Corrected Rating: 3.5

Usually I avoid reading 1st person POV stories but 'Burn' is different. Xiao Zhou, our MC, loves Lan Shan. A person with a normal family background with human insecurities. Lan Shan on the other hand is someone whose fate has always pushed her away from the people she loved. The story explores Xiao Zhou's journey from being an Assistant Photographer whose genius is uncovered through the inspiration of model Lan Shan to climbing the top of the pyramid all while trying to understand the woman she 'loves'. It... more>> deals with mental health issues as one of the major themes.

What I do think the story lacks is the way Xiao Zhou approaches her issues with Lan Shan and Lan Shan's opening up her past despite being in 'love' with her. Right from the start she keeps dodging everything and has lukewarm response or mainly tears up for Lan Shan's hardships. It's like she listened to her but never heard her.

I like the role of the guy friend who ig after MTLing that the author based it on her real life friend. It's refreshing to see Baihe novels where the MC's friendships feel personal rather than just labels.

The story is angsty through and through. It'd be great if the characters could be fleshed out better rather than just being mysterious. <<less