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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Summer sizzlers: six must-read books by Black authors
Hello and welcome to The Long Wave. Amid an already bumper year of literary wins for Black authors, with the Sudanese writer Leila Aboulela's Pen Pinter prize among the most recent, there is no better time to beef up your summer reading list. In this week's newsletter, I'll talk you through some of my favourite page-turners – from a romcom about old flames to stories about queer life in Nigeria and a debut coming-of-age novel about class, affluence and grief. Sweet Heat by Bolu BabalolaBolu Babalola has become one of the foremost romcom writers – her short story collection Love in Colour was a bestseller and her debut novel, Honey & Spice, was picked for Reese Witherspoon's book club. Honey & Spice charted the fake-to-real romance of university students Malakai and Kiki. Now, the much anticipated follow-up, Sweet Heat, picks up three years after their explosive breakup, as Kiki finds that her ex is to be the best man at a wedding at which she is the maid of honour. Babalola expertly captures the frustration and tension that emerges when we encounter old flames, and asks us to consider how love can be equally transformative and disruptive. It's exactly the kind of book you need this summer. Sweet Heat is published by Headline Review (£18.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply. Great Black Hope by Rob FranklinThis debut novel centres on Smith, a young Black gay man who has been raised in a bourgeois family in Atlanta, and who is looking to escape his grief after discovering the body of his roommate, who had overdosed. Returning to Atlanta, the expectations of his family – a cabal of doctors and lawyers – only deepen his despair, and he soon finds himself again drawn once again to the tragic and glamorous New York underworld that claimed his friend's life. This book is a timely examination of the limits to which class can insulate Black people, and an antidote to respectability politics. Franklin was the son of an HBCU president during the Obama era, and it appears that he has gone through a significant journey while grappling with the pitfalls of affluence and shedding the false promises of exceptionalism. Great Black Hope is published by Simon & Schuster (£16.99). Order your copy at Absence by Issa QuincyIn Quincy's novel, the narrator is charmed by a poem first read to him as a child by his mother, which then follows him through his life. He's stirred by memories and emotions as he is confronted by letters and photographs, phantoms and secrets, all of which make up a life that has been affected by generations of profound familial tragedy. Quincy's prose is deftly lyrical and imaginative; I've had the pleasure of hearing him read from Absence at a literary salon in London and it was entrancing. He observes the fragility of memory, and what remains after our encounters, however fleeting, with people, say a schoolteacher or an estranged aunt; you might think of him as a counterpart to the novelists Rachel Cusk and Teju Cole. Absence is published by Granta Books (£14.99). Order your copy at Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa OsundeI loved Osunde's book Vagabonds!, so I am excited to get stuck into Necessary Fiction, which explores cross-generational queer life in Nigeria. The action is set in Lagos, a dynamic but chaotic 24-hour city, and against this buzzing backdrop Osunde's characters balance their sexuality and the demands of their lives: negotiating relationships with their parents, building chosen families, embracing and risking romance, and considering desire, death and religion. Lagos is a repository of dreams and aspirations that are often beaten down by the difficulties of the city – yet art, music and creativity have helped define it beyond the mismanagement and corruption it has suffered. 'Necessary fiction' is what Osunde's Lagosians must carry with them for survival. I look forward to getting to know them – and their stories. Necessary Fiction is published by Harper Collins (£16.99) on 31 July. Order your copy at The Catch by Yrsa Daley-WardThis hotly anticipated novel by the eminent writer and poet has been described as 'dark and lyrical' by the author Yomi Adegoke. You can certainly glean that from the synopsis. Twin sisters Clara and Dempsey became estranged after their mother vanished into the River Thames. But when, as adults, they notice a woman called Serene, who looks exactly like their mother at the time of her disappearance, their lives are thrown into confusion. Is Serene their mother? The originality of the plot is compelling, and so is Daley-Ward's exploration of familial absence and estrangement. The Catch is published by Cornerstone (£16.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Sign up to The Long Wave Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world after newsletter promotion Sunstruck by William Rayfet HunteBilled as Saltburn seen through the prism of race, Hunter's gay mixed-heritage narrator is down bad for the terrible and terribly wealthy Felix Blake, the brother of his university friend Lily. A romance develops during the summer when the unnamed narrator visits the Blake family in the south of France, but when they return to London, they are assailed by race and class tensions. Both men are haunted by past traumas, and the narrator also faces the sisyphean task of trying to fit into the Blake's world. In Sunstruck, Notting Hill in London is depicted as a site of great privilege and wealth (the Blake family's residence is there) and also a place where Caribbean culture is celebrated at the Notting Hill carnival. Sunstruck is published by Cornerstone (£16.99). Order your copy at To receive the complete version of The Long Wave in your inbox every Wednesday, please subscribe here.
Cosmopolitan
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Read an exclusive extract of Bolu Babalola's new book, Sweet Heat
Bestselling author Bolu Babalola is back with her hotly anticipated new novel, Sweet Heat . It's three years after their intense breakup, and Kiki has worked hard to forgive her first love, Malakai. They're about to see each other again for the first time at the engagement party of their respective best friends, Aminah and Kofi, as none other than maidof honour and best man. Read on for an exclusive insight into themoment they lock eyes, during Kiki's speech about her best friends at the event in London... Aminah is evidently very annoyed, because her accent has slipped from neutral posh to Lagosian posh. 'I went on Instagram and I saw him on that actor's stories – what's his name, Monae Noble? That overacting goat from that Motown show? They were at some party. If I find out that he missed his flight because he was hungover and doing body shots off some model's navel, he's going to have to square up to me! Doesn't he know that Ty is waiting in the wings to take his place? I–' Aminah's fully loaded now, about to unleash her clip of insults, but something must have flitted across my face, because her eyes flicker in apology. 'Oh–' I push a smile out at her, hoping the force would repress the imagery of Malakai licking body shots out of the grooved abs of a woman who probably makes videos like 'Day inthe Life of a Plant Whisperer and Choreographer' in a sultry whispering cadence. 'I think it's time for my speech.' 'Now, my girl has never been an outdoorsy type. In fact, I would say that Aminah's idea of camping would be staying in a hotel that hasn't got a pool.' There's a warm smattering of laughter that ripples across the 50-odd people in front of whom I'm standing as Aminah leans further into Kofi's arms and nods with a cute little unrepentant tick of her shoulder. 'That being said, I always knew there would come a day when my brother Kofi would gift her with a very... very large rock, and that she would accept.' Whoops swirl around the room and wrap themselves around the couple as Aminah lifts her hand up, flexing it in the royal wave. Kofi props her arm up witha triumphant, 'Yeah, you didn't know that man's a geologist?' I laugh and nod. 'Yeah, also a great DJ and producer. I don't like complimenting men, but I will give my brother that. And the thing is Kofi has always been good at blending. He used to help out on my radio show, help create mixes, and he would always know what songs would feed into each other, which would amplify one another, bring out the harmony, the feeling... which would speak with each other. And I truly believe that when he saw my beautiful, darling sister that first time at a uni party, doing her cute little two step and shimmy – you know the one – probably wiping down a seat before sitting down, sipping on her amaretto and pineapple, he knew they would make the right blend. Feed into each other. Make each other better.' Aminah and Kofi moon at each other, and the tenderness drapes heavy on my throat, making my voice harder to haul out. I push through it. '...unlike amaretto and pineapple,' I add. Aminah releases an indignant 'Hey!' that I gleefully ignore. 'Kofi is breezy, and Aminah… well, she ain't, as we well know.' Mirth ripples across the room as I zero in on my best friend's face, as dazzling as the ring on her finger, as her soul, as the love she gives to those who she deems worthy. 'But she's a wildflower. Beautiful, defiant, blooming wherever she finds herself, knowing who she is. Her place is wherever she is, and she owns it. Man, does she own it.' Aminah's eyes shimmer and she releases Kofi's hand to make a heart shape with her fingers in my direction. I reply with two taps on the left side of my chest with two fingers. 'And, the thing is, the breeze, it needs the wildflower to help give it direction, something to flow through, and the wildflower… well, the breeze reminds it to bend, to twirl. They're perfect together.' Kofi drops a kiss on Aminah's temple, squeezes her to him, and she rubs his arm. An internal pressure amps up and I feel my eyes begin to mist. 'Now, uh, I'm gonna save my good stuff for the wedding toast, but–' 'I'm sorry – that wasn't your good stuff? You already have us on the ropes. Mercy, please.' Shanti heckles me from where she's stood on the other side of the crowd, to a rumble of chuckling, dabbing the corner of her eyes with the edge of a curved index as Chioma teasingly pinches her waist and throws an arm round her. '...but they have something special,' I continue. 'And–' I look back into the crowd and the words I'm about to say fizzle on my tongue, the heat of his presence evaporating them into nothing. My eyes automatically snapped in his direction, not even knowing what they were being drawn to, but knowing, still. I will always know. The air seems to shift, make way for repressed feelings that are agitated to the surface, and it seems to have shifted away from me because I can barely breathe. I swear I can even smell him – wood and amber and resentment. I know, because, for better or for worse, my body reacts to his presence, acetone on a papercut. My heart hisses. There are footsteps as he comes further into the room, firm, swift steps that judder against my heartbeat. Heads turn to look and a good number of the female heads stay a little while, because that's what Malakai does, he turns your eyes sticky and your heart tacky, clinging on to him, so that you get stuck, tangled– Fuck, why now? He picks up a champagne flute from a nearby tray and that's when he looks at me and pins the remaining straggles of air I have to my ribs. I feel as if I'm being lanced with a honey-dipped blade. I almost buckle. It isn't lost on me that the last time I was standing in front of my peers giving a speech it was to declare my undying love for him. My hand slips a little on the flute and I grip it tighter. His face, the face I haven't seen in the flesh in two-and-a-half years, is inscrutable. Time hasn't etched it, but instead brought out things it was supposed to. His cheekbones are still steep, but his jaw is wider now, covered with a beard as plush as a night sky, glistening, and his skin is an undisturbed pool of dark elixir that looks like something you can lap at for refreshment; in fact, I used to. His deep eyes carry no love, no hate, but something strong and intense, wrapped in clingfilm to preserve it or maybe to keep out... Keep me out. I thought I was ready, but, as it turns out, I Am Not Ready. I need to somehow expel my spirit from my body right now, and unfortunately the only way to do that is to die. I contemplate it for a few seconds (by holding my breath for a long, long time), but I decide against it for many reasons including, but not limited to: Aminah has now noticed Malakai and immediately glances back at me, eyes huge with slight alarm and hefty concern and I am reminded that I need to speak – fucking speak, Kiki! I use my anger to melt down the blade in me, pour it over my voice so it sounds firm and I focus on anyone but the Someone. 'Um, as I was saying, it takes some bravery to hold on to something as big as what Aminah and Kofi have. To not let it go. Not everyone has what it takes.' I flick a look across the room now. Malakai's face is a placid lake, but the corners of his lips twitch, perceptible only to those with the knowledge of what that mouth can do. 'So let's make a toast.' I raise a wobbly hand, but keep my voice steady because my heartbeat ain't and my knees ain't and my brain definitely ain't, so something has to be. 'To Aminah and Kofi. And to not letting go.' Unfortunately, my gaze, rebelling against my restraint, snaps to Malakai's as his lips mouth, 'To not letting go.' He drains his flute and shoots me a look that's just as empty.
