Review by bethantg - Seven Days in June

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

bethantg 's review for:

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

2.5

medium-paced

Full disclosure, romance books often don't seem to click with me. Also, I wasn't expecting this Hallmark-esque kind of vibe from what I'd heard about it, so potentially it would have worked for me at another time. Also also, I had heard that it was amazing and devastating and gorgeous and so I had much too high expectations going into it.

However, I didn't enjoy this mainly because it seemed torn between this Hallmark-y tone that I mentioned (quirky cast, happily ever after, a little corny) and genuinely distressing topics (listed in the content warnings) which unfortunately gave it a bit of a soap opera feel. I think slowing down and taking more time with the characters' feelings would have grounded it more and improved it for me - having just finished it, the first thought that comes to my mind is

giving Shane more than a page or two to actually reflect on his feelings on a little boy he cared for being shot and killed? Because it felt ridiculous how quickly the focus was back on the romance. And the fact that it was used as part of a miscommunication trope, as if they aren't constantly texting otherwise, oh my god.

The really difficult things that the main characters have dealt with and continue to deal with are just described and then they have just conveniently Grown and Developed. My least favourite way to do any form of trauma/healing narrative.

But also things like Audre and especially supporting cast (bar Cece) feeling really one dimensional, the way Eva seems to dislike everything about her work that she's been doing for fifteen years (fans, story, characters, peers), some scenes coming straight from Wattpad

(once again, Shane being told about Ty being shot).

And I don't say this to be mean as I imagine the author probably deals with something like Eva's disability which is clearly horrific, but the "I... I have an invisible disability" speech was really cringey to me. I understand that she literally is the main character so maybe I shouldn't be griping about main character behaviour, but Eva seriously did not have to a whole Love Simon coming out speech for this woman she sees once a year.

But very happy for all those who enjoyed it. Just did not click with me!

Content Warnings