Punk 57

Punk 57, by Penelope Douglas, was on my "Most anticipated books of 2016" list. She’s an auto-buy author for me. I don’t even need to read the blurb of her new book to make me one-click. Her first novel, Bully, completely stole my breath away and is the book that I read when I need to get out of a book slump. Her characters are unforgettable and her stories linger with you for a long time. I had high expectations for Punk 57 and Penelope Douglas exceeded all of them! I already miss Ryen and Misha and look forward to reading their story again. When a book is that good, you never let it go. Ryen and Misha’s friendship started when they became pen pals. At the age of eleven, Ryen tries to find her place in the world. Things are difficult for her, but the one thing she can always count on his Misha. He always knows what to say to make her smile and bring joy to her life. As years go by, their friendship grows stronger. Their no social media, no phone numbers, no pictures rule is working out for them. Until Misha sees a picture of a girl named Ryen online. His curiosity gets the best of him. Things take a drastic turn the night he comes face-to-face with Ryen. Things are not always as they seem. Reality is about to come knocking on the door. And, it’s ugly. As the story started to develop, I knew that I was in for a roller coaster ride of emotions. The more I read this story, the more I was left speechless with the twists and turns that the author included in this book. This story was all about moments. That moment when the title starts to make sense. That moment when all the emotions that you are feeling are creating a tornado inside your soul. That moment when you simply can’t continue reading because you never want this story to end. That moment when the message that is hiding between the pages of this book becomes loud and clear. The moment when you realize that at the end of the day, there is a little bit of Ryen and Misha in all of us. The chemistry between Ryen and Misha was extremely intense. Their attraction is explosive, all-consuming and seriously hot! I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I was left fanning myself. They have a chemistry that leaves you begging for more! I loved how Ryen’s letters inspired Misha. I loved how their friendship overcame very difficult moments. Moments that have left them emotionally scared. I loved how Misha always pushed Ryen to the extreme and how she always pushed back. Together, they are perfectly imperfect. I love them to pieces and I am so happy that I finally got to read their story. It will definitely make my "Top Reads of 2016" list. If you have not read anything by Penelope Douglas yet, I highly recommend that you add her books to your TBR list. You won't be disappointed! I give, Punk 57, by Penelope Douglas, 5 thrilling, passionate, intoxicating, unforgettable, all-consuming stars!

I really liked this read. It felt different than the stereotypical romance. I liked the surprised and their tumultuous relationship. I enjoyed the comeuppance that was given. The characters came off the page, and I was invested but also related heavily to their feelings and issues. I could see them, I knew them, sometimes I was them. That was really beautiful to me. I also thought the plotline was really great and well understood. Would recommend this book. It's a nice, easy read.

There are a million reasons why Penelope Douglas is on my Top 5 list. From the moment I read Bully I've brought every single one of her books without a second thought, I've purchased them without reading the blurb. I count down the days until each one is released. My Top 5 list is reserved for 'those' authors. The ones whose every word they've written speaks directly to your heart and soul. The ones who write incredibly real and flawed characters who you can't help but relate to and learn something from. Learning something from a character, a storyline or a moment in a book is one of the most important things to me when reading. And Penelope Douglas has every single one of these qualities and then some in spades! Like everything that Penelope has written I loved Punk 57. “You kissed my hair while sticking me in the heart. But your house will break before I fall apart. -Punk” Punk 57 hit me where it hurts the most. Ryen wasn’t your typical teenage mean girl she was a troubled and self conscious girl who didn’t know who she was. From a young age she knew what she wanted and she stepped on whoever she had to, to get there. But once she got it she wasn't so sure that all the hurt and the pain was worth it. That which glitters is not always gold. I really related to Ryen, I related to the alone feeling she had. Being a teenager is truly a difficult experience and something that everyone struggles with for different reasons and Penelope captured perfectly how hard it is to be a teenager. She captured the aloneness of it, the feelings of inadequacy. Misha was a similar story. He was lost in a different way. He knew who he was but he didn't know what he wanted from life anymore. He lost his passion for the things he truly loved. Ryen and Misha were pen pals for 7 years. They found each other through a series of instances that I believe were fate. Ryen and Misha created a bond that not many knew. or understood. They were each others truth and each others constant in life. While Misha was Ryen's chance for her to be who she really wanted to be, Ryen was Misha's muse. Every word the other writes is imprinted with there souls. And after 7 years of letters where they bared there souls fate intervene's again and circumstances change. Penelope Douglas wrote some incredible lyrics in this story and I hope one day they're paired with music and sung by someone with an incredible voice. Just like every other word Penelope wrote these touched your heart and soul with the honesty and truth behind them. Ryen and Misha brought out the worst in each other. Yet they also brought out the best in each other. They became the people they truly wanted to be when the other pushed them to do so. The angst, the tension and the banter created an incredibly unique story line that captured my attention from the first page and held it completely until the last. Punk 57 was a complex and emotional roller coaster. I was so enthralled with this heart wrenching story that once I started I couldn't put it down. I hardly stopped to highlight my favourite quotes. I wish I could tell you so much more about how much I loved the story of Ryen and Misha and why but this is the type of story that you should experience blind. Even though I love people to read my reviews, I urge you to avoid spoilers, avoid highlighted quotes. Avoid the world until you've read the last page of this stand out story of finding yourself and finding your tribe.

"Punk 57" by Penelope Douglas offers readers a gritty and intense journey into the world of young adult romance, earning a three-star review from me. One aspect of the book that stood out to me was its raw and unfiltered portrayal of teenage life. The characters grapple with issues such as identity, friendship, and the complexities of love, navigating a turbulent path fraught with emotion and passion. Douglas does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of adolescence, resulting in a narrative that feels authentic and compelling. Additionally, the chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, drawing readers into their tumultuous relationship as it unfolds. The push-and-pull dynamic between the characters adds depth and tension to the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they eagerly anticipate what will happen next. However, while "Punk 57" excels in capturing the intensity of teenage emotions, I found the plot to be somewhat predictable. The storyline follows familiar tropes and clichés often found in young adult romance novels, detracting from the overall originality of the narrative. As a result, the plot felt somewhat formulaic and lacked the element of surprise that I look for in a book. Furthermore, I found some of the characterizations to be lacking in depth. While the protagonists are well-developed, I felt that certain supporting characters were underutilized and could have benefited from more fleshing out. This limited exploration of secondary characters detracted from the richness of the story, leaving me wanting more from the ensemble cast. In conclusion, "Punk 57" offers a gritty and intense exploration of teenage romance, complete with authentic emotions and palpable chemistry between the protagonists. While the book suffers from a somewhat predictable plot and underdeveloped supporting characters, it nevertheless delivers an engaging reading experience that will resonate with fans of young adult romance. Overall, I would rate it as a solid three-star read.

"Eventually we all have to weigh what we want more: wanting back what we had or wanting what could be. To stay or to risk everything to move forward." Penelope Douglas is my go-to author for dark teen romances. She perfectly illustrates teenage angst, the chaotic emotions and the unfettered recklessness that exists in those years, but she weaves in maturity and depth that ensure they're not meant for young readers. Her stories are as heavy as they are sensual, as dark as they are romantic. I went into Punk 57 craving the pleasure-pain this author is known for, the exquisite war between lust and cruelty, the delicious romance that evolves on the thin line between love and hate. What I wasn't expecting was how powerfully complex this storyline would be. It's gritty and sexy and completely addictive, but it's also a very profound demonstration of the weight of our words. I expected to find an entertaining, angsty romance between these pages. But Douglas' perfectly placed wording transformed this romance into something bigger, something powerful, something important that resonated with me long after the last page. Misha and Ryen have been pen pals for years. Their friendship is a solid one built on the trust that they'd always be there for each other even though they've never met. They've supported each other, confided in each other, leaned on each other, all the while quietly reflecting on their growing romantic feelings. But when Misha accidentally discovers who Ryen is, a messy, unpredictable course of events begins to unfold and this story of friendship becomes an enemies to lovers romance rife with deception and secrecy. Punk 57 is a bit reminiscent of Bully and Corrupt, but with an intoxicating, original premise. The cruel push and pull between Misha and Ryen reminded me so much of Tate and Jared; the mutual disdain they often hold for each other mixed with their ruthless taunting reminded me of Michael and Rika. But while Misha and Ryen's story is very much their own, this unputdownable, tumultuous friends to enemies to lovers romance rivals Bully and Corrupt as one of my favorites from this author. "How do you tell your friend— your best friend— that you’ve been right here, under her nose, playing with her like a puppet?" Punk 57 is an edgy, unpredictable romance built on secrets and lies, loss and fear. But beyond the romance, the sex, the superficial friendships, there's a deeper message within these words. This story is ugly. It demands we face things we don't want to look at, feel things we don't want to feel. While the romantic heartbreak within this story hurts so good, it's the other side of this book, the cruelty, the bullying, the abuse, the assault, the truth of what humans have the capacity to inflict upon one another that's so disturbing and so difficult to read. But as dark as this story is, this book is a reminder that it gets better, that there's hope, that everything that's lost can be found again. This book is a reminder that we're not alone. It's a reminder to be brave, to lift each other up even when it's scary, to not give up. Punk 57 is about the power of words, the power they hold to inflict irreparable harm, to free us, to shame, to empower, their ability to lie and to release the truth. Words have the capacity to hurt and to heal, to destroy us and save us. Whether those words are spoken aloud or written in a letter or sung on stage or painted on a wall or printed in a beautifully brutal book, they hold the power to change our lives. "You’re not alone. It gets better. You are important, and you can’t be replaced. Hang on."

First off , I’d like to say how much I love Penelope Douglas’ books. She has been and is a constant one click for me . Her books are solid , very well researched and excellently executed. In this one she tackles an equally delicate and important subject : Bullying. I think it’s very brave of her to broach such a subject and she did it very beautifully in this one .She also did it in such a smooth way without living out the romance . I thought the elements of romance , suspense were very well balanced . She put together a unique story written in a way that gives the reader a peek into both sides : The bully and the victim . I thought that was very clever and smart of her . The way the story progressed was phenomenal. I loved the characters in this book so much. Everything about them was interesting, their bratty personalities and what really hidden behind it, the strength that the showed only made their flaws much more intriguing. I loved Ryen’s personality, even though she infuriated sometimes, but I loved how Penelope created a real, flawed and equally loveable and despicable heroine. It was very courageous of her. I loved how she could hold herself against Misha and how she conveyed strength even though behind all that façade she was hiding. That behind that strong gleaming armor was a scared little girl that only wanted to fit in . I loved her weird tastes in music and how different she was on the inside from the image she was portraying on the outside. Misha’s personality was less complex than Ryen’s in my opinion. I loved how he stood up for ad against the two different versions of Ryen. I loved the fact that he never gave up on her. I loved how he helped her find herself again. How he made her see that her weirdness was amazing and that he only could’ve loved her the way she is. In my opinion, he was her savior. The only reason I’m not giving this book a five star is because I thought it dragged a little bit at some points. I thought that she could’ve cut through some parts and reveal more of the story at some points because I had already figured out the twist she was working us through . I thought she should’ve revealed the twist a bit earlier and developed more of its consequences. I was left a bit waiting for something more . Other than that . I loved the book

So I was looking for something to listen to while I was heading out for a drive, and this book popped up. Now it’s been on my TBR for a hot minute, but something always came up, until this week. Once I started listening I couldn’t stop, Penelope just writes gripping stories that make me want to stop whatever I’m doing and just enjoy. Ryen and Misha started out as elementary school pen pals, and they continued writing to each other long after their school assignment was over, forming a friendship that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Now seniors in high school, Misha’s world has been rocked and he made a decision to right some wrongs which brings him into Ryen’s world, and that’s when things start to get really interesting. Do not sleep on this book! Just don’t, there are twists and turns, and Aha moments that will stun you. I love how Penelope tells a story, and I am so glad I finally read this one!

Why did it take me this long to read Punk 57? I have no idea, but I’m kicking myself in the behind for waiting so long. I purchased Punk 57 a while ago and was going through my kindle looking for a book to read and decided it was time to read it. I needed a YA/High School Bully Romance, and I knew Penelope Douglas’s would deliver. Storyline/My Thoughts: First, I loved this book has Ryen and Misha penpals. I haven’t read a book that had the characters as penpals first. Here it was Ryen and Misha became penpals due to their teachers thinking that Ryen was a boy and Misha was a girl. They learn the mistake quickly and hit it off, writing to each other for seven years back and forth. They’re rules: to not meet in person, call each other, or follow each other on social media. The minute they meet, one doesn’t realize it’s their pen pal, and the other doesn’t like how they are in real life. It’s been three months now, and Misha hasn’t written Ryen. Ryen is worried something happened to him, and she will do anything to have him write her back. She needs him more than ever, but what if he’s near her and he’s not the boy she fell in love with within the letters he wrote her. This book has everything I’m looking for in a YA/HS bully romance story. One of the characters is a jerk to the other, but it’s due to them protecting others who are being bullied. They want that person to know how ugly they are and don’t like this side of them. The other person is living a lie just to fit in high school. They don’t want to be lonely ever again. I felt for both characters in different ways. At the beginning of the book, something happens, which is a tearjerker moment. I could understand why a particular character wanted to close off from everyone else, but they should have reached out to the one person who had been there for them. I couldn’t stand some of Ryen’s so-called friends. They were backstabbers, and the minute she started showing her authentic self, they made fun of her and bullied her. Ryen handled it, though, in her own way. One of my favorite scenes in this book was when Will Grayson, Michael Crist, and Kai Mori appeared in the book. Misha gets arrested, and Will and his friends are there to assist. I recommend reading the Devil’s Night series by Penelope Douglas if you haven’t been introduced to Will, Michael, and Kai yet. There are some steamy/spicy moments between Ryen and Misha in this book. Library scene, the back of the black truck, bedroom, etc. Yes, Penelope Douglas knows to bring the spicy moments. Overall, this book gets five stars, and I’ll find myself rereading it in the future since I had a hard time putting it down. Everything Penelope Douglas has written so far is addicting. Listed as one of my favorite authors, check. Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone (If you read Devil’s Night by Penelope Douglas, some characters from that series appear in this book) Trope(s)/Element(s): Penpals (Friends) to Lovers; Enemies to Lovers; Bully Romance Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy Young Adult/High School Bully Romance books, this book is for you. Favorite Quote(s): “We were perfect for each other. Until we met.” and “We’re all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it and some wear it.”