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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
3.5 - I was really pleased that this one had more depth and historical awareness than I expected, picking it up. In addition, the depiction of found family, friends' love, and internal journeys was really enjoyable. The love story was also solid. Good read!
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very fun romance read! Both the leads were sweet, although Patrick was sometimes frustrating (for understandable reasons, but still), and I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the romance. The third-act breakup felt realistic, although I really think Patrick was far more at fault than Will. That was just about the worst post-kink etiquette I can think of - the entire scene was undernegotiated, which I don't think is a problem from a writing/storytelling standpoint (also it was hot, so I'm not complaining), but it was sure a problem for the characters.
I really loved the Kismet origin story woven into the modern-day story, and woud happily read more about Charles, Iris, Eleanor and Dickie, and I teared up when I realised who Ellie was. I found it a little jarring, however, to discover thatEleanor died in childbirth . The last we heard of their story made it sound like all three of them would be raising their child as an unconventional family, and although sometimes tragedy strikes like this and there's rarely a "reason" for it in real life, it still felt like a slightly odd resolution to their story.
That said, I probably would have rated this a comfortable 4 stars if it wasn't for two things:
Firstly, there's a moment in the first act of sudden and unprompted biphobia from Jordan ("If that were the case, it would make him the first bisexual in the universe who doesn't mention it all the bloody time [...] For a group of people who are constantly complaining about being erased, they really don't shut up."). Will vaguely challenges him on it ("What's next, a joke about vegans?"), but then the scene moves on and it is never mentioned again. And sure, I'm all for book characters being flawed people, which is something that Ellis does very well elsewhere in this book, but this moment felt weirdly placed and almost like the author was taking a cheap shot at bisexual people, which didn't feel great as a bi reader.
And secondly, for a book which is so much about gender and drag, there's an almost conspicuous lack of trans characters. Will's nibling is nonbinary (and great, by the way - I hope they can keep playing with their many-named band forever), and perhaps if she had the words for it Iris would have used a similar label, but otherwise trans people are conspicuously absent from the narrative. And sure, the lines between drag and identity have for many people been blurred for a long time, but I just would have liked to have seen more actual trans people involved in the queer scene. When the queens from the Village stage a protest-against-a-protest against drag storytime at the library, one of the older & more established queens gives a beauiful speech about homophobia and resilience, and yet I found myself thinking where are we? It just felt like, for a book about queer resistance and queer joy, certain people were somewhat removed from the narrative.
With all that said, I did still enjoy the romance, the characters, and the overarching story, and I read the whole thing in one sitting, so I suppose I can't complain too much.
I really loved the Kismet origin story woven into the modern-day story, and woud happily read more about Charles, Iris, Eleanor and Dickie, and I teared up when I realised who Ellie was. I found it a little jarring, however, to discover that
That said, I probably would have rated this a comfortable 4 stars if it wasn't for two things:
Firstly, there's a moment in the first act of sudden and unprompted biphobia from Jordan ("If that were the case, it would make him the first bisexual in the universe who doesn't mention it all the bloody time [...] For a group of people who are constantly complaining about being erased, they really don't shut up."). Will vaguely challenges him on it ("What's next, a joke about vegans?"), but then the scene moves on and it is never mentioned again. And sure, I'm all for book characters being flawed people, which is something that Ellis does very well elsewhere in this book, but this moment felt weirdly placed and almost like the author was taking a cheap shot at bisexual people, which didn't feel great as a bi reader.
And secondly, for a book which is so much about gender and drag, there's an almost conspicuous lack of trans characters. Will's nibling is nonbinary (and great, by the way - I hope they can keep playing with their many-named band forever), and perhaps if she had the words for it Iris would have used a similar label, but otherwise trans people are conspicuously absent from the narrative. And sure, the lines between drag and identity have for many people been blurred for a long time, but I just would have liked to have seen more actual trans people involved in the queer scene. When the queens from the Village stage a protest-against-a-protest against drag storytime at the library, one of the older & more established queens gives a beauiful speech about homophobia and resilience, and yet I found myself thinking where are we? It just felt like, for a book about queer resistance and queer joy, certain people were somewhat removed from the narrative.
With all that said, I did still enjoy the romance, the characters, and the overarching story, and I read the whole thing in one sitting, so I suppose I can't complain too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia
Minor: Biphobia, Death of parent
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
oh my GOD this book.........
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think the universe saw me getting impatient about the new Superman film coming out and delivered this book to me because holy shit, it was like it was written specifically to my taste.
Northern representation? Joe Lycett mention?? Plenty of comic/superhero lore for someone who did a writing graphic novels and a film & comics module to geek out about??? Gays???? British insults?????
It was more laugh out loud funny than every Marvel film put together, Will and Patrick's relationship was just so adorable, and the extra cast of characters had my entire heart 💕
The only improvement could've been an Alison Hammond cameo 😂
I'm genuinely so glad I found this book at the Northern Publisher's Fair because I'm not sure I would've stumbled across it otherwise and I'm sure I'm about to be just as annoying yapping about this book as I am when I don't shut up about Batman's kids 🙏
Anyway, everyone go and read this. Immediately. And then talk to me about it 🔪
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think the universe saw me getting impatient about the new Superman film coming out and delivered this book to me because holy shit, it was like it was written specifically to my taste.
Northern representation? Joe Lycett mention?? Plenty of comic/superhero lore for someone who did a writing graphic novels and a film & comics module to geek out about??? Gays???? British insults?????
