Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Keeping 13

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh

340 reviews

allison_alix's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Content Warnings

amberoliviagr's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

elyssasbookshelf's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional sad medium-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: Yes

This book was incredible. The story, the characters, the setting were all so well written and designed. There are some continued deep themes so please read the warnings. I can't wait to read book 3 in the series and read more about some of the others characters.

Content Warnings

ianb's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Welcome to Book 2 and after the Cliffhanger from Book 1 I know that I needed to just dive into Book 2 but this dint stops the heartbreak that I experienced while reading this one as its very much a story that breaks you and then in its own way puts you back together.

Heartbreaking, soul-crushing, profound but above all an unforgettable and a beautiful story. Johnny and Shannon have officially been through hell together. Now they're on the road to recovery. With her dad out of her life, Shannon feels like she can finally have her chance at being happy. But when her past starts to make things difficult, her hope starts to fade just as quickly as it occurred.

Johnny refuses to let anything come between him and Shannon. She makes him feel—and that's not something he wants to lose. He understands that Shannon has been through a lot and will continue to struggle, but he is going to make sure she understands he's here for keeps. Just like he knows she is.

I consider myself in the camp of not really knowing how to feel after finishing this one, there were so many dark and heavy topics in this book and Chloe didn't hesitate to show us the raw, realistic and blatant vulnerability in this book. But Chloe did create a beautiful and genuine found family that brought out the best in each of them.

I enjoyed the journey that Shannon went through she came out of her shell a lot more in this book and she is trying to let other people in her life, and I liked how she's not lying to anyone even when it goes against her surviving nature. She stood up for herself against her family and her bullies when it was needed. She's so precious and strong and resilient and maybe she doesn't know it yet, but she is a survivor through and through who did everything in her power to climbed back up on her feet.

This must be one of the most healing romance stories that I have read but they are heavy books and at times I wanted nothing more than for the pain to stop. Chloe has this way of giving characters a happy ending but along the way we see that a lot of work has gone into making them the couple that they are and that they are still continuing to work on things is a testament to the real nature of the writing style.

Content Warnings

nellzzzz's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Content Warnings

roxyrolla's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

Content Warnings

rachel_is_a_reader's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

It’s hard to express how amazing this book was and how much it moved me. This author draws you in to these characters like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s like you are IN THE BOOK and you truly know these characters. This book is so raw, moving, touching, inspiring, and heartbreaking all at once. I went from sobbing tears of sadness to tears of happiness over and over. I’m so obsessed with this series it’s crazy. But warning: this series has BROKEN me. In the best ways though. It’s that good!

Content Warnings

gigii_giigi's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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: Complicated

First reread of this book as part of my attempt to crawl out of a reading slump—and man, I still love it. My thoughts aren’t all that different from my review of Binding 13, but where that book felt like 80% gloom and heartbreak, this one is more balanced. It’s darker in some ways, but also a lot lighter. There’s more fun, more humor, more healing.

It’s one of those stories that doesn’t necessarily have the most complex or groundbreaking plot, and the writing might not be “technically” perfect.. but the storytelling? The characters? So so good. The pacing, the development, the emotional payoffs.. it just works for what it is.

The conclusion to Shannon and Johnny’s arc is satisfying as hell. I love them. I love their whole gang. They’re technically older than me, but something about them feels like my own group of friends. The writing just pulls you in like that.

Content Warnings

_taya_'s review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Omg what a story..... I can't wait to jump into the rest of this series, this book is so long and i still need more! Shannon and Johny have my whole heart and the found family in this book is just chefs kiss. It definitely got repetitive at points but I kinda enjoyed really getting to see every day happen even if it was a little more boring. It really helped build up these characters and their relationships with one another. I cried so much reading this, but i also laughed just as much 😅🤣

Content Warnings

mollydolly2404's review against another edition

4.0

🎖️ High 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION

His first, last, and only true love has always been rugby. Until now.

Following a devastating injury that has left him sidelined and stripped of his beloved number 13 jersey, Johnny is struggling to hold onto his dreams.

Lost, insecure, and desperately seeking comfort, he sets his sights on unraveling the mystery of the girl with the midnight-blue eyes. With his best friend, Gibsie, by his side, Johnny embarks on his quest of exposing the secrets surrounding the girl who haunts his every waking hour.

Keeping secrets has never been a problem for Shannon. The life she was born into demands nothing less. She knows that demons and evil men don't just exist in fairytales. They exist in her world, too.

Traumatised beyond repair after her return from Dublin, and desperate to protect her little brothers, Shannon finds herself falling into the same old cover-up, barely keeping her head above water, as her future unravels before her eyes. Beaten and broken, her walls are up and her trust is shaken. Only one boy has the ability to climb those walls. The boy who owns her heart.

Secrets are exposed and lives are changed forever in Keeping 13, the explosive sequel of the bestselling book, Binding 13. Follow Johnny and Shannon as they try to navigate their way through the aftermath of that fateful rugby match in Dublin.

Falling in love was the easy part, what comes next is the test...

Friendship, first love, rising fame, horrifying secrets, and pain all fuel together as two teenagers from the opposite side of the tracks collide in Keeping 13, the concluding story for Johnny and Shannon.

Some scenes in this book may be extremely upsetting for some readers. Due to its bad language and certain scenes, Keeping 13 is recommended for mature readers.

FORMAT

Digital - Kindle / Audio - Spotify

REVIEW

★★★★☆

This review contains spoilers.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster full of ups and downs. I loved the relationship between Johnny and Shannon, and how he constantly fought for her, when many had let her down.

I also liked Shannon’s character growth.

I’m glad the father got his comeuppance, and the mother finally did the right thing by her children.

I’m also glad that the Lynch children were able to experience a loving family with the Kavanaugh family.

SPICE

Mild 🌶️

TROPES

📖 High School Romance
📖 Sports Romance
📖 Friends to Lovers

READING LOG

▫️2025

Content Warnings

More...