The Seven O’Clock Club

Four people find companionship and attempt to heal from grief in this heart-rending debut by Ireland. Genevieve, a seemingly naive and untested therapist, attempts to treat four grieving strangers in her London flat. Among them are Victoria, a headstrong middle-aged lawyer intent on maintaining her guard; Mischa, a sensitive and lost young woman who dropped out of school to care for her ailing mother; Freya, whose marriage and seemingly flawless life fell apart after her miscarriage; and Callum, a heartthrob musician consumed by fame and drugs. The quartet doesn’t mesh at first glance, and they’re initially resistant to treatment, but through Genevieve’s coaching they slowly come to terms with the events that changed their lives and learn to lean on one another for support. The true reason they were chosen for Genevieve’s group therapy yields a shocking and mind-boggling twist that leads even the most skeptical of the group to face their fears and trauma. Readers will be charmed by the well-drawn characters and impressed by Ireland’s high-wire act. It’s irresistible (Apr.)