Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

111 reviews

mouwuol's review

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5


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lancy's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The book was good loved the character development but most sense made me tense up a bit or were to uncomfortable scene that made me realize how much I hated men but overall it was a Good book donnot recommend for kids under the age of 13 -15  ...yeath the scenes are too graphic 

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elderlyemo's review

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This one had been on my TBR for a while and when I picked it up at the weekend I didn't expect to read it straight through in one sitting - but I did. 

This was one of the titles by the author that I knew relatively nothing about, but after reading and loving Birthday Girl around this time last year, I thought I'd give it a go and I wasn't disappointed. 

I loved that this was the first Penelope Douglas book that I had read that was two age appropriate people with great chemistry and a history, caught in a web of miscommunication and the flip of the weird kid with the lip ring taunting the cheerleader instead of the other way around was refreshing and made the seventeen year old version of me very excited. 

But I think, that was the problem. As a thirty something person now I just found the characters grating at times. The lyrics were awful, as were the stereotypes however inverted and the twist at the end was lukewarm at best. Misha dragged the charade on too long and sometimes I felt like Ryen wasn't quite as lovable as the book maybe wanted me to think she was. There were also a lot of side characters in this story that I didn't really care for, but there were some interesting themes and subplots as a result. 

The spice in this book was *10/10* and the characters genuinely had such great chemistry there were some moments where I completely forgot I was reading a book and yeah, if I am being honest - I really wanted them to end up together.

Overall, a pretty decent read. Same rating as Birthday Girl, and I'd probably reread it in the future. 



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maria_schnecki's review

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2.5

why? Not gonna lie, it kept me entertained but I also kinda feel icky about that, so yeah.
I liked the premise - pen pals that are not sure their friendship would survive the switch from just communicating by letters to meeting in person. There was potential there. I also liked the idea of having a not super likeable mc that has a great personality development. However, that was just not it.
Why all the bullying? Why? I get it, insecurities are tough and lead to ugly behaviour in some people, but... that does not excuse what this story is portraying. Also, our male mc
going the psycho route when finding out that said penpal is not a "nerdy loser" but a popular mean girl? Sorry, but whilst I might get being angry about being deceived for years (kinda), there is just no going back from that. The way Misha is overly possesive, brutal, mean and aggresive? Not something you can just have a good talk and be back to normal. But the author knows at least that, so what is the next best thing? Crime and very awkward hate-sex. Idk man but thats just not it. Also, albeit the not-so-great smut scenes, I did not hate this book by this point (mind you I also didn't enjoy it), but the ending??? What is going on? It would have been fine if Misha and Ryen had their happy ending, I get that, romance genre and all. But to have the audacity to assume the victim of years of bullying through the hands of Ryen (yes, standing by is, at the age of 18, something that you have to accept responsibility for) just joins their friend group for some fun times? Yeah no, you did the poor guy so dirty. At least leave him out of there. Most people deserve their happy ending, but not at the cost of other peoples well-being. Yikes


so yeah, yikes. Do not read if you get upset by bullying, aggressive behaviour, fighting ( both physical and verbal), sexual harassment and yeah like lots of bullying

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kokopeach's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Reasons to Bump This Up On Your TBR:
You like rich, small town friends to enemies to lovers with plenty of tension and secret betrayals. 

Reasons to Bump This Down On Your TBR (more in content warnings)
MCs are 18 but in high school. Like, I know why but also… why? Wattpad vibes are there but can be tolerated.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Extras ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Tears shed? Yes
Spice? Absolutely filthy
  • Would there still be a plot without the spice? Yes
Happy Ever After? Yes
Cliffhanger? No

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ My Rating System 1-5 ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Characters (Well-developed? Interesting?) — 4
Worldbuilding/Atmosphere (Coherent? Immersive? Consistent?) — 5
Plot (Well-balanced or underwhelming? Pacing?) — 4
Logic (Characters traits align with their actions? Convincing arcs/plot resolution?) — 3
Writing Style (Prose, dialogue, repetition, etc.) — 2.5
Intrigue (Page turner? Overall enjoyment?) — 4

Average Rating: 3.75

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anabug444's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

very spicy, a bit questionable at times though

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karensareadsatnight's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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madeleineelr's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

this book was just… not good??? like i can get all giddy with booktok-romances but this was just outright bad

ALSO THE EPILOGUE IS SO CRINGE!!!

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annabananadel's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

“Alone, Empty, Fraud, Shame, Fear. Close your eyes. There is nothing to see out here.” 

Would just wanna say that the plot twist at the end is a good one. Something I had not expected but mostly because I was focused on the sexual tension between Ryen and Misha.
Imagine not knowing what your own son looks like? Damn.


I think I like this story more than Birthday Girl but it might be also me not fully focused when I was listening to that book. I was more focused with this story and to be honest, I love the friends to enemies to lovers theme of this story. They were best friends first but then later on became enemies once they've actually met one another (granted that one of them does not know who the other person is). It's such a tragic to actually meet someone on the first chapter and just getting your heart broken after she was announced dead after the next few chapters (and no, this ain't a spoiler because it's literally on the first three chapters). I would have loved to meet Annie. But I guess, in order for the story to progress, it had to happen. I would have been devastated as well if I lost someone that close to me. 

I can also understand where Ryen is coming from - with how she's the "popular cheerleader" girl but when she really is a different person. I would also be as surprised as Misha when he found out that the girl he's been writing letters with for the past seven years is an entirely different person. I'm really glad Misha was there to straighten Ryen out but the only downside was that he took too long to confess who he really was. It's hard to tell someone the truth the longer you lie.

Overall, a great read if you'd like the teenage sexual drive since they really do be doing it intensely given their age. Penelope really writes amazing sexual scenes, to be honest. I'm here for it.

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jcapati's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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