nanabklibrary 's review for:

Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

5.0

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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“Binding 13” by Chloe Walsh completely swept me away — and no, I’m not exaggerating. I’m still trying to piece my heart back together after this emotional rollercoaster. It felt like stepping into a parallel universe, where every page pulled me in deeper, and the details — so carefully and meaningfully written — made me live the story as if it were my own. 📖💫

Shannon… oh, my dear Shannon. She’s not just a character. She’s flesh and bone, pain and silence. Coming from a home where true bullying hides behind walls that should protect her, she was shaped by loneliness, by a lack of love, by screams no one hears and wounds no one sees. Reading her story felt like hearing the muted cry of so many who live that same harsh reality. She’s delicate, but made of steel. And watching her fight to find herself, to trust, to love… it broke my heart and gave me hope all at once. 💔🌷

Then there’s Johnny. The rugby prodigy, with the world at his feet and, paradoxically, no time to truly live the youth that was stolen from him by pressure and expectations. Always so focused, so driven, that somewhere along the way, he lost himself. 🏉🥺

What touched me deeply was the moment these two broken worlds collided. It’s as if the universe finally decided to give them a chance. It wasn’t love at first sight — it was something purer, truer, something necessary. A quiet connection between two weary souls, a shared refuge in a world where neither of them quite fits. 💞✨

The way Chloe builds their bond… my God. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s tender. It’s not picture-perfect or overly romantic. It’s messy, intense and full of stumbles — just as it should be when two people are trying to heal each other without knowing how. ❤️‍🩹

I’ve finished this book with a full heart, even if slightly shattered. “Binding 13” is so much more than a teen romance. It’s a plea for empathy, a tribute to emotional growth, and a love letter to second chances. And me? I’m completely and utterly hooked… and already counting the days until I can hold “Keeping 13” in my hands. I need more. More of them, more of this journey, more of everything. 🫶🌙📚