I'm so glad I got the chance to read Binding 13! I heard nothing but good things about it and am glad I didn't have to miss out! I did have a little trouble getting in to it at first, but once it sucked me in I was all in. Shannon has had a difficult life at school and at home. Attending Tommen College is an opportunity for a new start. On her first day her world is rocked, literally and figuratively, when she meets rugby god, Johnny Kavanaugh. Over the course of the school year the two can't seem to stay out of each other's orbit. As they learn more about each other and the struggles they're both having they only get closer. I cannot wait to read Keeping 13!

Thank you Netgalley!

This is a book with a great deal of heart and a deep story line. Johnny and Shannon are the epitome of star crossed lovers from opposite sides of the tracks. Johnny is a well to do rugby player with everything going for him - - at least that's how it looks from the outside. Inside, he's struggling and trying to recover from a surgery that is endangering his ability to continue at rugby. Shannon has been bullied for years and has few friends. She recently moved to a new school in the hopes of a fresh start. Fate and a stray ball help her to meet Johnny. From then on they fight their growing attraction. Shannon has a difficult home life and it makes her insecure about everything else in her life as well.

I think this story is a good one and definitely a worthy one. I also felt it was much longer than it needed to be. I always appreciate having detail enough to immerse the reader in a story but I truly believe this book had way more pages than needed and drew the story out longer than needed.

I made it about 40% before I had to dnf this book. I can understand why so many people love it, I feel like you're able to really get to spend time with the characters, but unfortunately it just wasn't working for me. I felt no chemistry between the couple, and I honestly didn't really like any of the characters, and after 200 pages I was just bored with the book.

If you like slow-paced, emotional stories then this might be the book for, but it just wasn't for me.

I loved Binding 13, Johnny is so freaking sweet. I love him. I thought the story was very emotional and it truly tugged at my heart strings. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

I’ve read and seen so many great reviews for “Binding 13” online and was extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity.

Initially, I was not going to leave feedback for this book because I was having technical errors downloading it even though it appeared in the app.

Once it was available on Kindle Unlimited and a version on Audible, I was able to download it and listen/read it.

“Binding 13” on Audible is split into two parts.

The story is good and well written. It’s also extremely sad.

I’ve had to take breaks listening/reading “Binding 13” and I’ll continue to update my review as I continue the journey with Johnny and Shannon.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read the rerelease of Chloe Walsh’s “Binding 13” in advance.

This is about to consume my entire life and I cannot wait. Also thank you Chloe for a beautiful glossary with pronunciations I deeply appreciate it

Beyond obsessed with this book and these characters.

Johnny and Shannon. Wow. They have been through it. I have never wanted to take kids out of a book like I have here. This girl! My heart hurts for her and yet she still carries on. Johnny and the way he is with her is my favorite thing. He is truly if "if he wanted to he would".

BUT this ending?!?!? I immediately need to know everything.

THE SIDE CHARACTERS. I am in love with them. Gibsie. Johnny's mom. Joey. Claire. I adore them. and they make me laugh. and they bring the story together. and the LOYALTY of this group. I cannot. I love it.

Read this book. Just do.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Omg. This book. I am SOBBING. I felt everything. The writing is immaculate. I haven’t felt so connected to characters in a book in a long time 😭😭

Off I go to break my heart some more with book 2 💔

Even though this book was super long, it did not read like a super long book! The back story was all crucial to the story and made you fall in love with the main characters and hate some of the other characters. This book has a lot of tough topics it discusses and it is not for the faint of heart. Chloe does an amazing job of navigating each with care. I found myself laughing out loud and crying at pieces. This is a serious must read!

Binding 13 is 600+ pages, and honestly, I wanted more - that's how much I loved the characters, the plot, EVERYTHING.

The novel follows Shannon Lynch and Johnny Kavanaugh, as Shannon transfers to Tommen and makes quite the entrance (thanks to Johnny Kavanaugh). After Johnny accidentally hits Shannon on her very first day, leaving her hurt and embarrassed, he vows to make sure he, nor anyone else, ever hurts her again. With his status at school and a (near) professional rugby player, it seems easy at first to take her under his wing...that is, until he finds that despite his efforts, he can't protect her from everything, especially, not those outside of school walls.

Shannon Lynch, though perceived as shy and "weak" by her father and classmates, is one of the strongest characters I have ever read. Despite being treated awfully (to say the least) by so many, she remains one of the kindest, sweetest, and genuine characters. I felt the same need as Johnny to protect her, because as I read the novel through her lens, she truly has such a good heart.

As for Johnny Kavanaugh, he is the ULTIMATE book boyfriend. When Johnny Kavanaugh makes a promise, he keeps it. He's not the stereotypical "popular jock" that we see in Sports Romances (though I wouldn't necessarily call this book one), as he is also an incredible student, son, and friend. At heart, he is such a good person, and I LOVED every single time he put anyone in their place.

As for the side characters, Walsh somehow manages to make several developed, complex, and amazing side characters. This book is the definition of found family, and I LOVE Gibsie, Claire, and Joey especially.

Of course, I'm continuing this series, and I honestly reread this book at least once every few months, because I love it THAT much.

Tropes: WHO HURT YOU x100, Found Family, Popular Boy x Shy Girl, Sports Romance (I guess), Friends to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Forbidden Romance (kind of)

Emotionally charged and poignant. A narrative centered around the theme of found family. I experienced moments of both profound sadness and genuine laughter..

I personally could not get into this book, and thought it would have been better if it was a lot shorter.

honestly, i loved this book from the very first sentence. i felt such a connection to the characters which made the book so much more enjoyable to read which i really loved.

I enjoy this author and this series so it was no surprise that this book was great. I devoured it from cover to cover and immediately recommended to my book club! This was a 4.2 star read for me.

"Do not break her, Johnny. Not when she already seems fractured."

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an advanced copy of Binding 13 in exchange for an honest review.

Binding 13 is about a young 16-year old girl named Shannon Lynch who lives in Ireland and has been through way too much in her very short time on Earth. She moves from Ballylaggin Community School to Tommen College due to extreme bullying at BCS. Once at Tommen College, Shannon meets star rugby player Johnny Kavanaugh after an unfortunate accident on the rugby pitch. From then on, Johnny is bound and determined to keep Shannon safe from anything and everything which could cost him his professional rugby career and something even more important, his heart.

I loved this book so much and Johnny and Shannon gave me all of the feels. I especially connected with Shannon because I was also bullied when I was younger (not to the extent of Shannon though). Her character is extremely realistic in that she has a hard time trusting people and she wants to just fade into the shadows and take up as little space as possible. Shannon also made me want t0 cry because she was so tramautized and no matter what she did, she could not escape abuse and bullying. Johnny kind of annoyed me at first because he seemed to me like your typical jock stereotype but Chloe Walsh surprised me with breaking a good amount of stereotypes and tropes through developing Johnny's character. The side characters definitely held their own, especially Gibsie. He was so funny and brought great comic relief in the best spots. Joey is also an amazing character. He is trying to develop his own life but is not willing to give up his sister and younger brothers.

I LOVED every minute of this book and cannot wait to read Keeping 13! 4/5 stars!

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

When I tell you, this is one of the most heart wrenching, beautifully written books I have EVER come across. I never know how I’m going to feel about YA books, just because sometimes they can be more childish than I hope. This book never once felt that way. These kids are dealing with “grown” problems and man I love them for it. I will forever be grateful for Shannon & Johnny

This was the slowest slow burn that ever did slow burn, but man was I in a chokehold from the beginning to end, even when I was shocked into mild catatonia when I realized there were 887 Kindle Pages in the book, and I had unknowingly committed to a book of such a length. This book had me sucked in from beginning to end, I read it probably in a combined 10.5 hours probably, and the ending had me at the edge of my frigggin' bed, I have never thanked God more for having a Kindle Unlimited subscription so that I could IMMEDIATELY check out the second book in the series and immediately dive in while simultaneously crying!
The characters are so fully fleshed out, you couldn't ask for better detail, some people are bothered by the excess chapters with information that isn't 100% necessary for the main storyline and at first, I was unsure if I was enjoying it, but the more chapters I read with Gibsie, and Jhonny's mam I was falling in love with their banter, and sarcasm. I have a huge spot in my heart for Gibsie, and I already know the next books are going to be his and I'm probably going to 'bulldoze' straight into them. The characters are very relatable, and believable!
I don't come from the best upbringing and although I can't 100% relate to the situation Shannon and her family are in, my heart broke for her just the same because no one deserves that type of life, but the ability to 'fall down 7, and stand up 8 times' is miraculous and beautiful in my opinion. I loved every single piece of this book, and so far, I'm 40% into book #2 and I'm just as in love. I will be taking zero criticism from anyone, at all. I'm on cloud fucking 9.

OOF my HEART! First off, I absolutely love the dynamic between Johnny and Shannon. Shannon and Joey also shared some really heartfelt (even at time tough) moments. Gibsie and Claire were such great supporting characters too. The writing felt a bit repetitive at times but the ending was shocking! I am now going to immediately pick up Keeping 13!

So excited to read more!

I was not expecting the deep emotions of this book.  I anticipated an emotional and angsty read, I did not expect to find myself laughing out loud so many times (Gibsie and Johnny in the hospital). This is a character-driven story, romance isn’t the primary focus and the pacing is a bit slow.  But, why is the book so long?  Talk about a slow burn, with a cliffhanger!!!  Yikes!!!

Honestly, I’m blown away by the build-up. There is a lot to unpack. This is a story about letting others in and facing trauma, pain, and the difficulties of life.

I need the next book IMMEDIATELY!  Johnny is definitely my kind of book boyfriend material, he’s a little bit of a jerk, but his alpha, possessive, protectiveness when it came to Shannon was TOP NOTCH perfection.  Boy, did I feel the frustration every time he pushed her away.  I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book takes their relationship.

Did not disappoint, chapter one and I was already holding back tears. Full of the teen romance drama tv show nostalgia. It was very long but very fulfilling.