Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

40 reviews

itsmemiana's review against another edition

challenging 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

2.5

time to rant.....

okay so I wanna start by saying that if you liked this book, I totally respect your opinion and I honestly wish that was me because I wish I could like every book I read especially one that I've been wanting to read for so long. 🫶🏼

my face throughout the whole book was like this: 🤨😬😐

but anyways, I hated literally every single character in this book and SO MANY scenes gave me the ick.

these characters, both the main and the side characters had everything I absolutely hate about real life people... lying, faking and the worst thing of all.... bullying.... (and beyond).

I hated Ryen so much, I honestly didn't sympathise with her once over her constant explanations on why she was how she was..... I have zero sympathy for bullies and the dude she bullied is better than me because when she apologised, I would've given her the middle finger and told her to fuck off.

and Misha was annoying and a weirdo. obviously I sympathised with him over his sister, I can't imagine having to go through that but everything else... brother ewww... also, wtf is his problem with taking no's??? I feel like she constantly said "oh I don't wanna do this rn" and he would persuade her???? hello???? police????? and if I remember correctly there was even a moment where he threatened something (I just don't remember what LMAO).

I'm gonna admit that there is one thing Ryen pissed me off for but it's because I'm also guilty of that and I hate that about myself, which is choosing bad friends (HOWEVER as bad as I've chosen, I'd never let them bully other people in front of me, much less me joining them in the bullying).

and I think this is how I realise I do in fact have a limit on how much smut I mind in a book..... for me, it's the same if a book has smut or doesn't, I don't mind either way but now I know there's definitely something as too much smut. (or maybe it's because the rest of the book had a shitty plot, who knows). but I definitely thought this book had a bit too much.

also, can we talk about how this was set in high school?????? I know teenagers have sex (even tho I didn't LMAO) but come on....

this was my first ever Penelope Douglas book and I have Birthday Girl on my tbr but now idk if I should read it. but I guess I might give her another chance with that book, but we'll see.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Fatphobia, Pregnancy, and Outing

destinynichole11's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

clareasday's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Abandonment, and Alcohol

lancy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The book was good loved the character development but most sense made me tense up a bit or were to uncomfortable scene that made me realize how much I hated men but overall it was a Good book donnot recommend for kids under the age of 13 -15  ...yeath the scenes are too graphic 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

darkromancefiend08's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book... was everything the first time I read it. I loved it. I'll always be a little bit biased towards Penelope Douglas anyway because she knows how to write a female main character that I won't completely hate. The MMC, Misha, was a dark, tattooed broody soul. He definitely gave me butterflies and fanny flutters. I can get behind the FMC, Ryen, after a couple chapters. Her character development was absolutely gorgeous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

ekmartin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

karensareadsatnight's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting

jesshart8's review against another edition

tense 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

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: Sexual content and Gaslighting

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