This book was unexpected in so many ways, one key area which I'm not going to spoil here. Ricki as the protagonist was a peppy, resilient character that it was hard not to like. She had the worst family but she made and found her own. Add in some serious social anxiety, a truly good best friend and the best non-related grandma ever and we got a rich reading recipe.

The was a slow-ness to this plot, it ambled for quite a while before getting to the meat and bones of what the story was all about. Ricki and Ezra's meeting gave me whiplash and then it took a while for that meet-what to meet again. Ezra had his own difficult story paralleling Ricki's and it was hard to see how two so very different social cultures could meld.

This story was full of joy and hope one moment and desperation the next. While the plot turned a little slowly and time seemed to stretch, I still felt Ezra and Ricki fell a bit fast and that left me a bit lacking it attachment to them as a couple. The magical elements didn't quite gel for me either.

This story was atmospheric in many ways, unusual in how the pairing happened and rich in the tapestry of both the characters settings. I wish I'd enjoyed it more than I did but I am left with warm okay feelings rather than love.

Thank you for the eARC via netgalley.

Having enjoyed Seven Days in June, I knew that not only the great writing style but the sizzling chemistry would make this one pop off the page in an enjoyable read. I was right – plus the twist of magical realism set this apart as a fun and engaging story to enjoy on a dark winter’s night.

<i>A Love Song for Ricki Wilde </i>is an entertaining novel that will definitely appeal to fans of the fated lovers trope. Sure, in the long run, <i>A Love Song for Ricki Wilde</i> proved to be a tad too cheesy and smutty for my taste, but I still had a good time reading it. Tia Williams’ sense of humor shines front and center here as the story has plenty of funny one-liners (“you sentient Buddha statue from Urban Outfitters”), witty banter, clever descriptions, one-liners and comical scenarios and side-characters. At times the humour element did feel a bit too entrenched in internet humor, and some of the references felt already ‘dated’. The novel’s opening has a modern fairy tale feel to it as we are introduced to the Wilde family, who own a funeral enterprise. The youngest daughter Ricki is not particularly interested in her family’s business, nor does she want to emulate her older sisters’ socialite lifestyle. She’s a free spirit who is far more artistic and less materialistic than the rest of her family. Ricki decides to follow her dreams and sets up her own flower shop in a brownstone in Harlem. There she connects with the owner of the brownstone, widowed nonagenarian Ms. Della, who is busy fluffing her own bucket list. Ricki also makes her first real friend, Tuesday, a former child-actor who is in many ways her kindred spirit. As Ricki struggles to find the right business model for her shop, she happens to come across a mysterious musician who, despite their clear chemistry, is not keen on getting to know her, going as far as to ask her to leave Harlem. We also get chapters transporting us back to the Harlem Renaissance, in which follow a young man who shares a lot in common with Ricki’s mystery man.

The book is certainly self-aware in its approach to certain tropes. And in some ways, it succeeds in poking fun at the whole supernatural romance that is has going on…but then the storyline takes way too long to reveal something that most readers will have already figured out from the very start. Why else would we get chapters transporting us back to the roaring 20s? The shift in tone was jarring, as we go from Ricki’s fairly humorous escapades to a character who has endured so much trauma. And I guess I ultimately did not buy into this guy. The story does try to provide a rationale for his inconsistent knowledge of the modern world, but it wasn’t enough to make me believe in this guy. The more you think about his reaction and behavior upon seeing Ricki, the more you realize that, in spite of having ample time to prepare or devise a strategy to escape his fate, the guy decides to say the type of things that would inevitably backfire. Saying mysterious things, acting weird around the FL, and so on. It was giving Robert Pattinson, and in the year 2024, that kind of shit comes across as a huge red flag. Ricki’s bestie Tuesday seems the only ‘sane’ one, but then proceeds to be conveniently won over by him once the whole supernatural thing is explained to her. Ironically enough, for a novel with the words "Love Song" in it, that does primarily focuses on romance, romance was the thing that worked the least (for me obviously). It was just too cheesy: “And, God help her, there it was: Ricki was drawn to this secret tragedy of Ezra, the mystery, the tangible sadness. His unknowable depths.”
I liked Ricki’s new eccentric friends, and I would have much rather read about her bond with them than her insta-love with mystery man. Ricki’s family had potential, but they ended up being relegated to the role of minor villains. I found a certain cameo to be quite unnecessary but even more cringey were those sex scenes (that poor piano…).

Overall, <i>A Love Song for Ricki Wilde</i> was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I liked the chaotic energy of Williams’ characters, as well as her engaging storytelling and humor, the romance and plot failed to win me over.

I am such a fan after Seven Days in June, I was so honored to receive an arc for A Love Song for Ricki Wilde! I thought it was so real, and brilliant in the way it could portray such a beautiful love story. Insanely recommend Tia Williams, it’s just a guarantee. x

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024! It did not disappoint!

this one was a slow burn for me and pacing is my main critique. there is a lot of character and “world” building before you start to hit the twists

When Ms Della invites Ricki Wilde to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem apartment, she jumps at the chance. Having escaped her family and their funeral industry, Ricki finally has a chance to set up a flower shop, which has been a long-held dream.
The colourful characters that she meets keeps Ricky entertained. Yet on one evening in February, Ricki encounters Ezra who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.
Without giving away the whole story, the chemistry between Ricki and Ezra is intense, making for a beautiful romance. I was surprised by the mystical quality to the story, not realising this from the blurb, yet I found myself captured wholeheartedly. The book captures many topical issues, treating each with care and respect.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So much fun!! Perhaps not quite the favourite that Seven Days was but PHEW, I didn’t expect that twist!! Great use of the dual timeline, LOVEDDDDD the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Loved a little nod to Seven Days by bringing a character back! The magical realism was done well and I love that all kinds of love is explored here - romantic and platonic, and found family. Super readable, perfect for the beach or a holiday!! I’ll keep reading anything Williams writes.

This may surprise readers coming into this book expecting a straight up romance. But those who have read Tia Williams before shouldn’t be surprised as her novels are always more than they seem.
It takes some time for this book to start as we spend a lot of time with our heroine getting to know her and her life before unusual things start to happen when she sees a mysterious man in a local garden.
The romance was compelling despite the fated true love aspect. The conflict of the novel was truly something that could cause harm to their relationship. The side characters were truly rounded and I wished they were part of my life. And I definitely saw the final reveal at the end happening, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment.
While I didn’t love it as much as Seven Days in June; this is a great romance that looks at Black History Month and Harlem with the attention they deserve from an astounding writer.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for gifting a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am such a fan of Tia Williams! She was such a pleasant surprise to discover when I read Seven Days in June last year, and it actually ended up being one of my favourite romances I read in 2023, so I was very excited for this newest release of hers. I had no idea what this one would be about, but I really liked the paranormal, mysterious element to this romance, as it gave the story an emotional depth that I've come to expect in Williams' books. The historical element and the generational aspect of the story, and how it intertwined with the present day and Ricki and Ezra's love story was so interesting, and I couldn't wait to see how all of the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place. Ricki's found family warmed my heart, and it made me so happy to see her receive the love she had deserved for so long.

I think it’s a strong testament to A Love Song for Ricki Wilde that despite the story going into territory I definitely wasn’t expecting about a third of the way through – which can be disconcerting – I still ended up loving it! As the title indicates, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is indeed a romance novel – but absolutely one with a twist!

As a fan of synergy and timing – leap years play a key role in A Love Song for Ricki Wilde so it’s pleasing that this year, 2024 is, in fact, a leap year.

Our lead character is the lovely and enigmatic Ricki Wilde – full name Richard Wilde as she is the fourth daughter in her family, so was named after her father anyway. There are many amusing exchanges on this. They’re random and funny and wonderfully sum up the lighthearted and conversational tone of this great book.

Richard senior founded Wilde Funeral Homes – a very successful business that he wants each of his daughters to franchise. The thing is, Ricki does not dream of running a funeral home. Her passion is floristry – she loves flowers and approaches her bouquet making as an art form.

While working on reception in her father’s funeral home, Ricki meets Ms. Della whose husband has sadly passed. They have an instant connection – Ms. Della is the grandmother-figure that’s been missing from Ricki’s life – and Ms. Della gives Ricki the opportunity to open her own flower shop – in Harlem, New York.

Ricki opens Wilde Things – her very own florist, makes a new friend in ex-child-star Tuesday Rowe and just keeps bumping into the most gorgeous man she has ever laid eyes on. The only thing is, he’s being frosty to her and even warns her away from him. But why?

What follows is a wildly passionate will they/won’t they sexy love story but trust me when I say, not one you will have read before! I always strive to make my reviews spoiler-free so actually there’s a big part of the story I can’t reference here but just let it envelop you and go with the flow – you’ll love it!

Ricki’s journey as a young woman finding her place in the world is engrossing to read about and I learnt a lot about the rich history of Harlem too.

This brings us nicely to the dual timeline that works to tell the story of 1920s Harlem and its iconic jazz scene. Ezra ‘Breeze’ Walker is a young piano-player who moves to Harlem after tragedy. He puts his all into establishing himself as a musician, but his life is turned upside down when a relationship sends it spinning a direction he could never have imagined…

I loved a previous Tia Williams read, Seven Days in June, so imagine my excitement when lead character from that book, Eva Mercy pops up in A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. Who doesn’t love a fictional world cross-over?

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was fun, sexy, warm and definitely unique. It made me laugh and cry – always the sign of a brilliant read!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with and arc in exchange of an honest review.
We follow Ricki Wilde who doesn't really want to be a aprt of the family business and instead decides that she wants to forge her own path and, with the help of her grandmother opens a flower shop. Soon she meets a man who will change her entire world.

I went totally blind without any expectaction, and i am glad i did. You dont need to know a lot more about the book, a swoony romance with a found family, loveable characters. It felt like a warm hug at times and at others i cried likea baby. I wont say anything else beside : PICK IT UP.

4.5 stars
I did not expect the story of this, so was a bit confused at first trying to figure out what was going on. Think Addie La Rue vibes. When I figured out what was going on, I really did get into this book. Completely heartbreaking ending.
Lovely little cameo from the 7 days in June characters. Completely different from Tia's other books but thoroughly enjoyed all the same.

A unique and beautiful story told with dual timelines that wound a magical tale of Ricki and Ezra. Set in Harlem NY, it was also a love letter to this vibrant neighbourhood. There were twists and turns (some of which were predictable) - but it was enough to keep the story interesting. Not up to SDIJ level of awesome, but a good read nonetheless.

Having read (and enjoyed) Tia William's previous novel 'Seven Days in June', I was really looking forward to this title and the premise of 1920s meets the contemporary seemed interesting. Unfortunately this book did not quite hit the mark for me, had I not known that Williams had published work before I would have assumed that this was a debut - the timeline was jumping around and everything felt incredibly forced. There was a lot of telling and no showing and the exposition was somewhat jumbled.

I will say that Ms Della is by far the stand out character in this novel, she is warm and kind and really was the only reason I continued to the end. The two main characters, however, I could not get along with and I found Ricki, her family and their dynamic quite inauthentic which kept pulling me out of the story.

If the blurb seems interesting to you, and you have not read William's earlier work, then I would say this could be worth picking up.

Now then, trying to review this book without giving away spoilers is like trying to describe a rainbow without using colors – challenging and a bit frustrating, but oh-so-worth it. It was the perfect mix of romance, surprise and swoon-worthy content. It included a storyline of a particular kind, that wouldn’t usually be to my taste. But, I had to say it was a fresh and exciting read. I loved this one so much more than her previous book ‘Seven Days In June’ and that was great. It’s an absolute MUST for your TBR list.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Quercus books for my ARC of this title.

Back in 2021, 'Seven Days in June' was easily one of my favourite reads of the year, so as soon as this book was announced I knew I had to get my hands on a copy as straight away it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024.

I want to start off by saying that normally I'm not a massive romance reader, and find it difficult normally to find romances that don't fall into that 'cliché' category which I typically don't enjoy. After how much I loved SDIJ I was hoping to be as blown away by this title also, and whilst there was aspects that I liked, I'm sad to say I wasn't as enamoured by this title. I don't want this review to be about SDIJ with them being separate reads, but with the chronic illness representation in that book that I could actually relate to, I found the characters felt so genuine and fleshed out, and that completely reeled me into the story having that kind of understanding. With 'A Love Song For Ricki Wilde', I sadly didn't feel as attached to these characters, and with the plot line of this one I also found myself not really believing in the romance or routing for it either, which sadly did take me out of the story a bit. I found myself not really enjoying Ezra as a character too much sadly, however, I did enjoy the representation of the early 1900's music scene in the earlier Ezra sections with this being a time period I'm very much interested in. I would have actually liked to see a bit more of this.

Also, at the start of the book, I was very intrigued by the complex and flawed family dynamic present within Ricki's family, and I actually would have liked to have seen more of this personally. What we got at the beginning with the strained family conversations and arguments was actually really enjoyable to read, and personally I would have liked a bit more of this to give us a bit more insight into Ricki as a person.

Towards the end, I did very much enjoy the plot twist, thinking it was cleverly done, and one of the most tender moments within the whole novel. Despite me sadly not connected with the 2 main characters in this one, I did love Ms Della as a character, and actually found her to be my favourite. I thought the way the plot unfolded at the end and became interwoven with past events was very cleverly executed, and I did really enjoy it.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is such a unique romance novel. It blends magical realism, historical fiction and romance together in an amazing way!! It reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, which is one of my favourite books!

The book follows Ricki, a woman who decides to open up a flower shop in Harlem. She ends up opening her shop in an apartment with a lot of history from the Harlem Renaissance. Strange, impossibly magical things keep happening and eventually Ricki meets a mysterious charismatic stranger. They seem to recognize each other, even though they have never met...

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique, emotional romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a unique and beautiful story. It is very different to what I’ve previously read and it was also a lot different to what I thought it would be.

This is a story about being brave, open and vulnerable. It is about believing in yourself and creating a space where you feel seen. It is really hard to explain this book because I feel like it will be a spoil it. Tia Williams characters are so full of life and relatable, they are three dimensional characters that go through a journey throughout the book!!

The chemistry between the two main characters was PALPABLE!!! Reading it felt like a life altering experience!! They truly felt like SOULMATES!!

I had the best time!! Thank you Quercus Books and Netgalley for the proof!!

Another gorgeous story from Toa Williams, taking elements from her previous success in 7 Days in June and bringing it to a whole new, but equally as romantic story.

I have read Tia Williams before and really enjoyed so was looking forward to this. We meet Ricky living in New York where she keeps bumping into a hot guy in her neighbourhood. A love story unfolds but with a twist. I loved the mix of music, magic, love and 20's vibes with a bit of supernatural thrown in for measure. I loved Tia's writing style and storytelling. There were lovable characters such as Ms Della and I found the whole story to be very atmospheric, especially how she describes Harlem and the jazz scene as if I were there.