A review by emilynied
Binding 13 - Alternative Cover by Chloe Walsh
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
3.5
I think this was a pretty thoughtful romance. Obviously there's some very dark themes and I thought they were handled well without any romanticization or overdramaticization. The characters feel real in this book - they have fully thought out backstories, emotions, character arcs and relationships. And as I read in one review, you feel a sense of belonging as the reader, like you're a part of something watching two fictional characters come together. I like how this first book focuses more on their friendship and building their relationship up (a lot of times I think with romances it jumps too quickly into romance and physical romance but I thought the pacing was really good with this one - I felt like they trusted each other before they became an official "couple"). I thought it was a little insta love (especially on Johnny's part with him when they were sitting in the office after he hit her) but it wasn't too too bad.
I feel like the character dynamics/relationships in this book were really well done, especially with Gibsie (he was my favorite side character) and I also really liked Joey as well. I think Shannon's friends felt a little off to me in the beginning, especially because she talked about how alone she was before going to Tommen and then all of a sudden they pick back up right where they left off as if nothing happened? I feel like there needed to be some explanation as to why they weren't really friends during the time period when they wen to different schools (besides the fact that they were separated during school/Shannon couldn't do much with her father). Claire is sweet and Lizzie is definitely...a character. I don't like her really all that much right now because she has little to no backstory, is honestly a little mean at times and she doesn't support Shannon like Claire but we'll probably get a book on her in the future (I would assume).
I think my memories are kind of blending this book in with Keeping 13 but I really liked this book! It's at a 3.5 stars just because I didn't fully connect with the characters 100%, that insta love threw me a bit and it was a tad long. Beware, most of this book is full of thoughts and character dialogue. I feel like I never read books like this, so it was pretty refreshing to read scenes where we get full dialogue of entire conversations (I feel like a lot of the time it's cut short to get on to other things but there are some LONG scenes in this book). The reader gets to experience a LOT of this budding relationship. Plotwise, I don't think there was enough going on to fully sustain an 800+ page book (really, that's ridiculous) but it went by pretty fast while reading. Overall I think this is a pretty good book.
I feel like the character dynamics/relationships in this book were really well done, especially with Gibsie (he was my favorite side character) and I also really liked Joey as well. I think Shannon's friends felt a little off to me in the beginning, especially because she talked about how alone she was before going to Tommen and then all of a sudden they pick back up right where they left off as if nothing happened? I feel like there needed to be some explanation as to why they weren't really friends during the time period when they wen to different schools (besides the fact that they were separated during school/Shannon couldn't do much with her father). Claire is sweet and Lizzie is definitely...a character. I don't like her really all that much right now because she has little to no backstory, is honestly a little mean at times and she doesn't support Shannon like Claire but we'll probably get a book on her in the future (I would assume).
I think my memories are kind of blending this book in with Keeping 13 but I really liked this book! It's at a 3.5 stars just because I didn't fully connect with the characters 100%, that insta love threw me a bit and it was a tad long. Beware, most of this book is full of thoughts and character dialogue. I feel like I never read books like this, so it was pretty refreshing to read scenes where we get full dialogue of entire conversations (I feel like a lot of the time it's cut short to get on to other things but there are some LONG scenes in this book). The reader gets to experience a LOT of this budding relationship. Plotwise, I don't think there was enough going on to fully sustain an 800+ page book (really, that's ridiculous) but it went by pretty fast while reading. Overall I think this is a pretty good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse