Tia Williams

Tia's best novel yet, as she moves out of the beauty world into characters, Eva and Shane, who are successful writers reliving a fraught, weeklong encounter from their initial meeting in high school. Her trademark romantic tension and sensual loving now have a powerful addition: Eva's savvy daughter Audre, who acts as shrink to her high school friends and bestie to her mom. As usual, the highlight of the novel is the author's ability to integrate quips that induce bursts of laughter amid show more passages of drama and emotion. Her skill at capturing the loving support of sister-friends and the overall Black joy and success demonstrate that people are able to create peace and beauty in their lives, despite a country that lends little encouragement.

Quotes: " Girls are given the weight of the world, with nowhere to put it down." show less

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is a contemporary romance filled with colourful characters and emotionally raw yet witty writing that keeps the story engaging from start to finish.
When Shane and Eva, both writers carrying plenty of emotional baggage, reunite after several years, the attraction between them is still undeniable. Their chemistry feels authentic, layered, and complicated in the best way, making their second-chance romance compelling and believable.
Eva’s insightful show more twelve-year-old daughter, Audre, steals the show. She brings warmth, humour, and heart to the story, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with her character. Her presence adds balance to the heavier themes explored throughout the novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but readers should be aware that it contains potentially triggering content. The story tackles difficult issues such as parentification, addiction, self-harm, chronic illness, and invisible disability. At the same time, it explores healing, recovery, resilience, and second chances, all balanced alongside a steamy romance.
Overall, this is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautifully written story that blends humour, passion, and vulnerability in a memorable way. show less

This is a gem of a story that had me hooked from start to finish. It's original, celebratory, and packed with just the right amount of tension that kept me eagerly turning pages. The pacing is perfect, flowing seamlessly between personal growth, romance, and community. Ricki, the main character, is a joy to follow—lovable, relatable, and funny. What struck me most was how the story effortlessly spans decades while also unfolding over just a few weeks. Williams masterfully weaves in show more historical context and political undertones without ever feeling preachy or forced—it all just fits. I found myself completely immersed in this world, wishing I could experience it again for the first time. I want to see it on every size screen. I want to hear the song and live this kind of love. While it may not become a timeless classic, it's a quintessential read for 2024, and I highly recommend reading it immediately. show less

Wow, this was the best contemporary r0mance I've read in years. Tia Williams has a distinctive voice, and her "second chance at love" plot is funny, dark, romantic, gritty, sexy and memorable. Eva and Shane spent one week together in high school when both were at low points in their lives, and 20 years later they have the chance to see if the magic is still there now that they are both successful and (at least nominally) stable. Spoiler alert: it is, but they still have a lot of work to do show more before they can really be together again. I loved the way they communicate throughout the novel, and how Eva's disability (chronic, debilitating migraines) is portrayed as limiting but not defining. The secondary characters are essential to the plot, especially editor/fairy godmother Cece; Williams has a way of telling everything about her characters in quasi-info dumps, but her descriptions are so sharp and hilarious that you don't mind.

I'm a little hesitant to read the author's backlist because I can't imagine her previous books could have been this good, but I'm willing to try. I had read rapturous reviews of Seven Days in June and for once, a book lived up to its hype. show less