Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

10 reviews

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.

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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

peachmoni's review

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

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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

kdailyreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and War

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol, 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

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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

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-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

4.5

This book read like a historical/contemporary fairy tale, down to the fairy (grand)mother. A gorgeous, ethereal read with likeable secondary characters and found family, while still touching on darker themes like how history impacts our present and future. Tia Williams has definitely become an autobuy author for me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Review:

She’s a scatterbrained outcast of a rich family looking to prove herself by opening a floral arrangement shop in Harlem. He’s a traumatized soul whose entire family burned alive in a church fire set by Ku Klux Klansmen. A match fated in the stars? /s

 

Okay, before I launch into my very mixed review of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, please know that you should take my opinion with a grain of salt. Listening to my opinion would be like asking someone who doesn’t like pickles to review someone’s world-famous fried pickles. I’m not someone who enjoys romance, although I continue to pick up romance books for the sake of challenging my literary tastebuds every now and again. If you like romance, then listen to someone else’s review of this book. This review is for myself and others like me.

 

This book had a strong start for me; I actually laughed out loud at Ricki’s deliciously horrible family, and I was disappointed that they didn’t make many more appearances. I also enjoyed several of the side characters, including Della, an elderly woman who unofficially adopts Ricki as her grandchild. More than these specific characters, this book has an enthusiastic earnestness that’s hard to hate even if I really didn’t like the romance between the main characters. Williams’s passion for her story and subject matter shines through on every page.

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t like the main characters, the romance, or the supernatural element. Ricki’s entire character is established through the author’s exposition dumps (telling instead of showing), and she comes across somewhat like a Manic Pixie Dreamgirl instead of someone with real insecurities and anxieties. I found Ezra’s story to be more compelling, but as a character, he’s your typical love interest in a romance: that is, basically perfect with a few *minimal* flaws sprinkled in for some semblance of believability. Of course he’s the right mix of old-school chivalrous while also respecting women and gay people. He’s a musical genius who can cook delicious food and make the main female character see stars during their extremely charged, non-awkward sexual encounters. And you can’t forget the fact that he’s physically flawless (which of course means extremely muscular with a big dick). I might have grown to appreciate these characters and their romance more if it weren’t so insta-lovey. Instead, it felt like being a third wheel on a date where you’re forced to watch the other two people be sickeningly cutesy with each other. 

 

And then, of course, there’s the supernatural element to the plot, which honestly made me laugh with how bonkers it is.

This book is basically Twilight without the bloodlust. (It’s also slightly less creepy, so there’s that, although the MMC does watch our main character in her sleep!) There’s still the “fated lovers” element (ew) and the fact that he’s 124 years old and she’s a 28-year-old, very sheltered woman with the mindset of someone much younger. It’s not so much creepy as it is hard to believe. I feel like the gap in age and life experiences would be too much for any couple to overcome, no matter how “destined” they are to be together. Additionally, the whole connection with Della and her sacrifice didn’t sit well with me, but I’m not quite sure why.

 

So, this book didn’t quite work for me. So what? Don’t listen to my romance-hating ass. 

 

The Run-Down: 

You will probably like A Love Song for Ricki Wilde if . . .

·      You like romance books and are looking for one with an interesting twist

·      You love wholesome friendships 

·      You loved (or still love) the Twilight series

·      You love the idea of going back in time to experience the Harlem Renaissance

 

 

You might not like A Love Song for Ricki Wilde if . . .

·      You don’t like insta-love plotlines

·      You’re looking for a non-cheesy, believable romance

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shanaepraystoo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

I just finished A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. When I read the last words on the page of acknowledgements, I closed the book and held it to my chest. 

What an incredible journey? What a magnificent story? 

My little reader heart is so full. 

Immediately Tia Williams pulls you into the story and you want nothing but the best for the FMC, Ricki Wilde. Then she takes you on a different journey and you're hopeful for the MMC Ezra. Through the pages, Williams unfurls a magical tale of love and loss that you just cannot put down. 

About 40% into the story, readers learn that Ricki and Ezra have so much in common and one quote really sums it up:

"I'm afraid that I don't belong anywhere. Do you ever feel like that?"
"Every day," he admitted. "I look like something I'm not. And I never feel at home."

Ricki struggling to define herself outside of her family's daunting legacy. Ezra struggling to create a legacy for himself, despite losing his entire family. Two beautiful people looking for home. 

Williams doesn't just rest on the fact that A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is just a fantastical story. No no no. She just has to make you feel it with every bit of your being with the most beautiful writing I've ever seen in a romance novel. Ezra is the ideal MMC: 

Contemplatively, Ezra slowly ran his fingers along his jaw. "You live as long as I do, you think you've felt all the feelings, seen everything there is to see. It's hard to be surprised. But, Ricki, I've never experienced anything like you. You knock me senseless."

"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."

I mean...what?! 

But just when you think A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is all heavy feelings and flowery language, it gets really funny, too. Ezra's puns, Ricki's random facts, Ms. Della's sense of humor, and, even, Tuesday - they're all hoots. 

The characters have so much depth, are so well written, and are incredibly diverse. For the entire 340 page ride, you find yourself rooting for everyone's success. And in the end, with the epilogue, which is just so perfect, you find that everything works out perfectly. 

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is beautiful, captivating, thought-provoking and emotionally charged. This might possibly be the best romance novel I've ever read and, somehow, it manages to top Seven Days In June, which I thought was spectacular. Tia Williams has become a must-read author for me. Her work is just getting better and better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

crazybookishcool's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

babeinlibrary's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Abandonment