Ri ♡ 's Reviews > Keeping 13

“For keeps?” I breathed.
He kissed my shoulder. “For keeps.”

Did I finish this book or did it finish me?

Heartbreaking, soul-crushing, profound but above all an unforgettable and a beautiful story. I expected this book to be full of sunshine and happiness, but it was so much intense, emotional and heartbreaking than B13. There were so many dark and heavy topics in this book and Chloe didn't hesitated to show us the raw, realistic and blatant vulnerability in this book. But above everything else, this book has one of the best, beautiful and genuine found family.

The romance was tender, charming, adorably awkward sweet. K13 focused more on the family dynamics, characters' growth and development, trauma and healing of the Lynch siblings. Chloe delved deeper into Lynch's family dynamics, showed us the pain and darkness that lurked inside their house, showed us that not everything in reality is always black and white, and that sometimes freedom, forgiveness and happiness costs life and death. I can't even imagine the pain the Lynch siblings has suffered for the years and its incomprehensible until you step into their shoes and Chloe reflected their pain, trauma and unhappiness in this book and let me tell you it was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking in the worst way possible.

“Well, I don’t want easy. I want you. Just the way you are. Every part and every piece.”
“Even the broken parts?”
He winked. “Especially the broken parts.”

➸ Shannon Lynch

I really liked how Shannon tried to come out of her shell in this book. It was a small growth on her part but I don't expect her to do a one-eighty in just a few months because Shannon has been through hell in her entire life. She is finally 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.

“I’m here for Johnny the boy. Not Johnny the rugby player. I’ll stay for both, but I’m only in love with one.”


➸ Johnny Kavanagh The Bulldozer

Johnny Kavanagh the gentleman you are 🤌🏻💘 It still surprises me that he's just eighteen-years-old, but the way this man treats everyone in his life is admirable. His unconditional support and love for the people he loves. The things he says and the things he do melts my heart every time. Johnny is a protector (and a bulldozer) and it goes against his nature if he can't help someone he loves and Johnny played a huge role in giving Lynch siblings the life they deserved. His ambitions and passion for Rugby makes him even more attractive and I love me a man who knows his worth. Johnny may seem like a perfect golden boy on the outside but he had his own insecurities and fears about life and he is doing his absolutely best to sought them out and with Shannon by his side, he feels more like himself when she is with him.

“That from the very first day you walked into my life, you changed me. That very first time I saw you? You sparked to life something inside of me.”


╰┈➤ Johnny and Shannon

“You smell like home.”
“You are home.”

I loved the awkwardness between Johnny and Shannon whenever they were together, winging their way through their newly formed relationship, figuring out the physical attraction and love they have for each other. It was so pure, innocent, adorable and genuine and it was the actual representation of how teenage love feels like. I loved how they just couldn't get enough of each other and were always trying to be with each other and I hated every moment when someone cock blocked them and it happened so many times. Felt bad for Johnny and his Johnnies.

“I like you because you’re you, Shannon. I’ve never met another girl like you. I mean a girl as kind, and caring, and trustworthy, and loyal as you. And beautiful. Jesus Christ, you are so fucking beautiful that it’s painful to look at you. I’ve never seen anything like you in my life.”

Johnny and Shannon are the definition of “true love”. The way these two love and protect each other is everything. They are so ridiculously and irrevocably in love with each other that it's insane sometimes because they are just teenagers but I still want what they have. The tenderness and care they showed each other through their actions, patience, words, touches, and love confessions is everything. How Johnny always made sure she was safe and fought for her family and how Shannon was always there for him to support his career and his passion for Rugby even though she was affraid of letting him go was everything. I loved how they let go of their armor to let the other person see the emotional scars and vulnerabilities they hid from the world. Two people loving each other for simply who they are in reality, bringing changes and happiness in each other's life, supporting each other, making compromises and sacrifices to be together is the truest form of love and Johnny and Shannon understood that assignment.

“You make me feel like I’m enough as I am,”
“You are enough,” I breathed, wrapping my hand around his neck. “Just as you are right now.”

➸ Joey and Aoife

I love Joey so much and it hurts to see him like this. He was tossed into a role he didn't wanted to play. He was the father, mother, brother and the only person that brought balance and happiness in his siblings' life. He fed them, loved them, protected them. He is so selfless, always doing right by his siblings but nobody cared to do right by his side. Nobody cares for his feelings and his pain and it broke my heart because this boy deserves all the love and happiness in the world. I love how Aoife loves Joey and keeps him grounded. She was so badass when she fought Bella. Aoife and Joey had so many emotional and heartbreaking moments and honestly, I am not ready for their story because I know it's gonna ruin me in the best possible ways.

“You’re in there, aren’t you? Hmm?” She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I see you, Joey Lynch.” She stroked her nose against his and whispered, “You can’t hide from me.”

➸ Gibsie and Claire

Gibsie is my precious boy. He always brings the joy and happiness with his funny and entertaining personality but behind all that lies a very vulnerable person who wants to hide all his pain with humour and laughs. Him going all mama bear for Claire was so cute. Claire is our sunshine girl. She's the best bestfriend in their group. I love how she understands Gibsie so well, always humour his weird and funny thoughts.

“You keep that head up,” he ordered, tipping her chin with his thumb. “Don’t you dare hide that angel face from the world.”

➸ Mammy K and Daddy Kav are the best parents in the world. Their love, support and care helped Lynch siblings a lot and I love how they didn't hesitated once to took all of them under their roof, nourished them, fed them, loved them. I want them to adopt me too 😭🙏🏼 I'll be a good sister, I promise.

➸ Lynch siblings: I love Tadgh's little bitch personality and his banter with Gibsie was so good. He's the only person who gets on his nerves lol. Ollie was such a cutie and Sean was the cutest kid. I love how he bonded with Johnny and how Johnny was so obsessed with Sean. Their small moments of happiness made my day.

“I want all of you to stay with my family.”
“But we’re a lot of trouble,” she whispered.
“I like your trouble. I want your trouble and your complications and everything else that comes with you.” Leaning closer, I stroked my nose against hers. “I want you.”

➸ Lizzie: I hated her in this book. She had no right to hurt Gibsie and then later on justify it with her trauma and pain.

I hated how Darren was meddling in Lynch family's business and completely ignored Joey. I did felt bad for him and it made completely sense why he left his siblings behind but it was selfish.

The scene where it all went downhill and the Lynch siblings were grieving the loss of their mother were heartbreaking. As a woman, I have so much sympathy for Shannon's mother, Marie. I hate her for not standing up for her children but I also understand her fears because when Darren said, “All she had in the whole fucking world was him. She was a baby having babies and it broke her!”, my heart broke for Marie. She didn't deserved that ending but atleast she chose her children and did the right thing for them in the end.

The ending was bittersweet but I was satisfied with the decisions Johnny and Shannon made and I am so ready to see more of them in next books!

I hate Chloe for giving me swollen and puffy eyes but but atleast I found another fictional found family ❤️‍🩹 I did not expected to have this many crying sessions while reading this book but everything was worth it for Johnny and Shannon. I am never saying goodbye to this series and these characters because I will be reading this series for the rest of my life and that's how much I love them.

“When it comes to you, Shannon Lynch, I’m all in.”
“Me too.”
“Where you go, I go.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”


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Pre-read review: I missed my precious pookies so here we are 😌💗 finally found the courage after 3 months to continue this series