I saw Tia Williams and immediately said yes please.
I did not read the description and was so so pleasantly surprised that this was also magical realism.

Ricki Wilde has always been the oddball of her wildly successful funeral home owning family whether it be her choices of partner, schooling or career; it just never was right or enough for them. When she comes to them with her dream of opening a flower shop she finally realizes she needs to gtfo if she is going to succeed. When she is looking for space to open her dreams shop she meets Della a majestic 96 yo who invites her to open her shop on the main level of her brownstone in Harlem. Something about the offer feels magical and fated. Maybe away from her family she can bloom? (All puns intended 😂)

Ughhh I loved this so much. I loved the magical realism bits even if I was a little confused at times. Her being a horticulturalist really spoke to my botany heart. I loved the characters!!! And I want a Della in my life please!

Anyway. Read this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for an eARC.

After reading Seven Days in June by Tia Williams a couple of years ago, both the book and author were cemented as some of my favorites of all time. So when A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was first announced I was so unbelievably excited to read it. I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy from Netgalley and then I buddy read it with my friend Emma which was a lot of fun.

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the plot which made it very interesting. Even after finishing it and reading the synopsis afterward, the synopsis doesn't even do the story justice. I think that's part of the book's charm though.

The setting of both modern-day and Renaissance Harlem was magical. I think that was the standout part of this book. The setting felt like its own character and that is what kept me so hooked into the book.

Unlike Seven Days in June, I wasn't as hooked on A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. It's not that it's a bad book, it's just not as strong and I didn't really care for the main characters. The mystery and intrigue is what pushed me through the book.

I loved Tia Williams’ previous book Seven Days in June, so I was super excited to get approved for A Love Song for Ricki Wilde.

Ricki Wilde is an artistic soul, a young woman who dreams of opening her own flower shop instead of pursing her family’s empire of popular funeral homes. When the regal Ms. Della invites Ricki to take up the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance chase her dreams, leaving her family in Atlanta and starting a new life. Beneath the surface, the Harlem Renaissance still lives on through the stories of the music and the drama. One evening, she meets the mysterious Ezra, who knocks her world off its axis and plunges her into a romance like she’s never seen. Ezra’s story is not so simple itself though, and it threatens to destroy their story.

I loved the set up of this story, oscillating between the Harlem Renaissance and modern day. I love Ricki’s personality and her story and found myself fully invested in her success. Ezra is also charming, albeit a bit haunted, and I fell head over heels for their story. Even though I felt like it was easy to connect the dots in this story before they revealed themselves, I didn’t care. I was completely swept up in this world.

Tia Williams does a beautiful job painting this world and the final chapter has me in tears! I loved this one! Definitely my first five star read of the year!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tia Williams did it again! I thought Seven Days in June was the one but this one is the ONE!! I didn’t know how much I needed Ricki Wilde in my life! The way the book is written, it is breathtakingly beautiful. This book is magical, unique, romantic, lyrical and empowering all in one. I laughed, cried and even fell in love with some of the characters (especially Della). I can’t wait for release day so I can add it to my bookshelf!

Absolutely loved this book. Such a beautiful story. I can't wait to read more from this author. I'll be purchasing the hardcover copy of this as well.

This book took me by complete surprise! I was expecting a normal contemporary romance, maybe a bit more literary in nature. But this was in a class all its own. There are so many different layers that come together to make this something special. Set in present day Harlem, the magic of the place is brought to life while also infusing the glamor and lifestyle of the Harlem Renaissance period.

As for the romance, I felt like I was peeking in on two lovely, fully-fleshed people finding their soulmate. Their connection was intense and I bought in to it every second. Which is funny once you know the sort of twist at the heart of this story.

This was so so good.

Sweet slow burn romance in the Harlem Renaissance era. Didn’t hit quite as good as seven days in June for me but still had some great and funny characters! I just found it hard to relate to the story for myself and it made it a little hard to get into.

This story was truly a wonderful balance between great writing, storytelling, characterization, and romance. This plot was so unexpected in the best way. Even though this was a bit of a slow burn, I loved the journey this book took me on and the twists and turns along the way. If you like found family, music, and characters that are just as compelling on their own as they are together, then this is the book for you.

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’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they’re long-stemmed roses, she’s a dandelion: an adorable bloom that’s 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.

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book. I loved Seven Days in June and went into this one blind. This book started off slow for me. I didn't enjoy the family drama with Ricki's family, it wasn't a big enough storyline to warrant that much time on them. I also wish the flashbacks would have just been a prologue. Especially because it only happened a couple of times and then went straight to the modern time for the rest of the book. By 4o% into the story, I needed to know Ezra's secret. I enjoyed seeing other characters' perspectives throughout the story as well. I loved the sub-characters. Mrs Dell and Tuesday were so entertaining and I loved that we got their point of view and perspective on life too. It made them more than just side characters but substantial characters in Ricki and Ezra's story. You do have to suspend some disbelief in this story. There is a bit of magical realism and relies heavily on the fated love romance trope. I enjoyed the magical realism. it wasn't hard to get past. I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into the Insta-love romance plot, but it wasn't cringey and I thought was handled pretty well overall.

