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5 ‘I don’t love you�� stars

“When I say I don’t love you," he continued, nuzzling his face in my neck. “It’s the furthest thing from the truth.��

As much as I missed all my precious side characters (one scene of Gibsie got me all over the place), Aoife and Joey were more than capable of carrying this book on their own!! I love them so freakin much.

I don’t even know where to start, this book made me feel all kinds of emotions. It’s been so long since a book made me cry so freakin hard. I missed that feeling.

“You saw me back there,�� she stated evenly, green eyes snaring me.
“I did.��
“You kept walking.��
I nodded like a fool. “I did.��
“Don’t do that again.��
Fuck me. “I won’t.��

The meet cute: one of the best!! Those two were destined to be together from the very start. It set the dynamic between them. Aoife the unapologetic sassy brave girl who doesn’t hesitate about voicing her wants and Joey who as much as he try to resist will always have a weak spot for her and will follow her anywhere.

“Can I just stop you right there,�� I interjected, holding a hand up.
“Yeah,�� she said, turning to look at me with an expectant look. “Why?��
“No reason,�� I replied. “I just wanted you to stop talking.��
“You know, Joey, you can be such an asshole sometimes.��

The banter: I was obsessed and laughing the whole time at their games, their back and forth, how Aoife kept pushing him and how that’s exactly what he needed. How she’d threaten him to scream if he didn’t do what she wants him to do. I loved all their banter so freakin much.

“My Joseph. My brave, brave boy. Terrible burdens. A cursed cross to carry. But always rising from the ashes. Always getting back up. Always the�� protector.��

Joey lynch: my sweet boy who deserves all the love in the world! My heart was breaking for him the whole time. He brought tears to my eyes and made a crack in my stone cold heart. I don’t like reading about addicts, it could be too much to handle or it could make me so angry at the person, but Joey? I felt his pain and I understood his struggle. He’s a boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s a boy who just needed to be loved. He’s a boy with a lot of issues and he can’t find a way out. I just need to give him a hug.

“But don’t ever think that I don’t have feelings,�� he said, and then pressed a kiss to my mouth. “Because the only time that I allow myself to feel anything is when I’m with you.��

Aoife Molloy: she’s a ray of sunshine. A wrecking ball. A sassy firecracker that is strong headed enough to keep pushing Joey into feeling things. I love her. I love her for how she always speaks her mind. For how wild and free and strong headed she is, but also a little bit vulnerable. I loved her way of thinking and her way of acting. And I loved her too much for the way she loved Joey. It was about time he finally got someone to stick on his side, to protect him, to give him the love he desperately need.

In my head it was die or get high.
And I had too many people depending on me not to die.

The ending of the book made me a freakin mess. It broke me in the best way. watching the main characters breakdown made me have a pitiful breakdown as well. I was a mess. It was too much to handle, specially knowing what’s going to happen in the next book. I’m not sure I’m ready. I’m beyond thankful we get to have Joey’s story. He deserves to be the main character. To have his own story. He is freakin important. The protector. It’s about time he get someone to protect him.

I can’t wait for the conclusion of their story. I know they are just gonna get more challenged and I know it’s gonna be beyond heartbreaking, but I’m also so looking forward to seeing the rest of the characters. They’re a great support system. The next book is gonna be so heartbreaking in the best and worst way possible.

�� Scenes that make me cry, laugh, swoon, and scream every time I think about them: ��

~The meet cute.

~The first kiss. When it finally happened?? Butterflies are real guys!! Even if they’re fictional ones and you’re getting them for another couple.

~Every scene where she tells him do that or I’ll scream and he ends up doing that and he’s like FINE!

~Tony and Joey bromance. And that scene were he asked him if he loves his daughter like…⬇️��

“Do you love my daughter?��
Heart thumping violently in my chest, I felt myself nod. “Entirely.�� And then I heard myself say, “For about five years now.��
Well shit��
“Second,�� he said slowly. “Do you see a future with her?��
“No,�� I admitted, hating my words, but needing to give him the truth, because if anyone deserved my honesty it was this man. “I don’t see a future for us, but that’s not because I don’t want one with her. It’s because I don’t see a future for myself, period.��

~The Gibsie mini scene because GIBSIE!

~ The “Because I want to put one good memory of this house in your head.�� I swear I knew from the beginning she’s gonna do that. Because that’s just how she is and for some reason it got me emotional as hell!

~All the I don’t love yous

~The all too well (10 minutes version) breakdown scene.

#1 Binding 13 ~ 5 stars
#2 Keeping 13 ~ 5+ stars
#3 Saving 6 ~ 5 stars