Miami Herald
15-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Costco quietly pulls popular product, upsets fans
One of the nice things about Costco is that the company likes to keep things fresh and interesting for members. Costco knows that consumers have plenty of options to shop for groceries and other essential items without having to pay an annual membership fee. But Costco also relies on those fees for a large chunk of its revenue. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Because of this, Costco goes out of its way to make sure it's giving members great value for their money. Related: Costco CEO admits warehouse club may change its hours Sometimes, that means introducing new perks. But often, it means bringing new products to shelves. In fact, Costco's management team enjoys likening the shopping experience to a treasure hunt. The company is well aware that many consumers come in with a small shopping list only to walk out of the store with loaded carts. And the reason is that members frequently get enticed by new products at seemingly unbeatable prices. Image source: Boyle/Getty Images Unlike traditional supermarkets, which may stock 40,000 SKUs (stock keeping units) or more at a time, Costco typically limits its inventory to 4,000 different items. There's a reason for that. Costco wants to make sure every item on its shelves meets its standards for quality. It's easier to do that with a narrower selection of goods. Related: Costco brings back huge perk members have missed Costco also strives to offer the lowest prices in retail. Having fewer items means the company can spend more time negotiating with suppliers. The flip side of all of this, of course, is that to introduce new items, Costco has to rotate products outof its lineup. That often forces members to say goodbye to products they love. Earlier this year, Costco made the decision to stop selling its Kirkland Signature soy milk. Fans of the product were very upset to see it go, especially since many relied on it as a non-dairy alternative. Costco also recently did away with its Sweet Heat snack mix. The blend of spicy and sweet nuts was a big hit with customers, and many were surprised to discover that it was suddenly gone. While Costco stocks its share of fresh grocery products, the store also sells a host of frozen entrees that can be heated up for a quick, convenient meal. Last year, Costco members were excited to see smoked ham and Swiss cheese pockets hit the freezer section. The "pockets" were actually a flaky croissant that served as a delicious breakfast, lunch, or snack. Related: Costco makes major investment to fix member problem But now, Costco users are taking to Reddit to complain that their beloved ham and Swiss pockets are nowhere to be found. And while some Costco locations may still have them, a number are reporting that the item has been discontinued. Needless to say, fans aren't happy. "I liked them, but now I can't find them in my Costco," one Reddit user said. "So good! My Costco had them for a couple months then they were discontinued," another user said. Unfortunately, the nature of Costco products is that they can appear suddenly without fanfare but disappear just as quickly. The takeaway? Members who fall in love with a given Costco product may want to stock up in case the company makes the decision to pull it without warning. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers That said, one Reddit user had a hack for those bemoaning the disappearance of the ham and Swiss pockets. They suggested buying a box of Costco bakery croissants, filling them with ham and cheese, and heating them up in an air fryer or toaster. It may not be an exact replica, but the taste could be pretty darn close. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. Related: Costco plans new checkout option members should love The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Costco and Trader Joe's have major drawback in common
If you were to do a survey of people who shop for groceries on a regular basis and ask them which stores have the best customer service, competitive prices, and fun mix of products, they'd probably give you two answers – Costco and Trader Joe's. Of course, Costco and Trader Joe's clearly have very different business models. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Costco is a membership-based store that's able to offer consumers discounts by selling products in bulk. Related: Costco CEO admits warehouse club may change its hours Trader Joe's, on the other hand, does not require any sort of membership. In fact, Trader Joe's doesn't even make shoppers sign up for a rewards card to snag discounts. Instead, it makes its everyday low prices available to anyone who sets foot in the store. Costco and Trader Joe's are also similar in that both have generous return policies. At Costco, you can bring back pretty much any item at any time, no matter the reason. At Trader Joe's, you'll generally enjoy a hassle-free refund, too, especially if there's a quality issue with the item you're returning. While there are plenty of benefits to shopping at Costco and Trader Joe's, one thing people often complain about is having to battle crowds. Because both stores are so popular, they tend to be pretty busy – especially on weekends and in high-profile locations. Related: Costco brings back huge perk members have missed If you've ever set foot in a Costco on a Saturday or Sunday, you may have found yourself cursing under your breath (or out loud) in the parking lot due to your inability to get a spot. And if you've ever been to a Trader Joe's location in a big city, you're probably no stranger to wraparound lines at the checkout area (sometimes so intense that you're practically stuck waiting outside to pay for your haul). Thankfully, Trader Joe's tends to do a good job of managing crowds by having store employees scan groceries quickly and move people through the queue efficiently. Costco recently said that it's working on a more efficient checkout process for customers, and that it's toying with options that