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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I received an ARC of We Could Be Heroes by Phillip Ellis from Putnam Books via NetGalley and it was an absolute delight! Patrick is a rising actor filming the latest installment in the Captain Kismet film series that has launched his career. Will is a part-time bookseller, part-time drag queen. During a wild night out Patrick is rescued by Will, in drag as Grace Anatomy and from there…I was hooked!
This book gave me Alexis Hall meets Notting Hillish vibes and I loved every moment of it! Without giving away all of the book’s secrets I will note there is also a secondary story woven into the narrative that enriches the entire experience and serves as somewhat of a mystery element as the reader tries to figure out how the stories will converge. I think what I loved most was the pacing —- the narrative progressed in a way that felt natural. The story developed slowly enough for the reader to become invested in the characters, but quickly enough to maintain the audience’s attention. From beginning to end the story is infused with a sense of longing and all of those wonderful, warm feelings that make you want to keep reading and root for the protagonists.
Ellis also does a wonderful job of presenting an interesting supporting cast of characters. Everyone has a part to play and makes their presence felt on the page, so much so that I was excited every time Jordan or Audra appeared on the page! We Could Be Heroes definitely delivers laughs and an emotional impact (it would not be an exaggeration to say I literally cried at least one point) while also tying in social issues and current events in a way that is natural to the narrative and the characters’ experiences. I really enjoyed the journey I went on with Patrick and Will through this novel and am eager to read more from the author in the future. I can see this being an M/M favorite of 2024!
This book gave me Alexis Hall meets Notting Hillish vibes and I loved every moment of it! Without giving away all of the book’s secrets I will note there is also a secondary story woven into the narrative that enriches the entire experience and serves as somewhat of a mystery element as the reader tries to figure out how the stories will converge. I think what I loved most was the pacing —- the narrative progressed in a way that felt natural. The story developed slowly enough for the reader to become invested in the characters, but quickly enough to maintain the audience’s attention. From beginning to end the story is infused with a sense of longing and all of those wonderful, warm feelings that make you want to keep reading and root for the protagonists.
Ellis also does a wonderful job of presenting an interesting supporting cast of characters. Everyone has a part to play and makes their presence felt on the page, so much so that I was excited every time Jordan or Audra appeared on the page! We Could Be Heroes definitely delivers laughs and an emotional impact (it would not be an exaggeration to say I literally cried at least one point) while also tying in social issues and current events in a way that is natural to the narrative and the characters’ experiences. I really enjoyed the journey I went on with Patrick and Will through this novel and am eager to read more from the author in the future. I can see this being an M/M favorite of 2024!
THINGS THIS WAS:
✅ CUTE
✅ FUN
✅ FUNNY
✅ WITTY
✅ FRUSTRATING
✅ WONDERFUL
I loved this. I really bought it without having a single clue what I was getting myself into but I loved the cover so that was all that mattered to me.
I need to get my dislike of Simone off of my chest. I simply cannot take it. You have this bright story of so much appreciation to the 2slgbtqia+ community and with the unique addition (unique to me, let me be clear) of drag queens, with this grey cloud that is not only the homophobia that is surely around the corner but also SIMONE. I HATED THIS WOMAN. AS A QUEER PERSON, TO SMOTHER PATRICK'S LIGHT? The internalized homophobia was unreal dude. The call is coming from inside the house!! There is probably something to unpack there for Simone but this was not her story and how she negatively impacted Patrick's life via his identity and its connection to his career? Bye bitch. There's the door.
This was a hopeful yet unexpected favourite. Will and Patrick were cute, I felt that the third act breakup may have actually been necessary in this one (shocking, I know). I loved all of the side characters and how dedicated they were to supporting their people, even when they disagreed with their choices. It was just great. WELL DONE.
✅ CUTE
✅ FUN
✅ FUNNY
✅ WITTY
✅ FRUSTRATING
✅ WONDERFUL
I loved this. I really bought it without having a single clue what I was getting myself into but I loved the cover so that was all that mattered to me.
I need to get my dislike of Simone off of my chest. I simply cannot take it. You have this bright story of so much appreciation to the 2slgbtqia+ community and with the unique addition (unique to me, let me be clear) of drag queens, with this grey cloud that is not only the homophobia that is surely around the corner but also SIMONE. I HATED THIS WOMAN. AS A QUEER PERSON, TO SMOTHER PATRICK'S LIGHT? The internalized homophobia was unreal dude. The call is coming from inside the house!! There is probably something to unpack there for Simone but this was not her story and how she negatively impacted Patrick's life via his identity and its connection to his career? Bye bitch. There's the door.
This was a hopeful yet unexpected favourite. Will and Patrick were cute, I felt that the third act breakup may have actually been necessary in this one (shocking, I know). I loved all of the side characters and how dedicated they were to supporting their people, even when they disagreed with their choices. It was just great. WELL DONE.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A delightful queer romcom with a parallel storyline of the queer history behind the comic the MMC Patrick is portraying in film (very Professor Marston and the Wonder Women in that regard). This incorporation of a fictional queer history lends a depth to this otherwise relatively fluffy novel that I wasn't expecting but quite enjoyed. Some of the humor in the present day is a bit cringe, and several references already feel a tad dated, but it was an enjoyable read that I'd happily revisit.
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
Cute, light read. I could have done without some stereotypes.
The side story was a nice touch.
The side story was a nice touch.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
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
funny
hopeful
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
A cute story that I feel like I’ve read before. Although I enjoyed the intersecting story lines, but found the modern day characters to be static stereotypes and the older characters underdeveloped.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book tries to be too many things.
When it is trying to be a rom-com, it's mostly successful. The humor reminded me a lot of Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, and Will is adorable and relatable. Patrick is... flat. The romance has a few cure moments but ultimately reads like fan fic, especially when it gets spicey. At times I wondered if this was originally a Chris Evans/Captain America fan fic that was reworked into... whatever this is.
But mostly I enjoyed the rom-com. I laughed out loud.
There's another story here, too. The story of the creators of Captain Kismet. I could see what the author was going for, and it wraps up nicely in the end, but it took away from the emotional build of the main story.
I get what the author was trying to do, but he doesn't offer any new insights and he loses the momentum he got with Will and Patrick everytime he switched perspective to the past.
There was also not enough of Grace Anatomy. I kept forgetting Will was a Drag Queen, even though that was supposed to be his whole thing.
Mostly this is an ode to queer history and culture, a love letter to queer joy, all with a healthy dose of comic book nerdom.
When it is trying to be a rom-com, it's mostly successful. The humor reminded me a lot of Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, and Will is adorable and relatable. Patrick is... flat. The romance has a few cure moments but ultimately reads like fan fic, especially when it gets spicey. At times I wondered if this was originally a Chris Evans/Captain America fan fic that was reworked into... whatever this is.
But mostly I enjoyed the rom-com. I laughed out loud.
There's another story here, too. The story of the creators of Captain Kismet. I could see what the author was going for, and it wraps up nicely in the end, but it took away from the emotional build of the main story.
I get what the author was trying to do, but he doesn't offer any new insights and he loses the momentum he got with Will and Patrick everytime he switched perspective to the past.
There was also not enough of Grace Anatomy. I kept forgetting Will was a Drag Queen, even though that was supposed to be his whole thing.
Mostly this is an ode to queer history and culture, a love letter to queer joy, all with a healthy dose of comic book nerdom.