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Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold Hardcover – April 13, 2021

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,519 ratings

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INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

"Love stories by and about marginalized women . . . The heroines are strong and sure . . . Babalola’s writing shines.” — New York Times Book Review

"Absolutely intoxicating." — Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue and One Last Stop

A vibrant debut collection of love stories from the bestselling author of Honey and Spice, retelling myths, folktales, and histories from around the world.

A high-born Nigerian goddess, who has been beaten down and unappreciated by her gregarious lover, longs to be truly seen. A young businesswoman attempts a great leap in her company, and an even greater one in her love life. A powerful Ghanaian spokeswoman is forced to decide whether she should uphold her family’s politics or be true to her heart.

In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.

With an eye towards decolonizing tropes inherent in our favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across perspectives, continents, and genres. Love in Color is a celebration of romance in all its many splendid forms.

“I am in love with every single word Bolu Babalola has written. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully.” —Candice Carty-Williams, international bestselling author of Queenie

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In telling these stories, Babalola herself becomes the seer and the seen, subversively providing a corrective to both the Western idea of who gets to indulge in love for love’s sake and whose myths are worthy of retelling... Babalola’s writing shines whether she’s writing parry-riposte banter or fresh, evocative interiority; each story will likely find readers who choose it as their personal favorite in the book. Love in Color, as a whole, is a strong and necessary reset of who is the seer, who is the seen, and who gets to do both.” — New York Times Book Review

"Beautifully written and full of joy. Bolu Babalola is a star." — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Absolutely intoxicating." — Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue and One Last Stop

"Bolu Babalola’s decolonized retelling of love stories and myths from around the world is a best seller for a reason: We’re all romantics at heart." — New York magazine, The Strategist

“Bolu Babalola splashes onto the scene with her fantastic debut collection… Magnificent… These stories are short, they’re perfect for the beach.” — Isaac Fitzgerald, Today Show

“Luscious… Come for the beautiful and achingly relevant narratives centered around dynamic women… stay for the reminder that the happiest ever after is falling in love with yourself.” — Essence

"A thrillingly gifted Nigerian-British author recasts literary legends... Babalola dives deep into the notion that “romance sweetens the casual bitterness we can encounter; it heightens the mundane and makes the terrestrial supernatural.” — Oprah Daily

"Good love stories are irresistible: They appear in almost every genre and culture, and are the subject of centuries of lore. Love in Color, the British Nigerian writer Bolu Babalola’s collection retelling myths from around the world, demonstrated just this last year. These stories persist because they carry healing and hope. Everyone can use the vicarious drama and swooping emotion a truly great romance brings, especially in these dark days." — The Atlantic

“Inventive, intimate, witty and wise, Babalola's irresistible explorations uplift you from the start. Here is love as freedom, love as deep joy. Romance will never be dead, as long as she's writing it.” — Jessie Burton, New York Times bestselling author of The Muse    

"Perfection in short story form, I am in love with every single word Bolu Babalola has written. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully."   — Candice Carty-Williams, international bestselling author of Queenie

"British cultural critic Bolu Babalola's delightful fiction debut is a work of power and pleasure. Drawing largely from African and Asian folklore — featuring Thisbe, Scheherazade, Ọ?un, Nefertiti, and more — Babalola crafts entirely modern love stories without any of the mistreatment of women that pervades so much mythology. The collection also includes three original stories from Babalola, all of which are more than deserving of their place next to the classics. As Babalola herself describes it, the book is 'a step towards decolonizing tropes of love.' It's also a lot of fun." — Buzzfeed

"Folklore enthusiasts and romcom fans alike will fall hard for Love in Color...Beautifully realized by Babalola, each retelling breathes contemporary imagination into cherished stories, making for luscious tales of loneliness, longing, and love." — Esquire

"These vibrant stories navigate the most complex human emotion and try to understand why it holds us hostage, while decolonizing tropes by forming new stories that already exist in so many cultures and communities around the world." — Refinery 29

"Oh but Bolu Babalola is clever...she finds the perfect new twist for every story that you think you know. Her collection of reimagined fairytales and classic stories is a true delight." — Dorothy Koomson, international bestselling author

“Richly imaginative, unashamedly romantic and a total pleasure to read. I didn't want it to end.” — Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods

“Lovely… The result is effortlessly readable, and the chemistry between characters and the focus on Black female empowerment will surely win over many romance fans.” Publishers Weekly

"British Nigerian writer Babalola combines wit and wisdom in this collection of reimagined, mythical love stories... This wondrous celebration tackles the emotional complexities inherent in passion, adding depth and shadows without resorting to cynicism... This is a joyous read for those interested in literary reworkings and for those looking to explore the complications of loving relationships from fresh perspectives." Booklist

“Full of life and character, it’s such a pleasure to take this ride through history, geography, legend and lore in the company of a writer as witty and intelligent as Bolu. Her romantic sensibility is second to none.” — Bethany Rutter, author of No Big Deal

About the Author

Bolu Babalola  is the bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick Honey and Spice and the short story collection Love in Color. She has worked as a writer for books, TV, and press, and as a cultural commentator. She lives in London, England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 13, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First American Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006307849X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063078499
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.01 x 7.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,519 ratings

About the author

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Bolu Babalola
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Bolu Babalola is a British-Nigerian woman with a misleading bachelor's degree in law and a masters degree in American Politics & History from UCL. She feels it is important to state that her thesis was on Beyoncé's "Lemonade" and she was awarded a distinction for it. So essentially she has a masters degree in Beyoncé. A writer of books, scripts and retorts, a lover of love and self-coined "romcomoisseur", Bolu Babalola writes stories of dynamic women with distinct voices who love and are loved audaciously. She is a big believer in women being both "Beauty and the beast". She is not a fan of writing her own bios. She can be found tweeting far too much @BeeBabs.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,519 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book lovely from start to finish, with well-written stories that explore universal themes of love. The book features diverse characters, and one customer notes how the author draws inspiration from folklore.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book lovely from start to finish, describing it as delightful and fantastic.

"...Such a lovely book from start to finish...." Read more

"...Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this selection and eagerly anticipate delving into more of her literary works." Read more

"Absolute gem of a book! Bolu Babalola is now on my radar — her literary prowess is enchanting & rooted in strength." Read more

"Loved every bit of this book. The stories draw you in and the it’s so well written. I loved that the author drew inspiration from folklore." Read more

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the well-written stories in the book, with one customer highlighting the numerous love stories and another noting the unique narrative structure.

"I just feel so good having read this book. So well-written, and the characters are just <chef's kiss>...." Read more

"Firstly, this book continues numerous love stories beautifully written . So ,cub so that there is always a story in here that you can relate to...." Read more

"...Every story captivated me and took me on a journey I both expected and didn’t expect. But I loved it...." Read more

"This book is so imaginative and each story is so engaging...." Read more

8 customers mention "Love story"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the love stories in the book, with one customer noting the fierce and bold nature of the romantic connections, while another highlights the diverse range of tales featuring black women finding love.

"...enjoyed Babalola's reimaginings of folktales, myths, and legends from around the world, especially because she specifically rewrote them to give the..." Read more

"...I appreciated the diverse range of stories and the detailed examples of love presented in this reading...." Read more

"...tales from around the world and turning them in some cases into modern love stories.... I recommend!" Read more

"...and Babalola’s portrayal of strong but sensitive and women with great capacities for love." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting the diverse cast and another noting the portrayal of strong yet sensitive characters.

"...The characters are so diverse that you fall down a rabbit hole or wanting more you crave more. I must read." Read more

"...I loved all of the witty banter and Babalola’s portrayal of strong but sensitive and women with great capacities for love." Read more

"...Wide ranging settings, 3D characters, and a richness of love in its many beautiful forms throughout...." Read more

Loved!
4 out of 5 stars
Loved!
First, I must say going into this book I was immediately pulled in by the introduction. It was was beautifully written and gave me what I was to expect going into reading these stories. “Love is tender, tentative, brutal, and bold. It’s messy and magic! It can be the most frightening thing in the world, purely because it feels like safety, and that safety is reliant on total trust in another, with whom we share our hearts, expose ourselves, and allow ourselves to be seen for exactly who we are.” I haven’t read a lot of short story books, but I loved this one. I went into this one reading only a couple stories in different sittings which I think it worked. I was able to absorb and reflect after reading. I loved that. I loved the imagery used in some of the stories which made me interpret the stories into my own thoughts. It painted the picture of the types of love being described in this stories and what it meant to me. Each story was unique in the way the characters approaches and fell in love. I enjoyed the mythical element of it and how the different approaches on love or falling in love took. Reading the stories you feel and see each character going into love whether they are for or against it. My favorite stories out of the book were: ♡︎Osun ♡︎Scheherazade ♡︎Yaa ♡︎Siya
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
    There is so much going on in each of these stories! It should feel disjointed considering it's a collection of short stories in which the only common theme is love, but they flow so easily from one to the other. It's easy to pick back up if you've had to set it down for some reason and sucks you right back in. Sometimes the love in the stories is fierce and bold, others it's fragile and filled with longing. Such a lovely book from start to finish.

    I really enjoyed Babalola's reimaginings of folktales, myths, and legends from around the world, especially because she specifically rewrote them to give the women in them more agency and control. There were a couple I'd never heard before and it was fun to learn more about these and the cultures they come from by doing deeper dives. I think my fave is the very last short story. 😘 The book may be finished but that story certainly isn't.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2024
    I just feel so good having read this book. So well-written, and the characters are just <chef's kiss>. I would gladly hop on reading a full novel based on any of these short stories if that is what Babalola ever chooses to do. As it is, these stories have continued on in my head just fine, and that is fine as well.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    To be honest, I was uncertain about my expectations while reading this book, as I was only familiar with its subject matter—love—without any context. Given the inclusion of numerous short stories, I naturally gravitated towards some more than others, but I made an effort to read them all. I appreciated the diverse range of stories and the detailed examples of love presented in this reading. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this selection and eagerly anticipate delving into more of her literary works.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
    Firstly, this book continues numerous love stories beautifully written . So ,cub so that there is always a story in here that you can relate to. The characters are so diverse that you fall down a rabbit hole or wanting more you crave more. I must read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023
    All of these stories were written so well I wanted them all to be full books. Every story captivated me and took me on a journey I both expected and didn’t expect. But I loved it. Can’t wait to re-read this anthology over and over again.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2022
    It is really Amazing the way Bolu Babalola rewrote love tales from around the world and turning them in some cases into modern love stories.... I recommend!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2022
    This book is so imaginative and each story is so engaging. I loved all of the witty banter and Babalola’s portrayal of strong but sensitive and women with great capacities for love.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2022
    From beginning to end the stories in Love in Color kept me spellbound. Wide ranging settings, 3D characters, and a richness of love in its many beautiful forms throughout.

    I have already recommended it to my book worm daughter and several friends.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Leeny
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love in Colour
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2025
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book, just what I needed. The complexity of love from around the world was refreshing with such strong, able bodied women truly inspiring.
  • Michelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Conforme et bon état
    Reviewed in France on December 21, 2024
    Conforme et bon état
    Report
  • Wilson Camargo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Livros
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 23, 2021
    O produto é o que esperava, me atendeu muito bem.
  • Zamo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it
    Reviewed in Germany on July 22, 2022
    Well written and exciting collection of short love stories.
  • Tanya
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love in Colour
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2025
    Book is in good condition. I'm yet to read it.