In Releasing 10, Chloe Walsh returns with a devastatingly beautiful conclusion to her beloved Boys of Tommen series—a saga that began with the endearing naivety of Binding 13 and crescendoed into soul-searing maturity by the time we reach Lizzie Young and Hugh Biggs’ story. As the sixth book in the series (Binding 13, Keeping 13, Saving 6, Redeeming 6, Taming 7, Releasing 10), this installment is arguably the most emotionally harrowing and narratively ambitious of all. Anchored in 1990s-2000s rural Ireland, Releasing 10 explores mental illness, childhood trauma, and the overwhelming power of love through the lens of a fiercely resilient heroine and a boy with a heart too big for the world.
Plot Summary: Love in the Shadows of Pain
Releasing 10 follows Lizzie Young, a girl burdened with the weight of her bipolar diagnosis, an emotionally bankrupt family, and the haunting aftermath of childhood trauma. Her counterpart, Hugh Biggs, is a boy wise beyond his years—steadfast, sensitive, and fiercely loyal. Their love begins in childhood, grows with them into adolescence, and becomes the anchor they cling to during their darkest storms.
Through alternating perspectives and a multi-part narrative structure, Chloe Walsh meticulously crafts a chronicle of two broken people learning to build something beautiful from the wreckage. From Hugh sneaking into Lizzie’s hospital rooms, to her desperate pleas for stability amid manic episodes, the story spans over a decade, mapping emotional scars as thoroughly as it tracks character development.
But this isn’t just a love story—it’s a testimony to survival, a dissection of generational trauma, and a sobering exploration of mental health. And while Lizzie’s journey is at the heart of the novel, Hugh’s role as her unwavering partner serves as an emotional compass for readers.
Character Analysis
Lizzie Young: The Girl Too Much for the World
Lizzie’s character is where Walsh’s writing reaches its most nuanced depths. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, Lizzie is simultaneously a fighter and a fragile soul. Her inner monologues are searing with authenticity. From navigating childhood misunderstanding to enduring the weight of clinical labels—her narrative is brutally real and deeply empathetic. She is frequently misunderstood by those around her, especially her sister Caoimhe and emotionally distant father, making her fierce longing for belonging all the more heartbreaking.
Her voice swings between childlike vulnerability and adult introspection, especially during her manic and depressive episodes. At times, she’s self-destructive. At others, she’s achingly hopeful. And always, she’s real. Her resilience isn’t painted in grand gestures but in the small moments—waking up, speaking up, staying alive.
Hugh Biggs: The Boy Who Stayed
If Joey Lynch was the tortured soul of Saving 6, Hugh Biggs is the beating heart of Releasing 10. A boy who grows into a man by simply never walking away. Hugh is Lizzie’s sanctuary. He learns the schedules of her medication, sits outside her therapist’s offices, and holds her hand when the world spins out of control. What makes Hugh so compelling isn’t just his loyalty, but his own quiet battles—his family’s dysfunction, his moral compass, and the dreams he tucks away to be there for someone he loves.
His character evolves from a protective best friend into a gentle but assertive young man who sets boundaries even as he offers unconditional love. Their dynamic is not idealized. He falters. He breaks. But he also listens, adapts, and grows.
Thematic Richness: Mental Health, Belonging, and First Love
Walsh tackles difficult topics without sensationalism. The portrayal of Lizzie’s mental illness—particularly the manifestations of early-onset bipolar disorder—is handled with sensitivity and depth. Episodes of mania and depression are written with a visceral intensity, making the reader feel the chaos, confusion, and fragility of Lizzie’s world. This is not a story where love magically fixes everything, but one where love makes enduring possible.
Themes that resonate:
- Mental Illness & Medical Misdiagnosis: The barrage of diagnoses Lizzie faces—from PTSD to agoraphobia to schizophrenia—reflects society’s failure to support complex young minds.
- Generational Trauma: Lizzie’s family history is steeped in silence and neglect, a motif that echoes through many Tommen books but is most potent here.
- Masculinity and Emotion: Hugh’s refusal to conform to toxic masculine norms—his tenderness, vulnerability, and emotional literacy—is a quiet revolution in YA romance.
- Friendship as Lifeline: Their bond begins as childhood friendship. It’s this foundation that makes the romance so believable and earned.
Writing Style and Structure
Chloe Walsh’s hallmark is emotional depth, and Releasing 10 is no exception. Her prose is lush with Irish idioms, dark humor, and lyrical insight. Each chapter is dated and labeled with either Lizzie or Hugh’s name, giving the book a semi-epistolary feel that enhances intimacy. This is particularly effective during emotionally intense scenes where perspective matters most—allowing the reader to experience a manic spiral from Lizzie’s viewpoint, then immediately shift into Hugh’s quiet panic.
There are no throwaway chapters. Even the lighter moments—silly tree duels, Monopoly games, awkward first kisses—carry emotional weight. The story isn’t linear; it moves in cycles, much like Lizzie’s mental state, which feels intentional and brilliant.
Walsh also uses music masterfully, weaving songs into the narrative as emotional anchors. The curated playlist evokes the emotional tone of each chapter—from Kygo’s Born To Be Yours to Damien Rice’s 9 Crimes.
Comparisons with Earlier Tommen Books
- Binding 13 and Keeping 13 (Johnny & Shannon): Focused on healing from bullying and trauma through school and sports.
- Saving 6 and Redeeming 6 (Joey & Aoife): Gritty, intense, and centered on addiction, grief, and self-redemption.
- Taming 7 (Gibsie & Claire): A balance of humor, angst, and slow-burn passion.
Releasing 10 stands out for its psychological weight. It’s the darkest, most intimate, and arguably the most courageous of them all.
Critique: Where the Pain Sometimes Overshadows the Plot
While Releasing 10 is brilliant, it isn’t without flaws:
- Pacing Issues: The narrative’s emotional density sometimes makes the plot feel sluggish. Moments that should be quick (like school drama or fights) linger too long.
- Repetitiveness: Some scenes reiterate the same emotional beats—Hugh supporting Lizzie, Lizzie pushing him away—creating narrative redundancy.
- Overexposure to Trauma: While realistic, the sheer volume of traumatic episodes can be overwhelming, potentially triggering, and emotionally exhausting for readers.
Still, none of these detract significantly from the novel’s core strength: its raw, emotional storytelling.
Series Continuity: A Bittersweet Farewell
Chloe Walsh has said that Tommen was her most personal series. And it shows. Each book dives deeper into the fragile interiors of Irish teens navigating a system that often fails them.
This series is not about perfect love stories or athletic glory, despite the sports romance tag. It’s about survival. About choosing to love when loving is the hardest thing. About holding on to someone even when your own grip is slipping.
Reading through all six books is like growing up with these characters. Their joys are yours. Their grief, yours too. The final chapter of Releasing 10 offers a full-circle moment—haunting, hopeful, and deeply satisfying.
Other Books You Might Love
If Releasing 10 resonated with you, consider exploring:
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (for its trauma-informed romance)
- A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy (for emotional high school dynamics)
- All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (for mental health themes in romance)
- The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker (for rugged emotional love stories with family complexities)
Final Verdict
Releasing 10 is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. It does not offer easy answers, nor does it glamorize mental illness. Instead, it honors the complexity of living with it—and loving someone who does. Through Lizzie and Hugh, Chloe Walsh has gifted readers a tale that’s not just about romance, but about resilience, redemption, and release.
Highly recommended for:
- Readers of the Boys of Tommen series
- Fans of emotionally intense, trauma-informed YA romance
- Anyone seeking a deeply cathartic literary experience
