Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Punk 57

"We're all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it, and some wear it."

TW: homophobia, bullying, drug abuse, depression, explicit sexual content, violence, toxic relationships (platonic & sexual)

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

I'll start this with the explanation that I've been in such a reading slump for the past few weeks (if not months), and I've been looking for a good "reset" book to get me back into the swing of reading a whole book in one sitting, or at least in a day or two. Everything I've read since mid-March (~~thanks, HOEAB~~) has taken me days, if not weeks, longer than I feel the books should have. 

BUT NOT PUNK 57

Now I've read a couple of other books from Penelope Douglas, and this definitely felt different from Credence and Birthday Girl but in a really great way. I wasn't looking for the kind of story we know and love those two books for, but as a friend described it, "a more sweet and vanilla ~~bully~~ romance." I started Punk 57 last night and finally felt myself get lost in a book again. swoon

Now, these MCs... 👩🏻‍🍳💋

They become pen pals in elementary school and continue writing letters through to high school. Ryen (our FMC) embodies what I feel most girls go through in school at some point. She wants to have friends and be liked but goes about it in a not so "nice girl" way, but eventually gets her redemption arc.

Misha (our MMC) is our angsty, high school love interest with an apparent bad boy streak that we all had a thing for at one point or another. He's been through a lot in his life, and he has something he knows he wants to take care of before too long. Neither one of them are "perfect," but PD has written these two in a way that you can't be mad at them for too long.

We're blessed with dual POVs from Ryen and Misha, and I couldn't imagine this book being half of what it is without both of them contributing.

It's so easy to fall in love with Ryen and Misha's story, and while you can guess some of the twists and turns, there were several that still surprised me. I loved reading the epilogue and author's note that PD included. *hats off to them for this book*

"It gets better, you are important, and you can't be replaced. Hang on. You'll find your tribe."

Content Warnings