Title: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Author: Tia Williams
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: February 6, 2024

I received a complimentary ALC from Hachette Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Electric • Mystical • Intoxicating

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases after I enjoyed Seven Days in June so much. For some undefined reason, it took me over a year to finally get to and I can only be left wondering why I waited so long? The only part of the synopsis I read was the first line 'And for some, even a single February can be life-changing' and should have been my first sign everything about this novel would work for me.

Told from various perspectives and spanning different timelines, this story is filled with so many individual elements I loved. Starting with the modern Harlem setting, which creates a vibrant and exciting backdrop for Rickie's story. Her black sheep personality and social anxiety instantly had me rooting for her as she sets out to forge her own path by opening up a flower shop. Erza's character has an air of mystery and guardedness from a traumatic past. Their love story is so unique as fates collide. And of course, the side characters of Ms. Della and Tuesday were welcome additions.

Tia's writing is so passionate and energetic bringing everything to life in a way only she can. She's able to combine historical, magical, romantic, and artistic elements into a well plotted and beautiful story. The Renaissance glamour, the insight into black culture, specifically aspects of voodoo, the unlikely friendship with Ms. Della, the musical inspiration of the times, and the found family trope all blend together to make this an unforgettable reading experience.

The audiobook, narrated by Mela Lee and Preston Butler, was absolutely FANTASTIC! It added an extra layer to the whole whimsical and enchanting atmosphere. Their voices were exactly what I imagined the characters to sound like and brought everything to another level. I could definitely hear the passion and emotion the story contains in their voices.

I went into A Love Song for Ricki Wilde expecting one thing and it delivered something entirely different - something so much better. All of the smaller elements came together in a way
that worked perfectly for me. This story and its characters will definitely stay with me. Tia's writing style is chef's kiss and I look forward to more from her. If you go in looking for solely romance, you may be disappointed, because this one is so much more.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• Harlem Renaissance
• romance-lite
• flower shops and horticulture

⚠️ CW: sexual content, death, death of parent, death of partner, suicide, toxic relationship, alcohol, alcoholism, infidelity, mental illness, miscarriage, addiction, overdose, depression, cancer, terminal illness, cursing, racism, hate crime, fire/fire injury, abandonment, injury/injury detail

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"He was music I could listen to forever."

"'It isn't normal,' he conceded. 'But it is my life.'"

"Besides lie sits shoulder to shoulder with death. It's around us all the time."

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an early copy! I was very excited to read the new Tia Williams book as Seven Days in June was a 5 star book for me. Unfortunately I did not end up loving this the same way. The main concept of this book is something I’m not really a fan of in books. I did think the romance was cute at times but all in all, I thought this was forgettable and disappointing.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a magical, passionate but tender romance based in Harlem and follows the poetic journey of Ricki who is completely captivated by the handsome Ezra and thus an epic love story ensues.

What an insanely romantic, unforgettable, captivating story! It stole my heart right from under me.

"But when I met Ricki, I knew I was wrong. I was a fool, thinking that I was born to do anything grander than loving her",

I loved the lyrical writing, the passion oozing from the pages, I was completely hypnotised and I wish I could re-read again for the first time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC! Tia Williams is a masterful writer of love, connection, and romance and this book is no different. I found the magical realism to be a welcome addition to this story and the historical context on Harlem and Black culture was interesting. Great read!

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.

Absolutely awesome, magical and whimsical. This is a love story and intertwined with black history. Ezra and Ricki were fascinating to read about and their relationship was one of a kind so swoon-worthy!

Thank you for the audiobook NetGalley.

This book is a perfect mixture of fantasy and romance. It is also a reminder of how true love will find you no matter where you are in life. Williams' skills of infusing three stories into 1 was simply wonderful. I would strongly recommend this book/audiobook to my friends.

I thought Seven Days in June was a perfect novel and somehow Tia Williams even surpassed the beautiful romances she has written before.

This book is a beautiful blend of romance, music, and self-discovery that had me hooked from the very first page. The narrators have a great pace that capture you into the story right away. The use of timeline and the portrayal of Harlem are beautiful in the novel.

