A review by iuliatr
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh

dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Fuck this author.
Fuck booktok.
Fuck this book too.
And fuck my curiosity.

I don't even know where to begin.
I knew vaguely what the first 2 books are about but this is the third in the series and now I feel obligated to read the other 2 as well because Shannon wormed herself into my heart. 

I feel the need to highlight this but I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS AUTHOR, not only because she's a damn zionist but also because of the incredibly problematic stuff in this book as well. 

Bear with me because I did not read the other books so that's what I'm gathering - This is the story of Joey who is Shannon's (MC for B13 and K13) big brother. Leave it to me to pick up two books about addiction in a row. I'm mad at myself too. 

Joey this poor boy...He had to take care of his siblings (3, later 4) since he was 12 YEARS OLD because his big brother left them all the second he could. Their father is an abusive and alcoholic piece of shit, the worst kind you can imagine and their mother is a fucking bitch I can't stand too. And I think she's actually worse than Teddy because not only is she not leaving with her kids, she won't even protect them. She keeps defending that poor excuse of a husband and she keeps fucking popping children to add to Joey's problems. 

Joey...oh Joey, he has a big heart and Aoife has an even bigger one. These two as characters and as a couple were so real, I felt their pain and because of them I ended up finishing the book. Their story is so gripping. I hated every second of it. 

And Joey struggles with addiction because he has too many responsibilities when he's supposed to play and go to school. It was so fucked up that it was hard to read sometimes. 

Now onto the things I didn't like: 
• Am I the only one who thought it's extremely weird how this damn author is sexualising kids? I am not dumb, I know that kids do all kind of things even when they're young, but it gave me the biggest ick to see how literal 12-14 yo talk about having sex. In the first chapters we learn that Aoife's boyfriend bragged about putting his hand in his girlfriend's knickers and about how "tight" she was. SHE IS 12. 
There's a lot of such examples but this review will become another book in this series atp. 

• Why was Aoife allowed to wear costumes that barely covered anything at whatever age she was (around 13-14 anyway)? Her boyfriend slut shamed her so much in this book and even Joey made some comments I don't even want to remember. 

• I didn't understand why Aoife didn't break up with that fuck ass boyfriend of hers when she didn't even like him in the first place? When she knew damn well she was in love with Joey? 
Now, I do like Aoife. Although she's not perfect (no human is), she's brave, she's a fighter AND a lover. She never gave up on Joey and I really admire her for that because I probably would've said fuck it and disappeared the first time he rejected me. 

• I find it funny how both Aoife and Joey were blond, gorgeous, had green eyes and everybody wanted to get in their pants. 

There's a lot of issues actually, but unfortunately it does seem a bit too realistic for my liking. I can't even bring myself to pick up Redeeming 6, honestly. I hear she ends up pregnant???? WHY WOULD YOU GIVE HIM ANOTHER FUCKING KID TO CARE FOR? When is it going to be enough? Let him be carefree and happy for once, Jesus. 

So yeah, even though I don't like the author and there's a lot of problematic stuff in it, it did indeed keep my attention and made me feel things but I still don't want to give her a positive review.
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