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Sixty-Seven Days

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'We don't say any words - everything has been said through two sets of eyes, two entangled souls and endless kissing.'

Evie has been raised in the heart of Aboriginal Redfern, by a proud trailblazing Wiradjuri family. She remembers so much about the previous world - the Dreamtime, the ancestors, and the knowing - but she also harbours a dark pain that is becoming almost too much to bear.

And then Evie meets James, a young man radiating pure love who fills her life with light. On the cusp of adulthood, with their whole lives ahead of them, they travel to Evie's beloved country, the central west of New South Wales and the Riverina regions. Swimming in the waters of the Kalare, as known by the Wiradjuri, and in the Murrumbidgee, singing with her ancestors, listening to the spirits.

The new world created between Evie and James is one they did not know they were missing. Now they can't leave it alone. They are no longer separate - they are one, they are whole together - until a sudden event leaves them seeking answers to one of life's most eternal is love strong enough to withstand anything?

An intense and mesmerising story of first love and longing, suffused with Wiradjuri Dreaming, family and culture, about a future dreamt and a future taken, by an important new voice in Australian fiction.

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Published July 19, 2022

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Yvonne Weldon

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5 stars
33 (13%)
4 stars
70 (28%)
3 stars
87 (35%)
2 stars
42 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,231 reviews131 followers
June 24, 2022
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Time is measured in many ways and can be punctuated by milestones and events. Sixty Seven Days is a precious time measurement for Evie in this book.
I read this book on Wathaurong land and would like to acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians of this area.
Evie is a university student, a loyal and loving daughter and a proud part of the Aboriginal community.
Respectful and dutiful to her elders, customs and her Dreamtime.
Meeting James was a day where her heart and soul were abuzz with flutter and butterflies.
They both knew something special had happened.
The journey of early love and how it intensified illustrated beautifully.
The days of physical and emotional exploration, meeting families and trips away cementing what could only be the beginning of something special.
I really enjoyed taking this journey Evie, the smorgasbord of emotions never made it dull.
It gave me appreciation of the spiritual element of Aboriginal culture and the importance of family, both immediate and extended.
The scars of the segregation period reflected in a way to ensure this barbaric policy will not be forgotten and the impacts this had.
The relationship between people and place also very poignant.
I was moved, educated and grateful to have read this story.

1,202 reviews
July 17, 2022
Despite my disappointment in the novel, I committed myself to finishing it. I was drawn to the text because of Weldon’s activist positions in key government and Aboriginal organisations for the last 30 years. In fact, Weldon had been named as the 2022 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year.

A proud Wiradjuri woman, Weldon brought her culture, its richness, and her pride into the story of two young Aboriginal lovers. Unfortunately, this melodramatic narrative took its lovestruck couple across the line for me into stereotyped dialogue and predictable tragedy, to the point of an outrageous climax. No author would want her reader to be groaning instead of weeping at the tragic conclusion…but, that was my reaction to the couple’s wedding day.

The aspect of the novel I did enjoy was the portrait of a thriving, large extended Aboriginal family, characterised by their love for each other and their respect for their culture. But, other than this, I found the novel to be maudlin and lacking depth.
Profile Image for Maz.
179 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2022
I think I might hate this book? The thriving and rich Wiradjuri culture that was threaded through the story was beautifully written and enjoyable to read, but that's about it.
I felt that the sexual assault included in this story was thrown at me without warning. It was a combination of too close to home in the way Evie described her feelings of loss and shame, and then far flung romance that felt like a bad soap opera.
It felt like reading two separate books, a beautiful ode to country and family, and then a melodramatic and absurd romance.
Really not sure about this one.
Profile Image for Belle.
607 reviews564 followers
August 5, 2022
2.5 / 5 stars

This felt short and sweet. It was a cute romance story that interwove topics of great sadness (TW: mentions of sexual assault). There was so many aspects I loved in the story, such as the wonderful inclusion of Wiradjuri culture and the strong family focus and bonds.

Evie and James were sweet characters, but did not seem realistic to me. Unfortunately the way they spoke to each other (James’ never ceasing pet-names) made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. It was an easily predictable ending, but for me, it wasn’t the ending but the journey that was worth it.
Profile Image for Gail Chilianis.
82 reviews3 followers
May 1, 2023
.. I was looking forward to this book as I was interested in Yvonne Weldon’s work in Aboriginal policy development, Land Council , Aboriginal heritage and more and was named Aboriginal woman of the year 2022.
The love story between the young couple was predictable and lacked any depth .. . I did enjoy the author’s descriptions of Dreamtime, family, Wiradjuri culture and spirituality..
Profile Image for Clauds .
73 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2024
My “date with a book” was a pleasant surprise. I loved learning about the First Nation culture and I held on to the story
Profile Image for Bree T.
2,426 reviews100 followers
September 22, 2022
This is a book which celebrates and highlights Aboriginal culture in so many ways. Our main character Evie is 19, at university in Sydney studying Arts but toying with the idea of switching to psychology and so she’s taking some summer classes to see if she enjoys it. She’s part of a very close knit family that doesn’t just encompass her mother, father and two younger sisters but also all of her aunts, uncles and cousins which in her culture, are as important to her as parents and siblings. Her cousins are as close to her as her own siblings and she is as beholden to her aunts and uncles as she is to her parents. She also reveres her grandparents, great-grandparents and other Elders and the respect and love she has for them and their traditions are paramount in all of her interactions.

By chance, Evie bumps into James, a young Aboriginal man and they are immediately drawn to each other, it’s butterflies and immediate love for both of them. Despite their youth and it not being what either were looking for, Evie and James know that they want to be together forever even though they are concerned what their parents and other relatives will think about their young age and the fact that they have not known each other very long. They are both determined though and make their plans, getting everything all worked out before they decide to tell their families, making sure that they have all the answers to the questions that will no doubt be asked. Evie wants to finish her degree and James supports her in this and he’s almost finished his electrician apprenticeship. The young couple will be able to live independently but the blessing and love of their families is incredibly important to them and a part of this book is a tour they take of Evie’s country in rural NSW so that she can visit and introduce James to all the important people in her life who do not live in Sydney and make sure that James receives their blessing. You can tell how important this is to Evie, that James observe and respect her family’s customs and present himself to all those that matter to her so that they may know him and see him as Evie’s chosen partner.

Blended into this tale of exciting new love is a more serious topic that has plagued Evie for years, someone in her community who isn’t respectful and who Evie must not only avoid for her own safety and mental wellbeing but also she sees it as her role to protect others from going through what she did. This was handled incredibly well – Evie’s compartmentalising of this person, not even naming him in her mind, felt so genuine and real to me, her fear and horror came through so strongly. I felt like I could understand her choices and why she made them and how she also felt incredibly protective and determined to keep others safe. There is just more than one tale of tragedy woven into the story and it showcases Evie’s strength but also her right to grieve and how she will learn and grow in many ways.

To be one hundred per cent honest, the romance didn’t do a whole lot for me in the story – it was very instantaneous and I kept trying to remind myself that they were teens and this was probably how my first boyfriend and I spoke to each other (I’m old and jaded how haha) but where the story did really do well for me was the depiction of all of Evie’s extended family, the respect they had for their traditions and culture and the details of the Dreamtime. I honestly haven’t read a book that included this so much I don’t think and I really appreciated being able to see this in terms of a more modern setting, how people incorporate and respect and live those traditions that are tens of thousands of years old. I loved meeting all of Evie’s family members and experiencing her relationships with them as well and how important they were all to her. I would definitely read another story by Yvonne Weldon.

*This review was written on the unceded lands of the Bunurong/Boonwurrung and Wadawarrung/Wathaurong people*
Profile Image for Kim (hundredacreofbooks.com).
197 reviews10 followers
September 5, 2022
I will say by the time I closed this book I found myself surprisingly touched by this story. I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by it. If you’re looking for your next Modern and Contemporary, Modern Romance I will say investigate Yvonne Weldon’s novel Sixty-Seven Days. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Read my full review below.
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
Profile Image for Sarah.
247 reviews
September 4, 2022
Sixty-Seven Days is part contemporary romance and part tragedy. Set in ‘90s Redfern, Evie meets James and a whirlwind romance ensues. But Evie has a terrible secret from her past that she’s been holding onto while also sensing another tragedy is on the horizon. Filled with references to Indigenous culture and the spiritual imagery of the Dreamtime, Sixty-Seven Days had the potential to be a standout novel. Unfortunately, for me a lot of moments throughout the book fell flat, the writing style felt a little too like diary entries, and the conversations between characters were often too unrealistic. If you don’t mind heavily descriptive writing about what was for dinner or how a room looked you’ll rate this higher than me.
Trigger warning for sexual assault.
Profile Image for Jennifer (JC-S).
3,538 reviews286 followers
July 21, 2023
‘I try not to see her, see me. I’m like a faint ghost with a haunted soul.’

