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A review by inkdrinkers
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"We want it, but we know we shouldn't."
Jordan has never had it easy in life. Even on her birthday she ends up at the local theater, watching an 80s movie alone because no one else remembered the day. That is, until she meets Pike Lawson, who lights up her night until she realizes he's her boyfriend's father. When she ends up moving into Pike's house, what ensues is a careful dance back and forth between the two of them, wondering if their attraction is a fleeting taboo thought or something more.
Well, I can safely say this was NOT the book I was expecting. I've seen Birthday Girl float around the book community for years, mostly people insisting it was wildly steamy, or so taboo they couldn't even get through reading it. And it really... wasn't either? This entire story was heartbreakingly beautiful, from the way I rooted for Jordan from the beginning to the protectiveness Pike felt for her from the start. The taboo aspect didn't feel that strange to me, overall, Jordan was an adult, with plenty of adult experience under her belt that made her feel years past nineteen. One of my notes joked that the characters treated Pike like he was eighty - when he isn't even FOURTY in the pages. Maybe I'm corrupt, but honestly, this wasn't taboo at all.
As for the ex's dad angle... Cole sucked. I don't know what else to say. He was insufferable and I kept hoping Pike would throw a punch in to knock some sense into his son's head. Jordan deserved better and I think that made the entire reading experience ache for me. It was SUCH a slow burn that I wanted desperately for her to get what she deserved. All the girl wanted was a clothesline in her backyard and for someone to remember her birthday. We got there in the end, but God was that a lot of pain for me. Ultimately, it isn't a five star, but I did love it. It just missed a spark for me somewhere, but the end soothed a lot of the hurt from the last few chapters and the conflict.
All in all - is Birthday Girl the wild tryst everyone says? No. But it's a good story. And I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about two characters who deserve to find their happiness with each other. Even if it takes a lot of pain to get there, the payoff is worth it.
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Toxic relationship (current), Infidelity (mentioned, not between MCs), Domestic abuse/Physical abuse (mentioned in past)
Jordan has never had it easy in life. Even on her birthday she ends up at the local theater, watching an 80s movie alone because no one else remembered the day. That is, until she meets Pike Lawson, who lights up her night until she realizes he's her boyfriend's father. When she ends up moving into Pike's house, what ensues is a careful dance back and forth between the two of them, wondering if their attraction is a fleeting taboo thought or something more.
Well, I can safely say this was NOT the book I was expecting. I've seen Birthday Girl float around the book community for years, mostly people insisting it was wildly steamy, or so taboo they couldn't even get through reading it. And it really... wasn't either? This entire story was heartbreakingly beautiful, from the way I rooted for Jordan from the beginning to the protectiveness Pike felt for her from the start. The taboo aspect didn't feel that strange to me, overall, Jordan was an adult, with plenty of adult experience under her belt that made her feel years past nineteen. One of my notes joked that the characters treated Pike like he was eighty - when he isn't even FOURTY in the pages. Maybe I'm corrupt, but honestly, this wasn't taboo at all.
As for the ex's dad angle... Cole sucked. I don't know what else to say. He was insufferable and I kept hoping Pike would throw a punch in to knock some sense into his son's head. Jordan deserved better and I think that made the entire reading experience ache for me. It was SUCH a slow burn that I wanted desperately for her to get what she deserved. All the girl wanted was a clothesline in her backyard and for someone to remember her birthday. We got there in the end, but God was that a lot of pain for me. Ultimately, it isn't a five star, but I did love it. It just missed a spark for me somewhere, but the end soothed a lot of the hurt from the last few chapters and the conflict.
All in all - is Birthday Girl the wild tryst everyone says? No. But it's a good story. And I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about two characters who deserve to find their happiness with each other. Even if it takes a lot of pain to get there, the payoff is worth it.
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Toxic relationship (current), Infidelity (mentioned, not between MCs), Domestic abuse/Physical abuse (mentioned in past)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse