A review by chrisljm
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Reading this after having read The Dead Romantics, I come to see that grief is a topic Ashley Poston handles incredibly well. She cradles grief and loneliness so delicately within the pages of her books, and narrates them with such poetry. But alongside that sorrow, she's also able to weave such a lovely story about romance, and how certain people can help heal us in our heartbreak. I also loved the message she instilled that change isn't always a bad thing. We love people as they are in the past and we love them more as they change towards the future.
But perhaps what I loved most about The Seven Year Slip was how despite predicting the main plot point of the story, I was still so invested in the journey. It didn't once detract from the book and instead made me wonder even more how Poston would take us to the end. To be an author who doesn't let predictability interfere with readers' engagement, or the quality of storytelling, is what sets apart a great writer from an okay writer, and I think Ashley Poston is a fantastic writer.
But perhaps what I loved most about The Seven Year Slip was how despite predicting the main plot point of the story, I was still so invested in the journey. It didn't once detract from the book and instead made me wonder even more how Poston would take us to the end. To be an author who doesn't let predictability interfere with readers' engagement, or the quality of storytelling, is what sets apart a great writer from an okay writer, and I think Ashley Poston is a fantastic writer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury