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emmlau17 's review for:
Releasing 10
by Chloe Walsh
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Every once in a while you come across a book that’s so raw and heartbreaking that it just f*cks you up. Chloe Walsh has written two of those books for me: Redeeming 6 and now Releasing 10.
The author has received a lot of push back on this book. enough for her to add an additional disclaimer on her website and post a video of her sharing her personal connections with the Lizzie’s character. So to Chloe Walsh, thank you so much for sharing.
While the characters are teenagers, this series doesn’t fit neatly into the Young Adult category. These are not tidy moral lessons wrapped in teenage drama. These are raw, messy, deeply human stories and the characters are supposed to be making bad, hormonal, irrational decisions. They’re adolescents growing up in a specific time and place, and their actions reflect that.
It’s also worth remembering: this is a timepiece. The early 2000s were a different landscape emotionally, socially, and culturally. Views on consent, mental health, and trauma were much more limited, especially in environments like Catholic school, Irish families, and rugby culture. I think that’s an intentional part of the storytelling, not a flaw. If I were to write a series about the stuff my friends and I did in high school or college, I’d honestly be mortified. But that’s what makes this series so relatable, especially as an millennial. The bad decisions, the shame, the confusion, the silence, the emotional mess of it all. It feels real. Not sanitized for moral clarity.
Throughout the book Lizzie’s character falls deeper and deeper into her bi-polar disorder, heightened by factors such as early on-set and teenage hormones. This isn’t a story of problem, climax and resolution. The traumatic events (putting it lightly) that happen to Lizzie further pushes her mental capacity into horrifying anguish, ultimately blurring the line between reality and dreams.
The adult figures in Lizzie’s life completely fail her. They have predispositions and biases towards Lizzie that are imposed on her starting as early as 5Y. They don’t understand her mental illness and never try to. This book could be called Gaslighting Lizzie. It sheds light on the complexity of diagnosing minors with mental illness and just how dangerous the outcome can be.
Lizzie is told very early on to not tell anyone about the “voices” in her head because she will be sent away. In reality, the voices are very real. These instructions become the foundations that only compound into the absolute annihilation of one’s perception of reality and inability to speak up.
Lizzie is disregarded, over medicated, tranquilized into submission, gaslighted into believing her monsters are only nightmares, emotionally abandoned by her family and called crazy when these emotions start to bubble to the surface.
Hugh is a walking green flag. He becomes her rock and safe place. However, he is also a child and the issues Lizzie presents have a heavy impact. It’s unhealthy for him, however his emotional intelligence allows him to stay committed to their friendship for 10 years. He loves her so deeply and never wants to give up her like everyone else has. There is a trauma bond between the two and Hugh deserves peace & stability.
In the end, there are still so many unanswered questions and we need the next book to bring Lizzie & Hughie’s story to the 2005 timeline, ultimately matching it up with the Taming 7 ending.
I’m distraught and in love with these characters. I want a HEA for them so badly!! I sincerely hope Chloe Walsh is not discouraged from continuing the Boys of Tommen series.
Trigger warnings:
Sexual abuse of a minor
Forced miscarriage of a minor (on page)
Self harm
Manic episodes, bi-polar, severe depression
Attempt in life ending (off page-ish)
Character death
Physical abuse of a minor
Hospitalization for mental disorder: including EST
Improper medication administration (or lack there of)
The author has received a lot of push back on this book. enough for her to add an additional disclaimer on her website and post a video of her sharing her personal connections with the Lizzie’s character. So to Chloe Walsh, thank you so much for sharing.
While the characters are teenagers, this series doesn’t fit neatly into the Young Adult category. These are not tidy moral lessons wrapped in teenage drama. These are raw, messy, deeply human stories and the characters are supposed to be making bad, hormonal, irrational decisions. They’re adolescents growing up in a specific time and place, and their actions reflect that.
It’s also worth remembering: this is a timepiece. The early 2000s were a different landscape emotionally, socially, and culturally. Views on consent, mental health, and trauma were much more limited, especially in environments like Catholic school, Irish families, and rugby culture. I think that’s an intentional part of the storytelling, not a flaw. If I were to write a series about the stuff my friends and I did in high school or college, I’d honestly be mortified. But that’s what makes this series so relatable, especially as an millennial. The bad decisions, the shame, the confusion, the silence, the emotional mess of it all. It feels real. Not sanitized for moral clarity.
Throughout the book Lizzie’s character falls deeper and deeper into her bi-polar disorder, heightened by factors such as early on-set and teenage hormones. This isn’t a story of problem, climax and resolution. The traumatic events (putting it lightly) that happen to Lizzie further pushes her mental capacity into horrifying anguish, ultimately blurring the line between reality and dreams.
The adult figures in Lizzie’s life completely fail her. They have predispositions and biases towards Lizzie that are imposed on her starting as early as 5Y. They don’t understand her mental illness and never try to. This book could be called Gaslighting Lizzie. It sheds light on the complexity of diagnosing minors with mental illness and just how dangerous the outcome can be.
Lizzie is told very early on to not tell anyone about the “voices” in her head because she will be sent away. In reality, the voices are very real. These instructions become the foundations that only compound into the absolute annihilation of one’s perception of reality and inability to speak up.
Lizzie is disregarded, over medicated, tranquilized into submission, gaslighted into believing her monsters are only nightmares, emotionally abandoned by her family and called crazy when these emotions start to bubble to the surface.
Hugh is a walking green flag. He becomes her rock and safe place. However, he is also a child and the issues Lizzie presents have a heavy impact. It’s unhealthy for him, however his emotional intelligence allows him to stay committed to their friendship for 10 years. He loves her so deeply and never wants to give up her like everyone else has. There is a trauma bond between the two and Hugh deserves peace & stability.
In the end, there are still so many unanswered questions and we need the next book to bring Lizzie & Hughie’s story to the 2005 timeline, ultimately matching it up with the Taming 7 ending.
I’m distraught and in love with these characters. I want a HEA for them so badly!! I sincerely hope Chloe Walsh is not discouraged from continuing the Boys of Tommen series.
Trigger warnings:
Sexual abuse of a minor
Forced miscarriage of a minor (on page)
Self harm
Manic episodes, bi-polar, severe depression
Attempt in life ending (off page-ish)
Character death
Physical abuse of a minor
Hospitalization for mental disorder: including EST
Improper medication administration (or lack there of)