Because BB Easton had so much fun writing her bestselling, award-winning memoir, 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN, she decided to give each of her four men his own steamy standalone! SKIN is the first book in the 44 Chapters spin-off series—a gritty, taboo, forbidden love story overflowing with ’90s nostalgia, dark humor, and heart-wrenching teenage angst. It is based on a true story. In 1997 Ronald … story.
In 1997 Ronald “Knight” McKnight was Peach State High School’s only skinhead, and hands down the meanest, most misunderstood boy on the planet. Knight hated everyone, except for BB—the perky, quirky punk chick with the locker next to his.
Brooke “BB” Bradley liked everybody, except for Knight. She was scared sh*tless of him, actually. All BB wanted was to marry Prince Eric-lookalike and king of the Peach State High punk scene, Lance Hightower, and have a million of his babies. Unfortunately for her, Knight was even better at getting his way than she was, and once he got under her skin, BB’s life would never be the same.
*SKIN is not intended for everyone. It contains themes that might upset or offend sensitive audiences. Please consult the introduction for a list of triggers.
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It’s FREE today! I loved 44 chapters about 4 men and am currently doing the audiobook of Skin!
I’m not one to normally write reviews since so many others are able to perfectly express what they want to say but here goes nothing…
I was a complete fan of B.B. Easton after I came across 44 Chapters About 4 Men. If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for? Do it now!!!
Skin however just blew me away. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I completely devoured it! I didn’t want it to end but I just couldn’t put it down.
Knight was first introduced to us in 44 Chapters and he wasn’t for everyone. You either loved him or you didn’t. Knight is many different things – the skinhead, the psycho, the broken bad boy and the violent crazy one to name a few. After reading Skin though I believe he will win every single hater over. You can’t help but fall for this crazy motherfucker.
This book in no way is supposed to make you cry yet I did (don’t judge me) I just couldn’t help myself. B.B. is so crazy talented that she was able to make you feel for all of these people in her book. They are relatable, they are friends from high school or at the very least people we knew.
As for Knight himself – as crazy and broken as he is, you can’t help but fall for him. There are two sides to him and we were lucky enough to see the other side, the side that only B.B was shown.
Thank you so much B.B. for writing Knights story – I adore him so much more now. I am forever a fan now and can’t wait to read everything your talented ass will put out…hahahaha
It has taken me forever to sit down and write this review because I think in part I just didn’t want to put an end to this book, but also because I am having a hard time conveying how good the novel SKIN really is. I have been hooked on BB Easton’s writing right from the beginning in her ‘author’s note’ in her memoir, 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN. I immediately consumed all of her 44 CHAPTERS novels. And then I had to turn around and read them a second time because I wanted to get all the feels from them again! BB Easton has absolutely rocked my world with her novel SKIN, the first spinoff novel from her memoir. SKIN is mostly autobiographical with fictionalized situations that are true to the essence of the individuals in the book, as BB might say. SKIN is the story about BB’s first love and tormentor, Knight (Ronald McKnight). Knight has been in love with BB since they were kids and BB was terrified of Knight and everything she thought he represented, and she had her sights set on her crush since middle school—Lance Hightower. Although Knight knows BB deserves better than him and she is worth much more than she thinks, he can’t stay away from her. In SKIN, BB takes us on a wild ride through first love and rebelling teenage years. I myself was not a rebellious teenager, but BB’s writing is so astute and relatable I feel like I could have lived through it with her. The way she talks about herself in embarrassing and vulnerable situations, and her distorted/troubled self-image is so accurate to common teenage girl feelings on many levels. Knight is written so well that you feel like you know him, and his hate and heartbreaking life are raw. The relationship end is gut-wrenching. He opens up to BB like he has never done before and although she fights hard to nurture the glimmer of light that he lets through, he ultimately pushes her away. In his own screwed-up way Knight forces BB to realize her potential and worth. He even inspires her to pursue psychology in school and we are left with a sense of hope. SKIN produces ALL THE FEELS—humor, love, lust, embarrassment and heartbreak just to name a few. No joke, the dedication in this book is EVERYTHING! I get the shivers and nearly tear up reading it. Everything about this book latches on to your brain and heart and it won’t let go! I give BB Easton’s novel SKIN 5 amazing stars!
I read 44 Chapters about 4 Men and knew I needed to read the individual stories. As the author explains this is a story that has some truth based in it. I don’t care which parts are actually true & which parts are embellished or exaggerated. The feelings that were shared were beautifully described and gutted me (in a good way, if you can believe that’s possible). I could feel truth in BB’s feelings even if that part of the story was exaggerated or made up. You just knew the feelings behind it were actually felt, at some point,no matter what the circumstance.
SKIN – Knights story, has left me feeling so many feels. I was made to love a really messed up man/boy and ache as much as BB did for him. You can tell from his actions & the small looks inside that he allowed that Knight had a very hard life. When BB is able to get under his armor you weep for what you know he lost & what he could have had if he’d only believed he could.
BB is not without her own ghosts. She reminded me of a much younger me. Maybe not to all the extremes, but yeah I was an honor student, closet wild child. My heart remembered the struggle it was sometimes to be a teenager & how happy, sad, crazy & devastated young love can make you. I can still feel it in my chest, even now that I’ve finished this story.
Highly recommend but read the author’s disclaimer if you have triggers.
There is something absolutely addicting about BB Easton’s words. She tells a story with a blunt, raw edge that drags you in and won’t let go. I could not put this book down. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books!
Brilliant. Hard. Funny. Sad. Intense. Heartbreaking. – Thank you, B.B. Easton, thank you a lot…
I feel so much for Knight. He was such a lost soul. He had no idea of what real love was till B.B but he thought she made him weak but she gave him strength and to bad he didnt see it that way. You learned so much from this book how screwed up the both were how friends come and go. How parents didnt parent Latchkey Kids as we were called.
B.B the things that come out her mouth crack me up. Shes all kinds of bad ass but she cares alot is an act. In the end all she had was herself left and lessons learned when your young.
Knight someone dropped a ball on him and left him to deal with life on his own. Sad story he was just a kid with no one that mattered everyone let him down and he didnt get close to people for that reason. I know how his story ended but in this book hes left and joined the Marines.
Lance Fucking Hightower he just pissed me off in the end. Jerk total Asshole omg what came out in the end I would of beat his ass
August dam you I wish people were stronger in the darkest of times
Tony that piece of crap I so would of lost all friendship with Juliet over him Hell NO to the payment Hell No to the hood Oh Hell No for putting me or my bff in any of that crap he was into NO NO NO
Trevor LOL what a joke poor kid he wasnt enough for BB
“Skeletor the skinhead was shrugging off him armor. He was going to let me gaze upon his soft, pink underbelly, and he was trusting me not to gut him.”
“The next time someone Motherfucker makes you cry, you dont say you’re sorry. Do you understand me?”
“I make my own rules, and I hate fucking everybody”
“Clearly no one had seen this boy smile before, because if they had, they’d be spending the rest of their lives trying to make him do it again.”
“You showed me the cutest pair of tits I’ve ever seen, and you let me make them bleed. That’s the best fucking present anyones ever given me.”
“What she lacks in breast she makes up for in nipple crust.”
“I thought we were girlfriends . Do you want to see where I shop or not?”
“Anytime you wanna play house you just let me know. I’ll spank you with whatever you want.”
“Thats what I do , Punk I hurt people.”
“Dear God, if you’re listening its me BB.”
“I wasn’t just making Knight come. I was performing an exorcism.”
“she can talk, too.” Tapping the wire frame, Knight said to the bird,”Sweetie, say hit to BB.” Squawk. “Go fuck yourself .” Squawk”
“Its almost like it calms me down when I’m at work. Unless its you. When I pierced your nipples, I was so hard I thought I might come in my fucking pant. I even licked your blood off my glove when you weren’t looking. That shit was torture.”
Ronald had finally become a Knight, but he was slaying all the wrong dragons.”
“You’re not my fucking friend, Punk. You’re my everything.You will always be my everything. I just hope you can find somebody better than me to be yours.”
“Look at yourself. You’re basically a super fucking hot boy with a vagina. You’re like, every gay mans gateway drug.”
“Ronald may have wanted a sweet goodbye, but Knight would rather burn what we had to the ground.”
Is there a word that combines beautiful, heartbreaking, brilliant, brutal, amazing, massive book hangover worthy, real and relatable? Because I’ll need such a word to describe how epic this book is! And I’m counting on BB to come up with that since she’s extremely good with words and expanding the existing English vocabulary.
