You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Devoured Every Word
An agonizing tale of the two children growing together and growing apart. My heart was torn in all directions. I was immersed in their story. I still don't know how I feel but I know it was refreshing to read this story as it is so different from anything I've read lately.
An agonizing tale of the two children growing together and growing apart. My heart was torn in all directions. I was immersed in their story. I still don't know how I feel but I know it was refreshing to read this story as it is so different from anything I've read lately.
This was so bingeable, I compulsively stayed up late reading.
Follows the journey of a 10 year old boy who accidentally takes a baby under his wing and raises it on his own. Story of survival and hardship.
The writing was beautiful.
The last 30% of the book didn’t move me like I thought it wound. It didn’t make me cry.
The female MMC was very frustrating but I guess that’s the point.
Follows the journey of a 10 year old boy who accidentally takes a baby under his wing and raises it on his own. Story of survival and hardship.
The writing was beautiful.
The last 30% of the book didn’t move me like I thought it wound. It didn’t make me cry.
The female MMC was very frustrating but I guess that’s the point.
4.75-5 stars
This was my first book by Ms. Pepper Winters and I am not disappointed. Damn, this was good af! This was so well written. There was angst and tension and misery that was so palpable. Ren’s wariness and Della’s determination for everything to appear normal (at the expense of her feelings) between them literally had me on the edge of my seat. Every new trial that they encountered made me want to tear up. I just wanted the best for them. I understand that the emotions they’re experiencing are so difficult to navigate and how those emotions can feel so treacherous. I will be reading book 2 immediately!
"Love was simple with one rule: if you hurt the person you love, it would be as bad as hurting yourself."
“Goodbye, Ren Wild. Goodbye to fallen dreams and impossible fantasies.”
4.5 stars
This is the first book I've read by Pepper Winters although I bought other works by this author. The reason why I decided to start with "The Boy and his Ribbon" was that its plot seemed different and intriguing compared to other stories I've read recently, and I wanted something "new". I've got to say, finishing this book was hard and it took me more days than I usually take to finish reading it. The reason is the plot itself. This book is not for everyone because of its dark themes first and foremost, but also because Pepper Winters has such a deep and intricate way of describing places, emotions, characters and whatnot, that you need to read carefully or you'll be lost.
This story was full of details and it explored different themes. People who are sensible and like sugary romances may find it hard to digest this book because it describes the horrors of being abused, sold and tortured at a young age among many things, that the male protagonist Ren Wild has suffered ever since he was young. One night, when Ren is 10 years old, he finally escapes the farm where he was basically a slave along with other children, but he was not free yet. On the other hand, the night he obtained his freedom was also the night he was bound to another human that he despised that hid in his backpack, the 1 year old daughter of the family who owned him, Della Mclary.
"The Boy and his Ribbon" explores the friends to lovers thrope but in an unconventional way, because Ren hates Della at first, but then he starts caring for her since it wasn't her choice to have such horrible parents. As they escape far from the Mclary's Farm together, these two people become attached to each other and form a strong bond. At first, when the story starts and Ren is 10 and Della is 1, their relationship is the one of a brother and a sister, but as the story slowly progresses and they grow up, their familiar love turns into something forbidden that either of them understand since they are innocent and have lived most of their lives on the run and they only trusted each other.
The book has a dual POV, but the majority of it is told by Ren and it starts when he is 10 years old, while Della's POV is in the present. They are recounting us their story, but we don't know where they are now, we will probably find out in "The Girl and her Ren" which is the second book of the series that will come out in June. I wish that this one is told more by Della's perspective because most of what we know from this one is what Ren showed us.
This is the first book I've read by Pepper Winters although I bought other works by this author. The reason why I decided to start with "The Boy and his Ribbon" was that its plot seemed different and intriguing compared to other stories I've read recently, and I wanted something "new". I've got to say, finishing this book was hard and it took me more days than I usually take to finish reading it. The reason is the plot itself. This book is not for everyone because of its dark themes first and foremost, but also because Pepper Winters has such a deep and intricate way of describing places, emotions, characters and whatnot, that you need to read carefully or you'll be lost.
This story was full of details and it explored different themes. People who are sensible and like sugary romances may find it hard to digest this book because it describes the horrors of being abused, sold and tortured at a young age among many things, that the male protagonist Ren Wild has suffered ever since he was young. One night, when Ren is 10 years old, he finally escapes the farm where he was basically a slave along with other children, but he was not free yet. On the other hand, the night he obtained his freedom was also the night he was bound to another human that he despised that hid in his backpack, the 1 year old daughter of the family who owned him, Della Mclary.
"The Boy and his Ribbon" explores the friends to lovers thrope but in an unconventional way, because Ren hates Della at first, but then he starts caring for her since it wasn't her choice to have such horrible parents. As they escape far from the Mclary's Farm together, these two people become attached to each other and form a strong bond. At first, when the story starts and Ren is 10 and Della is 1, their relationship is the one of a brother and a sister, but as the story slowly progresses and they grow up, their familiar love turns into something forbidden that either of them understand since they are innocent and have lived most of their lives on the run and they only trusted each other.
The book has a dual POV, but the majority of it is told by Ren and it starts when he is 10 years old, while Della's POV is in the present. They are recounting us their story, but we don't know where they are now, we will probably find out in "The Girl and her Ren" which is the second book of the series that will come out in June. I wish that this one is told more by Della's perspective because most of what we know from this one is what Ren showed us.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ren + della
content warnings
duet | 1st book in Ribbon duet | MF | taboo | recommended by @notriggernancy
| guardian x ward | age gap (10 yrs) | child labor | outdoor survival | a true coming of age story | cliffhanger
Reading this book brought me right back to that star-crossed feeling of first love—the kind of teenage desire and intensity that felt magical and all-consuming when we were young and totally swept up in it. What I loved most was how real it felt. There were no crazy plot twists, no billionaires, no exaggerated personalities—just a sweet, painful story. It captured life in all its messy, simple, beautiful complexity. Growing up isn’t the same for everyone, and this book really got that. I don’t even know how else to explain it—it just felt like real life. There were farmhouses, animals, illness, health, hard times, deep friendships, found family, and moments of true understanding. It was grounded, heartfelt, and honest and I loved every minute of it. This story of Ren and Della will live with me until the end of my days.
content warnings
duet | 1st book in Ribbon duet | MF | taboo | recommended by @notriggernancy
| guardian x ward | age gap (10 yrs) | child labor | outdoor survival | a true coming of age story | cliffhanger
Reading this book brought me right back to that star-crossed feeling of first love—the kind of teenage desire and intensity that felt magical and all-consuming when we were young and totally swept up in it. What I loved most was how real it felt. There were no crazy plot twists, no billionaires, no exaggerated personalities—just a sweet, painful story. It captured life in all its messy, simple, beautiful complexity. Growing up isn’t the same for everyone, and this book really got that. I don’t even know how else to explain it—it just felt like real life. There were farmhouses, animals, illness, health, hard times, deep friendships, found family, and moments of true understanding. It was grounded, heartfelt, and honest and I loved every minute of it. This story of Ren and Della will live with me until the end of my days.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes