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esmayrosalyne 's review for:
Redeeming 6
by Chloe Walsh
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
Redeeming 6 is one of those incredibly flawed books that has no business working as well as it does, and yet I absolutely adore it to pieces. What can I say, I am just a sucker for the emotional turmoil & destruction.
Whereas Saving 6 had me feeling a bit disconnected from the whole story and the characters because of the 6-year time span with its frequent timejumps, Redeeming 6 was smooth sailing from the very first page. Even though this covers the exact same timeframe as Binding & Keeping 13 did, it never felt boring or repetitive to me because Joey & Aoife live totally different lives than Johnny & Shannon, and they bring a completely different perspective on the few (heartwrenching) events that do overlap.
For me, Joey is the absolute star of the show here, and I honestly don't think it's healthy how much I have latched onto this fictional character. His struggles with depression, suicidal ideation and drug addiction are portrayed in such an unflinching, unflattering and brutally honest way, and my heart honestly broke a little more for him with each turn of the page. Also, I really appreciated how Walsh didn't make 'love & friendship & family' the solution to his problems; this boy needed serious help, and thank fuck he got that in the end.
Speaking of love, though... I adore Aoife as a character (which might partly be Joey's obsession with her rubbing off on me), but I honestly think that her relationship with Joey overshadowed her own journey here. Don't get me wrong, she's an absolute saint and I really appreciated and admired her unwavering support and belief in Joey's ability to get better, but she really deserved more support herself as well. Girlie is going through seriously traumatizing shit right here on multiple levels, and I honestly think she needed therapy just as much as Joey did.
Also, I am still feeling a bit conflicted on the whole surprise development in their relationship here. Spoilers ahead: Like, Joey is a DADDYYY for sure, but I didn't actually want him to be a daddy, you know? This guy has been taking care of his siblings since he was 12 years old and just when Edel & John (a.k.a. two literal angels, I adore them so much) take that pressure/burden off his shoulders, he now has his own baby to take care of. LET THE GUY HAVE SOME REST AND PEACE FFS!!
Anyway, those quibbles didn't stop me from devouring this book like it was my life's purpose, so there's that. This was definitely a step up again from Saving 6 for me (not least because we saw more of the familiar faces (*cough* Gibsie) from the first 2 books), and I am absolutely locked in for anything and everything that is yet to come for this beautifully complicated found family of broken souls. What an emotional rollercoaster!
Whereas Saving 6 had me feeling a bit disconnected from the whole story and the characters because of the 6-year time span with its frequent timejumps, Redeeming 6 was smooth sailing from the very first page. Even though this covers the exact same timeframe as Binding & Keeping 13 did, it never felt boring or repetitive to me because Joey & Aoife live totally different lives than Johnny & Shannon, and they bring a completely different perspective on the few (heartwrenching) events that do overlap.
For me, Joey is the absolute star of the show here, and I honestly don't think it's healthy how much I have latched onto this fictional character. His struggles with depression, suicidal ideation and drug addiction are portrayed in such an unflinching, unflattering and brutally honest way, and my heart honestly broke a little more for him with each turn of the page. Also, I really appreciated how Walsh didn't make 'love & friendship & family' the solution to his problems; this boy needed serious help, and thank fuck he got that in the end.
Speaking of love, though... I adore Aoife as a character (which might partly be Joey's obsession with her rubbing off on me), but I honestly think that her relationship with Joey overshadowed her own journey here. Don't get me wrong, she's an absolute saint and I really appreciated and admired her unwavering support and belief in Joey's ability to get better, but she really deserved more support herself as well. Girlie is going through seriously traumatizing shit right here on multiple levels, and I honestly think she needed therapy just as much as Joey did.
Also, I am still feeling a bit conflicted on the whole surprise development in their relationship here. Spoilers ahead:
Anyway, those quibbles didn't stop me from devouring this book like it was my life's purpose, so there's that. This was definitely a step up again from Saving 6 for me (not least because we saw more of the familiar faces (*cough* Gibsie) from the first 2 books), and I am absolutely locked in for anything and everything that is yet to come for this beautifully complicated found family of broken souls. What an emotional rollercoaster!