A family can’t escape their secrets when they’re forced to spend a week in quarantine in this “sharply funny” (People) novel—an Indie Next and #1 Library Reads Pick!It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew’s elder daughter—who is usually off saving the world—will be joining them at Weyfield Hall. But Olivia, a doctor, is … But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. She’s just returned from treating an epidemic abroad and has been told she must stay in quarantine for a week…and so too should her family.
For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity, and forced into each other’s orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of first-world problems.
As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.
In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who’s about to arrive….
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I give high marks to any book that has a premise that I’ve never seen before, and this one certainly fits the bill. The cast of characters were very distinct, the situation unique, and the story compelling. For me, it ended on an abrupt note and I would personally have wanted to see the ending be different. But, don’t let that stop you. It’s just personal opinion, and I think that almost anyone who picks this up will be quite happy that they did!
Witty and deeply heartfelt, Seven Days of Us is an insightful, character-driven look at the real failures, fumbles, and false starts that define family–and why understanding the people closest to us might be the hardest thing in the world.
Wonderfully written. This story is madingly frustrating because of the crazy decision making of the Characters. Everyone appears to be what I call terminally self-centered living only in their own bubble without care or concern for the others but then life actually happens and they rise to the occasion. I caught myself thinking about this book long after the final page.
The Birch family are all going to be under the same roof for Christmas after years apart. Due to their daughter Olivia returning from work in a medical crisis they are to quarantine for a week. Throughout there week together, there are many antics and each has secrets which if told would change the course of the each member’s. life. Go for a fast paced ride as Francesca Hornak takes you through each family member’s personal thoughts and point of view. This book reminded me that even though we are family, we are still under taking our own paths and how one choice can always affect another.
Perfect for reading during lockdown as the family is in quarantine. Nice resolution of family issues
Interesting. Once you are familiar with all of the characters and the two plots, you are eager to discover the connection. Enjoyed the twists and turns to the end.
Loved the book–by some strange coincidence I started reading it during the COVID19 pandemic quarantine so it was really on point. Enjoyed the story and the characters. Hated the ending but still think it was really well written and a great story.
I really enjoyed this “Christmas” book. That is the setting but it is so different and entertaining.
I liked it very much.
Ending was a bit abrupt but ok
I thought the book was ok; characters were a bit over the top and plot was unbelievable to me. Read this during Covid 19 so perhaps I would have liked it in normal time.
Very unique and so appropriate right now.
Loved all the characters! Each had their own voice and charm.
Could almost insert Corona-19 virus.
One of the best I have read recently
Why This Book
I was surfing NetGalley when this one appeared on my screen. Given it’s a family drama, one of my favorite sub-genres, I had to read it. I’m on a kick to finish reading all my NetGalley books by 12/31 before I can request anything else, so this moved to the top of the list. I added it as a book on my ‘Book Bucket List’ on my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com/my-very-…, where my followers choose one book for me to read each month. This was the winner for December, so I moved it up the queue.
Plot, Characters & Setting
The Birch family, parents Emma and Andrew, have two daughters, Olivia and Phoebe, in a small lovely English town. Olivia is visiting for the first time in a very long time, taking a week’s vacation from her work in Africa. Due to working with a particular type of disease, she and her family must live in quarantine for 1 week to ensure the disease doesn’t spread. Each family member has their own secret, which are all starting to come undone during this week long exercise in re-connection. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s a very warm-story about how everyone relates with each other, or fails to connect, over the course of this 7-day period. A few visitors stop by the house, not realizing they must stay once they’ve been exposed, which makes the drama level heightened.
Approach & Style
I read the Kindle version on my iPad of this 350 page book over the course of a week. It’s a contemporary fiction family drama novel told from the perspective of each of the major characters in the main family. The novel is in third person POV with relatively short chapters.
Strengths & Concerns
Hornak excels at creating distinct family members with believable characteristics and stories. I liked them all for different reasons, but even better as a family unit. The English setting is quite charming and helps shine a light on the type of ‘off-balance’ relationships going on in the Birch family. The story doesn’t get nicely wrapped up in a bow at the end, which is always a good thing — it’s nice to leave a bit of drama still circulating around the edges. The writing is crisp and clean. I find myself thinking about the family days after I’ve finished reading it.
While I enjoyed the construct of the seven day period, it felt a bit rushed as there is a bit of history to get caught up on with each character. It’s minor, and there’s really no other way around it (I’ve written a novel in a similar structure, so I totally get it!). I would have liked some additional content in the Epilogue to know where the characters went eventually; the current version was way too short. Both are minor and nothing to even distract or worry. I always try to leave a small suggestion.
Author, Other Similar Books, & Final Thoughts
I believe this is her debut, and it’s outstanding under that context. I truly look forward to reading more from her. Thank you to NetGalley for granting me the ability to read this book, as well as the publisher and author.
A family is holed up in their country house for seven days over Christmas. Each family member is hiding a secret that comes tumbling out with the arrival of an unexpected guest. Not a murder mystery despite the premise, but a decent literary/contemporary story. Well plotted. Nice use of coincidence. Well drawn characters.
Great book about family dynamics in the midst of forced fellowship.
ven Days of Us” by Francesca Hornak Berkley October 2018
Francesca Hornak, Author of “Seven Days of Us” has written an intense, intriguing, captivating, riveting, unique, and emotional novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. There are touches for Romance and Suspense as well. The author describes her dysfunctional characters as complex and complicated.
Can you imagine being quarantined, and FORCED to live with your family for seven days in the same residence without some problems occurring.? It is Christmas, and the Birch family is anything but traditional. Each individual character has their deep secrets and unique problems. Andrew Birch, the father. finds out that he has a son he never knew about that wants to visit. Emma, his wife has some devastating secrets that will affect the family. Phoebe, the fun-loving, absorbed younger daughter is planning a wedding with a man that she has been with six years.
Olivia Birch is one of the sisters , and a physician that has been working with people dying from a horrible virus. In order to be able to visit with her family, Olivia and the rest of the family has to be quarantined and locked up together for seven days. Olivia is not at all used to living in a modern world, and re-adjusting is a big task. What makes this worse, is Olivia’s co-worker and unknown to everyone, boyfriend, has now come down with this deadly disease.
Can anything else go wrong? If anyone enters the Birch home they have to be quarantined as well. The Wi-Fi is intermittent, and the family is forced to interact and deal with one another.
I appreciate that the author discusses many contemporary issues such as epidemics, homosexuality, exploring life choices and growth, and the devastating effects of omission and secrets. The author also mentions the importance of family, emotional support, love and hope. I recommend this novel for those readers that enjoy an intriguing and emotional read.
O M G
I actually read the last page, closed the book, flipped it over and began reading again. I absolutely loved it. Hurray for Francesca Hornak. Thank you Good reads, and others involved, that I won this book. You give myself and others a chance to read books that we (I) may otherwise never would of experienced. I love these giveaways. More please and I recommend you pre-order now.