My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hi to all my bookish friends,

Let me start off this post with the apology you guys deserve. I had some personal things I needed to take care of over the last six months or so, so while I have been reading, I haven’t been updating this blog. For that, I am sorry! I hope you stick around as I plan on slowly returning with at least one new review a week for now.

Anyway, enough about me – let’s talk about Tryst Six. I got this book as a part of my Probably Smut book box, and this is my first bully LGBTQ romance, so while I didn’t know what to expect, I knew Penelope Douglas would not disappoint. The book centers around the two FMCs: Clay Collins, the perfect, rich, popular girl from a Catholic high school, and Olivia Jaeger, the scholarship kid, who is the target of much bullying from Clay and her friends. The tension between these girls is real from the very beginning.

Now, I did say this was a romance, but dang, I found it very hard to like Clay. She was cruel towards Olivia and even her own friends at times. Sure, we as the audience got to see why she was being cruel, and there is some of Clay’s home life for background in the book, but while you understand her motivations, it’s hard to like her. Olivia, on the other hand – love that girl. She is a strong girl and very resilient. She stands up for herself against everyone, and she is easy to love. Still trying to figure out why it’s Clay she wants, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.

Speaking of the romance, my friends, it’s pretty steamy. So be prepared for that, and if you grabbed the audiobook, headphones are your friends. There is a lot of exploration of sexuality between the characters, and at times it may push some readers outside their comfort zone. So check out the trigger warnings at the front of the book before grabbing this one to make sure it’s for you.

So, my friends, overall I enjoyed this book and am giving it 4/5 stars. It’s a well-written story that kept me interested to the very end, had complex characters, and dark themes, which I don’t mind. I would definitely recommend it for adults who are looking for a dark romance, who read the trigger warnings and thought it sounded interesting.

Until next time my friends, find a cozy reading nook with a cup of your favorite beverage and happy reading!