Seven Days in June

I'm having a tough time rating this book. And here's why.

1. Tia Williams CAN WRITE. When she's really in the groove, in one sentence, she is hilarious, keenly observant, and pulling at your heartstrings. The first two pages of the book are worth checking out this book (for adults only!). The next few chapters did a great job of setting up the characters and hinting at the story. Despite what I'm going to lay out in this review, I will most certainly try a few of her other books.

2. Sometimes, additional points-of-view don't add to the story. There are two character featured in single chapters and I think both could have been removed without affecting the story. No stars deducted.

3. Second-chance romances are probably my favorite type of romance (here's looking at you, “Persuasion”). There's so much that can be done with character growth and blending different settings/times/characters. I wouldn't say that “Seven Days in June” qualifies. A week-long bender (and the only time Eva and Shane spend together the first time around) leading to the near-death of Eva doesn't qualify in my mind. Both of them already had serious self-harming behavior, addictions, and lack of family support (that's putting it mildly for Shane), so things in common? Yeah, but do they really establish a relationship? My vote is no. Also, the reason Eva “hated” Shane for leaving didn't make any sense. She knew that they were squatting in a giant house in a room laden with drugs, never mind both of them being super high and her ODing at the end of the week. Did she really think he should have stuck around given his personal situation as a runaway from the orphan's home?

4. Both Shane and Eva use writing, heading in totally different directions, as a way to work out all the feelings they have about themselves and the other person.

5. The current-day romance is underwhelming. Is the chemistry great and sex hot? Yes, but neither character is really open to or easy for a relationship. They're still working on keeping addiction at bay and they turn to co-dependency?

6. The ending was too sappy, but I also get this is what the reading public wants. The almost-ending, where Ewa recognizes she's not ready to start a serious relationship with Shane and follows her family's story, was GREAT. It is a happy ending to choose yourself and a creative idea that had been lurking for months. If Shane was THE GUY, he'd be there for her down the road.

7. It was really brave of the author to let Eva show us what living with ultra chronic migraines is like. Until recently, this is something Tia Williams kept under wraps. I cannot think of another book I've read that went into what life with such a debilitating condition is like.

8. Some other reviews docked this book for including lots of brand references. However, I think they made sense. Shane's running accoutrements were a piece of his sober armor. And Eva's fancier clothes were her armor at public events to both hide her disability and give her the gumption to speak in public. The only reference that hit me wrong was “Windex eyes.“