Seven Years in Chicago: A Journey of Growth—Survival

by John Altamura

What happens after the worst day in American history… when the world moves on, but you can’t?

On September 11, 2001, Jack Almanti was planning to propose.

By the end of the morning, the woman he loved was gone.

What follows isn’t recovery.

It’s unraveling.

In the years after 9/11, Jack spirals into alcoholism, fractured relationships, and a life he no longer recognizes. Grief doesn’t fade. It lingers, reshapes him, and refuses to let go.

Because Sarah isn’t entirely gone.

Her identical twin sister, Emily, is still here.

And she understands him in ways no one else can.

As Emily’s own life begins to crack beneath the surface, the bond between them deepens into something complicated, unspoken… and dangerous.

Not a love story in the traditional sense.

Not a story about moving on.

But a raw, character-driven exploration of grief, addiction, trauma, and the impossible space between letting go and holding on.

Seven Years in Chicago: Part I: Survival is a literary novel about the long shadow of loss in the years following 9/11.

Perfect for readers of The Kite Runner, The Lovely Bones, and A Little Life.

⭐ 4.5 IndieReader Rating — IR Approved

“An emotionally compelling exploration of love, regret, betrayals, grief, and human resilience.” — IndieReader

⭐ Reedsy Discovery – 4-Star Review

“Lived-in, raw, and painfully human.” — Reedsy Discovery

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2024

About the author

John Altamura is an American author of character-driven literary fiction exploring grief, resilience, and emotional survival in the aftermath of loss.

His debut novel, Seven Years in Chicago: A Journey of Growth | Part I: Survival, follows a man navigating trauma, addiction, fractured relationships, and the long shadow of September 11, 2001. The novel has received professional editorial recognition, including IndieReader Approved status with a 4.5-star rating and a featured review on Reedsy Discovery, where it was praised for its lived-in, raw, and painfully human portrayal of survival.

Altamura’s work focuses on the quiet consequences of catastrophe, the weight of memory, and the slow, nonlinear process of rebuilding a life after it breaks. His writing blends emotional realism with a deep sense of place, tracing how personal history, family, and geography shape identity over time.

He lives in Pennsylvania and is currently working on the next installment of the Seven Years in Chicago series.

Reviews

[Laura]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for choosing me.

Did I feel bad for him? Yes. Was he likable? No.

I wanted to love it, but this just wasn't for me. Hopefully, this book finds its way to the right audience.

[Natalie]

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Themes covered:
Death, grief, bereavement, trauma, PTSD, terrorism, parenting, conflict, family relationships and dynamics, addiction, fertility, pregnancy and careers..

I really got into this book and couldn’t put it down; it’s hard to say I enjoyed it given the premise but it was a good read. At times, I had to remind myself that it was actually a novel and not a true story, as it certainly read like one. It’s a very emotional and emotionally charged read and you can really sense the pain and torment experienced, as well as a great range of emotions - loss, anger, anguish, confusion.

As much as I devoured the book, I found the ending quite abrupt and confusing. This was a real shame and meant I’d rate the book a rounded up 3.5 > 4 star.

Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley again for this advance copy.

[jamie Wyatt]

I just loved this book 📕 there are so many emotions flowing through this amazing book the Author really dug deep and captured the mind, heart n soul of his characters. The story will grap you from the beginning and you my friend will go on this emotional ride with them. I highly recommend this book and I appreciate the opportunity to read this amazing book I won on Goodreads!

[Patricia]

I was drawn in and now I want more

I found the book thoroughly engaging and am eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. The protagonist's character development resonated deeply with me throughout the narrative. And I almost dropped my Kindle when I read "to be continued.". Noooooo, please hurry!!

[Maria]

I won a copy of this book on goodreads. This was an interesting read. I enjoyed it.

[Audrey Miller]

I enjoyed reading this book but I am hoping there is a sequel coming soon because the story is not finished .I would certainly read it as the writer knows how to write a good story that holds your interest.

[Jill Rey]

Written with striking tenderness, “Seven Years In Chicago” traces the footprints that fade and the memories that refuse to loosen their hold, even when the person who made them is no longer walking beside us. Author John Altamura renders a beautiful, aching portrait of grief, anger, and the hollow ache Jack carries after losing the woman he loved. What emerges is a devastating story of a man left standing in the rubble of life after 9/11.

Altamura’s symbolism of the wedding band throughout this read is masterful. Jack’s longing to propose to Sarah – his ring shopping, his imagined future, the romantic moment he never got to give her – echoes throughout the novel. In contrast, Emily’s constant fidgeting with her own wedding band becomes a quiet, crushing reminder of permanence in a life that keeps slipping out of her grasp. The ring surfaces again and again, at the story’s lowest, most heartbreaking points, grounding readers in the emotional weight of what was lost.

By juxtaposing Emily and Morgan’s seemingly picture-perfect life with Jack and Sarah’s love cut short, Altamura highlights the stark emptiness left behind. As Emily and Jack move forward without their partner, without their identical twin, the realities of grief, addiction, and survival wear on them both.

Ultimately, “Seven Years In Chicago” is a story about those left behind. About futures stolen in an instant. About a world that keeps turning even as Jack and Emily’s has stopped. Spanning seven years, the novel reveals the reverberations of that tragic day through two sharply drawn characters – one a sister, the other a hopeful fiancé. As their lives converge and intertwine, only to fracture again, Altamura delivers a chilling, heartbreaking story, showing readers the pain of learning to keep breathing after everything shatters.

[Amara]

I don't say this lightly, Seven Years in Chicago is one of the most emotionally honest books I've read in a long time. John Altamura doesn't flinch from the ugliness of grief, and that unflinching honesty is exactly what makes this novel so powerful.

Jack is not a likable protagonist in the traditional sense. He's broken, self destructive, and at times deeply frustrating to follow, but that's precisely what makes him feel so real. Grief doesn't make people better. Sometimes it just makes them survive, and Altamura captures that truth beautifully.
The dynamic between Jack and Emily is where the novel truly comes alive. It's complicated, uncomfortable, and impossible to look away from. The tension between connection and betrayal runs through every page like a current you can feel but can't quite name.

The 9/11 backdrop is handled with remarkable sensitivity, it never feels exploited, only deeply felt.
My only note is that certain sections in the middle slow the pacing slightly, but the emotional payoff more than makes up for it.
Raw, literary, and deeply moving. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page.

[Moona]

Seven Years In Chicago offers a sincere, semi-biographical portrait of heartbreak, healing, and hope. Jack's move from Upstate New York to Chicago becomes more than a change of scenery—it's a transformative journey through emotional recovery and personal growth. Set between 2007 and 2014, the story captures the messy, sometimes beautiful realities of young adulthood: fleeting romances, struggling careers, and the search for meaning. Chicago’s streets come alive as both setting and symbol, reflecting Jack’s internal evolution. While some moments feel introspective and slow, they add to the realism. Altamura’s debut is honest and relatable, ideal for readers drawn to character-driven, emotionally layered stories.

[Edward Daisy]

Seven Years in Chicago: A Journey of Growth Survival by John Altamura

This was a deeply moving and honest read. Jack’s grief after 9/11 feels raw and real, and his struggle with guilt, addiction, and rebuilding his life is handled with compassion and authenticity. The relationship between Jack and Emily is especially complex and emotionally powerful, adding depth to every stage of the story.

What stood out most was how quietly hopeful this book is. It doesn’t rush healing or offer easy answers, but it shows how resilience can grow out of loss. A thoughtful, heartfelt story about survival, love, and finding a way forward after unimaginable tragedy.

[Vicki Holder]

First let me say, I won this book thru Goodreads.

I really wanted to love this book, and after having it open on such a heartbreaking time, I wanted to go thru the pain and grief, and come out the other side, with growth, love and grace. My problem with the book is I didn't like any, not one of the characters, and so by the end of the book, I felt like I'd wasted my time with complete losers and have no interest in ever hearing of them again.

[Tanya]

This follows the lives of two people who lost people who lost someone in the attack on the twin towers. He lost his girlfriend while she lost her twin sister. You will feel their emotions as you read their story. You will want to pull them close and try to help, see where it will take them
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a powerful emotional read

[Denise R.]

This book simply went on and on with the same old scenario getting nowhere until the last page. Come to find out this book is part one. The whole concept could have been written in one book, no parts one and two, and been more to the point and a whole lot better.