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kfmcf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
First, I want to start off by saying that the prose and historical aspects of this book are lovely. Tia Williams is and will be an incredible writer, no matter the genre.
However, this book was not for me. I love magical realism, I do, but this one kept trying to toe the line of both being and not being magical realism throughout the entire book. I was far more interested in the Harlem Renaissance chapters than I was anything with Ricki (sorry). Or even Della! I would have loved this to be a look through Della's life. I just really struggled with Ricki and Ricki's schticky family.
Also, this book doesn't get into the real meat of the magical realism until around 60% of the way through. It leaves you wondering what is going on as if there is going to be a big payoff - and there really never is. The exposition of what's going on feels a bit underdeveloped and underwhelming. And why were they so drawn to each other? Maybe I just too much of a skeptic to really 'get' the Fated Mates trope, but I could not suspend my disbelief that they were a perfect match. What did they even have in common?
This book left me pretty frustrated throughout the majority of it and that's disappointing, to say the least.
However, this book was not for me. I love magical realism, I do, but this one kept trying to toe the line of both being and not being magical realism throughout the entire book. I was far more interested in the Harlem Renaissance chapters than I was anything with Ricki (sorry). Or even Della! I would have loved this to be a look through Della's life. I just really struggled with Ricki and Ricki's schticky family.
Also, this book doesn't get into the real meat of the magical realism until around 60% of the way through. It leaves you wondering what is going on as if there is going to be a big payoff - and there really never is. The exposition of what's going on feels a bit underdeveloped and underwhelming. And why were they so drawn to each other? Maybe I just too much of a skeptic to really 'get' the Fated Mates trope, but I could not suspend my disbelief that they were a perfect match. What did they even have in common?
This book left me pretty frustrated throughout the majority of it and that's disappointing, to say the least.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Emotional abuse
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Alrightie, Tia Williams does it again, confirming herself as one of the few romance authors I can read wihtout cringing all too badly. Still, I couldn't help but find this book inevitably lacking especially in style and plot-writing compared to «Seven Days in June» (which was mentioned and it made my heart flutter ). The characters were funny, quirky and interesting but felt more like characters than tridimensional real people and I felt like the plot was at first introduced as a grand mystery between realism and fantasy but the solution felt a bit... underwhelming.
All in all, it isn't a bad book and I do love the fact that it focused on both love as romantic and as platonic and familial (albeit I couldn't help but feel a bit meh about it, especially as it was a bit confusing considering this had been sold to me as a romance book, but instead if felt more like fiction), I just think that it isn't the best of the author, although it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you for it!
All in all, it isn't a bad book and I do love the fact that it focused on both love as romantic and as platonic and familial (albeit I couldn't help but feel a bit meh about it, especially as it was a bit confusing considering this had been sold to me as a romance book, but instead if felt more like fiction), I just think that it isn't the best of the author, although it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Classism
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was not at all what i was expecting. this is such an unique take on the romance genre. supernatural/mystical stuff in books isn’t usually my favorite, especially in romance, but this was still thoroughly enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
enneirda07's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
IDK how to feel about this book. I enjoyed it but didn't love it as much as Seven Days in June but it was still good overall. I guessed most of the major twists so it wasn't as surprising as me. As always, Tia writes great dialogue but I fear the many pop culture references may make the book seem dated in a couple of years.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Terminal illness
Minor: Addiction
peachmoni's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
marena02's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I wanted to pick this up as soon as it was out and I wasn't disappointed! I read this over the course of one day because the intrigue was so high and the relationship was sizzling.
I did find the characters a little less fleshed out than they were in Seven Days in June. Both books deal with extremely harrowing racism, but I felt like we got more insight into the inner lives of Eva and Shane. Maybe just because we didn't actually spend that much time with young Ezra - I would have loved to spend more time there and I did not see the twist coming.
I did find the characters a little less fleshed out than they were in Seven Days in June. Both books deal with extremely harrowing racism, but I felt like we got more insight into the inner lives of Eva and Shane. Maybe just because we didn't actually spend that much time with young Ezra - I would have loved to spend more time there and I did not see the twist coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Suicide
30something_reads's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Happy Pub Day!
"For a long time, I thought I knew what my calling was. My Grand Purpose. But when I met Ricki, I knew I was wrong. I was a fool, thinking I was born to do anything grander than loving her."
This is the story of Ricki Wilde and Ezra Walker - two creative souls brought together by fate at the beginning of February in Harlem, NY.
Ricki Wilde is the free-spirited, youngest daughter of the Wilde Funeral Empire. Expected to dutifully carry on with the family business, Ricki makes the choice to leave her home in GA and follow her dreams of opening a flower shop in NY. It’s there that she meets the mysterious Ezra Walker. They are instantly drawn to one another, but Ezra tells her it would be best if they never see one another again. But fate has other plans in store for Ricki Wilde.
This book is such a refreshing blend of romance, history, music, & friendship with the perfect magical twist. I think that if you’re a fan of Ashley Poston’s romances, this is definitely a book you need to pick up.
Not only is this a beautiful love story between two remarkable people, but it is also a love letter to Black creatives and the Harlem Renaissance.
