Six Days: A heartbreaking and emotional page-turner about the power of love and hope

by Dani Atkins

I’m standing in the kitchen of our empty apartment, still in my ivory wedding dress. He’s taken all his things. The only clue he left behind is a half-finished, crumpled letter to me in the “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write…”

I’ve been dreaming of my wedding to Finn since the moment he confetti and love in the air, champagne glasses held high, dancing into the future with the man I love. It should have been the happiest day of our lives. But he’s not waiting for me at the altar. He never arrives, and my heart breaks in two.

Everyone says Finn just got cold feet, but I know he’d never abandon me. And yet, as I look for him, I can’t help but question my own was our first date as perfect as it seemed? Were the nights spent dancing around the apartment as happy for him as they were for me? Has the man I love been keeping secrets from me all along?

For six days, I search frantically for Finn, even as doubt creeps in. How long can my heart hold on to hope that our love story isn’t over? And when I find out the truth, will it heal the past or break me forever?

An emotional and uplifting novel about love, heartbreak and the power of hope from the bestselling author of Always You and Me. Perfect for fans of Shari Low, Colleen Hoover and Paige Toon.

What readers are saying about Six Days:

“Magic. An emotional ride. I was so invested. I cheered… I gasped and that was just the beginning.” shersbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Heartbreaking... Must-read!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Emotional… completely drew me in from the very beginning… I found myself fully invested until the very last page… Kept me turning pages late into the night… Moving and memorable… stayed with me long after I finished it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I flew through the pages of this book!!!... Heartbreakingly romantic.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A ‘one-sitting-read’… Emotional… So real and heartfelt… I was completely invested from beginning to end… Kept me turning the pages late into the night… Moving and unforgettable.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Readers love Dani

“My heart needs time to recover… Heartbreaking… Utterly beautiful and unforgettable… I cried (i.e. sobbed)… Heart-wrenching… Will stay with me.” pages_and_papercrafts, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“DEVASTATING in the most breathtaking way… Hit me like a freight train. I bawled my eyes out…. Heartbreaking, beautiful, and unforgettable. If you’re ready to feel everything… this one will wreck you in the best possible way.” nursebooksgalore, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“You will NEED your box of tissues… Waterfalls of tears… I am still in awe!!! WOW!!… Will stay close to your heart… I was totally addicted… Couldn’t put this down… I just lost it, couldn’t stop crying!! The waterworks kept flowing!!!... A must-read! Deserves more than 5 stars!” Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Off the charts… If you’re ready for a truly heart-wrenching, full body tear-jerker, the kind where you need an entire box of Kleenex, not just one—this is the book for you… Amazing.” ShersBooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Bring a box of tissues whenever and wherever you read this. THE BEST BOOK EVER.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My heart!… It made me feel giddy, it broke my heart, it made me excited, it made me want to cry… Absolutely loved it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romance

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

Dani was born and brought up in Cockfosters- a small London suburb at the end of the Piccadilly Tube Line.

This served her well for commuting into the city, where from the age of 18 she worked in a succession of secretarial positions in companies as diverse as a BMW car dealership to the BBC. Dani spent her two hour commute avidly reading and dreamed that one day she would become an author herself.

When her two children grew up and left home, Dani set about turning this dream into reality and devoted her time to writing. She now lives in a rural Hertfordshire cottage with her husband, a soppy border collie dog and a haughty Siamese cat.

Her first novels FRACTURED (called THEN AND ALWAYS in the US) and THE STORY OF US published in 2014. In January 2016, her third novel, OUR SONG was published.

Reviews

[alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Six Days☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

💍₊˚ෆ🤍ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🤍ෆ˚₊💍

‘And if I hadn’t woken up…?’

‘Then it would have been even more important that you knew how much I loved you and that in my heart I would always be your wife.’

This was intentionally misleading, painting Finn as an avoidant male lead who had commitment issues to further support the idea that he left Gemma on their wedding day. Now, I was a firm believer that he did, considering the nature of their relationship and how it often felt like Gemma was begging for scraps of Finn’s attention. She yearned for someone to choose her, so she settled for a man who always seemed to have one foot out the door. Finn had severe childhood trauma that caused him to run away from the good things in his life and self-sabotage, so I don’t blame Gemma for experiencing a moment of hesitation after six days. She was initially the main one who firmly believed he wasn't capable of leaving her, but after recalling how scared he was of settling down and starting a family, she started to wonder if he had intentionally left her. I think that was a reasonable concern, especially given his history of pulling away whenever their relationship became more serious. However, after he was found and woke up in the hospital, she told him she had never doubted him or believed he had intentionally fled their wedding. So that insecurity from earlier was make-believe? Anyway!!!

‘I wouldn’t have gone too far ahead,’ Finn said softly. ‘In fact, I don’t think I’ll want to be separated from you ever again.’

I think there was a lot left to unpack after he woke up, and the ending was very sudden. They had so much to discuss about their future, especially now that he had finally decided he wanted to settle down and start a family with her. That was such a significant change for someone who had spent so much of their relationship being afraid of those commitments, and I wanted to understand what had genuinely changed for him. I needed more than the reassurance that he was finally ready, especially when his reluctance had been such a defining part of their relationship. From what we see, Finn is deeply haunted and riddled with guilt over his parents dying while protecting him from the house fire. He seems to associate loving someone with the possibility of losing them, and that fear has shaped the way he approaches relationships. He doesn't want to experience that kind of loss again, nor does he want someone he loves to experience the same grief he endured. His trauma explains why he struggles with commitment and why he might self-sabotage when things become serious, but it doesn't necessarily excuse the emotional uncertainty Gemma experienced throughout their relationship.

‘I love you, Gemma Douglas.’

‘Still can’t get my name right,’ I said with a smile, as he pulled me in for a kiss.

See, I didn't love Finn. I know Gemma did, and she constantly raved about how he remembered the smallest details about her and expressed his love through acts of service, but so much of that was told rather than shown. Most of the time, the past chapters focused on him exhibiting cold feet about their relationship and their future together, while in the present chapters, he was MIA. It was difficult for me to become attached to him when I rarely got to experience the qualities that made Gemma love him so deeply. I was being told how considerate and loving he could be, but what I was consistently shown was a man who struggled to fully commit to the woman he supposedly wanted to spend his life with. I understand that Finn is simply a flawed character, and I suppose that's what makes his characterization a realistic representation of how love isn't always easy or simple. People carry their past experiences into relationships, and sometimes those experiences affect their ability to accept the love they're being offered. However, I also think there's a difference between portraying a complicated relationship and giving that relationship enough development to make its resolution satisfying. I didn't need Finn to be perfect, but I did need to see more of the emotional work required for him and Gemma to move forward together.

💍₊˚ෆ🤍ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🤍ෆ˚₊💍

I'm genuinely wondering how Finn managed to survive everything that happened to him and come out of it with a missing spleen. I genuinely turned the page expecting another chapter, only to realize the book was over. There was so much buildup surrounding Finn's disappearance, Gemma's doubts, and the unresolved issues in their relationship that I expected more time to be spent addressing the aftermath. Instead, it felt like finding Finn was treated as the resolution to everything, when, to me, it should have been the beginning of some much-needed conversations. The book started off strong, but it slowly declined for me as the story progressed. I wanted closure, not just regarding what happened to Finn, but regarding what his return actually meant for their relationship. I'm not a lover of open-ended stories.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dani Atkins, what did you do to me? I wasn’t ready. Can you tell that this is the first book I’ve read from this author? All I knew was that the story was full of angst, something Author Dani Atkins was known for. And wow, how powerful was the countdown to it being six days too, as we follow Gemma as she not only looks for Finn, the man who supposedly loves her, but mysteriously doesn’t show up to their wedding. But Gemma also makes efforts to convince everyone around her that he had not left her at the altar. At the same time, everyone around her is telling her to stop looking. He’s gone. He never loved her.

I enjoyed how the story was told, the build-up, as if the reader had to be convinced as well. But it was indeed an angsty one that teared me up.

Thank you to Bookouture and Author Dani Atkins for the #gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jess Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. I’d consider it a new genre of “romantic suspense”! You have a missing fiancée, a ticking timeline, and the wonder of what’s to come for Gemma & Finn. The conclusion was abrupt, but their love story was intriguing. 3.75 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for the advanced read!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Days is an emotional, up and down story that had me smiling, laughing, angry, sad and a blubbering mess. Gemma and Finn meet in the parking lot of Glow magazine, and although he is handsome, she can't stand him after he steals her parking spot. Over the next couple of weeks, they run into one another in various places, then nothing. When Hannah, her BFF ends up in the hospital, she runs into him again, only this time it sticks, for awhile. Once again, he disappears, this time to Australia. When he comes back one more time, they fall in love and are getting married. But, Finn doesn't show up and everyone believes he has jilted, Gemma. She doesn't believe he has, and is sure that something happened to him. The story is told over 6 days, while Gemma tries to find Finn. Enmeshed with the present, we learn their story, both individually and as a couple. Did Finn run again?

I really enjoyed this story and read it in a couple of evenings. I enjoyed the characters, Gemma, her BFF Hannah, her dad and Finn. They were real and relatable, with all their faults and stories. It takes awhile before we learn Finn's story and why he runs away all the time and it broke my heart. The way both the past and present are shared is perfect. The six days had me wondering, guessing and feeling sorry for Gemma. This is a story that had me laughing when Gemma and Finn spent time together, angry when he ran away, sad for Gemma and heartbroken at other times. I don't want to give the story away, so I will just say, have your tissues handy when you read this story, but there is hope and happiness as well. I have only read 3 of Dani Atkins' books, but I will be working my way through her backlist and all of them have been wonderful.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. I read this one so fast; it is engaging, suspenseful, and heartbreaking all at the same time. When Gemma realized that Finn wasn’t showing at the wedding, my heart broke for her. I couldn’t even imagine what that felt like. At that point, I didn’t know Finn as a character yet, so of course I was pissed at him for being a coward. But as the book goes on, we get a glimpse of Gemma and Finn’s beginning through the chapters that are told in the past.

As I learned who Finn was and their story, I didn’t want to believe that he could hurt her like that. My thoughts were like Gemma’s thoughts. She knew Finn. She loved him. She never believed that he would hurt her like this. So she looked for evidence, and found evidence that he left on his own. But she didn’t still want to believe it. At that point, I wanted to shake her and say WAKE UP!

I believe in spoiler free reviews but I just want to say that Dani Atkins wrote the perfect ending for his book. I wanted actually. The ending had me on the edge of my seat.

This book is full of love – between partners, family, and friends. This one is really worth the read.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma Fletcher está a punto de vivir el día que imaginó durante años. Con un vestido listo, su mejor amiga Hannah a su lado y el recuerdo de su madre acompañándola en cada paso, todo parece encajar para comenzar una nueva vida junto a Finn Douglas, el hombre que convirtió un encuentro desastroso en algo imposible de olvidar.

Porque Finn llegó a su vida de la peor manera posible. Una primera impresión horrible, discusiones, choques constantes y una química que ninguno quiso admitir. Lo que comenzó con irritación y miradas afiladas terminó convirtiéndose en algo mucho más grande. Algo que parecía inquebrantable.

Pero el día de la boda, Finn no aparece.

Mientras las horas pasan y las dudas comienzan a ocupar el espacio que antes llenaba la certeza, Gemma se niega a aceptar lo que todos empiezan a pensar. Porque conoce a Finn o al menos cree conocerlo. Y mientras busca respuestas, una pregunta empieza a crecer con más fuerza que el miedo. ¿Qué ocurre cuando la persona en la que más confías desaparece justo el día en que prometía quedarse para siempre?

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

After falling in love with Dani Atkins’ Always You and Me, I was thrilled to receive the ARC of Six Days. The writing is just as beautiful and showcases what Dani Atkins does best: pulling at your heartstrings while delivering an emotional love story.

The beginning immediately pulled me in, and the mystery surrounding Finn kept me turning the pages. I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle thriller elements woven throughout the story. I wasn’t always sure what to think of Finn and found him unlikeable at times, but I appreciated the complexity of his character. Gemma’s unwavering support of him was sometimes frustrating, yet also admirable in a way that made their relationship feel very real. And Hannah? Such a fantastic side character.

While this didn’t quite live up to Always You and Me for me (which I highly recommend if you haven’t read it!), it was still an engaging and emotional read that delivered exactly what I love in a Dani Atkins novel.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy!

Six Days is the first novel I’ve read by Dani Atkins, and I will be looking for more! These characters felt so real that I almost wondered in the end if there’d be a note it was based on a true story. I’m glad that it wasn’t, but it just felt so real.

I don’t want to risk giving away anything about the story, but it had me hooked cover to cover with characters that I loved - from Emma or Ginny or Jenna (if you know you know, lol) to Finn to bestie Hannah and Gemma’s sweet father. By the end I even had a soft spot for the investigator.

This book will wring your heart out, but it’s worth it!

[Robyn Rekula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely different than I was expecting. It really was more of a romance book. It’s told in two timelines, one is the love story and the second is the current day mystery.

Things that bother me: 1- if someone is missing, why not question his friends?? 2- Finn making Gemma chase him got old. 3- the joke he would play w her name got on my last nerve 4- it was just boring by the second half.

By that time, I’d had enough of the love story and really wanted more time spent in the mystery portion. But unfortunately, the mystery itself became increasingly unbelievable, especially when considering obvious things that weren’t investigated.

Overall, this just didn’t work for me.

Kindle through KU 📚

[KKEC Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Written

Six Days by Dani Atkins
OH. My. Heart.

This was beautiful. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was the most love-filled journey I’ve read this year.

Gemma and Finn are the very definition of forever. I devoured this book. I loved how the story was told; the way time was presented was brilliant.

I love how Dani writes her characters. Her stories are so filled with love and heartbreak and emotion that is so relatable. And this was no exception.

This was such an intense, heartbreaking yet beautiful story. Watching Gemma and Finn find each other, fall in love, and keep falling is beautiful.

