User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This was so, so good...Excellent character building.
Excellent relationship building.
Just excellent all around.
I loved the Ireland backdrop and the prep school setting, not to mention all of the hard-hitting topics. I would gush more, but am short on time here.
I am also dying for the second book and pissed that I have to work 12+ hour days the next three days and will have no time to read it until Saturday. I don't know why I haven't read this author before, but am now adding her entire back-list to my tbr.
Rating: really liked it
it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book where i don’t want it to end.i was expecting this book to be the typical high school romance where jock meets shy girl and ya it kinda is but it’s definitely much more. i love books that focuses on the characters, friendships, relationships and family dynamics and this book has all of it. tbh, i wasn’t gonna read this book but the rating is so high and i was curious and all but i’m so glad i did.
ALSO, i wasn’t expecting this book to have a
Mariana Zapata type of slow burn and i was all for it. and i know this book is long af but it’s like that because there’s
more showing than telling and i loved this.
story & characters this book is long af but it didn’t feel long. if books are like this, you know it’s really freakin good and it is.
what drew me in are the characters. the story is pretty simple: girl gets bullied in her old school, she transfers to a more preppy/private school, she meets the most popular guy who also happens to be a rugby prodigy, they fall in love slowly but they both hide it from each other cuz duh its forbidden and all that. you know the drill. but the characters? fucking great. they were so relatable, hilarious, and the banter? the best thing i’ve read in a long time.
the side characters,
Gibsie (H bff) and
Claire (h bff) are THE BEST. i don’t think i’ve ever laughed so hard, i feel nonexistent abs forming on my tummy until Gibsie is introduced in my book-life. and Claire? she’s the kind of friend every girl needs. both of these characters’ loyalty and support was so refreshing to read, i just love em and i ship both of these characters so bad too.
Shannon (h) & Johnny (H) i felt so bad for Shannon that i just wanted to protect her from every single person who bullied and abused her. and knowing and reading about how she was being abused by her father? ughhhhh MY HEART. Shannon may seem weak, innocent, awkward, and naive (which is understandable after what she’s been through), but she’s actually so fucking strong, mature, the sweetest thing ever, and quite admirable tbh.
and omfg Johnny is the best hero i’ve read in a loooong time. he’s the perfect balance of sweet and alpha/protective/possessive type of hero. even though his pushing away from the heroine and implicitly leading her on frustrated me to no end, i’m still really glad that he was the one
doing most of the chase. he may say to her he’s not interested but i mean, actions speak louder than words right?
im also so glad that Shannon calls Johnny out when he makes mistakes instead of just “giving in” just because, you know, he’s hot. ugh
*cue eyeroll*. i’ve seen this trend in soo many NA books that it’s annoying as hell but thank god Shannon ain’t one of those weak and doormat/horny heroines.
drama wellll most of the drama here is the push and pull from both MCs, it can get frustrating, not gonna lie, but it’s definitely worth it.
the OW drama here was kinda entertaining but also kinda not important? i don’t know it just feels like it’s there for the sake of drama or putting a wedge between the MCs and im honestly not complaining because i’ve been in the mood for petty teenage drama for quite a while.
anywaysss, this book doesn’t have sex in it and it focuses a lot more on the stages of slowly and innocently (but genuinely) falling in love with your soulmate so if you like that, i recommend this 100%.
Rating: really liked it
Mariana Zapata: Hi, my name is Mariana Zapata and what you should know about me is that I write super long slowburn romances.
Chloe Walsh: hold my fucking beer.
Chloe Walsh:*
goes on to write a highschool-coming-of-age story that is over 800+ pages long where all the H and h do is kiss for like maybe 3 times and it's glorious*
I'd love to write a review for this, but
1. my emotions are all over the place right now after that cliffhanger. What the hell???
2. I have other things to do like start the sequel to this book which is over 900 pages ...
so uhm... excuse me, but I have other priorities. Just know that I'm taking custody of all the boys of Tommen.
This needs to be enough for now.I've finished both books and decided to write one
extremely long review for both Binding 13 and Keeping 13 HERE. What to expect: lots of tears & mental breakdowns.
#1
Binding 13 ↠ 4.25 stars
#2 Keeping 13 ↠ 5 stars
Rating: really liked it
5 MILLLIONNNNN STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i’m beyond obsessed. no review could do this book justice but wow. i’m SPRINTING to keeping 13!!!!!
Rating: really liked it
i finished this 800+ page beast in less than 24 hours on to book 2
Rating: really liked it
#1 Binding 13 — 4 Stars
#2 Keeping 13 — 4.5 Stars
I don’t know if I’m the only one thinking this, but that cover is too
risqué and a blatant insult to the pure goodness that is this book. I can’t remember the last time I’m this enamored of a high school romance. But I’m telling you now that this is
the best yet most frustrating book I’ve ever read.
This book will slay you! It’s a story about family, friendship, first love, hopes and dreams, as well as the struggles of dealing with the fallout of being a teenager and a member of a broken family.
It evokes so many emotions out of you. It’s devastating, infuriating, heartfelt and sweet, but also a whole lot entertaining.
The romance is a
slow burn. You have no idea how slow this book is taking it. Think of the best one you’ve ever read and multiply it by a dozen times. Unfortunately,
the h is too delicate for my taste. I know it’s probably asking too much and I should cut her some slack considering the hell she’s been through, but I just wish she’d had more spice.
This book is loaded with a bunch of
awesome side characters. From parents to best friends to bitchy mean girls,
they’re all so real. Aside from the H’s mom whom I admired and loved so much, the H’s best friend is my absolute favorite! Him and his stupid jokes were the reasons this book didn’t feel so gloom and doom.
Overall, I can tell you in confidence that this is a book you don’t want to pass up.
It’s so long and can get repetitive, but it also holds a lot of importance. Not to mention, the development is simply outstanding on all fronts. There might be times when you want to give up from all the stress and hopelessness this book causes you, but just hang in there!
Rating: really liked it
3.2 starsThe deal is.....The main couple was cute, the secondary characters were even better, many scenes were downright hilarious and many inexplicably sad, the writing was easy to follow and it was without a doubt one of the best high school romances I’ve ever read.
But then we have info dumpy monologues, really long chapters, an even longer page count, unnecessary scenes that bored me to death, a bunch of convenient crashing into male chests, a heroine that unintentionally got on my nerves, zero character development, only one proper bloody kiss scene in an 887 page book and a love story that’s actually pretty average.
There....I said it, bring out the pitchforks.PS; that hospital scene at the end? Yeaaa you know which one I’m talking about. That was possibly the funniest, cutest, most wholesome and my favourite fucking book scene ever.
PS PS; who thought that cover was a good idea?
Rating: really liked it
5 ‘Bulldozer’ stars
I’m a grown twenty something years old woman and I’m blushing and swooning over a high school romance. Ugh I need to get a life!
This book made me react weirdly. I swear I couldn’t recognize myself. It made me feel a lot of things. It made me laugh, cry, frustrated the hell out of me, and made me freakin swoon. I was a mess. It’s just so cute, adorable, and relevant.
I loved every single one of these characters. Every. Single. One. These characters are so real to me. I feel like I’m so overwhelmed and that my heart is going to burst when I think about them. The book is full of angst, real life issues, and alpha Irish guys. What more do you need?
The book is packed with the most amazing important side characters. Everyone of them is so precious. Johnny is a good guy. If I were his mam I would’ve been so proud of him. He’s caring, loving, and dedicated. He’s SO good. Shannon is so precious and delicate. I just want to give her a hug and protect her from everything. Gibsie, is the heart of this book. Johnny’s mam, is the book’s soul. I could keep talking nonstop about every side character. Just know that this book has the best side supporting characters .
Even though this book might seem “too long” or “too slow” there was still something about it that made it so addictive and unputdownable. Thank you arini for recommending this book to me long time ago. I love it. And now I need to recommend it to everyone.
Rating: really liked it
i fear that this is the greatest piece of literature ever written.
Rating: really liked it
I loved this book. No, wait. Not right. I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Pure beautiful knowing no boundaries love, domestic violence, family drama, bullying, real friendship, hilariously funny scenes, harrowing scenes, sport and out of this world Johnathon Kavanagh aka Bulldozer and Shannon like the river
Johnny, oh Johnny. If this boy is not perfect I don't know who is...
Rating: really liked it
I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't like this book. 😬
It felt like nothing is fucking happening! (and this is a duet, for God's sake!!!)
Yes, there were some totally swoon worthy and heartbreaking parts, but most of the time I was completely bored. 🙈
I liked that the narrators had an Irish accent (although it took me a few chapters to figure out what the male narrator was saying... lol) 😂
Rating: really liked it
⭐ 3.75 - 4 Stars ⭐🎵 Songs:Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran
You Found Me - The Fray
Unsteady - X Ambassadors
The sheer depth of my feelings for him was unhealthy.
The adoration, the lust, the downright infatuation I had for him…it was insanity.
I had never felt this much.
I had never felt so consumed.
I said I wasn't in the mood to write a long review, but I think this came out longer than I thought, lol. I will start by saying that my expectations with this book were too high, but there were things that I didn't like, so that's why I can't give it five stars.
I know this has already been said a lot in other reviews, but this book is TOO LONG, I just kept watching my progress because I felt like this was never going to end😭😭 it could easily have had 200-300 pages less, but I get it, it's a slowburn. Also, it had a lot of padding, unnecessary scenes, and long chapters. I know it sounds tough here, but overall it wasn't a bad book🙈
Honestly, I would have liked to see more evolution of the characters because I feel that it was practically non-existent and it is something that would have helped the development of the story. Apart from all this, the book entertained me a lot, and without realizing it, I was already finishing it. The last
20% kept me hooked and that ending, OMG??!!
Things I liked: 1. The
friendship and love story between Shannon and Johnny🥺💖 and the way he supported her, defended her and was always there for her despite anything, it was cute!
“Because you can, Shannon,” Johnny’s voice broke through my thoughts. “You can trust me.” His gaze was locked on mine, his strikingly intense, blue eyes burning holes inside of me. “I won’t hurt you.”
Man, Johnny was the best character in this story, change my mind. He completely stole the show! I have to admit that just for him, I decided to keep reading and not abandon the book.
2. The
funny conversations between Gibsie and Johnny😂
Gibsie was
HILARIOUS af! Shout out to the
BEST side character!
3. The
tension between Gibsie and Claire😍 can't wait for their story!
“Come on, Claire-Bear”, he teased. “Is that any way to talk about the guy who gave you your first kiss?”
“That was the result of an unfortune game of spin the bottle,” she shot back, cheeks turning pink, as she glared up at him. “And I’ve told you a million times to stop calling me that.”
“It’s all a show,” Gibsie informed me with a huge grin. “She loves me really.”
THE TENSION, GUYS! I CAN’T "Look at her, Johnny,” he groaned, ignoring my jab. “Look at how beautiful that girl is. Christ, it might be that sunshine hair, but I swear she glows."
STOP IT, GIBSIE😭💗
4. The
friendshipp that Shannon had with her friends and how they always supported each other.
5.
JOEY A.K.A THE HERO AND THE BEST BROTHER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD🤧
6. I liked the fights between Johnny and Bella only because in the end he shut her mouth and left her like a clown in the middle of the conversation🤡😂
7. And also Johnny's mom. She was a gem😌 their scenes and conversations = 10/10
Because I had caught feelings for Shannon.
Huge fucking feelings.
Permanent ones.
I knew she was too sweet and too pure to be dragged into the limelight that came with my life.
And I knew that she was too fucking broken for a guy like me to get tangled up with.
But I already felt like I was drowning with her.
That’s how consumed I was in this girl.
That’s how much I loved her.
Fuck.
Rating: really liked it
"You are love." He sighed contently. "Stay with me."
Always I started reading this book thinking it was going to be a more slow burn version of Mariana Zapata´s books.
I was entirely wrong.
This book is over 800 pages and my feelings changed so much while reading it. I know most of my friends loved this book from the beginning, and couldn´t stop reading until the end.
It wasn’t like that for me. While I loved the writing since the very first page, and I was enjoying reading it, I needed some time to connect with the characters.
It was probably my fault. The book is written in first, dual POV, and both Shannon (15/16 years old) and Johnny (17 years old) are a lot more mature than most people of their age. But when it comes to romance, they act exactly like high school students meeting their first love, so my brain needed some time to acknowledge the fact that they were teenagers though they sounded like adults.
The pace was really slow, but trust me, keep reading. You’re going to be thankful for all the slow burn when you get to the second half of the book and everything starts to happen. You’re going to understand the characters so well that you will be feeling like you’re there, inside the book, seeing everything with your own eyes.
Don't be afraid of a book for its length, be patient with it.
Because books like this are rare to find, and impossible to forget. .......................................................................
Things you need to know before reading: -
Binding 13 is an
adult book with teenager characters.
- There are scenes of physical and emotional abuse.
- Don´t read this book if your are looking for a fun and light, erotic or insta-love romance.
I truly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys: - Emma Scott
- a well-written, beautiful but hard stories
- friendship and romance
- slow burn
The characters in Binding 13 have stolen my heart and I don’t even want it back. I love EIGHT characters with all my heart. I didn’t even know it was possible to love so many characters in a single book, but Chloe Walsh has made it.
The heroine: Shannon (h) is a strong, sweet, tiny girl with a huge heart. She’s not like the fierce heroines I usually love, but I ended up falling for her the same. Because this poor girl has gone through
hell, I don’t even know how she is able to get up in the mornings. It was heartbreaking seeing her being bullied over and over again. But Shannon never gives up. She's a survivor and she deserves all the love and the good things this world has.
"You are so concerned with fighting the bullies at school, Mam," I sobbed, tears streaming down my cheeks. "When the biggest bully of them all lives under this roof." The hero: Johnny, is a talented rugby player, the gold boy of the school. He’s hard working, self-confident and mature. He had to go through surgery after getting injured in a game, but he is determined to be in perfect condition to play with the Ireland team.
This boy is a
jewel. I only had one issue with him: he hits the boyfriends of the girls that bully Shannon. I’m not saying that he should hit the girls or that they should get away unpunished, but I don’t agree with hitting the boyfriends as solution. Besides, it’s proven several times that it doesn’t work.
I had to fight the smile threatening to break free when Johnny stopped at the top of the staircase to scoop up Sookie and then proceeded to carry the huge, 80lb minimum Labrador down the stairs like she was a baby cradled in his arms.
Smiling, I followed after them.
"Arthritis," he explained in an embarrassed tone when he caught me staring. "Old age." He set her down carefully when he reached the ground floor and watched her waddle off down the hall before adding, "But she's young at heart." 😭💔
The best friends: Gibsie + Claire are the perfect match. They are the kind of couple I love, even though they are not a couple - yet. Their banter is the best and I’m looking forward to reading their book because enemies/friends to lovers is my favourite!
Claire and Shannon's relationship is great, but the bromance Gibsie and Johnny's had is absolutely perfect! They are together all the time, and they are the best. Also, Gibsie is a true character: there is nobody like him. He's
hilarious and his crazy comments balance the sadness and difficult scenes this book has.
"Lube?" I barked. "Jesus, Gibs."
"Hey – don’t knock it until you try it," he scoffed. "I went to a huge fucking effort combing a dozen different chemists to get that for you." Waggling his brows, he added, "The pharmacist told me it's sensitive touch."
I stared at him. "It's half empty."
He shrugged. "I had to test it before I could recommend it to you." The parents: I'm talking about Johnny's parents, because Shannon wasn’t that lucky. When Mrs Kavanagh appears for the first time, I stop enjoying the book and switch to loving it. She made me realise Johnny was still a boy,
her baby, and she's the best. I don’t know how many times I’m going to say a character is the best in this review, but I can’t help it. I love them all!
