I knew when I signed up to the tour that this book would be emotional but I was completely unprepared for how it would make me feel. Anyone that has ever lost somebody close to them will find this book incredibly moving and heart wrenching. Victoria, Callum, Freya and Mischa are complete strangers that all have one thing in common; each of them has recently suffered a loss and are struggling to come to terms with it for their own unique reasons.

I felt very connected to each of the characters and almost felt as if I was on their journey with them as they traversed the many stages of grief. Although they are very different people fundamentally this book really highlights how grief affects us all regardless of our background, status, or beliefs and I think there's a very important message in that.

What I loved the most about this book is when the characters started to lower their defences and open up to each other. Their personalities would often clash which could make for some heated arguments as everybody is emotionally charged, but ultimately as each of them realises they have nothing to lose they begin to open up to each other. Up until this point the events that brought them to the meetings had only been alluded to and as each of them revealed more about their losses it became painfully clear why it was so hard for them to move on.

As well as all of the emotions this book made me feel there were shocking revelations that I didn't see coming at all. I thought I had this book all figured out and suddenly it was obvious that I was completely wrong and I had to process it before I was able to write my review. I can't believe that this is a debut novel and I'll be keeping an eye open for any future books from Amelia Ireland.

Wow, I knew it sounded like a fantastic read, but I didn’t expect to discover a new favourite!

What a book—I can’t believe it’s a debut! The story explores deeply moving themes, with four distinct yet equally compelling journeys of grief and healing. Amelia Ireland’s writing is simply wonderful; I felt like I truly knew the characters, as if they were newfound friends. The novel is beautifully crafted, balancing poignant emotion with moments of humour that shine through the pages.

I stayed up late devouring it, eyes brimming with tears and jaw dropping at the unexpected twists. I won’t spoil anything, but the revelations had me absolutely hooked.

I highly recommend this book—it’s one that will stay with me forever.

CW/TW: While I don’t want to reveal spoilers, please be aware this book explores themes of loss and grief in depth.

A huge thank you to @lovebookstours @bwpublishing @bonnierbooks_uk and @ameliaireland_author for having me on the tour and gifting me a digital proof in exchange for my honest review.

At seven o'clock one Tuesday evening, in a perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster, four strangers meet for the first time. They each have three things in common: all suffered a traumatic experience six months earlier; all exhibit a dogged inability to put it behind them & all accepted an invitation to attend tonight's counselling session with the unconventional Genevieve - a determined woman with an unusual theory to test. There is another reason that these four people have been brought together & when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all five are forced to make some unexpected - and, for some, impossible - decisions…

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year after being instantly drawn in by the synopsis, and it didn’t disappoint.

The authors writing style is enveloping, I instantly felt the connection with all of the characters, with the chapters continuing the narration of the story in its entirety using alternate character POV’s. The initial thoughts of each other detailing how first impressions are not always what they seem, alongside the strong character development between them all, as their relationships strengthen as they bond through their experiences.

I enjoyed how the traumatic experiences, that connected all of the characters to be drawn together, weren’t explained until almost halfway through the book, the essence of each person instead being built in the readers mind, meaning you never quite knew if your suspicions would prove to be correct, a very ingenious technique.

I must admit I wasn’t expecting the direction the book took in the last quarter - no spoilers! - but it was a very clever twist, and this turn in events certainly led to a very unexpected, poignant conclusion, that definitely makes you think! I look forward to reading more by this author in the future for sure.

Great novel, enjoyed reading this so much on a recent trip.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access this book in exchange for my feedback.

This was a solid four star read for me, it didn’t quite reach five star territory but it was a strong four stars. I didn’t know what to expect going in but I was pleasantly surprised to find a book full of heartache & love and a huge range of human emotions.

Going into this I expected that it was going to be a sad book but while it definitely encompass a range of human heartache, it also touched on the other side of things. All the love and connections that we have in this life that ultimately result in heartache in all its various forms. I thought this was a very thought-provoking book and I would say that this was perfect for a book club read, as there is a lot to discuss here.

One thing I will say is that I found it hard at times to follow the narrative and understand which POV I was reading from because there were a lot of characters and it switched between them often and in a way that was not super clear. But for the most part this was an engaging read something that kept me turning the pages from start to finish.

The Seven O'Clock Club is a thought provoking and intriguing read.

I enjoyed Ireland's writing style as well as the four main characters who were well developed and being so different, they all added something to the story. I also enjoyed the twist, even if it was slightly predictable.

I did feel at times that the story was a bit cliched but overall, an enjoyable, well paced and imaginatively written story that I would recommend.

Thanks to Bonnier Books UK | Black & White Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Well, what a lovely story! A twist that is really unexpected and an open ending....perfect.

The premise hooked me and it was interesting and engaging and then the twist happened. It then got intriguing!

This is definitely one I'd recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

A diverse group of four people meet for grief counselling using an experimental method, although why what seemed to be straightforward group therapy was described as such escaped me until further into the story.

The characters are all distinct from each other, having very different voices and back stories. They were well written.

There is a big unexpected twist, and the plot is revealed to have a huge element of magical realism. This results in some surprising connections between the characters. The rather sweet resolution to a couple of the characters’ stories was a nice touch, but for me the ending did not make the dark storylines and heaviness of the plot rewarding. I found it quite hard going throughout most of the novel with just a few moments of humour, lightness and romance.

There are trigger warnings for a wide range of issues described in the group sessions and much swearing from one character. While this helped to effectively convey his personality, it will not be for everyone. Although the tagline on the book (on GoodReads) is that it would be perfect for book clubs, I would not recommend this as suitable for a group read at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I enjoyed this book and its exploration of mental health and I was really surprised by the twist reveal but I’m not sure how I feel about it!

Four seemingly unrelated people are selected to attend a series of revolutionary grief counselling sessions. As they all begin to trust the process and each other, they all talk about the grief that led them to the group. Just as I was becoming invested in each of them and their grief counsellor, there came a twist like never before, which set the book going in a completely different direction.
I loved, loved, loved this book, both before and after the twist. I wanted to devour it in one go, and had to slow myself down in order to fully savour it and appreciate every word. A brilliant book and highly recommended read.

Love this author and loved this book! The author held my attention, and I loved how they tied the story up - the epilogue was heart warming. And wow that ending …… I never saw that coming! 5 stars

Thank you to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for this advance e-copy.

Wow. I absolutely loved this book. 4 very different people are brought together for group grief counselling, led by Genevieve. Genevieve is trialling a new technique to help people through the grieving process.

It’s such a unique story and I loved everything about it. At first I was thinking that this was going to be a nice, heartwarming, happy-ever-after, predictable story; I thought I knew exactly where it was going. But then the story flipped and I was shocked - in a really good way.

It’s a story that forces you to think and look inwards. It has left me thinking about aspects of my own life and reminds me that not everything is always as it seems. We think we understand why certain things happen but maybe there are other reasons that we haven’t considered. I also loved the theme of friendship and leaning on others for support during tough times.

There are some really difficult storylines in this book that could be triggering for some but the author does an amazing job of telling these stories sensitively, whilst also throwing in some humour.

This is a story that will stick with me for a long time. I rarely give a book 5 stars, but this is 100% deserving of it.

I totally fell in love with this quirky and heartfelt story.

Four apparently random strangers each see an advert for a counselling group. Victoria, Mischa, Callum and Freya are all stuck in the depths of grief. Some are keen to try to find a place of acceptance. Some are fully in denial and resistant to opening up a maelstrom of emotion they surely would not survive.

But over time, a feeling of trust, acceptance and safety forms within the group that was just sublimely written. I derived a great deal of comfort myself. Watching these amazing humans grow stronger by being vulnerable, was inspiring and yet not written with any element of schmaltz. Rather, viscerally stripping back the layers of armour they've had to don.

And then the book took, at least for me, an unexpected turn. And it simply elevated this story into something quite magical.

This book felt like a balm to an anxious and grieving mind.

Sublime.

I loved this book! 4 people meet for the first time to undergo a series of counselling sessions to help them with a terrible loss and guilt that they are finding difficult to cope with. So far, so good. Friendships develop quickly and things seem to be going well. But all is not what it seems and then comes the biggest twist that you will never see coming!! You have to suspend a bit of belief, but this is a great story!!
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Genevieve advertises for people struggling with grief to join her in a first of its kind therapy group, one with an unorthodox method. She selects four participants, all with vastly different personalities and backgrounds, whose only commitment is to attend for at least four sessions at 7pm on a Wednesday evening. All of them have suffered a tragic bereavement and are struggling to navigate their way out of a myriad of emotions. Their individual stories are only gradually revealed as the book progresses, which I loved and kept me hooked from page one right to the end!

I was instantly drawn to all of the characters, for very different reasons. Amelia Ireland's style of characterisation is excellent, eliciting empathy even for those who initially appear selfish, arrogant and self destructive. However this is so much more than other novels I have read with grief as its main thread, and takes the reader in a very unexpected direction. For me, it is this that makes 'The Seven O'Clock Club' stand out from the crowd. Often breathtakingly sad, tragic and thought provoking there are wonderful touches of humour and heart warming moments. Whilst grief is a negative emotion there is a sensitivity to the author's writing that didn't leave me feeling 'wrung out' even though I could identify with one of the characters.

An absolute gem!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

No spoilers!
I loved this book…another one I didn’t want to end and I shed a tear when it did.
Four misfits pulled together for an ‘unknown’ project to unlock their fears and misery. The book was beautifully written and I became fully invested in the characters, needing to read on to find out what happened next. The characters were not instantly likeable but they all developed and grew on me as the book continued. We are expected to suspend belief at the end of the book, but that was ok too.
Well done, Amelia, one for my recommended list!! Bravo and 10/10

This book was not what I expected at all, there is a twist I did not see coming at all, and it just enhanced the book in a big way for me. I went in expecting a book about a support group of some sort, about looking at grief in a new way and we did get that but we also got so much more. I don't like to give away plots in my reviews, and this story is one that definitely deserves to keep its twist a secret. The story follows 4 people (Callum, Freya, Victoria and Micha) who are brought together to hopefully be able to help each other in some way to overcome their grief, brought together for a reason that we don't really understand because they're all vastly different people, but help each other they do. Bonds develop, relationships evolve and you learn that sometimes people you would never expect are the ones who can understand you the most and help you through the toughest things. You learn that these characters have a lot more going on than you can ever understand, and it's all dealt with beautifully. It's an incredibly touching, heartfelt book that will leave you feeling so many things but your heart will feel a little lighter by the end of it. An amazing read.

The group of strangers that arrive at Genevieve’s flat have been selected to trial a new form of grief therapy. Each, for their own reasons, is sceptical but we follow them through their sessions and see them open up to one another about the reason they are there.
Each of the characters is a lot more vulnerable than they first appear. As they open up to each other we learn more about their lives and what has led them to this place. Observing this process was intriguing, and it certainly raised a lot more questions than we are given answers to.
Eventually we, and they, find out why each of them was chosen. It is not what I expected, though the details may not surprise all readers. Though it strays into territory that could have been mawkish, it felt more life-affirming. It was certainly unique, and a book that encourages reflection after the last page has been turned.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

An original idea but it didn’t work for me. The subject matter is depressing but if you overcome this and start to feel invested in the characters the whole thing then gets turned in its head.

The Seven O'Clock Club is a good debut read dealing with different types of grief, found family, and learning to move on. I will be interested in reading the author’s future books.