Evie is 19 years old: a proud Wiradjuri woman. Evie is studying Arts at Sydney University but is thinking of changing to psychology. As a result, she is undertaking some summer classes. Evie lives with her parents and sisters, is proud of her ancestry but is struggling under the weight of sexual abuse, which she has not disclosed.

One day Evie meets James, a young Aboriginal man undertaking an electrical apprenticeship. They are immediately drawn together and what follows is a fast-paced contemporary romance underpinned by connection to kin and country. Evie and James travel to Evie’s ancestral land: the central west of New South Wales and the Riverina. James meets Evie’s extended family, is accepted by them, and they make plans for their life together.

But tragedy strikes.

I’ll confess: melodramatic contemporary love affairs do not work well for me. I kept reading because I was interested in Ms Weldon’s depiction of Wiradjuri culture. I was also interested in seeing how the issue of abuse was addressed. In many ways while the relationship between Evie and James seemed unrealistic it seemed an effective vehicle for showcasing aspects of Aboriginal culture and the importance of family.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Profile Image for Blue.
1,731 reviews125 followers
August 9, 2022
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Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review

Sixty- Seven Days we are introduced to Evie and James and their tale of romance since they stumbled across each other at Redfern Station. And to sum it up their tale of romance, is love at first sight, can’t imagine being apart from one another and experiencing that once in a lifetime connection with another human being. That deep level of love that is broken down per chapter.
Evie comes from a Wiradjuri family and has a deep connection to the Dreamtime and constantly sees her ancestors and messages in her dreams. While she is studying psychology at Uni, her family is her passion to have big dreams of helping her community, but those dreams are kept out of reach with her history constantly looming over her.
With James now in her life, Evie’s personality changes, finally feeling comfortable to open up to someone that supports her and her dreams.
While romance is usually not my honey and tea, it was interesting to read a contemporary indigenous book.
Profile Image for Julia.
18 reviews2 followers
October 5, 2022
I purchased this book based on a review in the Sydney Morning Herald, and listened to it on audiobook, so the experience may have been different had I read it. It might have been better, it might not. No matter - either way, what planet did the reviewer live on?

I’ve been puzzling over what to rate this book. I really enjoyed the immersion into Wiradjuri culture and kinship. But the love story - overly melodramatic.

It felt like love as idealised by a teenager. I thought for a while maybe that was the point, but no … it got a whole lot worse.

MeloDRAMA.

The male love interest just happens to die on what was to have been the couple’s wedding day and also happens to have been her birthday - oh the tragedy. Going ahead with the wedding without him? Too much.

Driving past the hospital where he died some time later and Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you” comes on the radio as she drives past - oh COME ON now - gag me. That really did it for me - it took it into the ridiculous. And then the baby arrives on James’ birthday - it’s all too sickly melodramatic.



This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Erin Freeman.
9 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2022
A version of romeo and juliette told in a much more culturally modern way with a heart wrenching end. I loved the strong culture representation throughout the book. It stayed very true to its first nations roots.

Anyone who loves kelly rimmer books may also love this mainly due to the ‘heavy’ content it contains.

A beautifully told story. If I could’ve given it another 1/2 star I would’ve.

Thankyou for taking me on a journey, the tears and emotions definitely hit me as the story unfolded. I loved everything about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sian Santiago.
102 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2022
The start of this book is so heavily full of cliche that it reads like YA fiction. However, as the story developed and I got deeper into the pages it became less cliche and I began to really enjoy it. I finished this book feeling peaceful and satisfied.
This book has some heavy themes but otherwise would be a great summer holiday beach read that will get you in the feels just enough to remind you why we’re all living these crazy, devastating, lives full of hope.
Three & a half stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Profile Image for Jacquelyn Parnell.
132 reviews3 followers
July 4, 2023
TW: sexual assault

It was just an average day for Evie. She was on her way to uni. Then she met James and her life changed forever.

This was an amazing story about two young indigenous people living in NSW, that spans over a period of 67 days. There’s lots of explanation about culture and Dreamtime and it was an absolute pleasure to read.

Whilst the story was somewhat predictable, I couldn’t get enough of it. The short chapters were a bonus too.

