[Review] Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57

by Penelope Douglas

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: October 18th 2016

“We were perfect together. Until we met.”

Misha

I can’t help but smile at the words in her letter. She misses me.

In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.

It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…

And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.

Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.

We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?

Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?

F*ck it. I need to meet her.

I just don’t expect to hate what I find.

Ryen

He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.

Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should’ve gotten his number or picture or something.

He could be gone forever.

Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.

I don't even know where to start. This is the first time I read anything from Penelope Douglas and I just can't get enough. The book is about two pen pals, Ryen and Misha, who got paired at school in fifth grade, as an exercise when they mistakenly thought Misha is a girl and Ryen is a boy. Finding a great connection that they never had with anyone else in real life, they kept on writing to each other for seven years. That is until Misha found out who Ryen really is in real life.

"We're all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it and some wear it."

The first thing I noticed about this book before I read it (through reviews) is that the heroine, Ryen, is the Regina type, basically the main B of high school. This may be a turn off to some people, but if anything it actually convinced me that I really need this book. Call me crazy, but I am just so sick of the typical heroine who are sweet, innocent, and all kind of good who later got paired with this popular jock (input eye roll). Because guess what? being selfish makes you real. I believe even the nicest people out there have at least one or two things that they did that they're not proud of. And as much as I want to hate Ryen for what she did, I can't help but understand where she's coming from. It was a really bold move to set Ryen into someone that is not easy to love (she said that in her notes), and I love it. There was just something special to be able to delve into a villain's head for once, and to see that you don't have to be perfect to earn your happy ending. And Misha. To be honest there are time where I just want to kick him in the shin but I just can't stop myself for loving him! The way Penelope had developed the characters are simply amazing.

The plot sequence are definitely perfect. There wasn't a single paragraph that felt stretched or unnecessary. Pair it with the unique plot, great characters and writing style, this book is an easy five star for me. Overall, even though it can be hard for some people to understand the heroine's point of view, and get through the whole book without any lingering hatred for her, I am totally and absolutely recommending this. If I can forget and read this all over again, I would, that's how much it had made an impact to me.

Note this though, don't repeat my mistake. If you do decide to pick this book up, don't read it when you're PMS ing. You'll find yourself confused for crying and laughing in the span of five minutes, and the next thing you know, you have an empty bottle of wine in your right hand. Don't judge. But yeah, this book is so great, I don't know what to do with myself now.

Rating

★★★★★