Seven Days of Us
the most hilarious and life-affirming novel about a family in crisis
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4.3 • 55 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
'One of the best books of the year' Hello!
'If you are struggling with self-isolation in the family home, then this is the novel for you' Abbie Greaves, author of The Silent Treatment
The joyful, sharply observed and life-affirming story about being quarantined with your loved ones. Also a Radio 2 Bookclub pick.
It's the holidays, and the Birch family is gathering for the first time in years.
Olivia, the eldest daughter, has returned from treating an epidemic abroad and must go into quarantine for seven days. Her mother has decided it's the perfect opportunity to spend some 'special time' together. Her youngest sister wholeheartedly disagrees. Her father isn't allowed an opinion.
When no one can leave the house and no one can enter, quaratine for the Birches feels like an eternity.
Especially when they're all harbouring secrets. One of which is about to come knocking at their door...
Rave reviews for Seven Days of Us:
'LOVED it! Warm and humane, funny and sad, with a great, twisty plot, Seven Days of Us is absolute pleasure reading from beginning to end' Marian Keyes
'I loved this comic drama...the plot is genius...and the results are hilarious and touching' Daily Mail
'One of the best family dramas you'll ever read' Best
'Francesca Hornak is hilariously funny with characters that jump off the page, grab you, and just won't let go' Rosamund Lupton, bestselling author of Sister
'Sharply observed by Hornak's satirical eye, this has "Working Title film deal" written all over it' Glamour
'Expertly captures the joys and the tensions of spending any time with those who know you best. It thoroughly deserves to be this year's big Christmas hit' The i
'Absorbing, insightful and immensely enjoyable' Laura Barnett, bestselling author of The Versions of Us
'Compassionate, witty and wise' Saskia Sarginson, bestselling author of The Twins
'I LOVED Seven Days of Us. The story swallowed me up. It has all the makings of your classic rom-com, with characters that are both remarkable yet wonderfully relatable' The Unmumsy Mum
'Touching, funny, emotionally intelligent, Seven Days of Us is pure pleasure from beginning to end. It's stylishly written and totally engrossing. I really, really loved it' Adele Geras
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Time with family is always a highlight of the festive season, but it’s safe to say that more than a few days in close proximity can send even the closest units into a frenzy. Here, we join the Birch family as they’re forced to spend seven days together—in quarantine. Loaded with fairly shocking twists, this pacy drama is also a relatable and moving family tale. Imagine One Day meets The Holiday with a touch of soap opera melodrama and you’re on the right—and winning—track. Broadsheet journalist Francesca Hornak brings the feel-good humour and festive undertones normally reserved for romance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hornak's smart, delightfully funny, page-turning debut takes a posh, dysfunctional British family two parents, two adult daughters, each with a secret slaps on a week's worth of quarantine at Christmastime, and adds a dash of pathos as well as a large helping of humor. Do-gooder Olivia Birch is back from treating an Ebola-like epidemic in Liberia hence the catalyst for the family quarantine and doesn't want anyone to know about her affair with one of her coworkers. Andrew, her father and a former Beirut war correspondent, has just received an email from Jesse Robinson, a son in the U.S. he never knew he had from a one-night stand in Lebanon years ago. Andrew's wife, Emma, recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is determined not to ruin Christmas by spilling the beans about her illness. Daughter Phoebe has just accepted a proposal from her swanky boyfriend, George, but she's not sure she truly loves him. Jesse travels to the U.K. to meet his biological father and the ensuing coincidences, mishaps, arguments, and opportunities for self-reflection upend the Birch family relationships. As the story unfolds from various viewpoints, Hornak imbues each character with a singularity that underscores her spot-on insight about human nature.
Customer Reviews
Definitely worth a read
Really enjoyed this book. Well written.