If you’ve read 44 Chapters About 4 Men then you are already familiar with BB’s fresh and unique writing style. That breath of fresh air in the book world continues in Skin as well, although with a more serious tone. It’s raw and painfully real, bursting with emotions, thought and tear-provoking. It tugs at your heart strings, makes you feel all the love, hate, fear and heartache with such intensity that you wish you could be there for both BB and Knight to console them through their hard times.
Their story is just as complex as the characters themselves, but as you peel the layers, page by page, you uncover the essence of two rarely beautiful souls, and you can’t help falling in love with them. I could practically hear the sound of my heart cracking while I was reading, and by the time I finished the book I knew I wouldn’t be able to piece together my shattered heart.
Read this gem slowly and savor every wonderful line! Experience this touching story in all its glory!
Wow! So not what I expected! I devoured this great story! So hard to put down. Now, I’m totally curious as to what was truth and what was loosely based on the truth. I highly recommend this read!
OMFG!!! I seriously loved this book 44 was good but this was so much better for me.
I loved Knight from the beginning in that book. He intrigued. me straight away. He was my favourite of the 4 Men, so I knew I’d love him in his spin-off.
Saying that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea he’s comes across as very scary and dangerous to look at as well as his mannerisms. All that could be off putting to some, but I Effing loved him.
There’s a lot more to Knight than what’s on the surface.
Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that crap springs to mind.
In fact there were times I wanted to slap and scream at BB for swooning over the wrong bloody guy. ( let’s face it he was a prick ) I wanted to shout nooooo look at Knight notice him he’s way cooler that guys a douche.
This book took me on a Journey i felt so strongly for the characters and I even cried for some of the parts of this book, I’m not sure it was meant to make you feel sad but I was just so swept away with it all. It was full of little quirks too that made me laugh. I could visualize so much of the book whilst reading. I was cringing for some parts like WTF!!!
Fantastic story and I’m a Knight fan for life. I don’t care I love him
This is such an amazing story. This book made me laugh, cry,and shake. BB telling of her relationship with Knight was incredible. I’m so happy BB decided to give her ex boyfriends their own books
5 “BB Easton made me fall in love with a skinhead” stars!!!
I felt the years fall away as I stepped into BB’s shoes, feeling the thrill of knowing a boy deeper than anyone else, and seeing a person more than what’s on the surface. I identified with the confusion of youth, and not being able to rely on life experience when making choices. (Learned all my hard knock lessons as a teenager.) The heart pounding trepidation of coming into your own, and transitioning from kid to quasi-adult, I felt those growing pains. The ending had me smiling through the tears, and although I know it wasn’t completely autobiographical, you could feel Easton’s heart and soul, along with her fabulous wit and charm floating from the pages. I will devour anything BB Easton ever writes, and you can not miss this series!!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
If you read 44 Chapters about 4 Men, this book is a must read. This book is dedicated to Knight. You are introduced to him as one of the four men. Knight is a very complex human. He comes off as an extremely aggressive, loner, everything…and in some cases he truly is. But if you want to get to know Ronald McKnight and how he got to be the way he is, you need to read his story. There are so many things about this man that make me cringe at times, but then the way he loves B.B., you can help but feel something deeper. I loved this book. I love the writing, and I loved getting to know Knight a lot more in depth.
Blown away. One of the best books I’ve read this year! And, no, I haven’t watched the Netflix show yet, but it did inspire this read. Knight was intense. He was scary. He was fascinating—you almost had to look away, but you didn’t want to. Pink/BB seemed like the eternal optimist. She was light. He was dark. And somehow, at the end, I wasn’t left broken… Easton’s writing style is captivating. This was no high school experience I ever had and it drew me right in. There’s about a million trigger warnings in this book, so some may want to enter with caution. It was raw and it was real and I was consumed! 5+++ stars!!!
After reading 44 Chapters About 4 Men, I immediately had to read the next book in the series.
I don’t know where to start, but let’s just start with: OMG! This book was unbelievable nerve-wracking, emotional, gripping and steamy as hell, I love it!!!
This book is about the first of the 4 men, Knight.
Knight was described in the first book like nothing else, but a crazy psycho (that he of course was!), but holly shit, I’m afraid to say it, but I love him in this story
Yes I know he is mentally ill and he is dangerous, but hearing the full story and his family background, is that really a surprise?
And BB is my new favorite badass heroine ever. Yes, she is young and a bit to naive most of the time, but she is also so damn positive and funny and has the biggest heart.
