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cobaltbookshelf's review
3.0
She's Too Pretty to Burn is dark queer psychological thriller.
Pace is fast except in final 5 chapters when it dragged but I definitely couldn't put it down.
It has some bests from A Dorian Grey but it's totally retelling.
Plot is predictable, action that someone characters do makes then unlikeable, but still interesting overall enjoyable read.
Pace is fast except in final 5 chapters when it dragged but I definitely couldn't put it down.
It has some bests from A Dorian Grey but it's totally retelling.
Plot is predictable, action that someone characters do makes then unlikeable, but still interesting overall enjoyable read.
thepetitepunk's review
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book won't be for everyone, but it sure was for me. It's messy, confusing, and bends morality in all the wrong (or right?) ways. If you love chaotic, imperfect, angry queer girls, you'll love She's Too Pretty to Burn. I know that YA thriller/mystery gets a bad rap for being cliche, predictable, and anticlimactic, but I personally enjoyed the way the events unfolded. This book is best for those who aren't afraid of a bit of escalation.
This book won't be for everyone, but it sure was for me. It's messy, confusing, and bends morality in all the wrong (or right?) ways. If you love chaotic, imperfect, angry queer girls, you'll love She's Too Pretty to Burn. I know that YA thriller/mystery gets a bad rap for being cliche, predictable, and anticlimactic, but I personally enjoyed the way the events unfolded. This book is best for those who aren't afraid of a bit of escalation.
jess_mango's review
4.0
3.5 stars Mixed feelings alert!
She's Too Pretty to Burn is a current day YA LGBTQ romance/thriller inspired by [b:The Picture of Dorian Gray|5297|The Picture of Dorian Gray|Oscar Wilde|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546103428l/5297._SY75_.jpg|1858012]. Set at the end of summer in San Diego, it's a tale of connection and rebellion. Veronica is passionate about her photography and makes friends easily. Her best friend is Nico, a self-described performance artist who enjoys chaos and sticking it to the man. Then Veronica meets Mick, a fragile, stunningly beautiful girl who has a phobia about getting her picture taken. Veronica and Mick meet at a party and there is an immediate spark of connection. The two girls start seeing more of each other and feelings of love start swirling about. Then they get caught up in Nico's world and things start swirling out of control with fires and deaths.
The story alternates between Veronica and Mick's perspective. In the beginning I was very ??? about why Mick was so against having her picture taken. It was just perplexing how it was explained initially. Veronica as a character made much more sense to me initially. I really like the chemistry between Mick and Veronica and how they fostered that connection despite their diametrically opposed opinions on social media exposure. I also had a few issues with some of the character motiviations, but if I set those aside the book was a fun, crazy ride. The audiobook has different people narrating the different perspectives. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
What to listen to while reading...
Take a Picture by Filter
I'm Okay Though by Sara Keys
Cover Me in Sunshine by P!nk
Pictures of Girls by Wallows
Monkey Gone to Heaven by The Pixies
Burn it Down by Linkin Park
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook!
She's Too Pretty to Burn is a current day YA LGBTQ romance/thriller inspired by [b:The Picture of Dorian Gray|5297|The Picture of Dorian Gray|Oscar Wilde|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546103428l/5297._SY75_.jpg|1858012]. Set at the end of summer in San Diego, it's a tale of connection and rebellion. Veronica is passionate about her photography and makes friends easily. Her best friend is Nico, a self-described performance artist who enjoys chaos and sticking it to the man. Then Veronica meets Mick, a fragile, stunningly beautiful girl who has a phobia about getting her picture taken. Veronica and Mick meet at a party and there is an immediate spark of connection. The two girls start seeing more of each other and feelings of love start swirling about. Then they get caught up in Nico's world and things start swirling out of control with fires and deaths.
The story alternates between Veronica and Mick's perspective. In the beginning I was very ??? about why Mick was so against having her picture taken. It was just perplexing how it was explained initially. Veronica as a character made much more sense to me initially. I really like the chemistry between Mick and Veronica and how they fostered that connection despite their diametrically opposed opinions on social media exposure. I also had a few issues with some of the character motiviations, but if I set those aside the book was a fun, crazy ride. The audiobook has different people narrating the different perspectives. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
What to listen to while reading...
Take a Picture by Filter
I'm Okay Though by Sara Keys
Cover Me in Sunshine by P!nk
Pictures of Girls by Wallows
Monkey Gone to Heaven by The Pixies
Burn it Down by Linkin Park
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook!
erinisreading_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
anacereading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The ending was surprising but interesting
freja_ts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.0
staceyanne_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
janagaton's review
5.0
I AM SO GLAD THAT ONE OF MY MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED OF 2021 ENDED UP BEING A FIVER FOR ME. I'm not gonna lie, I had my doubts about this thriller actually being "thrilling," and I had even bigger doubts about my enjoyment for it because of the insta-love, but let me tell you, it DELIVERS. It gets so incredibly intense and terrifying because some of these things (especially the Uber scene) could easily happen to anybody in real life. There's also an ocean scene that had my chest tighten like there was no tomorrow. I had so much fun reading this book, and now I can't wait to read The Picture of Dorian Grey to see similarities/relations between She's Too Pretty to Burn and the classic it was inspired by.