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.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley and the author for the arc!

I went into this one blind & I’m so glad I did. I don’t know really what I was expecting … but let’s just say it wasn’t THAT!

The reveal, twist, secret, truth … surprised the heck out of me! I sat with a drooling open jaw - like literally - for a couple of minutes, just staring at the wall! To say I was blindsided is an understatement!

After that? The story became a binge!! Saying much more will spoil it … so I will leave it there, but it’s definitely a fast paced, engaging page flipper that had me in it’s sad little grasp for a super emotional ride!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. Fun and intriguing story!

That cover grabbed me. I knew I had to read it. I joust wished the first half had grabbed me.

From the start I knew there was a bigger picture. The author hinted at it a bit.

The premise excited me. Fours strangers helping each other through the stages of grief. This is the kind of book you need to connect to the characters. They are the story. And for some reason I did not. I wanted to know the bigger picture but not really more about the group.

Eventually they did grow on me and I sympathized with their situations and rooted for them to make it through their grief.

Normally I would have probably given up on the book but I’m glad I did not. There were a few surprises that redeemed the first half.

Clare Corbett, Emma Gregory, Luke Francis, and Nikki Patel create quite the stage for this grief group. They nail the solemn and distrust of the situation. They grasped and played to the tone well.

This wasn’t a home run for me because of the start of the book, but if you’re a fan of character driven dramas you should give this a try. I do give it an A for being unique and those epic twists.

The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland was nothing like I expected. It is a book divided into many parts, all dealing with grief and death.

The story is complex, with many layers, and things are not always as they seem. The four main characters have a connection that no one expected, especially since they didn’t seem to have anything in common except how they dealt with their grief. The group that brought them together became an essential part of their lives even when they thought they would rather give up. But they unexpectedly formed a bond and were there for each other. They learn to live with their grief. They find many truths about themselves, some of which are hard to fathom.

Led by Genevieve, their therapist/counselor, who is an integral part of the story. Callum, the rockstar, Freya, an interior designer and wife, Victoria, an uptight lawyer, and finally Mischa, who worked in insurance and cared for her mother in her last stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The story has a great flow as we are taken through the stages. Multiple stories were being told, and we got to know each of the characters on a deeper plane. We learn about their lives, the reasons for their grief, and why they can’t forgive themselves. The story begins with a prologue that sets the stage. We get closure six months later before an epilogue tops off the story.

The Seven O'Clock Club was an emotional read and the story touched me on several layers. It was thought-provoking and reminiscent to me of several books by Mitch Albom.

The review was posted on NovelsAlive.

I described this book to a friend like The Breakfast Club but instead of detention and high schoolers they’re adults in group therapy. I want to compare it to a show but it would be a huge spoiler. When I tell you I was not expecting the plot twist!

I really enjoyed how the book was separated into parts that followed the stages of grief and how it was from everyone’s POV. Definitely recommending this to all my friends!

And the ending?!?! I loved it!!!

4.5 Stars
Four strangers having trouble dealing with their grief and moving forward are brought together as a group to try out a new way of therapy. All are reluctant.

Callum, a famous musician, has been forced into this odd arrangement by his record label. Misha was in college but dropped out to be a caregiver. Freya, a successful interior decorator and happy wife before her tragedy; she now finds it hard to function. Victoria, a high-powered attorney, swears she’s not grieving but goes to appease her husband.

I was glued to the pages, eager to hear each of the characters’ stories! I was invested in all of them. Their stories were heartbreaking, mixed with anger, pain and regret. Callum and Freya’s stories grabbed me the most. I will say that even though the characters were dealing with grief it wasn’t a depressing story at all. There were lighthearted and heartwarming bits to balance it all out.

There’s a paranormal/magical twist to the story and I did wonder. I had a few guesses of what was going on. The ending was a bit different, but still a happy one!

The Seven O’clock Club was a touching and captivating debut! A definite recommend!

