A review by mcdermottcecelia
Idol, Burning by 宇佐見りん, Rin Usami

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'll be honest: I just finished this book, and I have no clue how to go about discussing it. This was such a strange story that is truly unlike anything I've read before. Idol, Burning is a very short, fast read that follows Akari through her teenage obsession with the pop star Masaki Ueno over the course of a short period in which Masaki is under public scrutiny. It's a portal into Akari's life and the unhealthy obsessions in fandom culture, especially in which the subject of the obsession is a major public figure. It's a commentary on this phenomenon, a flashback to the stressors of high school, and a light in the dark for those seeking to find joy in some area of their life. The novel itself left me feeling "???" but it was neither exceptional nor bad and was instead very neutral. If you've got some free time and need a quick read, give it a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.