Published by Independently Published on October 2016
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Bully, Dark Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 343
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
"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.
This was a delightful change of pace. Instead of just one rude, alpha MC, we start with two! Its a deal we didn’t know we were buying.
Ryen has become the quintessential mean girl in an effort to fit in and survive her high school years. She hides a number of her true interests and keeps everyone, including her family at arm’s length with only one exception: Misha her pen pal from grade school. But Misha ghosts Ryen and her letters have gone unanswered.
Misha has grown up in a well-to-do household with a single parent and his young sister. As often happens, one sibling acts out while the other seeks approval by obsessively pursuing perfection. All Misha has is music and his pen pal buddy. Misha is forced to attend one of his band’s promotion party and the stars align during a photo scavenger hunt and he just happens to overhear a girl being called Ryen. Le gasp. Despite their agreement to never meet or look each other up, Misha of course sidles up and Ryen is nothing like he expected. Tragedy strikes while he is interacting with Ryen and then the meat and potatoes of the story begins.
I really enjoyed this bully romance. Ryen was an absolute trash can human being at the beginning but it made for some interesting reading and a redemption arc. What I loved most was the electric chemistry between Misha and Ryen. Misha/Masen coming on scene and dishing out some of Ryen’s own bully tactics had me settling in with popcorn. The hate and lust mix was absolutely delicious and made for some scorching scenes. The Punk 57 mystery was enjoyable and I just enjoyed wallowing in the angsty teen drama and lust. I devoured this read and absolutely recommend for those that enjoy darker romances, bully trope, and a heroine that you love to hate for at least 50% of the book.