This one really took me by surprise. I thought I would like it, but I did more than I even thought. Such a great debut novel! I could relate so much to the characters on their grief journey. I don't often see it written about so well. Only someone who has truly lived through it could write it this well, I feel like. I read this book just when I needed to. An emotional, healing journey. Many surprising twists I did not see coming at all.

I think this will reasonate with so many people, but please be mindful this book does talk about many different types of loss, they may be triggering to some people.

Thank you so much Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This book didn't go anywhere I expected it to, and I loved it. Genevieve is a psychologist who has brought four strangers together who have one thing in common: they have all recently experienced a huge loss and are mired in grief. Genevieve convenes them for group sessions and tries a new experimental technique. That's all I can say without giving anything away, but hopefully that tidbit intrigues you as much as I did you.

This book was so meaningful and rewarding. I feel like it's really hard to depict grief in a way that is not extremely heavy and depressing, and although there were parts of this book that were deeply sad, overall, it's an incredibly heartwarming and life-affirming story. Each of our protagonists are flawed, human, and lovable, and we get to know them as they get to know each other, which feels organic and helps the narrative unfold naturally. They each have wildly different lives, losses, and experiences with their grief, which works well because although grief is a universal human emotion, it manifests completely differently from person to person. The book is well-paced, moving perspectives frequently and providing concise emotional beats, and I absolutely tore through it.

The twist, when it comes, does feel like there are some slight plot holes, but the explanations are satisfying enough, and the emotional payoff is big enough, that it really didn't matter to me. I felt really touched by this book and liked it a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh this one pulled at the heartstrings for sure! And also left my mind reeling, and was wildly entertaining. Honestly, I cannot say enough about this one! Here's a breakdown of what I loved:

►The aforementioned feels. This story had me straight up sobbing at points, but it was also hopeful, and funny, and heartwarming at points too. So yes it packs a punch, but it has much lighter moments so that you don't feel all the sadness at once.

►Loved the relationships! There is a romantic situation, but it isn't just that! It is all the relationships- the ones we see on page as well as the ones we're told about. And, it is the friends the characters make along the way, too. That is probably my favorite, though it is hard to pick a favorite!

►All kinds of things I did not see coming! I'll say no more, just... go into this knowing as little as possible for the best effect. You're welcome.

►The characters just feel so... real. I could not help but fall in love with all of them, flawed though they may be. There was something deeply human about each of them, and it was very endearing.

I don't want to say any more, because I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that you won't regret reading this!

Bottom Line: This was beautiful while still being completely entertaining and engaging. Huge win!

The Seven O'Clock Club is one of those books that will stick with you for a while. I couldn't believe that this was the author's debut book. Ireland did an incredible job with this book. The plot was engaging, and the writing was superb. I liked that the book was divided into different narratives. Each narrative was unique and distinctive. Ireland wrote the characters beautifully. I was drawn to each voice and character. Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria were memorable and layered. Throughout their journey, we see their low and high moments. I found Mischa's story heartbreaking. It was sad learning how difficult her life was and the process she and her mother had to go through to get a diagnosis. Each character had a devastating story. It was inspiring to see their journeys and relationships emerge. I enjoyed all of the relationships in the book. My favorites were Mischa/Victoria, Andrew/Victoria, and Freya/Callum. As a romance girlie, I was all about Freya and Callum's relationship. I thought Ireland did a fantastic job weaving everyone's story together. I was shocked by the big twist in the book. I did not see that coming! This book was tragic, sad, and hopeful. The ending will leave readers with a smile on their face. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria could not be more different, but they are brought together because they have all lost someone very close to them and are struggling with the grief process. They all had different reasons for coming but are committed to meeting every tuesday at 7pm to help them move on.

Some open up very quickly, others are hesitant, but they all go through the process and build a very close connection with each other and become a real support system for each other. But the way they were brought together was not as an organic of a process as they were led to believe, but together they can get through anything.

I really, really, really liked this book. Books about grief always capture my attention and I always love to see how an author tackles the subject. This author did something I hadn't read before, and i enjoyed their way of talking about the grieving process. The found family aspect of this was the strong point, I do think the ending felt a little scattered but overall this was such a lovely, emotional and heartwarming book.

The Seven O'Clock Club is an affective and immersive debut about four strangers who attend weekly group counseling sessions in an effort to work through their grief. Genevieve Dempsey is the therapist, and she has chosen all the participants for a new experimental treatment. However, they won't find out the reason why they were chosen until they open up about themselves and start to heal.

I thought this was an engrossing dive into grief and the ways in which people can get stuck. The unexpected sense of community the characters found with each other added a layer of connectivity that was rather moving and important, especially as it highlighted how sometimes we need other people in order to overcome our own individual losses. The twist was surprising, too. But in a way that enhanced the heart at the center of the story rather than detracted from it. Worth a read!

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book reached into my chest and grabbed out my heart and shook it hard. Then for some reason the author lost her way with the last hour of the book for me. I was sure it was going to end up a five star read but I kinda felt it lost it for me anyways.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

A unique plot line with some very unique characters. THE SEVEN O'CLOCK CLUB is a grief therapy group that meets Tuesday evenings. Each member of the group had answerd an ad to become part of an experimental therapy group. Genevieve Dempsey has promised them a different approach to their overwhelming grief that has stalled their lives in very different ways. Each participant is remarkably different than the other, but must learn to trust and respect each other's feelings and opinions. The story overview and the cover description give no hint of the remarkable story Amelia Ireland has crafted.
This may be Ireland's debut but the skill displayed here promises a future of great reading as I add her to my "followed" authors

I love when I go in blind to a book and am completely shocked. I truly did not know what to expect with this book. I saw a glowing review and immediately requested it and wow am I so glad. This was so good! I quickly made some assumptions about where the plot was going when I started reading, but I was not at all correct. And I love that. I quickly came to love this little group of friends and really enjoyed how the story played out. By the end I was truly in my feels and not ready for the story to end. I cannot believe this is a debut novel, I cannot wait to see what Ireland does next.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for early access.

Four strangers come together for an experimental grief group. All four of our main characters are very skeptical of this group, but nobody more than Callum, our rock star, and Victoria, our successful lawyer. Then we have Mischa and Freya whose lives are falling apart and just want to belong. For some reason, all four wind up coming back week after week, and eventually find themselves opening up. Only to finally find out what really brought them together.

Hello second book I am reading broken down by the stages of grief. Read this one at the exact same time as my previous posts book. I really can’t get away from it. Phew. This book was a tough but lovely read. I really liked following along with our 4 grief stricken characters, and while it drove me nuts that we didn’t know why they were there until well into the book, I also really enjoyed that? I did not see the reason they were all brought together into this group coming AT ALL. Mouth dropped open on that one for sure! Overall I really loved this one, even if it did make me cry a few times!

Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted copy of this book!

This book had me going in one direction and spun me 180 degrees. I was dizzy, my mouth was hanging open, and I questioned myself on how I made it 75% through the book, and I still had not figured it out. Amelia Ireland, you got me! I fell in love with the entire cast of characters. Each unique, come from a completely different upbringing and background, and yet they made the perfect group together. They come together once a week at seven o'clock. To help each other through whatever is in their past they cannot move on from. I found myself guessing throughout the book, but there was always a twist that came with it. As each one spoke, it moved the next person to share. Slowly working up speed to why in fact they are there.

They all gather at the therapist, Genevieve's house. It is not posh or swanky. It is a bit beaten down, rough along the edges. The group of four are Freya, Mischa, Victoria, and Callum. They each quickly bond with one another. No matter their age or how they see themselves. They meet up after therapy, worry about one another, and encourage one another to help themselves. I do not want to go into more detail and blow it all open for you.

The characters are what made this book. I will not soon forget them. The ending blew my mind, and I did not see that coming from a mile away. I loved that I was able to see what happened to each of these amazing people as they moved along. Thank you to Amelia Ireland and Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy.