Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

106 reviews

jikuuu08's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

this book was jaw dropping.
the way the words were constructed into a blade slicing deliciously into my throat, having me in a chokehold. 
the way you THOUGHT the back stories lined up, but really the truth comes and you drop to the floor staring at the ceiling, mind blown. 
this book was so beautiful to read and it had me grasping for more, WAITING for a moment where i could continue reading, the anticipation to what would happen next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Drug use, Cursing, Car accident, Grief, Drug abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism

lizziaha's review against another edition

3.0

The most compelling part of this book is Shane’s love for Eva. He’s an addict, and that’s palpable in the book. It’s not a want, but a need. Otherwise, the book wasn’t quite what I expected, and didn’t have the things I look for in a romance. Eva’s relationship with her daughter was not very fleshed out—despite part of Eva’s storyline being her matrilineal line—and their arguments seemed unrealistic, especially on Eva’s side. I also found a few other things unrealistic, including Audrey’s near-expulsion and the timing of Eva’s writing deadline. Also, it felt like this book was attempting to make a political statement without actually committing to it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, and Child abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Police brutality

kayladarthur's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

I enjoyed this book! I’ve always wanted to read more romance, esp centering Black women. I feel like there’s good representation for us here! And it’s very cute.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment

Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

While this book is mostly lighthearted, there are scenes that can be graphic for some.

chris_reads's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, and Racism

Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, and Gun violence

booksalacarte's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

Seven days in June 4.75⭐️ 3🌶️

Contemporary romance
Second chance romance
Flashbacks
Silent disability rep
Witty banter
Generational curses
Flawed MC’s
Messy love
Great side characters

This was such an interesting, non-typical romance story. Very Romeo & Juliet- if they hadn’t died and instead met up 15 years later. I really liked the idea.

The MC’s were so interestingly flawed. I liked each of them individually. Eva was holding her own as a mom, a writer who was afraid of being in a rut and wanting to branch out.. all while keeping a silent disability a secret. Shane was perusing what he needed to solidify his place in sobriety. Recognizing his downfalls, slip ups and looking at them head on.  

I found the magnetic inevitability of the romantic tension to be SO well done. The MC’s chemistry was on another level.

The side characters were fun, but the POV shifting to them would have been better if there had been MORE… or none at all. It was disorienting to have a chapter or less in a non-MC POV, then never have them revisited. And to have one of them be a catalyst in the miscommunication where a text message would have alleviated the situation completely… and then completely done away with in such a way. It felt trite.

There were a LOT of pop culture references. Not my favorite to have to read. I always worry about it putting a very specific time stamp on literature.

With black writers as MC’s, the discussion around black excellence and a celebration of black culture was very prominent throughout the book. And it was fun having it openly talked about and pointed out in a writer pannel between black authors. 

Overall, I did love this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Self harm

loesm's review

relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Death

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Murder, and Forced institutionalization

reading_sweetpea's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The story and writing style pulled me in, yet at times it was too much of a whirlwind and hard to read because of the harsh topic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Medical content

thirdeyeangel23's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

An emotional story of growth, perseverance, and a chance to find love again. While many herald this as a brilliant second chance romance, I think that fails to capture what this story pushes to the forefront. After years of estrangement Shane and Eva reunite and have the opportunity to unpack their traumatic pasts. Going back to a drug filled seven day bender, these characters uncover the truth and open themselves to the possibility of more. Although incredibly heavy, Williams portrays the beautiful possibility of what we can overcome.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, and Self harm

goldenjoy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Chronic illness

katkinslee's review

emotional funny 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

I loved this book. The chemistry between Eva and Shane was so great and I loved how dorky they were with each other as adults.

I liked the fact that they tried to take some time apart to figure themselves out but ended up together anyway knowing they didn't want to be apart anymore

  there was great chronic illness representation and I really loved that there was no toxicity in the co parenting. 
This book was so loving but very sad in parts and contained some really intense topics. 
It was a really great right person wrong time story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Chronic illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Child abuse