Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - Seven Days in June

I do not have words for how fucking good this book is. It felt like I was being repeatedly stabbed in the chest and I never wanted it to end. It’s a beautiful (and at times, extremely painful, confronting and traumatic) love story between Eva and Shane that also explores some really dark and horrific aspects of the US (systemic racism specifically with regards the prison industrial complex and education system; failure of the foster care system; addiction; youth violence). But it is also so incredibly hopeful. It’s a story about two broken teenagers who spent seven days in June falling in love and wrote to each other across the years until they find each other again. It is so real and raw and gritty and nuanced and I loved this so much.

OH! And it has migraine rep!! I’ve never read a book that has my chronic illness represented before! Amazing!

Content warnings: chronic pain (migraines), sex work, attempted child sexual assault, implied pedophilia, self-harm, addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, overdose, sex, violence, injury detail, discussion of systemic racism particularly with regards to the prison industrial complex and education system, gun violence, child death, child neglect

Content Warnings

looseleafellie's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

Over a decade after a whirlwind teenage romance, Eva Mercy and Shane Hall are both bestselling authors. Despite their attempts to forget each other, they’ve been writing each other into their books for years. So when fate reunites them at a book conference, Shane and Eva must discover whether their love can still work, or whether they’ll have to leave each other forever.

This book was a charming, funny, and poignant delight! Eva and Shane are wonderfully witty protagonists who click amazingly well. I also loved Eva’s precocious daughter, Audre, and her clever observations.

The point of view mostly sticks to Eva and Shane, but there are a few scenes with other characters’ perspectives sprinkled in. I tend to find this a bit jarring, but here I didn’t mind so much because the side characters are so interesting.

Aside from being a cute romance, Seven Days in June weaves topics like chronic illness, mental health, family trauma, racism in publishing, and addiction into the story in a way that feels natural and nuanced. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, Eva and Shane find solace in each other and their loved ones, and it’s a wonderful exploration of how community and being true to yourself helps you flourish.

The epilogue felt a bit drawn-out to me, but I don’t know how else it could have been arranged without cutting out some necessary character development for Eva. In any case, by the time the story wrapped up, I was left feeling ridiculously happy for the characters!

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a brilliant joyful romance that doesn’t shy away from heavy topics.

Spice level: Graphic

CWs: Drug abuse/overdose, alcoholism, child abuse/neglect, suicide attempt, chronic illness, self harm, implied pedophilia, racism, depression, violence, gun death of a child, sexual assault mention, grief.

Content Warnings

kayladaila's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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

3.75

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delz's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

Eva and Shane have a long and complicated history, but after a failed marriage, one daughter and a successful writing career is Eva ready to forgive the boy now a man who broke her heart? Eva and Shane knew each other, once in high school, but that was fifteen years ago. They had both come from hardship, which they recognized in each other. Eva, suffering from debilitating headaches and dealing with an irresponsible mother and Shane having no one at all, they formed a short lived codependency with each other. It was drug infused, sex and it only lasted seven days. Fast forward 15 years into the present, Eva is still battling headaches, Shane is still battling his demons, but as adults can they find their ways back to each other and make it work?

Content Warnings

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

The writing in this second chance romance is exquisite. I love reading about writers, and this romance is about two writers, so that was perfect. This was a 5 star prediction and I'm so happy that it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. THE CHEMISTRY between these two leads....it was everything. TO ADD ONTO THAT: i loved the representation in here for invisible disabilities / chronic pain. the main character is a migraine sufferer and it impacts her day to day so much and i found that extremely relatable.

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