Name: Mariaaa's review of Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
Item: Taming 7
Rating: 4
Author: Mariaaa

Chloe Walsh

The all new fifth book in Chloe Walsh's heart-wrenching and angsty Boys of Tommen series, following the long-awaited love story of fan favorites Claire and Gibsie. She's the quintessential sunshine girl. He's the lovable class clown. But storm clouds are rolling in, and this Tommen boy is about to get serious. Tommen's cheeky lad, Gerard "Gibsie" Gibson, is a comedian at heart, but underneath his happy-go-lucky-nature lurks a broken boy, tortured by the events of his past. Using humor to cope with his demons, Gibsie hides everything from the world. Only one person knows who he truly is on the inside. His friend's little sister. His Claire-bear. Enveloped in sunshine, Claire Biggs, has spent her whole life adoring the boy across the street. Her brother's friend. Seeing a side to Gerard that no one else sees, Claire is determined to tame her wild-at-heart childhood best friend. But when the unexpected occurs and lines are crossed, will Gibsie and Claire's friendship survive? Will it blossom into something more, or will they lose themselves in the riptide?

Taming 7

HOLY SHIT ONLY GIBS HAS THE ONLY SUICIDE NOTE AND IT WAS KEFT JUST FOR HIM ?!?!?! 

Hana 

taci

.. Curled up in a ball on my bed, I watched as he stood over me and zipped up his school trousers. He wore the ones the older boys wore. The boys who went to secondary school. "You know the score, baby brother." Sitting down on the edge of my bed, he pushed my hair out of my face and reached between my legs. "Keep your mouth shut and I'll keep going easy on you." Trembling, I didnt dare answer him or look in his direction. I knew better. I knew what happened when I didnt behave. When I didn t give him what he wanted. "Good boy. You're always okay, aren't ya?" He stroked my cheek and then stood back up. "Tll see you tomorrow night." I waited until my door was closed before checking myself over and pulling my Power Rangers pajama bottoms into place, shuddering when my hand emerged with the familiar sight of blood...

Your sister killed herself," Claire doubled down and repeated. "Caoimhe did that to herself, and you can't spend the rest of your life laying blame on an innocent boy. Not when you don't know the facts. The real repeated. truth about what went down." I know exactly what happened," she strangled out. "Caoimhe was raped! That monster raped my sister and drove her to suicide!" "You have it so wrong!" No, I don't. You're the one who's wrong. You're wrong, Claire. You're so fucking wrong!" «Caoimhe wasn't the one who was raped!" Claire screamed at the top of her lungs, and I swear to God my heart stopped dead in my chest. "It wasn't her, Lizzie! Mark didn't rape your sister!" And then, she blew my world when she pointed a finger at me and screamed, “He raped my boyfriend!"

For my part in your pain, for my silence, I can never say sorry enough. I can only hope that my absence gives you some comfort, because while I know I wasnt your abuser, my lack of willingness to believe your truth hurt you in ways he never could. Goodbye, sweet boy. Caoimhex

But I saw tonight. When I walked into your bedroom to check on you and found him pinning you to your mattress, raping you, I think I died inside. Your eyes. You looked so broken. So defeated. You weren t making a sound. Your tears were as silent as my voice, and I am so sorry for that. I dont know how I'm supposed to live with myself for allowing you to suffer like you have. I honestly don't think I can. I've written you this letter, and I want you to take it to your mam. If not your mam then take it to Sinead Biggs across the street. All you have to do is hand over this letter, sweet boy, and I promise you he'll get what he deserves. (For all who read this letter, let it be known that I, Caoimhe Young, on the night of April 5th, 2000, witnessed my boyfriend, Mark Allen, raping his eleven-year-old stepbrother, Gerard Gibson, while I was supposed to be babysitting him. Let it also be known that eighteen months before witnessing this rape, Gerard Gibson disclosed to me that he didn't feel safe around Mark, and that he touched him inappropriately. And finally, to my deepest regret, let it

I want you out of my house and out of my town," I doubled down and told him. "Today. This morning. Right fucking now." "Or what?" "Or I'm going to tell." "Tell?" He tossed the word out like it was something laughable. "Christ, what age are you?" "Tm seventeen now," I bit out. "But I was seven when you raped me." "Don't "I was seven years old when you first raped me!" I said louder, refusing to be silenced a second longer by my fear of this man. "I was eleven years old when you finally stopped!" Blowing out a ragged breath, I glared at the monster standing in front of me with tears pouring down my cheeks, and strangled out, “You took four years of my childhood from me, and I've been living in a prison in my mind every damn day of my life since. So, if you don't want to risk spending the next seventeen years of your life behind bars, you'l get ona plane and never come back!"

"What happened to you in that home," I choked out. "Do you think it has anything to do with you turning out" "You cannot be turned gay, or decide to be gay, Gibsie. You are born gay." Darren cut me off and said, clearly having some psychic ability to read my mind. "Being raped by another man was not a deciding factor in my sexual preference, nor had it any dominion over my sexual orientation, because I was born this way." "Oh." “But it can cause you to physically recoil and withdraw from intimate situations with a partner." "Even women?" "Trauma sees no genders," he explained calmly. It's an instinctive thing." Like the back of your mind kind of thing?" “Exactly," he agreed. “It's your subconscious's way of alerting your body to danger, even when you might not be in any." "Okay." I nodded slowly, soaking in every word he was telling me. "Good to know." "Can I give you my phone number?" I stared blankly at him. "Lad, I'm flattered, but I like pussy." Darren smirked. "Just take my number," he said, retrieving a business card from his coat pocket. "Cail that number when you're ready." "Wait!" I called after him, but he was already walking away. "When I'm ready for what?" He didn't respond.

One moment we were glaring, and screaming, and shoving at each other Somehow, and only God himself knew how it happened, my hand on Desperately. Voraciously. Adoringly. Our lips collided in a frenzied and the next we were kissing. Gerard's mouth had been replaced with my lips. hunger that had been building up for sixteen years and had finally bubbled over. Kissing him felt like I had suddenly remembered the answer to a question that had been tormenting me for hours. 

He had a son. A little boy. “Mark's been offered an overseas transfer with work. He and Meera are considering a permanent relocation," Mam gushed, draping her arms around her husband's adult son. "Isn't it wonderful, bubba?" "Relocation?" around my mother's shoulders. "The whole family will be back together I could feel the ground shifting beneath me and my world fucking ended. "That's right, son." Keith nodded in agreement as he wrapped an arm SOon."

"He killed my sister!" "Do you think you're the only person to ever lose their sister?" I roared, throwing my hands up in frustration. “I lost my sister, to0, Lizzie! I buried my sister and my father!" "They drowned," she spat. “Accidentally. It's not the same thing. Nobody hurt them. Not like my sister or Shannon's mam." "Oh, I'm so fucking sorry my family didn't die in more gruesome circumstances," I choked out, trembling. "Shit, maybe Beth should have drifted into the motor of the boat after she drowned, at least then we'd have a little blood and gore for the sob story." "You know I didn't mean it like that." 

violently, the desk was shaking. I wanted to maim something. Correction, I wanted to maim the bastard sitting behind me. "So, what's the plan? Wine and dine her first?" "Pretty much, lad. I'm going to take her on a few dates and get it out of the way so we can get to the fun part ... " And that was all I could take. Fuck detention. I would gladly park my ass in the bold chair for the week if it meant that I got to shut these bastards up. You're a dead man!" I roared, losing all control of my body. My desk went flying at the same moment I lunged for Jamie and Johnny lunged for me. "I'm going to rip your fucking tongue out for that ... "

"I don't want Jamie Kelleher," she whispered, shifting closer so that our chests were flush together. "I don't want anyone else." Her hand slid beneath the covers once more and I couldn't stop the pained groan that escaped my lips when her fingers grazed the fabric that contained my raging hard-on. Jesus Christ. Everything inside of me was demanding I reciprocate her advances and finally claim this girl for my own. Let her do it. Just let her touch you. 

"We'll be good," we both chorused, giving each other a knowing look. Because once Mam left for work, Dad wouldn't be coming downstairs to check on us. Free house. "Oh, and for future reference, keep the door open, Claire." after her. her breath. Hm." With another shake of her head, Mam walked out of the room. "But what if Dick escapes and sneaks into Hugh's room again?"I called That's not the dick I'm worried about escaping," Mam muttered

again, thinking hard about something before saying, “YOU know, I think I'd love a daughter." He scratched his jaw as he spoke. Td be delighted with sons, too, of course, but I'd love to raise a little girl with Shan." Shrugging, he added, “You know, show her how different it should've been for her." "You'd make a good girl-dad," Hugh agreed with a solemn nod.

I didn't say anything because what was the point? She wouldn't believe me anyway. Caoimhe hadn't. I desperately wanted to silence her with the truth. About the real reason her sister was dead. About what had really happened that night. But I couldn't because, aside from the fact thatI had never verbalized the truth to anyone still living on earth, Lizzie would never relent.

"My son Mark played outside center for Tommen back in the day," the asshole himself continued to say, bragging and boring us to tears. "Of course, he didn't turn professional like yourself. Went down the finance route instead." "Probably for the best," I taunted, struggling to keep my smile in check, "all things considered." You know, since the academy frowns on rapists that drive teenage girls to suicide and all that jazz.

I wanted to be smart like the rest of them. To hand in my homework and not sweat half my body weight out for fear of being called on in class to read out loud or listen to the usual "your writing is illegible" spiel. Like I didn't already know it. It was illegible because I couldn't fucking spell so it was easier to scribble the words out and make it look so messy that the teachers didn't call on me.

“Let me down or I'll pinch your ass." "Is that a promise?" Tl do it," I warned through fits of laughter. I will, Gerard." Sliding my hand into the waistband of his shorts, I pushed my hand inside. "Ooh, what's this? A round, hairy ass cheek!" "Okay, okay," he laughed, surprising me by how quickly he forfeited, and set me down on my feet. You win. I do?" I replied, breathless. "Since when?" "Since I can't take it," he chuckled, still smiling down at me. "Can't take what?" “being touched there”

"She's been pulling away from me for months," I explained, using my toe to dig a hole in the sand as I spoke. "Because of Gerard." Because she blames Gibs for what happened between Mark and Caoimhe." "Yep. Pretty much." Releasing a pained sigh, I scooped up a handful of sand and then watched as it slowly trickled from my fingertips. "I understand where she's coming from. Really, I do. But I won't ever walk away from him." 

While the rest of my friends had spent their summer holidays neck deep in the Atlantic Ocean, I sat it out on the sand like the coward I was. Sure, I had an epic tan to show for myself, sun-bleached streaks in my hair that lads paid good money for, and had constructed some seriously impressive sand forts and castles, but it was such a damn waste of a summer. Pathetic as it was, I struggled to cope with anything more than dipping my toes in the water.

"Oh my god," I choked out when a familiar blonde shimmied into my peripheral vision. "What the hell happened to you?" "I fell," Lizzie explained, joining us at Hugh's deckchair. The fact that she was here wasn't surprising. Her family had been members for years, same as ours, but it was the scar she bore that took my breath away. I'd seen similar cuts on Lizzie's body in the past, but not for a very long time. The faint scars that adorned her inner wrists had appeared in the months that had followed her sister's passing. 

Mam and Dad had been together since they were twelve and this was their end result: Mam shagging the prick laying down the new patio in our garden, while Dad worked his bollocks off to pay for said patio, and give her everything else she wanted.

"Have you come off your medication?" Concern filled her eyes. "Because I've noticed you've been sleepwalking a lot more this summ Nope," I replied with a shit-eating grin. “Still taking my pill a day to keep the voices away." "Oh, Gerard, you know that's not what you have to take it for:" "Which Gerard are you talking to?" "Stop it!" Keith snapped, looking flustered. “You know that kind of talk worries your mother." whipped cream can into my mouth. “Tl ... be... the... good... Gerard.

Lately, Gerard's nightmares had frequented to the point of being almost a nightly event. It was as unsetling as it was heartbreaking. Because I knew he was battling his demons - or should I say his ghosts. The ones from his childhood that he refused to talk about. "What happened in last night's one?" I asked, feeling just as helpless this morning as I did every morning that I woke up with him in my bed. Finding Gerard in my bed wasn't a new thing for us. In fact, in the past decade there was only a handful of nights he hadn't slept over.

holly

✨Moments before the pain in my lungs exploded and everything went dark, I saw it. A halo of light. An orb of pure sunshine. Her. I saw her. And that’s when I knew. That’s when I knew…

✨“You’re my favorite person in the whole wide world, and I would swap everyone for you. Even Hugh.”

✨“When they said someone had been saved from the water. I prayed for it to be you.”

✨“I promised God I would do all the good things in the world if he brought you back.”

✨“What about me?” he whispered as a lone tear trickled down his cheek. “Who’ll keep me safe?” “I will, silly,” I replied, releasing his hand so that I could give him a hug. “I’ll keep you safe, Gerard.”

✨“But your hugs feel like sunshine.” “Like sunshine?” I frowned in confusion. “How?” “Because you are sunshine, silly,”

✨Claire Biggs had a lot of things. My back. My attention. My heart. My soul. Yeah, she had all of me and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

✨If I could sew this girl to my skin without causing her an ounce of harm, then I would do it in a heartbeat. That’s how vital she was to my life. How essential she was to my existence. If drugs were to Joey Lynch what Claire Biggs was to me, then there was no amount of rehab that could sway me to kick the habit. Because she was the habit of my lifetime.

✨The girl was everything to me, and that wasn’t me being dramatic. It was a fact. The thought of letting her down made me feel physically sick. The thought of any form of harm coming to her, be it emotional or physical, made me feel homicidal.

✨Claire meant it when she told me that she loved me. That was the first of two things in life I was sure of, and I meant it right back. That was the second thing I was sure of. If I knew nothing else in this world, then I knew that I loved Claire Biggs. More than she could ever know. More than one lousy four-letter word could ever depict.

✨“You’re a dope.” “I’d gladly be dope if you put me in your mouth.”

✨Some of the best things in life aren’t meant to last forever. That’s why we cherish them when they happen. Like your favorite chocolate in a box. Or shooting stars. We don’t refuse to eat the sweet because once we do, it’ll be gone, or stop looking at the stars after one shoots by. We enjoy the moment because we know it’s worth living in.”

✨“But what if Dick escapes and sneaks into Hugh’s room again?” I called after her. “That’s not the dick I’m worried about escaping,” Mam muttered under her breath.

✨“Thanks,” I replied with a smile, falling into step beside him, all while trying my best not to be weird. God only knew why but I had the strongest urge to make farm animal noises in this moment. Probably because I was epically nervous and had no clue how to navigate these unknown waters.

✨“There’s only ever been you for me.”

✨And I would forever stand with this boy. After all, taming 7 had been the adventure of my lifetime.

Mariaaa

✨Moments before the pain in my lungs exploded and everything went dark, I saw it. A halo of light. An orb of pure sunshine. Her. I saw her. And that’s when I knew. That’s when I knew…

✨“You’re my favorite person in the whole wide world, and I would swap everyone for you. Even Hugh.”

✨“When they said someone had been saved from the water. I prayed for it to be you.”

✨“I promised God I would do all the good things in the world if he brought you back.”

✨“What about me?” he whispered as a lone tear trickled down his cheek. “Who’ll keep me safe?” “I will, silly,” I replied, releasing his hand so that I could give him a hug. “I’ll keep you safe, Gerard.”

✨“But your hugs feel like sunshine.” “Like sunshine?” I frowned in confusion. “How?” “Because you are sunshine, silly,”

✨Claire Biggs had a lot of things. My back. My attention. My heart. My soul. Yeah, she had all of me and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

✨If I could sew this girl to my skin without causing her an ounce of harm, then I would do it in a heartbeat. That’s how vital she was to my life. How essential she was to my existence. If drugs were to Joey Lynch what Claire Biggs was to me, then there was no amount of rehab that could sway me to kick the habit. Because she was the habit of my lifetime.

✨The girl was everything to me, and that wasn’t me being dramatic. It was a fact. The thought of letting her down made me feel physically sick. The thought of any form of harm coming to her, be it emotional or physical, made me feel homicidal.

✨Claire meant it when she told me that she loved me. That was the first of two things in life I was sure of, and I meant it right back. That was the second thing I was sure of. If I knew nothing else in this world, then I knew that I loved Claire Biggs. More than she could ever know. More than one lousy four-letter word could ever depict.

✨“You’re a dope.” “I’d gladly be dope if you put me in your mouth.”

✨Some of the best things in life aren’t meant to last forever. That’s why we cherish them when they happen. Like your favorite chocolate in a box. Or shooting stars. We don’t refuse to eat the sweet because once we do, it’ll be gone, or stop looking at the stars after one shoots by. We enjoy the moment because we know it’s worth living in.”

✨“But what if Dick escapes and sneaks into Hugh’s room again?” I called after her. “That’s not the dick I’m worried about escaping,” Mam muttered under her breath.

✨“Thanks,” I replied with a smile, falling into step beside him, all while trying my best not to be weird. God only knew why but I had the strongest urge to make farm animal noises in this moment. Probably because I was epically nervous and had no clue how to navigate these unknown waters.

✨“There’s only ever been you for me.”

✨And I would forever stand with this boy. After all, taming 7 had been the adventure of my lifetime.

If Lizzie has one hater, it's me. If she has zero haters, I'm dead.

I'm aware that her redemption arc is coming, but nothing can really redeem her in my eyes. She is extremely rude. To compare the tragedies of losing a sibling and feeling that she has it worse because of the manner of the death... Diabolical. As a member of the deceased siblings club, her membership is hear by revoked! It's giving Nessa energy from ACOTAR. Like I'll read her book, but I won't like her.

And the fact that I even have to mention her in this review tells you that the side characters had and took a lot of attention with this one. 

It felt entirely too short and jammed with the side characters taking the attention away from Claire and Gerald.

It was the only one in the series that didn't make me cringe too badly with nicknames and behaviors. Though, the treehouse situation and what Claire said almost took me out. I needed a minute after that.

This was the couple that I couldn't wait to read about and I was drawn to more then the others, so I would've loved if they would've gotten more time in their own story, with the same amount of time spent on them as the others. I felt like they kind of just got the short end, especially since they had such an important story to tell.

Nonetheless, I loved them together, just wish I would've seen more of them happy.

Sarah Campbell

If Lizzie has one hater, it's me. If she has zero haters, I'm dead.
I'm aware that her redemption arc is coming, but nothing can really redeem her in my eyes. She is extremely rude. To compare the tragedies of losing a sibling and feeling that she has it worse because of the manner of the death... Diabolical. As a member of the deceased siblings club, her membership is hear by revoked! It's giving Nessa energy from ACOTAR. Like I'll read her book, but I won't like her.
And the fact that I even have to mention her in this review tells you that the side characters had and took a lot of attention with this one. 
It felt entirely too short and jammed with the side characters taking the attention away from Claire and Gerald.
It was the only one in the series that didn't make me cringe too badly with nicknames and behaviors. Though, the treehouse situation and what Claire said almost took me out. I needed a minute after that.
This was the couple that I couldn't wait to read about and I was drawn to more then the others, so I would've loved if they would've gotten more time in their own story, with the same amount of time spent on them as the others. I felt like they kind of just got the short end, especially since they had such an important story to tell.
Nonetheless, I loved them together, just wish I would've seen more of them happy.

