My A Love Song for Ricki Wilde Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams is a contemporary romance with magical, historical twists set in the heart of Harlem. Ricki Wilde is the youngest daughter in an Atlanta dynasty of socialites and funeral home owners, but she’s always craved a path of her own. When she lands a spot living in a Harlem brownstone and finally gets a chance to open her dream flower shop, she jumps—leaving behind her family’s expectations. Harlem, with its rich Harlem Renaissance history, is the perfect backdrop for Ricki’s new start and the world-building is lush and atmospheric. Ricki’s journey gets turned upside down when she meets Ezra Walker, a mysterious, soulful pianist hiding secrets even deeper than his jazz roots. Their connection is immediate and powerful, but fate and the supernatural have other plans—blurring lines between present and past, with themes of destiny, sacrifice, and ancestors’ legacies woven throughout. As Ricki’s relationships with found family and neighbors deepen, her love story with Ezra becomes a celebration of Harlem’s magic, heartbreak, and resilience.
Why I Love This Book
I love how effortlessly this book blends modern love with old-school Harlem glamour and a touch of the mystical. Ricki stands out—she’s quirky, stubborn, and bursts with creativity. I felt invested in her refusal to let anyone (even her own doubts) take away her shot at happiness. Ezra is charismatic and tragic in equal measure, and his backstory—woven through Harlem’s jazz scene and historical trauma—hits hard without ever dragging the story down. Their “fated love” relationship could have felt over-the-top in another story, but here it works because both characters are so real and the chemistry sparks from the page. The cast of side characters—especially Tuesday and Ms. Della—add humor, heart, and wisdom, anchoring Ricki in a true community. I’m a sucker for books that teach me about a place and time while still delivering all the heart-flutter and heartbreak, and this one nails it. The writing can be poetic, the dialogue is sharp, and the references to music, art, and Black history make the whole story feel important as well as romantic. This book left me full of feeling, with tears and smiles mixed together.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want a love story that feels bigger than just two people—with a dash of magic, rich history, and truly atmospheric writing—you’ll get swept up. This book is for readers who enjoy both contemporary romance and historical fiction, lovers of found family and lush settings, and anyone who likes their love stories with a bit of heartbreak and hope. If you like magical realism, time slip, or books where the setting is as alive as the characters, try this.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Themes include racism, historical trauma, death, terminal illness, suicide, and addiction. These are addressed directly but with care, and never in a way that feels exploitative.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, magical realism, historical romance, time slip, New York City, Harlem Renaissance, jazz, Black romance, fated mates, soulmates, second chances, found family, flower shop heroine, artistic hero, family secrets, dual timeline, strong setting, grief, healing, inspiration, explicit open door romance, powerful writing, multicultural, emotional, award-worthy
Steam Level
This love story is sizzling and explicit, with open door romance scenes that go beyond fade-to-black. Sensual, emotionally charged, and written with both passion and depth—expect the romance to be as strong and immersive as everything else in the story.
