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Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Seven Days In June by Tia Williams

143 reviews

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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: Complicated


- This is so much more than a second chance romance book. I cannot believe that I almost didn’t read it because of the real people on the cover. 
- The chronic illness representation and the portrayal of generational curses felt authentic.
- The characters felt like real people because they were imperfect and were called out in their ish. I appreciated that because of their imperfections that this wasn’t a cookie cutter love story. It made the story feel like a retelling of something that happened. 
- The book was surprisingly funny so it made it really entertaining. 
- The only part that I didn’t like was all of the pop culture references. Some are fine but I feel like there was a lot which really dates a book. 
- I also think that they were more in “lust” than “love” when they were teenagers but it’s important for their full dramatic, complicated, beautiful, and intense love story. 

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

This book was everything I needed and more. it is so emotionally intelligent. I love Shane and Eva's journey and how they help each other find their way. 

it also has the perfect will they won't they with some plot points I didn't expect. 

I would definitely read it again. the pacing is a bit on the slower side but the beautiful writing makes me want to stay in the novel even longer! you will not regret reading this.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny hopeful 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

I would warn that the description on the back is mildly misleading concerning how intense the book can get. There are some seriously triggering/dark themes explored at times. It’s not the whole book, but it’s definitely there. The book itself definitely had the push and pull reflected in Shane and Eva’s relationship, as a reader. There were times when I felt like it lost me, but I always picked it back up and was glad when I did. It was a notably fulfilling read. There is praise due when an author can perfectly capture a niche and/or cultural experience without the reader being left clueless to the references, or over explaining to an uncomfortable degree. Tia Williams finds a lovely balance to make an enjoyable book. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional inspiring 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

I am not normally a contemporary romance person, but I was looking for something light and this book has been recommended over and over by everyone I know! Tia Williams creates such a fun story, it’s a little corny and a little silly but it makes up for that in heart.

I was reading a book club edition of the book, which included a small interview from Williams that explained how much she loves putting pop culture references in her writing. Personally, for me, it takes me a bit out of it. While I thought it was done well in the 2004 chapters, the dialogue between Eva and Audre sometimes made me cringe only because I’ve totally missed both generations at the time this was written. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed this book and felt so strongly for the characters. 

I’d recommend this book to any fans of contemporary romance. It was a lot darker than I expected, so I think there might be a little bit of something for dark romance fans (but nothing too extreme). 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

I had complicated feelings about this book. I thought Tia Williams did an incredible job portraying pain and what it’s like to live with a disability, addiction, recovery, depression, self harm, and the toll of poverty on a person. I enjoyed seeing Eva and Shane’s growth throughout the story and their deep connection felt palpable. However, the side characters were all so extreme in their personalities that they seemed more like caricatures of people rather than supporting characters with substance. Additionally, the languages and pop culture references really date the story and things like the use of social media (twitter, instagram, etc) seem exaggerated. Every time it was mentioned it took me out of the story. I wish we got more of a conclusive ending and saw more of Shane and Eva as an adult couple. The ending left me dissatisfied and wanting more. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional 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

"Girls are given the weight of the world, but nowhere to put it down. The power and magic born in that struggle? It’s so terrifying to men that we invented reasons to burn y’all at the stake, just to keep our dicks hard."
 

Seven Days In June is about two writers. They had an intense week-long relationship in their teens, and have been using each other as muses for their writing ever since. 

I absolutely loved this book. I thought it was written beautifully and I truly felt the intensity of their relationship. I really liked how the story was revealed one a day at a time, flicking between past and present.

It also raised some interesting topics such as disability, generational trauma, positive co-parenting, and online fan culture. 

The only reason that this wasn't a 5* for me was just because I felt the ending was a little rushed. Minor spoilers:
I wish we had a bigger reconciliation for Eva and Shane than just the epilogue. It felt a bit too fast. 


I'd really recommend this one, but maybe check out content warnings first. 

 "I had to teach myself how to breathe again, in a world without you in it."

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional hopeful reflective 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

Absolutely love this author. The timeline and narrator jumping never felt confusing at ALL. It just made the story more vibrant and detailed. 

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