Seven Days in June

Seven Days in June is a second chance romance story that touches several difficult topics (e.g alcoholism, chronic pain, drug abuse, racism, difficult childhood)

“I remember that I'm not lonely. I'm alone. When I'm comatose from writing and mothering, when I'm hurting too badly to cook, talk, or smile, I curl up with ‘alone' like a security blanket...Alone never gets disappointed by me.”

The book follows the story of Eva and Shane, who met 15 years ago at a difficult time in their lives, and meet again at litherary panel.
Both characters are damaged and broken and I found them exceptionally well written.

Pros:
- I liked all book characters
- I enjoyed the literary panel discussion, especially when it is mentioned that the publishing industry has a hard time processing Black characters unless they are suffering, as if other human feelings are denied to them. This feels very true and I think it can also be applied to movies.
- I enjoyed the love story and was completelly invested in the outcome.

“We're expected to write about trauma, opression, or slavery, because those are easily marketable Black tropes. Publishers struggle to see us having the same banal, funny, whimsical experiences that every human has”

Cons:
- The book includes several pop references with which I am not familiar with.
- I found the descriptions of clothing to be excessive, adding no value to the story.
- Personally, I dislike books that make characters suffer too much and unnecessarily. I would have preferred that, instead of the final conflict (which seemed forced and unlikely in this day and age), the story of Eva's family was explored in greater detail and with Shane by her side.

Litereary value: 3 stars
Entertainment value: 5 stars