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Punk 57
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2016)"We were perfect together. Until we met."
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the words in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should've gotten his number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the words in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should've gotten his number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2016
About the author
Penelope Douglas
33 books94.5k followersPenelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Their books have been translated into nineteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, Credence, and Tryst Six Venom. Please look for The Hellbent Series, coming next.
They live in New England with their husband and daughter.
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They live in New England with their husband and daughter.
Would you like to join the reader group? ---> https://www.facebook.com/groups/16198...
Looking for News?
Text DOUGLAS to 603-519-3800 to be alerted when new releases are live!
Website: www.penelopedouglasauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenelopeDoug...
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PenDouglas
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/penelopedoug...
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1A8hUBX
Instagram: www.instagram.com/penelope.douglas
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42,244 reviews
November 24, 2016
4 Stars
I haven't been in a reviewing mood lately.
I have had a lot going on at home and at work...plus I think I have an ear infection that I have been assuming was a headache or something else for a while now.
For some reason - I blame the blonde - I had it in my head that only kids got ear infections.
Being that I had ear infections on the frequent regular as a youngling - and had tubes in my ear twice - you would think this option wold have occurred to me much sooner.
Oh well.
Maybe I'll get some cool drugs.
Happy Thanksgiving to me.
Anyway, about this book....
I love me Penelope Douglas.
She is on what is becoming a very short list of auto-buy authors for me.
There is just something meaty about her characters and her writing that make her books oh so chomp-able.
This one was different from her other books in that I initially loathed her heroine.
LOATHED.
Seriously though, I found a lot of Ryen's actions to be pretty fucked up.
She was a bully.
And she stood by in silence while bigger bullies did some major bully shit.
Now at NO point was I considering a DNF - The story was still good and I trust PD.
I had a feeling she was going somewhere with all this...and she was.
In the "Note From the Author" section at the end of the book, Douglas says something that I think is worth sharing:
My first reaction to this?
My second?
I was totally holding this poor 17 year old girl to the standards of my 34 year old mature *snort* self.
And I now realize I do this a lot - in all the books I read.
And I'm sure a lot of you do too. We are all human, after all.
I'm sure we would all act differently as teenagers - care about certain things less and other things more - if we knew then what we know now, as they say, no?
So, to ask Ryen to act as a 17 year old according to how I would act in her position is pretty silly of me.
I think of how much I have changed just from my late 20's to my 30's...
...how much I have learned...
...and I am amazed at myself for thinking a 17 year old should have the AWESOMENESS that I have fought so hard for.
That I had to suffer for.
That I have started to WRINKLE for.
Pfffft.
Bitch needs to EARN her own knowledge.
So thanks for the self-awareness check PD.
I am expecting WAAAAAY too much from my heroines *wink wink*
And an attempt at more patience and understanding for my future heroines might result in my enjoying even MORE books.
Which is always a win.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wut wut?
Penelope Douglas, you say?
Teenage drama-angst, you say?
Asshole alpha teen H, you say?
Sign me the F up, I say.
I haven't been in a reviewing mood lately.
I have had a lot going on at home and at work...plus I think I have an ear infection that I have been assuming was a headache or something else for a while now.
For some reason - I blame the blonde - I had it in my head that only kids got ear infections.
Being that I had ear infections on the frequent regular as a youngling - and had tubes in my ear twice - you would think this option wold have occurred to me much sooner.
Oh well.
Maybe I'll get some cool drugs.
Happy Thanksgiving to me.
Anyway, about this book....
I love me Penelope Douglas.
She is on what is becoming a very short list of auto-buy authors for me.
There is just something meaty about her characters and her writing that make her books oh so chomp-able.
This one was different from her other books in that I initially loathed her heroine.
LOATHED.
Seriously though, I found a lot of Ryen's actions to be pretty fucked up.
She was a bully.
And she stood by in silence while bigger bullies did some major bully shit.
Now at NO point was I considering a DNF - The story was still good and I trust PD.
I had a feeling she was going somewhere with all this...and she was.
In the "Note From the Author" section at the end of the book, Douglas says something that I think is worth sharing:
"We romance readers can be very hard on our heroines. We often see ourselves in those roles and compare their decisions to the decisions we would've made instead. We tend to judge them more harshly than we do the heroes, because we hold them to the same expectation we hold ourselves."
My first reaction to this?
My second?
I was totally holding this poor 17 year old girl to the standards of my 34 year old mature *snort* self.
And I now realize I do this a lot - in all the books I read.
And I'm sure a lot of you do too. We are all human, after all.
I'm sure we would all act differently as teenagers - care about certain things less and other things more - if we knew then what we know now, as they say, no?
So, to ask Ryen to act as a 17 year old according to how I would act in her position is pretty silly of me.
I think of how much I have changed just from my late 20's to my 30's...
...how much I have learned...
...and I am amazed at myself for thinking a 17 year old should have the AWESOMENESS that I have fought so hard for.
That I had to suffer for.
That I have started to WRINKLE for.
Pfffft.
Bitch needs to EARN her own knowledge.
So thanks for the self-awareness check PD.
I am expecting WAAAAAY too much from my heroines *wink wink*
And an attempt at more patience and understanding for my future heroines might result in my enjoying even MORE books.
Which is always a win.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wut wut?
Penelope Douglas, you say?
Teenage drama-angst, you say?
Asshole alpha teen H, you say?
Sign me the F up, I say.
Shelved as 'finished-writing'
May 18, 2019
Chapter 1 Excerpt!!-Unedited
The heroine is at a warehouse party where they're having a scavenger hunt to raise money for a local band's summer tour. She finds herself face to face with Misha, who she's trying to ask to help her complete tasks for the hunt. But she doesn't know who he is. The boy she's been writing since she was eleven but never met. He knows it's her, though, since he recognized her name on the event check-ins on Facebook <3
Misha
I look at Ryen, both of us locked in an awkward silence. Why isn’t she saying anything? She has to know who I am. It’s damn near impossible to be invisible these days, and she came to an event for my band. Our names and pictures are on our Facebook page and the rack cards by the entrance. Is she fucking around with me?
She shifts her stance and I see her chest rise with a heavy breath, looking like she’s waiting for me to say something. When I don’t, she lets out a sigh and looks down at her card. “I also need a picture of eating something Lady & The Tramp style with someone,” she suggests instead.
But I keep my arms crossed and narrow my eyes on her. She’s seriously going to keep up with this charade?
“Or…” she goes on, sounding annoyed that I haven’t responded. “I need a picture of a picture of a picture. Whatever that means.”
I remain silent. I’m getting a little pissed she’s acting clueless. Seven years and this is how you want to meet, Angel?
She shakes her head, like I'm the one being rude. “Okay, nevermind.” And she turns to walk away.
“Wait!” someone calls.
Dane sweeps in, stopping her, and turns to me, scolding under his breath, “Dude, why are you looking at her like she slapped your grandma? Damn.”
And then he turns to Ryen and smiles. “Hey. How are you doing?”
I drop my eyes but only for a moment. Does she really not know who I am? I guess there would be plenty of people here who haven’t heard of us. We’re not a big deal, and this is probably the only thing going on in a fifty mile radius, so why wouldn’t she be here, if only because there’s nothing else to do?
Maybe she has no fucking clue she’s standing in front of Misha Lare right now. The guy she’s been writing letters to since she was eleven.
“What’s your name?” Dane asks her.
She turns back, her eyes flashing to me, clearly indicating her guard is up now. “Ryen,” she answers. “You?”
“Dane.” And then he turns to me. “And this is—” But I shoot out my hand, knocking him lightly in the stomach.
No. Not like this.
Ryen sees the exchange and pinches her eyebrows together, probably wondering what my problem is. Oh, you have no idea.
“So you live in Falcon’s Well?” Dane continues, taking my cue and changing the subject.
“Yeah.”
He nods, and they both stand there, falling silent.
“Ok, so…” Dane claps his hands together. “I heard you say you needed to eat something Lady and the Tramp style with someone, right?”
He doesn’t wait for her answer and reaches over the bar, digging in the garnish containers.
He holds up a lemon wedge, and Ryen winces. “A lemon?”
“I triple-dog dare you,” he challenges.
But she shakes her head.
“Okay, wait,” he urges, and I keep watching her, unable to tear my eyes away as I try to process that this is fucking Ryen. Her thin fingers that have written me five hundred eighty-two letters. The chin where I know she uses make-up to cover up a small scar she got from a fall during ice-skating when she was eight. The hair she told me she ties back every night, because she says there’s no hell worse than waking up with hair in your mouth.
I’ve had half a dozen girlfriends, all of them I knew ten times less than I know this girl.
And she has no idea…
Dane comes back with a wooden skewer, the tip holding a roasted marshmallow. I forgot there’s a fire going in the pit.
He walks up and shoves it at me. “Cooperate, please.”
And then he turns to her and grabs her phone. “Go for it. I’ll take the picture.”
Ryen’s amused eyes flash to me, immediately turning dark, because she clearly doesn’t want to eat anything Lady and the Tramp style with me.
But she doesn’t back down or feign shyness. Walking up, she grabs a bar stool and steps up on the prongs to raise herself higher. She’s not short, but she’s definitely shorter than my six feet. Leaning in with her lips parted, she stares into my eyes, and my fucking heart is going wild. It takes everything I have not to unwind my arms and take hold of her.
But she stops.
“I’m coming at you with my mouth open,” she points out. “You gotta show me you want it.”
And I can’t help it. The corner of my mouth lifts in a small smile.
Fuck, she’s sexy.
<3 Thanks to everyone for reading!!
November 2, 2016
The torture is finally over.
It all started when I needed a quick ebook to read during my commute to and from work (hardcovers aren't really public transport-friendly). I didn't realize this was the same author of Bully until today, otherwise I wouldn't have picked this up at all. I was tempted to DNF it SO MANY TIMES, but I decided to finish it so I could write a proper review because I feel like someone needs to speak up about everything that's wrong with Punk 57. I can't believe all the 5-star ratings.
For starters, it's sexist AF. There's slut-shaming and name-calling among girls and also from guys. There isn't a single female friendship in the entire book. Girls are here to hate and humilliate each other as well as being humilliated by guys. Some of the things that get said without anyone battling an eyelash are outrageous. I was SO pissed. The main MC literally calls the main FC the worst things in the English language and he manhandles her and all of it is sexualized/romantized. The author had a chance to call the guys out on their sexist shit and instead chose to turn girls on each other and made them all complacent and docile for the jerkfaces. This is 2016 for fuck's sake.
Another issue I had was the portrayal of bullying. Ryen is a bully and so are all of her friends. Misha hates her for it yet he is a bully too. Your classic violent alpha male who thinks he is better than everyone else but isn't. I hated both characters with a passion. Not because they were antiheroes as the author puts it, but because their behaviour is praised by her many times. Tell me how it's good for a guy to call a girl a stupid c*** (among other things) and be making out with her the next day. How is that hot? How is he being all possesive and demanding and demeaning hot? It blows my mind. The rest of the male characters (save for two or three) were equally disrespectful and disgusting.
Also, this book might be confused with 50 Shades of Grey, High School Edition. The sex is, for lack of a better word, cringe-worthy. These kids are barely 18 and you're trying to tell me they have the sexual life of an experienced adult. In the car, in the middle of a drive-in, in the school library, in a house with the mother one room away... You actually want me to believe real teenagers would do that. Okay. And it's sooooo graphic. I have no problem with that in other situations, but I just don't think it fits the YA genre.
In conclusion, I'm really unhappy I wasted several days of my life on this book. It pissed me off beyond belief because it sends so many negative messages about girls: hate on each other, be compliant to guys and don't stand up for yourself because god forbid you act like a 21st century, independent, self-confident woman. It's so much better to let your man speak for you and think every other female is out to get you. Right. No, thanks.
It all started when I needed a quick ebook to read during my commute to and from work (hardcovers aren't really public transport-friendly). I didn't realize this was the same author of Bully until today, otherwise I wouldn't have picked this up at all. I was tempted to DNF it SO MANY TIMES, but I decided to finish it so I could write a proper review because I feel like someone needs to speak up about everything that's wrong with Punk 57. I can't believe all the 5-star ratings.
For starters, it's sexist AF. There's slut-shaming and name-calling among girls and also from guys. There isn't a single female friendship in the entire book. Girls are here to hate and humilliate each other as well as being humilliated by guys. Some of the things that get said without anyone battling an eyelash are outrageous. I was SO pissed. The main MC literally calls the main FC the worst things in the English language and he manhandles her and all of it is sexualized/romantized. The author had a chance to call the guys out on their sexist shit and instead chose to turn girls on each other and made them all complacent and docile for the jerkfaces. This is 2016 for fuck's sake.
Another issue I had was the portrayal of bullying. Ryen is a bully and so are all of her friends. Misha hates her for it yet he is a bully too. Your classic violent alpha male who thinks he is better than everyone else but isn't. I hated both characters with a passion. Not because they were antiheroes as the author puts it, but because their behaviour is praised by her many times. Tell me how it's good for a guy to call a girl a stupid c*** (among other things) and be making out with her the next day. How is that hot? How is he being all possesive and demanding and demeaning hot? It blows my mind. The rest of the male characters (save for two or three) were equally disrespectful and disgusting.
Also, this book might be confused with 50 Shades of Grey, High School Edition. The sex is, for lack of a better word, cringe-worthy. These kids are barely 18 and you're trying to tell me they have the sexual life of an experienced adult. In the car, in the middle of a drive-in, in the school library, in a house with the mother one room away... You actually want me to believe real teenagers would do that. Okay. And it's sooooo graphic. I have no problem with that in other situations, but I just don't think it fits the YA genre.
In conclusion, I'm really unhappy I wasted several days of my life on this book. It pissed me off beyond belief because it sends so many negative messages about girls: hate on each other, be compliant to guys and don't stand up for yourself because god forbid you act like a 21st century, independent, self-confident woman. It's so much better to let your man speak for you and think every other female is out to get you. Right. No, thanks.
December 27, 2021
eventually we all have to weigh what we want more: wanting back what we had or wanting what could be
the good
To start, this book completely wrecked me. It was one of those stay-up-til-2-but-wait-please-don't-end kind of reads. There was so much that I loved about this, and I'm sure this review isn't going to be entirely objective, but bear with me.
This book is about the difference between being accepted by the "acceptable" people in your life/school/society and having the courage to accept yourself no matter the consequences. It's also about honesty and friendship and luuuuuurve.
I loved so much about this book. I really loved that the author chose to make the main characters pen pals as a way of back story. You're not wondering why the characters are attracted to each other and yet the author doesn't have to do much to convince you of why they are. I loved that Ryen is not really likable and that her friends are too faced. It's a common trope in NA but it worked well with the theme of the book instead of being slut shame-y. I loved the sex in this, it was never too much.
And I love Misha. Sweet, sweet, precious bean.
the bad
I'm pretty blinded by my love of this book but I'm going to warn people that it's not exactly without problems. As in, this book is problematic. The way that the MCs interact with each other in the middle of the book is wildly hot but I can see how some people might not like the elements of danger and/or violence. The violence is not at all domestic but there were some situations that might leave others a little unsettled.
Also some of the conflict in the book might be a little contrived/cliche/predictable. Didn't bother me in this circumstance, but might bother others.
But I think all of the above is entirely subjective and depends wholly on what you find acceptable in books. Don't knock this until you try it though.
the good
To start, this book completely wrecked me. It was one of those stay-up-til-2-but-wait-please-don't-end kind of reads. There was so much that I loved about this, and I'm sure this review isn't going to be entirely objective, but bear with me.
This book is about the difference between being accepted by the "acceptable" people in your life/school/society and having the courage to accept yourself no matter the consequences. It's also about honesty and friendship and luuuuuurve.
I loved so much about this book. I really loved that the author chose to make the main characters pen pals as a way of back story. You're not wondering why the characters are attracted to each other and yet the author doesn't have to do much to convince you of why they are. I loved that Ryen is not really likable and that her friends are too faced. It's a common trope in NA but it worked well with the theme of the book instead of being slut shame-y. I loved the sex in this, it was never too much.
And I love Misha. Sweet, sweet, precious bean.
the bad
I'm pretty blinded by my love of this book but I'm going to warn people that it's not exactly without problems. As in, this book is problematic. The way that the MCs interact with each other in the middle of the book is wildly hot but I can see how some people might not like the elements of danger and/or violence. The violence is not at all domestic but there were some situations that might leave others a little unsettled.
Also some of the conflict in the book might be a little contrived/cliche/predictable. Didn't bother me in this circumstance, but might bother others.
But I think all of the above is entirely subjective and depends wholly on what you find acceptable in books. Don't knock this until you try it though.
October 25, 2021
this is like a badly written wattpad story, I don’t get why it’s hyped AT ALL. 2 stars for the smut and the smut only.
December 14, 2021
can i get a refund
July 3, 2022
why would this ever be one of the most hyped up books ever. i want to wash my eyes with bleach and lost all recollection of reading this book thank you.
November 9, 2016
Please tell me where I should've started liking this romance, was it between the part where he called her a cunt or when he threatened to hurt her pointing scissors at her throat?
June 22, 2021
listen loud and clear, you stupid cunt. I’m done talking to you, and I’m done looking at you.
I don’t think I'm really that much of a romantic person but I do know one thing for sure. When they created the word "romantic" ^THIS is not what they meant. I mean really? stupid cunt ?
And you're telling me the protagonist fell for the guy who calls her stupid in every opportunity he gets. You know what? Maybe he is right. If any girl simps over a guy who continuously reminds her how much of a brainless shit she is, then that girl is stupid. Or worse.
There are so many things wrong with this book. If I make a list it would probably make a record or something. Here's "some" of them:
- sexism. This book took sexism into another level. Nicely done.
- guys are treating girls as "sexual amusement". You're telling me this is how a 17/18 year old acts? We've all been through that age. We have all survived highschool.
This is not how high school kids act.Please.
- Misha hates Ryen because she is a bully. When he himself is a bully. And I fail to see his point here. Maybe I'm just dumb.
-also, this book felt less like a romance more like a pity party. Forgive me if I never felt any sympathy for these characters.
- girls hating on each other. All of them are lying and cheating and talking behind their best friend's back. There is not one true friendship in this book.
- bullying your crush is definitely romantic. Hah.hah.hah. very funny.
- also let's tell her
you kinda taste like shitcause that's how win people over. How cute.
- Misha thinks he is better than everyone else. Because he hates a "bully" so he himself became a "bully" in order to "bully" the "bullies". Hmm. Makes sense.
Also, here's a really cute fluffy romantic scene you don’t wanna miss:
He reaches for something, and then my scissors from my desk is pointing at my face. I freeze, staring at the tip.
Yeah, real love. What a match. Eat me.
June 7, 2024
2/5 ★’s
⁀➷ ❝so listen loud and clear, you stupid cunt. i’m done talking to you, and i’m done looking at you.❞
mmm and they say romance is dead😍
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
misha and ryen…if i never see these two names again, it would be too soon. i rarely rate books below 3 stars so please bear with me. i’m basically just gonna go on a rant about why i hated this book so don’t expect much from this review🥺
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
main reason why i hated this book:
ryen. it’s the simple fact that she wanted to fit in so badly with the popular kids that she literally became everything she hated. she became a bully. this just didn’t sit right with me. growing up…i was severely bullied to the point where i seriously didn’t want to go on with life. never once did it cross my mind to become a bully and join them like ryen did. that honestly just disgusts me because how can you do that? be bullied and then do the same thing to others? i really don’t have much more to say about that, just makes me sick. also the homophobia in this book made me mad.
❥ 𝓅𝓁𝑜𝓉:
i feel like nothing happened the entire book. there was no wow effect. well okay i lied…when misha called ryen a cunt i was like wowwwww, but honestly is he wrong? no. still don’t like it when men call women that tho😭anyways yeah. basically, misha and ryen were pen pals since the fifth grade. misha’s sister dies, then he stopped writing ryen and then he pretty much just hates her until he loves her. he went from calling her a cunt to fucking her in his car days later lol. here’s the drama, she didn’t know he was misha because he changed his name to masen and then she freaks out when she finds out it’s really misha and gets all dramatic. the conflict was just stupid honestly i don’t even want to talk about it. like girl…he called you a cunt, threatened you with a pair of scissors, but you’re mad at him for not telling you he’s your pen pal? all you had to do was search up his name😀misha😍🤮🤮🤮i forgot his last name, but you could not pay me enough to care😄
❥ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈:
boy with mommy issues meets girl with daddy issues and they live happily ever after. i feel so wrong for saying that but it’s just like…i hated every single character especially the main two. misha had so much potential, there were for sure some swoon worthy moments but he’s just an overall no for me. like i’ll choose daddy pike, the girl in credence and her step uncle and step cousins she was fuckingLMAO over misha and ryen any day. also misha was a lead singer in a band and i hated it. the songs and the lyrics…oh god the lyrics. while i was reading the lyrics i tried to sing them and imagine them in a song and let’s just say…immediate skips. then misha sang to her at the end of the book. idk why, but it was giving alex singing to ava in twisted love. the only character i liked was misha’s sister, annie, but i only got to read about her for all of five seconds before she died.
❥ 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
i went into this book with way too high of expectations. i wanted to love it so bad, i tried😭the writing was so mid. let me just tell you guys that i pretty much forgot the entire book already and everything that happened. i know i wanted to write and talk about more, but my mind is going completely blank. this is just a very forgettable book. i know it’s a bully romance, and i don’t mind those, this one just did not hit. i gave this two stars because there was a lot of potential, i liked that they were pen pals and misha had cute moments, but all the bad just overshadowed the good. ugh can i just say how much i hate writing rant reviews sometimes because i feel bad for bashing a book😔i’m sorry if you’re reading this review and you loved this book🥺🥺i’m happy that you loved it, but it just wasn’t for me.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥04/08/24
𝓅𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ugh, i should’ve dnf’d, but i didn’t soooo rtc.
❥03/30/24
i’ve seen so many mixed reviews, but i think i’m gonna like this one👀i hope.
⁀➷ ❝so listen loud and clear, you stupid cunt. i’m done talking to you, and i’m done looking at you.❞
mmm and they say romance is dead😍
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
𝓯𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
misha and ryen…if i never see these two names again, it would be too soon. i rarely rate books below 3 stars so please bear with me. i’m basically just gonna go on a rant about why i hated this book so don’t expect much from this review🥺
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
main reason why i hated this book:
ryen. it’s the simple fact that she wanted to fit in so badly with the popular kids that she literally became everything she hated. she became a bully. this just didn’t sit right with me. growing up…i was severely bullied to the point where i seriously didn’t want to go on with life. never once did it cross my mind to become a bully and join them like ryen did. that honestly just disgusts me because how can you do that? be bullied and then do the same thing to others? i really don’t have much more to say about that, just makes me sick. also the homophobia in this book made me mad.
❥ 𝓅𝓁𝑜𝓉:
i feel like nothing happened the entire book. there was no wow effect. well okay i lied…when misha called ryen a cunt i was like wowwwww, but honestly is he wrong? no. still don’t like it when men call women that tho😭anyways yeah. basically, misha and ryen were pen pals since the fifth grade. misha’s sister dies, then he stopped writing ryen and then he pretty much just hates her until he loves her. he went from calling her a cunt to fucking her in his car days later lol. here’s the drama, she didn’t know he was misha because he changed his name to masen and then she freaks out when she finds out it’s really misha and gets all dramatic. the conflict was just stupid honestly i don’t even want to talk about it. like girl…he called you a cunt, threatened you with a pair of scissors, but you’re mad at him for not telling you he’s your pen pal? all you had to do was search up his name😀misha😍
❥ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈:
boy with mommy issues meets girl with daddy issues and they live happily ever after. i feel so wrong for saying that but it’s just like…i hated every single character especially the main two. misha had so much potential, there were for sure some swoon worthy moments but he’s just an overall no for me. like i’ll choose daddy pike, the girl in credence and her step uncle and step cousins she was fucking
❥ 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
i went into this book with way too high of expectations. i wanted to love it so bad, i tried😭the writing was so mid. let me just tell you guys that i pretty much forgot the entire book already and everything that happened. i know i wanted to write and talk about more, but my mind is going completely blank. this is just a very forgettable book. i know it’s a bully romance, and i don’t mind those, this one just did not hit. i gave this two stars because there was a lot of potential, i liked that they were pen pals and misha had cute moments, but all the bad just overshadowed the good. ugh can i just say how much i hate writing rant reviews sometimes because i feel bad for bashing a book😔i’m sorry if you’re reading this review and you loved this book🥺🥺i’m happy that you loved it, but it just wasn’t for me.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･･:*.ೃ࿔⋆❀°
❥04/08/24
𝓅𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ugh, i should’ve dnf’d, but i didn’t soooo rtc.
❥03/30/24
i’ve seen so many mixed reviews, but i think i’m gonna like this one👀
April 2, 2023
i think they misclassified the genre bc that was not romance 😭😭
May 12, 2022
fuck booktok, bookstagram and booktwitter for tricking me and fuck the average 4.4 rating. y'all are lying
July 20, 2021
what in the wattpad
November 17, 2018
I, somehow, survived this.
October 6, 2019
➳My mind is blown away... My emotions are running everywhere... My body is reacting with tingling feelings... But most of all, my knowledge is well aware that Penelope Douglas is the true definition of THE best NA/Romance author!
➳Penelope Douglas starts of this wonderful story with an even more wonderful prologue. It hooked me for sure! Penelope has this odd/dark/mysterious sense of writing that its rather unique and admirable because you do not read books like these in the New Adult/Romance category very often. They are strange, but also alluring to find. In this story told by two different perspectives of Misha & Ryen- two pen pals that started off in elementary school and for the past seven years have been writing each other about their lives (most of their lives anyways...) both individuals have this connection of eagerness to be with each other, both in the aspect of far away and in close proximity. Misha wants to see her, wants to meet her, and so does Ryen. She wants to put a face to all those fantasies she has of him and herself, wants to have him all to herself and not be alone. That is Ryen's main concern- being alone.
➳Misha, the lead singer of his band is an inspirational person. Through his letters from Ryen he gets inspired to write music, to write lyrics and keep the flow going. They have never met, and Ryen has begged him to never meet so they can keep their friendship sane with no regrets if they ever meet each other. Until that one night, the night that changed everything. Misha finally meets her without her knowing that he is HER Misha, triggering a pull towards Ryen's beauty and not so innocent personality- the opposite personality that she did not portray to him through their letters. Not only did their "encounter" happen, but Misha also lost someone who he truly loves...
➳Even though Ryen isn't being truthful about her personality, her highschool status out does that. She is a bitch, ruthless, acts immature and acts unintelligent just to get a better status of "popular" in her crowd of "friends"- people who are mean and as well ruthless to her (Lyla and Trey). This story is a total highschool dramatic type of scene, the same vibes being portrayed in this story that Corrupt by Penelope herself also wrote. But Ryen's status comes to a halt when a new kid named Masen is introduced. To Ryen's eyes Masen looks familiar, because in her mind she knows that he is the guy who she met at a party three months ago, the same amount of time that Misha has not written a letter back to her, and the same time that Ryen has found other "activities" to occupy the empty feeling in her heart. What she does not know is that Masen and Misha are more alike than what she may fantasize. Masen is ruthless to Ryen, and treats her like shit. But in the back of his mind he is as turned on as a cat in heat on a steamy sauna hahahaha! He is always bothering her, physically and also mentally because Ryen can never seem to get Masen out of her head, while still think about Misha.
➳When Ryen finally opens up to Masen's misfitting attitude, their chemistry and lust is one that bothers him in a different level, because in the back of his mind he knows that Ryen is thinking about Misha... not "Masen;"
➳He misses her more than he wants to admit... There is this one scene in particular that makes me want to go mental; the car sex scene... HOLY GUACAMOLES! That scene... I was NOT expecting what I read but I'm so glad I wasn't because I felt so surprised an attacked at the same time. I couldn't stop blushing and sweating over this scene. Misha is a master with his hands, and that mouth... DEAR JESUS! **sighs**
➳Something that I found rather EXCITING, is the fact that Penelope never seems to stop surprising her readers. Characters from a different past story make a wonderful and surprising appearance and my stomach kept fluttering every time they were mentioned!
➳At the end of the day, I enjoyed this story as I was expecting it 100%! My hands are getting warm and ready for Hideaway for Kai's story... Queen PD never seems to amaze me and I am super honored to have reviewed this story as an ARC, and hope that I can for all her writing in the near future! Thank you Penelope for bringing a world full of magic and wonderful romance through your writing and your creativity <3
➳Order:
Amazon ♕ B&N ♕ Kobo
➳ARC kindly provided by author Penelope Douglas, in exchange for an honest review...
➳Follow Me On:
Blog ♕ Instagram ♕ Facebook ♕ Twitter
➳Penelope Douglas starts of this wonderful story with an even more wonderful prologue. It hooked me for sure! Penelope has this odd/dark/mysterious sense of writing that its rather unique and admirable because you do not read books like these in the New Adult/Romance category very often. They are strange, but also alluring to find. In this story told by two different perspectives of Misha & Ryen- two pen pals that started off in elementary school and for the past seven years have been writing each other about their lives (most of their lives anyways...) both individuals have this connection of eagerness to be with each other, both in the aspect of far away and in close proximity. Misha wants to see her, wants to meet her, and so does Ryen. She wants to put a face to all those fantasies she has of him and herself, wants to have him all to herself and not be alone. That is Ryen's main concern- being alone.
➳Misha, the lead singer of his band is an inspirational person. Through his letters from Ryen he gets inspired to write music, to write lyrics and keep the flow going. They have never met, and Ryen has begged him to never meet so they can keep their friendship sane with no regrets if they ever meet each other. Until that one night, the night that changed everything. Misha finally meets her without her knowing that he is HER Misha, triggering a pull towards Ryen's beauty and not so innocent personality- the opposite personality that she did not portray to him through their letters. Not only did their "encounter" happen, but Misha also lost someone who he truly loves...
➳Even though Ryen isn't being truthful about her personality, her highschool status out does that. She is a bitch, ruthless, acts immature and acts unintelligent just to get a better status of "popular" in her crowd of "friends"- people who are mean and as well ruthless to her (Lyla and Trey). This story is a total highschool dramatic type of scene, the same vibes being portrayed in this story that Corrupt by Penelope herself also wrote. But Ryen's status comes to a halt when a new kid named Masen is introduced. To Ryen's eyes Masen looks familiar, because in her mind she knows that he is the guy who she met at a party three months ago, the same amount of time that Misha has not written a letter back to her, and the same time that Ryen has found other "activities" to occupy the empty feeling in her heart. What she does not know is that Masen and Misha are more alike than what she may fantasize. Masen is ruthless to Ryen, and treats her like shit. But in the back of his mind he is as turned on as a cat in heat on a steamy sauna hahahaha! He is always bothering her, physically and also mentally because Ryen can never seem to get Masen out of her head, while still think about Misha.
➳When Ryen finally opens up to Masen's misfitting attitude, their chemistry and lust is one that bothers him in a different level, because in the back of his mind he knows that Ryen is thinking about Misha... not "Masen;"
"Longing, because I miss her. I miss talking to her as me.
Lust greater than I've ever known, because we're like this, it's the only time she softens and changes and gives me an inch, and it's a need that's in my head just as much as my body. It keeps me on my toes."
➳He misses her more than he wants to admit... There is this one scene in particular that makes me want to go mental; the car sex scene... HOLY GUACAMOLES! That scene... I was NOT expecting what I read but I'm so glad I wasn't because I felt so surprised an attacked at the same time. I couldn't stop blushing and sweating over this scene. Misha is a master with his hands, and that mouth... DEAR JESUS! **sighs**
➳Something that I found rather EXCITING, is the fact that Penelope never seems to stop surprising her readers. Characters from a different past story make a wonderful and surprising appearance and my stomach kept fluttering every time they were mentioned!
➳At the end of the day, I enjoyed this story as I was expecting it 100%! My hands are getting warm and ready for Hideaway for Kai's story... Queen PD never seems to amaze me and I am super honored to have reviewed this story as an ARC, and hope that I can for all her writing in the near future! Thank you Penelope for bringing a world full of magic and wonderful romance through your writing and your creativity <3
➳Order:
Amazon ♕ B&N ♕ Kobo
➳ARC kindly provided by author Penelope Douglas, in exchange for an honest review...
➳Follow Me On:
Blog ♕ Instagram ♕ Facebook ♕ Twitter
August 21, 2021
“romance”??? babe, this is straight up horror
April 20, 2024
➳ Trash. Trash. Trash. Everyone lied to me.
If you call Punk 57 one of the best romance books, maybe I don't need romance in my life. I am 'fine' with staying single for my whole life.
How can anyone like this book is beyond me. Knock. Knock. Are you a die-heart fan of Punk 57? Then I don't wanna be your friend. And I amnot sorry from being such a brat.
But seriously though, what do you see in this trash? Good smut? What'll I do with good smut and steam if I absolutely hate the characters and the romance and the dialogues and Everything.....
The synopsis sounded so good. The ratings were great. The book had lots of glorious 5 star reviews. I really thought I would enjoy it. But nope...didn't happen.
This book wasn't for me. I hated it. It was extremely problematic and disturbing. Pure smut, horrible story, disgusting character. None of the two main characters were good enough to catch my attention. I hated Ryen. I hated Misha. I hated the romance in this book too. Love equals to mutual respect and in this book...there was none.
(SCREAMING)
I HATED IT.
Fuck the hype for manipulating me into reading this Trash.
If you call Punk 57 one of the best romance books, maybe I don't need romance in my life. I am 'fine' with staying single for my whole life.
How can anyone like this book is beyond me. Knock. Knock. Are you a die-heart fan of Punk 57? Then I don't wanna be your friend. And I am
But seriously though, what do you see in this trash? Good smut? What'll I do with good smut and steam if I absolutely hate the characters and the romance and the dialogues and Everything.....
The synopsis sounded so good. The ratings were great. The book had lots of glorious 5 star reviews. I really thought I would enjoy it. But nope...didn't happen.
This book wasn't for me. I hated it. It was extremely problematic and disturbing. Pure smut, horrible story, disgusting character. None of the two main characters were good enough to catch my attention. I hated Ryen. I hated Misha. I hated the romance in this book too. Love equals to mutual respect and in this book...there was none.
(SCREAMING)
I HATED IT.
Fuck the hype for manipulating me into reading this Trash.
January 15, 2020
i think i do a pretty good job at being able to separate things i would tolerate in reality from things that happen in a book. but for some reason, i just couldnt do it this time. ive read problematic romances before and really enjoyed them. but i just couldnt click with this story.
after reading the synopsis, what i really wanted was a story like ‘dirty letters,’ but what i actually got was something more along the lines of ‘vicious.’ the obnoxious bullying and verbal abuse directed to and from both of the main characters really drove me up a wall. to the point where the only emotion i was feeling was annoyance and anger, which isnt really what i want to experience when it comes to my romance stories.
maybe im just becoming too soft as i grow older and the pent-up angst no longer appeals to me? who knows. but regardless of my lack of connection with the content of story, theres no denying PD can write. so i think i would be willing to give another one of her books a try in the future.
↠ 2.5 stars
after reading the synopsis, what i really wanted was a story like ‘dirty letters,’ but what i actually got was something more along the lines of ‘vicious.’ the obnoxious bullying and verbal abuse directed to and from both of the main characters really drove me up a wall. to the point where the only emotion i was feeling was annoyance and anger, which isnt really what i want to experience when it comes to my romance stories.
maybe im just becoming too soft as i grow older and the pent-up angst no longer appeals to me? who knows. but regardless of my lack of connection with the content of story, theres no denying PD can write. so i think i would be willing to give another one of her books a try in the future.
↠ 2.5 stars
October 13, 2016
I don’t quite know how to start off with this review.
Simply because I’ve never quite read a fucking book like this one.
That’s Penelope Douglas for you, that woman is in a league all on her own.
I didn’t just love it, I FUCKING LOVED IT!
Not gonna lie I had no fucking clue what this book was about, all I knew is that Penelope Douglas wrote it and that’s all I needed to know. So I went in completely fucking blind and was opened up something very fucking powerful.
This story is POWERFUL and it sends out a very powerful message.
Fuck me I seriously fucking loved it! I couldn’t put the fucker down for a second and haven’t read a book that quick in a very long time.
I don’t want to go into what this book is about as I believe every reader needs to go in with an open mind because trust me when I say your mind and your knickers will be BLOWN TO FUCK!
FUCK ME some scenes had me fanning my muff and running for a cold shower. The drive-in scene, FUCK, it made my vagina hurt.
Misha and Ryen are a filthy pair! I FUCKING LOVED IT!!
I never knew what the fuck was happening reading this story, I had so many questions and theories. Some I guessed and some I was like WHAT THE FUCK!!! It was one motherfucking ride that I never wanted to get off of.
I loved this books, it was different and I fucking love different!!
It was hot, it was crazy, it was bitchy - seriously I wanted to stab some of the characters in the fucking face – It was cruel, it was shocking, it was sad and it was THE FUCKING BOMB.COM
I loved the twist and turns and I loved Misha and Ryen.
WANK BANK MATERIAL.
July 29, 2021
ok so it took me a while to actually get into this. i was stuck on chapter 3 for like 3 days and didn’t wanna give it the time of day but then i did. And for the most part i enjoyed it.
it was actually pretty light hearted compared to other books by penelope douglas but i really think i would’ve enjoyed this book even more had it not taken place in high school.
literally why? i don’t understand the reason for that. in my opinion it would’ve slapped if the setting was in college or higher.
the second i gave it a chance again, i couldn’t put it down. it was a quick and fun read. AND those Corrupt (Devil’s Night Series) appearances?!? omfg loved that.
and yeah i guess i get the hype over misha lare now ❤️
it was actually pretty light hearted compared to other books by penelope douglas but i really think i would’ve enjoyed this book even more had it not taken place in high school.
literally why? i don’t understand the reason for that. in my opinion it would’ve slapped if the setting was in college or higher.
the second i gave it a chance again, i couldn’t put it down. it was a quick and fun read. AND those Corrupt (Devil’s Night Series) appearances?!? omfg loved that.
and yeah i guess i get the hype over misha lare now ❤️
June 11, 2021
reread — 4.5 stars
me to misha and ryen when they're out here writing handwritten letters to each other, while im here stuck with the likes of tinder boys who thinks texting "dtf" or "u down 2 netflix n chill" is romantic
must be nice.
anywho. i LOVE rereading this. i just felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me because these were good times.
honestly, im just gonna come out and say it but i miss this kind of new adult romance where the characters have so much depth and the story is unique and it isn't ruined by unnecessary threesome/sharing/orgies that ruin character/romantic development... too soon? oops.
✧ plot
➵ characters
can i just say that i absolutely love the depth and complexity of Ryen's character?? she became a bully because of kids making fun of her and she felt alone when she only wanted to belong ughhh it was so sad. it may seem like a small thing but it really isn't.
and her character development is so nice to read about. obviously, i lowkey hated her in the beginning because she was a bItCh but i just wanted to hug her and be her friend by the end. and that scene with Manny? where they hugged each other and told him it was gonna get better? kinda bawled my eyes out in that scene too to be honest with y'all.
and Misha... my god. what a man. tattoos? lip piercing? writes songs?? is in a band? aaand he's mature?! AND RESPECTFUL??!?!
✨ perfection ✨
➵ romance
of course, there was a bit of hate to love in the beginning but the scenes filled with sexual tension which then added to their romantic development? love that.
and the quotes? iconic.
➵ Misha's "cousin" (spoilers)
i actually really loved the cameo of the four (well, three this time) horsemen in this book. i remember the first time i read this i was hoping Misha's "cousin" would be Jared or Madoc or something but now that i've read devil's night series.. ehh. i kinda got excited that his cousin is the one and only, Will mo'fuckin Grayson but my excitement was kinda surpressed just cuz my mans Damon wasn't here. and that- that is a CRIME.
______________________________
i wish i forgot everything that happened in this book because i really did enjoy this more the first time i read it because i already knew all the plot twists ughhh.
but that said, i think this is my second favorite out of all pen douglas books?? i don't really know i can't choose between this, birthday girl, or until you. however, i think Ryen and Misha are superior af and dont @ me on this.
* * *
original rating (may 2018) — 5 stars
me to misha and ryen when they're out here writing handwritten letters to each other, while im here stuck with the likes of tinder boys who thinks texting "dtf" or "u down 2 netflix n chill" is romantic
must be nice.
anywho. i LOVE rereading this. i just felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me because these were good times.
honestly, im just gonna come out and say it but i miss this kind of new adult romance where the characters have so much depth and the story is unique and it isn't ruined by unnecessary threesome/sharing/orgies that ruin character/romantic development... too soon? oops.
✧ plot
↳ Misha Lare (H) and Ryen Trevarrow (h) have been pen pals since they were 4th grade and has been exchanging letters for 7 years until suddenly, after they unknowingly meet each other (Misha knowing what Ryen looks like while Ryen doesn't know what he looks like), he stops writing her.
three months later, Misha goes to Ryen's school to solve unfinished business but he also gets to see who Ryen really is. she's not the dorky, nerdy girl he knows from the letters. she's the popular, mean girl bully.
➵ characters
can i just say that i absolutely love the depth and complexity of Ryen's character?? she became a bully because of kids making fun of her and she felt alone when she only wanted to belong ughhh it was so sad. it may seem like a small thing but it really isn't.
"My eyes burn with tears, and I'm so tired. So tired of holding back everything I feel and want to say. So tired of being someone I'm not and making mistakes that I didn't have any fun making."
and her character development is so nice to read about. obviously, i lowkey hated her in the beginning because she was a bItCh but i just wanted to hug her and be her friend by the end. and that scene with Manny? where they hugged each other and told him it was gonna get better? kinda bawled my eyes out in that scene too to be honest with y'all.
and Misha... my god. what a man. tattoos? lip piercing? writes songs?? is in a band? aaand he's mature?! AND RESPECTFUL??!?!
✨ perfection ✨
➵ romance
of course, there was a bit of hate to love in the beginning but the scenes filled with sexual tension which then added to their romantic development? love that.
"She can be a nightmare, but this still feels better than any dream."
and the quotes? iconic.
➵ Misha's "cousin" (spoilers)
i actually really loved the cameo of the four (well, three this time) horsemen in this book. i remember the first time i read this i was hoping Misha's "cousin" would be Jared or Madoc or something but now that i've read devil's night series.. ehh. i kinda got excited that his cousin is the one and only, Will mo'fuckin Grayson but my excitement was kinda surpressed just cuz my mans Damon wasn't here. and that- that is a CRIME.
______________________________
i wish i forgot everything that happened in this book because i really did enjoy this more the first time i read it because i already knew all the plot twists ughhh.
but that said, i think this is my second favorite out of all pen douglas books?? i don't really know i can't choose between this, birthday girl, or until you. however, i think Ryen and Misha are superior af and dont @ me on this.
* * *
original rating (may 2018) — 5 stars
December 14, 2016
Please check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
This was one of those over-the-top high school stories that I could not put down. 'Punk 57' is my latest guilty pleasure. I enjoyed every implausible, melodramatic moment!
Misha Lare and Ryen Trevarrow have been pen-pals for years, ever since their teachers mistakenly thought they were the same gender in elementary school and assigned them as pen-pals for a class project. They've been writing to one another ever since. Over the years, the two have become best friends, even though they've never met in person. Now in high school, things are about to get impossibly complicated.
Misha's band is close to getting their big break. He spots Ryen at a promotional event being held for his band and initiates a conversation. Never, does he tell her who he is. Unbeknownst to them at the time, that night will change everything.
Ryen is the type of girl you love to hate. She makes hating her easy. Popular, beautiful and nasty as hell, she is the type of "mean girl" that are the source of high school nightmares. She is a bully, but she doesn't hate anyone nearly as much as she hates herself. The only person she's ever allowed to glimpse the person that she really wants to be is Misha, the pen-pal that she's never even met in person.
When Masen Laurent starts attending Ryen's school, she is immediately caught off-guard by the hot new guy that gives her a taste of her own medicine. He isn't afraid of her and he makes it a point to call her out on all of her horrible ways. In fact, he seems to be on a personal mission to bring her down a few rungs.
As Ryen's rivalry with Masen heats up, she is forced to face the person that she's become. Misha has stopped writing to her without explanation and Ryen is feeling lower than she's ever felt before. Her walls seem to be closing in on her, as she is forced to choose between the person she has become and the person she wants to be.
While there is a "secret" in this story, it isn't really a surprise to readers. In fact, you know the big twist all along and it is just a matter of waiting for the characters to figure everything out. That being said, it doesn't make the big reveal any less explosive.
From start to finish, I could not put this book down. It was full of high school melodrama and a pretty unrealistic storyline, but I loved every minute. After all, who wants to read something that sounds like your daily routine? Not me. This book was emotional and addictive. I loved it!
This was one of those over-the-top high school stories that I could not put down. 'Punk 57' is my latest guilty pleasure. I enjoyed every implausible, melodramatic moment!
Misha Lare and Ryen Trevarrow have been pen-pals for years, ever since their teachers mistakenly thought they were the same gender in elementary school and assigned them as pen-pals for a class project. They've been writing to one another ever since. Over the years, the two have become best friends, even though they've never met in person. Now in high school, things are about to get impossibly complicated.
Misha's band is close to getting their big break. He spots Ryen at a promotional event being held for his band and initiates a conversation. Never, does he tell her who he is. Unbeknownst to them at the time, that night will change everything.
Ryen is the type of girl you love to hate. She makes hating her easy. Popular, beautiful and nasty as hell, she is the type of "mean girl" that are the source of high school nightmares. She is a bully, but she doesn't hate anyone nearly as much as she hates herself. The only person she's ever allowed to glimpse the person that she really wants to be is Misha, the pen-pal that she's never even met in person.
When Masen Laurent starts attending Ryen's school, she is immediately caught off-guard by the hot new guy that gives her a taste of her own medicine. He isn't afraid of her and he makes it a point to call her out on all of her horrible ways. In fact, he seems to be on a personal mission to bring her down a few rungs.
As Ryen's rivalry with Masen heats up, she is forced to face the person that she's become. Misha has stopped writing to her without explanation and Ryen is feeling lower than she's ever felt before. Her walls seem to be closing in on her, as she is forced to choose between the person she has become and the person she wants to be.
While there is a "secret" in this story, it isn't really a surprise to readers. In fact, you know the big twist all along and it is just a matter of waiting for the characters to figure everything out. That being said, it doesn't make the big reveal any less explosive.
From start to finish, I could not put this book down. It was full of high school melodrama and a pretty unrealistic storyline, but I loved every minute. After all, who wants to read something that sounds like your daily routine? Not me. This book was emotional and addictive. I loved it!
July 17, 2023
Not me acting shocked when the book I was expecting to be smutty and trashy is actually trashy 🤡🤡🤡
~•~•~
I just need something smutty, don't care if it's trashy 😭
~•~•~
I just need something smutty, don't care if it's trashy 😭
October 23, 2016
5 STARS
Ever since I read Bully, I became an instant Penelope Douglas fan. The woman speaks right to my inner angst junky. It certainly doesn't hurt matters that she also manages to create the perfect alphahole heroes in every book I read by her. Having loved her Falling Away series and all the others as well, to say that this book is right up there with Bully for me is a lot. Because Bully continues to be one of my top favorites by her. But there was also an underlying message to this book that I loved. That in addition to the incredible writing, the fantastic characters, the delicious angst, and the oh so sexy romance combined to be one of my top reads for the year.
I think we all have a point in our life where we didn't feel comfortable in our own skin; where being accepted even if it means suppressing your real self a little feels like the easiest thing to do. A time where your peer's opinions of you feel like the most important thing and acceptance is everything. No one is born full comfortable with themselves and being able to do what's right even if that means going against the grain, but the road to getting there is the most interesting one.
Ryen is not a heroine that you want to like. What I mean is, here's someone that's the exact opposite of your usual heroine. She's popular, she's quiet when the weak are being picked on, and she suppresses her real self for the warmth of acceptance that she gets from people that aren't even truly her friends. But there's also something about this character that clicks with you. You can't help but connect with her and understand her on some level, because at one time or another we've all been in her shoes.
Ryen and Misha have been pen pals for years, and while they know each other's deepest and darkest thoughts, they have no idea who the other really is or what they look like. That doesn't stop them from developing an incredible connection through their letters...until Misha gets a real peak at who Ryen is and everything changes.
Misha is a grade A asshole in the beginning and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love every page of it. Douglas has this gift for writing some of the sexiest alphaholes I've ever read. Yes, they're mean and you want to slap them at times, but you also understand what drives them to be that way and you can't help but love them anyway.
The angst is off the charts good. For those that are like myself and enjoy that burn of sexual tension with a bit of hate/lust, you will devour every page and beg for more. And the sexual chemistry?
This is so much more than a sexy NA romance, however. It's a story of learning to love and accept yourself. A story of learning to stand up for what you believe is right even if no one stands up with you. It's a story of friendship and love. It's an emotional rollercoaster that you never want to get off of and a romance between two people that don't make sense together on paper but couldn't be more right for each other. It's dark and light, it's love and hate. It's complete and utter perfection.
If you're a fan of Penelope Douglas and you enjoyed her Fall Away series and you want another taste of her Devil's Night world, this is an absolute must read. If you love angsty NA romances with a H/h that you will love to hate and just flat out love, this is an absolute must read. If you're a fellow angst whore like me, then this is an absolute must read. Basically, what I'm trying to tell you here is READ THIS BOOK!! You won't regret a second of it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
We were perfect together. Until we met.”
Ever since I read Bully, I became an instant Penelope Douglas fan. The woman speaks right to my inner angst junky. It certainly doesn't hurt matters that she also manages to create the perfect alphahole heroes in every book I read by her. Having loved her Falling Away series and all the others as well, to say that this book is right up there with Bully for me is a lot. Because Bully continues to be one of my top favorites by her. But there was also an underlying message to this book that I loved. That in addition to the incredible writing, the fantastic characters, the delicious angst, and the oh so sexy romance combined to be one of my top reads for the year.
I think we all have a point in our life where we didn't feel comfortable in our own skin; where being accepted even if it means suppressing your real self a little feels like the easiest thing to do. A time where your peer's opinions of you feel like the most important thing and acceptance is everything. No one is born full comfortable with themselves and being able to do what's right even if that means going against the grain, but the road to getting there is the most interesting one.
Ryen is not a heroine that you want to like. What I mean is, here's someone that's the exact opposite of your usual heroine. She's popular, she's quiet when the weak are being picked on, and she suppresses her real self for the warmth of acceptance that she gets from people that aren't even truly her friends. But there's also something about this character that clicks with you. You can't help but connect with her and understand her on some level, because at one time or another we've all been in her shoes.
Ryen and Misha have been pen pals for years, and while they know each other's deepest and darkest thoughts, they have no idea who the other really is or what they look like. That doesn't stop them from developing an incredible connection through their letters...until Misha gets a real peak at who Ryen is and everything changes.
Misha is a grade A asshole in the beginning and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love every page of it. Douglas has this gift for writing some of the sexiest alphaholes I've ever read. Yes, they're mean and you want to slap them at times, but you also understand what drives them to be that way and you can't help but love them anyway.
The angst is off the charts good. For those that are like myself and enjoy that burn of sexual tension with a bit of hate/lust, you will devour every page and beg for more. And the sexual chemistry?
This is so much more than a sexy NA romance, however. It's a story of learning to love and accept yourself. A story of learning to stand up for what you believe is right even if no one stands up with you. It's a story of friendship and love. It's an emotional rollercoaster that you never want to get off of and a romance between two people that don't make sense together on paper but couldn't be more right for each other. It's dark and light, it's love and hate. It's complete and utter perfection.
If you're a fan of Penelope Douglas and you enjoyed her Fall Away series and you want another taste of her Devil's Night world, this is an absolute must read. If you love angsty NA romances with a H/h that you will love to hate and just flat out love, this is an absolute must read. If you're a fellow angst whore like me, then this is an absolute must read. Basically, what I'm trying to tell you here is READ THIS BOOK!! You won't regret a second of it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
September 19, 2022
"It feels like shit to be alone. To be in a place full of people and feel like they don't want you there. To feel like you're at a part you weren't invited to. No one even knows your name. No one wants to. No one cares."
Friends, this review is going to get a little personal. I could go on and on about how this book blew my mind because of it's connection to the world of Corrupt, or because the romance was perfectly flawed and refreshingly damaged, but I'm going to go in a slightly different direction with this space and touch on a somewhat minor portion of the book, but one that felt major to me: bullying.
"Eventually we all have to weigh what we want more: wanting back what we had or wanting what could be. To stay or to risk everything to move forward."
So many people have a similar story to tell, but here's mine: Growing up, my family was poor. I was a scholarship student at a local private school, and my parents sacrificed everything just to pay for the supplemental costs associated with attending said school. I didn't have the designer clothes, vacation homes, or flashy cars that my peers did, so I tried my best to keep people away from my life outside of school and blend in as best as possible. While I was by no means high on the list of popularity when I first arrived, there was a girl who immediately stuck out to me as the kid who was bullied. Let's call her Jane: she was unfortunate enough to be saddled with a last name that sounded dirty, a severely obese mother amongst a sea of nipped and tucked parents, and physical features that we all know teenagers love to unfairly torture their fellow students over.
Jane was unceasingly bullied throughout high school, basically to the point of it becoming Carrie style. The scenes involving Manny in this book reminded me SO much of Jane, and the final section where Ryen and Manny have an insightful connection in the bathroom brought back so many feelings. What if, instead of burning myself out by becoming the chair of every committee, Senior class president, and overall overachiever to hide every part of me that I was embarrassed of, I had taken a stand like Ryen? Sure, I never bullied her, but I might as well have by not taking a stand and screaming "enough!"
The sad part of this story is that a rumor went around that Jane had taken her life, and she's become a permanent resident inside my mental box of regrets. I've never told anyone this, but multiple times a year I log onto social media to search for her and see if maybe she's just been in hiding, and if maybe I can write a letter to Jane to apologize for not being what she needed, but her internet presence has stayed absent since her high school facebook was removed. That was a lot of word vomit, but basically what I'm saying is, this book could very well change the course of multiple people's lives, either by giving a friend the courage to reach out to someone who is hurting, or by telling someone who is being bullied that "You are important, and you can't be replaced. Hang on." Alright, moving on...
"I miss you every day, I write. You're my favorite place."
Honestly, I saw so many people raving about this book, and I was preparing myself for not loving it as much as the hype crowd. I was so wrong! Even when I thought I had some of the twists figured out, I realized they were red herrings that the author deliberately placed to distract me into thinking that I was clever, when in fact I was not. It was so refreshing being back in the same world as some of my favorite characters from the Devil's Night series, but it was great seeing this book stand on its own with complex characters and a memorable storyline. P Doug really took a chance by writing a heroine that is initially so unlikable, but grows into a completely new person throughout the course of the plot.
If you're late to the party like I am, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I think it'll remain amongst my favorites, and it's one I'd like to revisit again in the future. <3
Friends, this review is going to get a little personal. I could go on and on about how this book blew my mind because of it's connection to the world of Corrupt, or because the romance was perfectly flawed and refreshingly damaged, but I'm going to go in a slightly different direction with this space and touch on a somewhat minor portion of the book, but one that felt major to me: bullying.
"Eventually we all have to weigh what we want more: wanting back what we had or wanting what could be. To stay or to risk everything to move forward."
So many people have a similar story to tell, but here's mine: Growing up, my family was poor. I was a scholarship student at a local private school, and my parents sacrificed everything just to pay for the supplemental costs associated with attending said school. I didn't have the designer clothes, vacation homes, or flashy cars that my peers did, so I tried my best to keep people away from my life outside of school and blend in as best as possible. While I was by no means high on the list of popularity when I first arrived, there was a girl who immediately stuck out to me as the kid who was bullied. Let's call her Jane: she was unfortunate enough to be saddled with a last name that sounded dirty, a severely obese mother amongst a sea of nipped and tucked parents, and physical features that we all know teenagers love to unfairly torture their fellow students over.
Jane was unceasingly bullied throughout high school, basically to the point of it becoming Carrie style. The scenes involving Manny in this book reminded me SO much of Jane, and the final section where Ryen and Manny have an insightful connection in the bathroom brought back so many feelings. What if, instead of burning myself out by becoming the chair of every committee, Senior class president, and overall overachiever to hide every part of me that I was embarrassed of, I had taken a stand like Ryen? Sure, I never bullied her, but I might as well have by not taking a stand and screaming "enough!"
The sad part of this story is that a rumor went around that Jane had taken her life, and she's become a permanent resident inside my mental box of regrets. I've never told anyone this, but multiple times a year I log onto social media to search for her and see if maybe she's just been in hiding, and if maybe I can write a letter to Jane to apologize for not being what she needed, but her internet presence has stayed absent since her high school facebook was removed. That was a lot of word vomit, but basically what I'm saying is, this book could very well change the course of multiple people's lives, either by giving a friend the courage to reach out to someone who is hurting, or by telling someone who is being bullied that "You are important, and you can't be replaced. Hang on." Alright, moving on...
"I miss you every day, I write. You're my favorite place."
Honestly, I saw so many people raving about this book, and I was preparing myself for not loving it as much as the hype crowd. I was so wrong! Even when I thought I had some of the twists figured out, I realized they were red herrings that the author deliberately placed to distract me into thinking that I was clever, when in fact I was not. It was so refreshing being back in the same world as some of my favorite characters from the Devil's Night series, but it was great seeing this book stand on its own with complex characters and a memorable storyline. P Doug really took a chance by writing a heroine that is initially so unlikable, but grows into a completely new person throughout the course of the plot.
If you're late to the party like I am, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I think it'll remain amongst my favorites, and it's one I'd like to revisit again in the future. <3
November 5, 2021
average rating 4.04????? you’re all lying there’s no way
January 8, 2023
If you ever see me pick up another booktok book similar to this, for the love of god stop me.
October 12, 2016
4.5 Stars
Penelope Douglas delivers an extremely pertinent story that if she clipped down the sex scenes which are very graphic and over the top, this story would surely do well with the teen crowd. The message is brilliant and the story worth reading and so relevant to the struggles teens face today with bullying and losing your identity to fit in.
My favorite quote of the story is:
”This is a big ass world, and when we leave our small towns, we’re going to find our tribe. If we don’t stay true to ourselves, how will they recognize us? (Both of us, because you know we’re in the same tribe, right?)"
The story is very layered as two kids from neighboring towns get assigned one another as pen pals seven years prior to the opening of this story. Ryen Trevarrow and Misha Lare have an unbreakable friendship that has thrived through pen and paper. They have picked the other up when needed and developed a level of indestructible acceptance in one another.
”Seven years I’ve known her, but I’ve never seen her face. If I search her out now, there’s no going back."
Misha is inspired by Reyen’s writing and writes some thought provoking songs for his band but when his band has an event he’s shocked to run into a beautiful girl named Reyen. Reyen is hanging with the total opposite type of crowd she has alluded to all these years. Has the Reyen he’s been talking to been a façade? Or is she hidden under a layer of stuck up bitch and a cheer uniform?
”And then when I found out she was popular, not an outcast, and a cardboard cut-out, not at all original, I became angry. She led me to believe those things, and my muse was a lie.”
Misha keeps his identity a secret to Ryen even when he enrolls at her school with an agenda which is very well played by the author. Misha goes by the name Masen Laurent who pushes Reyn’s buttons trying to see if the girl he knows is somewhere within. The two hate one another, are crazy attracted to one another, while sparks continue to fly between these two.
There’s a vandal at the school calling him or herself “Punk”. Punk continues to call out students for their atrocious behavior which keeps the student body on its toes. There’s a death, there’s a creepy old carnival park, there’s a jock who thinks he’s invincible, there’s bullied students, and in the center of it all is Misha and Reyen.
”I want everything about you, Ryen, and I know you want me.” Her body shakes a little, and I lean in, kissing her on the cheek. “But I love the way you lie.”
The story is well written and executed and is sure to bring on big feels. The reveals were perfect and so clever while the love between Reyen and Misha was wonderful. The story and its message about staying true to yourself and not conforming is SO important to our country’s youth. Hoping the author does print a “PG” version so young girls and boys can enjoy this story as well!
“You’re my favorite place.”
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
Penelope Douglas delivers an extremely pertinent story that if she clipped down the sex scenes which are very graphic and over the top, this story would surely do well with the teen crowd. The message is brilliant and the story worth reading and so relevant to the struggles teens face today with bullying and losing your identity to fit in.
My favorite quote of the story is:
”This is a big ass world, and when we leave our small towns, we’re going to find our tribe. If we don’t stay true to ourselves, how will they recognize us? (Both of us, because you know we’re in the same tribe, right?)"
The story is very layered as two kids from neighboring towns get assigned one another as pen pals seven years prior to the opening of this story. Ryen Trevarrow and Misha Lare have an unbreakable friendship that has thrived through pen and paper. They have picked the other up when needed and developed a level of indestructible acceptance in one another.
”Seven years I’ve known her, but I’ve never seen her face. If I search her out now, there’s no going back."
Misha is inspired by Reyen’s writing and writes some thought provoking songs for his band but when his band has an event he’s shocked to run into a beautiful girl named Reyen. Reyen is hanging with the total opposite type of crowd she has alluded to all these years. Has the Reyen he’s been talking to been a façade? Or is she hidden under a layer of stuck up bitch and a cheer uniform?
”And then when I found out she was popular, not an outcast, and a cardboard cut-out, not at all original, I became angry. She led me to believe those things, and my muse was a lie.”
Misha keeps his identity a secret to Ryen even when he enrolls at her school with an agenda which is very well played by the author. Misha goes by the name Masen Laurent who pushes Reyn’s buttons trying to see if the girl he knows is somewhere within. The two hate one another, are crazy attracted to one another, while sparks continue to fly between these two.
There’s a vandal at the school calling him or herself “Punk”. Punk continues to call out students for their atrocious behavior which keeps the student body on its toes. There’s a death, there’s a creepy old carnival park, there’s a jock who thinks he’s invincible, there’s bullied students, and in the center of it all is Misha and Reyen.
”I want everything about you, Ryen, and I know you want me.” Her body shakes a little, and I lean in, kissing her on the cheek. “But I love the way you lie.”
The story is well written and executed and is sure to bring on big feels. The reveals were perfect and so clever while the love between Reyen and Misha was wonderful. The story and its message about staying true to yourself and not conforming is SO important to our country’s youth. Hoping the author does print a “PG” version so young girls and boys can enjoy this story as well!
“You’re my favorite place.”
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
August 27, 2021
Click here to see this review and others on my blog Reading With Daniella
Unpopular Opinion Alert: Punk 57 is garbage. This is sexist, disturbing, problematic, and absolute, total garbage.
I really loved the idea behind this book - long time pen pals who secretly fell in love with each other through their writing, but don’t actually like each other in real life, which would eventually evolve into a hate-to-love romance. It sounded unique, cute, and interesting, and with the thousands of raving reviews, I couldn’t have been more excited to dive into this.
I also couldn’t have been more disappointed or disgusted.
Minor spoilers ahead:
I think that Penelope Douglas was aiming to write a story about complex, flawed characters with troubled pasts that they are able to overcome. Instead, she wrote about the most horribly unlikeable and terrible protagonists that I have ever come across. Neither one has a single redeeming quality.
Ryen is shallow, boring, and mean.
Misha is entitled, rude, demanding, sexist, and disgusting.
It didn’t make any sense for Ryen to be interested in any sort of relationship with Misha prior to knowing his true identity because he mistreated her in countless, terrible ways. Ryen’s obsession with licking Misha’s lip piercing seemed to be the only plausible reason that she pursued him.
To put it simply, Misha treated Ryen like trash. He stole things from her and blackmailed her, pointed scissors at her throat and threatened her, cut off a chunk of her hair, called her terrible names including c*nt and bitch, humiliated her, pushed her, broke into her house more than once, slut-shamed her, and insulted her intelligence. He was never called out by anybody in the story for his abusive behaviour. Rather, Ryen seemed to get off to him harassing and mistreating her.
Misha also broke into Ryen’s house because he wanted to lay next to her while she slept, without her knowledge or permission. When he waltzed into her bedroom and found her awake, she was not the least bit concerned about him breaking in. She rolled her eyes and laughed it off. How is this perceived to be normal behavior?!?!
Misha thought he is so much better than Ryen because she’s a mean cheerleader at school but he is a bully too!! His relationship with Ryen is so abusive but this was not recognized even one single time!!
The sex scenes were written in a very vulgar manner filled with disgusting language that was honestly SO disturbing to read.
Even worse than that was the fact that the sex was often not entirely consenual. There were multiple instances in which Ryen asked Misha to stop or not do something, and he basically said “screw it, I’m gonna do what I want”.
THIS IS WRONG AND UNHEALTHY - STOP NORMALIZING IT!!!!!
It is not uncommon for books in the new adult romance genre to glorify men that are abusive and disrespectful to their sexual partner because they are a “dominating alpha male”, but this is probably the worst example that I have ever come across. No, no, no, no NO!
Misha would insult and slut-shame Ryen while or right before they were making out or having sex. Here is just one example:
I lick my lips.
And he loses it.
He reaches down, grabs the backs of my thighs and hauls me up, and I wrap my arms and legs around him, letting out a small whimper. Yes.
I part my lips, running them over the lip ring and savoring the feel as he groans and digs his fingers into my thighs. I tighten my legs around him, needing to feel him.
“Bitch,” he whispers.
“Loser.”
I was also deeply concerned by the fact that Misha seemed to use sex mainly as a method for him to gain possesion and dominance over Ryen. It gave the impression that he was just using her body to prove his ownership over her to other people. Ew.
I do not at all support Misha nicknaming Ryen “Rocks” because she was as dumb as a bag of rocks, but… well, he wasn’t exactly wrong.
The fact that many of the ideas behind Misha’ tattoos were influenced by Ryen and she failed to notice was so dumb. Keep in mind that they had seen each other naked several times and not even once did she pay attention to any of his tattoos? I know she was pretty busy licking his lip piercing every five seconds, but the fact that most of his tattoos were inspired by her and her letters and she didn’t notice a single one is so ridiculous that it’s comical.
The actual plot of this novel was a bit of a train-wreck. There was so much absurd drama it was making my head spin! Between their insane relationship problems, Misha’s band, Ryen’s “friends”, the vandalism, Misha’s living and family situations, and the bullying at school, it was a hot mess. The author put so much emphasis on their disastrous whirlwind of a romance that everything else got muddled. The big “plot twist” was a little random but I still managed to figure it out very early on in the story. I'm not even going to bother getting into the mess that was the whole school vandalism plot because I don't even have the words to explain how awful all of that was.
Also, can we please stop calling this an enemies-to-lovers romance? This book is a disgrace to that wonderful trope. We need to call this novel out for what it is: an unhealthy, problematic relationship rooted in deceit.
It’s definitely time for me to remove any other Penelope Douglas novels from my TBR.
Unpopular Opinion Alert: Punk 57 is garbage. This is sexist, disturbing, problematic, and absolute, total garbage.
I really loved the idea behind this book - long time pen pals who secretly fell in love with each other through their writing, but don’t actually like each other in real life, which would eventually evolve into a hate-to-love romance. It sounded unique, cute, and interesting, and with the thousands of raving reviews, I couldn’t have been more excited to dive into this.
I also couldn’t have been more disappointed or disgusted.
Minor spoilers ahead:
I think that Penelope Douglas was aiming to write a story about complex, flawed characters with troubled pasts that they are able to overcome. Instead, she wrote about the most horribly unlikeable and terrible protagonists that I have ever come across. Neither one has a single redeeming quality.
Ryen is shallow, boring, and mean.
Misha is entitled, rude, demanding, sexist, and disgusting.
It didn’t make any sense for Ryen to be interested in any sort of relationship with Misha prior to knowing his true identity because he mistreated her in countless, terrible ways. Ryen’s obsession with licking Misha’s lip piercing seemed to be the only plausible reason that she pursued him.
To put it simply, Misha treated Ryen like trash. He stole things from her and blackmailed her, pointed scissors at her throat and threatened her, cut off a chunk of her hair, called her terrible names including c*nt and bitch, humiliated her, pushed her, broke into her house more than once, slut-shamed her, and insulted her intelligence. He was never called out by anybody in the story for his abusive behaviour. Rather, Ryen seemed to get off to him harassing and mistreating her.
Misha also broke into Ryen’s house because he wanted to lay next to her while she slept, without her knowledge or permission. When he waltzed into her bedroom and found her awake, she was not the least bit concerned about him breaking in. She rolled her eyes and laughed it off. How is this perceived to be normal behavior?!?!
Misha thought he is so much better than Ryen because she’s a mean cheerleader at school but he is a bully too!! His relationship with Ryen is so abusive but this was not recognized even one single time!!
The sex scenes were written in a very vulgar manner filled with disgusting language that was honestly SO disturbing to read.
Even worse than that was the fact that the sex was often not entirely consenual. There were multiple instances in which Ryen asked Misha to stop or not do something, and he basically said “screw it, I’m gonna do what I want”.
THIS IS WRONG AND UNHEALTHY - STOP NORMALIZING IT!!!!!
It is not uncommon for books in the new adult romance genre to glorify men that are abusive and disrespectful to their sexual partner because they are a “dominating alpha male”, but this is probably the worst example that I have ever come across. No, no, no, no NO!
Misha would insult and slut-shame Ryen while or right before they were making out or having sex. Here is just one example:
I lick my lips.
And he loses it.
He reaches down, grabs the backs of my thighs and hauls me up, and I wrap my arms and legs around him, letting out a small whimper. Yes.
I part my lips, running them over the lip ring and savoring the feel as he groans and digs his fingers into my thighs. I tighten my legs around him, needing to feel him.
“Bitch,” he whispers.
“Loser.”
I was also deeply concerned by the fact that Misha seemed to use sex mainly as a method for him to gain possesion and dominance over Ryen. It gave the impression that he was just using her body to prove his ownership over her to other people. Ew.
I do not at all support Misha nicknaming Ryen “Rocks” because she was as dumb as a bag of rocks, but… well, he wasn’t exactly wrong.
The fact that many of the ideas behind Misha’ tattoos were influenced by Ryen and she failed to notice was so dumb. Keep in mind that they had seen each other naked several times and not even once did she pay attention to any of his tattoos? I know she was pretty busy licking his lip piercing every five seconds, but the fact that most of his tattoos were inspired by her and her letters and she didn’t notice a single one is so ridiculous that it’s comical.
The actual plot of this novel was a bit of a train-wreck. There was so much absurd drama it was making my head spin! Between their insane relationship problems, Misha’s band, Ryen’s “friends”, the vandalism, Misha’s living and family situations, and the bullying at school, it was a hot mess. The author put so much emphasis on their disastrous whirlwind of a romance that everything else got muddled. The big “plot twist” was a little random but I still managed to figure it out very early on in the story. I'm not even going to bother getting into the mess that was the whole school vandalism plot because I don't even have the words to explain how awful all of that was.
Also, can we please stop calling this an enemies-to-lovers romance? This book is a disgrace to that wonderful trope. We need to call this novel out for what it is: an unhealthy, problematic relationship rooted in deceit.
It’s definitely time for me to remove any other Penelope Douglas novels from my TBR.
February 24, 2023
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You know when you're ordering a really strong drink from a bar, and it's got a lot more alcohol in it than you thought, to the point that you can almost taste the hangover over the rum and artificial fruit, and you think to yourself, "This is a bad idea" but then drink it anyway, and order another because YOLO? That's me every time I pick up a new adult book. I tell myself, "Nenia, you're going to regret this, don't do it, you're not going to like it."
But trashy erotica novels, like booze, are easy to do to excess.
This is my second book by Penelope Douglas. The first I've read from her was CORRUPT, and that was lent to me by a kind GR friend via Kindle. I thought CORRUPT was okay, with reservations. I don't normally go in for erotica, especially erotica that reads like straight-up porn. All the men in that book were misogynistic and rapey, too, which added another level of nope. But the plot was decent and she was good at setting a decent pace, so I sort of half-enjoyed, half-wtf'd my way through the thing and at the end of the book, I wasn't mad. It was a flawed but decent read.
PUNK 57 I bought myself, which already means that I'm going to be an eensy bit more critical of it because I'm spending my hard-earned money on the book and judging it accordingly. PUNK 57 was our book of the month in the Unapologetic Romance Readers group for April, and as someone who had read her work previously, I was interested in seeing how it had changed from CORRUPT.
***WARNING: SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT***
PUNK 57 is about two characters, Misha and Ryen, who are both in high school. They are also pen pals, although they have never met face to face before. Misha is punk and in a band and has piercings. Ryen is a cheerleader and preppy and into things like TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER. After a tragedy happens in his life, Misha ends up going to Ryen's school under the name Masen for reasons that don't actually have anything to do with Ryen. When he realizes that she's not what he built her up to be on his imaginary pedestal, he gets angry and embarks on a mission to make her life hell. This, I actually didn't mind so much. It reminded me of Hana Yori Dango. A-hole heroes are actually a weakness of mine provided that a) the heroine reacts to this behavior accordingly and b) it takes a heck of a lot of groveling before the characters finally end up together.
This does not happen in PUNK 57. Ryen is attracted to this mean behavior, despite herself, and the two of them have several sex scenes that have this really uncomfortable element that was also present in CORRUPT that is neither healthy nor entirely consensual (at least, that's how it felt to me). And it wasn't the fact that it wasn't 100% consensual at times that bothered me so much as the fact that Ryen seemed to be embracing this behavior as natural and something she needed. Example: at one point Misha/Masen breaks into her house while she's sleeping and catches her in bed naked. He assumes, naturally, that any woman who is naked must be entertaining male company, and makes an effort of looking around for that Other Man. When he realizes that she was actually masturbating, he asks her if she was thinking of him. Me, I'd be on the phone with the cops well before that point, but she lets him watch. Ew. He's also constantly getting physical with her and making her feel bad about herself, whether it's berating her for being fake or criticizing her clothes for being too sexy - because how dare she bring male attention upon herself. Like it's her fault for them looking or some BS. In keeping with this "me man, woman mine" caveman attitude, the sex is always big man alpha sex, of the cervix-slamming variety (you know the kind I mean) and I know some people enjoy this, and that's fine, but that isn't my cup of tea at all. I rolled my eyes a lot. Especially when they try anal - without lube - and all she feels is a tiny burn. Ha! Woman must have Superman's butthole if he can go in dry and not cause her any pain, that's all I'm going to say.
I will say that the twist at the end with Misha's mom took me off-guard. I wasn't expecting that, although in hindsight it explains a lot. Like I said before, with CORRUPT, plotting isn't a weakness of Ms. Douglas's. But the confrontation and the way it was carried out left a similarly bad taste in my mouth, because it was a perfect mirror of his behavior towards Ryen and how it was actually pretty abusive. Misha is one of those guys who expects women to behave in certain ways, and if they violate that way at all, they are automatically bad. Ryen failed to live up to his sweet nerdy girl fantasy, so she becomes the whore in his eyes. Misha's mom couldn't take motherhood, so she becomes the horrible bitch who is responsible for all the problems in his life. It's the Madonna/whore complex, and I hate the Madonna/whore complex. Also, I'm realizing that I kind of hate Misha. I didn't want him to have an HEA with the heroine, because in my opinion, he never redeemed himself. He played the "Baby, I'm damaged" card and she completely bought it, final sale.
Two things I did like (so this review ends on a positive note): I like how the author incorporates music into her stories. That was something I liked about CORRUPT as well, especially since her taste in music is pretty similar to mine. I also liked how she had characters from CORRUPT cameo in PUNK 57, even if it was the creeps. Am I surprised that Misha knows/is friends with those creeps? No. He's a creep, too. Creeps of a feather flock together. (No, bad Nenia - stay positive!)
I didn't hate this book. I was afraid I would, but I didn't. Bar a few typos, it was fairly well written and had an interesting story. As much as I gripe, I must admit that I wasn't bored while reading it. It also has a Colleen Hoover-esque title whose meaning becomes clear at some point in the story, which is cool. Like Colleen Hoover, I think this author is capable of writing something some day that I will really enjoy. I like dark fiction, and I like suspense novels. She just needs to fine-tune the way she writes her heroes and sex scenes, and then we'll be golden.
2 to 2.5 stars
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