Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Binding 13

This book was SO addicting. There were juvenile and cringe moments, 100%, but what else can be expected when reading a high school romance?

Despite this, I couldn’t put Binding 13 down. I read the 750+ pages in less than 2 days. This was the only case of “touch her and die” outside of the fantasy genre that actually felt believable. Johnny was SO protective of Shannon, you couldn’t deny it.

My only other complaint was how weak and vulnerable Shannon came across. She had almost no personality beyond being a tiny fawn of a human. I honestly didn’t see the appeal in Johnny’s eyes… but her vulnerability made sense knowing her history and life. There were many triggering content matters in this story. These all made her empty shell personality make sense, even if she wasn’t “fun” to read about.

Aspects I really liked: it wasn’t really insta love the way some romance novels are. The story was spread out over months, which made it more believable. It also felt like the author was paying attention to the small details, and plot points from the beginning of the book lead to future points in the story. It made it feel like things were happening for a reason, and not like tropes were being written in just to move the story along. Finally, I really loved the depth of Shannon and Johnny’s feelings, as well as the depth of all the characters. I grew to care for them over the coarse of the book and I can’t wait to read more.

Content Warnings

allyf21's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

hannahez's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Sometimes repetitive. We would learn something about a character or plot line that then would be mentioned again in a few chapters that the characters would be surprised about. Lots and lots of back and forth between the characters in sense of character development. Oh I shouldn't drive her home, and then he drives her home. And then he freaks out about driving her home because she is younger than him (like 1.5 years) and then, you guessed it, her will drive her home the next night.

I'm reading the next one because how could you not when the book ends like that.

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