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A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
欧宝娱乐 Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2024)An epic love story one hundred years in the making鈥�
Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing.
Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn鈥檛 one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she鈥檚 the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they鈥檙e long-stemmed roses, she鈥檚 a dandelion: an adorable bloom that鈥檚 actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her.
When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers.
One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.
Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked.
Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing.
Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn鈥檛 one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she鈥檚 the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they鈥檙e long-stemmed roses, she鈥檚 a dandelion: an adorable bloom that鈥檚 actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her.
When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers.
One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.
Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2024
3187 people are currently reading
124220 people want to read
About the author
Tia Williams
28听books5,327听followersTia Williams began her career as a beauty editor for magazines including Elle, Glamour, Lucky, Teen People, and Essence. In 2004, she pioneered the beauty blog industry with her award-winning site, Shake Your Beauty - and published her debut novel, The Accidental Diva. She went on to pen two young adult novels: It Chicks, and Sixteen Candles. Her 2016 bestseller, The Perfect Find, is being adapted for a Netflix film starring Gabrielle Union 鈥� and her latest novel, Seven Days in June, debuts in June 2021. Tia is currently an Editorial Director at Estee Lauder Companies, and lives with her daughter and husband in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,773 reviews
February 7, 2024
i deserve financial compensation after reading this鈥︷煒�
ricki and ezra are that pair that are cosmically intertwined and destined to be together in any universe.
this book was magical, lyrical, romantic, poetic, and beautifully crafted. even beyond the romance, this book is a love letter to harlem, written through out 100 years.
i love ricki and ezra separately as people and together. 鈥淏ut when I met Ricki, I knew I was wrong. I was a fool, thinking that I was born to do anything grander than loving her."
EZRA PLEASE STOP
ricki and ezra are that pair that are cosmically intertwined and destined to be together in any universe.
this book was magical, lyrical, romantic, poetic, and beautifully crafted. even beyond the romance, this book is a love letter to harlem, written through out 100 years.
i love ricki and ezra separately as people and together. 鈥淏ut when I met Ricki, I knew I was wrong. I was a fool, thinking that I was born to do anything grander than loving her."
EZRA PLEASE STOP
March 11, 2024
the worst part of this romance book is the romance.
the best part of this book is: it's genre-bending. it's bantery. it's filled with unforgettable characters and a cool flower shop and a lovely setting in harlem. it is unrealistic in literally every way but most of the time that is fine too.
but i didn't like the love story, which is insta, and which is the story. no matter what the surroundings i can never seem to get past that one trope. it is my kryptonite.
i had so much fun with the rest of this! but not with the biggest part.
bottom line: hello instalove my old enemy.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
----------------------------
tbr review
it's leap year season
the best part of this book is: it's genre-bending. it's bantery. it's filled with unforgettable characters and a cool flower shop and a lovely setting in harlem. it is unrealistic in literally every way but most of the time that is fine too.
but i didn't like the love story, which is insta, and which is the story. no matter what the surroundings i can never seem to get past that one trope. it is my kryptonite.
i had so much fun with the rest of this! but not with the biggest part.
bottom line: hello instalove my old enemy.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
----------------------------
tbr review
it's leap year season
December 29, 2024
this book is a tale of two halves: a solid first half that does a great job at getting the reader hooked on the characters and the mystery surrounding their connection and a disappointing second half that forgets about all the development that was built in the first half.
i loved the first half. i enjoyed learning about ricki and ezra and, even though its pretty obvious, i couldnt wait until the reason behind their connection was revealed. and while the second half didnt ruin the entire story for me, i was so bummed by how rushed everything feels. its definitely a classic case of missed potential.
but, overall, this is a sweet story and the perfect read for a leap year.
鈫� 3.5 stars
i loved the first half. i enjoyed learning about ricki and ezra and, even though its pretty obvious, i couldnt wait until the reason behind their connection was revealed. and while the second half didnt ruin the entire story for me, i was so bummed by how rushed everything feels. its definitely a classic case of missed potential.
but, overall, this is a sweet story and the perfect read for a leap year.
鈫� 3.5 stars
March 1, 2024
4.5* This was so not what I was expecting this book to be but it ended up stealing my heart by the end. Beautiful 馃ス
July 30, 2024
Tia might be the novel I most enjoy, this ! The narrative is as enjoyable as the steamy love story. In fact, the narrator is not only reunited with her true love, but also with an old family, a rock star college best friend, and miraculous coincidences that are unexpectedly kind. I appreciate how they are all woven beautifully into the conclusion.
Audiobook:
The the tender moments are captured very well, especially the ending, which I loved. Ricki has found herself, love, and an unbreakable friendship. She is unapologetic in staying true to who she is.
Definitely check this one out, especially if you want a heartfelt and steamy romance with the perfect balance of friendship and self-realization!
Audiobook:
The the tender moments are captured very well, especially the ending, which I loved. Ricki has found herself, love, and an unbreakable friendship. She is unapologetic in staying true to who she is.
Definitely check this one out, especially if you want a heartfelt and steamy romance with the perfect balance of friendship and self-realization!
April 5, 2024
3.5猸愶笍 I'm not connecting well with magical realism in modern romance novels. I thought this was going to be an easy 5 star but when immortality was introduced 50% into the novel, it lost me 馃様馃様
I tried to follow the story and enjoy Ezra and Ricki's relationship but I don't know what went wrong, maybe it's just me but it started to quickly feel like insta-love even though it wasn't. I wish I had enjoyed it better 馃槶馃挆
I tried to follow the story and enjoy Ezra and Ricki's relationship but I don't know what went wrong, maybe it's just me but it started to quickly feel like insta-love even though it wasn't. I wish I had enjoyed it better 馃槶馃挆
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
Ever been the odd-one out in your family? The one dancing to the beat of your own drum? You may enjoy meeting Richard Wilde, Jr. - better known as Ricki - the free-spirited youngest daughter in the Wilde family - the 鈥渄andelion鈥� to her sisters鈥� 鈥渞oses鈥�, as she鈥檚 described.
While her prim and proper sisters Rashida, Regina and Rae - referred to by others as Rashidaginarae, since they seem to think and operate as one mind on things - all work for their Dad鈥檚 highly successful chain of funeral homes, Ricki鈥檚 vision for her future has a bit more life to it. She wants to be a florist! Her dream is to own her own shop and bring beauty to the world with her floral designs.
When fate introduces her to feisty and fashionable nonagenarian Della Bennett, who just lost her beloved husband and offers Ricki a space in her Harlem brownstone to live and open a flower shop, she jumps at the opportunity! Her family may not believe she鈥檒l succeed, but she does 鈥� and that鈥檚 all that matters, isn鈥檛 it?
Flowers may not be the only thing in Ricki鈥檚 future, though, when she encounters a mysterious man in a garden while out walking one night. It鈥檚 as if she鈥檚 always known him and his reaction to her is equally strange, but there鈥檚 no denying their connection. Who is this handsome stranger?
Here鈥檚 where the story really gets interesting! There鈥檚 more to this man, Ezra Walker, than meets the eye. Ricki鈥檚 hilarious no-holds barred friend, Tuesday, isn鈥檛 so sure about him, but Ricki? She can鈥檛 seem to avoid him even if she wants to!
What will the future hold for her? Let鈥檚 just say that she never could imagine in her 鈥淲ilde-est鈥� dreams (sorry - I couldn't resist) where the next few weeks will take her and how Della, Ezra and Tuesday will fit into her story! They鈥檙e all wonderful characters who were a joy to spend time with.
This is my first read by Tia Williams, who also wrote Seven Days in June, and I鈥檓 impressed! Her prose is lovely and peppered with warmth and humor throughout. She鈥檚 able to balance the melancholic aspects of the story, evoking just the right mood, without dragging the story into the overly emotional sap that some stories suffer from. There are some spicy open-door scenes, but not too many and nothing you can鈥檛 easily skip past!
This does have a strong thread of magical realism - especially in the second half, so if that鈥檚 not your thing, you may not enjoy this as much. That IS my thing, so I loved it! It also has chapters that occasionally skip between past and present, showing the reader both modern Harlem and looking back to its Renaissance days, offering a look at important figures and places in Black history - especially major contributors to the music we still enjoy today!
At its heart, this is a charming contemporary romance with two fascinating characters who you can鈥檛 help but root for. The only ding to my rating was because I thought the ending wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, so it lost just a touch of the emotional impact I'd hoped for. It certainly didn鈥檛 ruin anything, though. The story is wonderful, and the epilogue was so clever!
I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, wonderfully narrated by Mela Lee and Preston Butler. Both formats were excellent, so it鈥檚 dealer鈥檚 choice on what you prefer. I highly recommend both if you can!
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄 陆
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and author Tia Williams for this digital ARC to honestly review and to Libby/my library for the audiobook. It鈥檚 out now.
While her prim and proper sisters Rashida, Regina and Rae - referred to by others as Rashidaginarae, since they seem to think and operate as one mind on things - all work for their Dad鈥檚 highly successful chain of funeral homes, Ricki鈥檚 vision for her future has a bit more life to it. She wants to be a florist! Her dream is to own her own shop and bring beauty to the world with her floral designs.
When fate introduces her to feisty and fashionable nonagenarian Della Bennett, who just lost her beloved husband and offers Ricki a space in her Harlem brownstone to live and open a flower shop, she jumps at the opportunity! Her family may not believe she鈥檒l succeed, but she does 鈥� and that鈥檚 all that matters, isn鈥檛 it?
Flowers may not be the only thing in Ricki鈥檚 future, though, when she encounters a mysterious man in a garden while out walking one night. It鈥檚 as if she鈥檚 always known him and his reaction to her is equally strange, but there鈥檚 no denying their connection. Who is this handsome stranger?
Here鈥檚 where the story really gets interesting! There鈥檚 more to this man, Ezra Walker, than meets the eye. Ricki鈥檚 hilarious no-holds barred friend, Tuesday, isn鈥檛 so sure about him, but Ricki? She can鈥檛 seem to avoid him even if she wants to!
What will the future hold for her? Let鈥檚 just say that she never could imagine in her 鈥淲ilde-est鈥� dreams (sorry - I couldn't resist) where the next few weeks will take her and how Della, Ezra and Tuesday will fit into her story! They鈥檙e all wonderful characters who were a joy to spend time with.
This is my first read by Tia Williams, who also wrote Seven Days in June, and I鈥檓 impressed! Her prose is lovely and peppered with warmth and humor throughout. She鈥檚 able to balance the melancholic aspects of the story, evoking just the right mood, without dragging the story into the overly emotional sap that some stories suffer from. There are some spicy open-door scenes, but not too many and nothing you can鈥檛 easily skip past!
This does have a strong thread of magical realism - especially in the second half, so if that鈥檚 not your thing, you may not enjoy this as much. That IS my thing, so I loved it! It also has chapters that occasionally skip between past and present, showing the reader both modern Harlem and looking back to its Renaissance days, offering a look at important figures and places in Black history - especially major contributors to the music we still enjoy today!
At its heart, this is a charming contemporary romance with two fascinating characters who you can鈥檛 help but root for. The only ding to my rating was because I thought the ending wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, so it lost just a touch of the emotional impact I'd hoped for. It certainly didn鈥檛 ruin anything, though. The story is wonderful, and the epilogue was so clever!
I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, wonderfully narrated by Mela Lee and Preston Butler. Both formats were excellent, so it鈥檚 dealer鈥檚 choice on what you prefer. I highly recommend both if you can!
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄 陆
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and author Tia Williams for this digital ARC to honestly review and to Libby/my library for the audiobook. It鈥檚 out now.
December 31, 2024
My #2 Favorite Romance Novel for 2024
鈥淚 refuse to live in a world without you in it.鈥�
Sometimes families can mean well and expect you to follow along in their rich footsteps 鈥� the successful family funeral business.
But then there are those, like Ricki who have their own creative, talented spirit that needs to follow their own destiny, despite what the family expects of them.
鈥淪he was all hope and light and captivating artistic vulnerability, as luminous and colorful as sunlight refracted through a stained-glass window.鈥�
Would Della who walks in the door seeking support for her recently departed husband at Ricki鈥檚 family funeral business, be the right angel that sees what her own family can鈥檛 in her?
鈥淪he just remembered knowing, with certainty, that she鈥檇 randomly met her real-life fairy godmother and that she鈥檇 felt as dazed and dazzled as if she鈥檇 been touched by a magic wand.鈥�
Off Ricki goes to Harlem, New York to set her destiny in motion.
Starting her own business and living in the basement building owned by Della who lives in the top 3 stories of the same building, what new life is in store for Ricki?
Especially when she runs into the tall, dark, rude and secretive Ezra.
And speaking of secrets鈥�
What is that secret that is holding Ezra back?
Will Ricki be what Ezra needs to ultimately save him from himself 鈥� or is he an ultimate danger to her?
This magical, sexy, rich racial consciousness undertone poetic story had me going from page one. I was mesmerized by Ricki鈥檚 desire for independence just as much as I was curious by Ezra鈥檚 mysteriousness.
Still there were so many questions that passed through me as I flew through the pages鈥�
Would Ricki succeed without her family? What was the pull and tug between Ricki and Ezra? Would they overcome whatever it was that presented such tension between them? Could they ever have a chance as a couple? Will these two be able to find what they needed for a truly happy life? And, will it include each other?
And then there was Della 鈥� what key did she hold?
This unique page-turner with some magical elements was captivating and emotionally charged throughout. It kept me extremely engaged wanting more.
With an endearing (and sometimes quirky fascinating) supporting cast of characters, this story stayed with me up to the last page.
One last thought鈥his truly is an epic love story on so many levels. Maybe, one of the best ones I have read this year! Could this possibly be my favorite of 2024?
鈥淚 refuse to live in a world without you in it.鈥�
Sometimes families can mean well and expect you to follow along in their rich footsteps 鈥� the successful family funeral business.
But then there are those, like Ricki who have their own creative, talented spirit that needs to follow their own destiny, despite what the family expects of them.
鈥淪he was all hope and light and captivating artistic vulnerability, as luminous and colorful as sunlight refracted through a stained-glass window.鈥�
Would Della who walks in the door seeking support for her recently departed husband at Ricki鈥檚 family funeral business, be the right angel that sees what her own family can鈥檛 in her?
鈥淪he just remembered knowing, with certainty, that she鈥檇 randomly met her real-life fairy godmother and that she鈥檇 felt as dazed and dazzled as if she鈥檇 been touched by a magic wand.鈥�
Off Ricki goes to Harlem, New York to set her destiny in motion.
Starting her own business and living in the basement building owned by Della who lives in the top 3 stories of the same building, what new life is in store for Ricki?
Especially when she runs into the tall, dark, rude and secretive Ezra.
And speaking of secrets鈥�
What is that secret that is holding Ezra back?
Will Ricki be what Ezra needs to ultimately save him from himself 鈥� or is he an ultimate danger to her?
This magical, sexy, rich racial consciousness undertone poetic story had me going from page one. I was mesmerized by Ricki鈥檚 desire for independence just as much as I was curious by Ezra鈥檚 mysteriousness.
Still there were so many questions that passed through me as I flew through the pages鈥�
Would Ricki succeed without her family? What was the pull and tug between Ricki and Ezra? Would they overcome whatever it was that presented such tension between them? Could they ever have a chance as a couple? Will these two be able to find what they needed for a truly happy life? And, will it include each other?
And then there was Della 鈥� what key did she hold?
This unique page-turner with some magical elements was captivating and emotionally charged throughout. It kept me extremely engaged wanting more.
With an endearing (and sometimes quirky fascinating) supporting cast of characters, this story stayed with me up to the last page.
One last thought鈥his truly is an epic love story on so many levels. Maybe, one of the best ones I have read this year! Could this possibly be my favorite of 2024?
March 31, 2024
10000 猸愶笍!!! Tia Williams writes black characters and culture like no other. It鈥檚 all so beautiful and I cannot get over it. Absolutely loved the depiction of the black Harlem renaissance 馃槏
Ezra was SWOOOOOON. gosh, literally the perfect gentlemen who complimented Ricki鈥檚 chaos hahaha. Their relationship was as intense as Eva and Shane from 7 Days in June. Which is exactly what I wanted - a love that was so powerful it was almost heartbreaking.
I think the story became predictable after Ricki has a certain thing revealed to her about how to break the curse (don鈥檛 want to add a spoiler) but I almost didn鈥檛 care cause I was so focussed on the characters alone and not the premise 馃槀
The story is set in Harlem and is written from two time periods: black Harlem renaissance and present day, February 2024. It covers magic realism involving an unbreakable curse and the magic of the Leap Year. A great mix of romance, fantasy and drama 鉂わ笍
We get a HEA and a beautiful epilogue 馃ス馃憣馃従
Ms Della? ANGEL 馃ス
Tuesday? A CHAOTIC SISTER 馃ぃ
Ezra was SWOOOOOON. gosh, literally the perfect gentlemen who complimented Ricki鈥檚 chaos hahaha. Their relationship was as intense as Eva and Shane from 7 Days in June. Which is exactly what I wanted - a love that was so powerful it was almost heartbreaking.
I think the story became predictable after Ricki has a certain thing revealed to her about how to break the curse (don鈥檛 want to add a spoiler) but I almost didn鈥檛 care cause I was so focussed on the characters alone and not the premise 馃槀
The story is set in Harlem and is written from two time periods: black Harlem renaissance and present day, February 2024. It covers magic realism involving an unbreakable curse and the magic of the Leap Year. A great mix of romance, fantasy and drama 鉂わ笍
We get a HEA and a beautiful epilogue 馃ス馃憣馃従
Ms Della? ANGEL 馃ス
Tuesday? A CHAOTIC SISTER 馃ぃ
January 25, 2024
4.5猸愶笍 This leap year, prepare to fall in love with the magic that is Ricki and Ezra in this fantastic ode to New York City and the Harlem Renaissance.
Ricki Wilde, heir to the Wilde Funeral Dynasty, is unwilling to conform to expectations and join the family business. Ricki is determined to remain the outsider and forge her own path in the world. With the help of her grandmother, she opens Wilde Things, an unconventional florist shop in the heart of modern Harlem steeped in the rich history of the renaissance. Soon, she is encountering a mysterious stranger who shakes up her world, but seems just out of reach.
I have never gone into a book as blind as I did this one, and I am so glad I did. I had zero idea what kind of world awaited me and it tuns out Tia Williams has spun a majestic one.
It has every element you could want in a read - swoony romance, a backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance, an air of mystery, found family, amazing floral puns and so much more. Every scene is lush with the most vivid imagery, it鈥檚 hard not to envision this as a movie while reading/listening to it. It even exudes vibes of Pushing Daisies (IYKYK). And the characters? They felt like old friends.
If you want a treat, listen to this one on audio, or even better do an immersive read with the book and audio. Mela Lee (who gives voice to Seven Days in June) and Preston Butler narrate this story to perfection.
Read if you like:
鈥essy love stories
鈥ated mates
鈥loral references
鈥istorical fiction
鈥he Harlem renaissance
鈥ual timeline
鈥dding LaRue
Thank you {partners} Grand Central Pub and Hachette Audio for my gifted copies.
Ricki Wilde, heir to the Wilde Funeral Dynasty, is unwilling to conform to expectations and join the family business. Ricki is determined to remain the outsider and forge her own path in the world. With the help of her grandmother, she opens Wilde Things, an unconventional florist shop in the heart of modern Harlem steeped in the rich history of the renaissance. Soon, she is encountering a mysterious stranger who shakes up her world, but seems just out of reach.
I have never gone into a book as blind as I did this one, and I am so glad I did. I had zero idea what kind of world awaited me and it tuns out Tia Williams has spun a majestic one.
It has every element you could want in a read - swoony romance, a backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance, an air of mystery, found family, amazing floral puns and so much more. Every scene is lush with the most vivid imagery, it鈥檚 hard not to envision this as a movie while reading/listening to it. It even exudes vibes of Pushing Daisies (IYKYK). And the characters? They felt like old friends.
If you want a treat, listen to this one on audio, or even better do an immersive read with the book and audio. Mela Lee (who gives voice to Seven Days in June) and Preston Butler narrate this story to perfection.
Read if you like:
鈥essy love stories
鈥ated mates
鈥loral references
鈥istorical fiction
鈥he Harlem renaissance
鈥ual timeline
鈥dding LaRue
Thank you {partners} Grand Central Pub and Hachette Audio for my gifted copies.
April 20, 2024
2/5 猸愶笍
- If you love historical fiction or a heavy focus of magical realism, this will be a book that you love but I鈥檓 a lover girl and really wanted more of the romance. I fell in love with Ricki and Ezra鈥檚 love story and I really wish the story could have been focused more on that, but I feel like the magical realism really took most of the focus of the story.
- I wanted to love this book so bad because I enjoyed seven days in June, but when the book wasn鈥檛 leaning into magical realism, it felt almost like I was reading historical fiction because there was so much focus on the history of Harlem.
- The dialogue and banter with Ricki & Ezra was literallyyyy perfect! I almost feel like I need another book just because I didn鈥檛 get enough of their love story. The set up of the story was perfect, but it focused so little of the buildup in the romance that it was hard to really enjoy it.
- If you love historical fiction or a heavy focus of magical realism, this will be a book that you love but I鈥檓 a lover girl and really wanted more of the romance. I fell in love with Ricki and Ezra鈥檚 love story and I really wish the story could have been focused more on that, but I feel like the magical realism really took most of the focus of the story.
- I wanted to love this book so bad because I enjoyed seven days in June, but when the book wasn鈥檛 leaning into magical realism, it felt almost like I was reading historical fiction because there was so much focus on the history of Harlem.
- The dialogue and banter with Ricki & Ezra was literallyyyy perfect! I almost feel like I need another book just because I didn鈥檛 get enough of their love story. The set up of the story was perfect, but it focused so little of the buildup in the romance that it was hard to really enjoy it.
February 19, 2024
Easily a contender for the worst book that I've read this year....
I was not a fan of Williams' last viral book, and if not for the book club that I participate in I probably wouldn't have rushed out to get this on hold. One of my goals is to be a better book club participant though, so I finished it even though I wanted to dnf.
Personal feelings aside I do think that this suffers from a bit of a pacing problem. This book wants to do some pretty big things, and I can commend Williams for their ambition. In three hundred pages though I'm not sure you can wait for half the book to go by before we really meet the love interest and get through all of the baggage this particular love interest.
Richard Wilde, or Ricki as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of the largest funeral home chain in America. Growing up it was assumed that she would follow in the family business, establish a franchise of the funeral home business and collect on her trust. Only Ricki really dreams of opening up her own floral shop. Only for some reason her family is massively against this? Which, I'm sorry just felt very fake. In fact every character in this book felt like two-dimensional caricatures of the people they were trying to be. Her voicing her desire to do this leads to her losing her job as the receptionist at the flagship location.
Via a pretty convenient moment she lands the perfect floral space, only it means ditching Atlana for Harlem and so that's exactly what she does. With a duo of misfit friends and an elderly landlady she starts about opening up for business and proving to her family that floral shops can be just as good a business as death...
It's here that she eventually meets the love interest, with half the book left... It's also where the book falls off a cliff.
It's important to note that in the early part of the book we get flashbacks to Harlem in the 1920s. It's clear that it's going to have some kind of connection to the present, maybe with the elderly landlady... When the connection becomes clear though is really when I wanted to dnf. So before I get to spoilers just know, no, I don't think anyone needs to read this book...
I was not a fan of Williams' last viral book, and if not for the book club that I participate in I probably wouldn't have rushed out to get this on hold. One of my goals is to be a better book club participant though, so I finished it even though I wanted to dnf.
Personal feelings aside I do think that this suffers from a bit of a pacing problem. This book wants to do some pretty big things, and I can commend Williams for their ambition. In three hundred pages though I'm not sure you can wait for half the book to go by before we really meet the love interest and get through all of the baggage this particular love interest.
Richard Wilde, or Ricki as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of the largest funeral home chain in America. Growing up it was assumed that she would follow in the family business, establish a franchise of the funeral home business and collect on her trust. Only Ricki really dreams of opening up her own floral shop. Only for some reason her family is massively against this? Which, I'm sorry just felt very fake. In fact every character in this book felt like two-dimensional caricatures of the people they were trying to be. Her voicing her desire to do this leads to her losing her job as the receptionist at the flagship location.
Via a pretty convenient moment she lands the perfect floral space, only it means ditching Atlana for Harlem and so that's exactly what she does. With a duo of misfit friends and an elderly landlady she starts about opening up for business and proving to her family that floral shops can be just as good a business as death...
It's here that she eventually meets the love interest, with half the book left... It's also where the book falls off a cliff.
It's important to note that in the early part of the book we get flashbacks to Harlem in the 1920s. It's clear that it's going to have some kind of connection to the present, maybe with the elderly landlady... When the connection becomes clear though is really when I wanted to dnf. So before I get to spoilers just know, no, I don't think anyone needs to read this book...
March 10, 2024
3 stars
I went into this completely blind鈥� and I wish I didn鈥檛. I rarely love a magical realism book. For some reason, they don鈥檛 usually work for me, and this one didn鈥檛. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was my first Tia Williams book and won鈥檛 deter me from picking up more books from her in the future, I liked her writing style, but the book itself didn鈥檛 keep or hold my attention.
