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A review by emilynied
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read "Binding 13" and "Keeping 13" last year, two massive romance books that obviously packed a punch (a little more than I was expecting). I usually read series all at once and one after the other, but, given the topics addressed in these books (domestic violence, depression, addiction, self harm) I needed a little break that turned into about a year. Now, reading this book with a focus on another character that showed up more than a few times in the first duology, I can say for certain that these books are very well done. This book had so much background and context that adds so much to the original story (so much so that I reread most of the first two books in the day after finishing this one).
Walsh manages to shift the focus to another character beautifully and there is so much story left to tell here. Joey Lynch has so much heart and it shows so well here in this story. The book spans years of the relationship dynamic between Joey and Aoife, from their introduction to budding friendship and finally romance that we knew them to have in Binding/Keeping 13. I usually dislike the books that go back in time to rehash events that we've already read in another book, but I found myself unable to put this book down. We get so much insight into Joey as a character that is so captivating and devastating. At the same time, we really meet Aoife's character for the first time here (as we get more of the basics from her like her own family life and personality that doesn't necessarily revolve around her interactions with Joey as we saw through Shannon's eyes). And she is an interesting addition to the story as her own character with her own character traits so different from the others we've been introduced to so far.
There's so much to dissect here, from the Lynch family's upbringing, to Aoife's relationship with her body and how it serves her in society, to life at the public high school, to Sean calling Joey "dad" for years... there's so so much to analyze. Beautiful story and I am so excited (and really scared) to read more.
Walsh manages to shift the focus to another character beautifully and there is so much story left to tell here. Joey Lynch has so much heart and it shows so well here in this story. The book spans years of the relationship dynamic between Joey and Aoife, from their introduction to budding friendship and finally romance that we knew them to have in Binding/Keeping 13. I usually dislike the books that go back in time to rehash events that we've already read in another book, but I found myself unable to put this book down. We get so much insight into Joey as a character that is so captivating and devastating. At the same time, we really meet Aoife's character for the first time here (as we get more of the basics from her like her own family life and personality that doesn't necessarily revolve around her interactions with Joey as we saw through Shannon's eyes). And she is an interesting addition to the story as her own character with her own character traits so different from the others we've been introduced to so far.
There's so much to dissect here, from the Lynch family's upbringing, to Aoife's relationship with her body and how it serves her in society, to life at the public high school, to Sean calling Joey "dad" for years... there's so so much to analyze. Beautiful story and I am so excited (and really scared) to read more.