What is the first thing that pops out when you search for a dark romance book recommendation on BookTok? Well, if it is not one of Penelope Douglas’ books, then welcome, dear reader. We are about to introduce you to one of the hottest authors in dark romance fiction, who is not afraid to explore raw emotions and harsh themes.
For most, Punk 57 is considered a standalone, but it is actually part of an interconnected series called Devil’s Night. We are about to dive deep into the book synopsis and themes of this steamy, new adult, bully romance which is totally worth its BookTok hype.
Do not miss our previous post on the most iconic Punk 57 quotes, and characters breakdown. With no further ado, let’s proceed, and be alerted at all times because there are spoilers everywhere.
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Not a dark romance enthusiast? We’ve got you covered. Find our book review on Fourth Wing, and some mind-blowing theories just before you start with Onyx Storm.
At a time when social media leaves nothing to the imagination, two children in the fifth grade become pen pals by accident. Misha Lare was supposed to be exchanging letters with a fellow boy student from another school, but got stuck with a girl named Ryen. Yep, anyone could have misunderstood the gender-neutral name.
Yet, the two kids form a strong bond through their letters, and decide to keep this outdated yet romantic way of keeping in touch. This feels so unique that they make a rather strange deal with each other: never to meet in person. Neither Misha nor Ryen what to break the spell, and let appearances ruin their friendship.
At this point, someone may wonder if any of them is lacking in that domain. That’s a big, fat no. Misha Lare is a tall, dark, tattooed artist. He makes music with his band, and has all the attributes of a f* boy. He is not, though. All boxes checked—plus, he has a lip ring. Ryen Trevarrow is as hot as it gets, a cheerleader and chased around by the infamous football captain, Trey. Cliché, but bear with us.
Misha and Ryen share everything in their letters: from their worst fears, to movie reviews. Misha gatekeeps Ryen’s letters as they are a source of inspiration for his music. Ryen claims Misha is her safe space, where she can be nothing but her true self.
You guessed it. Ryen struggles at school in her effort to be the spoiled brat her fellow high school students seem to encourage her to be. Attention is the only means of survival in Ryen’s school. Sounds relatable, huh?
While Misha has got to know a sweet, funny, self-righteous girl, the world knows of Ryen Trevarrow as a dummy bunny. It serves her, until things get too complicated… Misha breaks their pact and looks for her on the socials. It does not take long to figure what kind of girl she is pretending to be. Unfortunately, before he can confront her, his life takes a dramatic turn. His younger sister, the joy and pride of his father, dies unexpectedly.
Misha leaves his house, and finds refuge in an abandoned theme park. He does not speak to his father for three years—his mother had left them years ago. Ryen keeps writing to him, trying to reach out, even taking a leap of faith and visiting his house, but Misha is nowhere. Misha is her best friend, but she wouldn’t know him even if he was actually standing in front of her. Which actually happens.
These two pen pals become strangers, friends turning to enemies to lovers. As Misha states: We were perfect for each other, until we met.
Misha appears in Ryen’s school under an alias: Masen Laurent, and he has come back with no good intentions. He has open business with a person that has stolen something of his—his mother. Ryen is nothing but an obstacle on his way. He wants nothing to do with her, but Penelope Douglas knows better. Masen challenges Ryen to react to her circumstances, hoping deep inside that the girl in the letters is real, and the cheerleader is simply a mask. From confronting her in the library, to throwing punches at her loser boyfriend-to-be, Masen cannot hold himself back when it comes to her.
While he helps Ryen understand and accept herself, he is hiding behind his own mask. Misha plans to get what he came for and leave everything, including Ryen behind. But the more time they spend together, the heavier his secret becomes. All until the secret of his true identity blows up in his face, at a time when his connection with Ryen is the only thing that makes him feel whole again.
The storyline is more of a journey of self-discovery, and overcoming insecurities by accepting our real, authentic selves. No one does you better than you, Ryen comes to understand. They will expose each other, and come face to face with difficult emotions, and hard decisions that at the end of the day will lead them to realise they are better together.
Misha Lare is the kind of guy your mom warns you about—but spoiler alert, he’s worth it. Tall, tattooed, and rocking a lip ring, he’s a moody musician with just the right amount of edge. But Misha’s appeal isn’t just skin deep. His letters to Ryen reveal a softer side, one brimming with wit, vulnerability, and a quiet need for connection. After a tragedy upends his world, he buries himself in anger and grief, letting the boy Ryen knew on paper fade into the shadows of a man seeking closure. When he steps into Ryen’s life under a new identity, he’s torn between exposing the truth and holding on to the version of her he once cherished.
Ryen Trevarrow is the girl everyone loves to hate—and not because she’s evil. No, she’s just really good at being exactly what people expect. Too good, if you ask Misha. She’s the quintessential cheerleader: pretty, popular, and confident. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find a girl desperately trying to balance who she is with who she’s expected to be. Ryen’s letters to Misha are her safe haven, a space where she can be real, raw, and unapologetically herself. In real life, she wears the mask of the queen bee, even if it means burying the parts of her that Misha once loved. Her journey is messy and unapologetically human, filled with moments that make you want to both hug her and scream at her.
Together, Misha and Ryen create the perfect storm. Their chemistry is undeniable, their fights are explosive, and their journey is one of tearing down walls they didn’t even realize they’d built. Their story is about finding authenticity in a world obsessed with appearances—and maybe, just maybe, proving that even the most broken pieces can seamlessly fit together.
It is not coincidental that Punk 57 is one of our favorite books. At its core, it is a love letter to authenticity in a world obsessed with appearances. It’s the story of what happens when you stop pretending and start owning the messy, beautiful chaos of who you really are. Through the main characters’ journey, Penelope Douglas peels back the layers of high school hierarchies, toxic popularity, and the unspoken rules we live by.
Authenticity vs. Facade
Misha and Ryen are walking contradictions: one hides behind music, the other behind popularity. Their letters are a sanctuary, a place where they can be raw and real. But in the real world, they’re trapped behind masks—masks that crack and crumble as their worlds collide.
Grief and Healing
Misha’s grief over his sister’s death is a raw wound, shaping his every move. This theme doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings—it yanks them, showing how loss can destroy us, reshape us, and sometimes, even rebuild us.
Love as a Catalyst
This isn’t your fluffy, romcom kind of love—it’s messy, unfiltered, and at times, brutal. Love in Punk 57 doesn’t fix everything, but it pushes Misha and Ryen to confront the truths they’d rather ignore.
The Cost of Conformity
Ryen’s struggle to fit in is painfully relatable—how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice for acceptance? The book takes a sharp, unapologetic look at the high cost of trying to please everyone but yourself.
In the end, Punk 57 doesn’t just tell a story; it holds up a mirror, daring you to ask yourself: Who are you when no one’s watching?
Misha and Ryen aren’t just pen pals—they’re the match, the gasoline, and the spark. If you’re ready for a love story that doesn’t play nice, Punk 57 is waiting to ruin you—in the best possible way.
Once you are in Penelope Douglas’ world, you never get out. Say a big yes to this kind of romance genre and start off your journey with Devil’s Night Book #1, Corrupt, or if you are in for the smut, pick up Birthday Girl. Add them to your Amazon, Goodreads or any other alternative today, and fill your TBR with some more titles.
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Punk 57 is a rollercoaster of spice, sizzling tension, and complicated emotions. Misha and Ryen connect and evolve through their intimate moments, making this new-adult story all the more interesting. And in case you are doubtful, here are the spicy chapters to look forward to: Ch. 10, 12, 13, 1,7 and 18.
Punk 57 is a dark, bully romance, with new adult vibes, exploring major themes that concern the teenagers, such as the sense of inclusion, and self-development. It is quite spicy, with graphic sex scenes, and explicit language to transmit the raw emotions of a dark romance.
Misha Lare is the main male character in Punk 57. The choice of the name is not at all accidental. This very misunderstanding was the reason which brought Misha and Ryen close as pen pals. Their teachers thought that they paired their students with someone of the same gender.
