Releasing 10 (Deluxe Edition): An Epic, Emotional, and Addictive Romance from TikTok Phenomenon! (Boys of Tommen, 6)

I just want to begin by saying that while Releasing 10 is undeniably dark and heavy, I truly believe no one but Chloe could have done this subject matter justice. She handles these deeply painful, complex themes with such raw honesty, compassion, and realism. It’s clear she poured her heart into this story, and in doing so, she created something unforgettable.In all honesty, what shattered me the most — and simultaneously helped put me back together — was Chloe’s acknowledgment. Those two pages were some of the most beautiful, vulnerable words I’ve ever read. They made me admire Chloe even more (if that’s even possible). Her words in that section hold so much power and grace. I can confidently say the acknowledgment was my favorite part, because those words felt like a hug from Chloe herself. (a much needed hug after this book)Releasing 10 doesn’t shy away from showing how cruel and unforgiving life can be, yet it also reminds us that even in the darkest places, light, love, and fragile hope can still exist. The ending isn’t traditionally “happy,” but it’s a new beginning for them both in a way, and that in itself is something profoundly meaningful. (Full review of Fable)

5⭐️this book is perfection.is it difficult to read? yes. is it unconscionably dark and heart-breaking? yes. however, will it renew your faith in the concept of love? also yes.the start of lizzie & hughie’s story is not for the faint-hearted, but, my god, is it a story that needed telling. it’s a story that paints of a vivid picture of mental illnesses, abuse, and trauma, and illustrates how deeply a person’s psyche can be marred by an adolescence filled with those struggles. i have always believed that lizzie was a deeply complex character — and while unlikeable at times and pitiable in others over the course of the prior five books, i knew she was deserving of having her voice heard. this book is the first step in redeeming her character, and allowing her to finally speak her piece.lizzie is proof that you can never judge a book by its cover. i love her. i’m so upset at the hand she was dealt by life, and i wish so badly i could reach into this book to snatch her up and keep her safe. she is precious and lovable and so deserving of peace. while nothing can excuse some of the things she said and did in the prior books, i have a better understanding of her character, and i have much more compassion for her than i did previously. and hughie! he’s so so precious. his unwavering devotion to lizzie was something that confused me in the previous books, but something i deeply, deeply came to appreciate in this one. he was lizzie’s confidante, her safe haven, and her guardian angel. i can’t even begin to imagine how devastating lizzie’s story would be without him in it.no one will ever make me hate these characters. NO ONE. i love them dearly. <3chloe is an enormously talented author, but one aspect of writing that she is particularly gifted at is shaping an encounter/character differently based on the perspective she is writing in. the way she made me feel so differently about lizzie once i was in her head is only one example. the way she has made me view and understand hughie, johnny, gibsie, shannon, claire, joey, aoife, caoimhe, etc., all differently throughout each book in the series is wild. she never portrayed any character as solely good or bad, but merely human, and that’s reflected in every perception we get of these characters.this isn’t just a story. i feel that this book is an experience. it’s a glimpse into a perspective that isn’t often explored in fiction because of how dark, harrowing, and upsetting the nature of this story is. i feel like many people will be wont to skip over this book entirely because it doesn’t provide the escapism we’ve come to know and appreciate from most fictional stories, but i think we’ve forgotten that the purpose of fiction isn’t exclusively to be a haven from reality — it’s also a tool that allows us to learn and understand experiences we are fortunate enough not to live through. while this book may have been deemed too graphic or overly gratuitous or even sensationalized by some, because it spares no punches in relaying every nuance of lizzie’s trauma, i think it’s important to remember that the happenings in this book are what so many people endure in real life. why is it too graphic to commit to paper via pen, but not too graphic for someone to live through? additionally, i doubt any of this was written to be palatable or comfortable to read about. nothing in shannon & johnny nor joey & aoife nor gibsie & claire’s book was easy to read, so why wouldn’t this be the same? learning happens when we are uncomfortable; i fully believe that this story was written as such to enlighten and expose us to such a harsh reality, not glorify or romanticize.i commend chloe for writing this story, down to every last gritty aspect of a life plagued with pain, sexual abuse, CSA, mental illness, and physical abuse, and for never sparing a single, gut-wrenching detail. i cannot begin to imagine how difficult that may have been, especially given that a large portion of lizzie’s story parallels her own. i can only hope at least some of it was cathartic.i have so much love for this world and this author!also, i think we can agree that it was mis-marketed by bloom, and does not include as comprehensive a list of trigger warnings as required by a story this dark, but i hope steps are being taken to rectify this. i’m sorry if anyone felt misinformed by the TWs and found this book too dark for them, but i hope, if you’re in a better place to one day read this book, that you choose to re-visit lizzie’s story. i think its going to be a beautiful one, and i can’t wait for her to finally, finally get a happy ending. <3if you haven’t read it yet, and want a comprehensive list of TWs, i’ve listed them below — just know, they may be considered spoilers....full list of TWs, in no particular order, below:- child sexual abuse- grooming- sexual abuse- self-harm- suicidal ideation- hospitalization- discussion of electric shock therapy- forced pregnancy & miscarriage- parental neglect- emotional abuse- verbal abuse- violence- death of side-character(s)

This is an EMOTIONAL READ for sure. Found the series on Tik Tok and saw tons of reviews about this one and man, I still was not prepared. If you have any SA triggers, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Seriously, this is not for the faint of heart and even I do not have triggers, I still needed to set it down for a few minutes to gather myself. If you have read the earlier books, now you will understand Lizzie. Now you will understand the feud, now you will understand WHY. As much as this book made me like Hugh, there is still that part of me that asks why he did not dig deeper. Given their ages, I do understand but that boy is sooo smart and seriously is an old soul. After reading this, I plan an re reading Gibsie's book because I want to fully understand the timeline. I seriously hope the next book gives the monster his due