A review by archiveofrasa
Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

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

3.0

the best way I can describe this is a wattpad straight teen fiction book but for the lesbians (finally(?)).
for the girls that don't know, that means:
  • juvenile writing
  • questionable plots
  • too long
  • sex scenes (4 to be exact, you judge if that is too much or enough)
  • a rollercoaster ride

I'm just gonna dump my thoughts into a less put-together manner, starting off with my grievances:
  • the bullying. I have never liked the bullying trope but I knew what I was getting into at least, so I can't personally complain, but I do want to make it clear that Clay is a piece of shit at the beginning
  • classism galore but that is essentially the foundation of their enemies relationship, sprinkled in with gay denial from Clay. with classism comes racism because intersectionality. yes Liv and her family are like a fucking quarter Cuban but she's got an olive skin tone (my skin tone) and if you know the issues Latine people face being in the USA... yeah. do with that what you will 
  • Liv pressuring Clay to come out like girl how many times do I have to see this plotline

but it did remind me of the fiction I read when I was younger and surrounded by straight couples so it's probably nostalgia talking to me haha

and I did very much appreciate the certain topics discussed, such as:
  • lesbians being seen as predatory by straight girls
  • the social construct of virginity
  • men fetishising lesbians
like, even if this is just a trashy story that people love to read, at least it is sending out a few well-written messages to its audience.

also, that plot twist with Callum, genuinely did not see that coming. that man became just a little more interesting but he's still a fuckass douche
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