Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

79 reviews

books_with_alysha's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, and Vomit

imaginationindex's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

aimicampbell's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

_b0ok_l0v3r's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

bellaperegrino's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

This book tore me into pieces, how much the fmc goes thorugh is honestly unthinkable and how the mcc makes it his mission to helo
her in any way shape or form 
im utterly amazed by it and i would totally recommend it if you can deal with hard subjects 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book had me so invested the whole time I forgot I was reading. The way the story goes. The ending absolutely wrecked me. Immediately going to start keeping 13 because I need to know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

autumnatically's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

andysanzz_'s review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Abortion

jnterhune's review against another edition

emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Found this hard to get into with the culture of the book and not knowing much about rugby. It almost felt to young for me in the start, but I grew to really like it. Really hard to rate star wise. I enjoyed the suspense and constantly was wanting to read to know what happened even stay up late to continue reading. Excited to continue the series and see what happens. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Enjoyed, i wouldn’t read again necessarily but did have a good time reading and dying to know what happens, excited to continue reading defiantly check triggers if your someone that watches stuff like that

greenknightemrys's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail