Seven Days of Us

A Novel

By: Francesca Hornak

Narrated by: Jilly Bond

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....

Superb

I see lots of awards for this title in the future. This author has a long and sterling career ahead. Do not miss this book!

Would be 5 stars with a different narrator

I loved the content of this one, especially for 2020, but the narrator was kind of awful- would recommend the paper copy for this one.

Narration was poor

the accents and tone affected my view of the characters. some renditions were downright horrible, like George a nd Phoiebe

Well paced and unique story

The narrator, while having a lovely voice, made the younger characters sound wrong. Phoebe sounded like a petulant child, while George sounded like a stodgy old man. I kept trying to hear them sounding like real people instead of how she portrayed them. While she did her best with American accents, but it bugged me when she read “XOXO” from the American sister as “kisses and hugs”. Americans say “XOXO”.

The story was refreshing; a unique situation and dilemmas, though mildly predictable. Still an enjoyable listen.

Good plot for a movie

Good plot for a movie, lots a characters, all of them with secrets which are revealed during the course of a 7-day quarantine. Be prepared for bad behavior/poor decisions from almost everyone. I didn't love the narration; I think multiple narrators might have served the story better.