catlover272827's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler
um so basically the book was pretty good. The twist at the ends with the principal being the mom of Misha was pretty cool. I liked the ending, it was satisfying with Misha being a rockstar and them being not only content, but happy. I like how they kept their romance alive along the years. We are so proud of Misha and Ryen (for her character development). Loved them as characters and loved their story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Bullying, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
julieokrzesik's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual harassment and Pregnancy
loveitall's review against another edition
fast-paced
- 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
1.0
I should've dnf'ed but I had hope for some minor plot points but, personally, felt let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug abuse and Pregnancy
whosfernn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
1.75
This book feels like something straight from Wattpad, written by some 15 year old girl who's never experienced anything vaguely romantic in her life. Not a single one of the characters is likeable (except for Manny, who honestly deserves so much better). Misha serves to remind me of why I am terrified of men. His theme song might as well be Norman fucking Rockwell by Lana Del Rey. And oh my god, I can not read another 'romance' where the characters just hate-fuck a couple times and decide they're in love without sharing even a single positive moment with each other. I can't do it. I'm going insane.
It's a shame, because I wanted to like this book. I'd heard mixed things, but from what I'd heard about the plot it sounded like something I would enjoy, or at least be interested in. I was not interested. I was either annoyed or outright bored for at least 75% of this book, and that's being generous.
I do want to give the dark romance genre another shot though, so if anyone has any recommendations that are not as god awful as this book, send them my way.
It's a shame, because I wanted to like this book. I'd heard mixed things, but from what I'd heard about the plot it sounded like something I would enjoy, or at least be interested in. I was not interested. I was either annoyed or outright bored for at least 75% of this book, and that's being generous.
I do want to give the dark romance genre another shot though, so if anyone has any recommendations that are not as god awful as this book, send them my way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual violence, Grief, Misogyny, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual assault, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking
Minor: Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Rape
coles14_'s review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Bullying, Child death, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Drug use
irisvdn's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Bullying
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, and Drug abuse
tiana_king's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Holy cow was this spicy. I’ve never read a friends to enemies to lovers book before but now I will hunt all of them down. Usually I’m not huge on contemporary because why read about the real word when I live in it? But this actually felt like an escape into a high school experience that I both wish I had and am glad I didn’t. Was this book full of bullying and sexism? Yes. But hey so is high school. And all the sex was safe sex so kudos to the author.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
Punk 57 overall felt like a good, enjoyable Wattpad book. It follows Ryen and Misha, two pen pals who are currently in their final year of high-school. They've been writing to each other for 7 years, but for circumstances that I don't want to spoil for you, they kinda stopped writing. This books follows their relationship, and how writing to each other for 7 years without ever seeing their faces or hearing their voices can change the way you view somebody. Or how sometimes, while you think you know somebody inside and out, you can be mistaken.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Body shaming, Classism, and Pregnancy
lalbee's review against another edition
1.0
- the f-slur is used multiple time as an insult and gets treated as just such
- i thought the sex scenes were only mediocre and if i wasn’t into woman i would think they were bland. But the Ryen’s body gets described was sometimes hot
- I felt like Misha was forgiven way more easy than Ryen was
- i could write better song lyrics than Misha
- i wish she would have had an other good female friend except just the one that was mentioned briefly in the epilogue that we never met before
- She gets pregnant and they are married in the epilogue which has a five year time jump from highschool.so idk
Maybe it’s just icky because i despise the pregnancy trope, especially when it seems to come out of nowhere
- i thought the sex scenes were only mediocre and if i wasn’t into woman i would think they were bland. But the Ryen’s body gets described was sometimes hot
- I felt like Misha was forgiven way more easy than Ryen was
- i could write better song lyrics than Misha
- i wish she would have had an other good female friend except just the one that was mentioned briefly in the epilogue that we never met before
Spoiler
- She gets pregnant and they are married in the epilogue which has a five year time jump from highschool.so idk
Maybe it’s just icky because i despise the pregnancy trope, especially when it seems to come out of nowhere
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Homophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
ilovestupidbooks's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
(spoilers) really good book! i didn’t like one of the main characters (Ryen) but i enjoyed the plot and the pace and writing style. i liked the idea but i didn’t see the point in Ryen being Punk and it was never explained why she did it. i liked the twist at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, and Homophobia