This was a beautiful, magical, paranormal romance… until it wasn’t? About 65% of the way through this book it changed, and it felt like a whole different brand of story. I still really enjoyed it, despite getting lost and confused. The vibrancy of 1920s Harlem was infectious, and I really loved both of the characters in their dual timelines. I wish the longing and magic was able to span the entire story!

An Atlanta socialite flees to New York to chase her dreams, opening a flower shop. She is drawn to the rich history of Harlem and its storied past. One night, she meets a strange man in a public garden, but he eludes her in this enchanting novel.

I really, really hate to give this rating because this was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. I also think a lot of people are going to absolutely love this book. My issue here is that this was NOT what I was expecting. I went into this ready for just a beautiful modern romance and I was very surprised to find that it’s a magical realism/fated mates romance. Which is fine! I think if I had gone into it expecting that, I would have liked this way more. But I went in fairly blind and I was so distracted by the plot the entire time I was reading it that I just could not enjoy it.

It was hard not feel like the plot was so out there and elements of it were so over the time and cringey. I also had a tough time with Ricki as a character; she’s born wealthy and pretty much has everything handed to her throughout the entire book.

And because it’s a fated mates book, it’s very much an insta lust story with what feels like no depth of common ground between the two main characters and their relationship.

Parts of this were fun and I have a feeling I’m going to be in the minority here, but I struggled with this a lot.

A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE is so different than anything Tia Williams has written. the magical realism aspect of this book truly sets it apart from the rest of the book while still giving readers the same sweeping love story that knocks you off your feet, while being a love letter to Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance. i loved the multiple POV and dual timeline here and seeing Harlem then and Harlem now.

this book has my absolute favorite characters (MS. DELLA! she is everything) and Ricki and Ezra’s story, their meeting, and how their relationship unfolds had me feeling ALLLLLL the things. the twist and the ending?!?!? cue tears 🥹😭🥹

the best part of this book was the history. the Harlem Renaissance was such a rich and vibrant time in Black history FULL of music, art and culture. i loved how it worked with the dual timeline of this story.

I absolutely loved reading A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. It was such a great romantic story with just the right touch of magical realism. I loved learning about black history and learning more about the Harlem Renaissance.

Williams does a great job creating strong memorable characters, I loved every minute of this book and didn't want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this great novel.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Tia Williams
I really enjoyed Seven Days in June, so when this story came available in NetGalley for review I quickly requested this ARC.
Ricki comes from a well off family, but she felt out of place. She moved from Atlanta to New York and befriended two ladies Miss Della and Tuesday. A chance encounter in a garden with Ezra started her journey. Unfortunately, I did not finish because 57% in the book took a turn I wasn’t expecting. I’m not a fan of paranormal activity or fantasy, so that’s the only reason I had to DNF. I do not like paranormal and I don’t like fantasy base novels or books. This may be for someone else, but it wasn’t for me, but the story is well written and I did enjoy some of what I read, it definitely takes you on a journey.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

And thank you to Tia Willliams for sharing her craft. This book, simply put, is beautiful. It reads like the lyrics to a love song you never want to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I can't say enough good things about this book! It's hard to describe the plot without giving things away, but if you enjoy unique love stories, flowers, music, and New York, this book is for you. Tia Williams has done it again with this incredible story that is sure to stay with me for years to come. I will be quick to recommend it to many when it releases next year. Run don't walk to read this beautiful story!

Thank you to netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams. This was a romance book I've been waiting on for such a long time.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a romance with a twist. It took a while for me to get used to the tone of the book but once I settled into it I was hooked.

This book tells the story of Ricki Wilde, the privileged youngest daughter of a wealthy black Atlanta family, who moves to Harlem to make her own way and follow her dreams of opening a flower shop (sort of a Matchmaking for Beginners vibe.) Soon after, she meets Ezra Walker, a mysterious and quiet man. As their relationship progresses, Ezra reveals secrets about his past and introduces a dilemma that he and Ricki must solve in order to get their happily ever after.

I found a lot of the plot twists to be pretty predictable (I mean the key plot element was very easy to figure out) but it was still enjoyable even if the problem was solved a little too easily.

Overall, the book was a fun and enjoyable read and a real tribute to Harlems past and present.

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

I really loved this for the first 50ish percent but then the "big reveal" was a trope I really dislike. I could see it coming since it follows the plot and structure of [redacted] nearly exactly.

The flashbacks to Harlem were a bit heavy handed for me but I'm very familiar with the Harlem Renaissance and I realize that the target audience for this may not be. I love that it will introduce new people to that time period! I'm just really sad the book didn't do it for me.

I was absolutely swept away by Tia Williams’ new book, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. From the prologue to the last page, I couldn’t put it down. It was the perfect escape to read during that liminal week between Christmas and New Years.

Ricki Wilde is branching out, rejecting her family’s Atlanta funeral home empire in favor of owning her own floral shop in Harlem. One night, she meets a mysterious man in a garden and over the next few weeks they keep bumping into each other. The pull between them is magical but both are unsure if it’s the best decision to lean into that pull.

I loved that each chapter was told from different points of view and at different periods of time. The writing alternated between deeply tender and beautiful and laugh out loud hilarious. The supporting characters - especially Tuesday and Ms Della - were amazing.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

In A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE, Tia Williams has written a Wilde bouquet of a book: Combining the blooms of a beautiful love story, themes of passion and talent and what it really means to fully discover and embrace our innermost selves, and a time-hopping setting that becomes itself a character, brimming with life and tied together with magical realism that sparkles. A thoroughly enjoyable read, from the first page to the last.

Since I read this early from NetGalley, I’m looking forward to seeing what others have to say about it once it’s published… to prove that I missed out on something.

Because I’ll bet I did — I couldn’t get into this book, but I’ll bet if I had, I would have raved about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a buzzy book…. Or else I’m right and it was a great concept but a total misfire.

I think a lot of people will love this book, but since I struggled to get into it from the start, it wasn’t a great one for me. The tone of this book was random - especially for the first half - and I just could NOT get into it. I didn’t know what it was supposed to be for far too long… I’m still not sure I know what it was going for.

It starts out in 2020s Harlem with a 20-something woman moving in and starting a business. She meets an old lady and a former teen star. Random. Then we hop to 1920s Harlem and a jazz musician on the rise.

Was it a comedy? A historical drama? Is this a romance? Is it original, or is it totally derivative? Was it a great concept poorly executed, or was it all my fault? I felt disconnected from the whole thing, I found it frustrating… but maybe it was just me. And that ending was telegraphed from a mile away….

What a book!!! A Love Song For Ricki Wilde… Omg! I am so in love with this story. A leap year romance in New York, specifically Harlem. Flash backs to the Harlem Renaissance, which I mean who doesn’t love to hear stories about that time!! I really fell in love with Ricki’s character because she’s the Wilde child who beats to her own drum and although she is eccentric, creative, unpredictable with a gift of knowing random trivia facts it’s what makes her so amazing. Like I would’ve loved to be her friend. And Ezra…whew. I don’t want to say too much but what a connection and the way he was described, yeah who wouldn’t fall. I was not expecting this love story and the turn of events that happened with these characters. Every character is this book was amazing for me and hearing their own stories was one of my favorite parts. Like Ms. Della, I instantly loved her. She really reminded me of my great grandmother who was a force to be reckoned with till the very end. I can’t wait for everyone to read this. Leap years have always been interesting to me and this story was definitely very interesting, fun, heartwarming, emotional, funny, sad, and just amazingly good.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC copy for an honest review.

This novel is unlike other Tia Williams novels I've read- it is really engaging and unique with elements of paranormal/magical realism. A love story woven into a broader richer story. Black History, Harlem Renaissance provide a captivating atmosphere for this novel. Beautifully written, great characters- a very memorable read

I was completely surprised by this story, which was nothing like I expected but enchanting just the same. It was a story of love, magic, and found family set against the backdrop of Harlem, a setting with which I’m not familiar but that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know.

Ricki Wilde leaves her life in Atlanta behind to move into a brownstone in Harlem and open her dream floral shop. Ezra Walker is a musician who also lives in Harlem. Once their paths cross, they can’t seem to stay away from each other.

I want to tell you everything about this book and I want to tell you nothing about this book. I want you to experience it the way I did - with absolute delight. This book is so clever and witty - it is frequently laugh out loud funny, and also has a lyrical, almost poetic way about it too.

This has shades of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with a throughly modern romance. It’s both familiar and new at the same time.

✅ dual timeline- past and present. The past is during the Harlem Renaissance, 1920s
✅ fated mates
🌶️: yes, in a very sensual way

This is going to be one of my best reads of 2024 and I’m going to be absolutely evangelical about everyone reading this book.

3.5 rounded up

This book was kind of a mixed bag for me. I loved her previous novel, Seven Days in June, so I wanted to try this one. In the beginning, it felt kind of jumbled - jerky transitions in plot and timelines - but they did eventually work themselves out.

I went in blind so maybe that was a bit of the confusion, but I also liked the element of surprise that came at the apex of the story. It worked for me! Ultimately, the way Williams tied the story together - although a bit neat and tidy for my general taste - made me appreciate the story in the end. I definitely think Seven Days in June was a stronger book, but I also liked this one enough that I’m glad I read it.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde (out on 2/6/24!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ricki Wilde is the misfit of her family. While her three sisters went into her father’s funeral home business in Atlanta, Ricki’s artistic and non-conforming personality has always led her in other directions — including moving to Harlem, NY to open a flower shop. In between trying to keep her fledgling business afloat and paying visits to her sweet elderly landlord Miss Della, Ricki keeps bumping into a handsome stranger, Ezra, that she can’t stop thinking about. Little does she know that meeting this stranger will set off a series of events that turns Ricki’s leap-year February completely upside down.

I love this book because on its face it seems to be a romance, but it actually spans a few other genres as well: it is part historical fiction, as we learn so much about Black Renaissance in Harlem, it’s part magical realism, and it’s part coming-of-age fiction.

The characters and the humor make this book shine. Miss Della is one of my favorite characters I read in 2023, and I highlighted at least 10x of Ricki’s one-liners in the book (i.e., when insulting an ex: “you sentient Buddha statue from urban outfitters”). At the same time, we see real conversations between Ricki & Ezra about his experience being Black in the south and the history of Black artists in Harlem. The balance of levity & depth in this book is so well done.

This book is so funny, cute, and heartwarming, and I highly recommend 💜🪻