Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

My Review:

I had such high hopes for this one, but it definitely fell short for me. I do think this was more of a 'reader' issue. I really need to have the correct mindset to read f/f pairings and I will be honest in that I just didn't vibe with the bully aspect with this format of dynamic of this couple. I do think this is a book that you will either really love or you will really struggle with. And unfortunately I struggled with this. Because this was a ARC I wanted to stick with this one here, I really pushed myself through this story and it just really pushed my boundaries and not in a good way at all. There are some actions that are taken within the story that I didn't feel was justified. But it is a bully romance so keep in mind some aspects of those will get pretty intense.. I don't think this was a bad book at all, it just wasn't the right time for me to try to read it. I do adore Penelope Douglas but she can sometimes be a hit or miss for me.

I will admit this was a DNF - I could not finish it - I really tried but it just didn't hit the way I wanted it to.

As an ardent reader captivated by the intricate dance of human emotions and the compelling narratives they create, I found the latest novel I read to be an absolute treasure. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world where desires clashed with disappointments, and where each character's journey resonated deeply with the complexities of life.

What struck me most about this novel was its ability to immerse me fully into the lives of its characters. Every chapter pulsated with their hopes, dreams, and the inevitable setbacks they faced. The emotional journey was both exhilarating and poignant, leaving me reflecting on the profound depths of human nature long after I closed the book.

The author's prose deserves special mention; it effortlessly navigated between moments of intense passion and quiet introspection. Whether depicting a turbulent love affair or a moment of quiet reflection, each word felt carefully chosen to evoke just the right emotions. It's rare to find a book that not only entertains but also enriches one's understanding of the human condition—and this novel accomplished that beautifully.

Moreover, the narrative structure itself was masterfully crafted. The plot unfolded in ways that surprised and captivated me, revealing layers of secrets and motivations that added depth to the characters and their relationships. Each twist and turn felt organic, ensuring that the drama never felt forced but rather an authentic portrayal of human experience.

In essence, this novel isn't just a story—it's an experience. It's a testament to the power of literature to explore the intricacies of desire and disappointment, and to illuminate the resilience of the human spirit. For anyone seeking a compelling read that dives deep into the complexities of human emotions, this book is a must-read. Prepare to be enthralled, moved, and ultimately transformed by its narrative prowess.

Thank you to Penelope Douglas and NetGalley for the ARC copy of "Tryst Six Venom" in exchange for an honest review. This was my very first WLW/FF romance novel, and what a memorable introduction to the genre! Douglas' novels are always so fun and hold my attention throughout. All the tropes presented were a-MAZ-ing. I think I enjoyed this bully romance even more than other bully romances BECAUSE it was two girls, and we all know that girls can be unbelievably ruthless toward one another. My only complaint which lowered my overall rating is that TSV was a wee bit too long for my taste.

A queer FF enemies to lovers bully romance

I’m definitely not an avid bully romance reader and more often than not, they tend to be harder for me to get into. This one was ok but I just never got to the point where I loved it. I think it’s because I wasn’t fully enamored with the female leads, Clay and Olivia. Though I was enthralled by Olivia’s brothers. I’m so excited to read their upcoming book - Five Brothers (pub 7/30). The side characters genuinely made this book for me.

I did enjoy Liv and Clay’s love and hate relationship. There was so much sexual tension simmering between their hatred. I felt for Liv. She had so much heart and compassion underneath her rough exterior. Both these girls went through a lot and and lacked the love and emotional support they needed at home. Penelope always writes such tragic characters. If you enjoy NA romances that are intense, angry and angsty you’ll want to check this out.

The author demonstrates that there is a thin line between hate and love with this bully romance. In Tryst Six Venom, that romance is between two young women who use bullying to get each others attention. While this sort of romance isn't my typical go-to, sometimes I just want something different.I did think Liv and Clay do take things to the extreme at times.There's plenty of steamy content if that is what you are looking for and both young women have family members that bring interest to the secondary characters.

There aren't many big surprises here -- it's almost everything-but-the-kitchen-sink gets thrown into this story, and it does take a while to get to the romance side of things. As is usually the case with this author, the book is long and does have some slow spots. I did enjoy the sports aspect and I didn't know much about lacrosse so that was an interesting part of the story for me.

Overall, this was a 3 1/2 star read for me. There were some engaging spots, but it could have been tighter and not quite so long and overdone.

I have many thoughts on Tryst Six Venom, as this was my first Penelope Douglas read. I understood the general thematic choices of her books and that they were more dark romance, but I had never been interested until Tryst Six Venom because I heard it was sapphic. Imagine me starting to read this and realizing it's, what I've now come to learn, a "bully romance." At the start of this book I was shocked and appalled at what was occurring, in its defense it was highly entertaining and making me laugh because of the general absurdity of it all. However, I can't lie that once I stuck it through, this book became such a guilty pleasure. I get the appeal of the enemies to lovers in this sense because the tension adds up and really leaves you satisfied once the characters get together. But overall I do think this book had some extremely poor writing and storytelling choices. There were moments, especially at the beginning, where scenes were written in such a confusing fashion. It was so all over the place for me. There were also moments of violence that felt unnecessary and inappropriate. I realize a lot of the extremities in this book were just used as plot devices and maybe shouldn't be taken that seriously but some of it was pretty disturbing. At the very least when I first started this, I thought there was no way I'd finish this book not giving it a one star, but in the end I did keep coming back to it and honestly enjoyed many aspects of the romance throughout it as well.

I love Penelope Douglas!!! Another steamy romance with a dash of spice in this new adult book. The tension between Marymount good girl Clay Collins and Liv Jaeger crackles with secrets and desires that culminate in a simmering enemies-to-lovers dynamic. As layers are peeled back, revealing hidden truths and vulnerabilities, the characters come alive in a tale that captivates from start to finish. For fans of intense romance and complex characters, this book is a must-read that will leave you craving for more. A top recommendation for those who enjoy fiery relationships and emotional depth in their stories.

Thank you to Berkeley and the author for allowing me to arc read this book in exchange for my honest review

I think Penelope Douglas books are absolutely riveting, and I try very had to split them up into a weekend or so, but always manage to do it in one sitting. Tryst Six Venom was no exception, especially getting a new one!

This was definitely a bully romance between two lacrosse teammates who are divided by privilege. Olivia's family has a reputation and she's queer and in this small town is treated like a pariah. Clay the pretty princess of the school treats her awfully any chance she can get cause she hates that she has to hide her attraction to her. Loved the Tryst Six, those siblings are so interesting! Loved the voice on this one!

This was a horrible bully romance... but it was also kinda hot? 4 stars. (Listen, you end up rooting for these teens by the end okay!)

It's classic Romeo and Juliet with a twist. The twist being it’s Juliet and Juliet, and they both hate each other lol. Despite their mutual loathing, the sexual tension between Olivia and Clay could cut through rock - and the two can't help but be drawn to one another.

TSV is part of a bigger series, so FYI some context on characters might be missing if you haven't read the rest of the series!

Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas was my first dive into the world of sapphic romance. It was sexy and I enjoyed it, which isn't really a surprise because, as always, Penelope does not disappoint!

The story takes place at Marymount Academy, a private high school. The popular girl loves nothing more than torturing the girl who is from the wrong side of the tracks, while also secretly harboring feelings and a deep attraction towards her. It was definitely your typical bully romance, something Penelope is fantastic at delivering, and it brought me back to the first time I read Bully and Corrupt. However, this world was way more grittier and forbidden.

In all honesty, I didn't care much for Clay, the popular one of the two female leads. She is my least favorite heroine written by this author. Her relationship with Olivia Jaegar was extremely toxic and it created so much drama that I found myself never truly invested in their romance. Both Clay and Olivia had a lot of growing up to do before they could truly be together. Nevertheless, I'm Team Olivia all the way, and I can not wait for more of the Jaeger brothers!!

Overall, this was such a fun ride. I loved exploring this new world and experiencing a new batch of characters. I'm excited to see where Penelope will take it next as there's so much history and so many riffs between the two towns.

Another great Penelope Douglas book which follows two teenage girls who are in high school. Everyone knows Liv is gay and part of the Tryst Six Venom fam and makes fun of her life including Clay. Clay is obsessed with Liv and would do anything to ruin her life. I was really excited to read this book. I’m a huge fan of Douglas and would read anything they write. This book was great and deals with a lot of sensitive topics which I recommend reading the triggers. I liked the small-town vibe and the conflicts that brewed in the town. The pacing was great for the most of the book but I felt the ending was rushed. This book is told from both Liv and Clay’s pov.

Liv isn’t rich, is out of the closet, and keeps to herself wishing to get out of town. I really liked her character and seeing her find love. Then there is Clay. She doesn’t know who she is, everything is messed up at home, and she’s trying to keep her reputation safe. I liked how strong of a character she is but I have to say that I didn’t like her bullying part. I see her pain but there were so many moments she knew she was wrong. There were many side characters in this book and I can’t wait to learn more about some of them in the next book. The romance is f/f with enemies to lovers and forbidden love which includes a lot of steamy scenes. The chemistry between the couple was good but very rough.

The ending was rushed but readers get a HEA. There are two epilogues taking place at different points of time. Overall this was a great book and I really enjoyed the story. I’m super excited to read the next book following the brothers. I recommend checking this book out but please do read triggers as there are a lot of sensitive topics mentioned.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

Bully romance that didn’t hold my attention all that well, was a nice little read but nothing crazy. Loved the f/f romance because it was so cute in some parts but just lost interest in the end.

I love Penelope Douglas so I was excited to read this one! I really struggled through the first half because the characters and their actions were really frustrating. I decided to the push through and actually ended up really enjoying the second half, which I found so emotional and you really get to know and understand the characters and their struggles. I’m also now really excited for Five Brothers! Overall, if you enjoy the author and can handle the bullying, this provocative, enemies to lovers romance may be worth a read. 3.5⭐️

I keep seeing people saying to keep reading on this book. I have kept reading as long as I can stand. I make myself pick it up everyday trying. I'm kinda dumb because why would I continue to punish my brain. Why???
If it's killing me to pick it up because it's all over the place and I totally hate both characters?
I ain't doing it. DNF

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

🅐🅡🅒 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
⏳ 𝙏𝙧𝙮𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙞𝙭 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢 ⏳
𝖯𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝖣𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗅𝖺𝗌
#BerkleyPartner #Berkley

I have read a bully romance before and I think with all romance that falls on the darker side you are either here for it or you aren’t. These are the types of books where you ask yourself, “am I normal for enjoying this?” as you frantically turn the pages because you can’t stop! This book was a dark and spicy female x female romance….the look around while you are reading in public kind of spicy! ❤️‍🔥

Tryst Six Venom is a F/F Contemporary Bully Romance set in a small town dominated by the wealthy elite. Clay Collins, a wealthy high school senior, appears to have it all but is struggling internally after losing her brother, dealing with her parents and questioning her own sexuality. Liv Jaeger, from the other side of the tracks, is confident in who she is and ultimately becomes the target of Clay and her friends. Despite the pain it causes and the intense animosity between them, neither can seem to stay away and the sparks most definitely fly!

Read if you enjoy
😈 Bully Romance
🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Romance
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Dark Romance
✝️ Private Schools
💪🏽 Protective Brothers
🌶️ Lots of Spice

“Liv Jaeger has been a bloody nuisance since the day I met her, but sometimes I’m not even sure what bugs me so much about her. She stays in her lane, doesn’t she?

But I love pushing her. I love it like nothing else.”

Tryst Six Venom is a bully romance set in a town with two very different sides. There’s not much debate to that. Clay is a popular and rich senior who can’t stand her classmate/teammate/enemy, Olivia Jaeger, the girl from the “wrong” side of the tracks, knowing any form of peace. Why? Because Liv stays in Clay’s thoughts and dreams endlessly and she can’t seem to figure out why this girl has prime real estate in her brain.

She taunts her, teases her, picks and points at any perceived flaw Liv Jaeger has in her eyes. Especially the fact that she’s openly queer. At this point if it’s not obvious that Clay is grappling with her own sexuality and avoids the realizations by bullying someone who is out, someone she’s attracted to but doesn’t want to be. It’s “easy” for her until Liv decides she’s had enough and pushes back harder than she ever has. Senior year is the year it all comes to a head between the two of them because Liv is gone at the end of the year. They fight, they bond, they push each other away, they fall, they realize they have more in common than meets the eye.

At its base, I enjoyed Clay and Olivia’s story. It’s admittedly hard to read at times, because of where Clay is in her life and how she treats Liv. Things that are sadly too real in every day life. That said I enjoyed watching two people with very different home lives and life experiences come together and bond and find their way to honesty. There were many times I felt like Clay was unforgivable, but I tried to view her from a lens where Liv was concerned. If she could forgive her and love her, then I could too as the reader.

“but the more I look around at the world, Clay, the more I realize that villains are a lot more complicated than we want them to be. Sometimes, they’re just people who are really afraid.”

I think one of my favorite parts of this book though were Liv’s older brothers and the other side characters in general. Even the heinous ones. You can tell this town is toxic as all get out and the more and more you read it makes sense why Liv is such a good and forgiving, to a fault, person at her base and why Clay is sort of rotting slowly from the inside. Liv helps her to see and cut out those rotting pieces and replace them slowly with understanding, love, and friendship, even though she truly doesn’t have to.

To wrap this up, I once again love the world Pen has created here. This one is heavy and is full on bully romance for most of the book. That said, I’m excited to find out that Liv’s brothers will be getting a story, Five Brothers. Even more pumped that Krisjen will be involved in that dynamic. I love that even as a side character she came into her own, gave baddie energy, and supported Clay when she truly needed it most.

**Definitely check the CW/TW provided at the start of the book

Tryst Six Venom is a compelling blend of forbidden desires, secrets, and simmering tension that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set against the backdrop of Marymount, where appearances are everything, the novel follows the clandestine encounters between two unlikely protagonists, Clay Collins and OliVia. As they navigate the treacherous waters of high school hierarchy and societal expectations, their attraction ignites a fire that threatens to consume them both. Douglas skillfully crafts a narrative filled with palpable chemistry and intense emotions, drawing readers into a world where passion and danger collide. With its compelling characters and gripping plot twists, Tryst Six Venom is a captivating read that left me eager for more.