Give all of the stars to A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams. This is hands down one of the best romance books I read this year. No notes.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Tia Williams gives us magic,love, history, and all the feels. This book is beautiful and beautifully written.

This is a delightful romance. Tia Williams' writing is funny, heartfelt, and oh can she produce some sultry smoldering passion scenes! I love Seven Days in June, and this has a similar vibe though I think the mystical edge made it a little less interesting to me. Still, I loved Ezra and Ricki and was rooting for them

Ricki Wilde is the oddball in her family. Raised in an affluent family , her parents and sisters are all a part of the family business funeral homes. Working as a receptionist at the funeral home Ricki wants more than the funeral home can offer. Ricki loves plants and wants to open a boutique flower shop where she can express herself and her love for all things plants and flowers. When Ricki meets Della at the funeral home, they spark an instant connection and net thing you know Della is offering Ricki a space at her place in Harlem where Ricki can open her shop. Ricki takes it as a sign, and takes Della up on her offer. Against her families wishes and concerns Ricki makes the move. Once in Harlem Ricki finally feels free and is meeting great new friends. While out walking one night Ricki comes across a community garden and is drawn to the smell of the flowers. Once in the garden she sees the most gorgeous man shes ever seen and as they stare at each other she cannot help but feel drawn to him. This man makes her heart flutter and the instant connection makes her want to be in his presence. As days go by Ricki keeps running into this man and while the attraction is real, she’s also wondering why they keep meeting at the oddest of places. Ezra cannot stay away from Ricki and he knows he needs to, as Ezra has a major secret. Ezra knows why he keeps running into Ricki, but he cannot let her know and he must do all he can to stay away from her, but his attraction is so deep he doesn’t know if he can do it.
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. This was a love story that will keep you rooting for the main characters. A must read.

This is a second book for me by this author and I loved it. This book has so many elements to it: romance, historical fiction and magical realism. Loved the writing and plot twist. Beautiful read.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a vibrant and heartwarming story about self-discovery, love, and finding a place where you truly belong. Ricki Wilde, the free-spirited daughter of an Atlanta dynasty, feels out of place among her perfect, poised sisters. She longs for something more—a life that’s uniquely her own. When she moves to Harlem to pursue her dream of opening a flower shop, Ricki finds herself surrounded by a rich tapestry of culture, music, and history that grounds her in a way she never expected.

I especially loved how the story weaves in magical realism, adding an enchanting layer to Ricki’s journey. As she builds new relationships, especially with the mysterious Ezra, she not only discovers love but also uncovers the true meaning of friendship and belonging. This book isn’t just about Ricki’s personal growth—it’s a celebration of Harlem, of Black heritage, and of stepping into your own power, no matter where life takes you. It's a beautifully crafted story that feels like a breath of fresh air.

I loved 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 by Tia Williams and am so happy to report that I loved this one too! 4+ stars.
Special thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is an entertaining novel that will definitely appeal to fans of the fated lovers trope. Sure, in the long run, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde proved to be a tad too cheesy and smutty for my taste, but I still had a good time reading it.

"A Love Song for Ricki Wilde" by Tia Williams is my first read by this author, and as someone who usually prefers psychological thrillers, I was amazed by how much I bonded with each character. The story is a beautiful blend of romance and magical realism, set against the vibrant backdrop of Harlem. Ricki Wilde, the protagonist, is an incredibly relatable character. Her journey from feeling like the odd one out in her family to finding her true passion in her floral boutique is inspiring. I felt deeply connected to her struggles and triumphs. Ezra, the mysterious music-loving man Ricki meets, is another standout character. His sensitivity and depth made their romance feel genuine and heartfelt. Their connection over art and design was beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for their happily ever after. The supporting characters, like the spirited Ms. Della and the former child star Tuesday, added richness to the story. Each character brought something unique to the narrative, making it a truly immersive experience.
Overall, Tia Williams' writing captivated me from start to finish. This book has definitely opened my eyes to the romance genre, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author. #netgalley #alovesongforrickiwilde

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central publishing for the opportunity to read A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams. I had the honor of reading this particular novel as my first by the author and I was pleasantly surprised by the twist the plot took towards the end. I am a fan of historical fiction, romance and everything in between, so this one was right up my alley. The beginning of the novel was a little difficult to get into and I found myself not reaching for it. But it picked up about the 50 percent mark and I found myself intrigued about how Ricki Wilde would get her "love song". Lol. A great read with fleshed out characters and a twist you won't expect. I look forward to reading more from Tia Williams.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a beautifully written story that moves back and forth between modern and 1920s Harlem. The characters are complicated and flawed, but all you want is them to find their way together. Loved this book!

Ricki Wilde doesn't always fit in with her family. Can't we all relate to that a little? But on leap year through a little magic, she meets an old soul.

A lot of magical realism, romance and some history of Harlem all rolled up into this beautifully written book. I didn't know what to expect from the author, but was pleasantly surprised by this one. It is a little bit of a slow burn, but I filled that burn by enjoying the secondary characters of Tuesday and Ms. Della. All the characters were charming and I wanted to follow them and know more.

Mela Lee; and Preston Butler do an excellent job of bringing the atmosphere and both Ricki and Ezra to life.

This is my favorite book by the author, I enjoy reading historical fiction and the inclusion for a music lover was a recipe for an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the twist at the end and it was a sweet romance read.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a heartwarming and nostalgic romance about second chances and finding love where you least expect it. The story brims with charm, music, and irresistible chemistry. Perfect for fans of sweet romances, music-inspired love stories, and anyone who loves a good “right person, wrong time” tale.

Absolutely in love with this book! I was drawn in at the very start and this has been my favorite Tia Williams book thus far. Magical realism meets a unlikely love story set in the background of beautiful flowers and blooming friendships.

I am 100% utterly and completely in love with this story.

I don't even know what else to say. Tia Williams has outdone herself again.

This one will stay with me for a while!

I tried but I couldn't connect with this book at all. I put it down and picked it back up and I still didn't get a connection.

I adore anything written by Tia Williams and this was a beautifully written story. The twist was perfection.

This was my favorite book of 2024! Tia Williams has proven once again why she is an autobuy author for me!

Honestly, when I read that there was magical realism in the book, I was very skeptical of reading it. I’m in no way a fantasy girlie, no matter how much I try. But I lovvveed how the magical realism weaved into the overall plot.

I loved all of the characters in this book. Especially Ricki, she made me feel seen as a quirky black girl. I loved how this book gave us Harlem Renaissance black excellence in the dual timeline. I especially loved the slow sizzling burn romance. I am very much a sucker for a slow burn and Mrs. Williams gets that right each and every time.

Tia Williams broke my heart again with her genre-bending and century-spanning love story for Ricki Wilde and Ezra Walker.
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This novel is beautifully ambitious as it weaves together nuanced strands of complicated family dynamics and weighty expectations, logic-defying romance, gorgeously rich history, and magic into one achingly human tale.
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If you loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue RUN to this book, don’t walk.
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10/10 a billion stars ⭐️