Damn, I love this book cover.

So, this was WILD. In both good and bad ways. I wanted to wait a bit before writing something because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Now, though, my feelings boil down to this: it was totally readable, but what the hell just happened?

This started out very promisingly, though a touch too insta-love for me. I liked the idea of the places this story could possibly go, with Mick and Veronica being the sparks that start a metaphorical blaze in their lives that grows out of control. I saw the beginnings of a GREAT story there, especially when we went through Veronica's terrible decision making for the sake of her photography, and watching the way Mick's life kept spiraling ever out of control.

But then Nico happened.

The heck? I'm sure everything to do with Nico and the way the story develops as a result of his actions is the where the Dorian Gray inspiration comes from, but I haven't (yet) read The Picture of Dorian Gray. As such, it felt like a tornado touched down in the middle of this story I really liked and tore everything apart, leaving a great big mess.

Granted, it was a very readable mess and DID make for a fun thrill of a read, but it wasn't the story I wanted.

(Also, for the record, this whole story takes place in like, 2 weeks? Maybe? A huge amount of suspension of disbelief is needed here.)

Anyway. Ultimately I gave this 3 stars to even out my feelings. 5 stars for where it started and the really great bones of a story that could have gone places. 2 stars for Nico and everything that happened in the last third of the book.