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Little Bird: Criminally Yours
Easton
I do what I have to so I can survive.
There’s no instruction manual that comes with being a foster kid, only a will to live and succeed. And after all I’ve done to survive, it’s all gone in the blink of an eye when I get framed and sentenced to five years in prison.
My only ticket out is through the pen pal program. At first, the girl writing me is only a means to an end—my freedom. Except somewhere along the line, she becomes my sweet little bird. Without her, I’ll be condemned to more time in prison. With her, I get the chance to fly.
But when I’m out, will she be able to see past my mistakes and unveil the man beneath that desperately just wants to love her?
Harley
To graduate with my master's in journalism, I have to join the pen pal program, where I’m linked up with a prisoner and have to exchange letters for a year.
I need him to graduate. He needs me to get out of that hell.
This is supposed a quick, one-page letter once a month. Except a lot can happen in a year when he’s the only person that listens to me. Everything changes. Not only does East become my best friend, but suddenly, he’s the keeper of almost all my secrets.
When he’s released, will I be strong enough to let him see all my demons and claim my heart, too?
I do what I have to so I can survive.
There’s no instruction manual that comes with being a foster kid, only a will to live and succeed. And after all I’ve done to survive, it’s all gone in the blink of an eye when I get framed and sentenced to five years in prison.
My only ticket out is through the pen pal program. At first, the girl writing me is only a means to an end—my freedom. Except somewhere along the line, she becomes my sweet little bird. Without her, I’ll be condemned to more time in prison. With her, I get the chance to fly.
But when I’m out, will she be able to see past my mistakes and unveil the man beneath that desperately just wants to love her?
Harley
To graduate with my master's in journalism, I have to join the pen pal program, where I’m linked up with a prisoner and have to exchange letters for a year.
I need him to graduate. He needs me to get out of that hell.
This is supposed a quick, one-page letter once a month. Except a lot can happen in a year when he’s the only person that listens to me. Everything changes. Not only does East become my best friend, but suddenly, he’s the keeper of almost all my secrets.
When he’s released, will I be strong enough to let him see all my demons and claim my heart, too?
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2023
1258 people are currently reading
3597 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
April 23, 2024
A bit disappointing. 1.5 stars.
This was a struggle for me sadly.
To start, the FMC is such a pickme. "Ohhhh I have different colour eyes, I wore a contact to hide that from everyone." As if everyone doesn't love different coloured eyes. Then later how she tries to hide it from him, as if he's going to hate it. Oh please. It was ridiculous.
How she speaks badly of her 'platinum blonde' roommate liking pink or doing makeup videos for tiktok. It's so... "I'm not like other girls." Then she's all too happy to ask her roommate for help when she wants to wear makeup. And in 2024 I'm pretty over this narrative.
Later the friend admits to reading her letters and suddenly they're BFFs. Uhhh, did she also read the part where she got bitched about? Because that is entirely glossed over and forgotten about.
Then there was little things that bugged me. Him saying that he KNOWS she's pure and good hearted because she's taking time to write letters to him. Uhhhh... it's already been discussed she is doing this because she has to for college???
Or how she says she's a carnivore. It's a tiny thing, but it always bugs me when people confuse omnivore and carnivore lmao.
How they say fifty shades of grAy. Mr grAy. An error likely because the author is American. But its FSOGrey/Mr GrEy. And editing issues "ffity shades"
There was also not enough time to deal with their issues. Her ED was dealt with by just saying therapy! And his trauma of betrayal and abandonment was met with the FMC saying... "forgive them" and the end!
Finally... this is advertised as age gap. She's 22 and he's 26. Come onnnnnn.
It seemed a bit... wattpad. The characters seemed like they were 15, rather than 22 and 26. It needed some more work and fluffing out. It's too much to he crammed into a novella.
It just wasn't for me, but others may enjoy it.
This was a struggle for me sadly.
To start, the FMC is such a pickme. "Ohhhh I have different colour eyes, I wore a contact to hide that from everyone." As if everyone doesn't love different coloured eyes. Then later how she tries to hide it from him, as if he's going to hate it. Oh please. It was ridiculous.
How she speaks badly of her 'platinum blonde' roommate liking pink or doing makeup videos for tiktok. It's so... "I'm not like other girls." Then she's all too happy to ask her roommate for help when she wants to wear makeup. And in 2024 I'm pretty over this narrative.
Later the friend admits to reading her letters and suddenly they're BFFs. Uhhh, did she also read the part where she got bitched about? Because that is entirely glossed over and forgotten about.
Then there was little things that bugged me. Him saying that he KNOWS she's pure and good hearted because she's taking time to write letters to him. Uhhhh... it's already been discussed she is doing this because she has to for college???
Or how she says she's a carnivore. It's a tiny thing, but it always bugs me when people confuse omnivore and carnivore lmao.
How they say fifty shades of grAy. Mr grAy. An error likely because the author is American. But its FSOGrey/Mr GrEy. And editing issues "ffity shades"
There was also not enough time to deal with their issues. Her ED was dealt with by just saying therapy! And his trauma of betrayal and abandonment was met with the FMC saying... "forgive them" and the end!
Finally... this is advertised as age gap. She's 22 and he's 26. Come onnnnnn.
It seemed a bit... wattpad. The characters seemed like they were 15, rather than 22 and 26. It needed some more work and fluffing out. It's too much to he crammed into a novella.
It just wasn't for me, but others may enjoy it.
July 21, 2025
3.25 stars
The premise of this story had so much potential. I was obsessed with the pen pal start of the book and honestly the first half was great. I enjoyed both Easton and Harley. The last half was super rushed and underdeveloped for all the things the author put in there, but as a whole I did like it.
The premise of this story had so much potential. I was obsessed with the pen pal start of the book and honestly the first half was great. I enjoyed both Easton and Harley. The last half was super rushed and underdeveloped for all the things the author put in there, but as a whole I did like it.
June 2, 2024
Book-tok strikes again and it’s a big no thank you
March 5, 2025
2.5 I was drawn in by the marketing on TikTok but this was not for me.
I actually liked the authors writing at a line and word choice level. I had more problems with the story itself and the major time jumps. There wasn’t enough lead up or rationale for her big issue in my opinion. There were other little things I wasn’t a fan of like the heterochromia etc but the main thing was not seeing the relationship develop on the phone
I actually liked the authors writing at a line and word choice level. I had more problems with the story itself and the major time jumps. There wasn’t enough lead up or rationale for her big issue in my opinion. There were other little things I wasn’t a fan of like the heterochromia etc but the main thing was not seeing the relationship develop on the phone
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August 4, 2024To start off, the FMC was too whiny and giving off pick-me girl vibes. The MMC was also too insecure and (in my opinion) naive. The writing was not giving the impression of a dark/taboo romance and neither were the characters. And in the end the book was way too boring for me.
April 23, 2024
booktok let me down😔
April 23, 2024
No thanks
May 12, 2024
i just couldnt rly get into the story. fmc was annoying & mc was meh.
March 4, 2025
This was actually terrible. The writing gave wattpad in the worst way possible and fmc had a really unlikable 'I'm not like other girls thing going on.'
May 14, 2024
For a short book I really struggled getting through this I ate up the letters and I thought it's only gonna go up from here I can't wait for them to meet instead it felt more like it all went downhill from there it was insta love so I expected Easton to be the way he was with her and I really liked him but my God the fmc I'm drawing a blank on her name just irritated me so much. Of all the things she could he self-conscious about, it's gonna be having 2 different colored eyes? I let it slide because you know everyone handles things differently and we're always harder on ourself then we are on others but then the way she reacts just was pissing me off you're gonna get defensive and start a fight when you don't even know what you're starting it for? Give me a break and grow up. Then, the eating disorder, there was just not enough length and detail to justify her reaction for me. I get not wanting people to find out but she would push Easton away then need him and it was a cycle it would happen so fast it gave me whiplash 🙄 pick a side chicka either you want him or you don't. I've written to people in prison before I never did with the expectation of knowing why they're there. I just wanted someone to be able to have some company who otherwise had no one. You said yourself you didn't care, so why did you keep throwing it in his face once you were together? You just seemed immature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
So many bird references. It took me out of the story whenever there was bird or singing reference. It was a little forced.
Also the first half is just the characters writing letters to each other and then a huge time gap, references to phone calls and letters and then no more context but they’ve fallen in love?!
There weren’t really any stakes because neither character had family or friends, so him being released from prison was just irrelevant.
Also the first half is just the characters writing letters to each other and then a huge time gap, references to phone calls and letters and then no more context but they’ve fallen in love?!
There weren’t really any stakes because neither character had family or friends, so him being released from prison was just irrelevant.
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February 24, 2025This is like a wattpad story but then bad
March 2, 2025
…why did i put myself through this
March 4, 2025
Watch out, Harley is not like other girls…
August 23, 2024
This was really dumb. Both characters came across like middle schoolers. The FMC's "big secret" was that she had two different colored eyes? Like...and the MMC kept saying he was afraid to tell her why he was in prison because she would leave him, but when he finally shared, the first thing he said was "I was framed". Which wasn't actually true, he certainly was selling drugs and that's what he got arrested for, so...and the "drama" with the college roommate was seriously ridiculous and wrapped up very quickly, with them becoming best friends. The whole reason the FMC didn't like her roommate was because she told people the FMC had different colored eyes? I'm still confused on why that was even a thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2024
Dnf at 46%. I just couldn’t do it. The fmc was annoying and made a dumb decision which is where I stopped reading. The pace was also too fast. We were told they would finally get to speak on the phone soon, but then we never got to experience that. Then the next chapter he’s getting released. There was no time to care about their relationship.
August 21, 2024
The main character was a major pick me. I struggled to get past the beginning because of it. She trashed her roommate for liking the color pink at 22 years old. Please, spare me. It’s not a crime to like a color.
May 27, 2025
So... starting off, I LOVED this.
I am a sucker for penpal romances & this one grabbed my attention from the get-go. It's about an inmate and a college student in a penpal program. I absolutely loved the letters between the two, I loved how they didn't know what the other looked like but they fell in love with each others words.
However, I'm not sure why this wasn't longer. It was only 128 pages and it flew by. Honestly, I would have loved to seen the first half of the book just be letters between them. I feel like the chemistry was there from the start and I loved getting to know both of them through the letters. The second half of the book could have been them meeting, the smut, etc. I just think that it would have been an absolutely amazing book if the plot would have been expanded upon.
I probably won't read more of this author because it looks like most of her books are short and I will probably run into the same issue. :(
I am a sucker for penpal romances & this one grabbed my attention from the get-go. It's about an inmate and a college student in a penpal program. I absolutely loved the letters between the two, I loved how they didn't know what the other looked like but they fell in love with each others words.
However, I'm not sure why this wasn't longer. It was only 128 pages and it flew by. Honestly, I would have loved to seen the first half of the book just be letters between them. I feel like the chemistry was there from the start and I loved getting to know both of them through the letters. The second half of the book could have been them meeting, the smut, etc. I just think that it would have been an absolutely amazing book if the plot would have been expanded upon.
I probably won't read more of this author because it looks like most of her books are short and I will probably run into the same issue. :(
February 27, 2025
Started good, I like the letters, they were cute together. Then they meet and everything is just about sex. I was quite disappointed that their first date and meeting endet in her being drunk and them fucking. I was missing the romance. Moving in together after once meeting isn't on& stupid but also quite stupid
June 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
I loved the story! My only complaint is that I wish there was a little bit more story between them before them getting together and wish there was just a little bit more back story. But overall a fun short read! 😊
🌶️
I loved the story! My only complaint is that I wish there was a little bit more story between them before them getting together and wish there was just a little bit more back story. But overall a fun short read! 😊
April 19, 2024
Cute short romance
I loved the characters and how the various chapters were written. It was unique to have letters included as chapters. I absolutely love the characters and wish the story was longer.
I loved the characters and how the various chapters were written. It was unique to have letters included as chapters. I absolutely love the characters and wish the story was longer.
April 20, 2024
Perfect!
I absolutely adore this book!!! So sweet!!! 💕 I loved both of these characters so much. Can't wait to read more by this author.
I absolutely adore this book!!! So sweet!!! 💕 I loved both of these characters so much. Can't wait to read more by this author.
April 22, 2024
It was a cute novella
June 25, 2024
Loved the baseline of this story. Love the beginning and all the letters back and forth. I hadn’t read in a few days so this was a nice kick start to getting back in.
March 5, 2025
this is the lowest rated book i’ve ever seen and lord does it deserve that title
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August 5, 2025i don’t think that helped my reading slump
July 2, 2024
Promising but not quite there
As far as the writing goes she is a good writer, and if you enjoy fluff this definitely checks that box, but I must say this book missed the mark for me. I was excited for the general premise, but the story felt like it completely missed the potential it had. It felt too rushed to me, and I think expanding would have added to the value of the story. In the time they were exchanging letters it would have been nice to get a little bit of how they responded to the letters instead of only the letters themselves, or the first phone call, it would have been nice to have seen how it went instead of breezing through it with a simple mention. The main character didn’t really resonate with me either, she felt a little too whiny trying so hard not to be like the others that I found myself annoyed with her; especially considering she was complaining to someone who had been screwed in far worse ways. Overall the idea was promising, but didn’t quite deliver what I expected.
As far as the writing goes she is a good writer, and if you enjoy fluff this definitely checks that box, but I must say this book missed the mark for me. I was excited for the general premise, but the story felt like it completely missed the potential it had. It felt too rushed to me, and I think expanding would have added to the value of the story. In the time they were exchanging letters it would have been nice to get a little bit of how they responded to the letters instead of only the letters themselves, or the first phone call, it would have been nice to have seen how it went instead of breezing through it with a simple mention. The main character didn’t really resonate with me either, she felt a little too whiny trying so hard not to be like the others that I found myself annoyed with her; especially considering she was complaining to someone who had been screwed in far worse ways. Overall the idea was promising, but didn’t quite deliver what I expected.
April 19, 2025
I somewhat liked the letters… no, I did fr. The author abused the words/sentences “bird, little bird, sing for me” and while we’re on the abusive word usage - her nickname was bird and little bird😭😭😭😭😭😭 in another lifetime it would’ve been cute (maybe), had he not said it so many times at once. I think the book should’ve been longer. Explored his past and his relationship with just abt everyone. His parents, Harley, the guy he called his brother. I think it would’ve been a little better if there was more background. It felt as if the author was trying to ingrain a plot to the story but it seems half assed for the length of the book.
June 24, 2024
I’m all for insta-love/lust but wtf was that.
August 1, 2024
This wasn't very good, in my opinion. Below is a list of some of the stuff I didn't care for in this novella. But first, what I did enjoy.
I loved the whole pen pal part. I enjoyed the letters they wrote back and forth to each other. Some of the writing was great. That's about it. Once I got to the "actual story" where they met in person, I was basically skimming.
Now, onto what I didn't care for/found slightly ridiculous.
Harley:
1 - Harley Quinn. That's really what the author chose to name the MFC of all things?!
2 - She's a total Pick Me, I'm not like other girls throughout the entire novella🤦♀️
3 - The whole ED seemed off and ridiculous that she was basically cured with 1 therapy session
4 - Hating on her roomie but at the first sign begging for her help and at the end they're bffs in a heartbeat agyer she read the letters Harley and Easton wrote to each other?!
5 - The whole covering her mismatched eyes because "everyone hates them because I'm so different" when no one cares if her eyes are different 🙄
6 - instantly in love with East while they first meet in person and sleep together. But the next morning, she says some BS about barely knowing each other and won't let him in on her secrets.
7 - Telling East why he was in jail didn't matter. Then, later on, starting a WHOLE fight over him, not telling her 🙄
Easton:
1 - Showing his age with his bones creaking... he's barely 26!
2 - begged her to move in after ONE night; not even a full 24 hours!
3 - He has his license after being in prison for 4 years...?
4 - His entire reaction to his bio parents finding him.
5 - Acting like his going to jail on drug related charges was such a huge deal breaker 🙄 he's not a m*rder; drug charges are basically nothing in the grand scheme.
Also, this is supposed to be an age gap, but she's like 22, and he's 26...where is the age gap here? That's nothing. The whole "sing for me little bird" lines were really weird 😬
I loved the whole pen pal part. I enjoyed the letters they wrote back and forth to each other. Some of the writing was great. That's about it. Once I got to the "actual story" where they met in person, I was basically skimming.
Now, onto what I didn't care for/found slightly ridiculous.
Harley:
1 - Harley Quinn. That's really what the author chose to name the MFC of all things?!
2 - She's a total Pick Me, I'm not like other girls throughout the entire novella🤦♀️
3 - The whole ED seemed off and ridiculous that she was basically cured with 1 therapy session
4 - Hating on her roomie but at the first sign begging for her help and at the end they're bffs in a heartbeat agyer she read the letters Harley and Easton wrote to each other?!
5 - The whole covering her mismatched eyes because "everyone hates them because I'm so different" when no one cares if her eyes are different 🙄
6 - instantly in love with East while they first meet in person and sleep together. But the next morning, she says some BS about barely knowing each other and won't let him in on her secrets.
7 - Telling East why he was in jail didn't matter. Then, later on, starting a WHOLE fight over him, not telling her 🙄
Easton:
1 - Showing his age with his bones creaking... he's barely 26!
2 - begged her to move in after ONE night; not even a full 24 hours!
3 - He has his license after being in prison for 4 years...?
4 - His entire reaction to his bio parents finding him.
5 - Acting like his going to jail on drug related charges was such a huge deal breaker 🙄 he's not a m*rder; drug charges are basically nothing in the grand scheme.
Also, this is supposed to be an age gap, but she's like 22, and he's 26...where is the age gap here? That's nothing. The whole "sing for me little bird" lines were really weird 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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