What do readers think of The Seven O'Clock Club by Amelia Ireland? Write your own review.

Debut authors have my heart, knowing what my own daughter goes through as she puts her soul on paper, hoping someone bites. It's not easy.

The premise of this debut novel doesn't sound unique but you'll need patience. It begins with four people, all grieving 'someone,' unknown for a long time, working as a group with a counselor.

Candidly, I wasn't sure at first if I was invested enough to continue but oh, I am so so glad that I did! The four grieving humans slowly but surely wrapped their lives into my heart. And the twist at about 2/3rds through was MIND-BLOWING.

Ireland's writing is solid, her dialogue is well-written, occasionally too much description but it is in the service of furthering her characters' development which is a good thing.

This book made me THINK and FEEL, as well as consider my own life choices, the people I have lost, and how my life has been impacted by their absence. This book reminded me that we are not static characters; we grow and change with the movement in our lives. And oh, how I love a book that lingers.

I will be pushing this book when it comes out in April, and I will be in line for her next story; well done, Amelia Ireland!

I came to know the characters in this book slowly, as layer after layer was revealed. I enjoy character driven books! I also like novels when I care about the characters. The more I learned about each character, the more I understood them.
I was taken by surprise by the revelation towards the end of the book -- in a good way. I was given something to think about... and I continue to ponder.

A cleverly written book. I was drawn into the lives of the 4 characters in the experiment. What was it about the group leader, it seemed that she wasn't sure of herself. The twist halfway through kept me even more curious. Maybe there are some other books that experiment with this subject, but I haven't read them. A throughly illustrated fascinating view of grieving. Expanded levels where one might find it.

Well- written story of four strangers and their struggles.
The characters are well developed and interesting.
This is a pleasant read.

As a retired psychologist and current hospice volunteer I was immediately drawn into The Seven O'Clock Club. During my career I facilitated numerous grief therapy sessions and was interested in learning about Genevieve's experimental approach. I agree with the recently published reviews in First Impressions regarding good character development and writing style. If you are considering reading this book I encourage you to do so. I think the unexpected twists in the plot which are revealed in the later half of the book will surprise you. It is my hope this compelling story will offer you hours of contemplation long after you have finished reading the book.

The characters in this story are English. Five strangers, four members of a group plus their leader, come together with the stated purpose of dealing with loss and grief. As they speak about their lives, they struggle with guilt, sadness, anger, love, etc., and new truths and connections come to light.

This book truly keeps the reader guessing. From the beginning, the author hints that there is more to her story than meets the eye.

There is some magical realism here, the kind that gave this reader something to fantasize about: what if all of this were real? (As a therapist who has led many bereavement groups, I'd like to ask the group leader some questions myself!)

Each chapter is narrated by one of the group members as he/she participates in the group. Thus we come to know and care about them as individuals.

I recommend this book for its creativity, humor, and warmth. I enjoyed it, and believe it would provide book groups with much material for a lively discussion!

I really enjoyed the initial part of The Seven O'Clock Club where the story focused on four strangers who, working with a grief counselor, slowly and with heartfelt support of each other come to heal their own hearts. The characters were well developed as were the friendships and even a bit of romance. But I found the plot twist, which came toward the end and without any foreshadowing to be quite a leap. Maybe if hints had been woven in, beyond the introduction, I would have been able to make this leap. I do like how Ireland writes and will read another when available.

Grief is the strongest of emotions; it can hold people back, but it can, under the right circumstances,help a person become a stronger, kinder human. Amelia Ireland's debut novel, The Seven O'Clock Club, explores what happens when four people, who can't seem to move on from their different tragic circumstances, are brought together in one therapy group. Ireland is deft with character creation. They are flawed, but you root for them, even in their worst moments. However, this is more than a story about the power of the human spirit or the usefulness of therapy, it gives a gift of hope, when near the end, truths are revealed and decisions are made. I was quickly turning the pages as I came to care deeply about each character. It does stall a bit in the last chapters, but it makes up for it in the epilogue. An excellent novel for those dealing with the challenge of letting go.