Overview

Muscle follows Ryan, a teenage boy trying to survive school, poverty and a violent home. Small and constantly bullied, he discovers bodybuilding and begins to change his body and his reputation. As his strength grows, so does his anger, pulling him towards dangerous choices that threaten to consume him.

Writing & Voice

We found Trotter’s voice raw and immediate. His writing is tight and unsentimental, capturing teenage frustration and rage without softening it. The language is direct and fast moving, mirroring Ryan’s tunnel vision as he chases power and respect at any cost.

Content & Perspective

The story stays close to Ryan’s viewpoint, showing how violence and humiliation shape his thinking. Trotter does not excuse Ryan’s actions but makes the pressures around him clear. The novel asks the reader to sit with discomfort and consequence rather than easy redemption.

Themes

Muscle explores masculinity, class, violence and the hunger for control. It examines how power can feel like protection, and how quickly that belief can turn destructive. The book also looks at how systems fail young people long before they fail themselves.

What Worked

• Honest portrayal of teenage anger without glamorising it.
• Tight pacing that keeps tension high throughout.
• Clear moral weight grounded in consequence.

Minor Quibbles

• The intensity may be confronting for some readers.
• Limited perspective leaves little emotional distance.

Final Thoughts

We found Muscle bracing and uncompromising, a close, uncomfortable study of masculinity and power that forces us to confront how violence takes root early.

Rating: ★★★★½ / 5