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A review by femmenova
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
Easily, one of the best romance books I've read this year! EASILY! It's just so evocative and lush, each character was so well-rounded and believable. It was witty, it was tender, and it was everything I could have wanted from a romance book to sweep me off my feet and make me believe that love is just a wonderful feeling to experience. Now, the other authors pay attention, that is how you write an INCREDIBLE romance novel. Seven Days in June is a masterclass at taking seriously, complex issues between two characters and saying, "hey no actually our love might make us stronger because we're both willing to work through our issues" and I BELIEVE IT. Eva and Shane are so charismatic and flawed.
Listen, I hate second chance romance in a book because I, myself, don't believe that it's good to look back at our past and be involved in it. So when an author writes me something so believable and magical that I got over my own personal bias and this book ended up being an INSTANT FAVE 34% into it? YEAH, Tia Williams laced the book with some addictive stuff because I was mad when it ended!
I loved the chronic migraine representation in Eva - because it is THAT serious as someone who suffers from chronic migraine (who doesn't have access to the many medications she has in the story). I loved the journey that Eva and Shane went through individually before rekindling. The tension in the room when they meet each other again - oh my god - I remember reading the entire chapter holding my breath! The sex scenes too? Wow oh wow. It got me feeling all types of feelings!
There were some issues I've had with the book though it did not affect the overall rating because the book made me cycle through so many emotions that my overall reading experience was definitely a FIVE STARS.
Some of the issues were:
1. The constant pop culture references! It's not that I hate it, I'm just not an American to get everything so sometimes it flew over my head. But this book is very much contemporary (as in, Twitter-verse contemporary).
2. The third act conflict felt like an editor took out huge chunks of narrative to force an unnecessary conflict. Okay, let me backpedal a little bit. I understand the emotions and reactions of Eva and Shane because by then, I was already in their heads because of Tia William's wonderful character work. But, it was a lot of telling not shown in the third act as they go through and resolve the conflict.
3. This book is so millennial - but I don't live in Brooklyn or New York (or in a Western country period) so I don't get it. Maybe that kind of hipster place exists but damn! Not a big deal to me but y'all have a place for workers to sleep during the day to recharge? Yeah.. what kind of fake woke upper class shit is that!
4. Sometimes Audre be saying the most Adult shit I've ever heard from a 12 year old that I think is not believable but honestly, I've taught some 12 year olds and I've heard the things my younger sister picks up from me because she was regurgitating her oldest sibling's feminist speeches/books, then I realise.. yeah nevermind 12 year olds are like *that* when their environment are like *that*. Im saying this here because so many people have said that Audre's portrayal is unrealistic but both the author and I can safely say, no. Children are reflective of the environment that they are brought up so y'all are exposing your asses for a review. Also, the way Audre acts around her mom is still very child-like! Are we not reading the same book here?
Okay, to finish this review. I am now placing this book in my Books-To-Purchase wishlist since I read it as an e-book from the library. Good bye!
Listen, I hate second chance romance in a book because I, myself, don't believe that it's good to look back at our past and be involved in it. So when an author writes me something so believable and magical that I got over my own personal bias and this book ended up being an INSTANT FAVE 34% into it? YEAH, Tia Williams laced the book with some addictive stuff because I was mad when it ended!
I loved the chronic migraine representation in Eva - because it is THAT serious as someone who suffers from chronic migraine (who doesn't have access to the many medications she has in the story). I loved the journey that Eva and Shane went through individually before rekindling. The tension in the room when they meet each other again - oh my god - I remember reading the entire chapter holding my breath! The sex scenes too? Wow oh wow. It got me feeling all types of feelings!
There were some issues I've had with the book though it did not affect the overall rating because the book made me cycle through so many emotions that my overall reading experience was definitely a FIVE STARS.
Some of the issues were:
1. The constant pop culture references! It's not that I hate it, I'm just not an American to get everything so sometimes it flew over my head. But this book is very much contemporary (as in, Twitter-verse contemporary).
2. The third act conflict felt like an editor took out huge chunks of narrative to force an unnecessary conflict. Okay, let me backpedal a little bit. I understand the emotions and reactions of Eva and Shane because by then, I was already in their heads because of Tia William's wonderful character work. But, it was a lot of telling not shown in the third act as they go through and resolve the conflict.
3. This book is so millennial - but I don't live in Brooklyn or New York (or in a Western country period) so I don't get it. Maybe that kind of hipster place exists but damn! Not a big deal to me but y'all have a place for workers to sleep during the day to recharge? Yeah.. what kind of fake woke upper class shit is that!
4. Sometimes Audre be saying the most Adult shit I've ever heard from a 12 year old that I think is not believable but honestly, I've taught some 12 year olds and I've heard the things my younger sister picks up from me because she was regurgitating her oldest sibling's feminist speeches/books, then I realise.. yeah nevermind 12 year olds are like *that* when their environment are like *that*. Im saying this here because so many people have said that Audre's portrayal is unrealistic but both the author and I can safely say, no. Children are reflective of the environment that they are brought up so y'all are exposing your asses for a review. Also, the way Audre acts around her mom is still very child-like! Are we not reading the same book here?
Okay, to finish this review. I am now placing this book in my Books-To-Purchase wishlist since I read it as an e-book from the library. Good bye!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence
Child abuse in school, Child incarceration, Attempted sexual assault by adults