The Seven O'Clock Club begins with a prologue as a transcript by Genevieve, who is running a trial on alternate ways to navigate grief. But she crosses a serious ethical line: she gets personally involved in the lives of her first four subjects. It’s a move that could’ve cost her job—but her senior keeps the trial going into Phase 2. That mystery—what really happened and why—hooked me from the start.

The story rewinds to introduce us to those four participants: Freya, Victoria, Mischa, and Callum. Told from their alternating perspectives, we watch them confront their grief, reflect on each other, and slowly unravel emotionally.

I knew The Seven O’Clock Club would be an emotional read, but I wasn’t prepared for just how deeply it would hit. The structure is brilliant—divided into seven parts, echoing the seven stages of grief. The chapters are short, the prose simple, but each one strips the characters raw, layer by layer, until we see the events that broke them.

It’s a story is about loss, healing, regret, connection—and ultimately, acceptance and hope to move forward- Emotionally raw, deeply moving, and a total gut-punch in the best way. What stood out most was how messy grief is. All handle it differently. Some shut down. Some fake normalcy. Some just unravel. No “right” way—just deeply human chaos and that’s how these four characters were.

Mischa is 20, Indian, and working in customer service while trying to figure out her life. Her mother was her entire world, and when she talks about the loss—and how it happened—it broke me. Her guilt, her loneliness, her sense of helplessness… it was devastating. I hated that no one was there for her before or after her mom’s death. Watching her connect with the group and come into her own was one of the most satisfying arcs in the book.

Victoria, in her 50s, is a lawyer and the only one in the group who claims she isn’t grieving—her husband forced her to join. Genevieve calls her the most difficult of the four, and I get it. She’s blunt, cold, emotionally unavailable. But watching her go from closed-off to unexpectedly open was a huge shift. Her honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable, is what made me admire her. Her story of estrangement from her mother and the regret she unpacks was powerful.

Freya, 31, lives with her husband Joe and used to be an interior designer. She’s numb, withdrawn—and initially claims she’s there because of her dog’s death. But it’s clear early on that there’s a deeper grief she’s hiding. Her desire to just restart with her husband when it’s obvious she doesn’t love him and wasn’t there for her didn’t sit well with me. But once Freya finally opens up, her pain hit harder than any other character’s. Her ending? Heartbreaking but necessary. And the way she and Callum supported each other was amazing.

Callum, 29, is a famous singer-songwriter, and a bit of a wreck. He’s arrogant, lost in fame, spiraling in addiction. As his story unfolds, one can see the boy behind the uncaring facade—the one crushed by the weight of fame and grief. His turning point, driven by Freya’s support, was incredible. And the way he shows up for her? Stunning. Unexpected. Beautiful.

Genevieve, the therapist, doesn’t sugarcoat or spout generic “it’ll get better” lines. She believes in acceptance—not of the loss itself, but of how it continues to shape you. But she’s hiding something too. And when her POV finally arrives in the last stage of the book—it was total game changer.

Those last 30% of The Seven O’Clock Club was twist after twist. It flipped everything I thought about the book and the characters and their pain. It clearly shook the foundation of them and almost caused Genevive’s work crumble to dust. The end was absolutely unexpected but highly satisfying. And those final transcripts as epilogue was brilliant and absolutely unforgettable.

Overall, The Seven O’Clock Club is an emotionally intense contemporary with a magical realism twist I did not see coming.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Amelia Ireland for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

"The only cure for grief is action." - George Henry Lewes

Therapist Genevieve Dempsey is more than ready to take action: she has a game plan. For those attempting to move through the 5 stages of grief made famous by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance), this arduous and deeply personal journey can be made that much more complicated when the subject at hand becomes 'stuck' in one of the stages and feels unable to progress to the next. Genevieve has come up with a new methodology to help these patients specifically: the group all agrees to meet for 4 consecutive Wednesdays at 7pm to see if their shared experience can help move them through their pain. But who are the four special individuals Genevieve has hand selected to be part of this unique club?

There's 41 year old Victoria, a beautiful, no-nonsense lawyer who isn't afraid to speak her mind; Mischa, a young woman freshly twenty, who works in insurance but feels uncertain about her life path; Freya, a 31 year old battling anxiety and panic attacks amidst uncertainty in her marriage, and Callum, a bona fide rock star who has suffered a rather public fall from grace and superstardom after a battle with drugs and alcohol. Each of the members of this club have suffered a loss, but as the reader, we are not treated to their FULL stories until they begin to reveal them and open up to Genevieve and one another in their sessions. Much like the members of the Breakfast Club, this group initially looks at one another with a skeptical eye, doubting that they have ANYTHING in common other than suffering loss, and the first session is a bit bumpy. But as their stories slowly unwind and they collectively open their hearts and minds to this unorthodox way of handling their pain, bonds begin to form in ways that NONE of them (especially facilitator Genevieve) expected.

But when the shocking truth behind HOW they were selected comes to light, everything changes - and in an instant, the shaky alliances and budding feelings between some members of the group are called into question. This glimpse into the gravity of their collective future leaves EVERYONE reeling...and more than a bit terrified at the multitude of unknowns. With stakes sky-high, will the Seven O'Clock Club complete their mission and help to move one another through the stages of grief and toward inner peace? Or will fear and uncertainty keep them frozen in their pain...forever?

I'll just come out and say it: this is a STUNNING debut. It's hard to even fathom that Amelia Ireland is this confident, prolific, and steadfast as a writer in this first effort. This is the sort of novel that feels reminiscent of Matt Haig and Meg Shaffer: these are the kind of authors that make magical realism seem not only easy, but natural and believable, and Ireland feels like a contemporary to these authors from the jump. While this book does require a bit of patience as you get to know the characters and 'go around the circle' (as it were), by the time the biggest twist is revealed, you'll be breathlessly anticipating each of their fates as though they were members of your own family, disjointed as most families truly are, in their own way. The balance of varying ages and slightly contrarian and complex personalities sets the stage for not just conflict, but simmering dramatic (and perhaps even romantic...) tension along the way, and although you only get to know this crew over the course of one month, the level of soul searching and deep vulnerability furthers their character development far more than the simple confines of the narrative itself allows.

I looked at this book as sort of a one act play, and could almost picture the spiral of folding chairs, with a spotlight hitting each participant as they slowly and methodically shared their heartache . There is a simplicity to this sort of storytelling that feels reminiscent of an "Our Town" or the like: we don't need a thousand settings, pointless side characters, or drama for the sake of drama in this story. The pure exploration of what grief does to us and how we either adapt (or in the case of our characters, DON'T) is more than enough fodder for discussion and thought all on its own. But of course, this IS magical realism, and as such, we end up with one WHOPPER of a twist - one that if you don't predict it (and I'll be honest, I 1000% did not!) will truly knock your socks clean off your feet...and across the room to the nearest laundry basket! I won't say much more about it, but I have noticed other reviewers being careful not to spoil the surprise...so do yourself a favor and don't do ANY unnecessary Googling or trying to find out details about this one; going in blind WILL pay off!

And while I can't reveal the fate of this one-of-a-kind found family or some of the unique ties they discover that MIGHT be destined to keep them tethered forever, while the road to acceptance may be long and paved with fear and doubt, it is the love they share that just might fill all of the cracks in the road...and lead each of them back to themselves.

4 stars

3.5 stars

This sadly is a case of me wanting to like a book much more than I actually did. The premise had me very intrigued, but I found the pacing pretty slow in the beginning. This made it hard to feel invested in all the different characters and their pasts. Listening to the audiobook helped since there were multiple narrators (Clare Corbett, Emma Gregory, Luke Francis, and Nikki Patel), but it would have been even better if each narrator performed their character throughout, so there would be no confusion about who was speaking.

It was certainly emotional at times as the story unfolded and we found out what each person was grieving (Freya’s story was especially tough for me), but the overall emotional impact didn’t hit me as profoundly as I was expecting. A lot of information gets dumped on the reader towards the end when the big twist is revealed and made the story go off the rails for me. The final chapters were very sweet though and the book did leave me feeling hopeful. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the right headspace to love this one. It was an interesting setup, but ultimately the book was just OK.

CW (possible spoilers):

suicide, death during childbirth, death of parent/loved one, parental abandonment, drug and alcohol use/addiction, car accident, grief, depression, caring for parent with Alzheimer’s

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

“Life is a river, and I’m ready to drown.”

First off, thank you @berkleypub for the free copy of The Seven O’Clock Club #berkleypartner.

Now let’s jump into the review with what I liked:

1. Ireland does an amazing job at exploring the impact of grief and the complicated feelings that come along with it, especially gilt.

2. I normally enjoy a balanced character driven/plot driven story, however, the character driven narrative of this novel worked incredibly well and I appreciated it more than I have with other works. But it is important to keep in mind if you are someone who prefers more plot driven narratives.

3. The character development was perfection. Experiencing the four main characters come to terms with their grief, and explore their stories, was equal parts heart warming and devastating. I loved every single one of these characters and Irelands writing connects the reader to them in a beautiful way.

4. The theme of friendship, connection, and support helping to guide you through a difficult period was well executed. Especially in relation to the shared bond of grief.

5. While I did find the ending to be a bit dragged out, I loved how it clued up.

Now for what I didn’t like:

1. The beginning was very dragged out and I almost DNFed it 15% of the way through. I am happy I stuck it out as the end result was well worth it.

2. Like the beginning, the ending was dragged out as well and had a nice bit of info dumping, which I think could have been handled better. However, I did enjoy the twist and really loved the end result.

While I did have a rocking start with this one, I am so happy I continued on with it and I have a feeling that this novel is going to stick with me for a while.

If you would like to know more, you can swipe right for the synopsis.

Okay so in the nicest way, the fact that the writing makes me think of how my seventh graders tell a story instantly turns me off from this book- it’s very trite and childish which is very juxtapositing to the theme. On that same note: this deals heavily with grief and yet, it’s marketed as literary fiction and I don’t know, I feel like that’s not accurate?

The twists that are introduced at the end were silly goofy and did not overall help my enjoyment

A touching exploration of grief with a big, juicy twist. Surprising and touching. Ireland writes complicated characters with depth and vivid voices.

This was a unique blend of literary fiction and magical realism that may have been a bit slow to start but kept my interest until the end.

Genevieve has come up with a brilliant new way to tackle grief and moving on, but for this she must put together a group compatible with each other so out goes the ad for her special group. Victoria, Freya, Callum, and Mischa are the chosen group and if they are willing to show up for four sessions, Genevieve is convinced her group will be a success. But each person's background is unique and varied, which makes pulling their stories from them no easy feat.

This one really takes a bit to unfold as each person needs their time to figure out what the group could mean to them and how much they are willing to share. Each new piece of information and part of their story they are willing to share creates this intimate bond and encourages another person to open up a little more.

This was an intricately woven story about that kind of soul deep sadness that is both painful and numb, but also forgiveness, love, companionship, and hope. Knowing this is a debut is even more impressive to me because this was a complex storyline and very intimate and private emotions to explore, so I am looking forward to more from Ireland for sure.

I will start this review by telling you not to read any reviews. Trust me.

A little predictable at times but with a twist and a lots of phishing the “I believe” button but I was here for the ride. Read for a touch of sadness, healing, magical realism, and found family vibes.

First, special thank you to Berkley Pub, this was my first ever approval and I could not be more happier. I thought I was just getting some mild story to read since the reviews are mixed and the synopsis is fair and bland. However, I was hooked from the start. Multi-POV of every character and each has been highlighted and developed quite well. I can't help but feel some sort of kinship with all of them. Everyone has something going on, and all of them somehow needed this group therapy even if they have not realized it at the start. The twists were surprising, and I was glad it played that purpose well. A little slow burn but definitely worth all the anticipation. I like the mystery and suspense that lingers at every chapter and with every character. I enjoyed the entirety of this book!

From the moment I opened the first page of this book, I was captivated. I normally balk at stories written in multiple points of view, but the character dynamics are enthralling with complicated relationships that feel all too relatable, and layers that you’ll peel back as you turn each page.

The story revolves around four characters: Victoria, Callum, Mischa, and Freya. Each of them is grappling with grief. But what’s intriguing is how these imperfect and broken strangers come together, forming a friendship that helps them through their darkest times without even realizing it. It’s the kind of camaraderie that feels genuine and heartwarming, and I couldn’t help but cheer them on.

And then there’s Genevieve, the therapist who initially seems like she’s straight out of a quirky indie movie. With her unusual clothing choices and somewhat unkempt appearance, she hides a complex and caring personality. As the catalyst for bringing this particular group together, her role is pivotal and surprising. I was absolutely eager to see how her extraordinary experiment played out, and let me tell you the big reveal left me utterly floored. I’ll keep my lips sealed about the twist, but trust me, it’s a brilliant piece that ties this captivating story together beautifully.

Ms. Ireland dives deep into grief, showcasing it as one of the most powerful emotions we experience. Unlike other emotions, which can be straightforward, grief is a multistage process. She gives a smart and heartfelt look at this process, highlighting how it touches each of the characters in different ways.

If you’re on the hunt for a touching and thought-provoking read, I highly recommend giving The Seven O’Clock Club a try. It’s a creative story full of raw emotion, complex relationships, and a twist that you won’t see coming. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Thank you to Ms. Ireland for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This heartfelt and compelling story about grief and the importance of human connection (and the benefits of group therapy) is told in first person from 5 different POVs, consisting of the following characters:

Genevieve - a young psychologist who has been exploring alternative ways of navigating the grief process and hosts an experimental group therapy session for her four grieving patients

Mischa - a 20-year-old girl of Indian/Kenyan descent who is small, timid and nervous

Victoria - a 52-year-old lawyer who is posh, rich, stylish and intimidating, who's only doing this at her husband's insistence (her husband Andrew is the sweetest guy btw)

Freya - a 31-year-old skinny blonde woman who is a shell of her former self

Callum - a 29-year-old singer-songwriter and one of the biggest rock stars in the country. He has a substance abuse problem and is on thin ice with his record label

Mischa, Victoria, Freya and Callum have nothing in common apart from the fact that they've all lost someone and are coping with their grief in different ways. Through four weekly group therapy sessions, each character slowly opens up about themselves, and we start to learn their stories and discover why they are struggling to move on.

The character development was fantastic. The story highlights how grief presents itself in various ways. Each character's experience was unique and moving - there were so many moments that left me teary-eyed.

"Somehow, during this whole process, we've become linked to each other."


Although each character, their experiences, their trauma, and their personalities are vastly different, the experience of sharing their stories in such an intimate way helped form unlikely friendships between all the characters. I was completely invested in their stories, and the twist at the end definitely caught me by surprise.

I knew from reading reviews before going into this book that there would be a magical realism aspect to this story, but it still took me by surprise when it presented itself. While I don't typically enjoy magical realism, I thought it was very carefully incorporated in this case and made the emotional reading journey even more impactful.

Four people meet as strangers and through their shared experiences a story is written. I enjoyed the story. It had a little different feel to it than somethings that I read, but it still was a great read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

The Seven O'Clock Club was such a breathe of fresh air.

Such a captivating and impressive debut!

Grief, love, and friendship such a beautiful part of healing through pain. This book was sad and honestly these ladies definitely go through serious grief... but I find that often from pain in life you grow the most.

I was so involved in their stories and forgot about the tiny mystery that was at play. and BOOM that twist you guys!!!

Wow... this was such a fabulous debut and I cant wait to see more from Ireland!!!

5/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher for my e arc.

Four strangers are gathered together to kick off a new grief therapy experiment. The host is a kind, highly perceptive woman in her 60s and these four, very diverse characters meet each Tuesday evening. The sessions begin slowly and awkwardly but eventually each of the four begin to face their grief in different ways. Just over halfway though the novel, the story takes an unexpected and unique twist. It is a clever maneuver but I am not sure it works entirely. This is a debut and I liked the character development but I’m not sure I am the right audience for it. That said, I am sure others will find it very fresh and engaging.

*Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with an e-galley.

And I just read The Seven O’Clock Club and had a good cry . It is the story of a grief group - a group of strangers brought together to discuss a recent loss in their lives. But without spoilers, it is so much more. Cue the tears. This one broke me. In a good way. Sometimes it is cathartic to cry over something that has nothing to do with you. I loved how it all played out, I loved the twist and I loved all of the characters and how multi-dimensional they all were. With so many raw emotions, this one won me over and stole my heart.

I had no clue what this book would be like when I first started, I thought it was just going to be another story about grief counselling. I was so wrong!
Four strangers are brought together in an experimental grief therapy group. A famous musician, a married interior designer, an older snappy lawyer, and a mouse of a girl who used to take care of her mother that just wanted to fit in.
The characters draw you into their lives and their losses. As the begin to trust and share their stories you wonder how on earth these four totally different people can relate and help each other. Geneive, the counselor, has her work cut out for her to bring them all together to heal.
As the weeks go by and we learn more about them, we see the growth of the group. But then out of the blue is a bombshell that makes you re-think everything!
I was fascinated and couldn’t put the book down because I didn’t want to miss a minute of the story. This isn’t my normal genre of books but I am so glad I took the chance on it.

Book review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Genre: magical realism
Themes: grief, death, kindred bonds, therapy
📖 Read if you like: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

Every once in a while you come upon a book that your soul connects with. This was one for me. In the past I have participated in a bereavement group and so much of the first half of this book felt ripped from my very experience. The stories were of course different, but the connection and personal revelations were recognizable. The awkward first sessions that quickly turn into bonds with people you certainly would not have crossed paths with in your normal life. The care that blossoms out of shared trauma and acknowledging another’s hurt. The anger that you learn to recognize and release. The guilt you carry like a suffocating blanket. The wishes and hopes that come with regrets.

Grief if amongst the strongest emotion a person can carry. Unlike others it will stay with you no matter how much time has passed, though its form may change. This heartfelt debut explores just how it can manifest in a story that I could not put down. Part therapy, part human experience, it brought together an oddball group of people for their unexpected journey.

In a plain slightly derelict flat in London, four strangers meet in an experiment of sorts. Each dealing with loss they agree to a form of group therapy when the emptiness seems to take over their lives. A powerhouse lawyer who resolutely stands as an island, a young emotional girl who gave up her life for caregiving, a famous musician - cocky, handsome and incredibly talented, and the ghost of a women who had created the facade of perfection. And of course the hippy therapist who leads the sessions and encourages these resistant attendants to open up with unnerving perception. Despite most loathing the idea of either needing therapy or what they are required to admit, week after week they seem to return.

When progress seems to be in motion, the narrative takes a spin into sci-fi territory with unexpected revelations and choices. This unlikely band of friends will need each other for more than just a path to healing, but also the strength to move on. It is a beautiful story of why humans need each other and how grief and death resides in the very soul of a being. I thought it was insightful and raw with each of the characters feeling like friends at the end of four sessions. I liked that they were all very different personalities and ages giving a greater breath of experiences and backstories. The one part of the story I didn’t really like was the representation of reincarnation, but I would still highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I was so emotionally invested in all of the characters and could not put this book down. I think the author did such an amazing job unpacking each characters grief and their healing process. This was so beautifully paced that as we read each persons perspective the layers of story just unfolded seamlessly. The author had me so drawn to the characters stories, their vulnerability, their growing friendships and strength that the twist in the story was so unexpected. Everything about this was unique and amazing!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! While it tackles the deep emotions of grief, it also manages to inject some levity and beautiful moments of connection. I can also say I truly did not see the twist coming or even that this kind of book would have a twist! Overall a delight!

Four strangers are gathered together for grief counseling. The group leader is Genevieve, and the participants are Freya, Mischa, Victoria, and Callum. As the group opens up to each other, revealing various truths about their grief, they learn more about each other. Most importantly, they learn how to forgive, how to grieve, how to love.
Then about 70% in, the book takes an unexpected turn.
Very interesting examination of how we process grief.