I absolutely adored all these characters and the way their stories were woven together. This is a story that made me feel everything- I laughed along with all the funny circumstances they found themselves in. I was so angry at Ricki’s family & how they treated her. My heart swelled for the family Ricki built for herself in NY. I swooned right along with Ricki and Ezra as they fell in love. And I WEPT happy tears during the epilogue. (Which is my favorite thing to do while reading romance.)
*Thank you so much to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette for the early review copy*
"For a long time, I thought I knew what my calling was. My Grand Purpose. But when I met Ricki, I knew I was wrong. I was a fool, thinking I was born to do anything grander than loving her."
This is the story of Ricki Wilde and Ezra Walker - two creative souls brought together by fate at the beginning of February in Harlem, NY.
Ricki Wilde is the free-spirited, youngest daughter of the Wilde Funeral Empire. Expected to dutifully carry on with the family business, Ricki makes the choice to leave her home in GA and follow her dreams of opening a flower shop in NY. It’s there that she meets the mysterious Ezra Walker. They are instantly drawn to one another, but Ezra tells her it would be best if they never see one another again. But fate has other plans in store for Ricki Wilde.
This book is such a refreshing blend of romance, history, music, & friendship with the perfect magical twist. I think that if you’re a fan of Ashley Poston’s romances, this is definitely a book you need to pick up.
Not only is this a beautiful love story between two remarkable people, but it is also a love letter to Black creatives and the Harlem Renaissance.
I absolutely adored all these characters and the way their stories were woven together. This is a story that made me feel everything- I laughed along with all the funny circumstances they found themselves in. I was so angry at Ricki’s family & how they treated her. My heart swelled for the family Ricki built for herself in NY. I swooned right along with Ricki and Ezra as they fell in love. And I WEPT happy tears during the epilogue. (Which is my favorite thing to do while reading romance.)
*Thank you so much to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette for the early review copy*
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Y'all, I read my first book by Tia Willams, Seven Days in June, about two years ago now. And it made my favorites of the year list. So, when I saw the opportunity to request this newest book on NetGalley, let me tell you, I *jumped* on it. I was excited to read more from Williams, plus this one promised a little magic in it, and I am never one to turn that down.
So, I'm super behind on reviews. In trying to catch up, I will be going the lazy synopsis route and giving you the good ol' (truncated) "copied and pasted from Goodreads" version. Thanks for your understanding, haha. Here's that: Ricki Wilde is the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, and quite the opposite of the rest of her family. She knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her. So, when a regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumpsont it. 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, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger (Ezra) who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way and together, once Ricki learns his big secret, they must overcome a curse that has stuck to him for a century. Set against the backdrops of both modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked.
Well, I didn;t love it as much as Seven Days, but tbh, that's a hella high bar and I wasn't really expecting to. So with that in mind, I loved this one for what it was! First, and foremost, these characters were phenomenal - fresh and interesting. A spunky former child actor, a Harlem Renaissance era pianist, a quirky YOLO-vibes grandmother figure, and, of course, our MC, a creative florist and burgeoning IG influencer. Bonus: a solid cameo from Eva Mercy from Seven Days and I was just feeling these characters. A lot of it was in the little details, like Ms. Della going out to community gatherings drinking from her own literal china teacup and the specificity of description in Ricki's bouquets and the room of historic music technology in Ezra's home and, for me, the little mention of study abroad in Seville (I did that!). They were just so alive and I loved them all.
The world-building was also spectacular. Which sounds a bit ridiculous because this is a "real life" place and time (or places and times). But Williams really brought it to life: the setting was just as alive as the characters, holding its own against their strong presences. I don’t read much from the Harlem Renaissance time period, in any setting/population, so this was a nice way to add it in and mix it up without being overwhelmed by a time period that I’m just not normally drawn to. It’s always important to get a history refresher, especially from a perspective that isn’t ever taught in a fully fleshed-out way (we often nominally honor the Black jazz musicians and artists/poets of the time, but don’t ever reckon with the need or inspiration behind their work and community). And this was really accentuated by the parts from Ezra's perspectives...his world weariness (*minor spoiler*) due to the immortality meant he had seen and survived so much, especially as a Black man from the Jim Crow South and with a story starting in Harlem Renaissance/Jazz Age Harlem was written so well. A solid, telling, and fairly original, perspective, in that way. Finally, the way that Ricki begins leaving her extra bouquets around Harlem at historical spots, starting a major social media following with that, is so creative. And was a wonderful way to really tie the two time periods, but same location, together even more.
The plot itself was entertaining and fun, but also romantic (and let me add here that I loved the chemistry between Ezra and Ricki). And while I saw the ending coming from pretty far away, I also appreciated the cyclical nature of it and the way it all came together smoothly, and magically! Plus, while I was a bit sleep deprived when I read the ending and maybe that played a part in my reaction, I was surprised at how emotional it still made me...even knowing what was going to happen. That's really solid writing, overall. A note on the writing here though. Potentially because this was an ARC, but there was something about the writing that felt a little less polished than I would have liked. There's a chance some of that was cleaned up before final publication, but it could have been smoother.
Anyways, I'm usually a sucker for the fight for an epic love that actually looks like the everyday little moments; I love seeing my own love story reflected in those moments and always feel that it's such a gorgeous story to tell. And here, it was; it really was gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Emotional abuse