Binding 13: Part Two Audiobook – Boys of Tommen, Book 1

One chilly Saturday morning, curled up by my window as rain tapped against the glass, I let “Binding 13: Part One” wash over me—an immersive escape into the charged world of Irish rugby and tender teenage hearts. There’s something about returning to stories set in that liminal space between adolescence and adulthood that always tugs at me. Maybe it’s because I remember my own high school days, where insecurities ran deep and first loves felt like tectonic shifts.

From its opening moments, Chloe Walsh’s writing draws you right into Tommen College—a place alive with school rivalries, the thunder of cleats on muddy fields, and a feeling of hope laced with vulnerability. The story orbits around Johnny Kavanagh, the kind of boy who carries more than anyone realizes—a future built on rugby dreams threatened by a hidden injury, expectations pressing down like storm clouds. His outward confidence is magnetic but also heartbreaking; he reminded me so much of friends I knew in drama club who seemed unshakable until they quietly shared what was really happening at home.

But it’s Shannon Lynch who truly made my heart ache. As she navigates halls filled with strangers and old wounds she desperately tries to hide (her bruises are both literal and metaphorical), I felt myself rooting for her harder than I have for any character in recent memory. Her story feels so real: being overlooked, learning to trust again—and those tentative steps towards connection with Johnny feel fragile but full of hope.

What sets this audiobook apart isn’t just its emotional authenticity; it’s how completely the narration brings Cork—and these characters—to life. While I wish I could credit the narrator directly (the information eludes me), their work deserves praise: each Irish inflection rings true without ever lapsing into caricature. Dialogue flows naturally; even background scenes—like crowded matches or hushed late-night confessions—feel palpably close. There were moments when Shannon whispered doubts that I found myself whispering encouragement back to her.

I especially loved how deftly Walsh handles trauma without exploiting it—the book respects pain but never lets it define its characters entirely. Their growth isn’t easy or linear; setbacks sting all the more because progress feels genuinely earned. For listeners sensitive to heavy topics (there are references to abuse and mental health struggles), be mindful—Walsh approaches these themes thoughtfully but honestly.

A highlight is how sport becomes more than backdrop: rugby here mirrors life itself—messy scrums alongside thrilling victories—and makes for some nail-biting listening even if you know little about the game itself (I certainly don’t!). If you’re craving swoony romance amid fierce competition and friendship forged through adversity, this delivers in spades.

If there’s anything missing for me as a listener? Perhaps only a touch more pacing—the narrative sometimes lingers too long in internal reflection—but given its focus on healing and self-discovery, those quieter passages ultimately deepen our bond with these flawed yet lovable teens.

“Binding 13: Part One” is an audiobook best savored slowly—with your favorite blanket close by—as you witness two young souls find solace against tough odds. This one left me misty-eyed yet hopeful… and already searching out Part Two!