Bitter Honey Audiobook By Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström cover art

Bitter Honey

A Novel

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Bitter Honey

By: Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström
Narrated by: Délé Ogundiran, Palmira Koukkari Mbenga
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Spanning four decades and three continents, Bitter Honey is a story about a mother and daughter divided by long buried secrets, struggling to understand each other as they forge their own paths, from the internationally bestselling author of In Every Mirror She’s Black.

1978: A scholarship draws Nancyfrom Gambia’s warmth into Stockholm’s frigid 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: Tinahas had her taste of fame as Sweden’s sweetheart pop princess, representing her country at Eurovision. But beneath her glittery façade, she’s uncertain who she really is. Her mother, Nancy, seems desperate to keep the past under wraps, but will the unexpected appearance of Tina’s father—a man she has long thought dead—help open the door to self-discovery?

Nancy just wants to protect her daughter from making the same mistakes she did, but Tina longs for the freedom to mess up, knowing her mother will always be there to support her. The two women love each other unconditionally, but can they learn to trust each other as well?

This poignant novel delves deep into the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters and delivers a warm, heartfelt story of love, forgiveness, and women finding their voices.

Accolades & Awards

Editors Select
African American Editors Select Family Life Genre Fiction Sagas Women's Fiction Heartfelt Royalty

Editorial Review

Two women, two timelines, one unforgettable story
I can't stop thinking about this audiobook. Narrators Délé Ogundiran and Palmira Koukkari Mbenga take turns bringing to life the two dynamic women at the center of author Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström's novel, which masterfully weaves together the journey of a young Gambian woman navigating 1970s Sweden and her daughter's struggle with fame and identity decades later. The dual timeline brilliantly explores how generational trauma shapes mother-daughter relationships, especially when secrets and cultural displacement are involved. What struck me most was how both women must reclaim their voices and dreams after toxic relationships nearly destroy them. The mixture of melodic Swedish that flows effortlessly from Mbenga, paired with Ogundiran's pitch-perfect Mandinka—a tribal language of Gambia—creates a truly transportive listening experience. —Margaret H., Audible Editor

All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The character development of each character was on point!!

Good book!

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I loved this book, I’ve learned I really do love this author. I shall keep reading and it was beautiful I didn’t enjoy the voice actors very much but it was a great first experience.

The back and forth between both characters

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I really enjoyed this one. I hope Lola continues to expand the backstories of characters from IEMSB

3 for 3

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I binged all 3 in a matter of about 2 weeks. I hope to get the back story on more of the IEMSB characters. I loved listening. The readers brought it to life as well I felt like somebody was telling me their story first hand. Great all around

Keep going

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