A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

By: Tia Williams

Narrated by: Mela Lee, Preston Butler

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In this enchanting love story from the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Days in June, a free-spirited florist and an enigmatic musician are irreversibly linked through the history, art, and magic of Harlem.

“The book’s calculus of love and loss is brutal, and grounds the dazzling prose and light magical element.”–The New York Times

“With humor, soulful prose and a touch of magical realism, Williams takes a creative chance with RICKI WILDE that’ll make it one of your most memorable reads of 2024.”–People

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.

©2024 Tia Williams (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Tia Williams brilliantly captures the magic and romance of Harlem—past and present—while giving us a heroine we can all root for. I adore Ricki Wilde and was utterly enchanted by this epic love story. Prepare to be transported!” —Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of "Meant to Be"

“This book reads like the best kind of love song: tender, smart and undeniably sexy. Tia Williams simply doesn’t miss.” —Leah Johnson, bestselling author of "You Should See Me in a Crown"

"Tia Williams writes instant classics, and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is the perfect vehicle to demonstrate the rare range and insight that make her writing so special. At turns punchy and poignant, sweeping and yet so intimate, this story will steal your heart and surprise you. Make you ache. Make you laugh and cry and yearn. As Williams' most ambitious work to date with layers of romance and heartache and history and magic tucked between these pages, it is your next book of the year.” —Kennedy Ryan, bestselling author of "Before I Let Go"

Why am I bawling on my lunch break?

Think Eves Bayou but make it an addictive love story written with the intention to keep you going further into the story. By far one of the best books I’ve listened to/ read in a while. Literally anything and everything you could want written in the smartest way possible intertwining black culture spanning decades, regions, and various art mediums. I will however be forwarding the author my next few invoices for spiritual consulting and therapy sessions needed to process this story.

character development

This is a love song to harlem, or a love story to Harlem. The characters are so well fleshed and thought out. Ricki Wilde is a magnetic and eccentric character that I feel like I could run into at any time living in New York City. Ezra, Ms Della, Tuesday all feel like characters that I can reach out and touch even within the themes of magical realism in the book. This is a fantastic novel. I literally could not stop listening to it. Tia Williams is amazing.

I Didn't See It Coming

The story moved at a good pace. The aurthor gave us enough back story for the characters. I began to piece things together but I had no idea. This book was all the things. It was a historical, mysterious, slightly eerie yet modern romance.

It all ties together.

At first I was disappointed. I was confused as to why the author chose to use certain slang, phrases, and shifts in time. But it all tied together for a beautiful love story.

Well worth the wait… and it’s Leap Year 2024!

Beautiful… the love, the writing, the gift the prose the imagery the feels the men the women the story the ache of endings and beginnings… Ricki Ezra Della Tuesday Tia Mela Preston the history the music the unapologetic black excellence…surreal.

Listening and reading a book that takes place during the same time period and date as the current date adds to experience… this book was written before today which makes today feel like deja vu…and makes it real. Thank you!

Amazing, Tia never disappoints

I loved this book, it was well written, a love story for the ages, shows you that you can choose your family as well, really like the grandma and granddaughter relationship

wow!!!

I loved this story! I laughed I cried I stayed up late reading it!

A great read

Tia Williams is such a great storyteller! This story is somehow delightful and captivating- thrilling and emotional enough that you don’t want to press pause but also and reliable and so comforting to experience the story unfold

BRAVO

Amazing beautiful love story with a turn I would have never saw coming! This has jumped to the top of my favorite list. Also, the way she tied in 7 Days of June is truly a chef’s kiss.

Well Written & Great Characters

Strong characters and the descriptiveness of the plot, scenes, and moments of suspense was on point!