The Must-Read Boys of Tommen Books Ranked From Worst to Best

Introduction

If you have just finished one book in the Boys of Tommen series and want to know where the story is strongest, you are not alone. The series is a long run of books with a changing cast, and it can be hard to tell which titles carry the most emotional weight. A clear ranking helps you choose where to focus your time.

This guide solves that. It ranks all six books in the series from worst to best, explains each position, and gives a sense of how readers have received each title. Each entry includes a short description, the reasons it sits where it does, what readers value and who should read it.

The ranking is editorial. It reflects a view of each book’s place in the series, alongside the reader reception available at the time of writing. The Goodreads averages mentioned in each entry are a snapshot and may change as more readers rate the books. Use the ranking as a conversation starter rather than a final verdict.

Before you start, it helps to know that the series is written in pairs. Each pair follows a couple within the wider group of friends, and the books are best read in publication order. A ranking is useful, but the series rewards reading the whole run, since the characters carry their stories from one pair to the next.

The series also deals with heavy themes, including abuse, and a content note appears later in this guide. If you are choosing your next read, take that into account. The list below is designed to help you decide where to begin and how to read the series with confidence. Let’s start 👇

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6. Releasing 10

Premise: Releasing 10 centres on Lizzie Young, who has long felt that she is too much for the people around her. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age and feels she does not fit in with her family, friends or community, so she has carried her burdens alone. That changes when she meets Hugh Biggs, a kind boy on the school bus. Hugh is mature and has a strong moral code, and he wants to share her burdens. Their bond feels unbreakable, but forces beyond their control could threaten it. It is the most recent book in the series, and it draws on the characters and relationships the earlier books have built up.

Why it ranks here: In this ranking it sits last, because it is the most recent book and its place in the series is still settling for many readers. The ranking is editorial, so this position reflects the editor’s view rather than a verdict on the book’s reception. The Goodreads average at the time of writing is strong, which is why it is worth reading even at the bottom of this list.

Why readers value it: Readers value it for the continued emotional honesty of the series and the way it returns to familiar characters. Its Goodreads average at the time of writing was around 4.5 out of 5.

Who should read it: Readers who have finished the earlier books and want to know where the group ends up.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

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5. Taming 7

Premise: Taming 7 brings Claire Biggs and Gerard Gibson, known as Gibsie, to the centre of the story. Claire is an innocent girl who struggles to understand the trauma the people around her have lived through. Gibsie is a 17-year-old carrying past trauma behind a carefree front, and his friendship with Claire changes as the book goes on. Lizzie Young, whose unresolved grief over her sister's death clashes with both of them, becomes a sharp antagonist. Mark Allen, Gibsie's stepbrother, has past actions that affect several characters and drive key developments. Johnny Kavanagh and Shannon Lynch from the earlier books appear as supportive friends. Set in contemporary Ireland, the story follows two people with turbulent pasts as they confront those pasts and look for healing.

Why it ranks here: It ranks fifth because it has the lowest Goodreads average in this list at the time of writing, around 4.3 out of 5. In the editor’s ranking it sits just above the most recent book, reflecting a more mixed reception from readers. Its place in the middle of the run still makes it an important link in the series.

Why readers value it: Readers value its continuity and the way it develops characters introduced in the earlier books. It is often read as part of a complete run rather than on its own.

Who should read it: Readers who want the full run of the series, including the bridge between the earlier and later stories.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

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4. Saving 6

Premise: Saving 6 is set in rural Ballylaggin in Ireland and follows Joey Lynch, a teenager living in a violently abusive home. He has become the de facto guardian of his younger siblings, Shannon, Tadhg and Ollie, and he resents his older brother Darren for leaving. Joey is intelligent and athletic, but emotionally numb, and he turns to drink and drugs to cope with constant fear and depression. When Aoife Molloy, a vibrant and confident girl, connects with him, he feels an immediate pull towards her, yet he keeps her at a distance. The book is told in alternating perspectives across six school years, and it opens in First Year with the pressure at home, Joey's sense of responsibility and the first spark of a relationship already weighted by vulnerability.

Why it ranks here: It ranks fourth because it sets up the second pair, and the romance builds with patience across the two books. The editor’s ranking places it above the earlier first pair, reflecting how the later pairing develops. Its Goodreads average at the time of writing was around 4.5.

Why readers value it: Readers value its new pairing and the way it widens the world of the series. The story is often praised for how it returns to familiar places while introducing new emotional stakes.

Who should read it: Readers who want a new romance within the series and are ready to read the next book straight away.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

3. Binding 13

Premise: Binding 13 opens with Shannon Lynch arriving at Tommen, a prestigious private school, hoping for a fresh start after years of bullying at her old school. She tries to keep a low profile, but the bullies find her again, and she is slow to trust anyone. Her path crosses with Johnny Kavanagh, a rugby player who is expected to rise to stardom and is used to his place at the top. The two come from very different backgrounds, and their first encounters are awkward and charged. Shannon's guardedness and Johnny's easy confidence clash, but a fragile alliance forms, and a friendship with strong chemistry begins to take shape. Obstacles threaten to pull them apart, and the book builds its emotional stakes around trust, pride and the cost of letting someone in.

Why it ranks here: It ranks third because it is the foundation of the series, and its early chapters set up everything that follows. In the editor’s ranking it sits above the later books in the first pair, which reflects how much the setup matters. Its Goodreads average at the time of writing was around 4.4.

Why readers value it: Readers value its introduction of the characters and the honest look at growing up. The book is often recommended as the best place to start the series.

Who should read it: Readers starting the series for the first time, and anyone who wants the foundation of the Cork school story.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

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2. Keeping 13

Premise: Keeping 13 picks up with Johnny Kavanagh sidelined by a career-altering injury that leaves him unsure who he is without rugby. He becomes fixated on a mysterious girl with midnight-blue eyes, who turns out to be Shannon Lynch, back from Dublin and still carrying the trauma she has lived with. With his best friend Gibsie, Johnny starts looking into the rumours and secrets surrounding her. Shannon hides her struggles and tries to protect her younger brothers from a chaotic home life, but Johnny's attention and their growing comfort with each other begin to change what she is willing to share. The book follows the two of them as they try to heal, trust each other and face what their pasts still demand, while the world around them keeps pressing in.

Why it ranks here: It ranks second because it finishes the first romance and does so with strong emotional payoff. The Goodreads average at the time of writing is strong, and the editor places it just below the top pick. It is an essential read for anyone who started the series with Binding 13.

Why readers value it: Readers value the emotional payoff of the first pair and the way the book builds on the foundation of Binding 13. It is often mentioned as a high point for readers who loved the early characters.

Who should read it: Readers who have started with Binding 13 and want the first romance completed.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

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1. Redeeming 6

Premise: Redeeming 6 continues the story of Joey Lynch and Aoife Molloy from Saving 6 and moves it into a sports romance. Joey's life is falling apart under mounting pressure at home. He is determined to earn back the trust of the one person he has ever relied on, and he tries to stay away from a world that could destroy him. Aoife refuses to give up on him and tries to pull her best friend back from self-destruction, even while facing hardship of her own. The sporting setting gives the romance its energy, but the heart of the book is whether two people who have been damaged can keep each other going. It asks what it takes to earn back trust, what it costs to stay loyal to someone who is struggling, and whether rescue can ever be mutual.

Why it ranks here: It ranks first because it has the highest Goodreads average on this list, around 4.6 out of 5 at the time of writing, and it completes the second pair with strong emotional payoff. The editor’s ranking places it at the top, which reflects both its reception and its place in the series. It is the book most likely to be discussed among readers.

Why readers value it: Readers value its emotional payoff and the way it builds on Saving 6. Its high average rating suggests it is one of the most satisfying books in the series for many readers.

Who should read it: Readers who have read Saving 6 and want the second pair completed, or anyone looking for the highest-rated book in the run.

Where to read in the UK: Check paperback, ebook and audiobook options on Amazon UK.

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Why the Series Works Across Pairs

The Boys of Tommen books are built around pairs of romances, which gives each couple room to develop across two books. Readers who like slow, emotional storytelling will find this structure rewarding, since the relationships grow through both the good and the difficult moments. The wider group of friends keeps the series feeling connected.

Because the books carry their characters forward, the series rewards readers who keep going. A ranking can help you decide where to start, but the emotional payoff of each pair depends on reading its books together. Many readers find that the later books feel stronger once they know the earlier pairs well.

How the Ranking Was Chosen

This ranking is editorial. It considers each book’s place in the series, its role in the wider story and the reception available at the time of writing. Reader averages on Goodreads are included as context, but they do not decide the order on their own.

Your own ranking may differ, and that is part of the fun. Use this list as a starting point for your own opinion, and compare it with the Goodreads averages and reader reviews to see where you agree or disagree.

Content Note

The Boys of Tommen series deals with heavy topics, including abuse. These themes appear across the books and can be difficult to read. Check the content guidance before you start, especially if you are sensitive to these subjects.

If a book affects you, take a break and come back to it when you are ready. You can also check reader reviews on Goodreads, where many readers note content they found difficult, so you can decide what suits you.

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Final Thoughts

The Boys of Tommen series rewards readers who follow the pairs in order. Binding 13 and Keeping 13 build the first romance, Saving 6 and Redeeming 6 carry the second, and Taming 7 and Releasing 10 extend the story. The ranking gives you a way to choose where to focus, but the whole run is worth the time.

Which book do you rank first? Tell us in the comments, and let us know which book you would like a future guide to cover.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boys of Tommen a complete series?

Six books are out at the time of writing, and no next book has a date. Check the author’s official channels for updates.

Which book should I read first?

Start with Binding 13, the first book in the series.

Are the books in publication order?

Yes, and the series is best read in that order.

Which book is the highest rated?

Redeeming 6 has the highest Goodreads average on this list at the time of writing.

Why is Releasing 10 ranked low?

The ranking is editorial, and Releasing 10 sits last in this guide. Its Goodreads average is strong, so readers may see it differently.

Is the series suitable for every reader?

No. The series deals with heavy topics, including abuse, so check the content guidance before you start.

Who is the author?

Chloe Walsh wrote the series.

Where is the series set?

The series is set in Cork, Ireland, around a rugby-playing school.

Are the books available as audiobooks?

Audiobook options vary by store and region, so check Amazon UK and other audiobook retailers before you buy.

Where can I see reader reviews?

Goodreads shows reader ratings and reviews for each book in the series.

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More Places to Find Great Books

If you want to keep exploring, these trusted sites cover reviews, reading lists and author news: Goodreads, Wikipedia and The Guardian Books.

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