Before writing this I want to preface this book is not YA, authough no the book does not have explicit sexual content this book is not appropriate for younger readers if you are unsure if this book is sutable for you I will place a list of trigger warnings at the end of this review

Lets start with the charecters 

-shannon- 

My sweet angel Shannon I want to protect her with all my heart,

Shannon is the only girl of 6 siblings, with 3 younger brothers and 2 older 

Darren Lynch (older brother)
Joey Lynch (older brother)
Tadhg Lynch (younger brother)
Ollie Lynch (younger brother)
Sean Lynch (younger brother)

We learn early on that Darren left home a few years ago and that she is closest to Joey. Her and Joey spend a lot of the book trying to protect their younger brothers

- Johnny - 

Johnny's Whole life is Rugby it is all he has done since he was 6, he is an only child and as much as his parents love him because of their work they are rarely home leaving him to care for himself, He is smart and hard working with solid grades in school. 

Throught the book he is suffering from complications from a surgery he had due to an injury.


- Claire -

I love Claire-bear and Lizzy, they will do anything to help Shannon and anything to protect her as their friend, they are half aware of her home life and do what they can to keep her safe when she is not home

- Lizzy - 

We dont see much of Lizzy I am not sure we even see her and Shannon without Claire correct me if I am wrong tho but I still love her to pieces she is again a perfect friend and the banter between the 3 girls gives me hope for Shannon

- Gibsie - 

Gibsie is Johnny's best friend and becomes a close friend to Shannon as Johnny brings the girls into their group, he is just as protective of Shannon as Johnny. also him and Claire !!!!!

- Joey - 

Joey is Shannon's 2nd brother and the one she is closest to, he does what he can to protect his baby sister, he is dating Aoife

- Aoife - 

Aoife I Joey's girlfriend, when their parents vanish leaving the family with just a few £ and no food she stocks the fridge for them and leaves Shannon some extra food, we dont see her to much but in every scene we get with her she is doing what she can to help Joey and Shannon care for their siblings


- Teddy - 

Teddy is Shannon's Abusive farther, he physically abuses her on and off the page, Shannon says he was not bad until Shannon Joey and Darren went into care for 6 months when their mother said was was not healthy enough to care for her children

Plot

The Plot in This book is incredibly dark and not recommended for Younger readers, 

We start the book on Shannon's first day at Tommen college, here she has transferred from the local public school due to extreme bullying, Her mam can't really afford the school but agrees to send her their taking out a loan and going into debt to send her daughter there,

While being late to class on her first day she tries to cut across the school field where Rugby practice is taking place, as she is doing so she gets knocked over by a ruby ball which causes her to become concussed,

This is when Johnny decides she is his, he makes it clear to the rest of the team nothing is to be said about what happened and that they will leave it.

Throught the book we slowly see Johnny brining Shannon into his friend group while trying to pretend he is not in Love with her. 

As the pair get closer Shannon's dad finds a photo of the pair in the local paper after a ruby game which leads to his abuse of her becoming worse.

Johnny starts to notice the marks left on her body from her Father throught the book he tries to find out where they are from believing she Is being bullied.

Around 2/3 through the books Shannon kisses Johnny and he freazes. which leads to 100 pages of him begging her to listen to him and that he does like her in that way but every time he tries to bring it up Shannon brushes him off or snaps at him.

During an away game Johnny gets injured due to his ongoing injury Shannon goes to see him after before he is taken to the hospital where he finally kisses her,

After another surjury he is high as fuck and confesses his love to her and then puts up a fit when she is asked to leave leading to his ma leaving so Shannon can stay, 

While high he asks Shannon again who is hurting her and she finally admits it is her farther but due to the fact he is high he can only remember her saying her farther and not the context.

When Shannon finally gets home her farther has had a phone call from the school about her and Johnny kissing in the medical tent. He starts assaulting her when her 11 year old brother walks into the room her farther tells him to leave. when he finally stops after her mam and joey come in, Joey tells the younger kids to pack their bags because they are leaving their mam protests and the book ends with Joey telling her is is them or him



Trigger warnings 

-Child abuse
-Abusive Relationship
-Sever Bullying
-Sexual assault (On page)
-Rape (Off page)
-Miscarriage
-detailed injury 
-Child Neglect