ARPITA ♡

Amaia Jubera

Wow wow wow, icant believe I just finished my num 1 favorite series of all time, I simply refuse to move on amd plsss someone take me back to 2022 when I first read binding and keeping 13!!!!, this series is perfect🥹💖✨️✨️

Malak Mazen

Idk what to do with my life now☺️ also that can’t be their only book thank you.

Kayla🎀

I’m happy but also sad to be caught up with this series. Gibsie’s charcter has always been a favorite of mine and seeing his book unfold was nothing like I expected. He is going through so much and I’m still hurting for him. Him and Claire are amazing though and seeing them together made me so happy. But I think their ending was so rushed and I just need more after everything he went through (the letter IYKYK), so I’m really hoping this Healing 7 could be real to really give their story a real finish for me. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

I’m happy but also sad to be caught up with this series. Gibsie’s charcter has always been a favorite of mine and seeing his book unfold was nothing like I expected. He is going through so much and I’m still hurting for him. Him and Claire are amazing though and seeing them together made me so happy. But I think their ending was so rushed and I just need more after everything he went through (the letter IYKYK), so I’m really hoping this Healing 7 could be real to really give their story a real finish for me. 

Gibsie is one of my favorite book characters ever, so this was a very anticipated read for me. After reading the first four books directly before this, this book took me a longg time to get through compared to the rest of the series. The first half of the book was kind of slow and boring, but once I got to about half way the pace picked up. I was expecting a little bit more from this book, in comparison to the rest of the series, but I still really enjoyed it. I will forever love Gibsie and am absolutely a Lizzie hater, I hope we get another book in the series where we see Gibsie heal. 

Erinn Costa

Light spice, heavy trauma, and wholesome vibes

Amanda Autumn Berrey

This was Claire and Gibsie’s book friends to lovers was cute until the letter was found and took a very dramatic turn of events literally shocked me wtf and the fact that gibsie went through all that and still smiled 😣🫠💕💕💕

All I can say if I’m a full blown Lizzie hater idc what anyone says, I hope there’s a book on her and what goes on in her mind because it’s mind boggling. ANYWAYS I’m gibsies #1 fan I always love humor and he’s the best <3

Gabriela Kondratyuk

let me just start this off by saying this book was one of my most anticipated reads. Now to get into it, I feel like I loved Claire and Gibsie in everybody else’s book except when it came to their own. There was NO character development for that vile creature named Lizzie, and I don’t know how I’m gonna ever be able to get through her and Hughie’s book After how absolutely repulsive she was. The ending was nothing short of terrible, like how are you just gonna drop that bomb, and wrap up everything and UNDER 50 pages??? I felt this book was very rushed, and too short, and I would’ve loved to see past events in their perspective like the other books (ex: the concert). I don’t know what the people are on who are reading this five stars, but can I have some???

Ella

Claire (specifically). She stood her ground and she's a true role model for me. I love her so so much. Everything about her, her undying love, constant support and ability to never give up is everything to me. 

Gibsie owns me. That boy really meant everything. He literally hid so much, it broke me to learn about his past. Fuck me man. 

I hate Lizzie. I do. Knowing everything, I hate her so much. I supported last time, and I showed her so much support but she's a piece of shit. To constantly trash everyone and then expect people to still care about you is shitty behaviour smh. 

Keira 💫

I cried so much reading this book. 

Claire and Gibsie have my heart. 

Claire (specifically). She stood her ground and she's a true role model for me. I love her so so much. Everything about her, her undying love, constant support and ability to never give up is everything to me. 

Gibsie owns me. That boy really meant everything. He literally hid so much, it broke me to learn about his past. Fuck me man. 

I hate Lizzie. I do. Knowing everything, I hate her so much. I supported last time, and I showed her so much support but she's a piece of shit. To constantly trash everyone and then expect people to still care about you is shitty behaviour smh. 

Holy shit this book destroyed me… Gibsie has my whole heart. He is the definition of “often those with the biggest smiles are the ones struggling the most.” His story is heart wrenching but so real and powerful. This series brings me to tears every single book

holly &
Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh

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Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh