'Seven Days In June' by Tia Williams: You cannot outrun yourself

Family means different things to different people, evoking emotions shaped by experiences and upbringing. For Shane, in Tia Williams's Seven Days in June, family is about total acceptance and belonging—a connection that eclipses everything.

This second-chance romance follows Shane and Genevieve, two deeply traumatised souls whose childhoods shape their adult lives. One eventful June, they meet in high school and connect over their pain and shared sense of being misfits. For seven days, they exist in a world only they understand. Their undeniable connection later fuels their writing careers, each creating stories inspired by those crucial seven days together.

Genevieve—later known as Eva—was raised by a single mother who was too preoccupied with survival to be emotionally present. Constantly moving from city to city, Eva never had roots, stability, or close friendships. Feeling unseen and unheard, she resorted to self-harm, trying to grasp a sense of control in her chaotic world.

“She was tired. Tired of being sick, tired of her mouth getting her in trouble, tired of moving, tired of fighting off the kind of men who thought mothers and daughters were a package deal, and tired of hating who she was.”

Motherhood, mothering, and generational trauma are central themes in this book. Williams artfully demonstrates how these patterns shape the lives of Lizette (Eva's mother), Eva, and Audre—Eva’s brilliant daughter. Lizette, who grew up in an emotionally barren home, unknowingly repeats the same cycle of neglect when she becomes a mother.

Determined not to make the same mistakes, Eva swears to break the cycle. She refuses to let Audre feel unloved or unseen.

“I cried for two weeks when I found out I was having a daughter. I was terrified she’d be like me. My only goal is making sure Audre’s world is unicorns and rainbows. And it is. My mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother? They're all crazy, and it runs in my family. But it stopped with me.”

Shane, on the other hand, grows up feeling rootless and unworthy. Shuffled between foster homes, juvenile prisons, and homelessness, he internalises the belief that he doesn’t deserve love or stability. Despite becoming a celebrated author, he is constantly running—from his past, connection, and himself. Shane feels deeply and sees everything. To numb the pain, alcohol and drugs become his refuge.

"I have been roaming around forever, and I have never been anywhere I wasn't itching to leave."

Fifteen years after that eventful June, Shane returns to Eva, hoping to finally explain what happened and maybe find a home while at it.

Sometimes, healing requires confronting where we come from. We must accept the history that shaped us and learn from it. The people before us leave pieces of themselves within us, and it is entirely up to us to decide which parts to embrace.

Eva’s female ancestors never had luck with genuine love—love that accepts you for who you are, love that does not break your spirit with every chance it gets. Eva’s mother insists that the women in their family are cursed in love, and for a long time, Eva believes it. But does she have to? She has a choice.

“Whatever curse had befallen her foremothers, Eva had broken it. She was in love with a man who embraced everything about her. She just didn't know if she had the faith to accept it.”

Beyond love and trauma, Seven Days in June thoughtfully explores life with an invisible disability. Eva battles chronic migraines—an illness that shapes her existence but never defines her. She pushes through the pain, refusing to let it stop her from achieving greatness.

As someone who has known a person with the same condition, I recognise the silent battles—the friendships lost, the isolation that comes from wondering if others will ever understand your pain and whether they will stay—the pain of watching your life go by without being able to be part of it.

Williams argues that vulnerability is the key to genuine connection. We can only receive the support we need from those around us by openly embracing our struggles.

Though its characters endure deep pain, Seven Days in June is ultimately a story of love, passion, family, and creativity. As in life, the sun and rain coexist, and pain and joy are intertwined. Williams masterfully weaves heartbreak with humour, creating characters who feel undeniably real.

Readers will walk away with hope—for love, healing, and second chances. This book reminds us that love is not a destination you must reach but a continuous journey of learning and relearning each other. To make it last, we must be fearless enough to hold on to each other, even as we grow.

Jane Shussa is passionate about books, coffee, nature, and travel. She serves as a Senior Digital Communications Officer for Twaweza East Africa.