“Shannon Lynch changed me. I knew that sounded like contrite bulůshit, but it was the truth.” 

This Book is a lot darker than the first book as normal I will leave a list of TW at the bottom of my review.

-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

- Ollie, Sean and Tadhg-

Shannon's 3 younger brothers who have to endue the abuse of their farther from a young age

- Darren - 

The eldest of Shannon's brother's, he was mentioned in book 1 but we don't see him until now. he was sexually assaulted and rapped in a foster home, when he comes back after a few years his brothers and Shannon reject him and refuse to follow his rules


PLOT

This book picks up right as the first book ended, the main plot follows Shannon as she rebels against her brother as he tries to take charge while her mother has gone 'numb' sitting at the dining table all day not talking, Tadhg has gone mute after watching his farther beat his sister to near death, 

Shannon is struggling to trust Johnny fully, as she’s been emotionally closed off for most of her life due to her father’s abuse and neglect from her mother. Meanwhile, Johnny finds himself deeply drawn to Shannon, wanting to not only protect her but also break down the emotional walls she’s built. Their relationship evolves slowly, with moments of tension as Shannon grapples with the idea that someone like Johnny could genuinely care for her.

Despite Shannon’s reluctance, she finds herself slowly opening up to Johnny. His patience and unwavering loyalty give her glimpses of hope, but her anxiety makes it difficult for her to fully believe in their future together. Johnny, on the other hand, is dealing with his own insecurities—he fears that his feelings for Shannon could distract him from his rugby career and jeopardize his future. But he can’t walk away from her.

Darren spent the first half of the book trying to care for the children when Shannon begs him to also help Joey he refuses because he is an adult which causes the kids to hate him more. While Shannon's home life is worse than ever, she is starting to get bullied in school again, with it exploding when Bella Corners her in the bathroom and assaults her. She calls Joey to come get her which causes a massive fight to brake out and joey's life to explode around him and everything else in the family.

After a girls day out with Claire and Lizzy Shannon goes home to find her father there, he is being nice to her and her brothers. she calls Johnny to come and get her because she is creeped out, when he sees what is going on he gets her out before going and getting her 3 younger brothers who are all crying her mother seemingly understands they are in danger and helps Johnny get the 3 young boys to safety, and just in time becuase when they get to Johnny's Home they find out their house has been burnt down and that Shannon's parents were burned alive it is presumed that Teddy is the one who started the fire,

The rest of the book foucuses on the Grieving process and Shannon and Johnny sneaking around the house becuase authough they now live together his parents are striced on them even tho they know they are teenagers and they are going to sneak around,

Johnny's Mam Edel takes on a maternal role for Shannon along with her brothers taking them in and fostering them after their mother passes, she sends Joey to a treatment centre to help with his drug problem and sends Tadgh to a speach therapist to help with his speech.

Trigger warnings 

-Physical Violence
-Abusive parents
-Domestic Violence 
-Child abuse
-Rape (Off page)
-Sexual Assault (Off page)
-Death of a parent
-Murder 
-Vomit 
-Addiction
-Drugs
-Suicide
-mental Illness 
-Bullying
-Alcaholism 
-medical trauma