Loved

Genre: Romance (open)

Soundtrack:  Over the Bars – James P. Johnson

Sensual, brimming with mysterious magic and a historical flair,  A Love Song to Ricki Wilde is an ode to Harlem (past and present), Black artisans, a century of musical hits, and the enduring power of love. 

Brought together through a leap year, night-blooming Jasmine, and some invisible force, Ezra Walker and Rickie Wilde’s romance starts slow but, once sparked, is all-consuming, spicy, and full of open communication. Williams spent significant time setting up the background stories for both of the MCs, which, at first, I worried made the beginning third feel slow. However, the payoff is well worth it, and will leave with such an appreciation for her dedication to detail.

Once again, Tia William writes a romance that takes heavy topics and makes them the backbone of her love story. By giving Ezra South Carolina roots, William weaves historical fiction into her writing with incredible detail and a profound reminder that this is a history that others actively seek to erase. The terror of the Jim Crow South, the hope of the Great Migration, and the creation of jazz by Black Americans as a reflection of those experiences are critical moments in American history (a history I sadly knew nothing about a few years ago).From sharecropping fields to the jazz clubs of Harlem, Williams pays homage to forgotten faces and instills vibrancy into her representation of the Harlem Renaissance. 

The New York setting felt similar in depth and subject matter to Not Another Love Song and Seven Year Slip

Despite the weight nature of the subject matter, Love Song for Ricki Wilde radiates joy. The writing has Easter eggs from Seven Days in June, timely jokes, and fully fleshed-out supporting characters whose side plots help contribute to the main story. The representation of magical realism was so well done, and I love her take on it. Williams’ well-thought-out plot, descriptive pose, and creative twist will leave you both satisfied and looking forward to what Williams creates next!