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jackiepreston's review
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content
kerrygetsliterary's review
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
uranaishi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Stalking, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so romantic and swoon worthy. The way it hopes back in forth between the Black Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and current day Harlem was just so beautiful. I also loved the magical realism and how they worked that into the story in a totally unique and oddly believable way. And on another note, this is what a romance cover should look like! No more cartoons, just some gorgeous people being super gorgeous!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
zluvsreading's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Okay so main character is Richard Wilde aka Ricki Wilde the 2nd named after her dad who wanted a son and they had everything in order so they just didn’t change the name at all. She has three sisters Rae and Rashida and Regina. She is the youngest and her family owns (her dad) a funeral home business. However she is a horticulturist and loves plants. Moves to Harlem with Ms Della and lives below or above or in her brownstone.
So basically this is leap year of 2024. February. We meet Ezra Walker the 3rd or fourth in 1923. Leap year!!!!! February!!!!! Him and his cousin Sonny. So basically he’s a musician and is really good. Starts at The Nest. However Sonny turns into an addict and leaves him his dog GROUCHO BARX in 1927 or so!!! He still has the collar on 2024. Weird right??? So he’s not a ghost because he can be touched but is he forever stuck at one age? Stuck in time? Stuck in February leap years for the rest of his life. His ex had a tragic death! Was that Ricki???? Is that why he feels so drawn to her and it’s like they know each other??? PAST LIVES PERHAPS?????????
Not a coincidence that he called Ricki a tornado and called his old girlfriend Felice a hurricane and tornado like!!!! NOT A COINCIDENCE AT ALL!!!! What the fuck?
Okay so Ricki lives now where He once lived. I think! Also I think the piano she has was his own personal one. That’s why he was so gutted seeing it. WAIT ACRUALLY THE SEX SCENE WHEN HE NEEDED HER TO COMPLETE THE SONG???? Can I just say hot but also so fucking devastating in the best way possible? Like I was crying and then the next moment I was like oh fuck yeah they’re hot! The NEED. The need for each other in that moment. I’m fucking scratching my eyes out idk.
Not a coincidence that he called Ricki a tornado and called his old girlfriend Felice a hurricane and tornado like!!!! NOT A COINCIDENCE AT ALL!!!! What the fuck?
Okay so Ricki lives now where He once lived. I think! Also I think the piano she has was his own personal one. That’s why he was so gutted seeing it. WAIT ACRUALLY THE SEX SCENE WHEN HE NEEDED HER TO COMPLETE THE SONG???? Can I just say hot but also so fucking devastating in the best way possible?
Starbucks mentioned 😒😒😒😒😒😒😒
Them savoring all the time left no I’m actually a mess!
NOOOOO DELLA IS THE HUMAN SACRIFICE TO BREAK THE CURSE OH HELL NO NO IM SICK IM SO SCIK
OH MY GOF NO I DIDNT WANT TO BE RIGHT WHAT THE HELL NO WAY
Okay so beautiful so stunning. The Harlem Renaissance backdrop and history interwoven in this, Black history to be more precise was so well done. I felt like I was in Harlem in the 1920’s. Tia teleported me there and I love her for that because it was so atmospheric.
You can feel the pain and grief that Breeze was going through and living with in the 20’s after he moved from South Carolina. Everything was said in a raw and explicit way and I love that. I would definitely check trigger warnings.
The writing was beautiful and I am now forever a Stan of Tia Williams. Devastating is the only way I know how to describe this book, but also devastatingly tender. ACHING. Ezra in present time was. SO PAINFUL. Even before we knew what was going on, you can FEEL the longing through the pages and AHHHHHH that just makes me wanna cry even harder.
The way that everything was linked. THE LEAP YEAR. DELLA. THE BUILDINGS AND PLACES!!!!! JASMINE FLOWERS!!!!!! Rah, I love Tias mind. I would like to live inside of it.
Not only would she have to make up a current story and timeline in the year 2024, but also do so much research for the environment, people, clothing, trends, music and everything else for the 1920’s and the location and how everything was. The language and dialect and just everything seeped in rich history was just so well done. It hurts my heart that history like this is trying to get taken out of schools today like !!!!!!
Books like this deserve to be made into movies. Documentaries or something cause what the hell?!?! I saw it playing in my head but no I need to see this on the big screen like fr. It won’t do it justice at all but oh my god I’d love to see them try.
I am definitely going to be trying out the audiobook of this because I know it will be so good with the Black voices and everything else!!!!! I so want to hear that and be transported back into the magic of this story.
God bless Ricki for finally sticking up to her dumbass sisters dumb dumber and dumbest!!!!!! They are Awful people with a capital A. Her mom is literally in need of help. Her dad, iffy but also I like that he was proud of her, at least a little bit.
I’m so sad I was right about the sacrifice being Della. So sad. I wanted to be wrong but unfortunately I felt it in the air.
I’m so sad I was right about the sacrifice being Della. So sad. I wanted to be wrong but unfortunately
I just simply must come back to this book every once in a while because it was stunning. I have no adequate words. 10/10 love!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
colonelwonkylilac's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
i wish i could give this book more stars honestly, was everything. it was funny, sexy, romantic, emotional, and the historical references made it such a beautifully interesting read. i went into this without even reading the blurb and i’m so glad because each page was such a delightful surprise i know i wont stop gushing about it for weeks.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
literary_runner_'s review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
itsmelaurenb's review
dark
emotional
funny
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
Tia Williams has done it again. Every time I read one of her books she reaches into my chest and pulls my heart out. This was such a beautiful and artistic book, and truly romantic.
The book does deal with some very heavy subject matter, largely because it touches on the experience of African Americans during the early 20th century, i.e. the Jim Crow era south. Death is also a big theme throughout but it still manages to be funny in places and have an overall uplifting vibe. Tia Williams has a very strong, witty voice so her characters are a delight to experience, trauma and all.
The book does deal with some very heavy subject matter, largely because it touches on the experience of African Americans during the early 20th century, i.e. the Jim Crow era south. Death is also a big theme throughout but it still manages to be funny in places and have an overall uplifting vibe. Tia Williams has a very strong, witty voice so her characters are a delight to experience, trauma and all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Racism, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Murder
bmpicc's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Marketed as romance, yet reads as magical-realism-fantasy?? With a side of historical fiction?
I found the characters extremely loveable. I enjoyed the Harlem history and the references to many phenomenal musicians. Sadly, this story as a whole, was not what I signed on for.
I found the characters extremely loveable. I enjoyed the Harlem history and the references to many phenomenal musicians. Sadly, this story as a whole, was not what I signed on for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Suicide
jesscm's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent