Reading “Bitter Honey” by Lola Akinmade felt like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds. From the very first page, I was absolutely captivated by the interwoven stories of Nancy and her daughter Tina—two women navigating vastly different landscapes yet bound by the intricacies of motherhood and identity.
Set against the backdrop of 1978, we meet Nancy, who leaves the familiar warmth of Gambia for the bleakness of Sweden in pursuit of a scholarship and a brighter future. To say that Nancy's story unfolds at a breakneck speed would be an understatement. By the third chapter, I was entirely enmeshed in her journey, feeling the weight of her dreams and the gravity of her choices. Nancy’s life evolves in ways I could never have anticipated, and Akinmade masterfully peels back the layers of her character, revealing a woman who is as multifaceted as she is flawed.
What struck me most profoundly was Akinmade’s ability to present Nancy both as a mother and as an individual before motherhood claimed her narrative. It’s rare to glimpse a maternal figure’s life before they become entwined in the complexities of parenthood. This dual perspective felt like a time machine, letting me see Nancy through her own eyes and through Tina's, forcing me to confront the complicated realities that shape mother-daughter relationships. The title "Bitter Honey" comes to life as we explore how children can experience entirely different mothers, shaped by their unique circumstances and subjective perceptions.
The book is not merely a dramatic tale of family dynamics; it delves deep into the challenges of race, identity, and the male gaze, particularly for women. Through Nancy's experiences, there’s a raw and unflinching look at how society may reduce a woman to a stereotype, manipulating love into a space that can often feel more like a fetish than true affection. Even as I grappled with these difficult themes, Akinmade infused the narrative with a sense of hope, showcasing the resilience of women who reclaim their identities amidst external forces that seek to define them.
The characters in "Bitter Honey" are richly complex. Some I fell in love with, and others I despised with every fibre of my being. Akinmade’s knack for crafting nuanced characters allowed me to feel every emotion vividly, particularly when confronted with one antagonistic figure whose presence left a deep discomfort in my stomach. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that she does not shy away from complexity—she invites us deep into the emotional chaos, leaving certain twists hidden until we’ve travelled the entire narrative path.
This novel is undeniably heartbreaking. It navigates sensitive themes of sexuality, racism, addiction, and grief, painting a poignant picture of how an undeserving man can irrevocably alter a woman's journey and, by extension, her children’s. However, in the midst of the heartbreak, there are also moments of warmth and tenderness. Akinmade beautifully illustrates how the love of those we hold dear can breathe life back into us, reminding us of who we are, even when we forget.
"Bitter Honey" is a must-read.

*4.5 stars

Wow wow wow. This is my first book by Lola Akinmade and I am truly impressed. This was a wonderful read. The books follows mother Nancy and Tina, we journey with then through their complex and deeply complicated lives. Spanning across 40 years. When reflecting on this book I can say I was taken a full bodied journey and experiencing near enough all emotions.

At the crux, the book looked at how the pain, trauma and hurt a mother experiences can shape her as mother and ultimately her children's lives. My heart really goes out for Nancy, she did want the best for her daughter, Tina, but so much of her trauma and pride warped how she mothered her. There was a deep dive into the good bad and ugly of there relationship, highlighting the painful and uncomfortable realities of difficult mother-daughter relationship.

The were characters I loved, those I grew to love and those who I absolutely hated.

While reading I was anticipated how the book would end, how the lives of the characters would conclude and I'm so pleased to say the end left me feeling content. It was full of forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, redemption and what I loved most their began to thrive!!

As a historical fiction lover, this book did it so well.

I most definitely recommend this book!

Lola Ákínmádé Åkerström’s ‘Bitter Honey’ is a rich, emotionally resonant exploration of identity, love, and the complicated ties that bind a family across generations. Told through dual timelines — 1978 and 2006 — the novel delves into the lives of Nancy, a determined young Gambian woman with political aspirations, and her daughter Tina, a rising pop star grappling with the weight of expectations and the legacy of her mother's choices.

At its core, ‘Bitter Honey’ is a deeply layered family drama. Through Nancy’s journey from Gambia to Sweden and the life-altering love that reroutes her dreams, and Tina’s parallel struggles with self-worth, career, and complicated relationships, Akinmade Åkerström masterfully draws out the ways trauma, secrets, and unspoken truths can echo through generations.

The storytelling is immersive and poetic, with prose that captures the nuance of both quiet heartbreak and bold ambition. One of the novel’s many strengths is its multilingual texture — Mandinka, Wolof, and Swedish are seamlessly woven into the narrative, grounding the reader in place and culture without disrupting the emotional flow.

What stands out most is the authenticity of the characters. Some you’ll root for, others may frustrate you — but all feel undeniably real. Tina and Nancy’s mother-daughter relationship is fraught with tension, misunderstandings, and deep love, making their emotional arcs particularly compelling.

The novel also highlights underexplored themes: the emotional costs of migration, the pressures placed on women of color, and the silent toll of failed love and missed opportunities. Even as both Nancy and Tina find themselves shaped and scarred by romantic relationships, the novel doesn’t offer simplistic answers. Instead, it presents love as both a balm and a burden — capable of healing, but also of wounding deeply.

While the narrative centres on the women’s experiences, secondary characters like Tobias — Tina’s brother and Nancy’s son — serve as emotional anchors, offering glimpses into the support systems that often go overlooked or under-appreciated.

Akinmade Åkerström also deserves credit for the historical depth and cultural sensitivity embedded in the book. From political aspirations in 1970s Gambia to the music industry in 2000s Sweden, the context is well-researched and thoughtfully executed, adding richness without overwhelming the personal stories at the heart of the novel.

In short, ‘Bitter Honey’ is a powerful, beautifully written novel about the ties that bind us and the ones we struggle to untangle. It is a story of ambition, loss, legacy, and ultimately, the search for belonging.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Bold, lyrical, and richly layered. Lola Akinmade writes with fire and feeling in this sweeping tale of sisterhood, betrayal, and female resilience. It’s a story of pain and survival wrapped in stunning prose—unforgettable and deeply moving.

Bitter honey was such a tremendous book. I love Lola Akinmade Akerstrom’s way of telling stories. Her characters feel so real - like people I could meet in the streets.

In Bitter Honey, we meet Nancy, a student from Gambia finding her feet in the Swedish educational system and her daughter Tina, a young singer struggling to find her identity after finding out her father who she thought was dead is alive.

This story was incredible touching and reminded me that mothers were once daughters. I loved that we got to see the relationship between Nancy and Tina. The book highlighted so many issues in society that it would take a thesis to unpack all the different layers. I loved the complex characters and story and can’t wait to read whatever Lola writes next!

A stunning book that will stay with me for a while. Beautifully developed characters and incredibly well written.

**ARC Review **

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Lola Akinmade Åkerström’s Bitter Honey is a deeply layered family drama. The novel weaves a rich, emotionally charged story of identity, belonging, and the complexities of love and betrayal within a mixed-heritage family.

At its heart is Tina a young woman on the verge of stardom struggling to find her place in a world where she often feels like an outsider—both in her family and in society. We also see the story of her mother unfold in previous years after she travels to Sweden from Gambia to study at university.

The storytelling is breathtaking, the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant. Akinmade Åkerström doesn’t shy away from exploring the uncomfortable truths of family, the weight of expectations, and the ways love can both heal and wound.

The prose is beautifully immersive, I loved the inclusion of Swedish land Mandinka languages throughout. The characters felt very, some you’ll love and others you will definitely hate! This novel that digs into the not-so-harmonious side of family relationships while offering a compelling journey of self-discovery.
Highly recommend!

Happy International Women’s Day! I just finished a really good book by a female author featuring two strong and compelling characters. The story unfolds across two timelines.
In the first, set in 1978, we follow Nancy, a young woman navigating her move to university in Sweden and falling into a risky relationship with a much older man. The second timeline, set in 2006, follows Tina, Nancy’s daughter - a talented singer chosen to represent Sweden in the next Eurovision Song Contest. But just as she prepares for the biggest moment of her career, her world is turned upside down when the father she believed to be dead suddenly reappears.

I found myself more drawn to Tina’s storyline, even though she was the messier character, constantly caught up in drama. But in a way, that made her feel more real and relatable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

An exploration of love, betrayal, identity, and resilience, Bitter Honey delves into cultural displacement, emotional isolation, and the sacrifices women often make in the name of love. Set in Sweden, the novel examines the complexities of relationships and the quiet struggles that shape our sense of self.

The book captures raw emotions, internal conflicts, and a portrayal of the slow erosion of self. Its exploration of cultural expectations adds another layer of depth, highlighting the unspoken pressures that influence personal choices.

Nancy’s and Tina’s journeys felt both personal and universal, shedding light on the compromises people make when trying to fit into a life that may not truly be their own. It made me reflect on the importance of self-worth and the courage it takes to reclaim one’s identity.

4/5 because, at times, the pacing felt uneven, and I wished for deeper development in some secondary characters.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you’re drawn to stories about identity seeking, loss, and the resilience it takes to build a life very different from the one you once imagined as perfect.

This is the second book I’ve read by Lola and I really enjoyed this one aswell. Again heavily based in Sweden this book follows Tina who is making her way to stardom as a singer even being picked to represent Sweden in the Eurovision contest. However she takes a fall from grace when her Dad reappears much to his other families disgust. The book flicks between Tina’s and her mums POV from present to back in the 80s and her relationships. The book covers many topics mostly racism, relationships , lies and secrets. I will be recommending to others and looking out for more from this author.

What a delight!
Short snappy chapters that are easy to get through but equally bring a sense of real character development. I especially enjoyed the dual timeline that not only bought the characters together, but equally united an understanding for the reader.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you netgalley and the publisher.

Where do I start! This book took me longer than I expected to get through it, only because I was so frustrated by Tina and her impulsive and reckless (in my opinion) actions 😅 and I wanted to avoid reading about her making yet another mistake! I do however, think that’s a sign of good book, where I’m so invested and affected by a fictional character!

So we follow two main timelines. One in the past (around 40 years ago, 1978) which is the story of Nancy, a young lady who moves from Gambia to Sweden to study at university with hopes of being Gambia’s first female president, how she falls in love and her life is forever changed.

The second timeline is the present day (well, 2006!) where we continue to follow Nancy as a single parent to two young-adult children (Tobias and Tina), but mainly focus on Tina who is poised to be Sweden’s next big pop star.

In the present day, we follow the ups and downs of Tina’s career where she’s pursing a career as a pop star but stumbles and faces a number of issues which seem to be related to her relationships with different men; whether that be her father, a best friend or a boyfriend. It becomes evident to the reader that Tina is really on a journey of self-discovery. Her story almost mirrors some of some of the themes her mum faced 40 years earlier, and some, ongoing currently. Her mum, Nancy has had her life diverted or even derailed primarily due to love.

Ultimately, this a story of how a young Gambian woman with a promising future has her life turned around because of a failed love which leads to some generational issues which are again reflected in her daughter’s behaviour. They both are forced to deal with issues of relationships, race and self identity. We also understand the intricacies and challenges in Nancy and Tina’s relationship and how all the secrets have played a part in that.

Just to be clear, whilst Nancy and Tina have some challenging relationships with men, they also enjoy some amazing relationships which in my opinion they have overlooked or inadvertently taken advantage of e.g. of Tobbe/Tobias (Tina’s brother/Nancy’s son).

There were also a couple other points which stood out to me but from Lola’s writing. First, is how she delicately but efficiently weaves in Swedish, Wolof and Mandinka into the story and conversations. Whilst I don’t understand any of these languages, Lola does an amazing job of translating without interrupting the story or losing the significance of what is said. Secondly, from the background events to the historical references (although sometimes altered and acknowledged at the end of the book) you can really tell that a lot of research has gone into this book. It really pays off as it adds to the story, setting the stage and having a good context for the events taking place in Nancy and Tina’s lives.

A really interesting read - 4.5 stars! Looking forward to Lola’s next masterpiece!

Thank you Lola Akinmade Äkerström, Head of Zeus Publishing House and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

On (e)paper, this sounded like exactly my sort of thing as I love a multi-generational story but unfortunately this wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

I appreciate this is a very subjective criticism but as I couldn’t be less interested in Eurovision or football (they weren’t mentioned in the blurb), I found it difficult to invest in Tina and Seb’s storylines initially.

I was most intrigued by Tina and Nancy’s relationship but a lot more page space is dedicated to their toxic romantic relationships. As well as the expected discomfort of the romances themselves, I found the writing of the intimate scenes really off-putting and references such as “perky breasts” and “panties” felt like they’d come from a male author.

Criticisms aside, this was a speedy read and enjoyed how Swedish, Wolof and Mandinka words as well as real-life cultural events were woven throughout the story.

First of all, thank you Netgalley and the publishing house Heus of Zeus for allowing me to read this great novel before its publication in May. But after reading this novel, I should rather say: Tusen Tack!

We meet Tina, a young singer with a promising future. At the same time, we discover her mother Nancy, forty years earlier, who came to Sweden from Gambia to finish her studies. The two women are very different but they will both fall in love with men who will make them suffer. From the first chapters, we want to discover their destiny and secrets and it is with pleasure that we follow them over several decades.

I loved this reading: the author's style is really gripping, the chapters are short, the double temporality brings suspense and the characters are amazing. I really liked the sentences in different languages ​​that bring a bit of a change of scenery: Swedish but also in languages ​​that I discovered as I read, such as Wolof or Mandinka.

The characters are terribly endearing, I found Nancy incredibly modern and courageous. I liked discovering her journey before becoming a mother. Tina is more impulsive and sometimes hard on her mother or Seb, but I would put that down to youth.

The mother-daughter relationship is really well exploited, with all its secrets and this obvious lack of communication between the two women. Likewise, toxic romantic relationships are present from beginning to end through different characters like Lars or Jonas. The author describes very well the hold on women and how their lives, their dreams can be shattered very quickly.

It is a deep, intense, really touching novel and I am really delighted to have discovered Lola Akinmade Åkerström. I enjoyed discovering Sweden through her pen, I only know the country from having spent holidays there and everyone was very welcoming. But we also see another side of society here, with racism for example. It is also a quest for identity for Tina and how family helps us build ourselves. A magnificent novel that I can only recommend.

4.5 stars rounded up

Beautiful storytelling with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the two timelines slowly merging into one, complementing rather than detracting from one another. Deep, beautiful, tragic, heartwrenching all in one. Would highly recommend, not just to fans of Lola Akinmade Åkerström.

Bitter Honey is a compelling book that spans four decades and three continents, offering readers a profound exploration of identity, family secrets, and the journey towards self-discovery.

The story alternates between two women: Nancy, a young scholarship student from Gambia in 1978, and her daughter, Tina, a pop sensation in 2006.

In 1978, Nancy leaves the warmth of Gambia for the cold of Sweden, eager to seize the opportunities her scholarship offers. Her friendship with Lars, a charismatic scholar, soon blossoms into something more. What initially seems like a love story takes a darker turn as Nancy begins to uncover Lars’s hidden truths, drawing her into a world that may be far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Akinmade poignantly captures Nancy’s vulnerability, hope, and the emotional turmoil of being far from home while grappling with a growing sense of foreboding.

Fast forward to 2006, and Tina, now a pop princess, is adored by the public yet disillusioned by her fame. Beneath her glittering exterior, she struggles with her identity and yearns to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, has spent years burying her past, but Tina’s quest for the truth leads her to unravel long-held family secrets. As Tina delves deeper into her mother’s past, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that forces her to confront the legacy her family has been hiding.

Akinmade’s writing is exquisite, deftly capturing the complexities of culture, familial bonds, and the haunting grip of the past. The alternating perspectives and timelines between mother and daughter create a richly layered narrative that is both emotionally resonant and thought-provoking. The book delves into the universal themes of identity, independence, and the importance of carving out one’s own path in life.

The pacing is balanced, moving between the slow-burn tension of Nancy’s early years in Sweden and the fast-paced world of Tina’s pop career. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Bitter Honey is not only about uncovering the weight of secrets but also about the strength it takes to face them and the courage to create a future that is one’s own.

This book is a moving, insightful look at the bonds that tie us, the scars we carry, and the powerful journey of self-discovery. Akinmade's beautifully crafted narrative makes Bitter Honey a must-read for anyone interested in stories about family, identity, and the complex ways the past shapes our lives.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot remained consistently engaging, leaving me eager to learn what would happen next or what had occurred in the past.

The themes of love, identity, race, abandonment, and womanhood are thoughtfully explored throughout the book. I found myself admiring the resilience of both women (especially Nancy) as they navigated their respective challenges. Their flaws, however, did elicit some frustration, particularly due to all the secrets and the lack of communication that seemed to steer the relationship between mother and daughter. This dynamic added complexity to their interactions and highlighted the challenges they faced in understanding one another.

The variety of men depicted in the book was also fair. Lars, in particular, was a character that stood out for his unsettling and obsessive nature. His characterisation was spot-on and I really hoped things did not play out like how they did but that wouldn’t have made it a good read.

Overall, the plot is paced well and the unravelling of their lives was lovely to read. Definitely one to read!

Bitter Honey covers two woman called Nancy and her daughter Tina. It is set over four decades.. The book makes you want to know more about both their secrets, they fortune. The emphasises the importance of choosing your own future, and learning from it.

Spanning two timelines, from Gambia to Sweden, Bitter Honey recounts the tale of Tina in 2006 Stockholm, chasing her dream of singing in the Eurovision Song Contest to that of her mother Nancy thirty years earlier newly arrived from Africa who is drawn to her compelling Professor.


A tale of secrets, mothers and daughters and the men who come between them.

Thoughtful and thought provoking.

I really enjoyed the previous books in this connected series by Lola Akinmade and so I looked forward to this installment. I love how the narrative rolls along like a lightweight novel but deals with lots of issues and immigrant experiences in Sweden. This story gives us the back story of Tobias's ( from the previous novel, Everything will be Alright)mother, Nancy who won a scholarship to come and study in Sweden from Nigeria. It has a dual timeline delving into Nancy's past and also following her daughter, Tina, in the present and how she deals with fame when she wins the competition to be Sweden's entry in The Eurovision song contest and her life spirals when the father Nancy has laways told her was dead comes along to congratulate her. Good read.