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A review by ye_li
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
Did not finish book.
This book had me fucking seething. I literally could not finish it, I was that fucking angry. I did end up skimming through to the end, and… like, holy shit? This book is fucking horrible??
To start with, almost every single fucking character was so 2D. A whiny, pathetic female lead that's "not like other girls" and a brooding male lead that's "tall, dark, and handsome." Every other female character was a mean girl stereotype, while every other male character was some douchy jock—with the exception of Ten and Manny. So, correction, every other male character was either a douchy jock of some flavor of queer stereotyping.
There was so much unnecessary homophobia with no relevance to the story, whatsoever. By the way, it's not directed at the main characters. I'll address that first because it bothered me so fucking much. To start, there's this one part where Misha's truck was vandalized with white paint. Someone had written f@gg0t on the front. Most of the homophobia happens toward a minor character named Manny Cortez. Manny is used as a punching bag, just to make the main characters look better. Why is there so much homophobia thrown around with no relevant fucking reason? It's not adding anything to the story… Seriously, I was so fucking pissed off. Ryen only ever thinks about herself. Like, what? How can you be so self-centered? It was so fucking uncomfortable.
I just could not stand Ryen. I found her so fucking pathetic and annoying. Like, c'mon, grow a fucking spine why don't you? Oh, boo-hoo, you didn't wanna go to prom alone, so you still tried to get with the misogynistic and homophobic asshole. Seriously? I gave up on trying to like her when she still put up with Trey, even after all his fucking bullshit. But, oh, she was still kind to so-and-so! Right, after she stood by and watched them have the shit beat out of them. No, she just didn't want to become a victim! She was trying to keep herself safe! And that's what's so fucking pathetic about her. She doesn't change by the end of the book, either… she still cares about appearances and shit.
I know most people hate Misha more, but I liked him more out of the two of them. Misha was more, I don't know, competent? He was still a prick, but at least he didn't try to cover it up, you know?Oh, but, the whole thing with the principal, Trey's step-mom, actually being Misha's biological mother? Just fuck off. What a stupid fucking plot twist.
God, this book just made me so god damn uncomfortable and annoyed me to no end.
You could argue that, oh, they're not supposed to be likable! They're meant to be flawed, they're meant to be making bad decisions—blah, blah, blah. OK, fine, but there needs to be something likable about the main characters. Especially when the readers are clearly meant to empathize with them!!
I'm surprised I managed to read so much of this godawful thing.
To start with, almost every single fucking character was so 2D. A whiny, pathetic female lead that's "not like other girls" and a brooding male lead that's "tall, dark, and handsome." Every other female character was a mean girl stereotype, while every other male character was some douchy jock—with the exception of Ten and Manny. So, correction, every other male character was either a douchy jock of some flavor of queer stereotyping.
There was so much unnecessary homophobia with no relevance to the story, whatsoever. By the way, it's not directed at the main characters. I'll address that first because it bothered me so fucking much.
I just could not stand Ryen. I found her so fucking pathetic and annoying. Like, c'mon, grow a fucking spine why don't you? Oh, boo-hoo, you didn't wanna go to prom alone, so you still tried to get with the misogynistic and homophobic asshole. Seriously? I gave up on trying to like her when she still put up with Trey, even after all his fucking bullshit. But, oh, she was still kind to so-and-so! Right, after she stood by and watched them have the shit beat out of them. No, she just didn't want to become a victim! She was trying to keep herself safe! And that's what's so fucking pathetic about her. She doesn't change by the end of the book, either… she still cares about appearances and shit.
I know most people hate Misha more, but I liked him more out of the two of them. Misha was more, I don't know, competent? He was still a prick, but at least he didn't try to cover it up, you know?
God, this book just made me so god damn uncomfortable and annoyed me to no end.
You could argue that, oh, they're not supposed to be likable! They're meant to be flawed, they're meant to be making bad decisions—blah, blah, blah. OK, fine, but there needs to be something likable about the main characters. Especially when the readers are clearly meant to empathize with them!!
I'm surprised I managed to read so much of this godawful thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Moderate: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Drug abuse