Scan barcode
A review by fortissimofvck
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WORDS CAN NOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK OH MY GODDDDðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ especially the songs written by Misha (if they were on Spotify, they'd definitely be my top tracks on Spotify wrapped. I feel like I could write a thesis on those right now.) and the way Ryen recognized them once the verses came together. The sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers was just the cherry on top. Made me giggle and kick my feet like a schoolgirl, but it also made me want to throw the book across the room.
I think Ryen's character was something that I could very much relate to, and it made sense for Misha to be pissed once he figured out she was the same type of person they both hated. But I grew to absolutely love her as more about her was revealed. She hated herself, she wanted to fit in, and she tore herself apart just to make others like her... She wanted to feel better about herself so she made others feel worse, but that consequentially made her feel worse and the cycle kept on repeating. Like with Manny - she didn't not like him, he was just an easy target, and everyone else already picked on him anyway.
And then Masen (Misha) started going against her, putting her down, and she felt like she was in fourth grade again, alone and laughed at, and of course, she pushed back. She wasn't going to let anyone make her feel that way ever again. And that's where Misha caught sight of his Ryen, the one he exchanged letters with. And he wanted to see more, obviously. He wanted to bring her out of this shell she put herself in, to see more of her. They were already in love with each other before they ever met, and even though he hated her guts and fake personality, he still cared about her.
But then Ryen pieced it all together (that Masen was Misha) and, man, if I were her, I'd be pissed too. Especially after he told her that she had a friend - him - only for her to find out that he lied to her about his identity, and slept with her, all while she believed he was Masen. Then Misha showed her his tattoos, her favorite quotes, and some phrases from her letters, and I swear my heart melted <3
Out of everything, though, my favorite thing has to be the title - "PUNK" as in Ryen being Punk, the one who wrote on the school walls, and "57" from Misha's song; "Fifty-seven times I didn't call, Fifty-seven letters I didn't send, Fifty-seven stitches to breathe again, and then I fucking pretend. Fifty-seven to not need you, FIfty-seven times to give up on you, Fifty-seven steps away from you, FIfty-seven nights of nothing but you."
In conclusion, I love them <3
Some of my favorite scenes/quotes in chronological order:
I think Ryen's character was something that I could very much relate to, and it made sense for Misha to be pissed once he figured out she was the same type of person they both hated. But I grew to absolutely love her as more about her was revealed. She hated herself, she wanted to fit in, and she tore herself apart just to make others like her... She wanted to feel better about herself so she made others feel worse, but that consequentially made her feel worse and the cycle kept on repeating. Like with Manny - she didn't not like him, he was just an easy target, and everyone else already picked on him anyway.
And then Masen (Misha) started going against her, putting her down, and she felt like she was in fourth grade again, alone and laughed at, and of course, she pushed back. She wasn't going to let anyone make her feel that way ever again. And that's where Misha caught sight of his Ryen, the one he exchanged letters with. And he wanted to see more, obviously. He wanted to bring her out of this shell she put herself in, to see more of her. They were already in love with each other before they ever met, and even though he hated her guts and fake personality, he still cared about her.
But then Ryen pieced it all together (that Masen was Misha) and, man, if I were her, I'd be pissed too. Especially after he told her that she had a friend - him - only for her to find out that he lied to her about his identity, and slept with her, all while she believed he was Masen. Then Misha showed her his tattoos, her favorite quotes, and some phrases from her letters, and I swear my heart melted <3
Out of everything, though, my favorite thing has to be the title - "PUNK" as in Ryen being Punk, the one who wrote on the school walls, and "57" from Misha's song; "Fifty-seven times I didn't call, Fifty-seven letters I didn't send, Fifty-seven stitches to breathe again, and then I fucking pretend. Fifty-seven to not need you, FIfty-seven times to give up on you, Fifty-seven steps away from you, FIfty-seven nights of nothing but you."
In conclusion, I love them <3
Some of my favorite scenes/quotes in chronological order:
It's just that...given all her detestable attributes, she's never alone. You know? I kind of envy that. Okay, I really envy that. Right now, Misha Lare, with all his imperfections, is perfect in my head. She craves attention from men, and she'll almost always give them what they want, confusing shallow affection for real feelings. /.../ Winning a guy makes her feel above us. They have girlfriends, but they want her. It makes her feel powerful. Until she realizes they want anyone, and then she's back where she started. Ryen. The liar. The poser. The superficial bitch who's no different than all the others. But then I drop my eyes, remembering... Ryen. The kid who slipped five bucks in a letter in fifth grade when I told her my dad took away my allowance. /.../ Ryen. The beautiful, perfect girl who's so different from all the others. /.../ I miss you every day, I write. You're my favorite place. At least my Ryen is somewhere in there. I see it in how she's uncomfortable when that Cortez kid is bullied. I saw it this morning when she gave the janitor nail polish remover to help take off the graffiti. And I see it all over her room. The collages, the poetry, the lyrics I've sent her for review, the quotes and colors everywhere... That's the Ryen I know. But in ten years she could be Lyla. Self-serving, false, and screwing anything to forget how much she hates herself. And everything I've always found incredible about her will be gone. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her. To let her know that it was my sister's and somehow I liked the idea of Ryen having a part of her and what a dumb idea that was, because why would I want a vile brat like her to put her hands on something that belonged to her MASEN TELLING HER TO SAY MISHA'S NAME A FEW TIMES BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HEAR HER SAY HIS REAL NAME AND THEN KISSING HER AND SAYING, "Thank you." <33Ryen making a cover for Misha and Masen asking her what she's doing so she tells him that Misha makes music and she's making him a surprise for graduation - the cover </3"Are we still friends?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Because I need Misha, not Masen." I was wrong last night. Everything is Misha. They're not separate. And I need my friend.