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purplepenning's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"An intriguing genre-bending story" is what I blandly started to write, which is true but bloodlessly inadequate. This story is stacked and packed with creativity and vitality, with sparkling historical fiction, steamy contemporary romance, time-addling magical realism, dark drama, and characters who are hilarious, powerful, misplaced, wise, awkward, desperate, passionate, generous, and nuanced. It celebrates Black history, Black resilience, Black art, Black joy, and timeless Black love in a tale spun of music, voodoo, lush flowers, fashion, Harlem, leap years, found family, wry commentary, and fated love. Like its protagonist, it may be a bit much for some, but dang — I'm going to be over here thinking and rethinking on it for days and weeks to come, wondering what voodoo allowed Tia Williams to get *gestures expansively* all that into one impressively coherent love story.
I just talked myself into 5 stars. I'm tired of being stingy with minute measures of approval when people are pouring this kind of love, energy, and complexity into their work.
I just talked myself into 5 stars. I'm tired of being stingy with minute measures of approval when people are pouring this kind of love, energy, and complexity into their work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Blood, and Death of parent
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Suicide, and Grief
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the free copy of this book.
- Tia Williams does it again with A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE. Drama, snark, two people drawn toward each other in a way they’ve never felt before.
- Even if the plot is easy enough to predict, I loved being with Ricki and Ezra as they unraveled their story and fell hard for each other.
- Somehow, amid the over the top ridiculous family members and the paranormal elements, Williams gives us a fated mates story for the ages, filled with intensity and longing and love.
- Tia Williams does it again with A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE. Drama, snark, two people drawn toward each other in a way they’ve never felt before.
- Even if the plot is easy enough to predict, I loved being with Ricki and Ezra as they unraveled their story and fell hard for each other.
- Somehow, amid the over the top ridiculous family members and the paranormal elements, Williams gives us a fated mates story for the ages, filled with intensity and longing and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction and Hate crime
Minor: Miscarriage
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book These are my 100% honest opinions.
I honestly went into this book with no thoughts at all. I had read another book from this author and I didn’t really enjoy it. When I saw the cover of this, something just pulled me to it. (If you’ve read the book, that’s some crazy symbolism) I’m really glad that I chose to read it because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the magical realism in the romance story between Ricki and Ezra. The beginning of the book switches between the 1920s and modern day 2023. Sometimes large time gaps are hard to keep up with in books but not this one. I was in love with the majority of the characters. Sometimes side characters get lost or seem unnecessary but not Tuesday and Ms. Della. I could read a spin off on the back story of both of them.
While I did guess part of what happened at the end, it didn’t damper my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed this book a lot and it had put this author’s work back on the radar for me.
I honestly went into this book with no thoughts at all. I had read another book from this author and I didn’t really enjoy it. When I saw the cover of this, something just pulled me to it. (If you’ve read the book, that’s some crazy symbolism) I’m really glad that I chose to read it because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the magical realism in the romance story between Ricki and Ezra. The beginning of the book switches between the 1920s and modern day 2023. Sometimes large time gaps are hard to keep up with in books but not this one. I was in love with the majority of the characters. Sometimes side characters get lost or seem unnecessary but not Tuesday and Ms. Della. I could read a spin off on the back story of both of them.
While I did guess part of what happened at the end, it didn’t damper my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed this book a lot and it had put this author’s work back on the radar for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming
danahh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
As with many of Tia Williams books, it starts pretty slow. But, when it gets going.... wow. Great book.