Overall I'd give this book a 4.25. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 2/6

This story was the definition of love portrayed in story form . Tia Willams have put something in this book because I could not put it down and I didn't want it to end. This story made my heart smile. Ricki Wilde is the youngest daughter of 4 and her family owns a chain of funeral homes. All the women of the Wilde family are looked at as less than and should do as their father says in order to be successful in life. Ricki doesn't want the life her mother and sisters have. She wants more and she wants it her own way. After a chance encounter , Ricki decides to move to New York to make her own dreams come true on her own. She wants to own her own flower shop and create the perfect bouquets for the right occasion. What Ricki thinks is a walk in the community garden , turns into the day she first say the love of her life. Sounds amazing but there is so much more to this man that Ricki saw in the garden . What is uncovered and told to her will change the course of her life forever. Will Ricki take a chance on a love she's never experienced before or will she walk away before things can become dark. This love story is one I will be reading again. One of the best romance books I've read in my life.


All opinions are honest and my own. Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-arc.

First of all, look at the cover. I IMMEDIATELY wanted to read this because, gosh the cover, gorgeous!

The story inside was just as beautiful! I really think this is a read you go into blind. Any details will really spoil it in my opinion. Just know you are in for probably one of your favorite romances of the year! Well a romance mixed with some historical fiction and some magical realism.

AND you’ll meet a Grandma that you love and get to hang out in Harlem, NY which you will also love!

I really am jealous of those that get to read this for the first time!

Thank you @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for the early copy
This one comes out February 6th!

I really liked this story. I felt like the characters were easy to love and I enjoyed the whole premise but I did feel it took just a little too long to figure out what exactly was happening. I loved Ricki and her independence from her family, her friendships, and her overall strong protagonist ways. An enjoyable read with fun twists along the way.

telling you NOW so you can have the perfect reading experience:
read this book right when it comes out 2/6, soft jazz music in the background, no big lights on just small lamps, sipping a flirty fun beverage 🤌✨the story counts down to feb 29th, a leap year which is also THIS year!!

at 10% I was hooked, at 44% I was in love, at 100% I’m but a puddle of admiration

I had tears slowly falling while finishing this sweet book. it has the funniest lines, undeniable chemistry, the sweetest found family relationships all wrapped by the golden invisible string tying this romance + historical fic + magic realism together beautifully.

THIS is the kind of book that makes reading so magical for me🥲

Tia Williams can do no wrong!

The writing in this book was a great mix of funny, serious, and thoughtful. I liked the way the past timeline was woven together with the present day chapters, and getting the background and history on the Harlem Renaissance and learning about it in the context of the story. At the beginning of the book when the past sections are introduced I was a little confused, but it made so much more sense as I kept reading. I was not expecting the twist AT ALL but I loved the direction it took the book.

These two MCs were perfect together. Their chemistry was so good, and the dynamic and banter between them felt effortless and easy. I loved their support of one another, and how they knew what the other needed. Tuesday and Ms. Della provided so much levity and warmth to the story as well, and had me laughing out loud at multiple points. And a shoutout for the small Seven Days in June tie-in🥹

This story really drew me in, and I think fans of Williams’ other work will enjoy this one!

I went into A Love Song for Ricki Wilde blind, and I am pretty glad I did. I didn't know what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much is packed into this story. The most remarkable part of this book, though, is the love letter to the Harlem Renaissance. I am intentionally keeping this review brief so that other readers can go in blind...

Read if you like:
-Slow burn romance
-Harlem Renaissance
-The Seven Year Slip, The Unmaking of June Farrow
-Genre blends
-Meant to be, fated romance

Ooo such a good story! I loved the characters and writing. Big fan of Seven Days in June and also really enjoyed this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Tia Williams!

Thank you NetGalley, Tia Williams, and Grand Central Publishing for this arc of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. Seven Days of June was my #1 book of 2022 and I loved it so I was thrilled to read A Love Song. First, this is my first taste of magical realism and historical fiction is not my first choice of a genre. I really liked the characters and the beginning story of Ricki's journey. However, the pace was very slow for me and I found myself losing interest during the sections that took place in the past. I know the love story was going to be powerful but it didn't land for me. It is still amazing writing and an amazing story being told. I know a lot of people will enjoy this book and I totally would recommend it to others.

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

4.5⭐️

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

I went into this book a bit blind. All I knew was that there was magical elements involved in the story. The beginning of the story feels very Cinderella-esque, where Ricki is a looked down upon by her family members for being the odd one out. Her 3 older sisters make fun of her at every turn, and her mother treats her like she is an embarrassment. Only her father gives her his attention and a bit of respect. He also gives her his blessing to depart from the family funeral business to pursue her dream of opening up her own flower shop. She gets the opportunity to move into an apartment in Harlem where she renovates the front as her shop, and her landlord happens to be a wonderful, elderly woman who Ricki has named her adoptive grandmother named Della.

One night, she unexpectedly meets a mysterious guy who turns her world upside down. Just by looking at him, she feels as if she’s known him her entire life. And… while trying to forget each other, they can’t seem to stop running into each other, as if fate wants them to be together. Ricki and Ezra are from two different worlds. There’s no way they can be together… right?

I really enjoyed this story. It’s magical and dark and enthralling and sad and beautiful and romantic. The last half of the book I felt like I was floating from swooning over their story and also stressed for them to figure out a way to be with each other. I feel like I should’ve seen the plot twists and revelations, but I was truly just enjoying myself too much to care.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Ricki and her found family. The story was unique and well written.

Holy cow. This was steamy. Fantastical. Found family. It was amazing. The first few chapters were a bit slow going for me. Don’t let that sway you though. I eventually couldn’t put it down. I adored this book. I also appreciated the nod to the authors own struggles with migraines. I almost missed it!