Binding 13

An epic and unforgettable love story begins in Binding 13, the first in the international bestselling and TikTok-phenomenon The Boys of Tommen series, from Chloe Walsh.

He wants to save her. She wants to hide.

She's damaged. He's determined.

Fate brought them together. Love binds them.

Johnny Kavanagh is the definition of popular. He is an all-star rugby player with loads of friends, which means he should be enjoying the many perks of his life. But what people don't know is that he has been dealing with a painful injury that could halt the magnificent trajectory of his career. This means he has no time for distractions or mistakes. Especially not a girlfriend.

Shannon Lynch has been bullied all her life. She is shy and would rather hide herself away to make it through school. But when she arrives at Tommen College for a fresh start, she meets the notorious Johnny Kavanagh on her first day in a not-so-romantic way. What follows is a complicated friendship that turns into undeniable chemistry. It seems that Shannon won't be able to hold onto the anonymous status she once hoped for. But maybe that's alright?

Johnny won't give up on Shannon. No matter what it might cost them both.

Filled with angst and an attraction like no other, Binding 13 will suck you into the bingeworthy Boys of Tommen universe. This book is perfect for readers looking for:

New adult/YA crossover Irish romance
Dual POVs
Friends-to-lovers
TikTok books
Sports romance
Readers are gushing:

"You need this book in your life."

"I'm beyond obsessed. no review could do this book justice but wow. I'm SPRINTING to Keeping 13!!!!!"

"I NEED A JOHNNY KAVANAGH ❤"

"Instantly became one of my top 5 books of all time."

"This was so, so good. Excellent character building. Excellent relationship building. Just excellent all around."

hloe Walsh is the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of The Boys of Tommen series, which exploded in popularity on TikTok, Goodreads, and Amazon. She has been writing and publishing New Adult and Adult contemporary romance for mature audiences for over a decade. Her Tommen series has been translated into multiple languages around the world, finding bestselling success in several countries. Chloe focuses heavily on the mental health dynamics of her characters, shining a light on important, real-life topics that are close to her heart. Heavily influenced by her own real life experiences, she pens tearjerking, and often harrowing narratives, giving another perspective to, often, unspoken everyday issues. Chloe hails from West Cork, Ireland, where she continues to reside with her family.

Represented by Caitlin Mahony of WME - for business queries contact: [email protected]

Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh is a long, emotionally intense contemporary romance set in Ireland, following two teenagers from completely different worlds who become each other’s lifeline. At its heart, the book is about first love, trauma, family, and the way one kind person can change the course of someone else’s life. The story centers on Johnny Kavanagh, a superstar school rugby player with a bright future and a huge reputation, and Shannon Lynch, a shy, badly traumatized girl whose life has been shaped by bullying and neglect. On the surface, Johnny is popular, confident, and adored, while Shannon is invisible, withdrawn, and scared. But as the book unfolds, it becomes clear that both of them are carrying heavy burdens, and their relationship slowly grows from a fragile friendship into a deep, consuming love that neither of them expected.

Shannon’s side of the story is heartbreaking from the start. She comes from a chaotic, abusive home where her parents are neglectful and cruel, and she has learned to survive by staying small, quiet, and unnoticed. Years of severe bullying have left her socially anxious and terrified of attention. When she transfers to Tommen College, a prestigious school with a big rugby culture, she is overwhelmed by the noise, crowds, and confident students. She tries to blend into the background, keeping her head down and avoiding trouble. There’s a raw vulnerability to her: she’s brilliant and kind, but so traumatized that even small interactions feel dangerous. Her inner voice is full of fear and self-doubt, and the book shows how difficult it is for her to trust anyone or believe that she deserves kindness.

Johnny Kavanagh, in contrast, seems to have everything. He’s the golden boy of Tommen College rugby: skilled, driven, and already a rising star with dreams of going professional. He has a big, loud family that, for all their chaos, loves him fiercely, and he’s surrounded by teammates and friends. On the surface, he’s confident and easygoing, enjoying his status and joking around with his mates. But underneath, Johnny carries his own pressures: the weight of expectation, the demands of training, and the hidden stress of balancing school with a sport that everyone claims is his future. He’s also dealing with family issues and the responsibility of being a role model. Even though he’s wildly popular, he sometimes feels isolated—like he’s performing a role that doesn’t allow for vulnerability. The book lets us see both the public Johnny and the private Johnny, who feels things more deeply than he lets on.

Their worlds collide in an unexpected, gentle way. Shannon catches Johnny’s attention almost accidentally: he notices the quiet, nervous girl who always seems scared and out of place. Unlike most people, Johnny doesn’t ignore her. Something about her vulnerability pulls at his protective instincts. Their first interactions are small—brief conversations, moments where he stands up for her, small acts of kindness—but for Shannon, they feel huge. No one has ever really seen her or cared about her feelings. Johnny’s friendliness and gentle teasing begin to crack the wall she’s built around herself. For Johnny, Shannon is different from anyone else in his life: she’s not impressed by his fame, she’s genuinely shy, and she sees him as a person rather than a star. The book spends time showing how their connection grows slowly, through shared glances, conversations, and the way Johnny keeps showing up for her.

As they get to know each other, Shannon’s trauma becomes more visible. She suffers panic attacks, flashbacks, and deep shame from years of abuse and bullying. Walsh doesn’t gloss over how serious it is: Shannon’s mental health is fragile, her trust is almost non-existent, and she often believes that Johnny’s interest in her is temporary or pity-based. She’s terrified of being hurt again. Johnny, meanwhile, becomes more and more protective and patient. He listens, defends her against bullies, and tries to make her feel safe, even when he doesn’t fully understand the extent of what she’s been through. Their bond is rooted in tenderness. Johnny falls for her slowly, not through physical attraction alone, but through compassion and admiration for her quiet strength. Shannon, in turn, begins to feel a new sense of safety when he is around, even though she’s scared of how much she cares.

The book also spends a lot of time with the broader cast, especially Johnny’s friends and family. His teammates—boys like Gibsie, who provides comic relief and loyalty—bring humor and warmth to the story, balancing the darker elements. Johnny’s parents and siblings, although imperfect, show what a supportive family can look like, especially compared to Shannon’s home life. When Shannon eventually starts interacting with Johnny’s family, the contrast is stark and painful. Being welcomed into their loud, loving chaos is both wonderful and terrifying for her—she’s not used to people hugging, laughing, or being consistently kind. These scenes emphasize just how different her upbringing has been and how much healing simple, everyday affection can offer.

At school, the social dynamics remain intense. Tommen is full of privileged kids, gossip, and pressure, and Shannon often feels crushed under the weight of it all. Bullies remain a threat, and the book doesn’t pretend that Johnny’s protection magically fixes everything. Instead, it shows how hard it is for Shannon to keep showing up, to keep facing classmates who mock or ignore her. Johnny’s status as the rugby star sometimes protects her, but it also creates new problems: rumors, jealousy, and unwanted attention. As their feelings deepen, both of them face challenges. Johnny struggles to balance his rugby commitments and his growing emotional attachment to Shannon, while dealing with injuries and pressure from coaches and scouts. Shannon battles her inner demons, questioning whether she’s good enough for him and fearing that their relationship will end in humiliation.

Romantically, their story is more of a slow burn than an instant explosion. They move from friendship to something more almost carefully. Johnny’s attraction to Shannon grows steadily, woven through moments of respect, affection, and a fierce desire to keep her safe. Shannon’s feelings are complicated by fear and inexperience: she’s never had a healthy relationship, and the idea of someone like Johnny really loving her feels unreal. Their physical and emotional intimacy emerge in stages—small touches, confessions, and emotional breakdowns where they hold onto each other. Walsh leans heavily into the idea of “healing love”: Johnny’s presence doesn’t cure Shannon, but it does give her a reason to try, to imagine a future beyond survival.

Binding 13 is also about the cost of pain that goes on for too long. Shannon’s home life remains dangerous and emotionally crushing, and the book doesn’t offer easy fixes. Johnny can’t just swoop in and rescue her with a grand gesture; he’s still a teenager, limited in power and understanding. Their relationship is therefore threaded with frustration and helplessness: Johnny wants to save her, Shannon doesn’t fully know how to accept help, and the adult systems around them often fail. This realism makes the emotional moments hit harder. There are scenes of breakdown, anger, and despair, where both characters feel lost. Yet there are also scenes of genuine joy—rugby victories, laughter with friends, quiet moments together—that remind the reader that these are kids trying to find light in a dark world.

Because Binding 13 is the first part of a duet (continued in “Keeping 13”), it doesn’t tie everything up neatly. The book builds toward big emotional turning points rather than final resolutions. By the end, Johnny and Shannon’s feelings are undeniable, but their future is still uncertain. Shannon’s trauma isn’t healed, Johnny’s rugby career is at a critical point, and their relationship must navigate distance, pressure, and the fallout of everything that’s happened. The closing sections make it clear that their story is far from over—they’re bound to each other, but the binding is complicated by pain, fear, and external obstacles.

Overall, Binding 13 is a deeply character-driven, emotionally charged romance about two broken teenagers finding something pure and powerful in each other. It explores bullying, mental health, domestic abuse, sports pressure, and the intense highs and lows of first love. Through Johnny’s protective, almost selfless affection and Shannon’s fragile, brave attempts to trust, Chloe Walsh paints a love story that feels big and messy, full of heartache and hope. It’s the kind of book that immerses the reader in their world, making you root for them to hold on to each other as everything around them threatens to pull them apart.