The Seven O'Clock Club

De: Amelia Ireland

Narrado por: Clare Corbett, Emma Gregory, Luke Francis, Nikki Patel

Four strangers are brought together to participate in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts in this surprising and heartfelt debut novel from author Amelia Ireland.

A PEOPLE MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE WEEK ∙ A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ∙ A ZIBBY OWENS MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025

Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria have nothing in common—well, except for one thing: they’ve each experienced a deep personal loss that has led them to an unconventional group meeting, every Tuesday night at seven. A meeting they’ve been particularly selected for that will help them finally move on. At least, that's the claim.

As they warily eye one another and their unnervingly observant group leader, one question hangs over them: why were they chosen? To get the answer, they are going to have to share a whole lot of themselves first. Getting Freya, Callum, Mischa, and Victoria to trust each other is vital—because the real reason they’re connected will shift the ground beneath their feet.

Riveting and wise, The Seven O’Clock Club shows us the courage needed to face your past and the joy that can be found in stepping into your future.

©2025 Amelia Ireland (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"When a discovery blows their worlds apart—and takes the narrative in a wildly different direction—it cements the mastery of this provocative, wholly original novel."—People

“The divine Amelia Ireland has written a surprising and glorious debut novel. Ireland has created a world where broken hearts are mended and grief can only be released in mutual understanding. When Freya, Mischa, Callum and Victoria meet Genevieve Dempsey, they are lost and broken. As the novel unspools, they find their way to back to truth and ultimately—love.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

“Finished in one sitting. Had no idea where it was going but knew there was something lurking. Incredible twist. Ends with a final lap of the ride when you think it is all over. Different. Clever. Genuine. Sad. Reminded me in parts of the Outlaws show. I will be recommending this to friends.”—Ericka Waller, author of Goodbye Birdie Greenwing

The plot twist towards the end

Nothing. Absolutely Loved it all! The characters were fully developed - the actors superb - the plot line was new and different.

Wild!

I won’t say anything about this book except that you don’t to miss this one!!

Promise unfulfilled

This book started off promising. Characters plucked from different backgrounds and points in life, foisted together by tragedies and a woman with a mysterious mission. Each person’s backstory is detailed to the extent that you’d think it would all matter somehow—fitting together like pieces of a puzzle or converging in a way that’s either fascinatingly chaotic or neatly satisfying. Unfortunately, the book is neither.

Some novels spend a lot of time describing the world, creating vivid imagery. I’ve read books that maybe dwell too long on that part. But what struck me about this one is that it’s the first I’ve read that spent zero time on world-building. There are no Easter eggs or foreboding hints about what’s to come, so you just assume it’s set in the real world. Which makes it feel disingenuous and jarring when the narrative suddenly veers into the supernatural—or even sci-fi. (Like, what are these fibers and portals, huh?) I thought this was a book about grief? No, wait—it’s about the afterlife. Actually, scratch that. It’s about an organization that runs the afterlife… and it doesn’t seem benevolent? Nevermind, that’s not it either.

Then come detective transcripts from an investigation that’s never really concluded. And I’m left wondering: why am I reading this? I still don’t know what this book was about—or if it had a message at all. And that would be totally fine if I felt like I’d been taken on a wild ride. But… no wild ride. Not enough detail or writing or investment to earn that.

It starts with an interesting premise that builds and expands until… you’re forced to just put a pin in it. The “twist” lands more like a non sequitur or gratuitous slap in the face. And even if you’re willing to keep going in hopes that it’ll all come together in a clever way—nope! Instead, it detours into reincarnation. Then introduces two brand-new characters in the epilogue. Loose ends everywhere. Some weirdly detailed subplots that never pay off. For example: a woman carries a letter from her dead mother in her bag because her whole life was a lie. Intriguing! Let’s build that out? Nope!

The initial premise was clever. It might’ve worked better as a much longer story—maybe a trilogy—so those subplots could be properly woven in. Or, it could’ve been condensed into something short and tight, like a mysterious novella about reincarnation. But instead, it ended up in an awkward middle ground. It really needed to go back to the drawing board.

Anyway, a debut novel that felt Frankensteined into publication—and ultimately wasn’t worth two days of my reading time.