Updated 8/30/25

SYNOPSIS

Kiki is a college student in England that hosts a radio show (Brown Sugar) with her best friend, Amina, where they speak on romantic relationships. Kiki is known to keep to herself and avoid men and relationships of all types.

While recording for her show, she realizes that a man she ran into earlier has to be the same guy the woman on campus are arguing over.

What could possibly happen?

MY RECAP AND REVIEW

It’s been said in reviews of this book before, but the feel of it is very much Dear White People on Netflix. I liked the first few seasons of that show, so I didn’t mind seeing aspects of it in this book. It pulls on the idea of there being a small community of black people on a largely white and racist campus.

The first few chapters, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book. It didn’t command my attention from the start and the way Kiki comes off at first is a little off putting. Kiki is stubborn and has a hard time of seeing things outside of her own perspective. She is even told how she comes across (self-righteous, hypocritical, and judgey). She seems to make an impact in her community, but shys away from really being known.

Throughout the book, she does go through a self discovery period. We see her trauma and why she is the way she is. She comes to understand that by avoiding vulnerability she also misses out on true community. Being an observer from the outside is different than observing as a participant.

Malakai and Kiki’s relationship is full of chemistry that kept me smiling. They understand each other because they’re similar, even if their approaches are different. They help each other grow in their artistry and as people. They challenge each other to look at their own actions and encourage each other to be better and to be vulnerable. The nicknames are cute and the banter is everything I love. They grow to be a support system for each other. It’s beautiful to read.

They also have a fake dating relationship trope. Let’s be real though. Were they ever really faking it?

There’s a typical third act breakup. I honestly can’t remember the reason why it happened. I don’t remember thinking that it was valid or that it made sense. I remember feeling like it was two people who avoid commitment sabotaging to continue to avoid it. The way they make up was very cute, very cheesy, and had me grinning from ear to ear.

OVERALL

I liked the author referencing “honey & spice” throughout the book. I enjoyed how she wrote the characters and the community as a whole. Malakai and Kiki and honestly her best friend were the highlights of the book. I felt invested in the story and the characters once I got into it and I was satisfied with the way everything ended.

Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. It is one of my favorites and one I would reread again if I ever decide to start rereading books. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because it took me a second to get fully into it.