Books › Keeping 13
Keeping 13
636 pages
A fiercely protective, emotionally raw exploration of first love acting as a lifeline in the face of devastating trauma.
What it feels like
This thick, emotionally devastating novel demands to be felt rather than just read. It wraps the reader in a heavy, angsty atmosphere where the stakes of first love feel like life and death. The narrative balances the crushing weight of real-world trauma with the fierce, sunlit hope of found family and protective devotion. Driven by raw, dialogue-heavy prose that perfectly captures the sharp banter and vulnerability of Irish teenagers, the story takes its time, unfolding at a steady, immersive pace. It is an absolute emotional rollercoaster that plunges into dark, painful places before slowly climbing toward hard-won healing. Readers who crave epic, slow-burn romances with intense character development and a fiercely protective dynamic will find themselves completely consumed by this deeply tender, heart-wrenching experience.
- Mood
- angsty
- tender
- heavy
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- raw
- protective
- intense
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- healing from trauma · found family · fierce protectiveness · first love as a lifeline · overcoming abuse
- The writing
- Immersive, emotionally raw, and dialogue-heavy, capturing the authentic cadence and sharp banter of Irish teenagers.
- The arc
- Plunges into the dark depths of trauma and fear before slowly climbing toward hard-won healing and fierce, protective love.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave epic, emotionally devastating but ultimately hopeful romances with extreme protective energy and deep character development.
Content notes
- domestic abuse
- physical violence
- panic attacks
- bullying
- child abuse
About the book
Falling in love was the easy part. What comes next is the test...
Johnny Kavanagh has been living a different life since his injury sidelined him. He's never known life without his beloved number 13 jersey, and he feels lost. Luckily for him, there is a mysterious girl who is now taking up most of his thoughts.
Shannon Lynch has always been good at keeping secrets. She has realized that evil men aren't only in stories. They are very real. After her traumatizing trip to Dublin, she is trying to find a way to protect her little brothers above all else. She is beginning to revert to her old self, hiding away so that she can try to contain the few scraps of her future she has left.
There's only one boy who can pull her out of the shadows into which she is retreating. The boy who owns her heart. But what she doesn't know is that secrets are about to be revealed that could change lives forever. Will Johnny and Shannon's love survive?
Description from Open Library.
Books like Keeping 13
See why they match
The ChaseElle KennedyA sizzling, banter-heavy college romance where forced proximity turns stubborn assumptions into undeniable attraction.
Lucky in loveKasie WestA sweet, sunlit exploration of what happens when a stroke of impossible luck complicates the simple joys of first love.
It Was Always YouJudy CorryA sweet, butterfly-inducing exploration of what happens when the person you've always known suddenly becomes the person you can't stop thinking about.
The fill-in boyfriendKasie WestA sweet, trope-driven high school romance where a desperate prom-night lie blossoms into a genuine, swoon-worthy connection.
SilenceBecca FitzpatrickA shadowy, high-stakes paranormal romance where forgotten memories collide with an undeniable, magnetic attraction.
You've Reached SamDustin ThaoA tender, tear-soaked exploration of first love and the agonizing, beautiful difficulty of saying a final goodbye.