Bitter Honey

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ: ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

PRAISE FOR LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ: ‘Lolá Ákínmádé crafts sharply written and deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid 'The queen of messy characters!' Onyi Nwabineli ' Bitter Honey is an urgent call for empathy, grace and understanding.' Glamour 'Ákínmádé is a master at shading the gaps between power and love.' Chika Unigwe '[Bitter Honey] is a real tour de force. Akinmade is a gifted storyteller.' Gary Younge 'I loved BITTER HONEY... one of the best books Lola has ever written.' Kim Golden Two women. Four decades. A lifetime of secrets. 1978: A scholarship draws Nancy from Gambia’s warmth into Sweden’s winter. When her friendship with charismatic scholar Lars blossoms into something more, she thinks she may have finally found her place. But there’s more to Lars than his charming persona, and Nancy is about to discover the danger of being drawn into his world… 2006: Tina has had her taste of fame as the nation’s Eurovision pop princess. But beneath her glittery façade, Tina is desperate to discover who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will an unexpected figure help open the door? With a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, BITTER HONEY explores relationships, resilience, and what it means to fully wear your skin and carve your own space in this world. The first standalone novel from Lolá Ákínmádé is her most ambitious yet, spanning four decades and three continents. READERS LOVE BITTER HONEY: ' Bold, lyrical, and richly layered . Lola Akinmade writes with fire'***** 'I fall in love with Lola's writing every time'***** ' More books like this, please ... such a captivating read'***** 'The character-building is great... eye-opening '***** ' B eautiful, emotionally resonant ... unforgettable characters'***** 'A highly addictive , compelling and heartbreaking novel'***** 'A novel that stays with you... evoking deep reflection '***** 'Deep, intense, really touching ... a magnificent novel'***** 'Like embarking on a profound journey that spanned not just years but entire worlds'***** 'The storytelling is breathtaking , the emotions raw, and the themes deeply resonant'*****

Guild of Food Writer’s Awards, Highly Commended in ‘First Book’ category (2021) In Bitter Honey , seasoned chef Letitia Clark invites us into her home on one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea – Sardinia. The recipes in this book do not take long to make, but you can taste the ethos behind every one of them – one which invites you to slow down, and nourish yourself with fresh food, friends and family. The importance of eating well is even more pronounced here on this forgotten island. Try your hand at Roasted Aubergines with Honey, Mint, Garlic and Salted honey, or a Salad of Pecorino with Walnuts and Honey, followed by Malloreddus (the shell-shaped pasta from the region) with Sausage and Tomato. Each recipe and the story behind it will transport you to the glittering, turquoise waters and laid-back lifestyle of this Italian paradise. With beautiful design, photography, full colour illustrations and joyful anecdotes throughout, Bitter Honey is a holiday, a cookbook and a window onto a covetable lifestyle in the sun – all rolled into one. Praise for Bitter Honey: "Reading Letitia Clark’s Bitter Honey : Recipes and Stories from the Island of Sardinia feels like being on the loveliest holiday... a beautiful book, infused with the spirit of place, and love for good, simple food." - Nigella Lawson "Just lovely. Fans of the Italian South will love particularly." - Marina O’Loughlin "One of the most exciting cookbooks of this year. The writing, photo, design and most importantly the recipes are all outstanding. One that you will read cover to cover and also cook from." - Olia Hercules "Like a blast of Sardinian sunshine on a drab British lockdown evening. Full of artichokes, pasta and joy." - Bee Wilson "One of the best cookbooks of the year" - The Times

Guild of Food Writer’s Awards, Highly Commended in ‘First Book’ category (2021) In Bitter Honey , seasoned chef Letitia Clark invites us into her home on one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea – Sardinia. The recipes in this book do not take long to make, but you can taste the ethos behind every one of them – one which invites you to slow down, and nourish yourself with fresh food, friends and family. The importance of eating well is even more pronounced here on this forgotten island. Try your hand at Roasted Aubergines with Honey, Mint, Garlic and Salted honey, or a Salad of Pecorino with Walnuts and Honey, followed by Malloreddus (the shell-shaped pasta from the region) with Sausage and Tomato. Each recipe and the story behind it will transport you to the glittering, turquoise waters and laid-back lifestyle of this Italian paradise. With beautiful design, photography, full colour illustrations and joyful anecdotes throughout, Bitter Honey is a holiday, a cookbook and a window onto a covetable lifestyle in the sun – all rolled into one. Praise for Bitter Honey: "Reading Letitia Clark’s Bitter Honey : Recipes and Stories from the Island of Sardinia feels like being on the loveliest holiday... a beautiful book, infused with the spirit of place, and love for good, simple food." - Nigella Lawson "Just lovely. Fans of the Italian South will love particularly." - Marina O’Loughlin "One of the most exciting cookbooks of this year. The writing, photo, design and most importantly the recipes are all outstanding. One that you will read cover to cover and also cook from." - Olia Hercules "Like a blast of Sardinian sunshine on a drab British lockdown evening. Full of artichokes, pasta and joy." - Bee Wilson "One of the best cookbooks of the year" - The Times