A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Emotional
Unforgettable
Sweet

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

Tia Williams2024
From the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is an epic love story one hundred years in the making... 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. Set against the backdrop of 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.
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Reviews

Photo of Shantel
Shantel@raineorshan
5 stars
Oct 21, 2024

Simply put, this is probably up there as one of the best books I’ve ever read. This was such a unique way to tell a story about love and romance. It was different for me; different than anything I’ve ever read but it was so good. I’ve never read a black story like this before, black love like this before. The love story between the characters felt so raw and beautiful. There was so many different elements of love throughout the book and sacrificing for that love.

Tia Williams did an amazing job writing this. It was so easy to visualise every chapter and every character in this book. I hope one day it gets made into a screenplay and it’s done well.

+5
Photo of Linara K.S
Linara K.S@linara
3 stars
Jul 19, 2024

First off; the lyricism??? It was beautiful. The history was well-researched and weaved into the story i didn't bore of anything. However i couldn't get past the instalove and the weirdness of it all. The more I read the weirder it got and i just wasn't on the same page... It's a good book but not for me.

Photo of radhika dhawan
radhika dhawan@radhikadh
4 stars
Jul 4, 2024

honestly it took a little while to pick up but once it did i was hooked. the way she writes her characters is magical !!!

Photo of clau☁️
clau☁️@claureading
4 stars
May 11, 2024

What a beautifully written piece! Although it is no surprise coming from Tia Williams. I read Six Days in June and it became one of my favorite romances of all time, so you can imagine how happy I was to receive a copy of this book. And I have to say it did not disappoint. This story was different from anything I’ve read before. My expectations were high and it more than met them. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a timeless love story that will have any romance lover giggling one minute and tearing up the next. I went into this book completely blind and I believe it is the best way to go into it. Not expecting anything that was about to happen made it so much fun. This book is funny, beautiful, heartwarming, and nostalgic all at once. All the historical elements were my favorite part of the book, maybe even more so than the romance itself (which, don’t get me wrong, was perfect). I learned so much, and it was just such a different and amazing concept! I, as the Spanish woman that I am, also loved the little mention of my country (and such a fun tale). I also adored the cameo! The characters were all very lovable and well-developed and I genuinely would read an entire book for each of them. All in all, I am so grateful I got to read this book now because for one, it got me out of my reading slump, and it also made me get into the festive wintery mood. Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Photo of lani
lani@paperbackfairy
5 stars
Apr 15, 2024

i didn’t know what to expect and i will admit i was pretty confused at first but this book took me for such a FUN ride. between the flashbacks and the linglitching and dialogue it was hard not to fall headfirst for ezra and ricki. and ms. della. and tuesday. every character had such an enchanting and impactful story it made me feel so connected with them and i won’t be forgetting them any time soon. it was romantic and also raw and real and i couldn’t put it down!

+5
Photo of Emily Klo
Emily Klo@emilyklo
4 stars
Feb 29, 2024

Cute!!!

Photo of Melissa B.
Melissa B.@mboots29
5 stars
Feb 17, 2024

A wonderful and unique story that beauty unwinds into a masterful book. Truly enjoyable.

Photo of Megan Helberg Keiser
Megan Helberg Keiser@mehelberg
3 stars
May 9, 2025
Photo of Elizabeth Gunshon
Elizabeth Gunshon@elizabeth730
2.5 stars
Apr 15, 2025
Photo of Waahida Mansion
Waahida Mansion@waahidaalim
5 stars
Oct 19, 2024
+4
Photo of Mel
Mel @melsbooknook
4 stars
Jun 29, 2024
Photo of Jasmine
Jasmine @jasjanee
4 stars
Feb 27, 2024
+6
Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln
3.5 stars
Feb 23, 2024
+5
Photo of Amelia C
Amelia C @coffeewithamelia
4 stars
May 20, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

Sometimes, Breeze dreamed of drinking, smoking, or shooting up to forget. But he had no vices. He was too lucky to justify them. The least he could do to honor his fallen family was to feel their loss. To remember.

This highlight contains a spoiler
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Lindsay@schnurln

And Breeze knew that what you haven’t reckoned with, you’re doomed to repeat. America was a ghost story with no end.

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

the smartest thing she could do for herself was set her own standards for living.

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

“Leave that yessuh massa shit at home. Ain’t no place in America for a humble Negro.”

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

Ricki remembered when nineteen- year- old Tuesday famously told reporters that she didn’t “really believe in men, as a concept or genre.” That was after her brief marriage to an allegedly closeted NBA star, a union that gossip bloggers swore was orchestrated by her crooked manager.

This highlight contains a spoiler
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Lindsay@schnurln

(I am not in danger, I’m uncomfortable, this will pass, and I am confident).

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

It was the kind of block where Black Lives Matter flags waved from every stoop, but only a few Black lives resided.

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

“To me, love is like listening to an album. Some people skip to their favorite songs and ignore the rest. Other people listen to the entire album over and over, until it’s familiar and cherished and they know every note by heart. That’s how Dr. Bennett and I loved each other. He was music I could listen to forever.”

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

You are you, and you are enough.

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