I went into this completely blind鈥� and I wish I didn鈥檛. I rarely love a magical realism book. For some reason, they don鈥檛 usually work for me, and this one didn鈥檛. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was my first Tia Williams book and won鈥檛 deter me from picking up more books from her in the future, I liked her writing style, but the book itself didn鈥檛 keep or hold my attention.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Mela Lee & Preston Butler
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance/Historical/Magical Realism
Length: 11h 42m
February 11, 2024
This really hurts my heart because I REALLY wanted to love this book with all my soul. I鈥檝e been waiting nearly a year for it and it just kind of didn鈥檛 hit the mark for me. Maybe it was timing, but it was even hard for me to get into. For me it was just meh, but I鈥檓 glad so many of my friends are loving it. Tia is a great writer. I learned a long time ago that not every book will be a hit and that鈥檚 okay.
August 26, 2024
as somebody who never cries at books, I cried. a lot.
February 6, 2024
Leap years are magical and unexplainable times. Ricki Wilde, youngest child of Atlanta funeral home owner, has had her path set out for her since she was a child. She has always been one to forgo this plan, so, when she decides to leave Atlanta and head to Harlem to open her own flower shop her family is disappointed, but not surprised. She settles in with her loving benefactor and proclaimed new grandmother, Miss Della, and her new best friend, former child star Tuesday. In the midst of navigating a new city and starting a new business on her own, February 2024 rolls around and weird things start to happen, centering around a strange yet handsome man.
My favorite part of this one was the exploration between the contrast of Harlem in the 1920鈥檚 and the gentrified Harlem that exists today. There were a lot of really interesting historical tidbits and commentary on how an overwhelmingly high amount of black people have been pushed out of Harlem. There were also a lot of really fun references to some old black musical icons. I wish we got to see more of it, but it was done really well.
Ezra and Ricki, while seemingly drawn to each other, felt very bland to me. I liked both of them on their own but felt no spark when they were together, which was unfortunate. Take this with a grain of salt as I am a lesbian who hates 99% of the M/F sex scenes that I read about, but the sex scenes were very meh to me. I made it through one of them, then skipped over the second one as I just didn鈥檛 want to deal with it. That being said, that could be (probably is) a personal thing.
Here is the thing, this book had a lot of stuff packed into it. So much stuff that it felt like I was reading a long prologue for about 40% of it 鈥� which is not something I鈥檓 really interested in when I pick up contemporary romance books, or really any books besides high fantasy. This book somehow dragged out yet had some many points that felt incredibly underdeveloped and moved too fast. I firmly believe that this could鈥檝e really shone as a trilogy or at least two separate books. There were so many things I wish could鈥檝e gotten more developed, but there genuinely was no time. A lot of plot points suffered (namely Ezra鈥檚 entire past), but so did the romance. The concept of this book really is the textbook definition of insta-love, so I didn鈥檛 mind it that much, but man I felt like there was no development or chemistry between Ezra and Ricki. I liked them separately, but it really felt like the only reason they were interested in each other at all was the mysterious pull they felt. The most fleshed out part of this book was Miss Della, Ricki鈥檚 elderly landlady, and I adored her and her story (even though I do think she could鈥檝e been more fleshed out). The epilogue was also very sweet and warmed my heart.
While I didn鈥檛 particularly enjoy this one, I can see how others will and would still recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting. I think I probably would鈥檝e enjoyed this a lot more if it was a movie.
Audiobook
The narrators, Mela Lee and Preston Butler, did an incredible job with this audiobook. While it wasn鈥檛 my favorite audiobook, these are some of my favorite narrators I鈥檝e had the pleasure of listening to. If you鈥檙e interested in reading this one, I鈥檇 definitely recommend checking out the audiobook.
2.5/5
Thank you Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for the audio arc.
My favorite part of this one was the exploration between the contrast of Harlem in the 1920鈥檚 and the gentrified Harlem that exists today. There were a lot of really interesting historical tidbits and commentary on how an overwhelmingly high amount of black people have been pushed out of Harlem. There were also a lot of really fun references to some old black musical icons. I wish we got to see more of it, but it was done really well.
Ezra and Ricki, while seemingly drawn to each other, felt very bland to me. I liked both of them on their own but felt no spark when they were together, which was unfortunate. Take this with a grain of salt as I am a lesbian who hates 99% of the M/F sex scenes that I read about, but the sex scenes were very meh to me. I made it through one of them, then skipped over the second one as I just didn鈥檛 want to deal with it. That being said, that could be (probably is) a personal thing.
Here is the thing, this book had a lot of stuff packed into it. So much stuff that it felt like I was reading a long prologue for about 40% of it 鈥� which is not something I鈥檓 really interested in when I pick up contemporary romance books, or really any books besides high fantasy. This book somehow dragged out yet had some many points that felt incredibly underdeveloped and moved too fast. I firmly believe that this could鈥檝e really shone as a trilogy or at least two separate books. There were so many things I wish could鈥檝e gotten more developed, but there genuinely was no time. A lot of plot points suffered (namely Ezra鈥檚 entire past), but so did the romance. The concept of this book really is the textbook definition of insta-love, so I didn鈥檛 mind it that much, but man I felt like there was no development or chemistry between Ezra and Ricki. I liked them separately, but it really felt like the only reason they were interested in each other at all was the mysterious pull they felt. The most fleshed out part of this book was Miss Della, Ricki鈥檚 elderly landlady, and I adored her and her story (even though I do think she could鈥檝e been more fleshed out). The epilogue was also very sweet and warmed my heart.
While I didn鈥檛 particularly enjoy this one, I can see how others will and would still recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting. I think I probably would鈥檝e enjoyed this a lot more if it was a movie.
Audiobook
The narrators, Mela Lee and Preston Butler, did an incredible job with this audiobook. While it wasn鈥檛 my favorite audiobook, these are some of my favorite narrators I鈥檝e had the pleasure of listening to. If you鈥檙e interested in reading this one, I鈥檇 definitely recommend checking out the audiobook.
2.5/5
Thank you Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for the audio arc.
January 17, 2024
A LOVE STORY FOR RICKI WILDE was one of my most anticipated 2024 romance releases and it did not disappoint 馃挏馃ス鉁� i went into this book pretty blind and it was so unique and beautifully executed. i know fans will enjoy this one!!
read if you like: genre benders, Harlem/jazz, fated love stories, slow burns
can i just say how much i enjoy books that span across multiple genres? other examples: SPELLS FOR FORGETTING, THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW, ADDIE LARUE, etc. this experience while reading this book felt like those to me (and i looooved all 3!). the blend of genres was so well executed and never felt like 鈥渢oo much鈥� was going on. the plot was extremely creative which i find SO refreshing in romance novels鈥攚hen they feel too 鈥渢rope-y鈥� and predictable, i start to lose interest.
i will say this one was a slow burn for me and pacing is my main critique. there is a lot of character and 鈥渨orld鈥� building before you start to hit the twists (yes plural..!) but once i hit those, i was 馃く bravo to romance twists that make me as shook as a thriller 馃憦馃徏
A LOVE STORY FOR RICKI WILDE follows Ricki, a free-spirited woman who breaks free from her families expectations and opens a flower shop in Harlem. little does she know that the apartment where she opened her flower shop has such an interesting history stemming from the 1920 Harlem Renaissance era 馃憖 and when she comes across a mysterious, handsome stranger in a garden, everything begins to change. that鈥檚 all I鈥檓 saying 馃馃馃
my other faves thing in this book鈥�1) Ms Della. once you read, you鈥檒l get it. i want one in my life 馃槀馃ス 2) how Ricki romanticized everything. her outlook and attitude was so refreshing. it鈥檚 also set during a leap year, so this releasing during a february leap year is 馃馃徏
i personally enjoy SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE more than this one, mainly bc second chance romances are my thing and so hard to beat. but it鈥檚 definitely in the same playing field!! i can鈥檛 wait for readers to get this in their hands! it was such a fun world to escape into 馃挏
read if you like: genre benders, Harlem/jazz, fated love stories, slow burns
can i just say how much i enjoy books that span across multiple genres? other examples: SPELLS FOR FORGETTING, THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW, ADDIE LARUE, etc. this experience while reading this book felt like those to me (and i looooved all 3!). the blend of genres was so well executed and never felt like 鈥渢oo much鈥� was going on. the plot was extremely creative which i find SO refreshing in romance novels鈥攚hen they feel too 鈥渢rope-y鈥� and predictable, i start to lose interest.
i will say this one was a slow burn for me and pacing is my main critique. there is a lot of character and 鈥渨orld鈥� building before you start to hit the twists (yes plural..!) but once i hit those, i was 馃く bravo to romance twists that make me as shook as a thriller 馃憦馃徏
A LOVE STORY FOR RICKI WILDE follows Ricki, a free-spirited woman who breaks free from her families expectations and opens a flower shop in Harlem. little does she know that the apartment where she opened her flower shop has such an interesting history stemming from the 1920 Harlem Renaissance era 馃憖 and when she comes across a mysterious, handsome stranger in a garden, everything begins to change. that鈥檚 all I鈥檓 saying 馃馃馃
my other faves thing in this book鈥�1) Ms Della. once you read, you鈥檒l get it. i want one in my life 馃槀馃ス 2) how Ricki romanticized everything. her outlook and attitude was so refreshing. it鈥檚 also set during a leap year, so this releasing during a february leap year is 馃馃徏
i personally enjoy SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE more than this one, mainly bc second chance romances are my thing and so hard to beat. but it鈥檚 definitely in the same playing field!! i can鈥檛 wait for readers to get this in their hands! it was such a fun world to escape into 馃挏
February 9, 2024
dnf 51%
magical realism is not for me and i feel so misled鈥ike even if it were done GOOD this was too insta-lovey (like, SOULMATE insta-lovey) and went downhill from there.
this is so sad because i love seven days in june with everything in me and expected to connect with this one just as much 馃槙
magical realism is not for me and i feel so misled鈥ike even if it were done GOOD this was too insta-lovey (like, SOULMATE insta-lovey) and went downhill from there.
this is so sad because i love seven days in june with everything in me and expected to connect with this one just as much 馃槙
May 18, 2024
Brb having a major "omg why am I a writer who tf do I think I am" moment after reading this 馃槄馃槄馃槄
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
March 3, 2024
The beauty of this book is beyond my ability to put into words. WOW! I adored every single thing about it. Ezra听and Ricki were just beautiful.
My favorite line by Ms. Della "To me, love is like listening to an album. Some people skip to their favorite songs and ignore the rest. Other people listen to the entire album over and over, until it's familiar and cherished and they know every note by heart. That's how Dr. Bennett and I loved each other. He was music I could listen to forever".
My favorite line by Ms. Della "To me, love is like listening to an album. Some people skip to their favorite songs and ignore the rest. Other people listen to the entire album over and over, until it's familiar and cherished and they know every note by heart. That's how Dr. Bennett and I loved each other. He was music I could listen to forever".
February 28, 2025
猸� 欧宝娱乐 Choice Awards Opening Round - Readers' Favorite Romance
February 26, 2024
Tia Williams, what am I supposed to say about this?
This book starts as a 5 stars read to me because it just speaks to my Lindy Hopper soul. While everyone raves about Taylor Swift references on books, I just can't resist to jazz, swing and Harlem in the 20's.
A love song to Ricki Wilde has a bit of everything: magic, found family, mental health representation and a beautiful love story of 2 star crossed lovers.
I loved Ricki's personality, her perseverance and how she was able to overcome her insecurities and perceived/ imprinted flaws.
Ezra was a great character as well. I loved every bit of the story where he appears, but particularly his background.
The first half of the story was brilliantly executed. I was captivated by both characters, I was engaged in their story-line and I was very curious about how everything was going to be connected. The second part though... I felt the romance lacked some tension and I ended up not loving how the story was tied up. It felt a bit rushed and silly.
My pet peeve with Tia's books is the excessive amount of clothes descriptions. This was ok on the past bits, because it helps you picture everything, and it's actually not overdone on that part... but in the present? Please save me from this. I understand she was/ is a style editor but if I wanted to read about fashion I would just buy fashion magazines. I really don't think this adds anything to the plot and it actually hurts my perception of the characters personality.
This book deserved a playlist. I'll assume this role for Tia and leave here some suggestions:
1 鈥� In a sentimental mood - Duke Ellington
2 鈥� Take the 鈥淎鈥� train - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
3 - Caroline Shout - James P. Johnson
4 鈥� Honeysuckle Rose 鈥� Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie
5 - Stompin at the Savoy 鈥� Benny Goodman
6 鈥� It don鈥檛 mean A Thing (if it ain-t got that swing) - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
7 鈥� Ev鈥檙y time we say goodbye 鈥� Ella Fitzgerald
8 鈥� I鈥檓 beginning to see the light - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
9 鈥� Sing, Sing, Sing 鈥� Benny Goodman
10 鈥� Two Sleepy people 鈥� Fats Waller
11 鈥� Exactly like you 鈥� Martha Tilton, The Carl Kresstette
I'm well aware most of this songs are from the late 30's. I love the instrumental versions from the 20's but I'm very partial to the wonder that is Ella's voice.
This book starts as a 5 stars read to me because it just speaks to my Lindy Hopper soul. While everyone raves about Taylor Swift references on books, I just can't resist to jazz, swing and Harlem in the 20's.
A love song to Ricki Wilde has a bit of everything: magic, found family, mental health representation and a beautiful love story of 2 star crossed lovers.
I loved Ricki's personality, her perseverance and how she was able to overcome her insecurities and perceived/ imprinted flaws.
Ezra was a great character as well. I loved every bit of the story where he appears, but particularly his background.
The first half of the story was brilliantly executed. I was captivated by both characters, I was engaged in their story-line and I was very curious about how everything was going to be connected. The second part though... I felt the romance lacked some tension and I ended up not loving how the story was tied up. It felt a bit rushed and silly.
My pet peeve with Tia's books is the excessive amount of clothes descriptions. This was ok on the past bits, because it helps you picture everything, and it's actually not overdone on that part... but in the present? Please save me from this. I understand she was/ is a style editor but if I wanted to read about fashion I would just buy fashion magazines. I really don't think this adds anything to the plot and it actually hurts my perception of the characters personality.
This book deserved a playlist. I'll assume this role for Tia and leave here some suggestions:
1 鈥� In a sentimental mood - Duke Ellington
2 鈥� Take the 鈥淎鈥� train - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
3 - Caroline Shout - James P. Johnson
4 鈥� Honeysuckle Rose 鈥� Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie
5 - Stompin at the Savoy 鈥� Benny Goodman
6 鈥� It don鈥檛 mean A Thing (if it ain-t got that swing) - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
7 鈥� Ev鈥檙y time we say goodbye 鈥� Ella Fitzgerald
8 鈥� I鈥檓 beginning to see the light - Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
9 鈥� Sing, Sing, Sing 鈥� Benny Goodman
10 鈥� Two Sleepy people 鈥� Fats Waller
11 鈥� Exactly like you 鈥� Martha Tilton, The Carl Kresstette
I'm well aware most of this songs are from the late 30's. I love the instrumental versions from the 20's but I'm very partial to the wonder that is Ella's voice.
February 18, 2024
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is an entertaining novel that will definitely appeal to fans of the fated lovers trope. Sure, in the long run, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde proved to be a tad too cheesy and smutty for my taste, but I still had a good time reading it. Tia Williams鈥� sense of humor shines front and center here as the story has plenty of funny one-liners (鈥測ou sentient Buddha statue from Urban Outfitters鈥�), witty banter, clever descriptions, one-liners and comical scenarios and side-characters. At times the humour element did feel a bit too entrenched in internet humor, and some of the references felt already 鈥榙ated鈥�. The novel鈥檚 opening has a modern fairy tale feel to it as we are introduced to the Wilde family, who own a funeral enterprise. The youngest daughter Ricki is not particularly interested in her family鈥檚 business, nor does she want to emulate her older sisters鈥� socialite lifestyle. She鈥檚 a free spirit who is far more artistic and less materialistic than the rest of her family. Ricki decides to follow her dreams and sets up her own flower shop in a brownstone in Harlem. There she connects with the owner of the brownstone, widowed nonagenarian Ms. Della, who is busy fluffing her own bucket list. Ricki also makes her first real friend, Tuesday, a former child-actor who is in many ways her kindred spirit. As Ricki struggles to find the right business model for her shop, she happens to come across a mysterious musician who, despite their clear chemistry, is not keen on getting to know her, going as far as to ask her to leave Harlem. We also get chapters transporting us back to the Harlem Renaissance, in which follow a young man who shares a lot in common with Ricki鈥檚 mystery man.
The book is certainly self-aware in its approach to certain tropes. And in some ways, it succeeds in poking fun at the whole supernatural romance that is has going on鈥ut then the storyline takes way too long to reveal something that most readers will have already figured out from the very start. Why else would we get chapters transporting us back to the roaring 20s? The shift in tone was jarring, as we go from Ricki鈥檚 fairly humorous escapades to a character who has endured so much trauma. And I guess I ultimately did not buy into this guy. The story does try to provide a rationale for his inconsistent knowledge of the modern world, but it wasn鈥檛 enough to make me believe in this guy. The more you think about his reaction and behavior upon seeing Ricki, the more you realize that, in spite of having ample time to prepare or devise a strategy to escape his fate, the guy decides to say the type of things that would inevitably backfire. Saying mysterious things, acting weird around the FL, and so on. It was giving Robert Pattinson, and in the year 2024, that kind of shit comes across as a huge red flag. Ricki鈥檚 bestie Tuesday seems the only 鈥榮ane鈥� one, but then proceeds to be conveniently won over by him once the whole supernatural thing is explained to her. Ironically enough, for a novel with the words "Love Song" in it, that does primarily focuses on romance, romance was the thing that worked the least (for me obviously). It was just too cheesy: 鈥淎nd, God help her, there it was: Ricki was drawn to this secret tragedy of Ezra, the mystery, the tangible sadness. His unknowable depths.鈥�
I liked Ricki鈥檚 new eccentric friends, and I would have much rather read about her bond with them than her insta-love with mystery man. Ricki鈥檚 family had potential, but they ended up being relegated to the role of minor villains. I found a certain cameo to be quite unnecessary but even more cringey were those sex scenes (that poor piano鈥�).
Overall, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I liked the chaotic energy of Williams鈥� characters, as well as her engaging storytelling and humor, the romance and plot failed to win me over.
The book is certainly self-aware in its approach to certain tropes. And in some ways, it succeeds in poking fun at the whole supernatural romance that is has going on鈥ut then the storyline takes way too long to reveal something that most readers will have already figured out from the very start. Why else would we get chapters transporting us back to the roaring 20s? The shift in tone was jarring, as we go from Ricki鈥檚 fairly humorous escapades to a character who has endured so much trauma. And I guess I ultimately did not buy into this guy. The story does try to provide a rationale for his inconsistent knowledge of the modern world, but it wasn鈥檛 enough to make me believe in this guy. The more you think about his reaction and behavior upon seeing Ricki, the more you realize that, in spite of having ample time to prepare or devise a strategy to escape his fate, the guy decides to say the type of things that would inevitably backfire. Saying mysterious things, acting weird around the FL, and so on. It was giving Robert Pattinson, and in the year 2024, that kind of shit comes across as a huge red flag. Ricki鈥檚 bestie Tuesday seems the only 鈥榮ane鈥� one, but then proceeds to be conveniently won over by him once the whole supernatural thing is explained to her. Ironically enough, for a novel with the words "Love Song" in it, that does primarily focuses on romance, romance was the thing that worked the least (for me obviously). It was just too cheesy: 鈥淎nd, God help her, there it was: Ricki was drawn to this secret tragedy of Ezra, the mystery, the tangible sadness. His unknowable depths.鈥�
I liked Ricki鈥檚 new eccentric friends, and I would have much rather read about her bond with them than her insta-love with mystery man. Ricki鈥檚 family had potential, but they ended up being relegated to the role of minor villains. I found a certain cameo to be quite unnecessary but even more cringey were those sex scenes (that poor piano鈥�).
Overall, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I liked the chaotic energy of Williams鈥� characters, as well as her engaging storytelling and humor, the romance and plot failed to win me over.
Want to read
July 1, 2023What do you mean I have to wait till February, 2024?馃槶馃槶馃槶
Love the cover 鉂わ笍馃槏
Love the cover 鉂わ笍馃槏
February 11, 2024
I loved A Love Song For Ricki Wilde! Set in a mix of 2024 and the 1920s in Harlem, this story follows Ricki Wilde, the youngest adult daughter in a powerful Atlanta family, desperate to carve her own path, much to her judgmental family鈥檚 dismay. A chance meeting with Ms. Della, a recent widow in her 90s, offers Ricki the opportunity to rent space in Ms. Della鈥檚 Harlem brownstone and pursue her dream of opening a floral shop.
As Ricki is settling into her new life in NY, she meets a handsome, mysterious stranger in the community garden. He tries to keep her at bay but their paths keep crossing and as they continue to engage, some of the mystery surrounding him is revealed, for better or worse.
Seven Days in June is one of my all-time favorite romance reads, and it鈥檚 a high bar. While this story is different, Tia Williams gives a lot of the same elements I loved here in A Love Song for Ricki Wilde 鈥� Strong, believable chemistry between the 2 main characters, smart dialogue, humor, some fun, likable side characters, and a romance, with substance. Highly recommend!
As Ricki is settling into her new life in NY, she meets a handsome, mysterious stranger in the community garden. He tries to keep her at bay but their paths keep crossing and as they continue to engage, some of the mystery surrounding him is revealed, for better or worse.
Seven Days in June is one of my all-time favorite romance reads, and it鈥檚 a high bar. While this story is different, Tia Williams gives a lot of the same elements I loved here in A Love Song for Ricki Wilde 鈥� Strong, believable chemistry between the 2 main characters, smart dialogue, humor, some fun, likable side characters, and a romance, with substance. Highly recommend!
January 30, 2024
I like the way Tia Williams writes and tells stories. I like that there is some mystery to what she is doing. She is clever without doing too much. I liked the leads (especially Ezra) but I did want more sex and for the book to be shorter. It went on too long and took a while to get going. Overall good and fun with a little history mixed in.
February 13, 2024
鈥淎 young man with an old heart, stumbling to catch up with the world, wondering which he should cling to: the past or the present.鈥�
I don鈥檛 even know how to begin describing this book without giving away its magic (literally). A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a beautifully written love song to the Harlem Renaissance. To jazz. To our culture.
I loved everything about Ricki - her social awkwardness, her love for flowers, her independence. When she leaves Atlanta to chase her dreams in Harlem, her world is turned upside down when she bumps into a mysterious man. They are immediately drawn to each other and it becomes impossible to stay away from one another - no matter the consequences.
I don鈥檛 even know how to begin describing this book without giving away its magic (literally). A Love Song For Ricki Wilde is a beautifully written love song to the Harlem Renaissance. To jazz. To our culture.
I loved everything about Ricki - her social awkwardness, her love for flowers, her independence. When she leaves Atlanta to chase her dreams in Harlem, her world is turned upside down when she bumps into a mysterious man. They are immediately drawn to each other and it becomes impossible to stay away from one another - no matter the consequences.
Read
February 28, 2024I was hugely anticipating this after Seven Days in June. It didn't quite get there for me, which I really regret because there's so much good stuff and it should have.
There's tons to love in here. The historical sections of Ezra's backstory are amazing and compelling, going from a Georgia sharecropper to a GI in WW1 and then the Harlem renaissance. Really fascinating, and I'd have liked twice as much of it (or indeed for that to be the entire book). Tuesday is a hugely entertaining supporting character; I'd have read her book with pleasure. The author is proper funny and there are loads of good jokes, and well as some really powerful stuff about the experience of being Black in the US then and now.
I feel like what got in my way was Ricki herself--I never really got a strong sense of her as a character, rather than a necessary element of the story. This is partly because she and Ezra have a love at first sight fated mates thing, which for me kind of skips the really important part of the romance where we see *why* they love each other, and it's partly because there's an awful lot of small inconsistencies and implausibilities throughout the story, centring on Ricki, that chipped away at my absorption. A better edit could have made this absolutely sing because there's so much terrific stuff in here, and if you're not a nitpicky git like some people you may well love it.
There's tons to love in here. The historical sections of Ezra's backstory are amazing and compelling, going from a Georgia sharecropper to a GI in WW1 and then the Harlem renaissance. Really fascinating, and I'd have liked twice as much of it (or indeed for that to be the entire book). Tuesday is a hugely entertaining supporting character; I'd have read her book with pleasure. The author is proper funny and there are loads of good jokes, and well as some really powerful stuff about the experience of being Black in the US then and now.
I feel like what got in my way was Ricki herself--I never really got a strong sense of her as a character, rather than a necessary element of the story. This is partly because she and Ezra have a love at first sight fated mates thing, which for me kind of skips the really important part of the romance where we see *why* they love each other, and it's partly because there's an awful lot of small inconsistencies and implausibilities throughout the story, centring on Ricki, that chipped away at my absorption. A better edit could have made this absolutely sing because there's so much terrific stuff in here, and if you're not a nitpicky git like some people you may well love it.
May 6, 2024
I laughed, I read this with wide eyes in total suspense, I said 鈥渁www鈥� a few times, I gasped with my hand over my mouth, I got teary eyed at the end. 馃槀馃槼馃槏馃馃ス
I鈥檝e never read anything close to magical realism and this was so originally written鈥y goodness. I truly enjoyed this.
That鈥檚 it, that鈥檚 my review.
Oh and Della鈥 love you 馃┓
I鈥檝e never read anything close to magical realism and this was so originally written鈥y goodness. I truly enjoyed this.
That鈥檚 it, that鈥檚 my review.
Oh and Della鈥 love you 馃┓
March 16, 2024
While this book is profoundly emotionally moving, it is also laugh-out-loud funny, with quippy banter straight out of Gilmore Girls. It鈥檚 rom-com perfection, and it might have you planning a trip to Harlem. Full review on BookBrowse:
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