This was a very interesting YA contemporary, with a darker edge to it and several lines of tension throughout the narrative. I found the background of the Beauty & the Beast theater play fascinating (it lended and teased a bit with a speculative edge, which I personally found myself kinda yearning for—but this only speaks to my own interests as a reader, not to any faults with the book).

And somehow, despite his darkness, I loved Cory's character from the get-go. Abby, for me, was slightly trickier, because I felt at times she was more mature than her own mother and the grown-ups in her life, and at other times extremely immature. Her internal monologue was a bit intense, but it did make for some very vivid imagery and brought this world fully to life.

But when she and Cory were together on page, the chemistry was amazing!

P.S. Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!