All in all, a great book by a First Nations author
Profile Image for Katie.
113 reviews5 followers
June 24, 2024
We need more Indigenous love stories. Firstly, I'm so surprised this book doesn't have a higher rating. It was beautifully written, especially the parts about Wiradjuri lore, Dreamtime and being on Country. The writing was simple but powerful and the descriptions of love were at times a lot, but they perfectly captured the all-consuming love young people find themselves in. I wasn't expecting such a beautiful love story and bawled my eyes out towards the end. Loved the descriptions of Sydney in the 90s too. Congrats Ms Weldon on such a fantastic book!
CW: sexual assault, suicidal thoughts.
Profile Image for Mishy.
12 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2022
This one was a whirlwind romance between Evie and James, who unexpectedly cross paths at Redfern station. It’s basically love at first sight — they’ve only just met but feel a connection so deep they just can’t get away. Told in daily chapters, we watch the two grow closer and closer leading up to the ‘titled’ sixty-seven days..

The story takes place all over Sydney from the inner west to the Blue Mountains and back to Wagga Wagga. It paints a beautiful and detailed picture of what is home. Evie comes from the Wiradjuri family, and we get to know each and every one of her family. She has a deep connection to the Dreamtime and constantly sees her ancestors and messages in her dreams. She’s studying psychology at Uni, and has big dreams to help and uplift her community but she’s harbouring a deep past, that constantly lurks around every corner and at the back of her mind.

But upon meeting James, he brings so much happiness and joy into her life, she feels as though she can finally open up to someone. She welcomes him into her family with big open arms, and begins to heal.

The story covers so much on family and connection, generational trauma from the stolen generations, not knowing who your family are and where you belong, casual racism Indigenous Australians are faced with. It’s also about romance and first loves, and finding your place in the world.

Romance is not a genre I tend to read, but I have been more intentional in reading Indigenous works. I did find some of the dialogue a bit cringe, sorry I’m not used to the lovey-dovey talk of the early 90s haha.

Definitely a must read if you’re looking to read more contemporaries Indigenous works.

Thank you to the publishers for the gifted book in exchange for an honest review.
360 reviews3 followers
December 21, 2022
This is a beautifully written, highly spiritual story. The main character Evie is very in tune with her cultural heritage, and although it is a fictional story, I feel I have learnt something about Aboriginal culture.
This story is full of heartbreak and love.
The connection between Evie and James is so strong and unbreakable. Evie's character is very inspiring in the way she deals with her trauma and finds the strength to keep moving away from the darkness.
Profile Image for Hannah Robinson.
104 reviews
November 14, 2022
LIKE
This is a beautiful heart wrenching story which does such a good job of portraying first love, culture, family, spiritually and loss. I cried buckets despite the title of the book giving a pretty good indication how things might end. I loved how aboriginal culture, spirituality and traditions were described with connections to nature.
Profile Image for Em.
15 reviews
December 21, 2023
Whilst I loved reading about the Dreamtime & dream space, I didn't like the main story at all. It wasn't necessary to include small details about the 'trigger topic'. If they weren't going to explore that episode of Evie's life, then why keep randomly rehashing it's depth and then make it disappear with a lover's kiss from James?
81 reviews
September 22, 2022
Loved the emersion in First Nation contemporary culture. Felt this had important topics explored though Found I sometimes didn’t want to read as was uncomfortable. Not so keen on the YA approach to the main characters love but overall felt this book was worth reading.
Profile Image for Jess.
80 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2022
What I loved: The cover art is perfection; colours of a gum tree with Aboriginal art stenciled on. The spirituality, the connection to family, community and country was beautiful. What I didn't love: James felt one dimensional (too perfect) and the plot was a little contrived.
22 reviews
Read
March 28, 2025
Wanted to like it more, but the love story was underwhelming. It was ok... but a push to get through to the end. I persevered so I could read the better bits about culture & how it's woven into everything. That part was lovely.
Profile Image for Lisa.
3,784 reviews491 followers
abandoned
July 27, 2022
I've read a lot of books by First Nations authors, but this just didn't work for me. I bailed at 35 pages.
I don't rate books I don't finish.
Profile Image for Amanda.
193 reviews5 followers
September 4, 2022
I struggled with this book, but committed to finishing it
298 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2022
I enjoyed this book, a beautiful true love story with a look into a different culture
Profile Image for Christine Davie.
366 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2022
67 days of slightly sweet swooning ... I enjoyed how Evie connected with her family and loved ones present and past but overall contrived I guess.
27 reviews
January 22, 2023
I liked how she shared about indigenous culture and relationships. Written with love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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