Ricki’s journey is both relatable and inspiring, as she navigates the complexities of love and ambition. Tia’s writing is so vivid and lyrical; I

The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with their own unique stories that intertwine in the most heartfelt ways. I especially loved the moments of humor and warmth that balanced the more emotional scenes.

After reading this, Tia Williams is solidified as one of my favorite authors. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was romantic, whimsical and full of the soft life that I love for my characters. Ricki was a fiercely independent character who wanted to live and love on her terms and Ezra was fully devoted to loving Ricki. Dual times continues to be one of my favorite literary device that I enjoy time and time again. Jumping between the two timelines and learning about what happened in the past to make the Ricki and Ezra's paths cross in the present was fun to watch. While i enjoyed Ezra and Ricki as main characters, the side characters were just as lovable and multifaceted. I could have read a book just about some of the side characters and their backstories. Definitely one of my top books of the year!

One of my best reads this year. This book was absolutely magical and whimsical. The love story intertwined on these pages are everything and more.

Ezra and Ricki were a love story in the making over a century.

2024 is a leap year and this book is all about the special magic of February 29. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is beautiful, almost poetic. And I wept. I actually did.
Mind, this isn’t a Contemporary Romance. The genre is probably best described as Timetravelling Romance. Something Paranormal-ish.
There are so many emotional facets to this love story and so many details I want to gush about. But I don’t want to spoil them. You absolutely need to experience this wonderful book for yourself!
Mela Lee and Preston Butler bring out all the beauty and feelings of this wonderful novel. One of the best audiobooks of 2024 and not to be missed!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded down.

I was not prepared for the magical realism in this novel and I loved it!

Ricki Wilde has three older sisters who seem to have everything together. Ricki has always been different. Instead of joining the family funeral home business, Ricki moves to NYC and opens her own flower shop in Harlem. Set in modern times, and in 1920s Harlem, the story begins to weave two people together, Ricki in this time and Ezra, a musician from the past. How and why they come together spans a century, culminating on a February 29, that magical day in a Leap Year.

I loved the bits of Harlem history, loved how Ezra found his way to Ricki, and loved the cast of supporting characters, especially Miss Della.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enchanting and unique love story about second chances and art, filled with Harlem history, traditions and pop culture references. A beautiful written story that celebrates Black history.

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲 by Tia Williams released February 6, 2024.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed following Ezra and Ricki's relationship through the story and enjoyed the magical realism aspect of this book. This plotline will stick with me and I will continue to recommend the book to everyone!

4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this story, which I jumped right in without reading the synopsis, which I heard was the way to do it, and to just enjoy the storytelling.

I paired the physical and audio formats, and thought the narration was great! It really brought the story to life and I loved the Harlem setting and magical realism elements.

*many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Adding to the DNF shelf for now. Got to around 35%. I felt like the interesting play with timelines and characters was intriguing but not quick enough for me. I enjoyed the writing overall.

This one was a DNF for me. I tried it several times over three or four months, but each time I just couldn't get into the storyline. I had previously read Seven Days in June and loved it! I can't even really pinpoint why it wasn't enjoyable but being on vacation sometimes makes the brain wander versus focused on what I am reading. I will still pick up future books by the author. Sad that this one didn't grab me. Opinion is my own and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've struggled with the audiobook but the story is amazing so I'll get a physical copy and give it another chance.

Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to listen to the audiobook before it got archived!
I will make sure to get a copy or the audio version, myself to give a review on my socials.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! In the beginning I was a confused with the timelines but it wasn’t for too long. I loved all the character voices and their personalities.

In the first half we get introduced to Ricki Wilde and her free spirited ways so opposite of her elite Atlanta family. Rickie is blessed by Miss Della who helps her open her own flower shop in Harlem. Once in Harlem she meets Ezra Walker, who she feels a magnetic pull towards. I loved Ezra’s quirks and mannerisms.

In the second half of the book we learn why Ezra and Ricki can’t be together. It really speeds up from there and my favorite moments shared with couple were in this half.

The history throughout the book was a great addition, it brought the places to life. The tie with Seven Days in June was a great touch that brought me back to their love story.

I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who is interested in romance with a touch of magical elements.