The Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh has taken BookTok by storm. Hundreds of thousands of people are raving about how these books are so addictive and mesmerizing. I’ve heard countless wonderful things about this series, so I figured that I would have to give it a try.
The series is about a group of Irish teenagers who are navigating the struggles of high school, friendship, and first love. It is set in the early 2000s in Cork, Ireland, and all of the characters go to a fictional school called Tommen High School. At this school, the characters form close-knit friendships, brutal rivalries, and a sense of belonging.
After reading the first book, I knew this series would be an all-time favorite. I immediately fell in love with the main characters, Johnny and Shannon, and their story is both so emotional and beautiful. They had very different upbringings, so their dynamic was very interesting to read about, and it caused some conflicts in the story with other characters. However, they helped and supported each other in overcoming so many devastating battles that teenagers shouldn’t have to face. I have probably read hundreds of romance novels, and I have never felt as invested in a couple more as I did with Johnny and Shannon.
To be honest, I had low expectations going into the next few books of the series because of how great the first two were. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised because the third and fourth books were so amazing. It follows Shannon’s older brother, Joey, and his girlfriend Aoife’s journey. Like Shannon, Joey had a brutal childhood, and to make himself feel better, he ended up falling under the influence of substances. His redemption arc is so intense and heartfelt, and he and Aiofe are hands down the strongest characters I have ever read about. Aoife stands by Joey through thick and thin, and she provides so much emotional support for Joey. Their relationship is filled with compassion and understanding, and it will leave you obsessed and rooting for them.
The most recent book of the series is about Johnny and Shannon’s closest friends, Gerard and Claire. They are childhood best friends who have lived across the street from each other their whole lives. They both have very bright, upbeat personalities, and they have the most lighthearted connection. However, Gerard has his own internal struggles from his past that he is dealing with, which are pretty ominous throughout the story and aren’t fully revealed until later in the book. There were a few plot twists in this story that were unexpected and left me shocked. I loved watching these characters’ relationship progress, and I cannot wait for their story to continue in the next book.
This series made me go through rollercoasters of different emotions filled with beautiful moments, loads of drama, and unpredictable twists. This series is a must-read for people who want heartfelt and engaging stories that perfectly capture the essence of teenage life. I would do anything to read these books for the first time again, and I can’t recommend these books enough.