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gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Loved this beyond, beyond. Every word miraculous and just what it needs to be. Such gorgeously drawn characters, from the smallest side folks to the incredible MCs, each with powerful and deeply human challenges, layers, and growth. I adored the audio and can’t wait to have my hands on a physical copy - I will read it again. I loved it more than I have loved anything in a long time and it will stay with me forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jhabelita's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I liked the first half of it. I really thought this was a sad story, like Eva knew she had a brain tumor because of those frequent migraines, but she kept it only as a secret. Then she will met Shane again, they fell in love, got together but only for a limited time because she's sick yada yada yada. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PLOT! 😅
But it was only a blinded love of two problematic characters amplified by drugs, alcohol and a week-long sex. 🥴 Trauma bonding, whuuttt??
Miley Cyrus once said,
Miley Cyrus once said,
"They say misery loves company"
I didn't give a fck on the epilogue. I honestly skimmed through the 25% of it just to make a point on the plot that I expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
mecmccann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.5
Thank you Tia Williams for writing the first book club book I adored.
Seven Days in June is a story about Black love. It was poignant, humorous, and hot all at the same time. In this book, we follow Eva, an erotica writer, who is summoned to speak as a panelist at a book event where she unexpectedly runs into her high school fling? boyfriend? situationship? Shane, from fifteen years ago. As she rediscovers what actually happened between them all those years ago, recognizes that they've actually been writing about and to one another for all these years through their books, learns about the man he has become, and about her family's historical curse, she learns about who she is and how everything fits together.
This book did exactly what it needed to do. Each character was fully fleshed out and individualized. In Eva and Shane's partnership, they became the best versions of themselves for and through each other, without sacrificing their core values. Seven Days in June was indeed a romance, but it was so much bigger than just-another-fluffy-romcom (and I love me a fluffy romcom). In this book we explored the effects of chronic pain, substance abuse, domestic abuse and negligence, trauma, and racism on relationships.
Rumaan Alam got it right when he said, "The result isn't escapism (though the book is a delight) but a vision of life as it truly is: complications and difficulties punctuated by profound joy."
Seven Days in June is a story about Black love. It was poignant, humorous, and hot all at the same time. In this book, we follow Eva, an erotica writer, who is summoned to speak as a panelist at a book event where she unexpectedly runs into her high school fling? boyfriend? situationship? Shane, from fifteen years ago. As she rediscovers what actually happened between them all those years ago, recognizes that they've actually been writing about and to one another for all these years through their books, learns about the man he has become, and about her family's historical curse, she learns about who she is and how everything fits together.
This book did exactly what it needed to do. Each character was fully fleshed out and individualized. In Eva and Shane's partnership, they became the best versions of themselves for and through each other, without sacrificing their core values. Seven Days in June was indeed a romance, but it was so much bigger than just-another-fluffy-romcom (and I love me a fluffy romcom). In this book we explored the effects of chronic pain, substance abuse, domestic abuse and negligence, trauma, and racism on relationships.
Rumaan Alam got it right when he said, "The result isn't escapism (though the book is a delight) but a vision of life as it truly is: complications and difficulties punctuated by profound joy."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
rickireadss's review against another edition
3.0
i went into this one with such high hopes, and i honestly think that was what ruined it for me. i loved the chronic migraines rep. i somewhat tolerated the fact that both mcs were writers - i feel like this is hit or miss with me, but usually a miss. i did not check the CW before reading, and that was definitely my bad, but most of the reviews i had seen on tiktok or insta hadn't mentioned it being a "heavy" book -- this one most defintitely was, and it was much heavier than i could have anticipated. i ended up soft-DNFing this like 50% in and left in untouched for almost a month, but i pushed through hoping it would magically get better (spoiler alert: it did not) this was just not my favorite, and one of my disappointments of the year.
⚠️: self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, drug use, addiction, chronic illness, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, suicidal attempt, abandonment, gun violence, death, grief, injury/injury detail, child abuse, child death, violence, sexual assault, toxic relationship, blood, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, racism, medical content, car accident, medical trauma, death of parent, domestic abuse, physical abuse, bullying, panic attacks/disorders, murder, forced institutionalization, pedophilia, vomit, ableism, sexism, adult/minor relationship
⚠️: self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, drug use, addiction, chronic illness, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, suicidal attempt, abandonment, gun violence, death, grief, injury/injury detail, child abuse, child death, violence, sexual assault, toxic relationship, blood, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, racism, medical content, car accident, medical trauma, death of parent, domestic abuse, physical abuse, bullying, panic attacks/disorders, murder, forced institutionalization, pedophilia, vomit, ableism, sexism, adult/minor relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
jdamae11's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Loved this book, it’s one I would love to experience reading for the first time again 😭 a complicated and heartfelt romance that was emotionally raw and that handled intense, difficult life experiences—substance use and recovery, invisible disabilities, racism, poverty, toxic relationships—with so much care. This book was also balanced with such good humor and LOL moments for me personally, and I appreciated the Black pop culture references, both the obscure and the obvious. There was a subplot that I really wish would’ve been given more time & room to breathe, and I felt like the way it impacted a central character was a bit rushed. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this & will likely be rereading next year + looking to get into Tia Williams other writing - 10/10 would recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Self harm
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence
kwanbokado's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.0
sad face emoji but dancing cuz the emotional whiplash is SENDING me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide
chris_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Vomit
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
fast-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? Yes
2.5
What I liked: this book is well-written and well-paced. Eva and Audre's mother-daughter relationship is both heartwarming and fun. I truly enjoyed all of Audre's scenes in this book. Also, adult Shane and Eva's romance is steamy and sweet at the same time.
What I didn't like: the teenage romance between Eva and Shane was incredibly toxic. They were instantly codependent, despite having just met. And they were on a drug-induced bender for most of their Seven Days! That was enough to bond them for life? Also, (spoiler alert!) the way that the author portrayed self-harm was disturbing. Self-harm is basically glamorized in some of this book's flashback scenes. Ultimately, that just added more to my disbelief and discomfort with the toxic origins of this entire romance.
What I didn't like: the teenage romance between Eva and Shane was incredibly toxic. They were instantly codependent, despite having just met. And they were on a drug-induced bender for most of their Seven Days! That was enough to bond them for life? Also, (spoiler alert!) the way that the author portrayed self-harm was disturbing. Self-harm is basically glamorized in some of this book's flashback scenes. Ultimately, that just added more to my disbelief and discomfort with the toxic origins of this entire romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Alcohol
jcstokes95's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
2.0
I have seen this recommended by so many romance and more lit fic folks alike and thought it’d be a smash for me. bOy, was I wrong. woof. This started strong for me, I was excited to see a protagonist who was a single parent. I can commend that single parenthood wasn’t some huge plot twist or played as a burden. But, I did really find her child insufferable and it seemed like she wasn’t written like any 12 year old I’ve ever known. It makes a lot of those scenes feel stilted and hard to tolerate. But, this is not my main problem with the book.
I have two unforgivable gripes to discuss. Now is time to tap out of the review if you liked this book. You are entitled to like things and you don’t have to agree with a mean person on the internet (that’s me!). Here are the things:
1. I don’t understand why these two characters give a shit about each other. They knew each other for a few days in a drug induced bender. We are told this was a very profound time. It doesn’t seem that way to me. It seems like they are two 16 years olds who are high and having sex. I’m sure this is fun. But it does not scream ‘soulmates who remembered each other for decades and wrote novels about one another’. It’s weird.
2. The ways this author writes about self-harm is fucking horrifying and annoying. It’s amazing that it is both at the same time. It is horrifying because it glamorizes it into this beautiful, tortured almost artistic thing that Eva is doing in her youth. Also, it simply isn’t how self-harm works. And that is all I will say on that. It just isn’t accurate. It feels like she has a self-harm alarm clock that goes off and she’s got some sort of timecard to punch for it. It’s fucking annoying. Honestly, I’ve never had one scene of a book ruin it so hard. But I really fucking hated it man. Also, be warned that it’s hella triggering. Because this author clearly did not research into how to write a non-triggering self-harm scene. And him just sitting outside listening to her do it like it’s romantic. Fuck this bro.
Okay, look, at this point, you can tell this review is probably a little heated. I’m gonna try to now bleach that scene out of my mind, because, the whole book was not as bad as their time together in high school. I will now say the positive things. I appreciated that they had interests and hobbies outside of loving the other person. I think, in general, this makes for better romances. Sean has his mentees and this made his recovery arc make sense. It helps you invest in him as a character. Eva is a great mom and has great insights into chronic illness.
As individual, adult characters the pair is interesting. I simply do not believe the romance. I am icked out by the sex scenes and disagree with the believability of the premise. I think many people will enjoy this, it is written well on a sentence level. The author is clearly talented, but this story is simply not strong enough to make me enjoy this.
I have two unforgivable gripes to discuss. Now is time to tap out of the review if you liked this book. You are entitled to like things and you don’t have to agree with a mean person on the internet (that’s me!). Here are the things:
1. I don’t understand why these two characters give a shit about each other. They knew each other for a few days in a drug induced bender. We are told this was a very profound time. It doesn’t seem that way to me. It seems like they are two 16 years olds who are high and having sex. I’m sure this is fun. But it does not scream ‘soulmates who remembered each other for decades and wrote novels about one another’. It’s weird.
2. The ways this author writes about self-harm is fucking horrifying and annoying. It’s amazing that it is both at the same time. It is horrifying because it glamorizes it into this beautiful, tortured almost artistic thing that Eva is doing in her youth. Also, it simply isn’t how self-harm works. And that is all I will say on that. It just isn’t accurate. It feels like she has a self-harm alarm clock that goes off and she’s got some sort of timecard to punch for it. It’s fucking annoying. Honestly, I’ve never had one scene of a book ruin it so hard. But I really fucking hated it man. Also, be warned that it’s hella triggering. Because this author clearly did not research into how to write a non-triggering self-harm scene. And him just sitting outside listening to her do it like it’s romantic. Fuck this bro.
Okay, look, at this point, you can tell this review is probably a little heated. I’m gonna try to now bleach that scene out of my mind, because, the whole book was not as bad as their time together in high school. I will now say the positive things. I appreciated that they had interests and hobbies outside of loving the other person. I think, in general, this makes for better romances. Sean has his mentees and this made his recovery arc make sense. It helps you invest in him as a character. Eva is a great mom and has great insights into chronic illness.
As individual, adult characters the pair is interesting. I simply do not believe the romance. I am icked out by the sex scenes and disagree with the believability of the premise. I think many people will enjoy this, it is written well on a sentence level. The author is clearly talented, but this story is simply not strong enough to make me enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Self harm
Moderate: Child death and Sexual harassment
Minor: Chronic illness and Racism
I believe it is worth being aware that the self-harm content in this book is fairly triggering.rgreen2704's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I felt like I *was* Eva and Shane. Their emotions were so vividly and deeply described I was empathising so much and felt their emotions so deeply too. A perfect book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail