SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY I FOUND THIS IN THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION OF THE LIBRARY.
Ok, I get it. The book has a 15/16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy. That does not mean the book should be in the YA section though. This book is firmly new adult due to the excess of language, topics (very detailed physical abuse scenes/bullying), and talk amongst the guys.
Against all odds, this story pulled me right in though. It has been years since I have read a 600 page book in one sitting. Shannon went through so much, I just couldn't help but feel for her. It was about time that she had someone on her side. Also, I liked how she and Johnny developed a deep friendship over the course of a few months before they became a couple.

3 Stars [would have been higher without the language and locker room talk (for lack of a better phrase)] ( )

Quickie Review- (May contain spoilers, fair warning upon reading this review)

Binding 13 is the first book in the infamous “Boys of Tommen” series. This series I have literally been seeing everywhere and I decided to pick it up. I don’t really read YA as many of you know, but honestly these books have definitely changed my mind in being more open to this sub genre in romance. There was something so rich and vibrant in these books that truly packs a punch. Binding 13 is the first book in their story. Our characters are Johnny and Shannon. Johnny is 17 and Shannon is 15 when they first meet. Johnny is training to be a professional rugby player and is from a loving stable financially secure home. Then we have Shannon, who has suffered abuse and bullying most of her life. Her home situation is rough with an alcoholic abusive father and a neglective mother who enables the abuse and the siblings having to protect each other when they can. But on top of that, Shannon has been bullied at every single school she has been in. But when she has a fresh start at Tommen and meets Johnny, who is protective and caring, she comes into herself. But the relationship she has with Johnny is forbidden by her family.

I couldn’t get enough of Binding 13 and what we see happen within this story here. I was so hooked into the writing so easily, and if you love audiobooks then the narration is very well done. It takes place in Ireland (which isn’t common in contemporary) and their relationship is so heartfelt. Johnny is a character that is so in tune with Shannon and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her. There are many things that he just doesn’t understand but he just wants to look out for even knowing what could happen if they are caught together by anyone in her family. Shannon has never known such a protector outside of her own siblings, so to have a boy look out for in and connect with makes Shannon believe in something more.

I will warn you all that this book does end in a cliffhanger and I know these books are long, but I couldn’t get enough of it. The writing was so consumming and just instantly pulls you into the story. This is a story of a hero that comes off being misunderstood as a playboy but is so protective, and a heroine who is sweet and shy and a true survivor. Their romance is so endearing because we see what a deep connection they have together and the first book really focuses on establishing the foundation of their relationship in such a promising way. ( )

Way too long.
Over 800 pages - more than 15 hours.
And this is just #1 in the series!