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A review by melissareadseverything
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
“They were perfect together. Until they met.”
I've been eager to dive into "Punk 57" for some time now, as Penelope Douglas has become my go-to author for comfort reads, pulling me out of reading slumps with her captivating narratives. Her adeptness at crafting stories within the realm of bully romances and enemies-to-lovers dynamics is truly remarkable, making her books an indulgence for fans of this genre, me included.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know both of the main characters in “Punk 57”. Although written from a dual point of view, “Punk 57” is primarily through Ryen’s POV whose depth and evolution throughout the book are expertly portrayed. Ryen’s character is portrayed in two different ways – one as a nerdy, geek-chic girl who is “one of the good ones” and helps the underdogs of the world. The other is the persona she adopts and shows to the outside world. Due to her own personal trauma and bullying as a child, she became one herself as a way to cope with the pressures of being accepted. Alongside Ryen is Misha, a character whose emo charm and tortured soul captivated me from the start. His descent into revenge adds a layer of intensity to this storyline. This could potentially be discomforting for some readers due to its portrayal of intense bullying.
It is hard to root for Ryen as she is not your typical hero. She does some pretty awful things in this book that go along with the underlying theme of acceptance and peer pressure. Ultimately, we would see Ryen’s evolution into the kind person she would like to be, regardless of outside opinions and influences. With Misha, you just want him to make better choices, but grief is a tricky thing, and he also must learn forgiveness and self-acceptance.
Although "Punk 57" didn't quite top my list of favorite Penelope Douglas books, it served its purpose as a refreshing palette cleanser. If you have read the Fall Away series already, this might disappoint in comparison. I couldn’t connect with Ryen and Misha on the same level I did with Tate and Jared. Nonetheless, this was an easy and quick read for me. I would recommend that readers check the trigger warnings as this does include intense bullying and sexual content.
3/5 Overall
3.5/5 Spice
Content Warnings:
- Heart Attack
- Depression
- Self-Hate
- Vandalism
- Bullying
I've been eager to dive into "Punk 57" for some time now, as Penelope Douglas has become my go-to author for comfort reads, pulling me out of reading slumps with her captivating narratives. Her adeptness at crafting stories within the realm of bully romances and enemies-to-lovers dynamics is truly remarkable, making her books an indulgence for fans of this genre, me included.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know both of the main characters in “Punk 57”. Although written from a dual point of view, “Punk 57” is primarily through Ryen’s POV whose depth and evolution throughout the book are expertly portrayed. Ryen’s character is portrayed in two different ways – one as a nerdy, geek-chic girl who is “one of the good ones” and helps the underdogs of the world. The other is the persona she adopts and shows to the outside world. Due to her own personal trauma and bullying as a child, she became one herself as a way to cope with the pressures of being accepted. Alongside Ryen is Misha, a character whose emo charm and tortured soul captivated me from the start. His descent into revenge adds a layer of intensity to this storyline. This could potentially be discomforting for some readers due to its portrayal of intense bullying.
It is hard to root for Ryen as she is not your typical hero. She does some pretty awful things in this book that go along with the underlying theme of acceptance and peer pressure. Ultimately, we would see Ryen’s evolution into the kind person she would like to be, regardless of outside opinions and influences. With Misha, you just want him to make better choices, but grief is a tricky thing, and he also must learn forgiveness and self-acceptance.
Although "Punk 57" didn't quite top my list of favorite Penelope Douglas books, it served its purpose as a refreshing palette cleanser. If you have read the Fall Away series already, this might disappoint in comparison. I couldn’t connect with Ryen and Misha on the same level I did with Tate and Jared. Nonetheless, this was an easy and quick read for me. I would recommend that readers check the trigger warnings as this does include intense bullying and sexual content.
3/5 Overall
3.5/5 Spice
Content Warnings:
- Heart Attack
- Depression
- Self-Hate
- Vandalism
- Bullying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death