Tag: Seven Days in June

Seven Days in June | Book Review by Felicia

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About:

Seven Days in June is an adult romance novel that highlights the history of a short teenage love that is destined to reignite.  The characters in this novel deal with intense issues but they find a way to push through on their own and even better together. 

I want to start off by giving a trigger warning this book contains topics such as trauma, sexual assault, and self harm. 

Review:

The novel starts off in an unique and unexpected way that immediately draws a reader into the story. A story about Eva, a successful erotica writer who is trying to make a pivot in her writing career. As a Black woman writer who has forged a career in a genre that isn’t typically deemed respectable Eva tends to doubt her own worth and credibility. Then there is Shane, a critically acclaimed writer who doesn’t write anymore but chooses to mentor children. Even though they have been a part for many years Eva and Shane have always been in conversation with each other. Tia Williams excellently demonstrates the intricacies in a second chance romance. I honestly couldn’t stop reading and when it was over I wanted more of Eva and Shane’s story.  I highly suggest reading this book and rereading it.

Podcast 9 Show Notes

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Our 9th pick is a second chance at love story that also includes themes of family, motherhood, ancestry, masculinity, and vulnerability.  

About the Author

Tia Williams is an accomplished beauty editor and novelist. She is from Virginia and attended University of Virginia. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and is an Executive Copy Director at Estee Lauder Companies. Her novel The Perfect Find won the African American Literary Award for Best Fiction and Seven Days in June is her 6th novel.

Book Look

The sisters, Sam and Felicia admired the cover of the novel noting the beautiful embrace of the couple and the interesting use of bright and dark colors. The collage-esque color is a nod to how important art is in this book. The book is 328 pages and includes discussion questions for a book club. Seven Days in June is a beautiful story with some dark moments that highlights what a second chance at love can look like while being true to yourself. A main theme is reconnection, not only in romance, but in familial and ancestral bonds.

Bookmark

Some quotes the sisters found to be profound. 

  • “Alone doesn’t care that I don’t shave my legs in the winter. Alone never gets disappointed by me.” pg. 23  
  • “Listen, caring about things don’t make you soft. It makes you alive.” Pg. 42
  • “Just be an active listener. If you listen hard enough, you can tell what a person needs from you. And If you give them what they need, you’ve got a friend for life.” pg. 570

POV

The sisters both loved the main characters and couple Eva and Shane. They couldn’t help but feel connected and fall in love with the characters as their story unfolded. Their favorite characters were Audre (Eva’s daughter) and Cece (Eva’s  editor). Their least favorite characters were Khalil (another writer/hotep)  and Lizette (Eva’s mother).

Deep Dive

The sisters both agreed that Seven Days in June should come with a trigger warning due to its dark themes in the flashbacks to Eva and Shane’s time in highschool. While these moments were difficult to read they were important and highlighted the deepness of Eva and Shane’s love even at 17 years old. Ultimately, they don’t reconnect until 15 years later but the book does a good job of making you believe in second chances and the idea that there are some people that after connecting with them you realize you need to have them in your life. The sisters enjoyed the novel immensely and found it inspired them to keep mantras to push them forward towards dreams that represent their true selves.