In Saving 6, Chloe Walsh delivers a hauntingly powerful installment in the Boys of Tommen series that turns the spotlight on Joey Lynch—a boy too burdened to dream, too loyal to let go. Unlike the emotionally charged romance of Binding 13 and Keeping 13, this third book drifts deeper into the heart of dysfunction, addiction, and survival.
What emerges is a deeply human, soul-achingly beautiful story. Saving 6 is not merely about love; it’s about choosing life again and again in the face of hopelessness, and daring to believe you’re worthy of love, even when all evidence says otherwise.
A Look at the Boys of Tommen Series
Chloe Walsh has masterfully created a rich narrative universe rooted in emotional realism. The Boys of Tommen series includes:
- Binding 13 (2018) – The story of Shannon Lynch and Johnny Kavanagh’s tentative beginnings.
- Keeping 13 (2018) – Their evolving relationship amid darker family turmoil.
- Saving 6 (2023) – A gritty prequel of Joey Lynch, covering ages 12–18.
- Redeeming 6 (2023) – The direct sequel that explores Joey’s healing.
- Taming 7 (2024) – Focuses on new characters and layered dynamics.
- Releasing 10 (2025) – Recently released, continuing to expand the Tommen world.
Each book stands independently while contributing to the overarching emotional continuity. Saving 6 is arguably the most harrowing and introspective of them all.
Plot Summary: Growing Up at Gunpoint
Set in working-class Cork, Ireland, Saving 6 begins when Joey Lynch is just 12 years old. His older brother has fled, his father is violent and drunk, and his mother is mentally checked out. Joey takes on the crushing responsibility of protecting his younger siblings, feeding them, getting them to school, and shielding them from trauma—all while still a child himself.
Years pass, and the pressure warps him. By his mid-teens, Joey’s descent into substance abuse, crime, and depression is tragically inevitable. But amid the darkness, there’s Aoife Molloy—his boss’s daughter and his classmate, a whip-smart, no-nonsense girl with a sharp tongue and an even sharper heart.
Their bond begins in first-year banter and grows into a friendship defined by stolen moments and unspoken fears. Aoife sees Joey—not just the delinquent or the tough guy, but the terrified, exhausted boy beneath. Their relationship simmers with tension and care, a lifeline in a sea of dysfunction.
The novel ends not with a bow, but with unraveling threads. It’s a slow and painful spiral toward rock bottom—setting the emotional stage for Redeeming 6, where the climb back begins.
Character Deep Dive: Painfully Human and Unforgettable
Joey Lynch: The Reluctant Guardian
Joey’s character is a triumph of emotional realism. He is gritty, angry, sarcastic, and drowning. But he is also fiercely loving, loyal to a fault, and incapable of abandoning the people he loves. From staying up all night to care for his siblings to sacrificing his own education and future, Joey’s every action is shaped by his unbearable burden.
His internal monologue is jagged and raw, swinging from biting humor to hopeless self-condemnation. He is, in many ways, the emotional backbone of the entire series.
Aoife Molloy: Heart of Steel and Sass
Aoife is sunshine with teeth. She challenges the idea of a “manic pixie dream girl” by being real, grounded, and assertive. She doesn’t exist to fix Joey—though she deeply loves him—but rather to understand him. Her voice, alternating with Joey’s across chapters, gives the novel balance and clarity.
Unlike typical YA heroines, Aoife is not defined by her romance. She has her own dreams, friendships, fears, and moral code. And her refusal to abandon Joey, even when it hurts her, is portrayed not as weakness but as strength.
Supporting Characters
- Shannon, Tadhg, and Ollie: Innocence and love in a collapsing home.
- Mrs. Molloy: A quietly brilliant example of maternal warmth and emotional intelligence.
- Darren Lynch: His absence is a wound; his return a complication.
- The Tommen Boys: Though more peripheral in this book, they contribute humor and support.
Themes Explored
- Trauma and Resilience: Joey’s life is a portrait of long-term, complex trauma. Walsh writes his struggles with authenticity, making readers feel his exhaustion and helplessness. But she also shows the quiet strength required to keep going.
- Addiction as a Symptom: Rather than vilifying addiction, Saving 6 contextualizes it as a consequence of unrelenting pain. Joey’s spiral is nuanced and heart-wrenching, never glamorized.
- The Weight of Responsibility: The role of “parentified” children is a central theme. Joey, still a boy, is burdened with adult responsibilities—his childhood swallowed by violence and neglect.
- Love as Survival, Not Cure: Aoife does not “heal” Joey. Rather, her presence gives him reason to want healing. Their connection is powerful precisely because it is messy and imperfect.
- Masculinity and Emotional Suppression: Joey’s environment punishes vulnerability. His emotional suppression is not just a character flaw, but a reflection of cultural norms that discourage boys from seeking help.
- Class Struggle and Social Judgment: The novel explores how poverty and stigma compound trauma, limiting access to support systems and increasing isolation.
Writing Craft: The Walsh Signature
Chloe Walsh’s prose is immersive and brutally honest. Her style here is less polished and more visceral than in Binding 13, which suits Joey’s voice. The alternating dual-POV gives readers complete insight into both protagonists’ minds, making the emotional stakes even higher.
The book’s structure—spanning several school years and presented in snapshot-style vignettes—conveys time’s passage and Joey’s slow emotional erosion. The dialogue is peppered with Irish slang, giving it cultural authenticity. The glossary helps international readers follow along.
Walsh’s greatest strength lies in her character-driven storytelling. She doesn’t force plot twists; rather, she lets events unfold organically, driven by the choices of fully realized, flawed people.
Highlights and Haunting Moments
- Joey giving his lunch money to his siblings and skipping meals
- Aoife’s rage when Joey is publicly humiliated by the school principal
- Joey’s drug use scene juxtaposed with a flashback of his father’s abuse
- Their near-kiss scene on the stairwell
- The heartbreaking Christmas scene, where joy and despair coexist
These scenes stick not just because they’re emotional, but because they feel lived-in and true.
What Could Be Better?
Despite its many strengths, Saving 6 isn’t without its challenges:
- Length: At nearly 700 pages, the book can feel overwhelming. Some scenes could be tightened without losing their impact.
- Repetition: Joey’s inner monologue, while honest, often circles the same themes in a way that might feel excessive.
- Pacing in Later Years: The final school years (Fifth and Sixth Year) feel rushed compared to the rich development of earlier years.
These are minor quibbles in an otherwise deeply resonant narrative.
For Fans Of…
Readers who enjoy deeply emotional, character-driven YA/NA fiction with tough themes and slow-burn romance will also enjoy:
- The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera – For its emotional complexity and themes of loss.
- A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner – For messy, bittersweet romance.
- Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills – For its focus on emotional trauma and healing.
- The Gravity of Us by Brittainy C. Cherry – For poetic prose and emotional devastation.
Chloe Walsh: A Voice for the Vulnerable
Chloe Walsh has proven her mastery in blending romance with realism. Her work refuses to offer sanitized versions of teenage love or trauma. Instead, she invites readers to lean into the uncomfortable, to hold space for pain, and to witness resilience in action.
Her earlier works (The Carter Kids, The Broken Series) laid the groundwork, but Saving 6 is her most emotionally mature narrative yet. Her commitment to portraying addiction, abuse, and mental health with integrity sets her apart in the YA/NA romance landscape.
Conclusion: A Story that Stays With You
Saving 6 is not a love story in the traditional sense—it’s a life story. It’s about a boy breaking under pressure, and a girl who refuses to let him disappear into the dark. It’s about the unrelenting pull of family, the cruelty of growing up too fast, and the kind of love that doesn’t save you but reminds you why you want to be saved.
This is a book that will break your heart a hundred times—and make you grateful for every wound. Its emotional gravity, narrative depth, and unflinching honesty place it among the most essential reads in young adult and new adult fiction today.
- Emotional Resonance Rating: Exceptional
- Reading Experience: Gut-wrenching, rewarding, unforgettable