I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

I liked PARTS of it a lot, but ultimately I despaired of some of the family members' life choices and their relationships with one another. I find it difficult to enjoy books where characters are not likeable or redeemable in some way. these people had a lot of emotional problems and trouble connecting for affluent white people. they also had ZERO RESPECT for quarantine procedures which, as a germaphobe, I am COMPLETELY anal about. But the basic premise is interesting - a family trapped in the ancestral manse and all of their lives are falling apart. I just wanted the plot to be better and them as individuals to be better - better people and better at following quarantine. step 1: DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE.

For the first time in years the Birch family will be under the same roof for Christmas. They will be convening for a week of festivities at their country estate, Weyfield Hall, and they will be under quarantine. Olvia, the oldest daughter of Emma and Andrew Birch will be just arriving home from a humanitarian mission treating patients with a highly contagious plague. She will be required to be quarantined for seven days once she returns to England. Emma is thrilled to have her family all under the same roof, her younger daughter, Phoebe is newly engaged and she is looking forward to some wedding planning during the quarantine to keep her mind off of her own troubles, but Phoebe receives some news that will ruin their whole holiday. Andrew, Emma's husband, is also glad to have his daughters home, but he has been distracted and distant because of his past coming back to haunt him. What will his family say if they were to find out his secret? While the whole Birch family may be under the same roof their secrets are keeping them apart.

Yes, I did it. I read the first Christmas book of the season and I am not sorry one little bit. I love Christmas and am really looking forward to this year's holiday season. The Birch family holiday reminded me a lot of the last Christmas I spent with my whole family for Christmas. We weren't quarantined, but we were stuck due to an old-fashioned Iowa blizzard. And we were not in a large English manor, but a small four bedroom home. Collectively I liked the Birch family, but individually they all got on my nerves a bit. Think Family Stone meets Downton Abbey. Phoebe was whiny and self-centered. Olivia was judgemental and arrogant. Their parents were so disconnected from each other it was hard to feel empathy. By the end of the book a lot of the issues in this family had been resolved, but not in a "cheesy Christmas story" kind of way. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS I really found myself loving the Birch family by the end of the book and this is one that I can see being picked up for a big screen movie.

Bottom Line - Seven Days of Us was a great way to kick off the holiday season. Not only are the characters all unique and engaging, the setting of Weyfield Hall is something right out of Downton Abbey. Definitely worth the read if you are already humming Christmas carols under your breath!

Details:
Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
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Pages: 368
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: 10/17/2017
Buy it Here!

When I was pitched this book, I read that summary and imagined "light and frivolous." While there is a lightness to the book, frivolous it is not. Hornak touches on infidelity, homosexuality, cancer, deadly viruses, adoption, abandoned dreams, and complicated relationships within families.

Sometimes when I sit down to write a review, I think it might just be easier to start giving ratings and leave it at that. This one would get, for example, three of five stars. Which, as it turns out, makes it harder to review than a book that got one star or a book that got five stars. So why isn't this a five-star book?
Because the characters are somewhat caricatures. Andrew, for example, is the crotchety middle-aged man who dreams have been squashed and who takes it out on the restaurants he now reviews. Phoebe is very much the pampered younger daughter who believes the world revolves around her. And her fiancé, George, and his family are the stereotypical upper class English family, with the macho, sporty men. To some extent, those tight characters forced Hornak to follow particular plot lines; more rounded characters would have made some of the action less predictable. It might also have made it easier to like the characters and this is a book that needs readers to like the characters.
Because, while the writing is perfectly acceptable, there was nothing that particularly exceptional about it. Some of it is predictable. There weren't passages that made me think, "wow" or "that's beautiful." If I'm giving a book five stars (theoretically), it has to have that kind of writing.
I was never entirely sure how I was supposed to feel about one of the love stories and I wasn't clear if Hornak meant for the reader to wonder or if that was just the way I felt about it.
More importantly, I suppose, it what makes this book rise about a one-star book, as in why should you read it?
Because this is a book that, despite all of those heavy subjects, mostly stays away from being overly dramatic and predictable; and it does maintain that lightness which makes it the kind of book that you can read almost any time. People who don't read a lot may not even know why that's important. But for those of us who do, we know that, sometimes, you need a book you know you're not going to carry around with you (figuratively) when you finish it. Sometimes I need a book that I can enjoy while I'm reading it and then be done with it when I'm done. That's a good thing, really it is.
There are a couple of things that really took me by surprise. One thing in particular that I did not see coming and I always love when a writer can do that without making it feel unnatural.
I don't want to give away the ending. But...this is the kind of book that you know going into is going to have a happily-ever-after ending. And then Hornak doesn't do that. Not everyone is going to come to their senses. Every relationship is not going to get tied up with a pretty bow. That made me very happy because it felt just right. And if you leave a reader feeling like the ending was just right, then you've done a job well worth a three-star rating.
*Would this one make a good book club choice? Yes, with all of those themes, there is a lot here book clubs could discuss. Plus, it might be just right for those members who get scared off by heavier books.

After daughter (Olivia) returns from treating Haag patients in Liberia, her entire family must live in quarantine for seven days over the holidays.

With each family member harboring a secret, they are in for one long week together! As if that weren't enough, a mysterious guest arrives and changes everything. With so many secrets being revealed over such a short time period, will the family bond survive intact? How will they each be affected and impacted by all of the secrets?

Set in England, the story was told from the following alternating points of view: Olivia (the doctor), Andrew (the food critic father), Emma (the mother), Phoebe (the younger sister, newly engaged to George), and Jesse (the mysterious guest from the USA). The author did a fantastic job exploring and creating an intricate and complex family dynamic. This book is best read without any further information but I will add that there's nothing like hard times to bring a family together... or tear them apart!

I very much enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, the Great Thought’s Ninja Review Team, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"It’s Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof." Over the past few months of my masters I have begun to understand what I look for in books, and it is characters. I read for well defined and well rounded characters and this book delivered ten fold. I was so drawn into this story that I read it in one sitting, feeling at the end like I was part of this family. This was such a great read, and if I wasn't already in the Christmas spirit, this would have gotten me there. Seven Days of Us is a introspective, emotional, multi-faceted read and I would highly recommend it.

“Seven Days of Us” took over my life until I finished the last page! I simply couldn’t put it down. I was captivated by the intricate storyline and the wacky family dynamics. I highly recommend it.

Olivia Burch completed her stint with her medical team in Liberia and to ensure she hadn’t contracted Haag Virus, she must remain in quarantine for 7 days. She has escaped numerous Christmas holidays with her family, but this year – they will all be quarantined together. Olivia must remain apart from Sean, her “secret” boyfriend who also just left Liberia. Her holidays will be filled with numerous hours spent with Phoebe, her younger and self-involved sister, Andrew, her father who is a persnickety writer and extremely critical food critic and her mother, Emma who just wants this Christmas to be extra special.

What could possibly go wrong with so much togetherness after so many years apart and very different personalities? Right? Can you just imagine??? Each person in the family has a secret or two and over the seven-day period these secrets are revealed. Will the week end up in a massive family feud or will their revelations bring them closer together?

I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thoughts Ninjas. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book and the style in which it was written. While I easily guessed one of the twists, the other took me completely by surprise.

Emma - the stay at home mom, Andrew - a war correspondent turned food critic dad, Olivia - the doctor daughter who's been off trying to save the world, and Phoebe - the "darling" and frivolous younger daughter with her career that still lives at home. They've grown apart over the years and they all have their secrets. But they're quarantined together for Christmas and they must learn how to live with each other again.

I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

This is the perfect example of why I dread the holidays. This book was so painful to me in so many ways, as it brought up old wounds from Christmas’ Past. And yet I couldn’t look away and needed to read it to remember that we are all dysfunctional and yet we get through and move on and find our own perfect.

If you’re thinking I didn’t enjoy this book because of its subject matter, well that would be the furthest thing from the truth. I loved it, precisely because of its subject matter. Maybe it made me feel so not alone in my suffering, maybe it made me recognize that it really isn’t as bad as I think it is, at least we aren’t forced together through quarantine. If it’s too bad I could escape to a tropical beach somewhere. Seriously though, the writing and the feelings it evoked were so stunning and the story, even though painful, was a beautiful testament to the love that these people had for each other even though it was hard to see sometimes. Such is real life for me. And lest you think I have a horrible family, I do not. They are beautiful people, but as in the story, each has their own struggles and sometimes they don’t play well with others.

I loved the setting, the old home in Norfolk, it’s surroundings, and the village were clear and real in my mind. The characters were well written, believable and while not always likeable, I came to appreciate each of them and their struggles.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of family drama. Read this one especially if you’re like me and struggle with family holiday gatherings. I think it might make all of the difference in how you feel about this years gathering. I know it will for me. I am going to love them all just a little bit harder this year.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Olivia Birch has just returned to the United States following a humanitarian trip to Africa to help treat an epidemic. She faces seven days of quarantine....with her family....at the holidays. Seven days with her parents and sister without being able to leave the house. Family secrets, jealousies and squabbles all come to the surface as the Birches face Christmas together.

I can completely identify with uncomfortable, yet joyous, holidays spent with family. Tensions, past slights, and different outlooks often clash after a couple days. I can't imagine being effectively trapped with family for seven days, unable to leave the house. Oh dear. lol. This book is witty, often funny, emotional and completely enjoyable. I found myself caught up in the Birch family drama. It seems they all have something to hide and different reasons for keeping their secrets. The truth pops up at inopportune moments. But, the Birch family is strong....stronger than they realize.

I don't usually read this sort of fiction. It's usually just too much emotional fluff for me. But, I have to say....this book was a pleasant surprise! There is drama and lots of emotion....but the story is engaging, purposeful and believable. I found myself identifying with the characters and wondering how this story would end. I didn't feel bogged down in melodrama, but enjoyed this tale of a family coming back together after years of growing apart. This is definitely a great book to read before the holidays.

Awesome book! Emotional and witty without being overdone. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. I also won a print ARC through Goodreads. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

Seven Days of Us is great! The reader can’t help being drawn in to the struggles of this family as they are quarantined together for seven days. All of the characters have their secrets that come out of the closet, and the way they come together to help each other is inspiring. Highly recommended!

~ I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. Great Thoughts’ Great Readers ninja~

There was a lot of hype surrounding this title and for good reason! This title, about the Birch family, was a roller coaster of emotion for me. The story centers around the family who are forced to quarantine together for the holidays due to the return of the eldest daughter, who was been working treating epidemic victims. The book is a light, quick read but packs an emotional punch. There are definitely some twists and turns woven in, and I highly recommend.

This is a rather unique story of the Birch family quarantined for seven days during the Christmas holiday because of daughter Olivia's work as a doctor treating the Haag virus in Liberia. A not-so-close family stuck together for SEVEN days! Should be interesting, right? Well, it was very interesting indeed with some humorous but also some sad and touching parts. It is told in the viewpoint of each family member, a few that I didn't quite like at the beginning like younger daughter Phoebe who I thought was a bit self-centered. There were a few surprising twists and revelations that I really wasn't expecting at all. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and one that I recommend.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Wow. This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. The dramatic irony looped through this book is so intense. Starting out with 5 different characters, I wasn’t sure how big a part they all would play. It’s amazing how the author was able to weave the stories of each character into a greater story about family, second chances, secrets, lies, betrayals, and much more.

While bits of the plot were predictable (George, for sure) it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. I was heartbroken at the end and found myself gasping at the last page—I needed more information about these people! How are they living post-quarantine?!

This book made me think about what it would be like should my family be thrown together in this situation. I do not think there is enough wine in the world to last me the 7 days—I’d much rather read about it.

I was fortunate to receive a copy via the Great Thoughts Ninja Review team. These thoughts are my own.

The holiday season is great. Halloween kicks it off, then Thanksgiving, then we steamroll right into Christmas. (Sometimes Christmas takes over a bit early . . .) Decorations, fairy lights, food, and family. It all seems wonderful. In theory. But what if you were stuck in a house with your entire immediate family, who you don’t exactly get along with, for seven days? And by stuck, I mean medically and legally quarantined. Francesca Hornak explores that idea in her new book Seven Days of Us, and after reading about the Birch family, I’m a bit more grateful for my own!
Olivia Birch, MD, has been away in Liberia treating people for the deadly Haag virus, which is rapidly spreading to other countries. Upon her return to England, she is required to be quarantined for seven days to make sure she doesn’t display any signs of the virus. Instead of spending Christmas alone, she decides to join her family, meaning they must all be quarantined for a week. Olivia is trying to re-acclimate to first world amenities (and first problems), her sister, Phoebe, is focused on her upcoming wedding, her dad locks himself in his office, writing restaurant reviews, and her mom, Emma, is hiding a secret that won’t stay hidden for long. And of course, there’s a mystery guest who none of them are expecting.
The story takes place over the seven days the family is in quarantine, and is told in short, alternating chapters between each of the family members and the mystery guest. This was a really fun read for me, and perfect for reading before the holidays! (Or perhaps for reading while you’re hiding in your room away from your own family . . . ) It was interesting to see how different the family members were from each other, with the differences being made even more prominent from being stuck together. There are some really funny parts (one laugh out loud for me), and Hornak keeps the suspense going by revealing bits of information throughout the book that the reader knows but not all of the characters know. The fun is in watching them all find out certain things and seeing how they react. (And seeing which secrets each family member chooses to hide, and their actions are misperceived because of that.)
In my opinion, none of the characters were very likeable, because they were written very honestly, but they are all interesting. Whether or not you agree with each character’s opinions or choices, they all remain true to themselves, and the way they behave is informed by their circumstances in life. This is a family, and families aren’t perfect. I loved peeking into their window and watching the drama unfold over a week. There is also an extra little twist at the end of the book, and I really appreciated it over a perfect, gift-wrapped ending.
Seven Days of Us is a fun, family drama that doesn’t get too deep, but offers some very interesting insights to the secrets families keep and what would happen if they were forced to stay together for a whole week.

I thought this was a good first book! I liked all the characters, each having their own issues to deal with. Much like a typical family. I did wish the book was a few chapters longer. I received this book free in exchange for a honest review from the Street Ninja!!

I'm sorry I waited so long to read this book. It was 5-star wonderful, with a mix of emotions and insights into family. This book is so well written you won't be able to put it down, and if you do it will keep calling to you to come back.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Francesca Hornak for the opportunity to read her debut novel - loved it!

This is the story of the Birch family - a stereotypical British family, not great at communication, each family member with lots of secrets and inner feelings that aren't shared. But Hornak writes each section of this book from the viewpoint of a different family member, so that we get to learn all those innermost feelings.

There is Andrew, the patriarch, a food critic for the newspaper, silently mourning his days as a war correspondent. Emma, the mom, fills her days worrying about her two daughters, slipping away from her husband. Eldest daughter, Olivia, a physician, is home from Africa after treating the Haag epidemic. Phoebe, the baby of the family, is doted on by her father and spends her time preparing for her wedding.

Olivia comes home at Christmas, forced into a 7-day quarantine period that includes her family. Being in close quarters for that time, this family must learn to deal with each other and some of those long-kept secrets.

At its heart, this is just a great family character study. How much of ourselves do we hold back from those we love? And why? Even the characters you may not like will grow on you. I was sad to see my time with the Birch family come to an end along with the quarantine!

This is an interesting story of a family that had to endure a week of quarantine together while all keeping some major secrets from each other. The characters were well developed and believable.

I will definitely watch for future books from Hornak.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

In this first novel by Francesca Hornak, she introduces us to the Birch family. When eldest daughter, foreign aid doctor Olivia returns home from Liberia where she treated victims of the deadly Haag epidemic, she and her family are quarantined for 7 days. Clearly, Olivia’s heart and mind are elsewhere and she struggles to tolerate her family’s frivolous behavior and elitist lifestyle.

The Birch family relationships are a bit tattered and priorities askew. When an unexpected guest shows up, I felt this extra oomph is just what the story needed. The Birches’ world is turned upside down and the drama ratchets up as the guest is now also quarantined with them. Secrets are exposed over the course of ‘Groundhaag Week”, in chapters written from alternating perspectives. The characters and their situations were well formed by the author, although in the beginning, the story was a bit slow and I found none of these people likable except for Phoebe, a textbook millennial with a sparkling personality. As time passed, I warmed to the others and felt empathy as they faced life-changing issues head on.

Learning factual bits about this virus and those who dedicate themselves to victims despite the high risk of their own health was an added bonus and eye opening.