I'm not going to do a synopsis of this book for two reasons: 1) I don't think I could do it justice and 2) I think the best way to read this book is to go in fully blind!

I loved this book! I think Tia Williams writes incredibly vibrant characters that make me immediately invested in both the characters and the story. We get to know Ricki so well pretty immediately and understand her motivations which I think is quite the feat that the author is able to pull off!

I loved the relationship between Ricki and Ezra - it felt inevitable but in a way that I was totally sucked in by. As much as this is a romance there is also a really strong undercurrent of found/chosen family. While Ricki's relationship with her family is at the forefront for the first chapter or so, those relationships also fall to the wayside when she moves to Harlem and connects with her elderly landlady as well as others.

And to those wondering, there is a brief cameo of Eva and Shane and it was everything.

I loved the dual narration by Mela Lee and Preston Butler. I think they brought both characters to life and the audio really added to my enjoyment of the book! I do wish there had been some sort of musical addition given how much music is a core piece to the story.

I highly highly recommend this! Huge thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I went into this book fairly blind only knowing that I was a HUGE Tia Williams fan and was fairly confident this would be another win. TLDR: IT WAS!!

Full of a strong cast of main and side characters, this book was more than just a great star-crossed lovers romance, it also had lots of African American history, a mix of fantasy and magical realism, and yes, a swoony love story for the ages.

Great on audio too narrated by Mela Lee and Preston Butler. This book is perfect for fans of The invisible life of Addie LaRue and authors like Alice Hoffman or Ryan Kennedy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Steam level: open door

Ricki Wilde moves from the South to NYC to chase her dreams and open a flower shop in a historic Harlem neighborhood. One night she meets a mysterious stranger who turns her world upside down.

Tia William writes such beautiful prose and this was timeless love story that was equal parts heartwarming, funny, factual and steamy. Sadly, I always struggle a bit with fated mates and was not as invested in the story until about half way through when some plot points were revealed.

I loved this on audio. It was so easy to get swept away.

Read if you like:
-Fated mates
-The Harlem Renaissance
-Jazz music
-Open door romances
-Seven Year Slip