Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for this arc in exchange for a review!
This book is the definition of aesthetically pleasing. It's so cinematic and captivating thanks to stunning prose. The minute I heard 'Picture of Dorian Gray, but it's a sexy psychological thriller,' I was sold. This YA debut was electric. I flew through this book in a day and I'm always here for more queer relationships and stories in books.
The characters are well-developed and I didn’t see the interesting turns and twists coming until I was in too deep. Highly recommend to fans of young adult and thriller books

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this book!

She's Too Pretty To Burn is a sapphic YA thriller that follows three friends, Veronica, Mick, and Nico. Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, and set in the late-hot San Diego summer and an underground art scene, our three main characters experience love, loss, and some pretty mysterious murders.

I was really enticed by the premise of She's Too Pretty To Burn, and overall it didn't let me down. It took me a good 50 pages to feel invested, but when I did, I literally could not put this book down. The characters are awful in the best way (there really is just something about a character who makes dumb decisions rooted in their own flaws) and the writing, at a granular level, is absolutely stellar.

One thing that ended up frustrating me as a reader was that it felt pretty obvious who the murderer was as soon as that character made their first appearance. While this book is less a mystery and more a thriller, I missed the nervous anticipation that often comes with learning who the murderer is. Even so, the remaining thrills of this book were honestly pretty thrilling.

In all, She's Too Pretty To Burn was an excellent read, and one I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick, gripping YA.

Holy crap! This book was a wild ride!!!

This book was a modern take on Picture of Dorian Grey, I normally dont read thrillers but the premise caught my attention. Of of the characters this book focuses on, Mick who is a girl on the edge and a series of events completely tip her over. I don't really have the words to describe this book, I could not put it down.

My only critique is the last few characters seemed to lacked the suspense and I felt out of place. If the last few characters where cut then this book would have been perfect.

It was still an extremely enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and author Wendy Heard for allowing me to read and review this ARC of the title She's Too Pretty to Burn!

I had been seeing this gorgeous cover everywhere I looked, and for good reason! This was a sexy, psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. This was full of twists and turns and was perfectly provocative. The imagery found within was breathtaking, and I absolutely loved these characters. This gender-swapped reimagining of Dorian Gray is a for sure read for anyone, quite honestly. You won't be disappointed!

Thank you again to those listed above for allowing me to read and review this novel!

She's Too Pretty To Burn begins as a love story between Mick, beautiful and broken, and Veronica, a student of photography uninspired by her art. When Veronica sees Mick, she is immediately smitten and desperate to capture her on film, despite Mick's fear of the camera and giving these parts of herself. Soon they are falling in love, but constantly there remains a question of whether this is a healthy relationship, and who wants what from whom. Complicating matters is Nico, Veronica's best friend and performance artist, obsessed and driven by dangerous and subversive acts of artistic expression. After a fire and a string of murders, is anyone really who they say they are? And who really has the power?

Although this novel is ostensibly inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, I can't comment on that since I've never read the source material. I found this novel to be a compelling and thrilling read; although some of the twists were clear, being able to see what was about to happen did not in any way diminish the enjoyment of the novel. In a lot of ways, this novel felt like watching a horror film - it doesn't matter if you can see the jump scare coming, you're still going to jump when it happens. I was surprised by how engaged I became in the novel and how much I really wanted to know what was happening next. Although I did enjoy the ending, I didn't enjoy how open-ended the ending felt. It felt slightly rushed, but also made me feel as though the author was leaving something open for a potential sequel. This is a strategy that isn't my favorite in novels; even in a series, I feel like the novel should feel complete and whole as a unit. The last line of the novel was very strong and compelling for sure, and does make me want to know more (although I'm not sure we'll get it). Overall, I would rate this 3.5/5 stars.

I had very high hopes for this YA thriller because it was advertised as a Dorian Gray retelling. I especially watched the movie so I could really appreciate what the book would do. It quickly turned out though that this is not exactly a Dorian Gray retelling, the inspiration is more subtle. That's absolutely fine of course, and while I would have loved to see a close retelling, it didn't directly impact my enjoyment that it wasn't. But I do think it's important to know this before you go in, so you won't feel disappointed.

I think this was a well written, very slowly paced but quickly readable thriller. I usually really like when the suspense quietly builds up in the first half and then spirals out of control in the second half, and I think the book did that well. However, it was just not entirely my cup of tea. I didn't feel super invested in the story.

4.5 stars for this twisty thriller! Unreliable narrators abound, you never know who you can trust. Mick, Veronica, and Nico are all messed up. You could see any and all of them being the killer at some point.

I read Wendy's Kill Club and loved it, so I was super excited to delve into her YA work! This is an amazing YA thriller. The character read at a teenage level. There's problems with parents, friends, sports teams. All this on top of installation art - which happens to be illegal, and oh yeah, murder. Multiple murders.

I read this in less than a day, which is a feat for me. I could not put it down. I couldn't figure out who to trust, and that just made me want to read it more and more.

The ending was great. It wrapped up nicely, but still left you wondering. I don't know if that makes sense, but I felt it was the perfect ending.

Definitely recommend if you love unreliable narrators or ya thrillers!

My favorite part is when a title is tied into a book and you reach that point of "ah ha!" and realize where it comes from and this books fulfills that feel-good feeling for me perfectly. I vaguely remember reading the book that inspired this one back in high school and honestly, this books rekindled an urge to read it again that I never thought I'd be caught saying, let alone feeling. The rush of the descent into chaos from Dorian Gray was deliciously recaptured in this book and I enjoyed every minute. Please tell me there's a sequel!

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book*

"She's Too Pretty to Burn" is a reminder that people aren't always all that they seem. There's crazy talented, and there is just plain crazy.

Mick feels isolated--even in a party full of people, when she meets Veronica, a budding photographer, As the girls grow closer, Mick's life begins to crumble, and Veronica's star is rising--entirely thanks to Mick. Unsure of how to put things back together, Mick finds herself turning to Veronica's best friend (also an "artist") Nico for help.

This book took a dark and unexpected turn that I won't spoil. It is a quick easy read.

Teen angst but make it artsy with a side of murder.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

She's Too Pretty to Burn was filled with so many twists and turns. While not knowing if I've ever read Dorian Grey, it was pretty entertaining to dive into. Spoiler alert, I never read Dorian Grey.

In this, you will meet Veronica, Niko, and Mick. Veronica and Niko are the best of friends and are sort of married to one another. Even though all things are very platonic between them, it was kind of cute that they called each other wife and husband. The one thing they love more than anything is their art. They are very passionate about it and it seems to run within their families as well.

Along the way, you get to see Veronica and Mick getting closer and closer to one another. It was definitely a risk for them to open up to one another about their fears and stuff. Especially since they didn't know each other that well when they did. I guess, when you feel that comfortable with someone - you know.

Back to the twists and turns, oh lord were they good. I mean Niko was so good at being bad or evil throughout the book. Definitely loved it all - especially the ending. I can already feel the goosebumps again.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It starts simply, Veronica and Mick meet at a party and a picture gets taken that goes viral. It is written in a very readable way and goes by quickly. But I felt that the first half of the book was a little slow since it was setting everything up for the second half which was just a wild ride. My only other bit of criticism is that I didn’t like the relationship between Veronica and Mick in the beginning. Veronica lying to Mick about the picture really rubbed me the wrong way. But by the end I changed my mind.

I don’t read a lot of thrillers but I enjoyed this one very much. I can’t wait until next March so other people can read this!

I really wanted to like this story. It was super cute, but I just could not get into it. I read half of it and unfortunately had to DNF it. I felt like there was too much fluff & on the nose explanations that didn’t work with the story. I didn’t see where the story was going, or what the actual plot was.

This book! This heart-racing thriller captured my attention the whole way through, spinning and swerving in unexpected directions the entire time. These characters and their journeys all fascinated me. Mick, hiding from the camera only to become a muse for everyone around her. Veronica, realizing her camera has far more power than she could ever imagine. Nico, taking questions of art and power to terrifying heights. With every page, the stakes were raised in this book, inching towards some terrifying unknown. I really enjoyed this book. It's a fantastic thriller but it's also ultimately a commentary on art, on obsession and the people we turn into our muses, and the consequences of such. It definitely played well off of Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" without ever seeming overly derivative. I also loved Mick and Veronica's relationship and the way that unfolded. It was an anchor through the entire book, amidst the craziness and chaos that these characters face down.

She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard is a young adult thriller that is inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray. This isn’t a retelling of the classic but a new modern young adult psychological thriller that you can feel the same artistic dangerous essence of that original story infused in the pages of this one.

Veronica is a photographer who is very much stuck in a rut with her work and trying to find something new and fresh to inspire her. That is when Veronica meets Mick. Mick is exactly the muse that Veronica needed in her life but Mick is shy and afraid of the camera lens after being raised by a self centered mother who is all about a life of fame and being in the limelight.

With a bit of deception Veronica convinces Mick to pose for her and gets the shot of a lifetime she had been looking for. Soon Mick and Veronica are inseparable and falling in love when Veronica brings Mick into her best friend Nico’s world of dramatic exibitions he calls art but border between pranks gone wrong or even terrorism as things begin to spiral out of control.

She’s Too Pretty to Burn really starts off feeling very much like a contemporay young adult LGBT romance with the shy girl being swept away by the much braver outgoing teen. However, it doesn’t take long for things to heat up beyond the romance taking a darker turn into so much more to put a reader on the edge of their seat. It’s easy to see how the author was inspired by Dorian Gray as this has the same elements with the art, passion and eventually danger around every corner as it progressively becomes darker as the story goes on taking it far away from the contemporary beginning.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I loved this book. I love the art scene, and the characters Nico and Veronica. Then Maybe ck enters and the story explodes. Two girls fall deeply in love. As their relationship develops, we have arson, murders and a stalker. This one holds attention until the end. If you want a story you are unable to put down, this may be it.

I'm very conflicted about this book. On one hand, it delivered all of the elements I want in a thriller but I think I went into it expecting something slightly different and was slightly let down. This story is full of unlikeable flawed characters which I really enjoyed and it's an incredibly fast read. I ended up giving it 3.5 stars overall and I think that for the most part folks who are fans of thrillers will really enjoy this.
Warning a few spoilers ahead: This book has been pitched as a sapphic murderous Dorian Grey retelling, and the whole time I expected that to mean that the girls were the ones who were doing the killing but instead it ended up being a different character entirely.
As an educator working with LGBTQ+ youth I think it's super important that I also mention a few aspects of Mick and Veronica's relationship. There were some big red flags for me from the get-go when it came to the main WLW relationship around consent, healthy relationship behavior, etc. They were extremely toxic together (which fit the story) but I felt like at the end of the day things wrapped up a little too neatly for them. Even without the bigger story arc, I think that there needed to be a bigger conversation around abusive behaviors. Veronica's mom raised some pretty reasonable concerns only to brush them off.

Also this might be my favorite 2021 cover! It's so pretty.

I don't think I've ever read a retelling of Dorian Gray and I was interested to see how this would play out. In place of Dorian, we have Mick, a swimmer trying to make it to graduation so she can escape her mother. Mick hates having her picture taken, a combination of low self esteem and the feeling that if her picture is shared, she loses a piece of herself. Veronica is the photographer who recognizes how beautiful Mick is. She eventually takes an amazing picture of Mick and it puts both girls in the spotlight.

Nico takes over Lord Henry's part, encouraging Mick to rebel by joining his art team. Unfortunately, the 'art' seems more about hurting people than just bringing attention to environmental causes. Mick feels pulled apart, in one direction by Veronica who loves her but wants her to be her model and the other by Nico, giving her an outlet for her emotions but in a dangerous way.

The pacing on this is great and as things built up, it got tense and I wasn't sure who would survive. The art installs were insane and the creativity behind them was well thought out. Veronica and Mick definitely aren't a perfect couple, but they care about each other and will risk their lives if it comes to it. I enjoyed reading this and thought the ending was pretty perfect. I'm so excited for this to come out to the world!

I received this advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This thriller tended towards a romance for more than 50% of the book. When it finally turned to thriller, I could not put it down.

Heard’s YA debut held me by the throat from page one and didn’t let go. It’s a thriller by every definition, but there’s a tender heart at its center that amplifies the thriller aspects. I cared deeply about Veronica and Mick. These are smart, resourceful girls who are easy to root for even as I wanted to slap them at times.

I flew through this book, especially the action-packed last third which had me gasping. The ominous ending makes me hope for a sequel. Whether or not that happens, Heard’s adult fiction fans will be equally impressed with this YA debut.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Henry Holt books for the ARC.

This is going to be the BOOK of 2021 and I can't wait. Since there is a while to the pub date, I don't want to give too much away but its a great read and I couldn't put it down! Such a great one!