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nataliebootlah's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
- 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
3.5
“What they heard as frenzied abandonment was the sound of his rage. Their joyous release was his escape, his chance to outrun the memories that stalked him. Jazz was freedom, but grief was his fuel. It was that simple, and that terrible.”
Ricki is the outcast of her wealthy, perfect family. Ezra is the mysterious hottie on the block, with an aura Ricki can’t quite stay away from. What plays out is a love song one hundred years in the making, one leap day at a time.
I went into this mostly blind, it was available immediately from Libby and I was most definitely intrigued by the beautiful cover. I stayed for the Harlem-era journey, genre-bending between romance and magical realism, musical landscape, and sassy characters. I especially loved the minor characters and their stories. What didn’t quite stick for me was the romance, it felt rushed and a bit shallow. That said, I enjoyed it as a quick summer read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was the kind of love story and romance I enjoy - consuming, enduring, and without an ounce cloying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Grief, War, Cancer, Death, Abandonment, Classism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Slavery, and Terminal illness
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, Terminal illness, and Racism
Minor: Addiction
peachani'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: Death of parent, Classism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Cancer, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and War
carriepond's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a genre-bending romance with a lovely blend of romance, history, and fantasy. As she did in Seven Days in June, Tia Williams creates characters with such compelling backstories and inner lives that the eventual (or in this case, not-so-eventual) romance feels like a lovely bonus— you like them so much and feel happy that they’re happy. The setting also felt so lush and lovely— 1920s Harlem, present-day Harlem, Ricki’s gorgeous and wild flower shop. I don’t want to give too much away, but I really loved the way Williams handled the fantastical elements of the story— it felt natural and added some cool moments to the book.
I loved this one and highly recommend to romance readers for sure but also anyone looking for a lovely book with fully formed characters, a cool setting, some cool history, and some magic.
I loved this one and highly recommend to romance readers for sure but also anyone looking for a lovely book with fully formed characters, a cool setting, some cool history, and some magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Suicide
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Addiction
afrenette's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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: Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Addiction, Cancer, Suicide, and Death
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, Mental illness, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Classism, Cursing, Self harm, Blood, Abandonment, Racism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, and Violence
znvisser's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Eesh, Tia Williams can write romance! And with so many more elements that I loved: dramatic and classist family members that could’ve come out of an Austen novel, magical realism, pop culture references that aren’t cringey, and admirable women all over the place. I loved Ricki with all her passion and colourfulness (“Because she (a) found fashion calming and (b) was dramatic, Ricki had dressed carefully for this occasion”.); and Ezra being funny and attractive (“Ricki barely heard him, as she was mid-epiphany. Was Warm Weather Ezra the sexiest Ezra?”) and their entire art-drenched love story, in which their love itself is so wonderfully uncomplicated, despite the circumstances they’re facing together. Loved this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Infertility, Suicide, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Racism, Cancer, Classism, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood and Toxic relationship
simplymodest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
What can I say about A Love Song for Ricki Wilde? The book was written so beautifully. It takes you on a whimsical journey of two lovers destined to be together. On the backdrop of Harlem over the span of 100 plus years you will fall in love with all these characters and not want to put this book down. I loved everything about this book. The plot, the characters, and it is set in February in a LEAP YEAR!!!! I didn’t want to put it down and I will think about these characters for a long time. @tiawilliams did her thing with this book. Definitely recommend this book!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Suicide, and Racism
Moderate: Infertility, Addiction, and Death of parent
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Cursing, Bullying, Cancer, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Addiction, Classism, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness