Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

210 reviews

pantslint's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I want to love this novel so badly. I liked it, but I can't get over how Shane and Eva's relationship read more as trauma-bonded than romantic. I admire the adults they've become, but I'm not super sold on the genuineness of their love for each other.

I mean, they met as teens and then went on a crazy bender because fuck everyone else, right?

I do love Audre and Cece. I love Shane, and I love Eva. They're all great as individual characters, and their interactions are so fun to read.

One particular qualm I have with Seven Days in June is its teeny-tiny hypocrisy. The characters, as authors, lament about how reductive it is that black characters have to suffer and overcome extreme hardship to exist in mainstream publishing. Yes, black joy exists in this book. However, while Shane and Eva are examples of black resilience, Williams still gives them extremely traumatic experiences and tragic backstories. Does it add depth to their characters? Sure. Was it necessary? I'm not sure.

Also... a child dies in this novel.

For what? For Shane's character development? For a glimpse into black hood hardship? Romance novels can absolutely address heavy topics, but I don't think that it worked out in this novel because it was trying to do too much at once.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Car accident

sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

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

3.0

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). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

maireadryan's review against another edition

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

3.75

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism

readsbyti's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

Seven Days in June was emotionally demanding but also adorably funny and heartwarming. Showcasing the hard but important topics that are sometimes missing from second chance romances like this, we follow Eva and Shane from teens infatuated with eachother but in a clearly dysfunctional way to adults in love still bearing the scars from their seven days in june (i’m sorry🙂). 

as someone who is on the fence about dual timelines this did a great job at convincing me the story can in fact be enhanced by flashbacks rather than be brought to a weird screeching halt.

one unique aspect that surprised me but I enjoyed was the pov’s of Audre and Lizette, they were unexpected but welcome because they both garnered emotion from me for VERY different reasons😂 (i am a Lizette hate, idc I am petty sorry tia)

⚠️ please check tw before reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Self harm

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

saskiahill's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Grief

palonx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

basketkaceee's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

alexasolis98's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

2.5

Eva and Shane. What to say? They have a beautiful, complicated, heartbreaking love story. Audre was adorable and wise for her age. I loved Audre's and Shane's relationship. 
My issues were the number of pop culture references. I also felt that Eva and Shane's relationship should have been shown a bit more after the epilogue. Both of them have traumas and issues of their own that I don't feel like were fully resolved. But I guess the author implies that they will be doing it together?
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9.1.24 
I can't stop thinking about this book. I cannot definitely say that Shane and Eva loved each other. They spent a week together while teenagers and during that time they were drinking/using drugs. Can you truly say you loved that person, if you never spent enough time with them outside the influence? ...brb

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

dinma_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

plueschi77's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism and Self harm

Minor: Child death and Death of parent