could include "scan and go" technology. Even though crowds at Costco and Trader Joe's are a pain to deal with, they're a testament to how awesome both retailers are. Still, there's one practice that both Costco and Trader Joe's employ that customers do not love at all – discontinuing products on a regular basis. Costco and Trader Joe's pride themselves on keeping their inventory fresh. But both stores are only willing to stock a limited number of products at the same time. Related: Costco members angry over very personal product change For new products to come in, old ones have to sometimes get phased out. But what inevitably happens is that at either store, you might fall in love with a certain product only to never see it again. Costco recently eliminated popular products such as its Kirkland Signature soy milk and Sweet Heat snack mix. In both cases, fans were saddened to see these beloved items quietly get pulled from shelves. Meanwhile, there are many Trader Joe's products whose absence hasn't gone unnoticed. The company did away with a number of granola bar types in recent years, including Chocolate Chip Brownie & Oat and Vanilla Almond. To this day, there are probably lost parents wondering what snack to replace them with to keep their kids happy. Fans of Trader Joe's also miss the Thai shrimp gyoza and gorgonzola crackers, among many others. More retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers The reality is that Costco and Trader Joe's don't just yank products at random. They make those decisions based on how well a given product is selling. But it can still be a huge blow to see a staple item on your weekly shopping list suddenly disappear from the shelves without warning. So once you find that product you just can't live without, it could pay to stock up. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. Related: Trader Joe's makes a customer service decision Costco won't The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Costco quietly drops popular product, saddens fans
If you're a Costco member, one thing you've probably noticed is that the store's inventory is always changing. You could hit the bakery section one day to find a new layer cake on the shelves, or visit the cheese department and stumble upon a new gourmet assortment. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Costco makes changes to its prepared foods on a regular basis, too. Earlier this month, Costco debuted its shrimp ceviche. Customer reviews were mixed, with some members saying the dish was more like a shrimp salad. But others said they were happy with the new take-home entree. Related: Walmart makes surprising decision that may shock consumers Costco customers tend to appreciate the store's rotating inventory. And it's a big part of Costco's management team's strategy. Costco has long embraced the "treasure hunt" concept because it knows members want good value in exchange for the annual fees they pay. So the company tries its best to keep things interesting so that members are excited to explore the warehouse and try new things. Image source: Boyle/Getty Images Although part of Costco's member-first strategy is to continuously introduce new products, there's a downside. To make room for new items, Costco often has to take products out of its inventory lineup. Related: Costco puts famous New York City brand on shelves Costco, unlike other retailers, intentionally tries to limit its inventory to about 4,000 SKUs (stock keeping units). That way, Costco can keep a better eye on product quality and also position itself to negotiate the best prices for members. But sometimes, discontinuing products can be a sore spot for members. Last year, Costco stopped selling the jumbo muffins its bakery was known for and replaced them with a smaller version. Fans didn't necessarily mind the new size but were devastated to learn that their favorite flavors had gotten an unwanted overhaul. Costco also made the decision earlier this year to stop selling its Kirkland Signature soy milk. The company pulled that product due to sluggish sales, disappointing members who relied on their beloved soy milk as a dairy alternative. If there's one section of Costco members tend to love, it's the snack aisles. Costco's snack aisles are loaded with everything from national brands to original Kirkland mixes. And the low prices make it easy for members to keep their snack rotations interesting without breaking the bank. Related: Costco members angry over very personal product change One Kirkland snack mix that gained popularity was the Sweet Heat mix. It featured a blend of barbecue-coated almonds, spiced cashews, honey roasted sesame sticks, glazed pecans, and corn nuggets. What made Kirkland's Sweet Heat mix so spectacular was the perfect mix of sugar and spice. The honey in the sesame sticks and glazed pecans helped offset the kick of the more spicy cashews and almonds. But now, it seems like the Sweet Heat mix has gone the way of Kirkland Signature soy milk, because fans can't seem to find it on the shelves. And a search on reveals that the product is no longer available in a number of markets. One user reported on Reddit that they were so disappointed to see the snack blend disappear that they asked a Costco associate to look up the item and give an update. The Costco employee confirmed that the item was marked for deletion in the store's system, which is basically a step away from it being discontinued. Naturally, the news was not well-received. "This was my favorite one," one Reddit user wrote. "I tried it once and loved it," another user wrote. "Went a week later to buy more and no longer selling." More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers Of course, if there's one thing Costco is known for, it's the company's customer-first attitude. So if enough people reach out to Costco begging for the return of the Sweet Heat mix, it could start hitting the shelves again. Otherwise, members will have to sit tight and wait for the next fantastic Costco snack product to arrive. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
