Every dark-romance reader who respects themselves has heard of Penelope Douglas’ works at the very least! For some, October 30th is just a random date, but for the true fans, it’s Devil’s Night!
Many intend to read Punk 57 as a standalone, but we should warn you that the allure of the Thunder Bay universe is incomplete without the correct book order. Penelope encourages her audience to read Punk 57 right after Corrupt (Devil’s Night #1). The characters, places, names, etc. are all connected. And yes, Ryen and Misha reappear further in the series. Does the name Damon Torrence ring any bells?
Punk 57 is a new adult, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, bully romance, with unforgettable characters that develop a raw dynamic in a double POV narrative. Misha and Ryen meet as pen-pals when kids, and continue exchanging letters through their school years, without having ever met in real life! Crazy, right?
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It’s cutesy until it isn’t.
The struggle is very real, and the attraction is unmatchable. If you know a bit about Penelope Douglas, you should know she likes romance dark, and smutty.
Did we mention that BookTok has already fan-casted the characters?
Oh, it’s so good to be a bookworm these days—surely it has a couple of benefits, and struggles. We all have the potential to be a better reader, and Crewfiction has all the tips listed just for you!
Let’s not waste more time and proceed to our special character analysis of Punk 57, but not before we warn you there are gonna be a lot of spoilers. So, beware, dear reader.
Ryen and Misha start being pen pals in fifth grade, arguing about everything and anything until they are best friends in high school. Their bond is so unique, and their habit of writing to each other while they are a Face-Time away, so special, that they are afraid to break it by actually meeting. Fate, though, as in most dark-romance books, works against them—okay, eventually it will be for good, but they will get roasted in the process.
Ryen struggles with high school relationships, feeling all the pretense, and lies, but being unable to escape from it. Misha is the only person who knows her for real—but he doesn’t really. When he abruptly stops writing back, Ryen feels she is left completely alone to face the world.
Misha’s life turns upside down after the loss of his sister. His small family, being him, his father, and Annie, suddenly becomes even smaller. Suffocated by his dad’s and his own guilt, Misha leaves his home and finds refuge in an abandoned Theme Park. He gives up writing music, his band, his father, and his friends. The only thing he craves is revenge, and when his plan is ready, he promises to be ruthless.
The last obstacle he ever thought he would face is Ryen herself.
Going undercover in Ryen’s high school, Misha plays the role of Masen Laurent, a transferred student, who just wants to complete his last semester—supposedly. His plan is to corner that one person who still has something of Annie’s, and walks through the halls of that very high school. Once he has what he needs, he will be gone. However, Ryen and her crew mess with his mind, and Misha is tempted to let Masen enjoy tormenting Ryen as long as he is around.
Beautiful, popular, smart, a cheerleader, and the most popular guy’s love interest. Sounds ideal, right? Not if you need to pretend to be something you aren’t only to feel included. Ryen is mean, and cavalier, she acts like she does not care, and manipulates the people around her, giving them little bits of what they want from her. To outsiders, Ryen Trevarrow is immaculate. The persona she has built is so strong that it threatens to consume her soul.
Who is the real Ryen?
She is a romantic overthinker. An amateur artist. A caring and kind soul who struggles with the fear of being left alone. She has a strong voice, which she only lets express itself inside the walls of her bedroom. An outcast at heart, but a superficial diva in the school’s reality. She makes everything appear perfect while secretly drowning in her own insecurities. She believes the world accepts her for her rehearsed persona, in terms she cannot even accept herself.
Misha is an aspiring artist, getting ready for the first real tour with his band. At the beginning of the story, he is content with his life, having his family, and Ryen close. Until Annie dies, and Misha’s world shutters. His light is gone, and he gives up himself, his father, his band, and Ryen. He cannot write music anymore. He feels life has betrayed him.
His new persona, Masen Laurent, gives him an opportunity to re-live the high school year he missed; the drama, peer pressure, and heartbreak. His mysterious, brooding character is not a fake at all, but the main reason he attracts all the attention. This and his tattoos, of course. He is a troublemaker who does not stand injustice or bullies. If Ryen is one of them, then she is one more person he has to show them their place.
Misha’s motive is revenge, and he is guilt-driven. He blames himself for Annie’s death, and his father for being weak, and unapproachable. Misha has a pure heart, though, and it does not take much time before it shows.
Another hot piece of information about Misha is that he is one of Senator Greyson’s grandsons—aka Will Greyson III’s cousin.
Misha’s sister lived with the thought that her mom left her because she was not enough. Naturally, Annie’s sole goal in life was to become the perfect daughter; the first student in her class, a competent athlete, and her family’s greatest asset at home. She studied, exercised, cleaned, cooked—she did everything. Until her body betrayed her, and she collapsed. Her loss is a turning point in Misha’s life, as it caused Misha’s decline through his self-guilt.
He is the son of Senator Greyson, thus he comes from a very powerful family. His wife left him because she could not stand the pressure of his name, and all his attention went to Annie. He and Misha believed Annie would be the only one to succeed and make them proud. Father and son are totally estranged after Annie’s death, with him abandoning himself, his shop, and his son entirely.
Ryen’s “best friend”, who is hooking up with Ryen’s love interest, while she is in a relationship with his best friend. Some would say she is the top mean girl—and she is. She is an attention seeker who won’t hesitate to betray her friends to help herself. Ryen hates her but needs her at the same time to preserve her seat in the school’s cafeteria-table of cool kids.
Apart from Misha, Ten is the only other friend that Ryen truly cares about. She keeps her pretentious attitude with him, as well, but she feels more relaxed and carefree with him. She feels protective over him and appreciates his looseness and easy smiles.
Misha’s love rival, and the real bully. He acts like people owe him, being an athlete, and the headmaster’s son. He has every girl he wants, but Ryen is his ultimate conquest. He does not hesitate to have his fun with her best friend, though. Trey antagonizes Misha, as Misha gains the students’ favor, and eventually, he exposes Trey.
Ryen and Misha share something profound and pure. A friendship that is the base of their development, their decline, and redemption. Through their letters, they exchange parts of themselves that they are not brave enough to admit to others. Ryen is a source of inspiration, Misha’s muse, and the first person he asks for feedback for his songs. Misha is Ryen’s safe haven, the receiver of all her tenderness, humor, creativity, and authenticity. She does not need to pretend with him. He has accepted her for who she is, even if he hasn’t realized that.
After finding out who she is in real life, Misha gets disappointed. He cannot believe that his soft Ryen is a queen bee. And above all, he cannot accept how hot she is. Even though he is determined to find out more about her, his sister’s loss drives them apart, until he re-appears in Ryen’s life as Mason Laurent. Now, in his own game of pretense, Mason attracts Ryen, attempting to unravel the real person underneath the mask. He pushes her, and challenges her until she breaks—until they both break.
They fall, rise, and fall again. Ryen starts as his friend, who becomes his enemy and then his lover. While she helps him go through his guilt, and reclaim his life, Ryen must battle with her own demons. Is she content living in a lie? Is one person’s acceptance enough? Will she ever be able to accept herself and forgive Misha?
If the tropes haven’t convinced you to add it to your Amazon library or seek out book reviews on Goodreads or other alternatives, then the spice, and smut will!
Believe us when we say it is worth it.
Find out more books that worth the hype on TikTok in our special list or if you like it particularly spicy, then check out our pick of steamy romance titles.
Going through puberty is no joke. Every teen goes through an existential crisis, when they challenge, and criticize everything, in an attempt to define themselves and be proud of who they are. Ryen has always been struggling with her true self, and how she will be accepted if the truth showed. The rejection she went through as a kid was a traumatic experience that made her think that the worst feeling was to be left out. However, she still keeps parts of her true self real in her letters with Misha, and he is her reminder that she can be a better version of herself and be accepted.
Misha also searches for meaning in life through his lyrics. Later, he struggles with loss, and decides to go beyond himself, and pretend to be someone else. His facade threatens to swallow him whole, and the fake reality he builds around Ryen is too alluring to step away from. At some point, he must choose himself over the lie, even if he should give up on Ryen.
Misha’s guilt drives him away from himself, his father, and his dream life. He blames himself for Annie’s death, and he feels he has failed her and his father. He is too ashamed to seek help, and he chooses to isolate himself instead and push Ryen away. When his sadness numbs him, his anger keeps his blood boiling. His hatred leads him back to his mother and the reasons she abandoned them. Later in the story, he feels guilty towards his father, and Ryen for lying to her. The question is; Is he strong enough to forgive himself and fight for what he loves?
The whole theme of this story is how to mask your insecurities. A fake smile, a mean comment, power games, broodiness, and aggressiveness. Ryen seems to believe that her true self is lacking and to survive the school year, she needs to put on her perfect, mean-girl, cheerleader mask. Instead of hiding her insecurities, though, hoping they will go away, her need to release those negative feelings steadily gets more intense.
Misha runs away from home, unable to deal with Annie’s loss and his dad’s downfall. He pretends to be strong and self-sufficient, independent, and untouchable, when in reality he needs a hug, and words of affirmation. In order to survive, he must get rid of every weakness, something that eventually will make him dangerous. However, what if one particular weakness turns out to be his salvation?
The main characters of Punk 57 are very relatable as they get exposed to their imperfections, and find out how unique those make them. Misha and Ryen go through the self-discovery journey every new adult eventually does. They learn that pretending to be someone else is the worst strategy a person could follow. Suppressed feelings and self-criticism are not the answer to peer pressure. Finding people who accept you for who you are and encourage you to become better, is. If you are not accepted, do not pretend just to adapt, leave. The right person is somewhere awaiting! Ryen has been waiting for Misha for three years…
Penelope Douglas’ works thrive in the dark-romance space, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, and Kill Switch being her top-searched titles on social media. Go through the trigger warnings, and try not to get too excited. Here in Crewfiction, we listen and we do not judge.
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Misha Lare appears after years in hiding as Masen Laurent, a creative wordplay of his real name. He fakes his documents and enters the high school where Ryen attends, to confront his mother and take back something that belonged to his late sister.
Yes, Misha is a guy in Punk 57. Misha Lare is the main character and Ryen’s love interest. Penelope Douglas has carefully chosen his name, as its neutral nature intends to confuse people. In fifth grade, when they were to find pen pals, Ryen’s teacher accidentally picked Misha for her, thinking he was a girl. Something similar happened with Misha’s teacher, matching him with Ryen thinking she is a boy.
Penelope Douglas has recommended a reading order for the books in the Devil’s Night universe. Punk 57 is suggested to be read after Corrupt, and before Hideaway. Then, you can go through Kill Switch and Nightfall, and please note the novellas, Conclave and Fire Night.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
