I really enjoyed this heartfelt read. Each character brought something unique to the story, and I loved getting to know their individual journeys. Amelia Ireland did a wonderful job weaving their lives together in a way that felt honest and warm. If you enjoy character-driven stories with depth and emotion, this one is worth picking up.

The Seven O’Clock Club from debut author Amelia Ireland presents a new, unique voice in fiction.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. And I do actually love reading debut books. I’m happy to say that if I didn’t know this was a debut, I wouldn’t have been able to tell. It’s very well done.

Amelia deftly captures each character, each of them nuanced and well-developed. Genevieve is the harried but perceptive group leader who brings all the other characters together for an experimental group therapy surrounding grief. It is clear from the outset that each of the characters is grieving someone they have lost, but we don’t know the specifics until much later in the book. The group members come from very different walks of life. We have Victoria, a battle axe lawyer who believes showing her feelings makes her weak; Callum, a rock star with a substance abuse problem; Freya, a middle-aged woman who hasn’t left her house in half a year; and Misha, a young and shy.

The structure is really interesting too. The book is divided into eight parts, seven of them to represent the different stages of grief: denial, anger, acceptance, etc. Within each part we get chapters from the perspective of each character except Genevieve, the group leader. I was amazed at the unique voice that Amelia gave each character. Even if you didn’t read the name at the beginning of the chapter, you knew which character you were following because each character was that distinct.

There is a big twist about two-thirds of the way through the book, and unfortunately, that is where this story lost me. I did not like the twist or the last bit of the book as a result. I can’t really tell you more without revealing any spoilers. That being said, I think this is a lovely story that many readers will enjoy; it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

If you are looking for a heartwarming story with excellent character development, try this one.
Thank you, Berkeley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique book - whoa
The author handles grief in an authentic and sensitive way.
The book took some turns I wasn’t expecting, and I won’t be forgetting this one! I’m blown away that this is a debut novel for the author.

Thank you @berkleypub through @netgalley for my advance copy

SUCH a great debut!! Part magical realism, part romance and 100% a feel-good, heartwarming read about grief, group therapy and moving on. This is perfect for fans of books like Anxious people by Frederik Backman and tackles tough subjects like losing loved ones to Alzheimer's, suicide and early infant loss. While this book deals with depression and other heavy mental health issues it is also uplifting and ultimately a hopeful story about the power of community, friendship and kindness to our fellow humans who are going through tough times. Great on audio and full of some shocking twists. This is the best book I've read since The measure by Nikki Erlick. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!

I won’t go too deep with my review because I don’t want to give away too much. I could not wait to start reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗢’𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯! Obviously, the reason these four strangers are brought together is heavy as it is surrounded by grief, in its many forms. I found the story to be beautifully built upon multiple short chapters, POVs, and the stages of grief. The individuals in this book are fictional, but they felt so real and relatable. I can imagine each reader would have at least one character they would be drawn to or see themselves portrayed in as behind each character, there’s a story to be told, a mystery to be solved, and ultimately a loss to be grieved. Seriously enjoyed this debut novel so much and would recommend it if you are in a space to read about loss, grief, but also friendship and found family.

Unfortunately this book was just way too slow for me. I didn't love the format, I wish we knew more earlier so that I could have been more invested in the characters. The way it was I found myself skimming their therapy sessions because I just didn't understand the point of their tangents. Not for me.

I think I read this one at the wrong time, because it just wasn’t hitting for me right now. That being said, from an objective perspective this is a very well written story with an excellent twist that really threw me and made me appreciate the slower build leading up to it. I enjoyed the multiple points of view and the depth we got to know the characters. The character development is excellent and the way their emotions are written is very relatable. I enjoyed this author’s writing style and will definitely be reading her next release.

THE SEVEN O’CLOCK CLUB by Amelia Ireland drew me in from the start. Four deeply damaged, grieving individuals are brought together to participate in a revolutionary therapeutic treatment under the direction of Genevieve, their group leader. On the surface, these strangers have nothing in common and each is hesitant to open up about the circumstances that derailed their lives.

As Mischa, Freya, Victoria, and Callum begin to participate, I was captivated by their stories. The rawness, the pain, the hopelessness were all visceral. Each carries such a profound and heavy burden. Slowly the individuals begin to morph into an interconnectedness where their potential healing becomes dependent on each other.

And then … one of the most unexpected, knock your sock off plot twists takes the book in an entirely unanticipated direction. I was floored and utterly gobsmacked. All I can say is …. WOW!!! Saying anything more would cheat future readers out of a phenomenal reading experience. Amelia Ireland deserves a standing ovation for one of the most jaw dropping, creative twists in recent memory. This book is a stunner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I had no clue what to think when I received this book from Netgalley but I am so glad that I had the chance to read this beautiful story. The story focuses on four individuals who are all dealing with grief and not able to move on from it. They are brought together by Genieve, a therapist who has a theory on a new way to handle grief. I loved this story and how each character worked through their grief and the relationships they form with each other. It was a very unique story and one that really hit a soft spot in my heart.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an absolutely fabulous debut novel! This author took an extremely creative premise and brought the characters to life. The author really handled grief in a gentle way. I was invested in each characters’ story and found myself getting attached to each of them in different ways. Four completely different personalities coming together in a grief support group and just when you thought you had it figured out , something very unexpected happens and it takes the book to the next level. Loved the ending !

Highly recommend this one !

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of The Seven O'Clock Club.

Yiiiii---kes! I hate writing reviews for books I did not enjoy. I don't like being so critical of a person's hard work and achievements. But...... this one was rough. It was so slow. There are four people who agree to an experimental therapy group. We get all of their view points as they each narrate their own chapters. All of them have had "BIG" events in their lives that have led them to this point. We find out the first two events around the 30% mark and it was very underwhelming. Around the 60% mark we get the second two events and again I was underwhelmed. They were a bit bigger than the first two, but still not a great reveal.

Let me start this next part by saying that I can suspend disbelief up to a certain point. But The Seven O'Clock Club was just asking way too much of me. I wasn't invested in the characters enough to carry me through the story. This one just didn't do it for me. :(

This book falls under the category of a what-did-I-just-read book. Perhaps if I had looked at the summary or Goodreads before I read it, I might not have been so surprised by the premise of the book. The premise of the book only came out in the second half and it was not something that I had picked up on or guessed and I am not entirely sure if that was me not picking up on clues or the author not providing any along the way.
For me, the book picked up a good deal when I understood what was happening in the second half and finished that whole second half last night over dinner as I waited to go to an event. There was that much of a difference in my pace of reading in the first half versus the second, which may have detracted from a five star, versus a four star rating. In other words, I would probably rate the first half three stars and the second five, coming out to four on average.
There was good character development throughout the book and I enjoyed the different characters and how they played out.
This was the first book by Ms. Ireland, and I think that also factors into my review because it does speak well of her when her first book is so intriguing if not perfect. I look forward to seeing what she does in the future.
I am not saying more about the plot because that would be a spoiler.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Berkeley Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this novel.

Four strangers are brought together to participate in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts. The concept and commitment seem reasonable enough; the group is to meet at seven o'clock for four weeks.

Genevieve, the group leader and psychologist is testing a new group treatment format which explores alternate ways to navigate the process of grief. The group participants could not be dissimilar: Victoria (52) is a senior law firm partner and skeptical by nature, Mischa (20) is a CSR for an insurance firm, Callum (29) is well..a rock star, and Freya (31) works in interior design. In order to be successful for all, the group needs to build trust and share grief stories. The evolution of each character through the stages of grief (as outlined by section header) Shock, Grief, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance, Transition is amazing...BUT WAIT! There is a plot twist that you will not see coming (no spoilers here) that will shake up each participant. Very enjoyable read..maybe have some kleenix handy.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC.

4.5 stars. Okay, I did NOT intend to read this in one sitting. And yet here I am, having powered through this book and feeling like I’ve been on a cathartic journey along with the characters of this story. I’ll admit, the genre tags made me curious about this book. Romance, sci-fi, and women’s lit - how do those all go together?

I tend to skip books about grief - as my own can be triggered by the drop of a hat - but this wasn’t overwhelming. In fact, it was actually pretty useful dialogue that I may use the next time my grief is overwhelming.

So not only did this book bring together a collection of genres AND teach me a lesson, but it also completely captivated me from beginning to end. The only reason this book isn’t the full 5 stars is because the sci-fi portion of the story didn’t really kick in until maybe 2/3s of the way through - though, in hindsight, it might’ve much earlier.

I hope this book blows up and more people fall in love with it just like I have.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Ireland, and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alll the feeels for this emotional ride of a book! I absolutely loved reading The Seven O’Clock Club. It was a bit of a slow start, however the twist made the whole book for me and my jaw drop too - I did not see that coming. I’m so happy I got the chance to read this one early. Don’t miss it - it’s a great read with a wonderful message throughout

Grief looks different for everyone, and this book does a powerful job of showing the many ways people respond to loss. And when I say loss, I don’t just mean death—this story explores a range of experiences that can leave us grieving. The four individuals in the grief support group were chosen for a reason, though they don’t know it at first. What begins as a space for healing gradually turns into something deeper—an unexpected, unshakable bond between strangers who become friends.

Week by week, as they open up and share their stories, the group’s leader quietly takes notes and guides the discussion. But behind the scenes, they’re hiding a secret that doesn’t come to light until Chapter 50. At first, I couldn’t believe it—but as the story unfolded, I began to see where the author was heading. That revelation didn’t just shift the story’s direction—it completely transformed how the characters understood their grief, and even made me reflect on my own perceptions of loss.

I won’t give anything away, but be ready—Chapter 50 and everything that follows is full of surprises. The twist was not only unexpected but deeply thought-provoking.

The Seven O’Clock Club, the debut novel by Amelia Ireland, is a book about four strangers who meet in a grief support group. At the first meeting, the therapist asks each member to share a happy memory from their childhood; at the second, they discuss how their life changed before and after the death they are grieving.

I couldn’t help wonder, a little impatiently, what actually happened to the three women and one man who make up the quartet. At long last, they tell their stories. By this time, the members have bonded and even started seeing each other on the “outside.”

Admittedly, I have no personal experience with group therapy, but it seemed highly unlikely to me that relationships could blossom in such a short time… and when the patients began to realize how much better they felt simply by sharing their experiences? It’s therapy, not magic. The characters were so well-drawn, however, that I couldn’t stop reading the novel (in fact, I finished it in a single sitting). And then, about three-quarters of the way through the book, there’s a revelation about the people involved that upends everything, as the reader learns that they are not, in fact, random strangers; they were each chosen specifically for this group, and have something significant in common. It’s kind of a crazy twist, but it’s a fascinating one that puts everything that happened in the first part of the book in a completely different light.

Mischa is a young woman who has been paralyzed by grief ever since her mother died. Freya is so broken that she faints at the first meeting. Callum is a pop star who has been dealing with substance abuse; his label has given him an ultimatum to get therapy or else. And Victoria was not close to her own now-deceased parents, so she can’t quite figure out why she’s there; her husband talked her into it, and she loves him, thus she agreed to go.

If this book sounds like a huge downer, it’s not, really. It winds up being pretty life-affirming, and should appeal to fans of Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People or The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Victoria, Callum, Freya, and Mischa don't know each other until they meet for the first time with Genevieve for a new kind of group grief therapy. While all skeptical and guarded, they coming to coming back for all the sessions and start to open up to each other and the possibility of a happier future.

When they learn the shocking reason why they were all chosen to be part of this particular group, it threatens to unravel what they've gained and tests their newfound relationships as they decide if they are brave enough to take the next step on their grief journey.

“Of all the emotions that humans have the capacity to feel, grief is by far the most penetrative and long-lasting.”

4.5 stars! Ok now THIS is why I do not like to DNF. This book simply blew me away…because I stuck with it. It started off very slow and I wasn’t invested or even sure of where it was going. I felt like I could have easily stepped away and not felt compelled to pick it back up. Four strangers all suffering from overwhelming grief meet to what? Help each other heal? Experiment with therapy? Is there a hidden agenda? Do they have an unknown connection?

I don’t want to say too much because going in blind is the best way to fully immerse yourself in and absorb this story. But holy hell is there a twist that’ll knock your socks off. Then after that it’s full speed ahead and I couldn’t put it down!

If you have ever suffered from profound grief for any reason then I think you’ll find some solace in this story. My heart needs a moment to recover.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Seven O’Clock Club:⁣
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Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner⁣
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“Perhaps that’s why I’d always been so relentlessly positive: because if ever I’d stopped to question things, I might have found myself giving answers I didn’t want to hear.”⁣
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Y’all. I was wondering when the magical realism was coming in. I literally guessed the element and wrote in my review “spoiler: it didn’t happen”. Ten minutes later, my guess was 100% accurate so I just had to delete my entire paragraph about the magical realism part. 😂 It really did happen and it’s exactly what I needed it to be. Bravo. (and yay me for guessing correctly haha) ⁣
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I loved this book so much. There’s so much about grief and loss, but also just finding yourself and having strength. The epilogue had me in tears (happy tears) and I truly loved this book.⁣
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Audio was phenomenal. It’s a full cast which I freaking love when you have multiple POVs. Each person has a distinct voice, which is what I needed to get through.⁣
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I knew I would love this based off the premise, but didn’t realize I would love it so much. This is up there for a favorite of the quarter, so please check it out when it’s out on the 15th!