Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was such a beautiful story of love, of fate, and of family. Of following your dreams, believing in yourself and the twists of time. The writing and prose were just beautiful. My first Tia Williams, but certainly not my last.

✨Too Cute Tuesday 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ✨

• 𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐈 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄•

✨Thank you @grandcentralpub @netgalley for my #gifted eARC!

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Tia Williams
@tiawilliamswrites
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: February 2024
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Romance • Magical Realism • HF
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Physical & Audio
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Mela Lee & Preston Butler
➤Swipe for synopsis

•𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬•
This book completely captivated me from the first chapter to the epilogue. It was the perfect February romance read as it takes place during the month of February on a leap year! I’ve come to realize that realistic magical realism in romances make for some of my very favorite stories and Tia Williams did a beautiful job on this one.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is enchanting. The fated lovers aspect was dreamy. A timeless love that spans 1920s Harlem to present day. Ricki our FMC is such a whimsical, ray of sunshine who romanizes the world around her! I was so proud of her for going after her dreams against her familial expectations and sharing her beauty and vision with her corner of the world while paying tribute to the culture and history around her. Ezra’s storyline brought the history of jazz music set during the 1920 Harlem renaissance to life. He was the perfect gentleman and together he and Ricki made for such an inspiring and charming couple.

The supporting characters of Della and Tuesday really rounded out this story. The found family Ricki found in Della and the best friend she made in Tuesday was heartwarming. Everyone should find themselves a no nonsense adopted grandmother and a bestie who will break the law for you! Those two had me laughing while simultaneously wishing I could give them a big hug. I also really enjoyed the historical timelines interwoven throughout. And I can’t forget the dreamy music and love song that Ezra spent his whole life creating just for Ricki. How utterly romantic! This book will go down as one of my favorite romances now. And do yourself a favor and immersive read this one! The audiobook was incredible with the narrators giving an A+ performance!

Thank you so much Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for my #gifted copy!

I really enjoyed this book. It was not an average romance and gave you a lot of things to think about. I would highly recommend this book.

5/5

I was hesitant to pick this book up because I am not into reading romance novels. The author, Tia Williams had me hooked after the chapters alternated from past to present, then back and forth between characters! This book is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, romance, SciFi, and coming of age. Although the ending was predictable you will be amazed at the unfolding. I will be thinking about the characters in this book for a long time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #lovesongforrickiwilde

I absolutely loved this book. I've had the advanced e galley for a while and finally took the time to read and also listen to this book.
Ricki touched me from the beginning, her spunk, her drive, her desire to not just follow what her father has done, though she respected this business success.
Going to Harlem and opening a flower shop was her dream, meeting an elderly Miss Della gave her the push she needed. It wasn't always easy, she was almost broke every month, but then she had a chance encounter with a man, and the month of February brought so much more to her life.
A little bit of magic and a lot of love this book was just wonderful. Highly recommend and I have to now finish her other books, which I also own!

Omg my heart!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭💘💘💘💘💘💘 Tia girl! You really have some magic in that pen of yours! This book was beyond good! I was hooked from the first page and literally couldn’t put it down even if i wanted to.

I think this book is perfect for anyone looking for that timeless love; something that’s worth more than you could ever imagine.

This books was such a treat to experience . It had me smiling all hard and my heart beating so fast lol, which was exactly how I felt when i read Seven Days for the first time 🙃 Tia always seems to find a way to create the most intense earth shattering relationship dynamics that completely break my heart wide open every single time. 😅😭💘 Ricki and Ezra had something that was so electric and all consuming. They were just two lost souls that couldn’t help but be drawn to one another. And as the reader, I couldn’t help by fall for both of them and root for their love w everything I have. 😭

Tia dear, you have solidified yourself in my Mount Rushmore of authors. Anything you write is certified gold in my eyes. Pease keep doin what you’re doin 🙏🏽

-Alex

A beautiful story filled with heartwrenching love and heavy topics handled with grace, care, and intention. A believable romance and enjoyable speculative elements!

This was one of the most unique modern romance stories I've ever read. What an epic love story!! "I refuse to live in a world without you in it" LE SOB! ok i cried more than once. i literally devoured this book. i loved it...from start to finish. Ricki and Ezra's characters were amazing. I loved them individually but i really loved them as a couple. absolutely phenomenal.

3.5 stars
Tia Williams delivers a dreamy, atmospheric romance that blends modern Harlem with the magic of the past. Ricki Wilde is easy to root for—rebellious, artistic, and longing for something more. Her fresh start in Harlem feels electric, and the city’s rich history adds a soulful depth to the story.

When she meets a mysterious stranger on a fateful February night, their connection is instant and intense. But while the romance is swoony, it leans more on destiny and magic than deep emotional development, which left me wanting more. The pacing also drags at times, making it hard to stay fully engaged.

Still, Williams’ writing is gorgeous, and if you love poetic, fate-driven love stories with a touch of historical magic, this one is worth picking up. It didn’t hit the emotional highs of Seven Days in June for me, but it’s a beautiful, soulful read nonetheless.

I enjoyed reading A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. It started off a little slow for me but then picked up. It was nicely written and had a light twist. Here’s to another good read from Tia Williams!

Thanks, Grand Central Publishing, for the arc!

I have been trying to write a review for A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE by Tia Williams for such a long time. I've yet to find fault with anything Williams writes because I'm always so entertained and distracted from my pain. This book was perfect on both those accounts. The book's only fault? I wish it were longer because it was such a beautiful story that I didn't want to leave behind. But that's what rereads are for, right?

I loved how rich the book was in history. I learned so much about Black history in the Harlem Renaissance, especially the art culture. I made many notes of all kinds of artists to look more into because the taste I got in A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE was not enough.

I'm always head over heels for the characters in her books, and my feelings are the same for this one. There are no words to describe my undying love for Ms. Della! I cried because I felt so many emotions with her—she's a literary gem! Ricki and Ezra could possibly move my love for Eva and Shane to second place in my heart, but they are trying. I think I'm going to call it a draw because I love both couples so much. Plus, while falling in love with Ricki and Ezra's love story, we are graced with a cameo by Eva and Shane that made me kick my feet so hard!

I would also like to mention Tuesday and how much I adored it. I would say I want a BFF like her, but I already have one, and my life is very exciting because of her!

I can't write a review about a Williams book without mentioning her support of us migraineurs. She's one of us and always represents us as warriors in her books because she truly gets it. I love how she uses her characters to make me never feel ashamed for needing medicine or a way out of a social situation because I never know when a migraine attack will hit.

Well, that was a lot easier to write once I started typing this time... I loved it, just in case you couldn't tell.

This book was wonderful! It took me somewhere else and I felt every bit of moving through time with the books.

I really liked Seven Days in June, so I had high expectations for this book. I must be honest and admit that I had a hard time with the paranormal aspect of it. However, I loved Ms. Della and enjoyed all parts related to her, along with the historical references. The end was predictable. I picked the book up and put it down several times before finishing it, but once the problem was revealed, I read more consistently. I really liked one of the cameo appearances from her previous book!

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

such a magical love story! the musical aspects were so amazing. Ms. Della is iconic. ricki and ezra are truly made for each other and i loved them together and also just as their own characters

This book has been on my Netgalley for a bit and I haven’t picked it up. I haven’t been into romance in a minute, so I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

**A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams**
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I cannot believe it took me so long to read *A Love Song for Ricki Wilde*! I was truly missing out on such a gem. Tia Williams has an unparalleled gift for crafting characters that leap off the page, and Ricki is no exception. Her journey is heartfelt, raw, and empowering, pulling me in from the very first chapter. The romance was equal parts swoon-worthy and complex, perfectly balancing passion and emotional depth.

The prose was exquisite—so vivid and lyrical that I found myself rereading passages just to savor the beauty of the writing. The story tackled love, self-discovery, and healing in a way that felt authentic and relatable.

This book is a masterpiece, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone looking for a story that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of hope. Tia Williams has once again proven why she’s a must-read author! Don’t make the same mistake I did—pick this one up now!

I love magical realism, but something about this one did not hit right. I would try another Tia Williams book though!

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. The narrative is heartfelt, blending music and emotion in a way that resonates deeply. The characters felt so real, their flaws and growth making the journey all the more impactful. It’s a romance that doesn't shy away from the complexities of love, making it both refreshing and relatable.

What really stood out to me was how the book introduced me to Stevie Wonder's A Secret Life of Plants. As someone who’s always enjoyed music, this was a fantastic new discovery. The album's soulful, experimental sound perfectly complements the themes of the book, enhancing the overall experience. It felt like a beautiful musical and literary crossover.

I loved this book so much. I read my arc twice and then purchased a hardcover of it. It is a beautiful love story that kept me swooning throughout. A bit of a mystery, a bit of history and a lot of love!