In Redeeming 6, Chloe Walsh brings the rawest installment yet to her Boys of Tommen series, focusing again on Joey Lynch and Aoife Molloy—the most turbulent couple in this emotionally explosive sports romance saga. Following the events of Saving 6, this fourth book in the six-part series doesn’t just continue their story; it tears through the seams of their trauma, confronts Joey’s addiction, and seeks healing in the most unlikely of places: love and loyalty.
From Binding 13 and Keeping 13, which laid the groundwork for the series’ explosive dynamics between Johnny Kavanagh and Shannon Lynch, to the dual-narrative powerhouse of Saving 6 and now Redeeming 6, Walsh has created not just books, but emotional landscapes. Her characters bleed, love, and rage in ways that feel intimately human. And while Redeeming 6 earns its four-star reception for daring greatly, it also bears critique for its ambitious sprawl and sometimes over-indulgent angst.
Series Recap: The Boys of Tommen Universe
To appreciate Redeeming 6, it’s crucial to understand its context:
- Binding 13 (2018) – Introduces Johnny and Shannon in an emotional sports-romance tale.
- Keeping 13 (2018) – Expands the stakes with deeper trauma and career-defining injury.
- Saving 6 (2023) – Offers a dual POV of Joey and Aoife, charting Joey’s descent into addiction.
- Redeeming 6 (2023) – Continues their emotional fallout and journey toward redemption.
- Taming 7 (2024) – Focuses on Gibsie, a beloved side character with his own chaos.
- Releasing 10 (2025) – The anticipated final installment.
Plot Overview: Redemption Is Never Linear
Redeeming 6 picks up where Saving 6 left off, with Joey Lynch at rock bottom—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Torn apart by a lifetime of familial abuse, drug addiction, and poverty, Joey’s only constant is Aoife. The story chronicles his fight through withdrawal, relapse, grief, and slow healing. Aoife, meanwhile, becomes the emotional backbone of the novel. Pregnant and still deeply in love, she is determined not to give up on the boy who, despite everything, has never truly given up on her.
The novel’s emotional apex is framed by:
- Joey’s mother’s death, which compounds his guilt and emotional decay.
- Aoife’s pregnancy, which redefines their need to grow—not just for themselves, but for their future child.
- Joey’s stint in rehab and the social fallout of his reentry into society.
What could’ve been a typical redemption arc turns into a much more nuanced exploration of inherited trauma, systemic failure, and the brutal slog of rebuilding trust.
Character Analysis: Flawed and Fiercely Human
Joey Lynch: Broken but Not Beaten
Joey is not your classic romantic hero. He is a study in contradictions—aggressive and soft, toxic and tender, selfish and sacrificial. Walsh refuses to sanitize his trauma. She paints him as a boy raised by violence, one who gives love as a form of penance and receives it like a punishment.
Some of Joey’s most poignant moments include:
- His therapy scenes, especially when he discusses being seen as a “teammate” by his mother rather than a son.
- His quiet breakdown at his mother’s funeral, where Aoife’s observation—that Marie Lynch caused more damage than Joey’s father—drives the depth of his unresolved emotional dependence.
- His awkward reintegration into Tommen, where whispers about his past stalk his every step.
Aoife Molloy: Steadfast in a Storm
Aoife is arguably the strongest character in the book. She isn’t here to be saved—she’s doing the saving. Her emotional intelligence and unyielding compassion are the story’s lifeline.
She shines in:
- Her fierce protectiveness of Joey, even when his actions hurt her.
- Navigating her pregnancy while parenting Joey through addiction recovery.
- Challenging social expectations, family tension, and her own heartbreak.
Aoife isn’t perfect, and Walsh doesn’t try to make her so. But she is proof that love can be both soft and fierce, and that women in romance novels can be rescuers, not just rescued.
Writing Style and Tone: Grit Meets Tenderness
Chloe Walsh’s writing style in Redeeming 6 is unapologetically Irish and deliciously gritty. The use of Hiberno-English slang and cultural touchpoints adds texture, anchoring the story in its Cork setting. Walsh continues her signature long-form narrative, blending dual POV chapters, internal monologues, and slice-of-life moments with intense emotional payoff.
The tone oscillates between:
- Gritty realism: Scenes in the Lynch household ooze with tension and toxicity.
- Poignant romance: Quiet, intimate moments between Aoife and Joey provide emotional release.
- Dark humor and banter: Especially from side characters like Gibsie, who remains comic relief without being reduced to a trope.
However, Walsh’s indulgence in lengthy chapters—some that dive deep into internal processing—can sometimes feel repetitive. Editing tighter could have heightened the pacing.
Themes: Addiction, Trauma, and Unconditional Love
Redeeming 6 explores complex themes through an emotionally immersive lens:
- Addiction and Recovery – Joey’s substance abuse isn’t glamorized. His journey through addiction, withdrawal, and relapse is shown with raw honesty, making it one of the most authentic portrayals in YA/New Adult fiction.
- Family Dysfunction – The Lynch family dynamic is painful but essential. From Joey’s loyalty to his siblings to his toxic entanglement with his mother, Walsh captures generational trauma without romanticizing it.
- Love as Healing – Aoife’s love for Joey isn’t a magic cure. Instead, it’s a catalyst for growth—slow, flawed, and earned.
Pacing and Structure: Ambitious, Sometimes Overdrawn
Structurally, the book is divided into twelve parts instead of traditional chapters, with over 140 narrative entries. This gives the novel a serialized, almost episodic rhythm. While this format allows for emotional deep-dives, it also contributes to pacing challenges. Some plot beats—particularly around Joey’s rehab or Aoife’s pregnancy—could’ve benefited from sharper editing.
Still, the structure reflects the chaotic nature of healing. And perhaps that’s the point: there’s no clean arc in real life, only survival and small wins.
Highlights: Memorable Moments
- Joey’s reunion with Aoife post-rehab – a subtle but emotionally rich moment of forgiveness and yearning.
- The funeral scene – Walsh’s prose is at its most gut-wrenching as Joey grieves a woman who never fully loved him.
- Confrontation with Tommen principal – a searing indictment of stigma against recovering addicts trying to rebuild their lives.
- The final epilogue – soft, redemptive, and satisfying, without ignoring the pain that came before.
Critique: What Could Have Been Stronger
Despite its strengths, Redeeming 6 is not without flaws:
- Repetitiveness: Some emotional arcs—especially Joey’s guilt spirals—are revisited too frequently.
- Overlength: At over 140 segments, the narrative occasionally meanders, delaying payoff.
- Lack of secondary character development: While Gibsie and Shannon appear, they remain underutilized in this installment, especially compared to earlier books.
Comparison to Other Books in the Genre
If you enjoyed books like:
- Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy
- Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie
…then Redeeming 6 is your emotional powerhouse.
It distinguishes itself by being deeply embedded in Irish culture and by dealing with darker themes more earnestly. It’s not your typical sports romance; it’s heavier, bolder, and more gut-wrenching.
Final Verdict: Does Redeeming 6 Live Up to Its Title?
Yes—and no. Redeeming 6 offers redemption, but not in the fairy-tale sense. It shows that healing doesn’t come from one dramatic moment, but through accumulation: of trust, of small acts of love, of showing up even when it hurts.
It’s messy, imperfect, and occasionally overwhelming—but so are the characters it honors.
Redeeming 6 is a good read for its emotional authenticity, complex character work, and unapologetic exploration of trauma and love. It falters slightly under its narrative heft but still delivers a deeply affecting story that will linger long after the last page.
