Four strangers are brought together in an experimental therapeutic group to heal their broken hearts.

This review is slightly biased as I run therapeutic groups for a living. So give me a book involving that and I’m typically sold. This one truly captured the heart of therapeutic groups and how group members can sync together and help each other heal.

The magical realism component doubles as a major plot twist and it is a shockkk I never saw coming! This was such a great little book with so many elements (tears, laughter, nail biting, basically all the human emotions).

The Seven O’clock Club by Amelia Ireland is about four strangers who come together to do group counseling with a therapist called Geneva they’re all very different one is taciturn her name‘s Victoria and she doesn’t believe she belongs there, up next is Fraya she is grieving and has cut all ties with her husband and family the third is the youngest of the group who is a grieving daughter Mischa, and last but not least is the rockstar Callum. All of them agree to meet every Tuesday at 7 o’clock for four weeks for a new therapeutic counseling group for those who are grieving. Everybody said somethings they don’t belong there and some believe they belong there but just don’t want to go. Before it’s over all will be happy they went. They all form a bond some more than others but all will be unlike anything they ever experienced before. There’s romance, friendship LOL moments in a little bit of suspense but mostly it’s just unlike any therapeutic setting I’ve ever read. This book is so original and I am so scared to give anything away that’s going to ruin the story. Just know I was halfway through the story and kept thinking is this all it’s about the therapy? I still wanted to read it but just wasn’t getting with the book was about, then I got to the part where Mischa over hears Geneva saying something very intriguing not only to her but to the reader as well. I really wish I could write something very interesting about the book to make you want to read it just know there’s so much that happens between the 60% part in the end that makes this whole book worth reading although I found the whole thing interesting it got very very good and it’s a book I absolutely loved. So original and so worth the read!#NetGalley,#BerkeleyPublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #AmeliaIreland, #TheSevenO’clockClub,

This book was so good!!! I loved the relationships between all the characters. Thank you Berkley and Netgalley

The Seven O' Clock Club
By: Amelia Ireland

5 Stars

Wow. This is a powerfully emotional and grabbing read. You meet four people; Callum, Mischa, Freya, and Victoria. Each has their own story, but all are joined in the loss of someone. We all know grief comes with anger and disappointment. Genevieve, the one who brought them together, is trying to see if the group dynamic is the secret to healing. We soon see that her methods are a bit different.

Wow. Wow. Wow. When I first picked this story up, I expected tears. I got them, but I also got so much more. This story, this set of characters, brings it all. Drama, love, comic relief, remorse, sadness, forgiveness. It grabbed me early, but by the end, I was shocked and awed. It was so good. It told a story that will break you and put you back together again. I'm finding it so hard to do this review simply because some books just hit you and are hard to explain. This book did that. It's well worth the read, but if you pick it up, chances are that you won't put it down. I had to finish it. And it was simply beautiful and written thoughtfully. I really loved this story.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

WOW.

This was such an incredible book. It was impossible to put down (I love a good multi POV), and had great character building. It takes until about the midway point until the characters really open up but it allowed for a connection to form with each of them. Once I hit that halfway point I finished the whole book.

I think there is beauty in going into this a little blind. The revelation I truly did not see coming. I had ideas but my jaw dropped. I loved where I ended up going.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC.

“The Seven O’Clock Club,” the debut from Amelia Ireland, is unlike anything I’ve read as of late. Ireland has constructed a handful of characters that are struggling with grief following their respective traumatic moments, coming together for a new group therapy experiment led by Genevieve, a sometimes mysterious but understanding therapist (?). You follow Freya, Victoria, Mischa, and Callum, who (mostly) are different enough from one another (the women are written similarly enough so you may struggle to differentiate them until 40 or 50 pages in.) Since the description alludes to it, I’ll say it here. Something about this therapy is different from our typical sessions. It’s a spoiler to share any more than that, but it’s a big twist that may turn you off from the entire book. I’m in the minority.

It’s a shame that this twist happens so far into the book — 75% according to my Kindle — because it’s quite interesting and not as painful as some of the reviewers had “warned” me about. Like them, I won’t ruin it here, but you won’t see it coming … but the book wraps up fairly quickly afterwards as Ireland rushes to the end. This speaks to my main and biggest complaint: Ireland takes far too long to do a lot here. Beyond the twist, she doles out these characters’ backgrounds and what brings them here to this therapy session at a glacial pace. We know they’re suffering through traumatic things but to hold them back in ways akin to plot devices or trope-y, leads to the overall story suffering. It’s a shame since the overall message — our grief or mistakes don’t define us or our lives — is poignant.

If you can make it through the fluff and the author’s writing style and flow, Seven O’Clock is an interesting, magical realistic take on grief — how it unites us and can make us better people — that is novel in this genre (ie, not a romance.) Rounding up to 4 (but it’s a solid 3.5.) Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

A beautifully written thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that will leave you breathless! Four individuals from vastly different walks of life - Victoria, Freya, Mischa, and Callum - each struggling with devastating trauma, come together for an experimental grief therapy group led by enigmatic Genevieve Dempsey. As they navigate their complex personalities and deep-seated emotions, the group forms an unlikely bond, but secrets lurk beneath the surface.

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Amelia Ireland masterfully throws in a jaw-dropping twist! With its unique blend of magical realism, romance, and complicated character dynamics, this stunning debut is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking story with an emotional arc that will leave you laughing and reaching for tissues. With its well-developed characters, nuanced relationships, and a dash of unexpected magic, I'm already eagerly anticipating Ireland's next masterpiece. If you're a fan of books that push the boundaries of storytelling, don't miss out on this unforgettable debut!

Victoria, Freya, Mischa, and Culum lead very different lives and have each suffered devastating trauma. Needing help, they each respond to an ad for an experimental treatment group run by Genevieve. They believe they were randomly selected, but were they? As they finally start to open up to Genevieve and each other, friendships grow, and they feel they might actually be able to come to terms with their grief.

This book started out slowly then the pace picked up and, out of nowhere, comes a totally unexpected jaw-dropping twist that will blow your mind. Well done, Amelia Ireland!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc!

This book started off strong! It follows 4 people who are forced into therapy to talk about their trauma as the book goes through the 7 stages of grief. They don’t know why the psychologist has chosen them but they’re willing to do nonetheless.

If this book continued like the first 70%, it would probably be 5 stars.

However, the author threw in a crazy twist that seemed to make the story get increasingly worse. What I thought would be a realistic story of grief just seemed cliche and cheesy by the end.

Overall, I would rate this story a 3 star!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Four strangers agree to go to counseling under the supervision of Genevieve. They think that they will be undertaking an experimental therapy for their grief. Little does it change them all and the lives that they thought that they knew.

The four main characters- Freya, Callum, Mischa and Victoria, know nothing about one another. They all agree to meet once a week for four weeks. The story unfolds to be so much more than any of them realized,

The story of the four individuals, told in alternating POV, in itself is interesting. Slowly they all disclose what brought them there. And develop a bond that saves them all.

But there is more to this group, they were not chosen at random. What secrets does Genevieve have to share about why they were brought together?

This was a beautiful book, with a twist ending. I admit that I have been thinking about this book since I finished it. I am intrigued what else the author will bring us, after this captivating debut.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommend.

Grief has five stages … or is it seven? Even more? It depends on who you ask.

Genevieve Dempsey has, through various means, advertised an experimental grief therapy group that promises a “different approach” to healing based on her unique theory. Four participants are selected. Their job? Show up at 7 o’clock every Wednesday night for four weeks.

Who are they?

✦ 52 year-old Victoria: a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is, emotionally charged lawyer who takes a more skeptical stance on things.

✦ 31 year-old Freya: a kind, sensitive wife and interior designer struggling in her marriage and given to panic attacks.

✦ 20 year-old Mischa: a quiet girl prone to occasional outbursts who’s lost her sense of self after giving up so much of her own life to care for her ailing mother.

✦ 29 year-old Callum: an arrogant once-successful rock star who’s fallen from grace with his record label after spiraling from drug and alcohol abuse.

All four of these have experienced a loss or tragedy, which are only alluded to initially, but not revealed to the reader until later. I actually liked this, because it kept the focus on the four getting to know each other and bond, which they did pretty quickly despite a rough start.

Watching their wildly different personalities bounce off each other and Genevieve during the therapy process was my favorite part of the book. Dealing with intense guilt and grief, at any given moment they could be loving, sensitive, funny, combative, supportive, sarcastic, heart-warming or hostile, so be ready for ALL the emotions!

So what makes this story unique from every other work of fiction dealing with the topic of grief?

The answer comes about three quarters of the way in when one of THE best twists I’ve seen in a LONG time came. It certainly changed the course of the rest of the book! If you can be patient with the slower build-up, it’s worth the wait!

I don’t want to say too much about the specifics of the characters’ relationships with one another, because this is a book where you’ll want to discover those things for yourself. I’ll only say that the love that grows between them was heart-warming and such a special thing to witness.

I’ve never read a book quite like this one, and in a sea of books that struggle to be unique, that’s about the HIGHEST compliment I can give! If you enjoy a thought-provoking book with a creative premise, complicated character dynamics, magical realism, romance, and an emotional arc that will have you both laughing and reaching for the tissues, I whole-heartedly recommend this stunning debut by Amelia Ireland. I can’t wait to see what she thinks up next!

I enjoyed the multiple perspectives. The writing felt immature at times, however, and I wish the story had hooked me more from the beginning.

THis is a book about a group of people brought together for an experimental grief therapy book. Each has a experienced loss, but in different ways. The characters have different personalities and approach the process differently. In the second half, a twist is revealed. At first, I was annoyed by this twist, but I continued reading. The twist allowed for additional development of the characters.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: They are all stuck-up on either their mother or a mother figure, neonatal death, drug addictions, reincarnation, death and grief. Swearing.
The first few hours of reading reminded me of East of Anywhere by Rick Thorpe. Five people, very much different from each other, get together every week. Mischa is really young and lacks life experience; she's bubbly, overeager, loves her mother to death - literally, but most of all, inappropriate and getting on my nerves. Freya is clueless to other people's vibes and makes many wrong choices; it's really sad. Callum is pressured on all sides, can't really take it, loses the love of his life but ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, twice. Such a 180°! Victoria is the most rigid one, really needs the therapy, and has the most support; she carries her name well. At 72%, there is a twist to the story. At 75%, it starts getting weird and mostly predictable and/or not surprising until the end.

4.5🌟
A support group like no other.
Four individuals, all suffering from their own personal grief, have been brought together to participate in an unconventional support group run by a woman named Genevieve.

It takes time before they let their walls down and begin to share their stories. Their individual reasons for attending this group aren't disclosed until about midway through the book. But that was ok, it gave me the chance to bond with the characters before their big reveal.

Then, grip your kindles tightly because there’s a twist that will shock and rock your world. I literally said out loud, “Well…I did NOT see that coming!”

And that’s all you're getting from me! Go in blind as I did and I think you’ll have the best experience.

I loved all four characters, and of course Genevieve. I grew to feel and understand their pain and wanted the best outcome for each one. Brilliantly plotted…well executed!

This was an extremely clever and moving debut. I’m always looking for something a bit out of the box and this fit the bill perfectly! Looking forward to seeing what this very talented author comes up with next!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley

The concept grabbed my attention, but it failed in its execution. The pace was too slow, and I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing was off at times. Sadly, each character felt the same, as their voices were not distinct. I was also not a fan of the twist. I was expecting so much more. The attempt at a romance felt forced. The book could have benefited from a bit more editing, and perhaps some sensitivity readers. The book was more paranormal than I was led to believe by the blurb.

This book was a two-star read for most of it due to the writing being very trite and the four “different” characters all having the same voice. But then the twist happened and it was…so dumb. The whole plot was just silly and the “wait we can’t do this…except maybe…let’s try! But we can’t do THAT…except maybe…” random rules were unnecessarily complicated. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but this just wasn’t it.

"The Seven O'Clock Club" is the story of four strangers suffering a loss they can't get past on their own, brought together for a new type of grief therapy:

Victoria - 41, lawyer; acerbic and openly cynical.
Freya - 31, interior designer; appears sickly and disoriented.
Mischa - 20, Insurance CSA; lonely and confused.
Culum -29, rock artist; cocky, and craving booze and drugs.

Once a week, group sessions occur at 7:00 PM. led by Genevieve, the group facilitator, who poses questions to be answered by each participant in a round-robin style.

The group slowly melded, interacted, and became comfortable with one another. This is when Genevieve threw the group a curve...

"The Seven O'Clock Club" had a slow start, but not in a bad way. Getting to know the characters and the storyline takes a minute, and Ireland took the right time. The storyline is creative, the writing has a simple, easy flow, and both kept me flipping the pages.

That leaves the characters my favorite part of this story. All five were interesting, but I liked Victoria and Cullum best. This story wouldn't be as enjoyable as it is without either one. They are both unlikable at first, and then something changes all that. Are you curious yet?

The story lost a little of its magic toward the end, the last 15%, when it became too predictable. That's just me, though, and it is magical realism. So who's looking, right?

Lastly, I want to share why I chose to read this book. I have been struggling with grief for almost two years now from my sister's passing. I am working through it with help, including friends and family, but it becomes overwhelming sometimes and surfaces when I least expect it. My takeaway from this book is you are never alone in your feelings, and talking to others and sharing your story is genuinely beneficial.

"The Seven O'Clock Club" is an impressive debut novel, and I look forward to more from this talented author!

4.25⭐

Thank you to Berkley and Amelia Ireland for the DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Seven O'Clock Club by Amelia Ireland

Genevieve is leading a grief group made up of Freya, Mischa, Callum and Victoria. These four are stuck in their grief, unable to face what has happened, unable to move on. The four think they chose to join this grief group but there is more behind them being in this group than they can know. Despite the four being so very different, it's important that these four make up the group. This is a first of its kind experiment and Genevieve is going out on some very shaky limbs with her breaking from the protocol she is supposed to follow. She wants to help these people move past their grief, there is so much at stake if they don't do so.

At first it was hard to like Victoria and Callum. Victoria is a lawyer who takes no prisoners. Her words hurt and she doesn't care...until she does care. She finds she is becoming attached to the other three although the therapy leader seems like an unknown wild card. Callum probably wins the award, from me, for the most F-bombs uttered by a character. If the guy wasn't F-bombing he'd be mute. He's rich, famous, spoiled, had reached the top and had become bored, until the "thing" happened. Now he's a mess, as are the other three group members.

I had an idea of what might be going on by about the first 5th of the book...surely not, I told myself. But I was right. The story was predictable to me although I didn't trust my judgement, yet I enjoyed the story a lot. I cherish likeable characters, character growth, and comradery and this story has that in spades. Once this group bonds, none of the four wants the others to suffer any more than necessary. There is a limit to how much Genevieve can help these four but she'll break the rules for them despite the trouble it will cause for her. I'll be reading this new author again, after this debut offering.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.5 ⭐️
DENIAL-ANGER-BARGAINING-DEPRESSION -ACCEPTANCE

These are the five most recognizable stages of GRIEF, but not everyone shares the same journey toward healing and sometimes a person can get stuck in one of the stages.

Genevieve Dempsey is a therapist who is leading a “first of its kind” experimental treatment designed to heal the broken hearts of those who find themselves in this predicament.

To participate the subjects have to agree to attend at least 4 sessions on 4 consecutive Wednesday nights at 7 O’Clock PM.

Four strangers with seemingly “nothing in common” -Freya-Mischa-Callum and Victoria will be her first patients. The story unfolds from their alternating POV’s as they move through the process in their weekly sessions and become more than just confidants.

But, Genevieve may have to flexible if she hopes to deem this experience a success….because these four were not selected at random.

I have been seeking out unique stories, having grown tired of the endless “locked room” mysteries that dominated last year’s thriller market, and this one definitely DID fit the bill, with short chapters moving the story along at a quick pace.

Because I wasn’t shocked by the reveal, this didn’t score as high for me as it has for some other reviewers- but it is definitely a DEBUT that I was pleased to discover.

If you are intrigued you can pick up a copy on April 15, 2025.

Thank You to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!