I loved this tender and heartwarming tale with a hint of magical realism. I wasn’t expecting there to be any fantasy elements but absolutely loved it! Apart from great chemistry between the two MCs, the side characters are also extremely well developed and almost stole the show! Overall a great read perfect for even non-romance readers!

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Pub Date:
Genre: Romance
[TW: suicide, toxic family dynamics, cancer]

“A bloom that looked like a flower but was really a weed: born to erupt into fluff, floating wherever the wind blew.”

On it’s face, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a beautiful love story about a young woman trying to find her way in the world and a young man forever trying to navigate the world. Both Ricki Wilde and Ezra Walker are tied to what has been created for them by the people in their lives despite knowing that what is expected for them is not their truth. This novel is about finding your place in a world full of expectations and creating your own beautiful love story among those expectations.

“Love well. Eat well. Fuck well. And leave the world better off than you found it. That’s success.”

There is not much I can say about this novel that will do it justice. Tia Williams is a mastermind of beautiful love stories for characters that have the cards stacked against them from the beginning. Ricki Wilde and Ezra Walker are two characters that are the definition of facing the odds and continuing to persevere…in love, life and in their faith for one another.

“The beauty you create in the world. Your optimism, your brain. Your fascination with being fascinated. The way your face fits perfectly under my chin when we’re sleeping. Your tenderness, whether your focus is on the care of a single flower, or... me.” His gaze was unwavering. “Ricki, you’ve turned me upside down. 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.”

The swoon. The steam. The absolute perfection that is this novel cannot be given it’s full justice by a simple reader review. This is a love story and a story about Black History in a way that is both full of joy and requires the reader to reflect. I will recommend this to everyone I come across. It’s stunning, just like Ezra believes Ricki to be.

Unpopular opinion: I wasn’t a fan of Seven Days in June! But this book, I really liked it. It had romance yes, but the supporting characters played a large role.

Ricki’s relationships kept her grounded and made her feel supported. I really loved Ms Della & Tuesday. Ezra’s story threw me off at first, but it was interesting as it developed.

This is the perfect book to read for Valentines Day! Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC.

”Ricki felt a punch of emotion in her chest almost knocking her off her feet. This moment was important. She didn’t know why, but it was. She didn’t know him, but she did.”

A LOVE STORY FOR RICKI WILDE follows Ricki, a free-spirited woman who breaks free from the expectations of her family and opens a flower shop in Harlem. Little does she know that the apartment where she opened her flower shop has an interesting history stemming from the 1920 Harlem Renaissance era. Then, when she comes across a mysterious, handsome stranger in a garden, everything begins to change.

This was stunning and so romantic in all the best ways. It was the perfect story of Black love and Black history. I feel like this book was written for my soul. I had a hard time figuring out what was fictional because it felt so ALIVE. The magical realism elements were written so well; just barely unbelievable. There were jaw dropping moments and the plot twist were so obvious that I didn’t see them coming because I was so absorbed into the story. The book’s little nod to Seven Days In June brought tears to my eyes.

I’ll be recommending this book endlessly. It demands to be read in February 2024!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and Tia Williams for the ARC.

This was incredibly beautiful. I actually felt the love flowing through the pages for these two. I do must admit I predicted what would happen in the ending but never did i guess the big reveal of this story. Wow!

Although i felt the passion and love in this book i must say it was a bit too quirky in some parts for a love story. Yes I did laugh out loud at some points but with the magical realism and overly quirk moments it almost lost me.

I will say this was written very well and I think people will love it. I know myself, I will lay forget this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I love Tia William’s style and voice, and her book “A Love Song for Ricki Wilde” did not disappoint. RIcki is the youngest daughter of a funeral home dynasty in Atlanta when she decides to move to Harlem to start a florist shop. There she meets a mysterious man under mysterious circumstances, and the story unfolds. This book is sweeping in its scale, and the writing style really works. Williams is a master of this kind of romance, bordering on angsty, but really beautiful and lovely in how it unfolds. This was almost a 5 star read for me, but there were some timing and story issues for me, mainly with side characters coming in and out in a way that felt a little jarring. Also this is definitely instalove, which sometimes takes me a little bit to dive into. But overall, this book is great, I loved the romantic fantasy side of things, with a little magic. I really liked the main characters of Ricki and Ezra, and having beautiful, strong, likable main characters is great, as well as the setting of Harlem. Overall, I loved this book and think many other people will too, so I definitely recommend reading this book for fans of Tia Williams, black romance, magic realism, and Harlem.

”Ricki felt a punch of emotion in her chest almost knocking her off her feet. This moment was important. She didn’t know why, but it was. She didn’t know him, but she did.”

A beautiful and magical story about destined soulmates and the happening of leap year and what it can bring. So uncanny reading a book in February 2024, just as in the book with a leap year, but with beautiful historic times added in for the characters for their past and present.

This story was plot focused with romance, but gave a mystery allure of magic with twists I did not see coming. Once I followed the pace and path of this story (or maybe I’ll even say rhythm), I knew where we were going. It was a love story weaved with these elements between Ricki and Ezra, and all the wonderful side characters that came along. Tia writes atmospherically and passionately for her stories, it’s always evident. It was not just a love song for Ricki Wilde, but a love song to Black love, Harlem, Black artists, music, and culture.

I immediately closed the book and wanted to get my ass to Harlem and experience what that part of NYC has to offer.

”You know when you’re up late at night, reading, and the lines between reality and the book get fuzzy, time becomes elastic, and you fade into the story?”

“Some people don’t, you know. Some people go before they’re loved correctly, or even at all.”

"A Love Song for Ricki Wilde" offers readers a captivating journey into the life of Ricki Wilde, an impulsive and artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty. Drawn by the allure of a fresh start, Ricki embarks on an adventure, leaving behind her family and wealth to open a flower shop in the vibrant neighborhood of Harlem.

The novel unfolds against the backdrop of modern Harlem, with echoes of the Harlem Renaissance adding a touch of historical and cultural richness to the narrative. The author skillfully integrates the atmosphere of this dynamic period, creating a setting that becomes almost like a character in itself.

Ricki's character is a refreshing departure from the typical socialite, and her journey of self-discovery adds a relatable and human dimension to the story. The decision to explore her independence and follow her dreams resonates with readers, making her a compelling protagonist.

The romantic aspect of the novel introduces a mysterious stranger, and their interactions bring an element of intrigue to the story.

Although this story uses a trope that I’m not a fan of, I still really loved the story as a whole. It handles some difficult topics with care, while providing a steamy romance.

I would recommend!

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a happy, feel-good read that had me smiling while reading it.

Ricki is the youngest of four sisters, with quite a large age gap between her and them. They are all a part of the successful family business but Ricki isn’t the type to fall in line no matter how much her family pushes.

Ricki meets Ms. Della one day and she offers up the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone. Ricki jumps on the offer to put space between her family’s socialite lifestyle in Atlanta and moves to Harlem to set up her dream flower shop.

Things seem to falling into place for Ricki and her new life in Harlem.

All of a sudden Ricki can’t stop running into this handsome, mysterious man who urges her to stay away from him.

No matter how hard she tries, Ricki keeps bumping into Ezra until it’s too hard ignore.

This love story has some leap year magic and I thought it was done well. Sometimes the magic just doesn’t work. Not here.

I loved Ricki and really enjoyed watching her grow into herself away from her family.

And Ezra, so mysterious, I wanted to know more about him and Williams gave us a lot! The thought and detail she put into his story is what makes the whole plot work for me.

Do not miss this special leap year book!

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc.

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde was excellent. Tia Williams really knows how to write a love story that consumes you. I laughed and I cried. I was possibly sobbing a little at the end. Fantastic book, can’t wait for everyone to get to read this!

I’m so bummed I didn’t LOVE this book! It had a strong start and I thought that it was going to be really good. The characters were fun and unique. Right off the bat, we meet Ricki’s hilarious family and they are interesting, to say the least. Her parents are rich and own a chain of funeral homes. Her mother is a drunk and her father is the strong, silent type. Her sisters run their own chains and are snobby and nasty to Ricki. Ricki dreams of being a florist which doesn’t line up with their family interests. Ricki meets Miss Della at the funeral home where she works and there begins her new life in Harlem. Harlem itself is a character in this book, which was also interesting. I also loved Tuesday, a former child actress who becomes Ricki’s BFF.

I think the problem I had with this book was the romance. The dual timelines were interesting until I figured out the purpose wasn’t what I thought it was. I have also come to realize that the fated mates trope is not for me. I need more of a romance to develop and for me to fall in love right along with the characters and I just did not get that with this one.

Another problem I had were the many, many pages with no dialogue. This is a huge pet peeve of mine in books. I skipped a lot of pages because of it.

Interestingly, I didn’t mind the magical realism aspect of this book, despite not expecting it and not being a genre I gravitate towards typically. It was actually interesting and unique and I loved the Easter eggs.

I think a lot of readers will love this book. The characters are fantastic and the setting is fun and charming. It just didn’t hit me in that sweet spot.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I loved the second half of this book. The characters were incredible. The twists were great. The different timelines and characters were really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the charm of this book. My main complaint is that this book was a very slow burn. The first half of this book set the stage for the second half - and in my opinion took way too long. I loved the positive outlook in this book - even in difficult times it was so refreshing to read. I also enjoyed how the romance was not the only part of the story and was not overly predictable - it was just enjoyable. Overall a cute and well done story!
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed Tia Williams' Seven Days in June and was so excited to receive an ARC for A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. The book just didn't have the same magic for me, which is ironic since magical realism is a big theme in A Love Song for Ricki Williams. The story is told from the perspective of Ricki, the youngest daughter of a family-owned funeral home conglomerate, who moves to Harlam from Atlanta. And Ezra, a musician living in Harlam during the 1920s. I really enjoyed all the characters in the book (especially Miss Della, Ricki's landlord) and the history of Harlam was facinating.

I was really hoping to love this book, but it just wasn't for me. I will definitely read Tia Williams next book. I think she is an amazing writer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Especially after the nuanced look at families in SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, this was a disappointment. The conflict between Ricki and her family felt stock rather than nuanced and it was all thrown at you in a way that made me not engage.

I went into blind to this one and am so happy I did. The perfect way to start out Black History Month and a leap year! Both being extremely large themes in this one. This was a story of finding your person and what would you do to ensure you can keep that love forever. I was very pleasantly surprised and I enjoyed the audio so much. We had multiple POV as well as multiple narrators. Some dual timelines thrown in.

I absolutely loved the characters in this. Ricki was amazing and strong as was her handsome counterpart. Ms. Della and Tuesday gave a bit of comedic relief. This had heartbreak and triumph. It truly was a great read.

Read if you like:
✨ Magical Realism
❤️ Love Stories
🐑 The Family Black Sheep
💐 Floral Arraignments
🤗 Found Family
⏳ Dual Timelines
#️⃣ Multiple POV

If you loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue- this truly is a must read story, and should be added to your TBR asap if it hasn’t already been added!!!

Have you ever felt that Leap Days have the potential to be full of magic? If so, this book explores the beauty of found family, soulmates, falling in love, finding yourself and so much more all tied to Leap Day.

The story is so immersive with the descriptions of Harlem, New York in past in the height of Jazz in the 1920’s and then in present day as well.

I loved the mystery and magical realism that were weaved into the plot and I audible gasped when the reveal of the connection between past and present timelines was made, initially and then again towards the end of the book and truly found so much beauty in the interconnectedness of the characters.

The ending gave me the chills and was so beautiful, especially when looking at the magic of love of soulmates and that of family of the heart that you choose.

Thank you a million times over to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.
5 stars
I loved this book. I had high hopes because I also really enjoyed Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, but this one was just amazing. I loved all of the characters and seeing them all grow in different ways. I mostly loved Ricki because she felt so relatable; I've never had any of the same experiences she has, never lived in the same places, never had the same hobbies, but something about her made me feel like it'd be so fun to be friends with her. Ezra, Ms. Della, and Tuesday were awesome as well.
This was such a fun, swoony, romantic read, perfect for February (or any time, honestly). It dealt with heavier topics (such as grief) but in a light, manageable way. I thought the end was a tiny bit rushed, but that could be because I would've gladly read another 400 pages of Ricki and Ezra.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance and history and watching characters grow in the best ways. I can't wait to read whatever Tia Williams puts out next.

Tia Williams outdid herself with this book. The words read like a beautiful song for sure. I enjoyed every single character except for Ricki's sisters. I don't know where to start with this book. On top of the beautiful words, I laughed out loud so many times.

There were so many gems hidden in the pages and I highlighted a few. I never highlight phrases but I needed to commit a few of these to my memory. I wanted Della Bennett to be my grandmother too! Della came into Ricki's life at exactly the right time. We all need a Della in our lives. When Della spoke of her late husband, Dr. Bennett she described her love for him as music she could listen to forever.

The friendship between Tuesday and Ricki was just as much of a joy to read as her falling in love with Ezra. Ricki and Ezra had an instant chemistry but not the insta love kind. They had an immediate soul-deep connection. I rounded my review down to a 4.5 because there was a weird turn in the story I didn't think we needed. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a book that hits in all the right places. We are only a month into 2024 and this has been my favorite book, thus far. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC,

This book was a great story, and every aspect of it wove together beautifully.

The setting takes place in Harlem, mostly in modern day but with flashes back to the 20s. This is a fantasy romance centered around a curse, but everything else is very lifelike and easy to follow.

There were several beautiful touches - the descriptions of present and past Harlem, Black history in the area, musical history, and floral details. This was a well written and researched novel, but with a soulmate steamy romance at its center.

The only complaints I have are that the book moved a little slowly, and sometimes would get bogged down with details, and that all is the plot twists were very predictable.

Overall this was a great novel, and I’ll definitely be recommending it!

How do I love this book? Let me count the ways.

I’ve been a long-time fan of Tia Williams, but A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is her magnum opus. The novel, told in alternating timelines between past and present day Harlem, deftly interweaves romance, historical fiction, magical realism, and laugh-out-loud humor. The result is an unforgettable love story that will leave you breathless and make you believe in the power of soulmates.

I fell over heels for Ezra and Ricki and their timeless connection. The way that Tia wove every character's story together was pure magic; I never saw the twists coming and yet, they found truly inevitable. I was a puddle of tears by the time I turned the last page (but also, tears of laughter were also shed. Ricki's sisters were hilarious and the perfect comic relief.) This book is not only going to be a favorite of the year, but an all-time favorite.