Seven Days In June

graysonslibrary

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Wow! This was such a fast and fun read for me. The main characters were both so easy to root for! 4/5 ⭐️

6 likes

BookBoggart

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

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This book had it all! Breaking generational trauma, soulmates, spice, a strong badass MC, family dynamics. This one was out of my usual reading choice but damn did I ever love it! I've been in a slump ever since. 😅

#booklover #spicy #books #sevendaysofjune #romance #drama #beautiful #blackvoices #lovedit #fivestars

15 likes

readwithcori

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

A throw back but one that I still think about today! Absolutely loved reading Seven Days in June when I used to follow along with Reese‘s Book Club and it makes me want to start following along with a book club again for 2024. We shall see 😍🤍

30 likes

Chelleo

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧Enjoyed the book. Was a little frustrated with the characters at one point but enjoyed how their stories came to an end (although a bit abruptly). I liked the bookish setting.

vlwelser That opening scene with the gum still makes me laugh. 7mo

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Chelleo

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

I primarily consume my books via audio books but needed to snag my book club title in print because the hold list is so long.

ErikasMindfulShelf A great book! 9mo

72 likes1 stack add1 comment

shxriel

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

this is the next book im going to read and im rlly looking forward to it. the story is very interesting and i like the authors style.

5 likes

mcctrish

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

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This is a heavy light read. I read it for book club and besides the title I‘m not sure why 🤣 it‘s not awful ( better than Colleen Hoover) but it‘s not book club material, altho Reese thinks so, maybe it‘s me ( it does raise an interesting point about black authors being given whitewashed film deals 👎🏻👎🏻 and that it is worth talking about)

52 likes

mcctrish

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Fridays are for books and chips ( this a for a bookclub and I‘m seriously wondering why it was chosen 🤣🤣)

MyNamesParadise I got it just because it was a Reese‘s Book Club pick. I haven‘t read it though! 10mo

mcctrish @MyNamesParadise the first few chapters/pages were a bit 😳 but it‘s gotten good ( back story, side story, new characters) so I‘m hooked (edited) 10mo

MyNamesParadise @mcctrish ohh ok! Good to know! 10mo

ErikasMindfulShelf I really liked that one! 10mo

57 likes1 stack add4 comments

RamsFan1963

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

9 days actually, but whatever. I'm ready for the #JoysofJune readathon. My goal is to finish at least two of these books, maybe throw in a graphic novel too.
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, best of luck 😁 I look forward to hearing about The Templars. 10mo

AllDebooks @Andrew65 me too. I have a copy somewhere I've yet to read. 10mo

54 likes2 comments

MicrobeMom

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Book choice #3 for my Fable book club Prof. Stacey‘s TBR. Polls will go live tonight on my fable site (see below) and my Instagram Prof.StaceyTBR.

Stay tuned for the last choice today!

https://fable.co/club/prof-staceys-tbr-book-club-with-stacey-lettini-33812063356...

38 likes

Evita

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

so-so

3 out of 5

4 likes

jess.edits.books

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Loved this! The writing is so smart and vibrant and alive. Great banter, chronic illness rep, and an adorable relationship between the main character and her daughter. This is so much more than a romance novel (though it‘s also a romance novel).

8 likes

hes7

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

“Seven days to fall in love, 15 years to forget, and seven days to get it all back again...”

#secondchancelove #loveathon #loveathon2023

Clwojick, StayCurious

Clwojick I loved this one. 💗 1y

61 likes1 comment

LatrelWhite

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

🎧📖 Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone‘s surprise, shows up in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but the eyebrows of the Black literati. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

20 likes1 stack add

Kboltz

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

I hated the first three pages and then loved this book. Did the editor do that? Eva and Shane are well known writers who for a week when they were teens found each other. Their new careers and their new lives take off. Can they fit each other back into letting themselves feel loved? Good read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

13 likes

ChaoticMissAdventures

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

so-so

I am not a big romance reader but have been trying a few this year. I enjoyed the story line and liked the characters of Eve and Shane. But didn't enjoy the way too smart daughter (reading Fraud at 8? Annoying) and did not enjoy Williams writing style. She adds in hyper specific details like Indonesia (via HomeGoods) pillows and Samsung Galaxy phone details that will severely date a book and felt like filler to get her word count up.

32 likes

Erin.Elizabeth10

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

so-so

For some reason, I just didn‘t click with this one. I definitely liked parts of the plot, but I guess I just didn‘t connect with the characters. I think the mother daughter relationship just didn‘t work for me for some reason. It‘s between a so so and a pick, but I‘m going to say so so. I think it‘s a good book, maybe just not my exact taste.

10 likes

SanjanaGhosh

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

"Shane wasn't a thing to outgrow. He'd always fit. No matter how old or young or sophisticated or raw she was. No matter how much time had passed. Shane was inevitable."

Such a satisfying Romance read.

29 likes

MsLeah8417

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9 likes

BekaReid

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

This book was a great read! Got it from the library on a whim knowing nothing about it beforehand, but it was just the kind of immersive story I needed this weekend.

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Magpiegem

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

43/22 I don‘t do romance. But today, whilst it hammered with rain and the sun shone… at the same time… I hid away and finally finished this book and it might if changed my mind. I really enjoyed it. There were some perfect one liners and it had just the right level of lovers angst for me. The end maybe felt a little rushed. But overall a great read.

BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one too unexpectedly! 2y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love a rainy day 💙 2y

29 likes2 comments

LoverOfLearning

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Working my way through this audiobook 😍🥰

I can definitely see where the hype is. I'm really enjoying it so far about 40% done.

52 likes

Bookalong

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

4☆ (#gifted)
A wonderful novel about mothers, daughters, writers, romance and the complications of life.
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE was a book I debating reading for a while. But I ended up devouring it! Full of warmth, humor and romance it is the perfect summer read! So if like me you shy away from romantic story lines, trust me shake it up and give this one a go you won't be dissapointed!

Desha I just finished this one and I normally am not much of a romance reader but I too loved this book! 💗 2y

Bookalong @Desha yay!! Yes I never read romance but this was so much more. 2y

Desha I‘m having “book hangover” from this one…I want a sequel 😆! 2y

Bookalong @Desha I'm hoping for a mini series 🤞🏻 2y

Desha Yes!! That would be 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! 2y

19 likes5 comments

WorldsOkayestStepMom

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Took me a while to get into this book, but the second half was amazing! I flew through the last third of the book in one sitting. I liked the story and loved Eva and Shane. Audre got on my nerves a tiny bit, but pulled it out in the end. I especially love that invisible illnesses got some publicity with this novel as I live with them too.

42 likes

Magpiegem

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

I‘m making slow progress on this book not because it isn‘t good, but because it‘s hot hot hot and the sea has been calling! I‘ve even been taking my commute to the next village for my favorite coffee shop by paddle board! And I don‘t think the library would appreciate me taking their book for a dip 😂 my current audio book reads have been fairing better. But the weather has broken this morning, it‘s cool out so back to reading I think!

tyoung2058 I use to kayak but tore my shoulders up, been thinking about a paddle board. I miss the water. 2y

marleed Beautiful pic! 2y

Magpiegem @marleed thank you ☺️ 2y

Magpiegem @tyoung2058 I love it and if it‘s a calm (not windy) day it‘s not difficult to get about on. So it might be a good option. I love being on the water 😊 2y

27 likes4 comments

MaleficentBookDragon

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

I got these 5 books for $11 in the library bookstore. They have half off books through Saturday.
All are on my #TBR already.
#librarybooksale #bookhaul

squirrelbrain Bargains! ❤️ 2y

marleed Score! 2y

wanderinglynn Awesome haul! 2y

See All 7 Comments

Gissy What a bargain! 📚😍🙌 2y

Bookwormjillk Nice!! 2y

PaperbackPrincess19 Wish all libraries do this 🥺 2y

Avanders Hidden pictures! I love good finds at the library bookstores/sales 😁 2y

77 likes7 comments

RebL

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Excellent Litsy Made Me book, so thanks to everyone who put this in my feed.
~
As a younger teen, I would become totally absorbed in my mom‘s romance books. Reconnecting with that part of me, especially with a smart, modern story like this, seemed as though it could be healing. But, nope. My shriveled heart rejects that plan. Other stories are calling.

21 likes1 stack add

Magpiegem

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

I‘ve slipped a disc and I‘m not very mobile, which is rubbish BUT it does mean I get to do Some beach reading whilst hubby and toddler look for crabs this morning 😊

So far I‘m finding this book to be smart, witty and very enjoyable. Perfect beach read.

Soubhiville Oh no, I‘m sorry! Hope you recover quickly. 2y

mcctrish Yikes but beach reading is a silver lining 🙏🏻 I do hope recover quickly 2y

Magpiegem Thank you @Soubhiville & @mcctrish 😊 I‘m on lots of drugs now so it‘s feeling much better! But it was quite nice to have an excuse to sit and read 😂 2y

36 likes3 comments

MysticFaerie

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

4⭐/5⭐

LoverOfLearning I have this book on hold through Libby! Should be listening to it soon!! 2y

10 likes1 comment

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

so-so

Read for the #SummerHeat buddy read, but also because it sounded interesting and showed up on a list of books by a POC about joy and not trauma. Can I be honest? This didn't feel like joy. Sure, it's not tackling Jim Crow-era racism or slavery, but I found that the MCs, Eva and Shane, just had too many demons in all their baggage to really make this feel like joy.
This is a second-chance romance, told in the present, with sections going back ⬇️

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick to their senior year in high school where they spent one tumultuous week together, bonding over their dubious decisions. While I think these characters are interesting, I never found myself truly rooting for them. Eva's 12 year old daughter Audre was a bit too grown up to be believable, but she added a fun element to some conversations. I appreciate that Eva represented for the people who have invisible disabilities, but again, ⬇️

2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick it seemed to add another element against feeling joyous once added to the list of possible trigger warnings in the book. I prefer my romances steamier and more light-hearted, so take this review with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila.

@Cinfhen @BarbaraBB - June #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks - #ReadHarder Prompt 4 #AnyGenreByPOCAboutJoyAndNotTrauma - #PopSugar Prompt 18 #RomanceByBIPOCAuthor

2y

TheAromaofBooks Romances that say “A Novel“ on them always seem to be more thematic and less romance-y 😂 2y

49 likes1 stack add3 comments

DMC_run8

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Great summer read! Sometimes I just want to read about people who are meant to be together against the odds. 4.5⭐️

9 likes

BookwormAHN

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Thanks for the tag @MoonWitch94 😺
1- ✔️
2- 🐉🐲👑🤴🏻👸🏼🧚🏻‍♀️🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♀️🦄
3- I'm really need the escapism now.
4- cover art
I tag @Christine @booksellerofyourdiscontent @tracey38
#ThoughtfulThursday

wisherwishinguponastar My 2 and 3 match yours! I didn‘t realize how many awesome fantasy emojis there were until this post! 2y

BookwormAHN @booksellerofyourdiscontent I may have missed a few 🧜🏻‍♀️🧙🏼‍♂️🧞‍♀️ 2y

Christine Somehow I missed this, but thank you for the tag! (At least it's now once again Thursday...😆)
1) If I was tagging from recent reads it would be The Lioness - new to me author and I don't do a ton of historical fiction/suspense/thriller.
2) 🤔💭🧑🪞✍️⏳📆👶➡️👵 (does that even come close to depicting memoir/personal essays? 😂)
3) That genre is my fave bc it strengthens empathy skills.
4) Yup, cover art for me as well.
2y

BookwormAHN @Christine I think those emojis work 😺 2y

31 likes4 comments

KarenUK

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Yet again, I‘m late to the #buddyread party😂🤦‍♀️but better late than never. I loved reading everyone‘s comments from Sunday!
For a romance to be successful, all I need is 3 simple things to be right…Am I rooting for the couple to be together? Is the chemistry/banter great? And are the supporting characters fun and/or interesting? And this was a yes, yes and yes! An enjoyable read, perfect for summer. #summerheat
#pop2022 #romancebyabipocauthor

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain Fab review! 2y

BarbaraBB So true! 2y

Christine I love your criteria! 2y

51 likes3 comments

britt_brooke

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A romance author and a literary author, both sparked by their tumultuous whirlwind week together as teens, have been writing to one another through their art. This is a very intense story of lost and found love. Eva‘s daughter Audre, a precocious, intelligent 12 year old, was a brilliant addition. And a h/t to Williams for seamlessly weaving in: POC in publishing, positive co-parenting, non-visible disability, and addiction recovery.

Cinfhen

britt_brooke #coverlove 2y

Cinfhen Were you part of our #SummerHeat weekend ?? Check out the discussion questions on @BarbaraBB page (edited) 2y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen No, but I‘ll have to check out the discussion. Thanks! 2y

See All 8 Comments

Cinfhen Lots of mixed thoughts on this book but most did love it 2y

BarbaraBB Such a coincidence you read this book just now! 2y

britt_brooke @BarbaraBB I know! I wish I‘d have participated in your read along, but I‘ve been a bit MIA from Litsy lately. I‘m finally getting caught up on reviews. I‘ll def check out your discussion. 💚 2y

BarbaraBB Please do. To me the various points I‘d view in the discussion added so much to the book! 2y

britt_brooke @BarbaraBB Agree! 2y

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TheLudicReader

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

First of all, thanks to @BarbaraBB and @Cinfhen for hosting a wonderful #summerheat event. I wasn‘t quite as enamoured with the book as many of my fellow readers were, but it was certainly an easy read. You can read my full review at https://theludicreader.com/2022/06/19/seven-days-in-june-tia-williams/

Cinfhen Thanks so much for participating!!! Loved your comments / they really added to our discussion ❣️ (edited) 2y

BarbaraBB Echoing @Cinfhen 2y

34 likes2 comments

BooksNBowls

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Okay I enjoyed our #summerheat pick. I love a second-chance romance and the MCs being authors and secretly writing about each other for a decade was super intriguing. This author hit on racial issues in the writing community, mental health, living with an invisible illness, and the affects mothers have on their daughters. A lot of themes packed into this novel and intricately woven together to create these complex characters! 4 stars!!

40 likes

Chelsea.Poole

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Loved this! 🔥 There‘s just something about a teenage connection, drifting apart, and then exploring that again years later. That always gets me in the feels! I‘m not a big romance person or reader but Shane and Eva had me feeling alllll mushy…so intense! A great read to kick off the summer!

#SummerHeat #BuddyRead
Thanks for hosting!

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen I‘m glad you enjoyed this one…jump over to discussion @BarbaraBB page when you get a chance 💗💗💗 2y

105 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Final question! #summerheat #buddyread

Cinfhen

BarbaraBB @thebookhippie @leahbergen @vlwelser @mitch @teresereading @librarybelle @jenniferw88 @trishb @hooked_on_books @peaknit @KarenUK @kgordon88 2y

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @rubyslippersreads @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts @I.be.Stef @Vansa @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole 2y

BarbaraBB @Billypar @Simona @AnneCecilie @Bookwormjillk @Leftcoastzen @Kimberlone @MatchlessMarie @BooksNBowls @peaknit @Megabooks @wanderinglynn @vivastory @erzascarletbookgasm @DGRachel @CarolynM @maich @theludicreader @Nute @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @DebinHawaii 2y

See All 37 Comments

TheLudicReader I would call those seven high school days ridiculous. I wanted to be all in on their adult relationship but it was hard to really buy into it once I knew that they spend that week drunk and high and/or passed out/asleep. So, they trauma bonded. Can you build a healthy relationship on that? 2y

Cinfhen Yessssss @TheLudicReader this is where the book lost me. It was NEVER romance or love they shared in HS. That was a very unhealthy situation involving tons of questionable activities and decisions. It bothered me that it was written as if they have this “great love” - 2y

TheBookHippie Romantic no. Forming a lasting memory I can believe. I can even believe the attraction then and now. 2y

TheLudicReader @Cinfhen and, really, this book tries to be more than the sum of its parts…but the parts are so clunky that it was just a ultimately a trashy read and, honestly, I didn‘t think that was what I was getting when I started to read. 😢 2y

BarbaraBB They were very vulnerable at the time and harmed by circumstances. I didn‘t think it was romance but - call me a romantic 🥰 - I like to think their trust and mutual respect at the time built a foundation which they both held close for the years to come. When they met again it was clear at once 💕 2y

TrishB I didn‘t think that was romance, dependence and vulnerability maybe but not healthy. 2y

TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB I can believe romance now after having that experience and being attracted to one another then and now again and giving it a go. Life is messy. White horse man saves woman is more far fetched to me than this story. 2y

Cinfhen An attraction, obsession, lasting memory -YES, YES, YES but a great love, romance?!?? NO!! I understand they were both coming from a vulnerable place @BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie and yes, when you‘re 15/16 these events will affect you deep into your adult years. So I guess I was rooting for them 2y

TheBookHippie @Cinfhen I know a couple like this 14 & 16 had kid one, both come from massive trauma -massive, they‘re 30 & 32 now married- a success story. Out of the 314 teen moms I mentored -this is the only one still with her love. 2y

peaKnit I think it was a pivotal moment in their lives and somehow was responsible for their success. I would not call it romance. It was the start of their recovery in some sense, sadly they almost missed one another and it clearly impacted them deeply. 2y

Cinfhen That‘s so sad @TheBookHippie so are you saying massive trauma tears you apart or holds you together?!?! 2y

Cinfhen Ahh, I like your take on the relationship @peaknit “it was the start of their recovery” I can buy that!! 2y

jenniferw88 I agree with @peaknit 2y

DGRachel I agree with @peaknit 💯 here. What they had in high school was definitely not romantic, but I love the idea that it was the impetus for individual healing. I also loved that they didn‘t fix each other. They did the work on their own and could come together as people who had grown. 2y

Megabooks @TrishB 💯💯 agree with you! Same with you @Cinfhen !! 2y

Megabooks @peaknit I can see what you‘re saying. There‘s something to having a history with people going back to childhood or adolescence. There are pivotal moments in growing up that can‘t be recreated with someone you meet at 30. 2y

peaKnit @DGRachel YES, this. That they healed on their own, found success and came back together with a new story to tell, thank you for mentioning that. I think it is really why this relationship could have a future perhaps (in my imagination anyways lol) (edited) 2y

vlwelser Not sure I buy that it was romantic. But something about that bond seemed to change them both for the better. Like the first time they felt cared about or something. Maybe I'm reading into it too much. 2y

DebinHawaii I agree with @peaknit the start of recovery & maybe finding your “person” only to have it ripped away but not romance/romantic. I was more into the present day scenes than the past. 2y

Bookwormjillk My kid just turned 14 so I had trouble with this part honestly. I only half listened 🙈🙉 2y

BookwormAHN As an adult their hs relationship was definitely not romantic but I can see how to extremely screwed up teenagers could consider it one. I did like their relationship now and seeing how they are handling their demons. 2y

AnneCecilie No, I don‘t find their seven days in HS romantic, but I really like @peaknit way of looking at those days. 2y

BooksNBowls When you‘re in a traumatic situation or circumstance with someone I think it‘s easy to confuse love with something else. Like survival, codependency, lust even. They both needed each other right then, for whatever reason. I definitely preferred their adult chemistry and was happy they were managing to have a healthy relationship with each other. 2y

CarolynM My main problem with the book was that it told us there was an almost instant connection between them & that it magically reappeared the minute they set eyes on each other again. I don‘t believe that. I need to be shown the growing connection as the couple get to know each other. 2y

Chelsea.Poole I‘m surprised at myself but I was all in with their early relationship. I think because I had such an impactful first love that was also rocky, it brought up some things for me. Though there was no trauma at home for us, I can imagine that would make those teenage feelings so much more intense. @vlwelser I think you‘re onto something. *Feeling cared for* 2y

Cinfhen I absolutely agree @BooksNBowls @BookwormAHN @AnneCecilie @Chelsea.Poole that such an INTENSE experience as a teen has a much greater impact moving forward and though that relationship wasn‘t healthy it did connect Shane & Eva to each other. I was glad to see them reunited but like @CarolynM it was a bit too insta. I do think their adult relationship felt more stable. 2y

Cinfhen Honestly who hasn‘t fantasized about being reunited with their HS “love”??? 2y

BarbaraBB @BooksNBowls Very well said! 2y

Chelsea.Poole @Cinfhen right!? Though most of us can see our High school/first loves won‘t work out in relationships as adults, it‘s an irresistible idea and why this book worked well, for me at least. 2y

Vansa My replies are all super late!I didn't find their relationship,either in school or as adults romantic at all,really.Unhealthy codependency and lust when they were young,and as adults I have no idea why they're even attracted to each other-the characters really need therapy to figure out why they haven't grown up.Completely agree with @TheLudicReader,it was a trashy read!Badly needed editing.Also,the writer really doesn't like working class people! 2y

Cinfhen I think there‘s a good argument for both sides of this book, between those who loved it and those like @Vansa who had a more difficult accepting Shane & Eva as destined lovers. I feel somewhere in between. Which is why this was a so-so read for me. (Not a book I‘d recommend) 2y

BarbaraBB @Vansa What made you think that? I have forgotten a lot already about the book but can‘t remember she dislikes working class? 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Their week in high school was not romantic. It was a connection (& perhaps attraction) that they both longed for at that time. It may have led to them healing & becoming better versions of themselves, then romanticizing their time together. As adults, I think they've alienated themselves from others & may feel the pull for now, but I don't see this as a full, healthy HEA. @Cinfhen Thanks to FB, I don't need to see my HS love. I'll pass. 😉 2y

Cinfhen Hahaha 🤣 hilarious @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick !!!!!!! I‘m not on FB but I feel like I may need to do some stalking 👀😂🙌🏻 thanks for joining us!!! 2y

37 likes37 comments

BarbaraBB

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Question 4 of 5. #summerheat #buddyread

Cinfhen

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @rubyslippersreads @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts @I.be.Stef @Vansa @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole 2y

BarbaraBB @thebookhippie @leahbergen @vlwelser @mitch @teresereading @librarybelle @jenniferw88 @trishb @hooked_on_books @peaknit @KarenUK @kgordon88 2y

See All 27 Comments

TheLudicReader Nothing. 🙄 2y

Cinfhen Haha @TheLudicReader I agree, it was just another plot device but I think people who suffer from migraines or have other hidden illnesses would probably say the author did a good job of describing that debilitating pain. 2y

TheLudicReader @Cinfhen you know how you can see all the moving parts of something, this book was like that for me. 2y

TheBookHippie I think it was wonderful to see this. It‘s good to see yourself in a book especially something that is so hard to describe to people. I think it helped form who she is and understand her drive. 2y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I admit I almost felt the pain. But I also agree with @TheLudicReader that it didn‘t add much to the story 2y

Cinfhen I think the author threw A LOT of hot button topics into the pot and just stirred it all up @TheLudicReader @BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie 2y

TrishB I never got the relevance to the story really. But was good to have a character trying to cope with such issues. 2y

peaKnit I think it may have provided a “good reason” to self medicate as a teen which somehow justified the drug use more than just being an addict? Her issues felt possibly like fibromyalgia and possibly added mental health issues as she was an adult and trying to do all of the things she felt she was expected to do. 2y

jenniferw88 I agree with both @TheLudicReader and @peaknit 2y

DGRachel As someone with chronic migraines, I absolutely loved this element to the book. I think the author did an excellent job of showing the struggles of living with a debilitating but invisible illness and she did it respectfully. I appreciated that so much. 2y

TheLudicReader I think I read in the notes that the author herself suffers from debilitating migraines. 2y

vlwelser There was a lot going on in this book. I think the author was also making a point here. But it adds to the character and makes her more real. 2y

DebinHawaii It might have not been necessary but It made me feel for Eva & for Audre. I think it was good for putting a spotlight on chronic pain & invisible disabilities & the fact that we really don‘t know what many people face everyday because we don‘t see it. 2y

Bookwormjillk @DebinHawaii good point 2y

Cinfhen That‘s so true @DebinHawaii I never thought about how her invisible disability effected Audre 2y

DGRachel @DebinHawaii YES!! 2y

BookwormAHN Me and my Mother both suffer from migraines. My Mother's are the chronic kind fortunately mind aren't but they are still nasty and made Eva's very relatable. 2y

BooksNBowls I think the purpose was to give Eva more depth, explain why she got so bad off on the drugs. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. It has crippled and blinded her. It‘s absolutely awful. I get bad headaches as well, nothing like what she experiences in the story, but I found myself relating to her a lot. Her feelings, her raw thoughts in the midst of an episode. Maybe Tia wanted to make her relatable to the readers. 2y

Chelsea.Poole Yes, @TheLudicReader I believe the author deals with migraines as well. I thought it added more dimension as @vlwelser mentioned. 2y

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii You are right, and I think it added to their relationship like @BookwormAHN and @BooksNBowls point out too. I didn‘t think of it that way. Thank you all. 2y

Vansa This was the only bit about the book I liked-Im all for more authentic migraine rep.It disproportionately affects women(which might explain the lack of research into treatment),its easy to dismiss but for the sufferer it's terrible.I get migraines too but not as bad as the ones she gets,luckily.However, people are generally sympathetic-in the beginning of the book,why doesn't she just tell her fans she's suffering??Instead of scoffing at them?(1/2 2y

Vansa (2/2)she's so contemptuous of her fans,calling them pathetic silly women,and that's so strange!Why is she so snooty about what she writes? 2y

Cinfhen Good point @Vansa she definitely had a bad attitude towards her fans 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Clearly the invisible illness is one of two driving forces in Eva's life, so her addiction, parenting style, business interactions...it's all affected by that. I appreciated that the author shed some light on an invisible disease since I don't have direct experience with it, but like @Cinfhen said, it feels like too many ingredients in one pot. @Vansa YES! Those silly fans allow her to live a comfortable life & support her daughter. 2y

31 likes27 comments

BarbaraBB

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Question 3 of 5. #summerheat #buddyread

BarbaraBB @thebookhippie @leahbergen @vlwelser @mitch @teresereading @librarybelle @jenniferw88 @trishb @hooked_on_books @peaknit @KarenUK @kgordon88 2y

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @rubyslippersreads @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts @I.be.Stef @Vansa @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole 2y

See All 31 Comments

jenniferw88 Yes, but I was relieved when she changed directors etc! Should have been produced by poc in the first place! 2y

BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 I was so relieved when she did. I felt for Eva because she didn‘t really have a choice and had to go along with that stupid idea. 2y

TheLudicReader I think she‘d been sold a bill of goods about how the movie wouldn‘t find an audience if it featured poc actors. Geesh, has no one been watching Bridgerton? 2y

TheBookHippie @jenniferw88 I so agree with you. 2y

TheBookHippie @TheLudicReader 💯 2y

TheBookHippie I think this happens so often and it‘s so damaging to everyone. 2y

TrishB @TheLudicReader or Hamilton! 2y

peaKnit Sadly. I understand it, and recognize she was also in a tough spot feeling writers block for the future but wanting to provide well for her daughter. She was willing to sacrifice her autonomy for that. I was happy she gained confidence as she allowed herself to be vulnerable with Shane, and ultimately not just place nice. 2y

Cinfhen OMG!! Exactly @TrishB @TheLudicReader @jenniferw88 @TheBookHippie but I can appreciate how badly Eva wanted her book to be turned into a movie that she was willing to whitewash the characters. I‘m sure it‘s very frustrating for POC to have to see so many characters portrayed only one way/ one color. That‘s definitely the beauty of Hamilton and Bridgerton 2y

TheLudicReader Yes, @TrishB 2y

DGRachel What they all said.⬆️ 😂 (Sorry I‘m late to the party - I took a nap) 2y

Cinfhen Welcome @DGRachel hope you had a good nap 😘 2y

DebinHawaii I agree—I understand & sympathize with the choice that Eva felt she had to make to get her movie made & was glad Cece came through & got it where it needed to be. I think things have gotten slightly better in the whitewashing with Hamilton, Bridgerton & Jordan Peele with his horror movies but it is definitely still a problem. 2y

vlwelser I think the author was definitely making a point here and message definitely received. The whole idea of it was ridiculous. But you also get the other side with the author/artist tempted by a lot of money and what that brings with it. 2y

Bookwormjillk Like so many others I understand, but am glad she ultimately went another way. 2y

BookwormAHN Okay, so I also get why she played nice but I would have lost my 🤬 mind. 2y

AnneCecilie I can understand Eve and her wish to reach as many as possible with the movie and not be seen as niche. But I‘m glad she didn‘t and found people to make the movie that will be true to her books. 2y

BooksNBowls I think since POC don‘t get as many opportunities, people expect them to just be grateful for what they get and many may actually feel like that themselves and compromise to achieve their “dream” still. Like maybe they feel it‘s better than failing completely. Also once Hollywood deems you “difficult to work for” it‘s really hard to recover from that, especially POC. I‘m glad she touched on this controversial topic. 2y

Chelsea.Poole So difficult, and this book does a great job of showing this issue. Of course authors want their work portrayed on screen in the way they originally imagine it but also want to make money and have a hit. It‘s so wrong that the business churns out whitewashed films. But like others have mentioned above, some recent hits have shown that there‘s hope for change. 2y

Cinfhen Again, agreed @BooksNBowls @Chelsea.Poole @AnneCecilie @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @vlwelser @DebinHawaii another example of how this author added depth to the story. It‘s an unfortunate occurrence that up until recently wasn‘t being addressed. Eva was in a tough spot. 2y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen After reading all the comments I realize too there‘s much more depth to the story than I gave it credit for. 2y

vlwelser @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen She covers a lot of ground for a book that's labelled as "romance". I like that she packed all of this stuff into a normal sized book. 2y

vlwelser And thank you 2 for hosting and picking this book that I maybe wouldn't have read otherwise. 2y

Cinfhen Thanks so much for joining us @vlwelser we enjoyed hearing your thoughts and ideas 💕 2y

Vansa @vlwelser you know,that's quite unfair to romance novels,a lot of them have depth,and cover issues.Beverly Jenkins,Jasmine Guillory,or Courtney Milan as well-one of her heroines has a mother who's a political refugee because of her belief in Falun Gong.ive even read Harlequin category romances where the protagonist was an amputee who's leading her life perfectly well.I would actually say that this book is a lot shallower than most romance novels. 2y

Cinfhen I don‘t think @vlwelser was disparaging “romance” novels @Vansa unfortunately romance novels seem to get an unfair rap and I think a lot of us readers were expecting a “lite” read and this book tackled some heavier topics. I‘m glad to hear that romance novels are tackling more serious topics than the old school dime store paperbacks. 2y

BarbaraBB @Vansa I think @Cinfhen is right. We‘ve been talking a lot about the reputation of “romance” without differentiating between the genre. We learned much more about the genre than we thought on forehand. That‘s what @vlwelser is acknowledging. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I understand how Eva could feel beaten into submission to whitewash her characters but I'm so happy she stayed true to herself and her product. Some fandoms are pissed when an actor doesn't have the exact build or eye color of a book character and they really thought that with 14 books in the series, fans weren't going to lose their shit over the whitewashing?! Like @BooksNBowls said, they wanted to toss her a crumb & be happy about it. 2y

31 likes31 comments

BarbaraBB

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

Question 2 of 5 #Summerheat #buddyread

Cinfhen

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @rubyslippersreads @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts @I.be.Stef @Vansa @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole 2y

BarbaraBB @thebookhippie @leahbergen @vlwelser @mitch @teresereading @librarybelle @jenniferw88 @trishb @hooked_on_books @peaknit @KarenUK @kgordon88 2y

See All 37 Comments

TheLudicReader This where the book starts to get problematic for me, actually. 😬 2y

BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader didn‘t you like that aspect of the book? I did love Eva‘s relation with Audre for sure. 2y

TheLudicReader @BarbaraBB I liked her relationship with her daughter (although I didn‘t believe it). Her relationship with her own mother just wasn‘t drawn well enough for me. We get one incident followed by estrangement and then a phone call seems to sort everything out. Lizette felt like a plot point to me - a way to damage Eva so she‘d latch on to Shane. 2y

BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader I agree, the estrangement wasn‘t drawn well, but I did think the effect it had on Eva worked very well. 2y

TheLudicReader @BarbaraBB I think I am going to be this discussion‘s token negative Nelly. 😬 2y

BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader That‘s perfectly okay and will definitely add to the discussion 🤍 2y

TheBookHippie I took this as we saw a little to the whole, which is young people or damaged relationships -especially mothers/daughters. I was focused more of the affects. Which I think was told well and worked in the story. 2y

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie Exactly. That‘s what I was trying to say above too. 2y

peaKnit The relationships could have been more developed, I felt Eva‘s relationship with her mom was sad and absent but her 180 change with Audre felt like too much - too equal? I think motherhood requires more boundaries that they had, that said, Eva had a poor mentor. 2y

BarbaraBB @peaknit Eva constantly wanted to impress Audre as being cool. Audre on the other hand was very mature for her age (12!!). Their relationship felt a bit too equal to me too but I still enjoyed the scenes about the both of them the most! 2y

peaKnit @BarbaraBB I have two daughters, so I may be jaded😂 I think kids really need a leader and to also be allowed to make their own way, it‘s a tough balance. I thought Audre‘s lines were very witty and clever, I also enjoyed their banter. I enjoyed how Audre not only accepted Shane but gave him a green light with her mom. (edited) 2y

Cinfhen I thought Audre was great, but definitely a bit too over the top! Are they really THAT CLEVER @peaknit ??! 2y

TrishB I think if you have a difficult relationship with your own mother it totally affects how you then parent your own kids- hence, here, the need to be friends and have the best relationship ever. I don‘t think Eva/Audre was a bad relationship, certainly much better than Eva‘s and her mother. You need boundaries but I think when she needed to be a mum she was 🤷‍♀️ 2y

Cinfhen I also felt like Eva wanted to be more friend than parent but that‘s because she had a terrible relationship with her mother, who in turn had a terrible relationship with her mother, who in turn had a terrible relationship with her mother- so obviously she was trying very hard to break that cycle 2y

DGRachel I loved the relationship between Audre and Eva and yes, I think especially when the parent has a chronic illness, the child can be very precocious and seem almost too adult. Without a good role model, Eva did the best she could. I honestly preferred that we got so little of on-page dynamics between Eva and Lisette. I knew enough to dislike her and know I didn‘t want to be exposed to her. 2y

jenniferw88 I agree with @DGRachel , as soon as I was introduced to Lisette I didn't like her. I loved the relationship between Eva and Audre, and I think Audre is probably this mature at a young age because she's had to take care of Eva when her pain's been really bad. 2y

Megabooks I agree that Eva was almost too much a friend to Audre, but Audre was my favorite character in the book. I liked that Eva tried even harder to give Audre positive experiences because of the trauma she experienced. 2y

DebinHawaii Yes, to me Lissette was less drawn & I was okay with that. I didn‘t want to spend time with her. I really liked Eva & Audre together. It did seem that Audre was advanced for her age but I do think Eva‘s invisible disability impacted that. I think it‘s also who you are exposed to. I feel like I was more adult at 12/13 than many of my peers because I had older siblings that I hung out with & was exposed to them & their friends. 2y

Megabooks And as the child of a disabled mother, you do grow up faster. Even though my mom tried to make sure I had as normal a childhood as possible, there are things I had to be concerned about that other kids didn‘t. 2y

DebinHawaii Was Eva the best parent? Not always, but I appreciated how she tried to break the cycle of distant mothers with Audre. 2y

Cinfhen Yes, so true @TrishB @DebinHawaii and I never really thought about that @jenniferw88 2y

vlwelser I loved the Eva + Audre story. Audre was just fun and a little bit extra. Eva and her mother and the women further back was more complicated. There is a lot of depth to this book that I didn't expect. And I probably enjoyed it more because of that. 2y

Cinfhen I agree @vlwelser this book did have some heft & depth and it did elevate the story for me as well. 2y

BookwormAHN @DGRachel @Megabooks I agree. I think Audre seeming too mature is because of Eva's illness. I think she had to care of herself enough times to where she became a mini adult. But Eva's relationship with her mother I thought was weird. It did feel like an incomplete storyline. 2y

AnneCecilie I really didn‘t like Eve‘s mother and the way Lisette was a mother. And I think the way Eve was ignored by her mother effected how she herself was a mother. I loved Eve and Audrey‘s relationship. 2y

BooksNBowls @BarbaraBB yeah I definitely didn‘t read Audre as a 12 year old more like 15/16 2y

BooksNBowls I thought it was sad to see the generational trauma and how like a domino effect one mother‘s actions directly dicatated her daughter‘s mothering. It was definitely interesting, added some depth, and I also kinda wanted to read the circus story myself 2y

Chelsea.Poole I agree with others who said Audre seems over the top in some ways…wise beyond her years in a way that felt contrived. Though I really liked their relationship wanted to believe that it‘s possible…? 😆 2y

Chelsea.Poole I 💯 know families who break the cycle of dysfunction in my life. And in the book Eva certainly seemed to go in the opposite direction of her mother. She rarely dated, had little to do with men, and focused much of her attention on her daughter which is the opposite of her mother‘s selfish ways. 2y

BarbaraBB @Megabooks @DGRachel @DebinHawaii @jenniferw88 @TrishB I didn‘t think of it that way and it makes perfect sense. It also changes my perspective on what Eva‘s disease added to the story. They felt separated for me from the storyline but now I realize they build het relationship with Audre. Wow. 2y

Vansa @TheLudicReader again,completely agree.Eva's mother was just there to add...misery porn to the story!Piled on heaps upon heaps of misery,with ultimately a terribly simple resolution.Sorrow and bliss by Meg Mason did this too. 2y

TheLudicReader @Vansa haha. Misery porn. Love it. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick While enjoyed the Eva/Audre relationship well enough, it felt like Audre was a little too wise to be believable. Given her mom's disability & being in Brooklyn, I try to tell myself that's different than my experience in a NJ suburb. Then again, so many teens I've met are downright awkward. Like others, I found Lizette unlikeable but that feeds the story. I did have a problem with just how fictionalized Eva was in her stories of mom & grandma. ⬇ 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I don't think Eva was really doing a service by lying so hard to Audre about Lizette. They also felt rather Gilmore-y, like Eva over-corrected her mom's bad parenting by being a hip, quippy sort of mom. 2y

27 likes37 comments

BarbaraBB

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

There we go, here is the first question out of 5 in total. Cindy and I hope you did enjoy this atypical buddyread book and will share your thoughts below! #Summerheat

Cinfhen

BarbaraBB @thebookhippie @leahbergen @vlwelser @mitch @teresereading @librarybelle @jenniferw88 @trishb @hooked_on_books @peaknit @KarenUK @kgordon88 2y

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @rubyslippersreads @TheKidUpstairs @Cathythoughts @I.be.Stef @Vansa @squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole 2y

See All 54 Comments

TheLudicReader I used to read a lot of romance and certainly cut my romantic teeth on my mom‘s bodice rippers. I still enjoy a certain type of romance. I flew through the first 100 pages of this book, maybe not because the writing was, like, beautiful or anything, but it was certainly readable. I think romance can be both art and entertainment. 2y

BarbaraBB I don‘t often read romance and I‘m not sure this book qualifies as such. More than romance I think it was about the relationship between Eva and Shane. Anyhow, I enjoyed it a lot and as often is the case when I enjoy an book and fly through it, it‘s not called Literature. Fine by me. I love to read for pure entertainment too! 2y

TrishB I thought the writing was good/readable. I‘ve never enjoyed romance books but they can be art as much as any other genre I think. 2y

BarbaraBB @TrishB I totally agree! The art is in the writing, not in the genre! 2y

TheBookHippie This was a reread for me. I enjoyed it both times, this is so not my normal genre, however I saw so many kids/teens/young adults I‘ve mentored in the story, in the conversations and even in the descriptions of what sex is to them -that made the read compelling for me. It makes a good discussion book if you break it down in small sections which I may do now with a young adult group to get conversation going. I think it‘s well written. 2y

Cinfhen Agreed @TheLudicReader @BarbaraBB @TrishB I think romance books are often lumped into the category of “harlequin romance” which have a certain connotation, which is unfair. Good writing is good writing and any book that can entertain or make you feel certain emotions is an “art” form. While I don‘t much romance, I found this book VERY READABLE (edited) 2y

Cinfhen I do think @TheBookHippie is correct, characters in this novel felt authentic 2y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Yes I think so too, characters are really coming to life which was the main reason I liked the book as much as I did. I love that you may use it in talking with young adults @TheBookHippie 2y

TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB anything to open up lines of communication easier is a win in my book. (Pun intended!) 2y

peaKnit I don‘t read the small paperback romances from the grocery store of my childhood but I like romance injected into some of the things I read. The older I get, the more I enjoy it, take that for what it is worth lol. I think some genres require less brainpower and welcome that as a “palette cleanser” after an epic. 2y

BarbaraBB @peaknit I love “palette cleansers” and I know I need them sometimes. My go to cleansers are thrillers but this book makes me think I‘d try romance once in a while too! 2y

DGRachel I don‘t read a lot of contemporary romance, but I do read a lot of historicals. I love them because they are formulaic. When I pick a romance novel, I know there is going to be a HEA/HFN and sometimes that‘s exactly what I want. I didn‘t think the prose was spectacular, but as other have said, it was readable and I loved the characters Williams‘ developed. As for why romance gets a bad rap - someone grab my soapbox! (edited) 2y

DGRachel If you look beyond the surface, romance is so often catagorized as entertainment not art and specifically trashy entertainment is because it is predominantly written by women and for a female audience. The genre has expanded immensely over the last quarter century, but it has historically been consumed by women and in a patriarchal society, that makes it unworthy of respect. 2y

DebinHawaii Although not a go-to genre for me, I do read romance & contemporary romance & enjoyed this book which was grittier than many & yes, “readable.” I grew up with my aunt‘s Harlequin romances & devoured them in my teens & I think it‘s the “formula” as @DGRachel said that gives the genre less respect. I was more interested/vested in the present day world than the flashbacks & the friendships & family relationships more than the romance in this one. (edited) 2y

DebinHawaii @DGRachel Read this after my first post & you have said it really well! 2y

Megabooks @DGRachel 💯💯 agree with what you‘ve written about women writing for women. That said, this was just fine for me. There are some literary romances I love (tagging one), but it‘s just not a genre I relate to easily as an aromantic person. 🤷🏻‍♀️ that said, it‘s always good to branch out and try something different, imo.

Monster in the Middle

jenniferw88 I hardly ever read romance, and if I do I prefer LGBTQ stuff. I did think it was written well though as I was nearly crying at the end, which is VERY RARE for me. 2y

vlwelser I read all of the things. But this doesn't tend to be my genre of choice. Except.... I find I really enjoy reading this genre in French (as a non native speaker). The plots are fairly linear, they're entertaining, and I don't have to look up a ton of vocab in order to follow the story. 2y

Cinfhen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @DGRachel 2y

Chelsea.Poole I don‘t read many romances. But I have enjoyed many that I‘ve been open to trying in the last couple of years. I haven‘t posted my review yet, but I need to cause this one was 🔥 for me! Loved the characters; they jumped right off the page for me. A great read I couldn‘t put down! 2y

DGRachel Speaking of genre, I‘m curious about what everyone‘s expectations were of this book and if that influenced how you felt about it. For instance, when this was first selected, I thought it was contemporary fiction not romance and I was not looking forward to it, as I find that genre tends to be more angsty and tends to end in misery. Once I realized it was contemporary romance ⬇️ 2y

DGRachel I actually was mad at the last chapter before the epilogue and said to my mom “I‘m going to throw this book across the room if the author doesn‘t fix this in the epilogue” 😂😂 It‘s not romance if it doesn‘t have the HEA/HFN. It‘s an implied contract between author and reader. (edited) 2y

Bookwormjillk I almost felt like the romance was secondary in this one. The mental health and single motherhood storylines were really interesting to me, and made this book deeper than I expected. @TheBookHippie love that you use this in group discussions. 2y

AnneCecilie I read a lot of Harlequin romance in my late teens/ early twenties. I don‘t read much romance these days, but I love watching romance movies. There‘s something about reading something where you know there will be a happy ending. 2y

TheBookHippie @DGRachel I‘m so happy it wasn‘t la la happier ever after because - sorry - that‘s how I categorize romance, which personally I loathe. 😬😬😬 I read this as an ARC BECAUSE it was supposed to have trauma , so this is a reread. Had it been picked as romance and I didn‘t know anything else I may not have read it. 2y

TheBookHippie @Bookwormjillk I agree romance was secondary however that is more realistic to me. ♥️😬 2y

DGRachel @TheBookHippie We all have different things we look for when reading. It‘s one of the things I love about Litsy. Contemporary/Literary fiction that focuses on trauma is not something I enjoy, which is why I initially dreaded reading this. 😂 2y

Cinfhen I had seen a review that categorized this book as “contemporary urban romance” @DGRachel and another review where it was labeled “steamy” so I admit, my expectations were somewhere around “smutty” and that‘s bad on me. This book had some strong language but I liked it, and I was hoping for more steam!! I think @Bookwormjillk and others have made a good point….this book had some real depth and that was more interesting for me 2y

DGRachel @AnneCecilie I completely agree. Sometimes that guarantee is what I need/want from a book. 2y

Cinfhen I do enjoy a happily ever after ending sometimes too @AnneCecilie 2y

TheBookHippie @DGRachel ha. Neither is truly for me -I read classical literature, poetry and non fiction. It‘s all a stretch for me with this book I just knew I could use it to mentor. It‘s why I love Litsy too! 2y

DGRachel @Cinfhen Absolutely! I loved the depth this had, the discussions of serious issues, and I loved the HEA. I think, though, this is where I take issue with some Romance-haters. There‘s depth in a lot of them, and I don‘t think they are given the same consideration because they‘re automatically labeled “smut” or “trash” or “guilty pleasures”. 2y

BookwormAHN I don't usually read romance especially not contemporary ones but I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't predictable or cheesey like I was scared it would be. And that was probably because the romance seemed second. 2y

BooksNBowls Yes I liked the book. I love romance, and I believe all books are art and entertainment. 2y

CarolynM I am an unashamed romance reader. I think @DGRachel makes some very good points. Most romances are less demanding of my mental energy than “literary fiction” & less likely to confront me with real world dilemmas than “contemporary fiction” so they make ideal bedtime reading. There is a lot of variability in the writing quality. I found this one very readable but not really convincing meaning I wasn‘t moved by the trauma or the undying love. 2y

Cinfhen I don‘t read romance @CarolynM and I admit I have some unfair preconceived notions about romance, so this book surprised me in a lot of ways!! However, like you I wasn‘t ever wowed. I wanted MORE HEAT, MORE SIZZLE. 2y

CarolynM @Cinfhen There was very little build up of sexual tension and the sex scenes themselves were quite perfunctory. For contrast try this one

The Year We Fell Down

Cinfhen Thanks for the recommendation @CarolynM xxx 2y

BarbaraBB @CarolynM I stacked that book, I am really curious now and I know you‘re the one who could recommend best. I also stacked yours @Megabooks I know how much you enjoyed that one. @DGRachel you put it all so well in perspective (excuse my English, not sure if this is correct), it makes a lot of sense. 2y

BarbaraBB @AnneCecilie @DGRachel I literally ache for a happy ending sometimes. I enjoy contemporary fiction and literary fiction a lot but at times it get too much 2y

CarolynM @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen The book I suggested is by no means literary, but I think it‘s as readable as 7 Days but does more to build the relationship between the couple, create sexual tension and then deliver on it with sex scenes that are about the characters as people. Be warned though, it‘s “New Adult” (ie college age) so us old people have to make some allowances 😆 If you prefer a proper grown up couple this is an old favourite

Bitter Sweet

CarolynM @Megabooks Your recommendation sounds good, I‘ve added it to my TBR🙂 2y

BarbaraBB @CarolynM Too late 😉 I already ordered it! And I am looking forward to it. I have a holiday coming up and will take it with me then! 2y

CarolynM @BarbaraBB Hope you will see what I mean, even if it‘s not your cup of tea🙂 2y

Vansa (1/n)I adore romance novels,started off with Georgette Heyer when I was 12,went on to Nora Roberts,Beverly Jenkins,all the usual suspects.So I really took exception to all the scorn Eva piles on to her readers-she should be happy people read her books and engage so much with the characters,instead of belittling them.She complains about having to market her books-literally all authors engage constantly on social media,nobody's immune 2y

Vansa (2/n)Tom Holland is an historian and tweets all the time,posts deals when his books are on sale,retweets praise,Margaret Atwood responds to so many tweets,and if she can,not sure why Eva should whine about it so much.I found this book badly written-my dad loves to try out "millennial speak",and honestly this book felt like that.Formal language throughout,then she throws in a phrase like"thotting my way through West Village", 2y

Vansa (3/n)Which is just unintentionally comedic.Also it really needs editing-theres practically an entire chapter on why her daughter's school principal is corrupt-we all know what school principals are like,i don't need literally page after page about a minor character!Also,Williams needs to make up her mind-firsy Eva complains that Black people are always portrayed as tragic characters in fiction for it to do well,then complains that not enough 2y

Vansa (4/n) angsty Black girls are written-didnt she just complain about the opposite problem?A writer wants to talk about racism,and Eva decides to toss around words like misogynoir without pausing to think if it's actually applicable.Why shouldn't a Black writer talk about racism?Or it's applicable only if the protagonists talk about it😂And the piling on of misery.It felt gratuitous after a while,and not even addressed well. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book is that numerous reviews mentioned this was “black joy“, not trauma, and I feel lied to. It was easy to read, like contemporary romances are, but the flashbacks, struggles, and hurt were much more prevalent than the romance. This ended up being contemporary fiction, with a couple of sex scenes thrown in. Since many can be formulaic, I tend to only read one romance a month, if that. ⬇ 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I enjoy them because they don't require lots of brain power, but it doesn't make them any less entertaining. I don't always want to take notes on a book to figure out who-dun-it or wax philosophic about the afterlife. Sometimes, I just like to hear about a couple's first kisses and flirty banter. As mentioned above, I think men typically write it off because the heroes are idealized & they can't be bothered to live up to those expectations. ⬇ 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Then there is the camp of ladies who just don't need to know 32 euphemisms for male and female genitalia nor for what they're doing with them - and that's OK! I am always just happy that people are reading regardless of what it is. The writing here wasn't bad, just overall was less joyous than I hoped for. 2y

32 likes54 comments

CarolynM

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

so-so

I like a #romantsy that shows me the developing connection between the lovers - this one told me it happened virtually on sight - I‘m sorry, but I just didn‘t believe it & the sex scenes lacked an emotional depth that might have convinced me. Nor did I believe the obligatory break up at 80% & concluding reunion. I liked the characters & the writing/publishing milieu. I thought the writing overall was pretty good for the genre.
#SummerHeat

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB I had been waiting for your review because you read romance more often. It‘s interesting that you enjoyed it less than most of us. I see your point though, that there was little development in the story. The dialogues made up for that I guess. 2y

CarolynM @BarbaraBB The way I felt about this book made me ask myself why some romances convince me more than others & I don‘t know the whole answer but it is at least partly a growing intimacy (& I don‘t mean physical intimacy) between the couple as they get to know each other through conversation & observation. I didn‘t get that here. And a good sex scene shows you something about the characters &/or the relationship - it‘s not just “we‘ve gotta bang”. 2y

BarbaraBB I always love when a growing intimacy is described well and agree that‘s missing here. The sex scenes didn‘t do anything for me either. But I think I liked the book better because I had no expectations and I really liked their relationship (even though it didn‘t grow, which would have been better!) 2y

59 likes3 comments

peaKnit

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

And a day late with my #summerheat photos, I wanted to dig out some oldies but instead, what I could find on my phone, oceans on both coasts, a Foo concert last summer, our longest bike ride, hammocking and my favorite photo of my youngest in the sprinkler. I love summer and heat! ❤️🔥

JenReadsAlot Great pictures! 2y

DebinHawaii Love that sprinkler pic—perfect summer vibe! ☀️💛 2y

30 likes2 comments

MaggieCarr

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

Holding secrets while trying to be vulnerable is classic relationship dysfunction at its core. Both main characters are struggling with a lot and despite growing a lot in and out of their relationship, gut instincts assume betrayal with rippling effects. I enjoyed the Eva and the relation she has with her daughter and the eventual sharing of her hidden disability of severe head aches and pain management to a wider circle.

36 likes1 stack add

DebinHawaii

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

pick

#BigJuneReadathon #JoysofJuneReadathon

I enjoyed this gritty contemporary romance & quick read. Not a ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ read for me. I found the present day for Genevieve & Shane more interesting than their teen years flashbacks due to drug use & abuse🤷🏻‍♀️but I‘d say it was a solid ☀️☀️☀️☀️ I most liked the sharp, witty & wise beyond her years Audre & wanted more of both her & Cece. Thanks to our hosts for #SummerHeat ☀️as I don‘t think I‘d have ⬇️

Cinfhen, Clwojick, Andrew65, BarbaraBB

DebinHawaii …picked it up if it weren‘t for the #buddyread & weekend party. Looking forward to tomorrow‘s discussion! 🤗 2y

Cinfhen I also loved CeCe & Audre !! I wasn‘t so keen on the romance but I enjoyed the witty dialogue and snappy banter between the characters. 2y

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y

Clwojick Way to go! 2y

BarbaraBB I agree on the present days versus the past romance. Plus I also loved Audre ❤️ 2y

66 likes1 stack add5 comments

DebinHawaii

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

For our #SummerHeat weekend, here‘s my SummerHearSevenDays playlist. I went with mostly songs and/or artists mentioned in the book, plus a few more songs that capture the New York, hot summer, rocky road to romance vibe for me (& ending with Bruno Mars because it just isn‘t a playlist if there‘s no Bruno).😉 Is this my typical summer song list? Not really, but I had fun making & listening to it. Link is below.🎧

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

DebinHawaii https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2PoK825xTNh4BIuY07esBe?si=C3ue9GSqScOaVW2iBfn_... 2y

squirrelbrain Love these - especially Empire State of Mind! 2y

BarbaraBB Great list. And you‘re right, no playlist without Bruno (or The Weeknd)😉 2y

See All 8 Comments

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great choices 🎼 2y

Cinfhen Sizzling hot - I love it 🥰 2y

JenReadsAlot So after a day of drinking with friends this was the perfect list of music! 😂 2y

DebinHawaii @JenReadsAlot Hah! I‘m glad! 🤣🤣🤣 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I don't normally listen to new R&B, but this is a pretty darn good list! Thank you! 2y

56 likes8 comments

TheBookHippie

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

My summer playlist : https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/summertime/pl.u-ZmblzEjFVX2zb5

#summerheat apple list

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

kspenmoll Great song! 2y

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll this playlist is fun! 2y

kspenmoll @TheBookHippie Just sent a request to you for playlist 2y

See All 10 Comments

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I set it to everyone now see if you can get it! #imoldandtheteenagerisasleep (edited) 2y

DebinHawaii Very fun list! I 💜 Billy Idol & Bananarama !! 2y

CoffeeAndABook Thank you 😊 just downloaded the list 🎶☀️ 2y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii ♥️🎶🎼🎵🎸🎤🎹 2y

TheBookHippie @CoffeeAndABook ♥️🎵🎸🎼🎹🎶🎉 2y

MatchlessMarie Love What Am I To You by Norah Jones. The entire Feels Like Home album is a Summer playlist to me. 2y

TheBookHippie @MatchlessMarie I agree! ♥️ 2y

56 likes10 comments

TheBookHippie

Seven Days In June | Tia Williams

I have an apple playlist but for Spotify we use this often in the summer https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ZZzcQbesHfQ1yiKcFdiBQ

#summerheat

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

kspenmoll Thanks for the music!!!!! 2y

Cinfhen Can‘t wait to hear how @TheBookHippie likes to unwind 😜🎶🎉 2y

TheBookHippie @Cinfhen 🤣 my apple playlist is what we play outside at night but this one is an accurate vibe too. 2y

See All 16 Comments

BarbaraBB Must listen, this seems such a cool list. And is Tim O‘Brien the author Tim O‘Brien?? 2y

TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB no, but I enjoy both 🙂 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_O%27Brien_(musician) 2y

zezeki I see Ben Howard on that list, love him and I love that album so very much! 😄 2y

TheBookHippie @zezeki I love him! 2y

TheBookHippie @zezeki I saw him in 2018 -highly recommend! 2y

BarbaraBB Thanks for clearing that up. And like @zezeki I am pleasantly surprised to rediscover Ben Howard! 2y

TheBookHippie @BarbaraBB The Staves I still am holding Covid tickets for when they come back stateside 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♀️Ben Howard is never not played here. ♥️ 2y

TheBookHippie @zezeki @BarbaraBB highly recommend the documentary https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3722248/mediaviewer/rm1721498368/?ref_=tt_ov_i 2y

Deblovestoread I just discovered Ben Howard a couple days ago with Promise. Looking forward to exploring more. 2y

BarbaraBB Thanks 🙏 2y

TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 all his music is good! Enjoy! 2y

DebinHawaii Nice! Ben Howard is new to me but I like what I hear! ☀️ 2y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii He reminds me of an old hippie from my childhood. 2y

57 likes1 stack add16 comments

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