This book gave me exactly what I hoped for: a raw, romantic tragedy in the spirit of Sid & Nancy or Bonnie & Clyde. If you grew up on the mythology of these doomed lovers, on that dangerous mix of passion, rebellion, and destruction, Thompson’s story feels both nostalgic and intoxicating. But for anyone else, it might be disturbing — because this novel does not sugarcoat reality.
The style is strikingly direct: simple prose laced with raw humor and a flood of expletives. It flows quickly, almost breathlessly. Don’t expect intricate plots or polished romance. What you get instead is life itself — messy, ugly at times, brutal, but honest. I found myself constantly thinking: finally, a gangster story that doesn’t glamorize its characters into saints, but lets them be as flawed as real people are.
The characters are vivid and emotionally convincing. Jackie and Johnser come alive on the page with their pain, love, anger, and desperation. Around them, Thompson weaves social themes that feel painfully real: the roots of crime, domestic violence, societal judgment, family trauma, addiction, and the illusion that happiness can be bought with money. Because the book is so close to real life, it forces you to reflect on problems that don’t stay on the page — they echo in our own world.
One detail that moved me deeply was Jackie’s mother stepping in to defend her daughter. It’s not often in such stories that a parent’s love and protection shine through, and that moment left a powerful aftertaste. Even if the hardest issues weren’t explored in full dramatic depth, the way they resolved felt emotionally right, even comforting.
This isn’t a book of butterflies and picture-perfect romance. It’s gritty, emotional, unsettling — and that’s its strength. Yes, the language is rough, but beneath it lies tenderness, tragedy, and sharp insight into the human condition.
As for the ending — many readers found it disappointing, and I can see why. I, too, wished for something different. But maybe that’s the point. Happy endings are rare in real life, and Thompson chose to remain faithful to that truth.
In the end: a raw, authentic, and deeply emotional novel. It’s not for everyone, but for those willing to dive into its darkness, it offers both heartbreak and a strange kind of beauty.