Reviews with content warning for Cancer - A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

48 reviews

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed Seven Days in June and wanted to read more of her work, this was a new release of Tia Williams, and I was intrigued by the title. This is one of the reasons I should always read the blurb and the genres before I start a book.

This book is based on Ricki Wilde and she 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 an adorable bloom that’s actually 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 decision to realize her dream of opening a flower ship. And just beneath the surface of her new neighbourhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlam 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.

I liked the characters within this book. Every single character was built and had their own background and trauma and it didn’t feel like they were 2D or needed to move the story along. I loved how strong and independent Ricki became and her character development was brilliant. Ezra took a while to grow on me because I thought he was a stalker and a creep at the beginning but once it was established that he was 106 or something, I could focus on his character. Though I kept thinking it was a black version of Edward Cullen. I loved Tuesday and that she was the only character with some sense of danger and being like this dude is a creep.

I didn’t like the insta-love trope, it was just weird, this man is staring at Ricki, and she wants to know who it is because she feels so strong about him from him staring at her across the garden – that's weird. Like dude, run for the wind and ring the police don’t try and find out who he is. I also struggled with the storyline and didn’t expect to have a fantasy or magical aspect to it, and I struggled with the whole immortality side. It was a bit predictable with Della being the daughter of the girl from the 1930s and the building being the link.

This had a lot of potential to be amazing and I would have loved Ezra to have been the benefactor and how Ezra maybe funded the shop.

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xereads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Okay wow, I really liked this book! Any book that makes me feel is always a 10/10. At first I was a little confused especially at the dynamics of Ricki and her family (cause why was the dad talking about his kids like that lol lol). I also was like girl is this romance/sci-fi causeeee no. BUT I kept listening and it is more of romance, historical fiction, and a splash of fantasy and it hit the mark. I loved Ricki’s character development especially and how the author had her navigate relationships (family, sisters, men, supports, and friendships), especially as a late 20 something. And the connection with Mrs. Della whew, really did it for me. The turns in the book are funny and eyebrow raising but kept me engaged. Would absolutely recommend to others !

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mariahw00ds's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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cikureads's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

STAR CROSSED LOVERS! BREAKING A CURSE! HARLEM RENAISSANCE! MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY! LEAVING YOUR FAMILY AND THE FAMILY BUSINESS BEHIND! FOLLOWING YOUR HEART!

I listened to the audiobook (thank you Libby), and I highly recommend that format if it is accessible to you. I rooted for Ricki and Ezra so hard, and was so upset when I found out about the curse. If you like a bit of surrealism with your romance, pick this one up!

steam rating: 3 out of 5

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amberlfaris's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

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lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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

Not what I was suspecting but delightful nonetheless! Tia Williams’ writing is so beautiful and her characters are so rich

Around the 50% mark, when the direction of the plot was revealed, it wasn’t difficult to see how the story would play out. But the beauty here was in the journey, not the twists.

I am not generally a fan of insta-love, but Ezra and Ricki had enough of the star-crossed, fated feeling that I didn’t mind it as much as I normally would. There was still that undercurrent of pining and longing that I love most

This book is magical realism done well. I’m very interested to see where future books set in this world will go

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