Review: Torched by Andrea Lynn Colt

Rose Whitfield's senior year just went up in smoke. Instead of having a blast with her best friend, her cheerleading squad, and her boyfriend Ryan, she's framed for arson. Popularity and criminal records don't mix, apparently.

Luckily, Rose knows who's framing her: Paxton Callaway. Paxton and Rose have spent years locked in a war of practical jokes. This time he's gone too far. Rose sets out to prove her innocence, win Ryan back, and take Paxton down hard.
Not necessarily in that order. ~ Goodreads

Review:Torched was a really fun mix of Mean Girls and a whodunit mystery. A mystery that kept me guessing for the entire book. Each time I thought I figured it out, I was wrong….wrong….wrong.

After Rose Whitfield is framed for arson, her high school popularity goes down the tubes and she becomes the school pariah, even losing her perfect boyfriend. Trying to prove her innocence, she has to accept the help of Paxton, her neighbor and longtime arch nemesis. Paxton and Rose have been playing increasingly dangerous pranks on each other over the years. She may need Paxton's help but she's still not sure she can trust him. What if he was the one who framed her in the first place?

Honestly, I'm not usually a fan of twisty, red herring plots but Torched worked for me. That's mostly because of Rose and Paxton. They start off pretty insensitive and immature, not realizing how their "fun" pranks have impacted those around them but they evolve into great characters you want to root for.

The romance was very sweet but a little on the light side. Torched is more about solving the larger mystery. You are going to hate/love/hate several people as you read. There are some bad choices made  by several people but you can understand where they are coming and it only adds to the non stop twists.

The resolution was a tad too easy for me but still a good one. I felt like there should have been more consequences but that is a minor quibble.

Rating 3 out of 4: Torched tackles quite a few serious topics including bullying in a way that is enlightening without being heavy handed. Great characters and a mystery that will have you guessing right until he very end. Gorgeous cover!

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Source: Copy provided by the author for my honest review
Buy the book! Torched