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dragoninwinterfell 's review for:

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
5.0
emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Tia Williams’ A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was an unexpected delight. As someone who rarely gravitates toward romance, I picked this book up as part of a Goodreads challenge and ended up completely enchanted. What sets this story apart is how deeply personal and emotionally layered it feels, blending whimsical romance with meaningful character development and a vivid sense of place.

At the heart of the novel is Ricki Wilde, a socially awkward, artsy, and ambitious Black woman determined to open her dream flower shop. I've rarely related to a character more. Ricki’s introverted spirit, creative vision, and quiet resilience made her instantly endearing. Her journey is about more than just love; it’s about building a life that honors who she really is, outside of her wealthy and status-obsessed family.

The love story in this novel is both magical and deeply grounded. Without spoiling the plot, I’ll say that it combines ill-fated destiny with genuine compatibility in a way that felt both timeless and refreshingly original. It reads like a modern fairy tale rooted in real emotions and rich history.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it pays homage to Harlem, both the Harlem of 2024 and the Harlem of the Renaissance. The neighborhood itself becomes a character in the book, brimming with culture, memory, and legacy. That backdrop brings an extra layer of depth to the romance and to Ricki’s personal growth.

Beyond romance, the book also centers on powerful friendships and found family. My favorite relationship was between Ricki and Della, a recently widowed older woman with a bucket list and a big heart. Watching their bond unfold was one of the most heartwarming parts of the novel. Their chosen grandmother-granddaughter relationship felt authentic, tender, and life-affirming.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a beautifully written celebration of love in many forms: romantic, platonic, and self-love. It’s magical yet grounded, dreamy yet real, and it left me smiling long after I turned the final page.

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