Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Binding 13

This book could be cut in half, if not more, by going through with a red pen and slashing out all the repetitive conversations. Every chapter feels like a reiteration of one of the same five interactions. If I took a drink every time Jonny went on about how he, "can't do this, it's wrong, I'm crazy over this girl, she's messing with my head", I'd have alcohol poisoning. Despite the large volume of words, the dialogue is choppy and underdeveloped at best.

And his friend Gibsie ALWAYS replies with the same thing. I was able to finish this thing in less than a week because of how much skimming I could do.

I picked up this book initially to have fun reading some poor writing, and I was rewarded. It just could have been so much shorter.

There was no character development. It felt like every character stayed the exact same as how they appeared on page 1, excepting some of the side characters, like Joey. But even then, it's barely.

I got the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition, and was annoyed/disappointed with how poorly the book was made. The plastic film covering the spine was peeling after a few days, and the front cover was curling into a U-shape after just a few hours of owning it. I haven't seen a single copy that doesn't do it. So maybe instead of Binding 13 they should put some effort into Binding Their Damn Book Better. Seriously, it's clearly cheaply made, showing little regard for their consumers. If you want to buy a copy, just get the regular edition. The exclusive content is just two short scenes that added nothing.

Also, I don't think this novel should be categorized as YA. I'm sincerely concerned about teen audiences reading this as a desirable relationship in any form.

Edit: After cracking open Haunting Adeline, I am looking back at Binding 13 with a much more gracious view. By god that book is disturbing.

Content Warnings

holliechristina's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Firstly I didn’t even know if I was going to like this series! I brought the American bloom books editions! (US Amazon) Present self is very happy about this because I love these editions! I love Mr Boom Boom and Miss like the river so very much 💕 I am fully submerged into my boys of Tommen era! I need bookmarks, jumpers and all the merchandise! It is now part of my brain!

Ok we’ve gone very off track here.. maybe we should go back to the book? Yeah? (I can be very easily distracted) Shannon is moved to Tommen after some rather traumatic times at her old school. (I was bullied at school, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever had to deal with. My heart went out to her) Shannon’s and Johnnys paths collide on her first day. I love the Irish accent! I feel you can easily picture the conversations between characters.

I have a personal hate for rugby, I know little about the sport. You pass the ball backwards?! But this book is making me like it! I blame Johnny and Gibsie. I just love all the character development, it has a sense of found family. I found myself giggling away at parts, crying my eyes out at others. This is such a rollercoaster of emotions.

I loved that she got a McFly CD! I’ve met them and seen them live so many times I’ve lost count! So that was an added bonus for me. I love how much music is related to in this book, especially for Shannon.

As soon as I finished this I ran upstairs to get Keeping 13! It is a difficult read in places so please read up on trigger warnings, I also loved the breakdown at the beginning about all the Irish slag words used throughout the book.

Johnny and Shannon you’ve both stolen my heart and I don’t want to leave this series anytime soon.

♾️⭐️

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stateofrina's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To start it all off, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know anything about this story, not even the fact that he was a rugby player or anything about Shannon. That made it the best experience possible because I wasn’t spoilt about anything at all and I got to see their relationship develop naturally. This book really captured the high school experience, it is actually insane how giddy I felt during their moments of trying to talk to each other, the awkwardness, the impulsiveness. AAAH. They felt like real characters you could hold onto in your mind, and it felt like I was watching a movie from the 2000s. Perfect 2000s vibes. The book also dived into much more than romance too, and I loved that this book made me care for much more than just the main two, but also about Shannon’s siblings, Johnny’s friends, their whole town. It felt so real and I rarely get to read books that feel like I’m being put into a world that already exists, and not a fictional plot. It was admittingly a long one to get through, took me way longer than my other reads, but the pace allowed me to take it in at a steady pace and I didn’t get overwhelmed by how thick this book is. It will be a pain to read again, but I would gladly do it because smt about it really makes you forget you’re reading and not absorbed into another life.

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booklover6000's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was the second book that I have read where I was left staring at a wall afterwards. It is so sad yet so beautiful at the same time. I wish the book wasn’t so dark and intense though, it wouldn’t take me so long to read them otherwise. It puts me in a depression at times due to, uh, similar aspects (emotional wise). But I thought some of the characters, Gibsie mainly, were what makes the book so funny and heartwarming. The fact that the Lynch family are in constant support of one another is welcoming.

Content Warnings

imaginationindex's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

3.5

‼️ BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER‼️
I highly stress checking out the trigger warnings for this book. The e-copy I read provided a good overview but it’s always a good idea to give a quick Google. I personally would also recommend this to readers who understand the subject matter before diving in AND you are at least 16+.

“Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he’s a force to be reckoned with and he’s heading straight for the top. Nothing can possibly get in his way, right?

Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College. Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. She arrives mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start, but on her very first day at the prestigious private school, she comes into contact with the notorious Johnny Kavanagh.

Falling into a complicated friendship and grappling with their undeniable chemistry, Johnny and Shannon must face obstacles that threaten their relationship.

Two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks collide. Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together in Binding 13.”

What I loved:

I’ve been searching for “that” slow burn read for some time now and I have to say… this was like a blast from the past angst-fanfic era!! While Shannon and Johnny almost check that box of star-crossed lovers without crossing into the insta-love territory. I also appreciate a good opposites attract pairing (though we didn’t dip our toe into enemies to lovers pairing)
Irish slang and even better, Irish slang in 2004 (genuinely curious how the audio book reads 👀) Bonus points for the glossary at the beginning.
Speaking of 2004, the playlists provided… what a time to be alive
Johnny’s parents even with their limited appearances

What was unlucky 13:

The Age Gap - there is no avoiding it! Right at the top- if she’s 15 going on 16, and he’s 17 going on 18, there are concerns. Yeah, 16 and 18 isn’t “that” far apart for some but one is still a minor and one is an adult at the end of the day.
This story was so much longer than it needed to be, which came down to two reasons for me. 1) The amount of telling v showing. Even when we read the scene from Shannon’s POV, Johnny had to repeat the story, or vice versa. That’s too much retelling for me. And 2) the second guessing and repetition. I do understand Shannon’s trauma and needing to question her situation, but for other characters, it was clear the first time! I think we caught it the first time!
Johnny, as attractive and protective he is made out to be, is indecisive as heck. Sends Shannon on a rollercoaster of emotion with hot and cold feelings, and if he’s so focused on becoming the Rugby star he wants to be, WHY go out drinking and fighting left and right?? (I know teenagers but still… emotional rollercoaster)
A lotta 🍆 talk, which on one hand part of the plot but also… just ALOT
Shannon’s parents

This book is always [ALWAYS] on the BookTok table at each and every book store I go to, but other than that I hadn’t heard much else about it.

Would I recommend this for someone looking for romance… hard no.
But if you told me you are in a specific mood for angsty romance, where the beautiful, popular boy protects and defends the shy, innocent girl resulting slow burn and them saving each other that gives ye olde Wattpad days reading under the covers at 2am cause you just can’t put it down… then yes, this might work for you.

With the cliff ender, I am ready to jump into the next story with Shannon and Johnny.

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