the right side of reckless by whitney d grandison

This book was enjoyable, and I like the way it subverted some common tropes by adding diversity and unpacking them in the process. It may have taken a bit longer than I’d have liked, but it felt realistic for her character.

I appreciated that in the end there was no cheating, while also navigating the complex situation of Regan’s emotions and her working up the courage to finally end her and Troy’s relationship.

Grandison walks a fine line with this one in having the two of them bond over the course of the book while Regan is still in an emotionally unsatisfying relationship with another boy, Troy, which she cannot bring herself to end. I could relate to her so much, and I also could understand what she saw in Guillermo, as well as what he saw in her. She’s very much a people pleaser out of insecurity, willing to bend to her father’s and other expectations. Regan, as the “good girl” half of the equation, is also intriguing in her own right. Guillermo really works on changing himself and putting himself on a better path, showing it can be possible for others like him, even if the odds can be stacked against them. And ultimately, I really liked his character, and the subtle statement the book was making, especially in relation to him as a POC “bad boy” who made a few mistakes that resulted in his current situation and the way the typical white “bad boy” heroes seem to get away with a lot more in the grand scheme of things. Guillermo has recently come out of juvie, and he’s reckoning with his past and the way people treat him because of it. The Right Side of Reckless is a true bad boy/good girl romance, and not in the just “he’s a bit of a punk or a rebel” kind of way a lot of books with this trope are, but one who really faced consequences for his behavior. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. But when it comes to the heart, sometimes you have to break the rules and be a little bit reckless…

Being together might just get Guillermo sent away. But when the walls start to cave in and she finds unexpected understanding from the boy her parents warned about, she can’t ignore her feelings anymore. The pressure to stay in her “perfect” relationship and be the good girl all the time has worn her down. But when his work at the local community center throws him into the path of the one girl who is off-limits, friendship sparks…and maybe more. He’s done his time, and now he needs to right his wrongs. New town, new school, and no more reckless behavior. Guillermo Lozano is getting a fresh start. They were supposed to ignore each other and respect that fine line between them…

The right side of reckless by whitney d grandison