Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

32 reviews

awildlala's review against another edition

I could not finish this for the life of me. I went into this book blind (and I think because of this book, it’ll be the last time I ever do that). It’s a cliche storyline about two teenage outcasts and is filled with smut written about two barely 18 year olds in high school. I’m guessing because I’m not the target audience for this, that it left me just feeling gross to read it. The author being even much older than me also leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s just horribly written, over-rated teenage smut. I feel like it also sets a real bad tone for what is acceptable when it comes to consent. I need a shower and not a cold one like Douglas might intend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexual content

noinikaido's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Gaslighting

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Violence

laneelizabeth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I put this book off for so long because I was afraid it wouldn't be as good as Birthday Girl or live up to the hype from booktok. I was wrong. It was so much better than I could have expected so many twists and turns and such a good representation of what high school is and how badly everyone wants to fit in. I will definitely be rereading this soon

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Cursing, and Sexual content

wackzo's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Violence

honeybunchesofoats06's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Violence

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.

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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

boulter1089's review against another edition

tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

dark fast-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Stalking, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

elsa_clare's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Self harm, Infidelity, Violence, Death of parent, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual content

kayf's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-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

3.0

I was going to give this book 2 ⭐ because the characters were so toxic but I think Ryen developed a lot, and her letter at the end added a special touch. I went into this blind but would suggest if you want to read this look up the triggers first.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting