Binding 13 and Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

About The Book’s

Binding 13:

His first, last, and only true love has always been rugby.
Until now.

He wants to save her.
She wants to hide.

She’s damaged.
He’s determined.

Fate brought them together.
Love binds them.

Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Primed for stardom, he’s heading straight for the top. Nothing can possibly get in his way, right?
Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College. The one with the sad eyes and hidden bruises. The one that distracts him like no one ever has.
Plagued with a hidden injury and desperate to impress the scouts watching his every move, Johnny has been placed on a pedestal so high, he has no room to make mistakes.
Striving to maintain balance, and on the crest of the International Summer Campaign, Johnny needs to keep his head in the game. He needs to stay focused, and cannot afford to let distractions get in the way of the bigger picture.
But what happens when a lonely girl with sad eyes becomes the only picture?

Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. Bullied and tortured, she arrives at Tommen College mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start and desperate to shake off the demons that plague her.
On her very first day at the prestigious private school, she comes into contact with the notorious Johnny Kavanagh.
Thrown through a hoop over her feelings for him, and desperate to keep a low-profile, Shannon finds herself once again the target of bullies as she forms a fragile alliance with rugby’s rising star.

Falling into a complicated friendship and grappling with their undeniable chemistry, Johnny and Shannon must face obstacles that threaten their relationship.

Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks collide.

Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together in Binding 13.

Hearts are binding and lives are entwining in Binding 13.

Binding 13 is the explosive first installment of a brand-new series from Chloe Walsh. Based in Ireland, the Boys Of Tommen series is bound to captivate and lure you into the world of rugby, love, and teenage heartbreak.

Keeping 13:

Falling in love was the easy part, what comes next is the test… Following a devastating injury that has left him sidelined and stripped of his beloved number 13 jersey, Johnny is struggling to hold onto his dreams. Lost, insecure, and desperately seeking comfort, he sets his sights on unraveling the mystery of the girl with the midnight-blue eyes. With his best friend, Gibsie, by his side, Johnny embarks on his quest of exposing the secrets surrounding the girl who haunts his every waking hour. Keeping secrets has never been a problem for Shannon. The life she was born into demands nothing less. She knows that demons and evil men don’t just exist in fairytales. They exist in her world, too. Traumatized beyond repair after her return from Dublin, and desperate to protect her little brothers, Shannon finds herself falling into the same old cover-up, barely keeping her head above water, as her future unravels before her eyes. Beaten and broken, her walls are up and her trust is shaken. Only one boy has the ability to climb those walls. The boy who owns her heart. Secrets are exposed and lives are changed forever in Keeping 13, the explosive sequel to the bestselling book, Binding 13. Follow Johnny and Shannon as they try to navigate their way through the aftermath of that fateful rugby match in Dublin. Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together as two teenagers from the opposite side of the tracks collide in Keeping 13, the concluding story for Johnny and Shannon. Based in Ireland, the Boys of Tommen series is bound to captivate and lure you into the world of rugby, love, and teenage heartbreak. *Keeping 13 the second and final book for Johnny and Shannon.* Series in order: Binding 13 Keeping 13 Saving 6 Note: Some scenes in this book may be extremely upsetting for some readers. Due to its bad language and certain scenes, Keeping 13 is recommended for mature readers.

My Review

Binding 13

Binding 13 is the first book in the infamous “Boys of Tommen” series. This series I have literally been seeing everywhere and I decided to pick it up. I don’t really read YA as many of you know, but honestly these books have definitely changed my mind in being more open to this sub genre in romance. There was something so rich and vibrant in these books that truly packs a punch. Binding 13 is the first book in their story. Our characters are Johnny and Shannon. Johnny is 17 and Shannon is 15 when they first meet. Johnny is training to be a professional rugby player and is from a loving stable financially secure home. Then we have Shannon, who has suffered abuse and bullying most of her life. Her home situation is rough with an alcoholic abusive father and a neglective mother who enables the abuse and the siblings having to protect each other when they can. But on top of that, Shannon has been bullied at every single school she has been in. But when she has a fresh start at Tommen and meets Johnny, who is protective and caring, she comes into herself. But the relationship she has with Johnny is forbidden by her family.

I couldn’t get enough of Binding 13 and what we see happen within this story here. I was so hooked into the writing so easily, and if you love audiobooks then the narration is very well done. It takes place in Ireland (which isn’t common in contemporary) and their relationship is so heartfelt. Johnny is a character that is so in tune with Shannon and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her. There are many things that he just doesn’t understand but he just wants to look out for even knowing what could happen if they are caught together by anyone in her family. Shannon has never known such a protector outside of her own siblings, so to have a boy look out for in and connect with makes Shannon believe in something more.

I will warn you all that this book does end in a cliffhanger and I know these books are long, but I couldn’t get enough of it. The writing was so consumming and just instantly pulls you into the story. This is a story of a hero that comes off being misunderstood as a playboy but is so protective, and a heroine who is sweet and shy and a true survivor. Their romance is so endearing because we see what a deep connection they have together and the first book really focuses on establishing the foundation of their relationship in such a promising way.

Keeping 13

The second book which is also the conclusion to Johnny and Shannon’s story. In this one it picks up right off of where Binding 13 ends. Now this conclusion was so heartbreaking at times. It really strikes a deep chord with you on a human level. We see the determination and commitment that our pair have together. There is even more forbidden feels in this book due to the circumstances. I just felt for these two and what they have to overcome. Shannon is having to deal with feeling even more trapped with her new situation but willing to sacrifice so much just to have some alone time with Johnny. Johnny really shows his true colors in what he is able to sacrifice for his girl in this one here. I just wanted so much to see these two find their way through their struggles. And really well the whole family of Shannon I just wanted to cry for. We also get some great laughs with the group of Johnny’s friends. We also see the difference between Shannon’s home to Johnny’s home. The difference between loving supportive parents and parents that are only out for their own interests. I had so much love for Johnny and Shannon and their group. Seeing these two find their own way, that is different than what everyone else would have for them was so poignant at times in the strength of their relationship together.

Overall View

I had a beautiful experience reading the beginning of the Boys of Tommen. Its a story of pain and sacrifice, but of healing and growth and fighting for the one that you love that concludes with such hope and promise. A TRUE GEM AND A TOP READ OF THE YEAR!

Title: Binding 13

Author: Chloe Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Young/New Adult

Format: Combo of Audio & eBook

Source: Self Purchased

Length: 608 Pages

Title: Keeping 13

Author: Chloe Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Young/New Adult

Format: Combo of Audio & eBook

Source: Self Purchased

Length: 667 Pages

Binding 13

Keeping 13

Series Order

Binding 13- Pub 2018 #1 in the Series

Keeping 13-Pub 2018 #2 in the Series

Saving 6-Pub 2023 #3 in the Series

Redeeming 6-Pub 2023 #4 in the Series

Taming 7-Pub 2024 #5 in the Series

About The Author

Chloe Walsh is the bestselling author of The Boys of Tommen series, which exploded in popularity on TikTok, Goodreads, and Amazon. She has been writing and publishing New Adult and Adult contemporary romance for a decade. Her books have been translated into multiple languages. Animal lover, music addict, TV junkie, Chloe loves spending time with her family and is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. Chloe lives in Cork, Ireland with her family.