Chloe Walsh

He was her anchor. She was his storm. Together, they were everything—and it still wasn't enough.

From Chloe Walsh, the international bestselling author of the viral Boys of Tommen series, comes a devastatingly raw, achingly beautiful love story that will rip your heart out and patch it back together.

Lizzie Young has always felt she was too much everything. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, she's never fit in with her family, her friends, her community. Lizzie wants to be accepted and understood, but with few family or friends in her corner, she carries her burdens and her trauma on her own.

But when she meets a kind boy on the school bus, things start to look bright for the first time in her life...

Hugh Biggs has an old soul and the wisdom of someone far beyond his years. A young man with a sharp mind and a firm code of ethics, he sees something in Lizzie Young that he can't resist. He wants to be her everything and shoulder her burden. And Lizzie wants that too.

Lizzie and Hugh's bond seems unbreakable — their chemistry is electric, their love is potent, and their connection is soul deep – but even the truest love can be shaken by forces beyond control.

Boys of Tommen ~ Book 6

Releasing 10

Sophia

“She looks like a little angel.” Mark smiled and crouched down in front of me. “Do you like me, munchkin? Hmm? Are you going to talk to me?”

“Oh, no, no, no. She might look like one, but don’t let that angelic face fool you,” Caoimhe laughed. “She screams like a banshee when she feels like it.”

“I bet I can get her to talk,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“You can try.” Caoimhe scoffed. “But no doctor has been able to fix her.”

“Would you like that, munchkin?” Mark asked, hand on my shoulder. “Would you like me to fix you?”

Again... this is so sick i can't deal with it

It was late on christmas night when my bedroom door opened, and Mark slipped into my room. I smiled when he locked the door behind him because that meant he was going to fix me again.

“Your eyes are nice,” I told him, feeling my heart flip-flop when I looked at him. “I like them.”

“Uh, thanks?” His cheeks reddened. “I like yours, too.”

“Your face is red.” He shifted in discomfort. “So is yours.”

“I know why.” I beamed back at him. “It’s because I give you the hots.”

“Uh.” He looked surprised and his face turned even redder. “I, uh…”

“It’s okay.” Grinning, I grabbed his hand and pressed it to my cheek. “See? You give me the hots, too.”

When the lads started teasing me about her, I found myself not caring one bit. Instead, I laughed off their taunts, feeling smug instead of embarrassed. Because they didn’t know what I did.

They didn’t have the strangest girl in Ballylaggin coming to their birthday party. My eyes locked on hers from across the bus and I smiled.

Gibs was always looking at her, and on the rare occasion he wasn’t, Claire was looking at him. Our mothers called it harmless puppy love, but I wasn’t so sure about that. I had a niggling feeling they would always look at each other like that.

She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m not slow,” she hurried to add, digging her fingernails into her hand. “I swear I’m not…”

“I know you’re not, okay?” I replied, reaching down to peel her hands apart. “And who cares if you’re the oldest in your class?”

She didn’t seem to realize that she was scratching herself, but I noticed.

Not only a monster but insane as well WHATTT

“Caoimhe said you slept at a boy’s house last night.”

“Hugh.” I felt myself smile. “He’s really nice.”

“Hmm.” Mark didn’t look happy. “I don’t know how I feel about you cheating on me, munchkin.”

Literally goals before everything went to shit😭 this is so cute

I grinned at him. “Do you have a crush on me, too?”

“Jesus.” Blushing, he dipped under the water, reappearing a few seconds later and a lot farther away.

“Wait!” I called after him. “You didn’t answer me.”

“Yes,” he called over his shoulder as he swam back to our friends. “My answer is yes!”

Thank God SOMEONE is seeing how inappropriate that is - Caoimhe is so weird for not seeing anything wrong with that

“Don’t sit on his lap,” I whispered back.

I don’t know. “Just don’t, okay?”

“I mean it.” I held my pinky finger up to her. “Promise me.”

Confusion filled his eyes. “I don’t get stung.”

I shrugged. “Maybe it’s just my bath.”

“Be a good girl and open your mouth.”

“If you bite me, I’ll kill her. Do you want that?”

“That’s it. You like that, don’t you?”

“Stop crying. I can feel you enjoying it.”

“Fuck me, you’re getting so good at that.”

“That’s it. It’s not so bad, is it?”

I knew what that meant. But it was okay. Because I loved Hugh Biggs. My heart was sure I did. And Hugh would never hurt me like he did.

Climbing onto the mattress, I rolled onto my back and settled into the familiar position, arms at my sides and legs open, waiting for this boy to do what Mark told me all boys did. Except he didn’t. Instead of taking off my clothes, Hugh covered me with a blanket and stepped away.

“I won’t,” Dad promised. “Take Beth back in. I’ll get the boy.”

Another wave crashed over them then, and just like that, Bethany sank under the water like her brother had, followed by her father. Swallowed up by the waves like a lifeless, floating doll.

The image of her pink dress was the last that I saw of her. 

Snuggling in closer, I leaned in close until my nose rubbed against his. That made him smile. Another sniffle escaped him, but this one held the air of finality to it, like he was finished crying—or at least he had decided he was. Removing the hand he was resting on top of mine, he placed it on my cheek instead. “I love you.”

He laughed softly. “Your heart works just fine.”

“How come?” He turned another page before saying, “Because I won’t break it.”

“But what if someone else breaks it?”

“Because I’ve got it locked away safe and sound.”

Lizzie was FIVE when he started this and she's nine now😭 gibsie was seven and he had to endure it till 11😭 someone needs to kill that motherfucker

“You’re going to take one of these pills every night,” he continued to threaten. “I’ll make sure of it.”

The most satisfying sentence in this whole book so far

Better still, Dad had taken leave of his senses when he saw the condition of my face and had beaten seven kinds of shite out of Mark for putting his hands on “his child.”

“It’s not complicated—it’s crazy.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong if you tried,” he replied in a confident tone. “You’re going to live a great life, Liz. A little complicated, sure, and maybe challenging at times, but it’ll be a fucking great one.”

The worst thing by far was hearing that not only did I tie a horse rein around my neck and throw myself off the upper loft in the haybarn, but Hugh broke his elbow when he fell over the ledge trying to cut me down.

I thought this would be my favorite book and my favorite couple but it turned out to be the worst book. They still are my favorite couple but the book was so awful I contemplated not even finishing it. Chloe crossed a line with this one and she did it repeatedly. It was way too traumatic, way too graphic and way too fucking psychopathic. I don't know how she even came up with this. I'm floored.

None of the series is marketed as a dark romance and just because Hughie is a saint and would never do anything, doesn't mean this wasn't dark as fuck. The abortion had me so shocked, I cannot believe she wrote it like that. This book was supposed to be apart of the series which is a romantic series with traumatic elements but this took the cake. Nobody believing Liz made it worse. I'm not sure I'll continue the series if she keeps making the trauma worse.

The way nothing was fade to black after the first few pages if stuff was mentioned was not okay. Child SA is nothing to write about in detail even if it has to be talked about because it's an important topic. Gibsie's trauma was bad but we didn't see a lot (which is how it should be) but with this one she didn't seem to care anymore to keep it somewhat digestible. I felt sick the entire time.

I thought this would be my favorite book and my favorite couple but it turned out to be the worst book. They still are my favorite couple but the book was so awful I contemplated not even finishing it. Chloe crossed a line with this one and she did it repeatedly. It was way too traumatic, way too graphic and way too fucking psychopathic. I don't know how she even came up with this. I'm floored.

None of the series is marketed as a dark romance and just because Hughie is a saint and would never do anything, doesn't mean this wasn't dark as fuck. The abortion had me so shocked, I cannot believe she wrote it like that. This book was supposed to be apart of the series which is a romantic series with traumatic elements but this took the cake. Nobody believing Liz made it worse. I'm not sure I'll continue the series if she keeps making the trauma worse.

The way nothing was fade to black after the first few pages if stuff was mentioned was not okay. Child SA is nothing to write about in detail even if it has to be talked about because it's an important topic. Gibsie's trauma was bad but we didn't see a lot (which is how it should be) but with this one she didn't seem to care anymore to keep it somewhat digestible. I felt sick the entire time.

✨Claire was loud and funny, and she made me feel happy. Shannon was quiet and calm and made me feel safe.

✨“You’re different, Lizzie Young.” “I am?” She nodded and smiled. “You’re special.” “Is that bad?” “No.” She shook her head, still smiling. “You remind me of Joe.” “Your brother?” “Yep.” She nodded again. “And that’s a very good thing.”

✨Claire and I turned our heads in unison to see Gibsie dragging a sledgehammer toward the treehouse. “I found one, lads!” “Ahh,” Liz continued to howl laughing. “He looks like Thor with his hammer!” “Did you hear that, Gibs?” Feely called out with a chuckle. “Lizzie thinks you look like a superhero!”

✨“Hey, Lizzie?” “Yeah, Gibs?” “You sure you’re okay?” “Yep.” Smiling, I reached up and brushed a tear from his cheek. “I’m always okay, Gibs.”

✨I shook my head, unable to release my hold on her son. Because her son was my sun.

✨The only girl I’m looking at is my girl, and she’s the only girl I’ll be touching.

✨“Nice one, Feely. Now he thinks we’re deranged.” “Don’t worry about it, Hugh. He probably thinks we’re fucking each other.” “No offense, lad, but I’m way too far out of your league for him to think that.” “Whatever you say, virgin.” “Right back at ya, whore.”

✨That you’re the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen.

✨“Like I’d be thick enough to let her go,” Hugh chuckled, tucking me into his side. He dropped a kiss to my head before adding, “Liz is the one, Granda.” Oh God. My entire body burned with heat. The way he so openly claimed me as his, even to his grandfather, made me feel like I might be actually worth something.

✨For the rest of this life and whatever followed—be it heaven, hell, purgatory, or a thousand reincarnated lifetimes—my heart would eternally beat for Hugh Biggs.

✨“Claire’s being hyper?” “Hyper is putting it mildly, Hugh.” “Is she bouncing?” “Like Tigger.”

✨There wasn’t another person on this planet I could give myself to like I had given myself to her. She could do whatever she wanted to me, and I would lie down and take it. Because I was stuck on her like glue.

✨Which begged the question, how could Johnny relate to what I was going through with Liz? How could he understand that a girl came before rugby for me? He couldn’t. Maybe one day, a girl would walk into his world and bring him to his knees, like Liz did to me, but until that day came, it was easier to say nothing.

✨“I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs,” Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, “No matter what.” And then she was gone.

Mariaaa

✨Claire was loud and funny, and she made me feel happy. Shannon was quiet and calm and made me feel safe.

✨“You’re different, Lizzie Young.” “I am?” She nodded and smiled. “You’re special.” “Is that bad?” “No.” She shook her head, still smiling. “You remind me of Joe.” “Your brother?” “Yep.” She nodded again. “And that’s a very good thing.”

✨Claire and I turned our heads in unison to see Gibsie dragging a sledgehammer toward the treehouse. “I found one, lads!” “Ahh,” Liz continued to howl laughing. “He looks like Thor with his hammer!” “Did you hear that, Gibs?” Feely called out with a chuckle. “Lizzie thinks you look like a superhero!”

✨“Hey, Lizzie?” “Yeah, Gibs?” “You sure you’re okay?” “Yep.” Smiling, I reached up and brushed a tear from his cheek. “I’m always okay, Gibs.”

✨I shook my head, unable to release my hold on her son. Because her son was my sun.

✨The only girl I’m looking at is my girl, and she’s the only girl I’ll be touching.

✨“Nice one, Feely. Now he thinks we’re deranged.” “Don’t worry about it, Hugh. He probably thinks we’re fucking each other.” “No offense, lad, but I’m way too far out of your league for him to think that.” “Whatever you say, virgin.” “Right back at ya, whore.”

✨That you’re the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen.

✨“Like I’d be thick enough to let her go,” Hugh chuckled, tucking me into his side. He dropped a kiss to my head before adding, “Liz is the one, Granda.” Oh God. My entire body burned with heat. The way he so openly claimed me as his, even to his grandfather, made me feel like I might be actually worth something.

✨For the rest of this life and whatever followed—be it heaven, hell, purgatory, or a thousand reincarnated lifetimes—my heart would eternally beat for Hugh Biggs.

✨“Claire’s being hyper?” “Hyper is putting it mildly, Hugh.” “Is she bouncing?” “Like Tigger.”

✨There wasn’t another person on this planet I could give myself to like I had given myself to her. She could do whatever she wanted to me, and I would lie down and take it. Because I was stuck on her like glue.

✨Which begged the question, how could Johnny relate to what I was going through with Liz? How could he understand that a girl came before rugby for me? He couldn’t. Maybe one day, a girl would walk into his world and bring him to his knees, like Liz did to me, but until that day came, it was easier to say nothing.

✨“I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs,” Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, “No matter what.” And then she was gone.

That’s all I’m feeling is pain when I finished this book. 

Now that I’ve had some time to process, all I have is questions. And I have no idea how long I’ll have to wait for those questions to get some kind of answers. This series has been so much more than what people are making it to be as of late. This series talk about topics that are hard, but are so important for people to know exist in the world. I thought of this recently and now I can’t unsee it. But this series reminds me a lot of Degrassi when it was still on TV. Did I possibly watch that show when I was too young? I sure did, but what did it do? It showed and taught me about topics that I may not know if I was thrown into it with no knowledge. It helped me see the signs, how to address them, and how to help, it helped me be more prepared for these things. This series I think does that same thing. But I have been an advocate that this isn’t a young adult series because there are explicit scenes that are too graphic and shouldn’t be read by those in a younger audience. But this book, geez, I wasn’t prepared. I cried far too many times, I wanted to throw up far too many times, and I just wanted it to all end better than it did. I haven’t had that emotional connection with this series since Binding and Keeping and helped me reconnect with this series again, and showed me that I will always love it. Now our characters, Hugh, to be honest in the previous books I never let myself think or connect with you, but now I see the role you place on yourself, the weight you took on when EVERY SINGLE ADULT failed all of these children. And Liz, god, I knew there was so much more to your story and I was not prepared for what you have been through. And I hope that everything will come together like I hope it does. I don’t want to take away from your reading experience but just know it’s a beautifully difficult read. It is going to be hard, and it doesn’t end with an HEA, and again you have so many questions. But that’s what I have loved about this series, it makes you feel everything, and it’s like a comfort television show for me from how much I love it and how often I want to reread it even though it can make me happy one moment, but then leave me in a sobbing mess the next moment just from a quote.

These characters and their story will forever be with me no matter what. 

Priscilla Stanfield

5/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

Pain. 

That’s all I’m feeling is pain when I finished this book. 

Now that I’ve had some time to process, all I have is questions. And I have no idea how long I’ll have to wait for those questions to get some kind of answers. This series has been so much more than what people are making it to be as of late. This series talk about topics that are hard, but are so important for people to know exist in the world. I thought of this recently and now I can’t unsee it. But this series reminds me a lot of Degrassi when it was still on TV. Did I possibly watch that show when I was too young? I sure did, but what did it do? It showed and taught me about topics that I may not know if I was thrown into it with no knowledge. It helped me see the signs, how to address them, and how to help, it helped me be more prepared for these things. This series I think does that same thing. But I have been an advocate that this isn’t a young adult series because there are explicit scenes that are too graphic and shouldn’t be read by those in a younger audience. But this book, geez, I wasn’t prepared. I cried far too many times, I wanted to throw up far too many times, and I just wanted it to all end better than it did. I haven’t had that emotional connection with this series since Binding and Keeping and helped me reconnect with this series again, and showed me that I will always love it. Now our characters, Hugh, to be honest in the previous books I never let myself think or connect with you, but now I see the role you place on yourself, the weight you took on when EVERY SINGLE ADULT failed all of these children. And Liz, god, I knew there was so much more to your story and I was not prepared for what you have been through. And I hope that everything will come together like I hope it does. I don’t want to take away from your reading experience but just know it’s a beautifully difficult read. It is going to be hard, and it doesn’t end with an HEA, and again you have so many questions. But that’s what I have loved about this series, it makes you feel everything, and it’s like a comfort television show for me from how much I love it and how often I want to reread it even though it can make me happy one moment, but then leave me in a sobbing mess the next moment just from a quote.

These characters and their story will forever be with me no matter what. 

this book was an emotional rollercoaster. My heart breaks for Lizzie and Hugh. The book discusses many deep and triggering topics but also sheds light on these things that sadly many people have had to go through. R10 really has you seeing Lizzie in a different light and you really understand her as a person. Hugh is the most patient and loving boy who had to grow up so quickly. Hugh is now at the top of my book boyfriend’s list.

*Please look up trigger warnings before reading*

Erinn Costa

this book was an emotional rollercoaster. My heart breaks for Lizzie and Hugh. The book discusses many deep and triggering topics but also sheds light on these things that sadly many people have had to go through. R10 really has you seeing Lizzie in a different light and you really understand her as a person. Hugh is the most patient and loving boy who had to grow up so quickly. Hugh is now at the top of my book boyfriend’s list.

*Please look up trigger warnings before reading*

I’m physically not okay. That was soul crushing and just so sad I feel so bad for Lizzie I actually completely understand the reasoning behind her cruel actions in Taming 7. I just feel so horrible for her. Hugh is the sweetest kindest soul I’ve ever read about and their story is so beautiful. I feel so bad for the young family it’s just so sad. This book painted Claire in an odd way in my opinion she just seemed very unbothered about Lizzie. I loved getting to know Feely more and Katie seems so sweet I hope she doesn’t get caught in the cross fire very badly. I HATE Mike young with my heart and soul. Reading about gibsie Claire feely Hugh and Lizzie’s childhood friendship was the most pure thing in the world and how mature Hugh was about Kavanagh becoming Gibsie’s new best friend. I don’t even care whose story comes next just GIVE IT TO ME. I don’t understand why this book was controversial it was such a painful story but I guess people get offended about everything. I love the boys of tommen universe so much it literally HURTS

Anushree Taparia

Nour wael

If I could give this book more than 5 stars on here, I would. I will forever be a Lizzie & Hughie fan, you can’t convince me otherwise! They both deserve the world and I need their next book ASAP!!!!

Sam Sibilia

If I could give this book more than 5 stars on here, I would. I will forever be a Lizzie & Hughie fan, you can’t convince me otherwise! They both deserve the world and I need their next book ASAP!!!!

I’ve yet to spot crying over them 

a ♡

Emily Farrell 

This book was not a happy one. I think I didn’t smile at any point during my read because although it’s painfully obvious that they absolutely love each other it’s so hard to see how lizzie struggles through life just trying to be herself. I understand both perspectives; Hugh gave her so much and treated her so well, he is such a good person and honestly someone i broke my heart to see him suffer because of her attitudes but still NEVER leaving her; while I also understand that lizzie by stopping her medication she was just trying to discover who she really was without all the drugs making her feel dead inside. I think the whole Mark thing just stripped her of her innocence and through the book we can clearly see that the doesn’t really know the meaning and significance of the word consent because she herself NEVER had given it to Mark, her hole vision of what sex is and the way she thinks it should fix her is sooooo heartbreaking 💔. The way the book ended and now rethinking their interactions in the next books it breaks my heart to know they barely talk to each other😭

taci

Lizzie was going through a LOT. And Hugh… my God Hugh. 

This was so depressing and yet I was determined to finish this book today. 

I can’t wait for the next book of theirs to see how it blooms. 

I still think Hugh deserved the right to move on but I know Katie isn’t the one. And seeing the diff pov of Katie makes me question why both him and Katie got into a relationship knowing they both are still attempting to move on. 

Hugh just needed a break for a long time. And Lizzie just needs peace. 

Her story is so so heartbreaking. Including that one scene that ruined their relationship. Mania is AWFUL. And to all those with bpd, I’m so so sorry. 

Keira 💫

Oh god. 

The trauma. 

Lizzie was going through a LOT. And Hugh… my God Hugh. 

This was so depressing and yet I was determined to finish this book today. 

I can’t wait for the next book of theirs to see how it blooms. 

I still think Hugh deserved the right to move on but I know Katie isn’t the one. And seeing the diff pov of Katie makes me question why both him and Katie got into a relationship knowing they both are still attempting to move on. 

Hugh just needed a break for a long time. And Lizzie just needs peace. 

Her story is so so heartbreaking. Including that one scene that ruined their relationship. Mania is AWFUL. And to all those with bpd, I’m so so sorry. 

Releasing 10 Boys of Tommen ~ Book 6