Wow, what a book. I’m happy to say that this felt much more like the Binks books I’ve devoured in the past and far less like The Diary of Bink series, which left me with a strong love/hate (mostly hate) relationship. This one hit the gritty, emotional, and fast-paced notes I love while steering clear of many of the issues that soured me in the past.
Spoilers Ahead
As much as we all love Gunz, he isn’t perfect—and yes, he cheats. I’m torn on the first instance, at least. When Gunz walked away from Kit at the jail after impulsively kissing her (not that she minded), they weren’t officially in a relationship. Gunz had feelings for her, but nothing had been established. Add to that the emotional toll of discovering he had a son and realizing he’d missed over 20 years of his life—it was too much. Given his past, it wasn’t shocking when he ended up in bed with Nikki. It felt like a man spiraling, seeking comfort in a moment of vulnerability. His reaction afterward? That broke my heart.
The second time, however, was clear-cut cheating. Gunz admitted it and even called himself out, though Big (unsurprisingly) downplayed it and told Gunz not to tell Kit. Here’s where the frustration sets in: the recurring pattern in Bink’s books of a man cheating, followed by a major event (in this case, Gunz’s medical issue) that forces the woman to forgive him. Emotional manipulation at its finest, lol. I wish these moments were handled differently—having the man face the fallout and earn forgiveness would feel much more authentic. Instead, there’s no real confrontation when Kit learns the truth, undermining the emotional weight this betrayal should carry.
There were huge moments in this book:
When Kit is taken alongside the others—oh my god. You have to give Binks credit here. She conveys the horrors they endured with just enough detail to make you feel the weight of it, but without being overly explicit. There’s a sense of respect in how she writes this part, and it strikes a delicate balance between heartbreak and resilience.
Beth, poor sweet Beth. I love this MC, but you can’t help but feel like she would’ve been so much better off never meeting them. I hated that she just kind of disappeared. And Gunz, who was supposed to be her friend, never reached out to her (he did have a lot on his shoulders, tbh).
As for Runner? Sigh. I didn’t like him. He was a total POS, and while it was sad to see that he cared a little in the end, he never deserved Beth.
And Nikki? You can’t help but feel for her. She still cared for Gunz, but he didn’t spare her much more than a passing glance after the rescue. Sad to see that ending for her.
On a brighter note, I loved Oz. So happy he decided to stay, and I hope we get to see more of him in future books.
Final Thoughts
23 Hours brought the raw intensity and emotional weight I’ve come to expect from Binks at her best. While some elements left me frustrated (looking at you, unresolved emotions and lack of fallout), the pacing, gritty storytelling, and emotional depth made it a compelling and satisfying read overall.