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lana_andreja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Cursing
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bookheathens's review against another edition
4.0
TW: homophobia, bullying, drug abuse, depression, explicit sexual content, violence, toxic relationships (platonic & sexual)
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
I'll start this with the explanation that I've been in such a reading slump for the past few weeks (if not months), and I've been looking for a good "reset" book to get me back into the swing of reading a whole book in one sitting, or at least in a day or two. Everything I've read since mid-March (
BUT NOT PUNK 57
Now I've read a couple of other books from Penelope Douglas, and this definitely felt different from Credence and Birthday Girl but in a really great way. I wasn't looking for the kind of story we know and love those two books for, but as a friend described it, "a more sweet and vanilla
Now, these MCs... 👩🏻🍳💋
They become pen pals in elementary school and continue writing letters through to high school. Ryen (our FMC) embodies what I feel most girls go through in school at some point. She wants to have friends and be liked but goes about it in a not so "nice girl" way, but eventually gets her redemption arc.
Misha (our MMC) is our angsty, high school love interest with an apparent bad boy streak that we all had a thing for at one point or another. He's been through a lot in his life, and he has something he knows he wants to take care of before too long. Neither one of them are "perfect," but PD has written these two in a way that you can't be mad at them for too long.
We're blessed with dual POVs from Ryen and Misha, and I couldn't imagine this book being half of what it is without both of them contributing.
It's so easy to fall in love with Ryen and Misha's story, and while you can guess some of the twists and turns, there were several that still surprised me. I loved reading the epilogue and author's note that PD included. *hats off to them for this book*
"It gets better, you are important, and you can't be replaced. Hang on. You'll find your tribe."
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
kiah___'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
mllewellyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bryelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I feel like there was a miss opportunity with the end of this book. This book focuses so much on friendships and wanting to be accepted. The end when the main character is 5 years older we get no sense on if she still has these friends who stood up with her against the bullies.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse
jittersparks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
autumnreads98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Death
gcutler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
reasalic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence