Bolu Babalola (BeeBabs) has long been an undisputed authority on romance, and now she has the sweet, spicy, delicious page-turner of a debut novel, Honey & Spice, to prove it. katja_vujic spoke with her about the novel, the genre, and what's next
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos:Caleb Azumah Nelson, Courtesy of William Morrow Bolu Babalola has long been an undisputed authority on romance — a “Romcomoisseur™,” if you will. People have been DM’ing the 31-year-old author for romantic advice for almost as long as she’s been on Twitter, and she grew up on a hearty diet of romance novels , rom-com golden-era films, and gossip sessions with her mother. “My mum has always been very open about relationships and romance,” Babalola says.
I think it’s because it’s so aligned with femininity — and femininity is seen as weaker because of patriarchy and misogyny. Anything that connects to women, or that women connect to, is seen as frivolous and silly and lacking gravitas. Romance contends with human connection. It takes a great emotional intelligence, and intelligence generally, to capture that.
I love the way you built a world within a world in Honey & Spice — the sort of safe-haven Blackwell community within the really unwelcoming Whitewell campus. Even the friendships feel like love stories. I remember seeing somewhere that Honey & Spice was your sort of passion project, which you started on before writing Love in Color.Did the process of writing and publishing Love in Color change your approach to Honey & Spice at all?
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Just When You Thought It Was Over, the Hot Honey Trend Only Gets HotterHeinz and Wingstop are the latest brands to offer spicy honey, making the once elite condiment fully mainstream
Read more »
It's getting hot in here: How cooking-inspired romance novels are bringing some spice to the kitchen'Chef's Kiss,' 'For Butter or Worse' and 'Donut Fall In Love' are just a handful of the recent and upcoming romance titles that publishers hope will get readers' taste buds tingling and hearts pounding.
Read more »
Opinion: Post-Roe privacy fears remind me of ChinaAlso: Every time I read the Declaration of Independence, I am amazed by the bravery of...
Read more »
Relive the Couture Shows With Vogue EditorsVogue Club members will get access to the ultimate Couture Week recap.
Read more »
‘Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’ Season 3 Cast RevealedCheck out the women who are taking their drama on vacation in 'The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.'
Read more »