whitneydaniell

by: Tia Williams
published: May 6, 2025
genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
379 Pages, E-Book
Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis

In Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, Tia Williams returns to the vibrant world of the Mercy women, reintroducing us to Audre Zora Maya Toni Mercy-Moore, daughter of acclaimed writer Eva Mercy. Now sixteen, Audre is determined to make her mark by writing a self-help book for teenagers—her big idea to stand out on her Stanford application. The only problem? Audre’s life has been safe, structured, and controlled. After a panic attack and a disastrous prom, she decides it’s time to live on her own terms. Enter Bash Henry, the mysterious new kid in Brooklyn, who becomes her summer partner in chaos and self-discovery.

As Audre seeks out real-life experiences to inspire her writing, she begins to confront deeper truths about herself, her relationships, and the pressure to be perfect. Alongside Bash—who has his own emotional scars—Audre navigates first love, therapy, and family tension, particularly with her overwhelmed, emotionally distant mother. Through it all, Williams paints a story of growth, vulnerability, and the messy, magical path to selfhood, with plenty of heart and a touch of sass.

My Final Thoughts

I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it either. Honestly, it’s easier to go character by character, so let’s start from the bottom.

Eva Mercy—Audre and Baby Alice’s mom—drove me up a wall. (Side note: why was the baby referred to as “Baby Alice” the entire book?) Eva was selfish, self-absorbed, and emotionally unavailable. Between obsessing over her wedding and book release, she had no emotional space for Audre. Throughout the entire book, Audre’s literally sleeping on the living room couch while her bedroom is being cut in half to build a nursery. A teenage girl needs her own space! Then missing Audre’s award ceremony and not even asking about prom? That was tough to digest. I’m glad they somewhat reconciled in the end, but even then, Eva doesn’t truly apologize—she just skirts around it like a stereotypical Black mom.

Reshma, Audre’s best friend, was exhausting. She was bold and unapologetic, but lacked tact and empathy. I understood her pain—being adopted and emotionally neglected by her parents—but self-awareness doesn’t always translate to growth. Audre calls her out, but Reshma still seemed more concerned with being the center of attention than being a good friend.

As for Audre and Bash, I felt disconnected. Maybe it’s my age, but teenage love stories don’t hit the same. (Side note: If you enjoyed Forever by Mara Brock Akil on Netflix, this might be your vibe.) Audre’s perfectionism reads like high-functioning depression waiting to happen. I wanted her to find her voice sooner. Bash, meanwhile, was weighed down by his past—two parents who abandoned him without explanation. I felt for him, and I appreciated that Shane provided him with stability and mentorship. I was also glad that both Bash and Audre ended up with safe spaces to navigate their feelings; Audre’s being therapy and Bash’s being, Shane’s mentor group.

Speaking of Shane—he was my favorite. The stepdad every kid deserves. He supported Bash, loved Eva and Baby Alice, and showed up for Audre when she needed it most. He had emotional intelligence, knew when to step back, and was the only adult consistently doing the emotional labor. A real one. I hope off-page he convinced Eva to give Audre the apology she truly deserves.

All in all, this book was middle-of-the-road for me. Tia Williams dropped in a few cute Seven Days Easter eggs (Bash’s seven-minute timer, the seven days Audre takes to break through her funk), which longtime fans will appreciate. Tia’s writing is brilliant—it just might be that I’m not the target audience this time. Shrugs

Book Review for: Seven Days in June, Eva Mercy & Shane Hall’s love story