– Binding 13: Epic, emotional and addictive romance from the TikTok phenomenon (The Boys of Tommen)

It takes quite a bit for me to want to re-read a book, it doesn't happen often - quite the opposite, yet I keep coming back to this one. For me, a successful book is good story, good characters, good writing, and it has to make me FEEL. If it has all of those elements, which let's face it, is sadly rare, then I'm gone hook, line and sinker. This series - Shannon, Johnny, Gibs, Claire, Joey, Mammy K, all of them, is unlike anything I've ever come across before. It is so good, that even though I know what's going to happen, I Feel everything these books evoke just as much each time I read them. I cry with them, rage with them, rejoice with them, grieve with them, laugh out loud at the humour and the antics they get up to (especially Gibs - hands down funniest book character I have ever had the pleasure of coming across). I'm not sure I've ever had that from one book before. Shanon may come across as a bit doormat-ish at the start, but peel back those onion layers, and you find the heart of a fighter, an incredibly strong girl who doesn't even know it herself. Johnnys the definition of overthinker; a strong, good guy with so much commitment, dedication & passion for the things he fights and cares for. I loved these two. This absolute gem of a book, and series, is so unlike anything I've ever come across before, and I know for a fact that I'll still be coming back time and time again because they are "bleeding brilliant". If you're looking for a beautifully written, heart wrenching, hilarious book with dark secrets, characters so seemingly real that it's almost seems plausible that one could bump into them in Ballylaggin, and want one hell of a book hangover, then do yourself a favour and read these pronto.

This book CONSUMED me. I'm not joking when I say 600 pages were not enough pages for these characters. More over Mariana Zapata, we have another slowburn queen I'm town. (Don't worry, I still love Mariana!!). This book tells a story of Shannon and Johnny, who live and go to school in Cork, Ireland. Shannon was severely bullied in school, where it got to the extent that her mother had to take her out of school and pay to send her to a private school. Here, Shannon meets Johnny, the popular boy who is the captain of the rugby team and has unlimited fangirls following him. When Johnny accidentally knocked Shannon out with a stray rugby ball, everything changed for these characters. Johnny becomes protective of Shannon and Shannon for the first time, feels safe! There are a lot of triggers warnings with this book, so PLEASE read them before diving into this book because it can be tough! Being from Ireland myself, I understood the slang and banter between the characters. There is a glossary at the start just for your FYI. OK, so the characters- Johnny and Shannon - come from completely different worlds, but they find each other, and it works. They are what each other didn't know they needed. The vulnerability and strength Shannon has broke me!! The protective and passion Johnny has powered me! Even though these characters were 15 and 18, I didn't care! I usually don't read YA or teenage love, but this book was perfection!! The plot! This book is 100% of a slow burn! That being said, every interaction, every chapter, was important and needed in order to showcase these characters and show their story and growth! This book does end on a cliffhanger, so bring on the next book!! I'm ready to dive me! I need everyone to read this book so I can talk to them about it!!!! I could write an essay of a review for this book, and it wouldn't cover how much I loved it. The banter, the vulnerability! I don't think I've ever read a book that had me gripping the book, in shock, sadness, or laughter all in one chapter! It was amazing

One of the best books I've ever read

Wow. What an emotional rollercoaster the last 48 hours have been. I put off reading Binding 13 for so long, unsure if it could live up to the hype. Now I get it and honestly I’m glad I waited. I didn’t think a high school romance this long would grip me the way it did, but Chloe Walsh completely proved me wrong. Despite the school setting, it never felt immature. The story dives deep into trauma, mental health, love, and survival, with a level of emotional intensity that kept me hooked. Even at nearly 800 pages, I flew through it. There was a stretch around the 500-page mark where the emotional push-pull got a bit repetitive, but by 700, I was right back in it and completely invested. The characters are where this book shines. Gibsie is a standout, hilarious but clearly hiding his own pain. I know there’s more to him than the funny best friend but I just can’t work it out! And Joey. Oh, Joey. His pain was so overlooked. He’s trying so hard to hold it all together, to protect his family, to be everything for everyone and you can see it’s slowly breaking him. My heart ached for him with every chapter. He deserves peace more than anyone. Shannon’s journey was heartbreaking and beautiful. Watching her slowly find her voice and begin to trust again was powerful. Johnny loyal, protective, and emotionally raw felt like the anchor she needed. He wasn’t perfect, and that made him all the more real. Binding 13 is about so much more than young love, it’s about healing, loyalty, friendship and surviving what life throws at you. I cried, laughed, got angry, and fell in love with every page. Now excuse me while I go dive into Keeping 13, because I am not done with this world yet.

This was brought for a family member who really is into books by Chloe Walsh a really captivating story

I cant put into words how phenomenal this book was. I loved everything about it. From the first page of Shannon powerful intro into her life in ireland, I was hooked....and you will be too. The book tackles themes of abuse, love, dreams, injury, sports and so much more that its just perfect. The characters are also so well fleshed out and complex that I just loved everything about it! I listened to the audio first then this.. and was transfixed. Im afraid im obsessed with this world and never want to let it go

Binding 13 is hands down one of the most captivating and addictive books I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the story — the tension, the chemistry between the characters, and the unfolding drama had me hooked and glued to every word. It’s the kind of book that makes you lose track of time because you just have to know what happens next. The characters are brilliantly written: flawed, complex, and incredibly relatable. Their emotions leap off the page, making every triumph and heartbreak feel personal. I laughed, cried, and swooned all within the span of a few chapters. The romance is intense and passionate, but it’s also layered with real, emotional stakes that make the story feel genuine and grounded. The plot is expertly paced, with twists and turns that keep you guessing while still giving room for the characters’ relationships to grow and evolve. The author’s writing style is immersive and lyrical, making it easy to picture each scene vividly and feel every moment as if you were living it alongside the characters. Honestly, Binding 13 is a complete rollercoaster of emotion — epic, heartfelt, and utterly binge-worthy. It’s the kind of romance that stays with you long after you close the book, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. This is, without question, one of the best reads I’ve ever experienced, and it deserves every bit of praise it’s getting. If you’re looking for a romance that will make your heart race and your emotions soar, don’t miss this one.

Really addictive read. The characters are well written and the story keeps you hooked. Hard to put down once you start.

this book is SOOO good

I just spent the last 10h reading it in one sitting and now I’m wrecked. Sure, plenty of cliché stuff but the pining! God the pining in this book made scream and giggle like a lunatic. Everyone was saying this is good, but this beyond good. It’s “you-will-inhale-it-like-a-drug-addict” good. It had no business sucking me in like it did. It’s hands down the best sports romance I’ve read (I’m sorry Elle Kennedy, I’ve betrayed my hockey origins), and a great romance altogether. The characters? Felt like real people with real struggles, with real emotions and relationships, not that cheap, shallow stuff you get half the time. I’ll be, in fact, pulling an all nighter to read book 2!!!

This book is officially one of my favorite books of all time, might even be my favorite… Jumping into this book I had my doubts as because it was 800 pages long but it did not disappoint! In fact I want more. Luckily they have a second book which I’m really intrigued jumping into. I loved the characters and the plot. But let’s not forget about the tension!! Shannon & Johnny are one of my favorite book couples! I cannot describe how much I love this book… Everything is perfection— However before you start reading this book be prepared to both laugh and cry multiple times!💕 I just finished the first book and I have already bought the second and third book while reading the first one! I recommend this book series to everyone I’ve meet such as my friend and even my English teacher and they both loved it!

I had no idea how much I was going to like this book. It’s an entire universe, one big family of friends and brothers and sisters, and in the middle of it all are Shannon and Johnny and their life-changing hardships. From the very beginning, I was drawn into their world and couldn’t put the book down. Chloe Walsh has a remarkable talent for creating deeply emotional and compelling stories. The characters felt so real and their struggles so poignant that my heart broke, beat, and sang for them all along. Shannon's and Johnny's journey through their personal and shared challenges was both heartbreaking and inspiring. The way the author builds the relationships among the characters creates a sense of belonging and warmth. It’s not just about the romance between Shannon and Johnny; it’s about the whole network of friends and family supporting each other through thick and thin. Their world feels alive, vibrant, and full of genuine connections. The emotional depth of this book caught me by surprise in the best possible way. I was completely invested in their story, and by the end, I was desperate to know what happens next. I can’t wait to read book 2 and continue this amazing journey with them.

Está bueno porque no puedes parar pero no sabes porque, porque no pasa nada en todo el libro. Vale la pena la verdad.