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fanhhb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcohol, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
_mya_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Rape, Stalking, and Self harm
tiana_king's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Medical content, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual harassment, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
avacronin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While I did find the characters slightly annoying at times, I couldn't help but smile and root for them throughout reading the book. It features mystery and a whole load of romance. Definitely 18+, so if you're a child, or just don't like detailed, spicy romance scenes, maybe skip out on this read. It certainly is graphic in it's descriptions, but it did leave me giggling like a little girl at times.
I didn't love every single aspect of the book however, and I can understand why some people didn't enjoy reading this. But I'm not going to lie and say it didn't interest me (otherwise I wouldn't have committed myself to finishing it so quick). My feelings for the characters definitely grew while reading.
The Pros
- Like with many of my current reads, this is my first Penelope Douglas book, but I can guarantee it's not going to be my last. Although some criticize it, I enjoyed her writing style, and liked the ambiance she created. I'm a sucker for dual pov books, and I think her execution of this was good. It wasn't perfect, but I could clearly see the different ways in which Misha and Ryen reacts to unfavorable situations, and how they differ in the way they just generally act.
“We’re all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it and some wear it.”
- The character's in this book have huge personalities, and deep backstories. But at the start, Penelope deliberately introduces them straight out, how everybody else around them sees them. The version they show to the world. So obviously, the opinion we may make on them isn't the best. But once you stick with the book, you learn why they act that way, and while it's not an excuse, it's an explanation. And by the end, I can strongly say there was huge character development for a lot of the charters, not just Misha and Ryen.
The Cons
- For me, I feel like the whole epilogue didn't need to be there. I didn't mind the ending of the book, I actually found it satisfying and sweet, but the epilogue just felt disconnected? It didn't necessarily ruin the book, but I would have preferred to be left to imagine what the future held for Misha and Ryen, and not have been given their future.
I would recommend this book for anybody who doesn't mind reading something a bit raunchy with good character development. I would say this book is more character-driven, but it didn't have any real negative impact on the book. (Oh and the miscommunication trope is strong here, so if you don't like that then you probably won't like the book). Penelope Douglas have pleasantly surprised me, and I will return again to read more of their books.
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Body shaming, Classism, and Pregnancy
kyeruhh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment, Eating disorder, and Death
Minor: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcoholism
jenna36's review against another edition
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing
katto06's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
nymphalis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I'm surprised this was even published and it's getting this level of attention, it's straight up a bad fanfiction (and, for some perspective, most fan fictions I've read are way better).
It really tried to make a redemption arc for a bully that supported other violent bullies... Because she just was ✨ not like the other girls ✨ and had a deep dark bad boy love interest.
It's awful, the whole Manny forgiving her after her "boyfriend" Ripped his earlobe? I can't believe people don't see how wrong this book is...
Using the abuse of others to make a character arc? Ffs
I could write a 5 page essay about all the shameful tropes this book used, pretty much no character is redeemable, so much homophobia and misogyny it's disgusting.
Save your neurons and skip this one, even wattpad has better and less abusive stories (and definitely better smut)
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence