects of the book is that everyone around Kiki and Kai—friends, colleagues, even strangers—can clearly see the lingering love and intense sexual tension between them, even when the characters themselves are completely oblivious. Watching the world around them recognize their connection while they remained caught in their own emotional turmoil added a perfect layer of frustration and anticipation to the reading experience.
Their eventual journey back to each other doesn’t feel like a simple apology tour; it’s orchestrated by a beautiful mix of "divine intervention," serendipitous circumstances, and the support of friends who refuse to let them stay broken. The pacing is tight and the chemistry is palpable, making the story unfold with a cinematic quality that kept me fully invested from start to finish.
This is a story about the messy, human work required to choose each other again after the dust settles. I truly enjoyed the journey, and it serves as a wonderful expansion of the series.
I wouldn't describe this book as anything other than the ultimate BIPOC romance book. Perfect to adapt to streaming channel and what some daydream to live through. This isn't my genre but I have to admit that it is one of the best I have ever read as the writing and flow had flirtatious, lustful, salacious heat in a non cheesy way. Not a book club read nor a must read but for those looking for that modern Fabio day read, this is it.