"I haven't been a virgin since first year. And I can roll a condom on in the dark with one hand tied behind my bleeding back, so I don’t need the sex talk, or tips, or any of that shite."
Mam gasped in horror and I mentally kicked the shite out of myself.
"I'm lying," I coddled her. "I am a virgin."
"First year," she sobbed. "First year!"
"No, no, no," I hurried to assure her. "I'm a virgin, Ma. I am."
"No," she wept, shaking her head. "You're not."
Christ, where was my Dad when I needed him? Even though Mr Kavanagh only appears a couple of times, he nails every scene he is in.
"Don’t you forget who you are." He stood up then and helped me to sit at the edge of my bed. "You are my son," he added, lowering my feet to the floor. "And you are a fighter."
I dropped my head. "I don’t fucking feel like a fighter.”
"You've been a fighter since the day you were born," he corrected, tipping my chin back up, and forcing me to meet his blue-eyed gaze. "You've never let a thing get in the way of your goals, and you sure as hell are not going to let six weeks stop you." The brother: Joey deserves a medal and all the stars in the Universe. He works, studies, trains and takes care of his three little brothers. He’s always protecting all the members of the family from his father's punches by putting himself in between. He is the one being hitted the most.
He saves them.
All of them.
He’s the truest hero in this horrible and yet beautiful story.
"I can do this, Joey," I whispered, casting a quick glance to where he was leaning against the bannister, watching me with concerned eyes. "I can."
"I know you can." His voice was low and pained. "I just…I'm here for you, okay?" he finished with a heavy exhale. "Always here for you." The last - but not least- character I love is Joey's girlfriend. Aoife is my favourite kind of heroine: fierce, loyal, brave and caring. I’m so glad Joey has a girlfriend that wants to protect him for everything. Also, they are going to have their own book! I can’t wait to read it!! 🌟😄
Thank you so much Phuong and Oumaima! I wouldn’t have discovered and read this book if it weren’t for you!!
*I apologize for how long this review is, but in my defense the book is HUGE and
BEAUTIFUL!!❤️
↬
Series:1.
Binding 13: 5 stars2. Keeping 13:
ALL THE STARTS❤️
Rating: really liked it
5 stars
Holy fucking WOW.
This book burned SOOOOOO fucking good.
I honestly don’t even know what to say. Nothing I could write would do justice for this book. I’m speechless, just completely fucking blown away.
The characters, the writing, the story, it was all so fucking well done and sucked me in IMMEDIATELY.
This book was 800+ pages with a second book to follow and continue the story, so going in I was a little weary, BUT now that I have read it, THANK GOD there is a second book. I DO NOT WANT IT TO END. Shannon and Johnny are literally fueling my fucking soul right now and as much as I don’t want their story to end, I HAVE TO START THE SECOND BOOK RN. I’m obsessed, addicted, and so fucking in love with them.
The number of butterflies I got through this book was insane cause the most they did was MAKE OUT. (my stomach ERUPTED in them with they HUGGED😫) Yep no sexy times but I think I got more butterflies in this book then some of my smut reads. And my stomach clenched for what Shan was having to go through. AND THE ANGST, oh my god, I'M DYING. My heart can’t take this 😭😭
Yes, I did cry, and guess what? I’ll probably cry in book 2 as well 😁
GO READ THIS FUCKING BOOK PEOPLE. RIGHT NOW.
"hi shannon." "hi johnny.": https://www.pinterest.com/dogpaws806/...
Rating: really liked it
I don’t know if I want to leave this review for after I finish the series? Or if I even have the energy to do it now. But I will say I jumped to book n2 straight away. Massive cliffhanger!
It was looong, but when I finished it, it felt okay, so I guess it was worth the reading time, and all the times I looked at my progress, cursed and rolled my eyes.
I loved both Shannon and Johnny, who wouldn’t??
Do I think 800 pages for that story is dragging the whole thing? YES.
Do I think their whole story could have been just one book? YES.
Am I going to read the whole thing anyway and love it? ALSO YES.
