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Alex Ber

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Alex is Currently Reading

Alex Ber is currently reading

Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh (Goodreads Author)

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May 16, 2026 03:58AM

Alex Ber is currently reading

Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: to-read-romance, currently-reading

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Alex Ber said: " I don't know what to make of this book, I can't manage to categorize it.
On one hand, I really loved the beginning of it, I couldn't put it down and it gives me a sort of a nostalgic feel, I don't even know why. I was interested in the characters and I don't know what to make of this book, I can't manage to categorize it.
On one hand, I really loved the beginning of it, I couldn't put it down and it gives me a sort of a nostalgic feel, I don't even know why. I was interested in the characters and their lives and their friends even through I am NEVER interested in those. The romance took a loooong time to begin and I was not bored which is unique.
On the other hand, it feels very very draggy. The whole first book seems like a cycle of Shannon getting into some kind of trouble, Johnny either rescuing her or being there for jer or questioning her about who is hurting her, then pushes her away and again and again. It felt like very little to no progress was made, things were not building up.
Also, there are a lot of moments where they could have just picked up the phone and call each other, the whole first book is full of moments where they really really need to reach out to one another but realizing they still don't have each other's numbers. And it's been months that they crush on each other. Later Shannon loses her phone but still, Johnnys best friend is the childhood bestie of Shannons best friend so they could always check on each other and reach each other that way. Also, Johnny had Shannon brothers number of half the book. Also, his teammate is her other friends boyfriend. Also, Johnny knew where she lives so he could have just gone there to meet her or send a friend to check on her.
It didn't make any sense. The book tried to convey a sense of helplessness and doom when they couldn't reach each other but they easily could via multiples channels.

But the absolutely most frustrating and unbearable thing is multiple characters in the book who create problems, gaslight and constantly overstep boundaries with Shannon and Johnny and they let them! By the end of the first book and the begining of the second this had become the major plot device to create a story - gaslighting characters that separate Johnny and Shannon or create problems for them with non sense logic and reasons. From Bella, to Shannons dad, Shannons mom, now Darren and Johnnys mom who is supposed to be "healthy" but is constantly interfering, not listening to one thing her son says and forces some dubious logic on him. The scenes and dialogs with these characters are excruciatingly long, non ending where they do their best to separate Johnny and Shannon and they just cooperate and let them. It's pretty silly by now. Gives kdrama "mahjang" vibes. It seems that now that Johnny and Shannon acknowledged their feelings for each other this will be the constant plot tool to drive the story of the second book. I'm 14% into it and it already had like 4-5 scenes like that.
One-two more scenes like that and I'm DNFing the Keeping 13. ...more "

May 16, 2026 03:22AM · see review

Alex’s Quotes

“How low do you have to stoop in this country to be President?”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72

36 likes

“Many hundred large volumes have been published upon this controversy: but the books of the Big-endians have been long forbidden, and the whole party rendered incapable by law of holding employments. ”
― Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels

5 likes

“I can’t recommend the food at that place, because they wouldn’t let me eat.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72

tags: humor, hunter-s-thompson

2 likes

“How many more of these stinking, double-downer sideshows will we have to go through before we can get ourselves straight enough to put together some kind of national election that will give me and the at least 20 million people I tend to agree with a chance to vote FOR something, instead of always being faced with that old familiar choice between the lesser of two evils?”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72

tags: hunter-s-thompson, politics

71 likes

“A totally befuddled voter may look at a Vote for McGovern sign and do just that.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72

tags: democracy, elections, humor, hunter-s-thompson

1 likes

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