I am a big Tia Williams fan and was very excited to get this ARC! Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I never got into it, and struggled with the fantasy elements.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the whole concept of this book! It’s definitely a steamy love story but also gives lots of black history and voodoo at the center. The characters have complex backstories and were easy to connect with and honestly, I wish there had been a few more chapters at the end! If you like forbidden romance with just a touch of magic, give this book a try!

I go into most of my books blind and this is exactly why. I ended up falling in love with this book from the start. I feel like you get deeper into books when you don't know what to expect. The chemistry between Ricki and Ezra was absolutely amazing! I can't recommend this book enough. Do yourself a favor, grab some coffee and sit down with this beautiful book!!


Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

There were so many things I liked in this book. The romance, humor, and magic truly had me by a grip. The visuals were my absolute favorite. Tia has a wonderful way of describing the scenery and fashion. I’m a Florida girl through and through, but I feel like I need to take a trip just to visit those areas and lay my own flowers. I loved how she highlighted histories from the Harlem Renaissance era and mentioned significant individuals from it.

I was so engulfed in the characters. I really liked Ricki Wilde and her carefree spirit. Her determination to achieve her dreams despite obstacles was inspiring. Ezra, the mysterious man, kept me intrigued and wanting to know more about him. His story tugged at my heart the most. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and recommend adding this to your tbr if you haven't already! Can’t wait to get my physical copy to reread and annotate.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book but it slowed down quite a bit and I wasn’t enjoying the flashbacks at all. Around 40% I had to set it aside for now. Will update this review if/when I come back to it.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a strange and beautiful love story, with a hint of leap year magic and plenty of hilarity

Normally, I would give a little summary of the book here, but I think that this is a story where going in knowing as little as possible is the best route. So I'll just say that Ricki Wilde is a perennial disappointment to her over-achieving family who finally moves to Harlem to follow her dreams of being a florist. And that's where she meets Ezra, a musician who isn't entirely as he seems.

I absolutely adored this book, devouring it in about 2 days because I needed to know how everything was going to turn out. The chemistry between Ricki and Ezra is insane, and the side characters (Tuesday and Ms. Della, in particular) are incredible, adding both emotion and humor at the exact right times. There are some twists to this story and admittedly, they aren't that hard to call in advance. But even sort of having a sense of what was coming, I enjoyed every reveal.

This is a book that plays with fate and time and magic, and it's gorgeous and lovely and made me both laugh and tear up more than once.

5/5

Ricki arrives at family dinner ready to pitch the life plan she’s put years of secret work into - leaving her receptionist job at one of the family funeral homes in Georgia and opening her own florist shop. She has the drive, training and money saved - everything but the location.

You’d think that a family with a chain of funeral homes would have welcomed this - think of the cross branding opportunity! - but sadly they just look down on the idea, like they do everything else she says or does.
(Their funeral offerings are so tasteless and crass, but they give her a bad time for dressing in vintage fashion?! Make it make sense!)

Days before her make it or break it deadline, recently widowed Della comes in with an offer to rent the perfect shop space below her home in Harlem. Once there Ricki meets former child star and delightful new friend Tuesday, and handyman and hobby conspiracist, Ali, her ‘not-boyfriend’

She also stumbles across a man in the shadows of an off season blooming garden created to commemorate a scene from the Harlem Renaissance Era of the 1920’s - mysterious!

And that takes us to Breeze - his lifetime love of music feeding into his new life’s adventure in 1920’s Harlem. His cousin Sonny arrived the year before, when he’d fled South Carolina after a horrific attack by the Klan that had wiped out the rest of their family.
But how does he connect with the present day story line? Hmmm…

The descriptions drew me right in, both the present day storyline of Ricki’s new friends and business and the prohibition and jazz scene of the 1920s.
The puns are so fun, and I wish everyone in Ricki’s life enjoyed her random bursts of facts and anecdotes as much as I did!
The troubles of the past are, of course, upsetting but there’s also the hope of Breeze starting a new life and the excitement of things to come.

The side characters were great, adding to the story without drawing too much focus from the main storyline. and about that storyline…
Just before the halfway point the stage is set and things really start to pick up.
I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this - NOT a complaint!
Going in blind was best - this book on my radar solely because people raved about the author’s last - so I’m not going to give any more specifics but it was A Ride!

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Pub for the arc!

I so enjoyed my previous reading experience with Tia William so I just HAD to pick this up. I'll get the only negative out of the way, the magical realism, but that is purely personal and not at all a reflection on the story or writing here. These two characters are so clearly a true love connection and that is just delightful to read about. The other major thing going for this book is all the added bits about music and the Harlem Renaissance, just delightful and enlightening. Do yourself a favor and pick this up, if I know you I'll be making you!

- Tia Williams does it again with A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE. Drama, snark, two people drawn toward each other in a way they’ve never felt before.
- Even if the plot is easy enough to predict, I loved being with Ricki and Ezra as they unraveled their story and fell hard for each other.
- Somehow, amid the over the top ridiculous family members and the paranormal elements, Williams gives us a fated mates story for the ages, filled with intensity and longing and love.

"to believe in some magic is to believe in all. you couldn't be terrified of demons without believing in angels, too."

it took me a while longer to read it than i expected but i definitely enjoyed this one so so much.

this is a story of two beautifully written characters that are meant to be together by circumstances you'd never expect.

a romance with complexity and a super interesting and unique background and the most loving supporting characters you'll find.

so this is what you'll find: quirky-fun mc, leap year magic, modern harlem and bits of renaissance style, found family and a love story that's gonna make your heart skip a beat.

this tittle came out of february 6th so make sure to check it out. and thank you to @grandcentralpub & @netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange of an honest review.

This book certainly was magical, from the amazing book cover, the dazzling drama of historical Harlem, to the complexity of Ricki’s character, and the smoothness of her new love Ezra. What I didn’t expect was that the story would also have hints of romantic fantasy. Told in current day as well as in flashbacks to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s the author balanced Ricki’s natural effervescence with the sultry sounds of jazz and blues. Ricki alone was interesting, her moneyed background could have provided her with a solid, staid existence, but she chose to go her own way without the backing of her family. She is a strong heroine and very easy to like, but it was her stylistic choices and confidence that drew me in. She was a different character than others and her light shone so bright it was hard to look away.

Ezra, who much of the story revolved around, was always magnetic, but in a smooth, easy, way. He was a mystery that you want Ricki to solve, but not at the cost of losing too much of herself. Unfortunately, this is a story about fate which often makes those choices predetermined and the author was very careful to ride that line of fantasy and reality. I didn’t stop to question the plot just rolled with those magical elements and enjoyed the story.

When you’re reading a romance where the two main characters connect in a way that is electric and palpable it’s really special and a Love Song For Ricki Wilde was that book for me.

This is a beautifully written love song. One that I very much enjoyed and will not soon forget.

Tia Williams is a very talented writer who knows how to get right to the heart of a story. I had several laugh out loud moments as well as several ugly sniffles.
Her nod to The Harlem Renaissance was very much appreciated as well!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. Richard Wilde the second, Ricki, was born into a family that she did not fit into. The mold was broken when Ricki was born. Her family, heirs to Wilde Funeral Home franchise, was a force and had created a legacy. Ricki was supposed to follow in the foot steps of her older sisters, Rashida, Regina, and Rae, but just could not force herself to be a carbon copy. Ricki craved life, craved the beautiful things that made us different. Her family did not understand her and let it be known that her ways were not welcome.

This book took an unexpected turn. Readers get flashbacks of the 1920's. Breeze Walker was finally ready to take his shot in Harlem. He was ready. He had the piano down and knew he could duplicate any artist. He landed in Harlem with his cousin, Sonny, ready to take on the world. He knew he played to "Carolina Shout" perfectly. Everything was going good until he found out perfect was not what he needed to be there. Different is what was wanted. Could Breeze put his stamp on the world?

Flashing back to Breeze in the 1920s at the same time as Ricki in 2024 was great. The amount of research Ms. Williams did is definitely appreciated. I loved reading about the present and the past. Ricki eventually pursued her dream of opening up a flower shop, Wilde Things. This eclectic shop was nothing like the usual flower shops you see. Nestled in a brownstone, owned by Della Bennett, Wilde Things became exactly what Ricki wanted. Unfortunately, her vision took a while to take hold. While working on Wilde Things, Ricki noticed a handsome stranger. A stranger she just had to get to know. This stranger would change both of their lives.

This love story was one hundred years in the making. Ricki finally meets her handsome stranger, Ezra, and knows he is hiding something. They decide to spend the day and night together before he tells her something that could change her life forever. The connections weaved throughout this book will have readers captivated. This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be reading more. History with a love song. Who could ask for anything more?

To keep is short and spoiler free, this is the love story between two creative souls destined to be together in a very unique and tragic way.

This was my most anticipated read of 2024 and it did not disappoint. This book was nothing that I expected which made the experience so much greater. This book is a romance with a touch of magical realism and the fusion of contemporary and historical fiction.

This book felt natural for me even with its unique storyline. The dialogue was perfect between the characters and it has so many moment when I was laughing out loud. And most of all I felt the chemistry of the characters radiating from the pages and it felt undeniable that they were meant to be.

I'm so sad that this didn't work for me - I'm DNFing the book at 39%. I was really excited for this one after loving SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, but I feel like nothing had happened still by the time I reached almost 40%. I didn't feel any sort of connection to Ezra, the male love interest, and I was so confused that this is marketed as a romance book when there was barely any romance in it. I really didn't understand Ricki as a character or any of the side characters. It was just so messy, hard to follow, and didn't make any sense. Thanks anyway for the ARC - I wish I liked it but it definitely was not for me. Missing the magic of SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE!!

For so long, I’ve lived life like it was something to endure, to push through. But with you? I know how precious it can be. And I refuse to live in a world without you in it.”

When I first started reading this book, I had no idea what I was getting into because our heroine was a delusional, babbling mess who also knew endless facts lol Ricki Wilde was the black sheep of her very prominent Atlanta based family who owned a chain of funeral homes. However, Ricki had absolutely no interest in the family business and wanted to open her own flower shop to create extravagant designs. Her wish came true when she meets widower Ms. Della who also became like a grandmother over time. Ms Della encouraged Ricki to move to Harlem and start her business and this is where our story truly began. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this lol it’s a very unique story that uses elements of magic, voodoo, and time travel to paint a vivid picture of fated mates.

I absolutely enjoyed this book! Ricki and Ezra were drawn to each other and couldn’t avoid one another even as hard as they tried. You absolutely need to meet Ezra and Ricki. Who knew the handsome stranger in the community garden would turn her world upside down?! I was also very proud of Ricki for branching out her own and not letting her family hold her back. She took a chance on herself and the result was meeting the great love of her life, starting a successful business, and meeting the two women who became her family. Tia Williams always writes such eclectic characters/stories. I can definitely see this book becoming a movie like her other work. Remember, leap years are indeed strange and nothing is ever what it seems. Add it to your list if you haven’t, happy reading!✨

Thanks to Netgalley and grand central pub for this arc!

This was such a unique love story! Ezra and Ricki are destined to find each other, through a past that doesn't seem to come together until halfway through the book. While I did enjoy it, I did find it kind of slow at times. There was world building that I didn't anticipate, but it did lead to the understanding of the story. I didn't mind the magical realism of the story, and enjoyed the writing, I just wish that perhaps it was a bit more concise in the end. No matter, at the end of the day, this ends up as a sweet love story that shares a unique perspective. While it might not be my favorite, I did still enjoy. My favorite part might be that it is set in a leap year, which is perfect for the leap year that we are currently in. Perfect release date! Also, I feel like everybody needs a Ms. Della in their lives, she was a perfect side character and her parts really improved the book.

Thanks to the NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

In this novel, main character Ricki is the baby of her rich Atlanta family and has always been considered a disappointment by them. Defying their wishes that she join them in the family business, she moves to Harlem to start her dream florist business. As she settles into her new life, making new friends and figuring herself out, she also finds herself drawn to a mysterious man she keeps running into.

I loved Tia Williams’ Seven Days in June, and loved this one too though it’s quite different - it’s definitely less heavy, but also it adds a little fantastical element to its romance that I wasn’t expecting but I loved! I don’t want to give any spoilers, but if you love a side of magic/magic realism to your love stories like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Hundred Lives of Juliet, or Rebecca Serle’s books, then I think you will love this one too. And I loved the little cameo from the characters of Seven Days in June too.

This book was so magical, heartwarming, whimsical, and mysterious. It was a fun read to experience. It had romance, some mystery, some historical fiction and a tied up happy ending. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the early advanced copy!

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde was so many elements I love in a story- a fun main character, a little bit of magic, and a New York setting. This book was really cute and different than a lot of romances out there.

The book did start really slow and I found myself struggling to want to read it. I think it wasn’t until almost 50% that I was completely hooked. The second half of the book was so good though and worth the slow start. The epilogue was absolutely perfect.

I loved all the characters- Ricki was so fun to get to know and I really enjoyed Tuesday and Della as well. Overall I’d definitely recommend this one!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.