Publication date: June 25, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture

[ShersBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unpredictable magic.

Ms. Atkins once again manages to take us on an emotional ride. The characters, Finn and Gemma, are created step by step and presented flawlessly. She is a master at character development and the plot had me wavering between ‘love him, hate him’ I was so invested. I cheered, I cringed, I gasped and that was just the beginning. Dani Atkins is a force to be reckoned with; this is not your average ‘beginning, middle, end’ book. One minute you want to shake Gemma and say, "Wake up, get over it," and the next you want to hug her and say it will all be OK… or will it?

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[anj (acozyday) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dani’s books, so I went into this one completely blind. I didn’t even realize until halfway through that I wasn’t sure I’d read the synopsis. I just knew I trusted Dani’s writing.
As always, she does a great job of keeping you turning the pages and wondering what will happen next. The dual timelines occasionally got me confused, but overall it was very gripping! While this isn’t my favorite of her books, it’s still a really strong read and one I definitely enjoyed!!
I would say it's a 3.5 but since there is no way to do that - I'm giving it a 4!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I loved this book and truly could not put it down. Since I read so much, I am always looking for something different and interesting, and this story hinted that something big was coming. I was excited by all the clues left scattered around. My imagination went wild with the possibilities! And then came the most banal resolution ever. I'm not going to spoil it, but ugh. Seriously. What a total disappointment, both in the twist that wasn't and also in the switch from compelling first person narration by Gemma to someone else. My rating immediately plummeted from a 4-5 down to a 2-3. Three is generous.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma is so excited to marry Finn! She enjoyed their fairy tale romance and she is ready to start a new life with him. But the day of the wedding comes and Finn is nowhere to be found! Gemma knows in her gut that something is wrong but no one believes her. This is truly a story about love, grief, and hope. It also makes you think about what it means to be in love. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#SixDays #DaniAtkinsBookTour #NetGalley #Bookouture #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BookLove #Bookstagram #SummerRead

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully emotional story that will make you go through a wide variety of emotions while reading it. Happiness, anger, sadness, hopelessness and hopefulness are just a few. Gemma and Finn are the main characters and their story will make you cry, rant, laugh, and maybe throw the book ;) It’s lovely, engaging, and a testament to strength in relationships and believing in loved ones. I highly recommend it!

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC**

[Natalie Comphel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through the pages of this book!!! Not only is it heartbreakingly romantic, it is also has some intrigue sprinkled in. You will definitely run the gamut of emotions in this one. You really don’t want to say too much because you would never want to spoil this book. I am a first time reader of Dani Atkins and I was not disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for this early read of Six Days.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author to me, Dani Atkins writes Six Days. Gemma and Finn are to be married when something happens at the last possible second. This kept me up late reading into the night and I had a hard time putting it down. I really liked the characters, the storyline was great and really enjoyed the whole book. Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture for the ARC

This is my third book I’ve read by Dani Atikins and you’d think I’d be prepared for the emotional damage

I was not!

Between the flashbacks mixed with the present of Gemma trying to solve why Finn didn’t show up I was hooked.

I needed to know why Finn didn’t show up and Dani did not disappoint!!

I highly recommend Dani’s books!

[Laurel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A gripping read, told beautifully which had me hooked from the first page to the last.
A slightly different style for a romantic novel but this author is a master of her craft and captured it so well. The characters were very real.
As always with Dani Atkins’ books, it was a very emotional story.
Highly recommended.
4.5 stars

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an engaging story and went in directions that I did not expect. I have to admit that Gemma's faith in Finn was admirable. The supporting characters helped moved the story along and the back and forth n timelines helped understand the relationship.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

great concept, semi good delivery

Very slow read. Didn’t get emotionally invested at all. Was hoping to FEEL the characters love for each other and couldn’t. Great concept for a book tho. Perhaps this author I just now for me

[Audrey Frigiano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was a super good read and great story! A few surprises along the way but I really loved how the story evolved over a few years and with an abrupt ending... Did he actually leave her at the alter? NO spoilers!!

[☆Laura☆]

RTC

[Amy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was heart wrenching and emotional and had me laughing-out-loud, but so angry too.

[Darcy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really kept me turning those pages.

[Crzymomto3 · Rating 1 out of 5]

So SLOOOOOW

This book had potential but it was just so slow! It was hard to stay interested nothing really exciting!!! Then an abrupt ending!! It an easy pass for me

[Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald]

Fiction B+ This was actually quite good. I enjoyed it and it had the right level of suspense.

[Allison Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

kind of a slow read & wasn’t very interesting! i honestly thought it would’ve been different based on the beginning

[Phyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between a 3.75 and 4*. I loved the plot and the love between the characters. A few spots seemed to be slow but all in all a good read.

[Chloe Lorenzini]

a nice piece