It was more laugh out loud funny than every Marvel film put together, Will and Patrick's relationship was just so adorable, and the extra cast of characters had my entire heart 💕
The only improvement could've been an Alison Hammond cameo 😂
I'm genuinely so glad I found this book at the Northern Publisher's Fair because I'm not sure I would've stumbled across it otherwise and I'm sure I'm about to be just as annoying yapping about this book as I am when I don't shut up about Batman's kids 🙏
Anyway, everyone go and read this. Immediately. And then talk to me about it 🔪
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked Patrick and Will as a couple. Interesting to see their journey toward acceptance and Patrick’s struggle with coming out. Very realistic part sadly with homophobia and how it changed and made the characters look around
My favorite part was the superhero origin told in the 1950s and I’d like a whole story of that. It sadly ended abruptly I would have liked more about how the omega issue changed things moving forward
My favorite part was the superhero origin told in the 1950s and I’d like a whole story of that. It sadly ended abruptly I would have liked more about how the omega issue changed things moving forward
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming
REVIEW
cw: queerphobia, mention of parental cheating
In the present day, when thirty-one-year-old American movie star Patrick comes to the UK to star in a blockbuster superhero movie, his and British bookseller Will’s worlds collide. Patrick’s life may be glamorous, but his contract obliges him to play up to his status as a sex symbol, and he can’t let anyone find out that he’s gay. Will, who does drag, understands there’s power in having an alter-ego, but he also knows the importance of being openly yourself and following your heart. Might he succeed in drawing Patrick out of his shell?
Back in 1948, Charles and Iris are not like other married couples. Partly because they are the writer-illustrator duo behind a comic destined to become the multi-billion-dollar superhero franchise that will eventually bring Patrick and Will together. Partly because they don’t love each other as anything more than best friends, Charles and Iris are both queer, at a time when homosexuality is illegal. In spite of the adversity they face, their unconventional partnership leads them on an empowering journey of self-discovery, with romance on both sides too.
So, I am a HUGE comic book fan as well as a lover of movie adaptations (done right), so this book felt like it had been written for me. There were so many in-jokes, and I LOVED all of the X-Men references, but even if you know next to nothing about either comic books or movies, this would be a thoroughly charming story, full of witty one-liners, and I cannot recommend it enough!
I loved Patrick, but I hated that he had to hide his authentic self from the public eye, just like so many in the acting profession over the years. The meet-cute was hilarious, but the mutual attraction and pining were so stinking cute! Their first kiss made me kick my feet giddily. It was SO adorable.
Will was immediately adorable and I LOVED his drag name, as well as the story behind how he became a drag artist. I also wished I'd had a 'screaming cupboard' when I used to work in retail as a student. But I loved his vulnerability just as much as his sense of humour. I was so angry on his and Faye's behalf at the library. But Will's way of helping Patrick become incognito was brilliant.
I did think the pacing in the middle third of the story slowed a little, and every time it felt like the romance between Patrick and Will was deepening, we'd abruptly turn back in time to the origins of Captain Kismet, but I still loved the story within a story about Charles and Iris, and how they created the comics. That said, I was so angry (though sadly, not surprised) on Iris’s behalf at the way both she and Charlie were treated by the vile editor, Walter Heywood. The Omega edition was such a wonderful storyline, though. My heart also broke for Iris when we discovered the reason for the name of Kismet's sidekick in the comic books. Her candid conversation with Charles about gender, but especially her own, was well-written. The threats of McCarthyism just added another emotional layer to the story, but Charles' love story with Dickie, and Iris's with Eleanor were beautifully written.
In the present-day storyline, there were so many wonderful supporting characters. I loved the hilarious banter between Will and his sister, Margo and her son. But the origins of how they became close made my heart ache. Still, the memory of them watching THAT series of ANTM was so nostalgic, and I loved how supportive Margo was of Will. I liked Audra, Patrick’s colleague in the movie franchise. She was hilarious, but also fierce, and I loved how utterly gone Hector, Patrick’s trainer, was for her. I also LOVED Hector, Corey, and Patrick’s revelatory talk while hiking. While I understood that Patrick's manager, Simone, needed to project his image in a certain way, I hated how restricted he became because of it, and the situation with Reece made me so angry on Patrick’s behalf.
Jordan, Will’s Drag stepmother, was hilarious, but I hated that they fell out for so long. Faye was utterly iconic, and though I hated the reason for the protest, she and all of the other queens were amazing.
Even though I knew conflict was coming, I hated how suddenly dismissive Patrick became of Will in chapter twenty-five, and the aftermath made me even more furious. Though I empathised with Patrick’s inner turmoil, I seriously wanted to hug Will, although my heart also ached for Jordan after his outburst. But after Patrick’s confrontation with his parents, his actions started to make a lot more sense, and my heart broke for him as well. Still, the chapter where Will and Jordan made up was cathartic.
The final chapters really pulled everything together in an incredibly satisfying way. I won’t spoil all of the details, but I went on a rollercoaster of emotions as we finally caught up with the fate of Charles, Iris, and Eleanor, as well as the fate of the Omega edition. As for the final few chapters? Well, they were PERFECT, and the ending made me SWOON so much! The epilogue was equally adorable.
Though separated by time, these two stories intertwined into a beautiful story of love and hope.
Overall Rating:
. 5
. 5
Heat Rating:
*Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. We Could be Heroes is out now*