I love her inner monologues and her determination to make the best of her life.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series
They don’t call her Queen BB for nothing, 44 Chapters about 4 Men was the bomb and somehow she outdid herself with Skin! I am not even sure how that is possible and yet BB did it. This story is all about young love in a dark, twisted, and at times scary ways. Ronald McKnight is not the typical hero though I would not call him an anti-hero either. He is a Hero in his own way. Especially in the end, he proved heroic in his own life choices. This character is so perfectly imperfect. Regardless of his issues and his trouble you cannot dispute his love for his girl. For the record of BB’s four men, Knight was not my first pick. He was scary and I instinctively put my guard up as anyone with good sense would. He was a skin head! A known wild card with a temper! Most people would run away… but I took the chance on him and I am so glad that I did.
Knight’s story is just beautiful. Classic BB style I could do nothing but become entirely engrossed at leisure. Skin is not a book to be rushed but to be savored. Taking my time was the perfect road to travel down when it came to falling for Knight. I enjoyed letting this story unfold on its own time so that I could appreciate it slowly. These two deserved my full attention and that is exactly what they got. Greedy Buggars, Knight and BB just had to have all of my mind, body and soul. Wringing every emotion out of me. I laughed out loud at times and cried during others. BB’s writing is beautifully flawless and I can’t get enough of it.
If you read 44 Chapters and loved Knight, then why are you reading this? Just go buy the book. If you were wary of the Neo Nazi Skinhead as I would take the chance you will only regret not getting to know him. Because you will fall in love with his warped mind, there is no other outcome not once you really understand him. Take this time machine and go relive the 90’s with BB and Knight, it will be a ride you won’t soon forget. This is a must read for everyone, though you’ve been warned to be cautious if you are known to be squeamish. Knight will push all of your boundaries and leave you begging for him to do it again.
-Mackenzie
This book made me nostalgic. I attended high school in the late 90s and early 2000 and experienced quite a bit of similar incidents that B.B. wrote about.
Falling in love for your first time, especially at the age 15, was the first of many similarities. Knight is the intimidating bad boy that wouldn’t give up his many advances on B.B. or hold back his feelings of aggression towards her and their friends. B.B.’s reaction to his behavior was soothing at times and filled with the unexpected. She empathized with Knight to try to gauge his mood swings and help change the direction into a more bright and sunny outcome.
I was heartbroken to hear that he had been murdered, I would’ve loved to have more to their story! I loved everything about their start and their ending!
YOUNG LOVE IS STILL LOVE….INTENSE LOVE..
With every book, I read, by BB Easton, I love and respect her more…Let’s get this out there, right up front, right now….BB Easton is a straight up bada$$…period!!! She has been all her life!!! It takes some serious stones to write about your life….before your husband…
I have to give a shout out to Ken, ALWAYS…he’s secure in not only his manhood, but in BB’s love for him….God bless him….
SKIN is about BB and Knight’s relationship…We met Knight, and I loved him in 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT MEN…the supposed “SkinHead” who really wasn’t at all…He just hated everyone (I can relate to that, sometimes)….he hated everyone but BB…and he loved her with his whole heart and the only way he knew how….no matter what form his love took, how young they were, or how their lives turned out, that was real love in that moment….even I felt it…I think many of us had a “Knight” in our lives…a young, obsessive, almost scary kind of love…luckily, most of us, including this author, were allowed an escape to grow up and love again…BB Easton is really brave to go back to tell us her story….but I’m so glad she did….
BB Easton: “This book is my truth. It’s just not one hundred percent the truth.” I know this….I know there was a “Knight”, and I know he was her first love, and I know it was intense….I Loved Knight…AND I LOVE SKIN!!!
Wow!!! And this is coming from someone who didn’t like 44 chapters of 4 men! I thought that maybe reading the single full book of each separate men would read/listen better as a story for me and at least with this one so far, it did! Knight holy moly! So unexpected towards the end and it had my eyes go bugging. Theres NO WAY I could see myself go through what BB went through. I love the wide cast of characters and how well the story moved. Def. a page turner. The last chapter has me def. moving Speed up my TBR. I’m so glad I gave these another chance.
I completely feel like I’m playing catch up because everyone else seems to know about these books. I read the 44 Chapters book, and fell in love with this series. I’m so glad she expanded the stories. I had to have more. It’s easy to see why she fell for the sweet psycho with the troubled childhood. At times it was easy to forget that he wasn’t the HEA. At times it was so sad because of knowing the outcome. You fall in love with this tortured soul. I often thought how much more boring my life was. I recommend 100%.