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A review by thebiglittlelibrary
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
3.0
2.5 ⭐️ I can see why people might love this story, but it wasn't for me
"One thing," she whispered, her lips by his jaw.
"What's that?"
"Stop writing about me."
In a voice both raspy and low, and so, so familiar, Shane said, "You first."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ NYC setting
✨ second chance
✨ they're both writers
✨ single mother
✨ invisible chronic illness rep
✨ flashbacks
✨ TW: sexual assault (past), underage sex, drug/alcohol/substance abuse, self harm, suicide
My Thoughts:
So here’s the thing, this book is well written, the characters are three dimensional, and the story is interesting. However, I just didn't really enjoy the story.
While present day Shane and Eva have amazing chemistry, with feisty banter and juicy tension, younger Shane and Eva were a hot mess I could not get on board with. This is a second chance romance where we're meant to believe they are soulmates, however I felt like the foundation of their romance was codependency presented as love so when they get a second chance, they’re really just connected because of past shared trauma bonding. I know it's a lot more nuanced than that but I just can't get behind their initial meeting/romance.
We're supposed to believe they have soulmate level love but soulmates would be able to communicate and wouldn't give up on the other when things get hard. It just seems like this story romanticizes an unhealthy relationship and I can't get over that.
I will admit, I am triggered by contemporary stories with addiction since I grew up in a home where this was an issue. I had no idea that was a key element to this story, and went into this unaware. That may be a big reason why I view their romance as unhealthy instead of romantic.
"One thing," she whispered, her lips by his jaw.
"What's that?"
"Stop writing about me."
In a voice both raspy and low, and so, so familiar, Shane said, "You first."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ contemporary romance
✨ NYC setting
✨ second chance
✨ they're both writers
✨ single mother
✨ invisible chronic illness rep
✨ flashbacks
✨ TW: sexual assault (past), underage sex, drug/alcohol/substance abuse, self harm, suicide
My Thoughts:
So here’s the thing, this book is well written, the characters are three dimensional, and the story is interesting. However, I just didn't really enjoy the story.
While present day Shane and Eva have amazing chemistry, with feisty banter and juicy tension, younger Shane and Eva were a hot mess I could not get on board with. This is a second chance romance where we're meant to believe they are soulmates, however I felt like the foundation of their romance was codependency presented as love so when they get a second chance, they’re really just connected because of past shared trauma bonding. I know it's a lot more nuanced than that but I just can't get behind their initial meeting/romance.
We're supposed to believe they have soulmate level love but soulmates would be able to communicate and wouldn't give up on the other when things get hard. It just seems like this story romanticizes an unhealthy relationship and I can't get over that.
I will admit, I am triggered by contemporary stories with addiction since I grew up in a home where this was an issue. I had no idea that was a key element to this story, and went into this unaware. That may be a big reason why I view their romance as unhealthy instead of romantic.