Community Reviews
Excuse me, can someone tell me why this book has such a high rating when it talks so inappropriately about children?! She’s literally 15!! I made it 170 pages in before I couldn’t take it anymore and had to stop reading…
When I picked up Binding 13 in the beginning of 2025, I had a hard time staying interested and I sat the book down twice before I put it back on the shelf. I purchased the audiobook but because I couldn’t get into it… didn’t listen. One night at work I had finished a book and had nothing to read or listen to so I decided to listen to binding 13, and well I was emotionally dragged into the world.
Binding 13 is one of those books that looks soft on the surface but hits with a quiet, accumulating emotional force. I went into it expecting a slow burn romance; what I got was a deeply affecting story about trauma, isolation, and two teenagers trying to survive circumstances far bigger than they should ever have to face. It’s a book that requires emotional maturity, not because the content is graphic, but because the weight of it settles into you slowly and doesn’t let go.
Shannon’s storyline is especially heavy. Her pain is written with such realism that it’s uncomfortable at times — not in a gratuitous way, but in a way that makes you feel protective, anxious, and deeply invested in her safety. There were moments where I had to pause because the emotional tension was so tight it made my chest hurt. Her fragility is palpable, and while the repetition of her suffering can feel overwhelming, it also reflects the lived reality of trauma in a way that’s painfully honest.
Johnny, on the other hand, is the light in the dark — but even he isn’t written as a perfect savior. His kindness is genuine, but it’s layered with his own pressures, expectations, and internal battles. There are times when he feels almost too good to be true, but the vulnerability beneath his confidence keeps him grounded. Their connection is slow, tender, and full of unspoken longing, and it’s that emotional restraint that makes the payoff so powerful.
The pacing is undeniably slow, and some chapters linger longer than they need to. But the slowness also mirrors the characters’ emotional states — stuck, waiting, hoping for something better. It’s not a book you rush through; it’s one you absorb.
Binding 13 isn’t just a romance. It’s an emotional initiation into the world of these characters — a world that’s messy, painful, and achingly human. It left me worried, protective, and unexpectedly attached. And even with its flaws, it sets the stage for a sequel that hits even harder.
Binding 13 is one of those books that looks soft on the surface but hits with a quiet, accumulating emotional force. I went into it expecting a slow burn romance; what I got was a deeply affecting story about trauma, isolation, and two teenagers trying to survive circumstances far bigger than they should ever have to face. It’s a book that requires emotional maturity, not because the content is graphic, but because the weight of it settles into you slowly and doesn’t let go.
Shannon’s storyline is especially heavy. Her pain is written with such realism that it’s uncomfortable at times — not in a gratuitous way, but in a way that makes you feel protective, anxious, and deeply invested in her safety. There were moments where I had to pause because the emotional tension was so tight it made my chest hurt. Her fragility is palpable, and while the repetition of her suffering can feel overwhelming, it also reflects the lived reality of trauma in a way that’s painfully honest.
Johnny, on the other hand, is the light in the dark — but even he isn’t written as a perfect savior. His kindness is genuine, but it’s layered with his own pressures, expectations, and internal battles. There are times when he feels almost too good to be true, but the vulnerability beneath his confidence keeps him grounded. Their connection is slow, tender, and full of unspoken longing, and it’s that emotional restraint that makes the payoff so powerful.
The pacing is undeniably slow, and some chapters linger longer than they need to. But the slowness also mirrors the characters’ emotional states — stuck, waiting, hoping for something better. It’s not a book you rush through; it’s one you absorb.
Binding 13 isn’t just a romance. It’s an emotional initiation into the world of these characters — a world that’s messy, painful, and achingly human. It left me worried, protective, and unexpectedly attached. And even with its flaws, it sets the stage for a sequel that hits even harder.
Whilst I enjoyed the fact this book doesn’t shy away from hard topics such as domestic violence, abuse, injury, and mental health, I just found it pretty repetitive and so long. This book, if shorter could have been super impactful.
No need to read the rest of the series!
No need to read the rest of the series!
4.5 ⭐️ This book left me emotionally wrecked! Thankfully, I heeded others' advice and had "Keeping 13" ready to go. It's like "One Tree Hill" meets Irish rugby, which is quite the mix. The portrayal of high school in that era was eye-opening, but I'm hoping for more character and relationship development in the next installment. The miscommunication and hiding trope drove me up the freakin wall! That last chapter... I need therapy after that. Seriously, Chloe Walsh owes me for the emotional rollercoaster. I couldn't stop yelling, "Johnny's dad is a LAWYER!"
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