Bitter Honey 🍯

By Lola Akinmade Åkerström.

Bitter Honey by Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a powerful, emotionally charged family drama that delves into identity, belonging, and the complexities of love and betrayal within a mixed-heritage family.

At the heart of the story is Tina, a young woman on the cusp of stardom, grappling with her place in a world where she often feels like an outsider—both within her family and society.

The narrative also explores her mother's journey, who travels from Gambia to Sweden to study at university, and how her life unravels in ways that Tina will later try to understand.

The storytelling is immersive, with the emotions being raw and authentic. Åkerström doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths about family dynamics, the weight of expectations, and the delicate balance between love that can heal and love that can hurt.

The prose is beautiful, and I especially loved how the author wove Swedish and Mandinka languages throughout the story, adding layers of richness to the narrative.

The characters are well-developed—some you’ll find yourself loving and others, well, not so much. It’s a compelling journey of self-discovery and navigating family relationships that are not always harmonious.

Thank you to Shannon and the team at Head of Zeus for sending me a limited edition proof copy! The. book is out now and available to purchase.

Buy the book here.

Buy the Kindle book here.

Support a local and independent bookshop and buy the book here.