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anushka_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
angelaaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, and Rape
Minor: Misogyny and Pedophilia
rupanjali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Bullying
nahochacon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
now_booking's review against another edition
- 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
The premise is that single mother Eva is struggling with writer’s block for her long running paranormal erotic romance series when she meets blast from her past, Shane, at a panel about race and is blown away by the strong feelings that never left. But with the trauma and toxicity associated with their past relationship and the weight of the baggage they both still carry, any chance of a second chance romance seems dead on arrival.
The best thing about this book is it’s sharp take on contemporary society. It’s full of smart, funny observations and perfectly excerptable quotes about Black culture and Black lived experience that you’ll find yourself nodding to in agreement as you picture the exact cultural reference the author means. This book is heavy on trauma and is potentially very triggering- there is severe addiction, self-harm, sexual assault, abuse, abandonment, neglect, self-harm, chronic pain (chronic illness), misogyny, toxic relationships, and others don’t like it. The story itself and the way it is told is also absolutely gorgeous- you fall in love with the characters and root for them from the very beginning. Particular favourites of mine were Eva, Shane and Audre. Reading Eva and the people in her life navigate her chronic migraines, felt incredibly raw and it was written with a lot of authenticity and heart and was for me, a highlight of this book. Perhaps I didn’t really “buy” that Eva-Cece-Belinda friendship because I didn’t think it was utilized to the max and it didn’t quite “fit” for me, but even they were likable and inoffensive and I love seeing female friendship celebrated. I loved that the book featured marginal groups from society and positioned them as romantic leads- Eva with her debilitating chronic migraines, and Shane, actively in recovery from addiction. I loved the choice of these characters and how they were portrayed. The thing is that this love never felt quite healthy and there was so much unresolved trauma and damage in their lives, it would have been nice for some more of the healing to be on page, just so you know this time they’re for real. This is one of those where you love the couple together but wonder if they’ll be able to overcome the dysfunction long-term.
One thing that bothered me a bit about this book is it’s attitude towards romance. It’s not that it was disparaging in anyway- but there’s an air of tongue-in-cheek speak about it in this book sometimes that make it feel like a second class genre or not “worthy” or serious. And I felt like sometimes the author’s fatigue with writing her erotic romance series made her indirectly disparaging of the genre and I didn’t like that. I would have liked to see more of Eva’s relationship with her mother once she decided looking into her family tree. There were crumbs around this plot point and these themes of matrilineal lines and curses and patriarchal systems that condemn difference that left a lot of space for further exploration.
Overall, there’s no denying how fabulous this was. I highly recommend it to everyone- be safe and consider your triggers.
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Vomit
caseythereader's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
- I'm discovering that I love a second-chance romance, especially when it's as electric as SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE. Eva and Shane are a couple for the history books. Their personalities and their chemistry just fly off the page.
- I loved how Eva's chronic migraines figured into this book, and how over the course of the story she realizes not only that she deserves to be supported and not seen as a burden, but also that professionally speaking, she shouldn't have to hide when she's not feeling well.
- Also, Eva's daughter Audre was a riot. Amid all the heavy stuff in this book, it was also hilarious and a joy to read.
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Fatphobia and Racial slurs
ebonyrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I know I'm the outlier with my rating on this book, but just hear me out. I see why folks loved this. In my view, it had an extremely strong start, and it had a lot of potential. It had the bones to be a knockout read for me, but didn't quite get there.
I'll start with what I loved about Seven Days in June. Firstly, the book is really funny, which I had not expected based on the book cover and description. I also loved the disability representation here. I think the author wrote about the main character's chronic migraine condition with tenderness and honesty, and I really appreciated that. I also think the chemistry between the main characters Eva and Shane was positively electric, and literally leapt off the page. And that is the whole reason for a romance novel, isn't it? So, slam dunk there. Eva and Shane's connection and dialogue had my heart racing.
What did not work for me, however, sort of outweighed my enjoyment of the above. Firstly, the book is crammed with every single possible Black cultural reference possible, and it feels very effortful and a little try-hard. I get it, this is a Blackity Black book, and I appreciate that, as a Blackity Black person. But it started to weigh the narrative down in some parts of the book, where the story could have been moe streamlined.
I also think the book is unnecessarily dramatic. I usually love a high-stakes story, I love high drama in my books - when it feels warranted and fleshed out. When it makes sense. So, our main characters met as two messy teens and have an electrifying week together, and then don't see each other for fifteen years. However, the teen versions of the characters felt like two characters off the show of Eurphoria. Like, the premise of their week together and not seeing each other for fifteen years is, in my opinion, dramatic enough to keep a reader engaged. And, I'm not opposed to the characters meeting when they were both incredibly fucked up kids (I actually like the fact that this romance was not cookie-cutter or typical in that way), but the characterization of teenaged Eva and Shane was just really intense and extreme, in my view.
Lastly, I take real issue with how many of the hood/lower class/working class Black folks are written in this story. It was very much giving classism, and it made my skin crawl. The characters were all these bizarrely outdated archetypes relying on some stereotypical notions of blackness and poverty, and it really soured my view of the book as a whole (and, the author.)
I had more issues with this read, but my hands are tired from typing so I'ma leave it there. In all, this book had potential but didn't live up to what I'd hoped for it. I'm happy others seem to be enjoying it, though.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
caribbeanjournal's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, and Bullying
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment