In "Seven Days of Us" by Francesca Hornak, the Birch family is forced to spend Christmas together in quarantine due to eldest daughter Olivia's return from treating patients of a deadly disease outbreak in Africa. Each family member is harboring secrets, leading to a week full of tension, revelations, and family drama. The novel delves into the complexities of family relationships, balancing light-hearted moments with heavier themes, set against the backdrop of the holiday season.

The book unfolds over the course of seven days, with each chapter presenting a different family member's perspective on the events that transpire during their time in quarantine. As the family grapples with their hidden truths and confronts their past and present issues, the story navigates through humor, heartwarming moments, and unexpected twists, offering a character-driven narrative that explores the dynamics of a dysfunctional yet relatable family.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed and flawed, each with their own secrets; they navigate familial tensions that lead to personal growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is witty and humorous, interspersed with emotional depth, featuring alternating perspectives of the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a dysfunctional family forced into a week-long quarantine during Christmas, where secrets are revealed and relationships are tested.

Setting:

The story is set in the Birch family's ancestral home during Christmas, emphasizing the tensions of a quarantine situation.

Pacing:

The pacing begins slowly but gathers momentum as the story progresses, aligned with the unfolding secrets and family dynamics.

Olivia knows what they are doing is stupid. If seen, they will be sent home—possibly to a tribunal. Never mind that to touch him could be life-threatening. But who will see them? The beach is deserted...

Notes:

The Birch family is quarantined during Christmas for the first time in years.

Eldest daughter Olivia is a doctor returning from treating a deadly virus in Liberia.

Emma, the mother, keeps her cancer diagnosis a secret from her family to avoid ruining Christmas.

Andrew, the father, discovers he has an illegitimate son named Jesse.

Phoebe, the younger daughter, is self-centered and focused on her upcoming wedding.

Olivia hides her romantic relationship with a fellow doctor from her family.

The novel explores themes of family dysfunction and communication issues.

Throughout the story, family secrets are revealed, leading to emotional breakthroughs.

The book is structured with each day of quarantine told from different characters' perspectives.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book may contain triggers related to cancer, infectious diseases, family conflict, and emotional trauma.

Has Romance?

The book includes elements of romance primarily through Olivia's relationships, but it is not the main focus.

From The Publisher:

A family can't escape their secrets when they're forced to spend a week in quarantine in this "sharply funny" (People) novel-an Indie Next and #1 Library Reads Pick!

It's Christmas, and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew's elder daughter-who is usually off saving the world-will be joining them at Weyfield Hall. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. She's just returned from treating an epidemic abroad and has been told she must stay in quarantine for a week…and so too should her family.

For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity, and forced into each other's orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of first-world problems.

As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.

In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who's about to arrive….

Ratings (5)

Loved It (3)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (10):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (5)

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About the Author:

Francesca Hornak is a journalist and writer, whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Red. Seven Days of Us is her debut novel. Visit her online at twitter.com/FrancescaHornak.

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Seven Days of Us