Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, 1)

The *Boys of Tommen* series is everything I want in a romance and then some. Emotional, addictive, beautifully written, and completely unforgettable. From the very first book, I was pulled into the world of Tommen College and didn’t want to leave. These characters feel *real*—flawed, vulnerable, and deeply human. The friendships, the family dynamics, the love stories, and the personal struggles are written with so much care and intensity that it’s impossible not to get attached. The romances are slow-burn, heartfelt, and emotionally raw, with chemistry that leaps off the page. What truly sets this series apart is the emotional depth. It doesn’t shy away from heavy topics, and it handles them with honesty and sensitivity. I laughed, cried, and had to put the book down multiple times just to breathe. The writing is immersive and powerful, making you feel every high and every heartbreak right alongside the characters. If you love character-driven romance, found family, emotional storytelling, and books that stay with you long after you finish, this series is a must-read. The *Boys of Tommen* has officially earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf, and I will recommend it every chance I get.

I absolutely loved this story! It was a phenomenal read and completely engaging from the very beginning. These characters are so well written and pull on your heartstrings with what they have going on and how they are trying to handle it all. Shannon has been bullied pretty much from the time she started school and things have only gotten worse for her. And her home life with her father is just as bad if not worse. Things finally get so bad at school that her mom pulls her right before Christmas break and enrolls her at Tommen College with her starting for second term right after the first of the year. Shannon has no idea what to expect but is hopeful that things will be better and she won't be such a target and alone. She has her two best friends she found in primary school but they both went to Tommen so she is excited to join them there. She is hoping to be able to hide and fly under the radar and not become a target again. She has no idea what is headed her direction. On her first day she ends up having a run in on the rugby pitch and catches a ball to the head and a tumble down a hill from that Johnny kicked and it changes everything for both of them. Johnny did not mean to do it and feels horrible and in the midst of helping her to the office and staying with her they have an instant connection, one that neither of them really knows what to do or how to handle. It brings out Johnny's protective instincts and side instantly and he makes sure that Shannon isn't going to be talked about. I loved seeing them both grapple with that instant connection and them both trying to keep things under the radar and not making any moves for more but they are so drawn to each other that a friendship starts as they just can't avoid it. Both know they feel something more but neither believe it can turn into anything for different reasons but that connection is there. Johnny pays attention to her and knows that something is going on and he wants to protect her and keep her safe. He is also dealing with an injury that he is trying to hide the extent of in order to chase his professional rugby dreams. While it takes time to get there the more time they spend together building their friendship and connection the more they flirt closer at the edge of being more. Shannon still has her walls up especially regarding who is hurting her but other walls are coming down with Johnny and she is sharing other pieces of herself that she doesn't share with anyone else. I loved watching their dynamic grow and change throughout this story. I loved Johnny and his protective instincts and how he interacted with Shannon without pushing her too far. This story is well done and absolutely gets your emotions engaged and tugs on your heartstrings without. I loved seeing the character development throughout this story. It isn't short and thank God for that as we really needed the length to get the depth out of the story and the characters. As things start coming to a head and secrets coming out the bond they share is undeniable and something they are both coming to rely on. This book had plenty that kept me engaged without and has me addicted to this world and these characters. It does end on a cliffhanger and I absolutely need the next one asap to get more of Johnny and Shannon and see how things all play out!

First and foremost I think this is a wonderful book. The author gives you some genuinely funny characters, a really intense storyline, wonderful imagery, and lots of great detail. I would have loved to give this 5 stars, but there are just some very minor sticking points I have, that I can't seem to fully get over. *Spoilers* 1. The cliffhanger. This book is actually two books and both are available, but number 2 is going to cost you an additional $5. The cliffhanger was unnecessary. It was like the author just ended one chapter and decided the new chapter should be the next book. With some careful editing, both books could have easily been one cohesive, very good story. 2. The repeating of scenes. This is where I felt editing would push this book over. There are multiple scenes where we see a full on interaction between our main characters, some that last dozens of pages. And with each of those interactions we then see either one or both characters go and do a play by play to their best friend/mother/self reflection. There is a way to have a character recap whatever just happened to them, get context from another character, without literally replaying every single thing that just happened. It just makes for unnecessary noise. 3. Character development of the ancillary characters. I would be willing to bet that Claire, and Lizzie will all be getting their own books in this series. And if that is the case I will overlook the lack of development in these characters. However, it really annoys me when an author brings up issues, incidents, whatever...and never resolves them. Towards the end of book 2 we learn that Gibsie has a fear of water, and we get some background...but this came totally out of left field. There was no buildup. However, the entire two books we hear about how viper tongued Lizzie is, with a TON of references to "stop hating me Lizzie I'm not him" but its never really explained. I wanted to know in depth why Lizzie was always so angry, what was going on with her and her boyfriend, and why she hated Gibsie so much. I want some resolution of those side characters, and without knowing if there will eventually be a book for them its VERY hard for me to just walk away. I know those three seem like huge issues, but the rest of the book is just plain good. I can overlook a lot of issues for an intriguing story! I will definitely try another book from Chloe Walsh.

this book is SOOO good

Libro ameno y facilita el habla en ingles

I just spent the last 10h reading it in one sitting and now I’m wrecked. Sure, plenty of cliché stuff but the pining! God the pining in this book made scream and giggle like a lunatic. Everyone was saying this is good, but this beyond good. It’s “you-will-inhale-it-like-a-drug-addict” good. It had no business sucking me in like it did. It’s hands down the best sports romance I’ve read (I’m sorry Elle Kennedy, I’ve betrayed my hockey origins), and a great romance altogether. The characters? Felt like real people with real struggles, with real emotions and relationships, not that cheap, shallow stuff you get half the time. I’ll be, in fact, pulling an all nighter to read book 2!!!

— 5 ★’s ❝Ciao, Shannon❞ ❝Ciao, Johnny❞ Ok, andiamo con calma. Un respiro bello profondo… 😮‍💨 okay così. Bene, oggi vi parlo di un libro che mi ha fatta 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦 💖. Era da tanto che non leggevo un romance così bello. Che mi prendesse così tanto. Per farvi capire, quando ero a scuola 🎒 il mio unico pensiero era di tornare a casa 🏠 e continuare questo libro 📖. Può sembrare un macigno di libro, ma non lo è assolutamente. Senza nemmeno accorgertene vieni risucchiato da questo universo 🌌. La cosa che secondo me ha fatto acquisire punti sono: • I personaggi, che sono ben caratterizzati, dal primo all’ultimo. Comparse comprese. Il mio preferito, potete capire anche da soli, è Gibsie☝️. Non ho mai riso così tanto per un libro grazie a lui. • Il tema dell’abuso familiare, che è stato (purtroppo) trattato alla perfezione in questo libro. Mi sono sentita costantemente male per Shannon, fino alla fine del libro💔. Anzi, 𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘁𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼 alla fine del libro. Johnny invece è la rappresentazione perfetta del ragazzo ideale 💘 che cercavo nei romance da molto tempo. È il perfetto equilibrio tra il tipo possessivo e dolce🫂 Sono anche così felice che in questo libro non ci sono state cose non dette 🙌, a parte il fatto del padre. Entrambi non lasciano questioni in sospeso, e se accade comunque non dura a lungo. Cosa che nei romance 𝘊’𝘌̀ 𝘚𝘌𝘔𝘗𝘙𝘌 🙄 𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭. Per chi se lo stesse chiedendo, il libro 𝗻𝗼𝗻 contiene scene spicy 🌶 e si concentra molto di più sull’innamorarsi innocentemente 🥰. ++ Se ti è piaciuto 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲, 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲 e stai cercando qualcosa con lo stesso sfondo, te lo consiglio al 100% 🔥.

I had no idea how much I was going to like this book. It’s an entire universe, one big family of friends and brothers and sisters, and in the middle of it all are Shannon and Johnny and their life-changing hardships. From the very beginning, I was drawn into their world and couldn’t put the book down. Chloe Walsh has a remarkable talent for creating deeply emotional and compelling stories. The characters felt so real and their struggles so poignant that my heart broke, beat, and sang for them all along. Shannon's and Johnny's journey through their personal and shared challenges was both heartbreaking and inspiring. The way the author builds the relationships among the characters creates a sense of belonging and warmth. It’s not just about the romance between Shannon and Johnny; it’s about the whole network of friends and family supporting each other through thick and thin. Their world feels alive, vibrant, and full of genuine connections. The emotional depth of this book caught me by surprise in the best possible way. I was completely invested in their story, and by the end, I was desperate to know what happens next. I can’t wait to read book 2 and continue this amazing journey with them.