BOOK REVIEW: Black Sparkle Romance by Amara Nicole Okoro

Joanne Ike
Nov 9
5 min read

Updated: Nov 12

Note: this book was read and reviewed by me in November of 2023 on a previous site that no longer exists.

It's been a long and stressful few months, especially as a writer myself, preparing for and attempting NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this November. After literally writing myself into burnout, I was looking for something quick and easy to take my mind off thoughts of plots, scenes, and characters.

I wasn't expecting much from this Ankara Press romance novel, but Black Sparkle Romance was a pleasant surprise.

Mira Dike’s life is far from glamorous. She’s the PA to the editor at Black Sparkle, a high-end Lagos fashion magazine. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, getting coffee, carrying files, and managing her boss's mood—not exactly her dream job. To make things worse, she crashes into the flashy car of the annoyingly handsome Dominic Odogwu.

When she’s promoted to her dream job and given a chance to prove herself, she’s convinced her luck is about to change. But the photographer she has to collaborate with on the next magazine issue is none other than Dominic.

A Premise We Know And Love

It's a short read—short enough to probably fit within a 75-minute movie time slot. And, without a doubt, it would have been a great movie, with a humorous storyline complete with an over-the-top plot twist and a cheesy ending.

The plot follows the same skeletal structure as many Hollywood rom-coms.

Girl Meets Boy

Girl and Boy butt heads

Girl and Boy fall in love

It might feel formulaic, but the reason this structure is so popular is because it works.

But after all, Black Sparkle Romance is a book, not a movie, so we expect more.

The Forced Meet Ugly

The first pitfall is that Girl and Boy butt heads for no apparent reason.

The story opens with our protagonist, Mira, in the middle of one of her busiest days as a P.A. Before long, we find ourselves in the thick of what has to be the most awkwardly written meet-cute I’ve ever read.

Mira is immediately drawn to Dominic, but on the heels of that attraction comes irritation—why? I really can’t tell you.

“You come across your fantasy in real life and you bash his car headlight off … talk about the irony.”― Amara Nicole Okolo, Black Sparkle Romance

It's easy to think that the conflict stems from her bashing his car. But no. Dominic remains calm throughout the entire interaction. Instead, Dominic's composure is what seems to fuel Mira's irritation.

This prompts her to berate him for no reason when he's gracious enough to not ask for compensation for his bashed car.

It's a display of misplaced anger that leaves both Dominic and I confused.

Having access to Mira's thoughts doesn't help because Mira’s monologue in this scene is completely irrational.

Instead of thanking him and hurrying to her office (she was already so late), she accuses him of having an inflated ego.

Later, when Mira and Dominic have to work together, they keep bickering over the issue or rather non-issue. The author tries so hard to create conflict that she manufactures some from thin air.

And unfortunately, it doesn't stop there.

A Third Act From Hell

The third-act climactic conflict feels completely out of place, like oil and water—or like a short thriller sequence tacked onto a low-conflict rom-com purely for kicks.

To be honest, the entire last third of the book feels rushed and poorly executed, period. The plot takes a sharp turn, new characters appear out of nowhere, and established characters abruptly shift in tone.

I understand that the goal is to set up a third-act breakup, but instead of relying on forced conflicts that feel disconnected from the overall story, the author could explore the characters' emotional struggles and gradually build up to a natural and believable source of tension. This would result in a more organic and impactful breaking point.

“She missed him. God, she missed him so badly it hurt like an open sore sprinkled with salt.”― Amara Nicole Okolo, Black Sparkle Romance

Shallow Characters

The third pitfall is the characters. Despite being almost entirely from her point of view, Mira's character lacks depth and development.

Even though her desire for recognition in the workplace is one of the first thing we learn about her, we don't get to explore any of those passions or personal struggles. Why does she even want to be the editor of a fashion magazine so much? Without this additional layer, it's hard to fully connect with and empathize with her.

As for Dominic, on the surface, he's Mira’s complete opposite—relaxed where she's rigid, outgoing and friendly, where she's stiff.

I like him a lot more than I do Mira , and the two short scenes we get from his perspective only add to my affection for him.

Okolo missed out by not making this fully dual POV. Dominic's POV would have given us a much needed break from Mira's thoughts and enhanced our connection to an already likable character.

“What does a 21st-century Nigerian woman say when a man tells her he can’t describe how he feels minutes after sharing a kiss?”― Amara Nicole Okolo, Black Sparkle Romance

Lackluster Romance

There's clear chemistry between the two, but despite Okolo's attempt to show the development of the relationship, it feels a little insta-love-y to me.

When I got the inevitable ick at reading “I love you” too soon, I had to remind myself of the context of the story. What is page 90 for me is a 4-week-long acquaintance for Mira and Dominic, and in the fast-paced world of stories, I guess it's plausible for a deep connection to form in four weeks.

Ultimately, you can decide for yourself if this is believable or not, but I wish the story at least included more moments of vulnerability and shared experiences between Mira and Dominic.

Humorous Writing

The writing style is engaging. It's awkward at times, for example, Mira’s inner monologue or early conversations between Mira and Dominic, but generally, it's easy to read, fast-paced, and witty.

“I would know that voice in my sleep. I could hear it in my dreams, wake up and point him out any day, anywhere.”― Amara Nicole Okolo, Black Sparkle Romance

I will say Okolo loves her adverbs. There's at least one in each paragraph. Although it was distracting in the first few pages, it soon became my own little game to identify the most ridiculous ones. My favorite one is when Mira shuts her eyes rapturously.

At this point, it adds to the humor

The time jumps are also done skillfully.

Although the story spans several weeks, I had no trouble following the progression of events and orienting myself because it's immediately obvious in the first few paragraphs of every chapter just how much time has passed.

Coconut Beach

Possibly my favorite thing about this story is how immersive it is. Especially since it's set in a place that I know but have never been to.

Even though I've spent the better part of my twenty-something years living in Lagos, Badagry is one of those places where nobody visits just for fun. It's so far away from everything.

But the way Okolo describes the possibly fictional Coconut Beach makes me yearn to escape the hustle and bustle of the city's center for a real-life experience of the beaches in Badagry.

I can almost imagine myself lounging under the shade of coconut trees, listening to the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore.

“Some people find theirs in solitude, some in music but I found mine in nature, in the oceans of Badagry and the history behind it.”― Amara Nicole Okolo, Black Sparkle Romance

Final Thoughts

Writing: 3.5

Characters: 3.5

Plot: 3

Overall, I rate it as a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

Yes, it isn't perfect but it kept me engaged to the very end. It was the short and sweet break from thoughts of deadlines and word counts that I wanted.