Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh is the third book in the emotionally charged Boys of Tommen series, following Binding 13 and Keeping 13. Unlike its predecessors, which centered on Johnny Kavanagh and Shannon Lynch, Saving 6 pivots the narrative lens to the fiercely protective and profoundly broken Joey Lynch. Set in Cork, Ireland, between 1999 and 2004, the novel is both a continuation of a beloved saga and a raw standalone that chronicles the descent—and reluctant rise—of a boy shaped by trauma, addiction, and unconditional responsibility.
As the first of a two-part arc dedicated to Joey and Aoife Molloy (Redeeming 6 being the sequel), Saving 6 functions as a powerful prelude to redemption, steeped in Irish colloquialisms, gut-wrenching truths, and the slow burn of a love that dares to survive beneath the wreckage.
The Boys of Tommen Series in Context
Before diving into Saving 6, it’s essential to understand its lineage:
- Binding 13 (2018) – Introduces readers to Shannon and Johnny, the emotional backbone of the series.
- Keeping 13 (2018) – Deepens their love story amid family secrets and external conflict.
- Saving 6 (2023) – Joey Lynch’s origin story and emotional unravelling.
- Redeeming 6 (2023) – Continues Joey’s path toward healing.
- Taming 7 (2024) – Expands the Tommen universe with new perspectives.
- Releasing 10 (2025) – Recently released, promising closure and fresh tension.
The series’ heart lies in its devotion to character complexity, emotional trauma, and slow-burn romances—often underpinned by sports (rugby, hurling) and small-town politics.
Plot Overview: A Battle on Every Front
Joey Lynch isn’t just another troubled teen. He is a boy forced to grow up too fast, crumbling under the weight of responsibility no teenager should carry. With a violent, alcoholic father and an emotionally absent mother, Joey becomes the sole protector of his younger siblings when his older brother, Darren, vanishes. The story spans Joey’s adolescence through his final year of secondary school, portraying his descent into addiction and emotional despair.
Through this bleak reality enters Aoife Molloy—a fierce, funny, and whip-smart girl who becomes both Joey’s distraction and anchor. Their relationship develops over six school years, told in alternating perspectives. This dual-voice structure provides readers a 360-degree view of their emotional evolution.
From sneaky glances in first year to the devastating aftermath of police arrests, public shame, and whispered betrayals, Saving 6 doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life. It’s not a romance in the traditional sense; it’s a survival tale braided with romantic tension, laced with harsh truths and rare tenderness.
Character Analysis: Souls on Fire and Ice
Joey Lynch: The Protector at War with Himself
Joey is the beating, breaking heart of Saving 6. A talented hurler with a haunted past, Joey’s inner monologue is laced with self-loathing, sarcasm, and suffocating guilt. His motivations are simple yet devastating: keep his siblings safe at all costs. This leads him to skip school, fall into drug use, and spiral in ways that feel both horrifying and heartbreakingly human.
What makes Joey remarkable isn’t his damage—it’s his refusal to succumb to it fully. Despite his mistakes, the reader never doubts his loyalty or his love, especially for Aoife. He is a tragic hero in every classical sense: noble, flawed, but worthy.
Aoife Molloy: The Unflinching Flame
Aoife is not your usual “fix-him” female lead. While she does become Joey’s emotional crutch, she maintains her own voice, personality, and fierce sense of justice. She is unafraid to challenge Joey, stand up for his siblings, or defy societal judgments. Her chapters are often humorous and sharp-edged, offering levity against Joey’s darker musings.
Her willingness to love Joey, not in spite of his damage but with full knowledge of it, gives this book its soul.
The Lynch Siblings: Innocence and Weight
From Shannon’s quiet strength to Ollie and Tadhg’s childlike humor, the Lynch children are not just background characters—they are the stakes. Joey’s emotional sacrifices are understood best through his relationship with them. Their scenes together often serve as both reprieve and emotional gut-punch.
Writing Style: Grit with Grace
Chloe Walsh adopts a raw, unfiltered narrative voice that is deeply rooted in her Irish setting. The story is written in year-by-year segments, with each section titled by emotional or ironic subheadings (e.g., “The Monsters Under My Bed”, “Slut Drops and Alcopops”, “Blue Eyes and Blue Balls”). This non-traditional structure helps mirror the chaotic inner world of Joey and Aoife.
The use of Irish slang and cultural references adds authenticity, though at times may challenge non-Irish readers. Thankfully, Walsh includes a glossary to bridge that gap. The pacing varies from agonizingly slow to heart-pounding fast, mimicking the highs and lows of addiction and young love.
Notably, Walsh does not romanticize trauma. She leans into its discomfort—be it physical abuse, poverty, or emotional manipulation—without exploiting it for plot convenience.
Themes: A Tapestry of Trauma, Love, and Identity
- Addiction and Mental Health: Walsh paints a vivid portrait of addiction not as moral failure but as coping mechanism. Joey’s drug use is intricately tied to his trauma, and his withdrawal and self-destruction feel brutally honest.
- Family Loyalty and Dysfunction: The tension between duty and personal desire defines much of Joey’s character arc. His role as a surrogate parent is heartbreaking, especially in scenes where he sacrifices his dreams for his siblings’ safety.
- Love as a Lifeline: The romance between Aoife and Joey is tender, messy, and believable. It grows from shared history, small acts of kindness, and mutual respect—not grand gestures or insta-love.
- Socioeconomic Realism: Set in a working-class Irish neighborhood, the book tackles themes of poverty, class-based shame, and generational trauma with unflinching precision.
- Masculinity and Vulnerability: Joey’s internal battle—to be the man his siblings need without succumbing to toxic expectations—makes for one of the most nuanced depictions of masculinity in recent YA literature.
Standout Moments
- Joey confronting his mother about his father’s abuse
- The graveside funeral scene with the Lynch children
- Aoife standing up to bullies for Shannon
- Their first kiss after years of emotional buildup
- The cliffhanger ending that sets up Redeeming 6
These scenes aren’t just emotional highs—they are character-defining moments that shape the reader’s investment.
Critique: Where Saving 6 Falters
- Pacing Issues: The book is intentionally long (close to 700+ pages), which occasionally drags the plot. Some segments, especially in third and fourth year, feel redundant.
- Emotional Fatigue: The relentless intensity of trauma can be exhausting. There are few lighthearted moments, which may leave readers emotionally drained rather than cathartically satisfied.
- Aoife’s Character Arc: While strong initially, Aoife’s independence wanes slightly in the latter half as her role becomes overly centered on supporting Joey.
Still, these critiques don’t undermine the novel’s emotional resonance; rather, they reflect the weight of its ambition.
Similar Books for Fans
If you loved Saving 6, you might also enjoy:
- Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas – For a gritty, emotionally scarred hero.
- The Boys Next Door by Katie McGarry – For troubled teens in love and survival.
- A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy – For slow burns with emotional tension.
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – For generational trauma explored with empathy.
About the Author: Chloe Walsh
Chloe Walsh, a West Cork native, has become a beacon for emotionally rich young and new adult fiction. Her bibliography is vast, including The Carter Kids, Pocket Series, Broken Series, and now Boys of Tommen. Walsh channels her advocacy for mental health into her writing, infusing realism into her characters’ psychological landscapes. Her works frequently explore addiction, trauma, and resilience—none more powerfully than in Saving 6.
Final Verdict: A Beautiful, Brutal Journey Worth Taking
Saving 6 is not an easy book. It asks much from its readers—patience, empathy, and a willingness to sit in discomfort. But what it offers in return is extraordinary: a portrait of a boy breaking and rebuilding, a love story born from scars, and a narrative that honors pain without being consumed by it.
Though it ends on a cliffhanger, the promise of Redeeming 6 offers hope that this harrowing journey has meaning. This is not just Joey Lynch’s story—it’s every story of a child forced to grow up too soon, of a girl who loves without limits, and of a family that fights to stay together.
(Reflective, not numerical—this book doesn’t fit neatly into ratings.)
Recommended for: Fans of emotionally intense young adult/new adult fiction, readers who appreciate raw depictions of trauma and healing, and anyone seeking a love story with teeth and tenderness.
