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okevamae's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This installment of the Heroine Complex series is even better than the first. I had a hard time putting it down! It's got the same humor, action, heart, romance, and clever dialogue of the first book, but the storyline itself feels a little more polished in the second book.
This book is from the POV of Aveda Jupiter, the Chinese-American Superheroine who is the best friend of Evie, the POV character from the last book. Aveda is still adjusting to sharing the superhero spotlight with her bestie, but she manages to be less of a diva about it than in the first book. With the exception of a few vulnerable moments, I found Aveda to be pretty unsympathetic in the first book. But in this book she's learned from her mistakes and is trying to be a better friend. And since we're inside her head in this book, her vulnerability is on full display. The fast-paced action is fun, and the dialogue (and internal monologue) is fantastic, but Aveda's struggles to reconcile the two parts of her personality, and to open herself up to those who love her, are what makes this book really special.
There were a few actions and elements that required suspension of disbelief beyond the whole superhero thing, and those scenes have a sillier, more cartoonish tone that in my opinion, don't quite jive with the tone of the rest of the book - which, while still humorous and fun, feels more realistic. Sometimes I just don't buy the way characters react to things. It was a bigger problem in the first book than it is in this one.
Overall, Heroine Worship is a really fun read with solid characterization, a great romance, fantastic dialogue and a ton of action. 4 stars.
This installment of the Heroine Complex series is even better than the first. I had a hard time putting it down! It's got the same humor, action, heart, romance, and clever dialogue of the first book, but the storyline itself feels a little more polished in the second book.
This book is from the POV of Aveda Jupiter, the Chinese-American Superheroine who is the best friend of Evie, the POV character from the last book. Aveda is still adjusting to sharing the superhero spotlight with her bestie, but she manages to be less of a diva about it than in the first book. With the exception of a few vulnerable moments, I found Aveda to be pretty unsympathetic in the first book. But in this book she's learned from her mistakes and is trying to be a better friend. And since we're inside her head in this book, her vulnerability is on full display. The fast-paced action is fun, and the dialogue (and internal monologue) is fantastic, but Aveda's struggles to reconcile the two parts of her personality, and to open herself up to those who love her, are what makes this book really special.
There were a few actions and elements that required suspension of disbelief beyond the whole superhero thing, and those scenes have a sillier, more cartoonish tone that in my opinion, don't quite jive with the tone of the rest of the book - which, while still humorous and fun, feels more realistic. Sometimes I just don't buy the way characters react to things. It was a bigger problem in the first book than it is in this one.
Overall, Heroine Worship is a really fun read with solid characterization, a great romance, fantastic dialogue and a ton of action. 4 stars.
justinekorson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
I didn't write a review for the first novel but I'm going to talk about both of them here.
In the first story, Heroine Complex, I really loved Evie and how funny she was. The demon portal and all the funny/weird situations they all found themselves in were great! I also really felt for her because Aveda/Annie was not a good friend and genuinely did not seem like a good person (though I did understand her more toward the end of the story). In the first one, H.C, Evie was also pretty heavily badmouthed in all the media transcripts for Maisy's blog posts and it made me really dislike her (Maisy not Evie) and the other citizens of San Francisco who were giving Evie such a hard time when they didn't even know the full story themselves. So when the same thing started happening in this story, Heroine Worship, I was... pretty upset. Only, this time around, all the hate was focused on Aveda/Annie.
Like I mentioned, I did not particularly care for Aveda/Annie in the first novel but since this second one, H.W, is from her perspective, I could really see how hard she was trying to be a better friend/version of herself. Now suddenly Aveda was being completely trashed in the media, and being blamed for things by her friends and I didn't like it at all. It felt like Evie and Aveda's rolls had simply been reversed and I didn't like how it felt that Aveda and Evie were being pitted against each other?? Like I should like one of them more than the other because both women are actually really great, funny, and so caring and loyal. All of their mishaps in both of their books stemmed from them being so fiercely loyal to the other person to the point that they're way too codependent and they're working on it!
So while I still really enjoyed Aveda, Evie and Co. and really enjoyed the plot, I didn't like how the feelings I had from the first novel were essentially rehased.
In the first story, Heroine Complex, I really loved Evie and how funny she was. The demon portal and all the funny/weird situations they all found themselves in were great! I also really felt for her because Aveda/Annie was not a good friend and genuinely did not seem like a good person (though I did understand her more toward the end of the story). In the first one, H.C, Evie was also pretty heavily badmouthed in all the media transcripts for Maisy's blog posts and it made me really dislike her (Maisy not Evie) and the other citizens of San Francisco who were giving Evie such a hard time when they didn't even know the full story themselves. So when the same thing started happening in this story, Heroine Worship, I was... pretty upset. Only, this time around, all the hate was focused on Aveda/Annie.
Like I mentioned, I did not particularly care for Aveda/Annie in the first novel but since this second one, H.W, is from her perspective, I could really see how hard she was trying to be a better friend/version of herself. Now suddenly Aveda was being completely trashed in the media, and being blamed for things by her friends and I didn't like it at all. It felt like Evie and Aveda's rolls had simply been reversed and I didn't like how it felt that Aveda and Evie were being pitted against each other?? Like I should like one of them more than the other because both women are actually really great, funny, and so caring and loyal. All of their mishaps in both of their books stemmed from them being so fiercely loyal to the other person to the point that they're way too codependent and they're working on it!
So while I still really enjoyed Aveda, Evie and Co. and really enjoyed the plot, I didn't like how the feelings I had from the first novel were essentially rehased.
rogoreads's review
2.0
I was excited to read something from Annie/Aveda's point of view, and I found her potential journey much more compelling than Evie's, from book 1. But some beats felt way too similar to the last book, and Scott was pretty boring as a love interest. I also found Bea pretty annoying since she seems like a walking teenage slang machine. So I'm not planning to read book 3, which will be from her point of view.
barkshark's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
abookishbginning's review against another edition
4.5
I've been needing a good superhero romp, and this one absolutely delivered! It's been a while since I read the first book in this series, and I loved diving into Aveda and Scott's story.
I love when a series puts a previously frustrating character at the forefront, because I feel like it adds so much depth to be able to see things from their perspective, and Annie Chang, also known as Aveda Jupiter, is no different. I felt for Aveda so deeply in this book, from her identity crisis to her struggle to rebuild her friendship with Evie. On top of her personal struggles, she also deals with the public's perception of her, and their growing dislike as she continues to be painted as a diva that craves the spotlight. Aveda goes through the ringer in this book, and she undoubtedly makes so many mistakes, but that makes it all the more meaningful when she learns to embrace her more emotional, Annie Chang-like tendencies, and learns how to be a better friend.
The romance between her and Scott was such a sweet addition to this action-packed story. Their love story is definitely of the "it's always been you" and "childhood friends to lovers" type, and I enjoyed watching the ups and downs of their relationship. Aveda undergoes such wonderful character development in that through the story she comes to realize that with the danger she faces as a superhero, life is too short and unpredictable to not be honest about her feelings for Scott. This allowed for the pair, once they finally decided to embrace their feelings, to communicate with each other about what they want from their relationship (wow, no miscommunication, a novel concept). I also loved the "she's grumpy, he's sunshine" dynamic they had. Scott was truly the golden retriever to her black cat, and I loved every second of it.
Watching Aveda and Evie heal their friendship was another thing I was really looking forward to in this book. Aveda's actions were so frustrating in Heroine Complex, and I loved seeing the pair start to communicate more openly. One of my favorite moments was when Evie helps Aveda realize that her Annie Chang side is just as important as her superhero alter ego. I especially appreciated that the other characters took accountability in their treatment of Aveda. At the end of the day, all the characters are not without their flaws, and through the story they come to realize their wrongdoings, and their bonds are only strengthened because of it.
While the dialogue is at times exposition-heavy and unnatural, particularly in the slang that characters use, the story is still wacky, superhero-filled fun.
If you're looking for a fun mix of superheroes, demon puppies, and heart-warming romance, then this is a series that you need to check out!
I love when a series puts a previously frustrating character at the forefront, because I feel like it adds so much depth to be able to see things from their perspective, and Annie Chang, also known as Aveda Jupiter, is no different. I felt for Aveda so deeply in this book, from her identity crisis to her struggle to rebuild her friendship with Evie. On top of her personal struggles, she also deals with the public's perception of her, and their growing dislike as she continues to be painted as a diva that craves the spotlight. Aveda goes through the ringer in this book, and she undoubtedly makes so many mistakes, but that makes it all the more meaningful when she learns to embrace her more emotional, Annie Chang-like tendencies, and learns how to be a better friend.
The romance between her and Scott was such a sweet addition to this action-packed story. Their love story is definitely of the "it's always been you" and "childhood friends to lovers" type, and I enjoyed watching the ups and downs of their relationship. Aveda undergoes such wonderful character development in that through the story she comes to realize that with the danger she faces as a superhero, life is too short and unpredictable to not be honest about her feelings for Scott. This allowed for the pair, once they finally decided to embrace their feelings, to communicate with each other about what they want from their relationship (wow, no miscommunication, a novel concept). I also loved the "she's grumpy, he's sunshine" dynamic they had. Scott was truly the golden retriever to her black cat, and I loved every second of it.
Watching Aveda and Evie heal their friendship was another thing I was really looking forward to in this book. Aveda's actions were so frustrating in Heroine Complex, and I loved seeing the pair start to communicate more openly. One of my favorite moments was when Evie helps Aveda realize that her Annie Chang side is just as important as her superhero alter ego. I especially appreciated that the other characters took accountability in their treatment of Aveda. At the end of the day, all the characters are not without their flaws, and through the story they come to realize their wrongdoings, and their bonds are only strengthened because of it.
While the dialogue is at times exposition-heavy and unnatural, particularly in the slang that characters use, the story is still wacky, superhero-filled fun.
If you're looking for a fun mix of superheroes, demon puppies, and heart-warming romance, then this is a series that you need to check out!
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review
5.0
This book was such a joy to read. Funny, action-packed, and incredibly cathartic, not to mention it passes the Bechdel test like nothing else. It was cool to see things from Aveda's perspective, especially after she's done some real soul-searching. I wonder if the next book will be from Bea's perspective?
xavia's review
3.0
I had a lot of fun with this book, but I still don't like Aveda/Annie
Don't get me wrong, I think her story and her journey were beautifully written and so important, but Aveda or Annie, I didn't really like her.
Let's start with the biggest plot point. Evie is getting married, and Aveda is her maid of honor. And, while Evie isn't completely blameless in this, Aveda proceeds to ignore everything she says she wants for her wedding and keeps insisting that Evie WOULD like these things if she would just try them. As Evie's oldest and best friend she should know better. Aveda also keeps going on about how she wants to be a better friend, and a better co-heroine, and yet everything she does is just.... pushy and rude.
To be fair, I did feel bad for Aveda. She was treated really unfairly in this book, and I sympathize with her identity crisis, wherein everything she's worked so hard for has been completely forgotten because someone with cooler powers showed up. And yeah, she is pushy and rude, but so are a lot of these so called fans.
Anyway, the plot of this book was great! The build up of the mystery was really well paced and I greatly enjoyed trying to figure out who dun it. And honestly, I was not expecting that reveal (I am glad it wasn't who I thought it was because I really liked that character).
I'm very interested to see what happens in the next book, though knowing me, it will be another year before I get around to it.
Don't get me wrong, I think her story and her journey were beautifully written and so important, but Aveda or Annie, I didn't really like her.
Let's start with the biggest plot point. Evie is getting married, and Aveda is her maid of honor. And, while Evie isn't completely blameless in this, Aveda proceeds to ignore everything she says she wants for her wedding and keeps insisting that Evie WOULD like these things if she would just try them. As Evie's oldest and best friend she should know better. Aveda also keeps going on about how she wants to be a better friend, and a better co-heroine, and yet everything she does is just.... pushy and rude.
To be fair, I did feel bad for Aveda. She was treated really unfairly in this book, and I sympathize with her identity crisis, wherein everything she's worked so hard for has been completely forgotten because someone with cooler powers showed up. And yeah, she is pushy and rude, but so are a lot of these so called fans.
Anyway, the plot of this book was great! The build up of the mystery was really well paced and I greatly enjoyed trying to figure out who dun it. And honestly, I was not expecting that reveal (I am glad it wasn't who I thought it was because I really liked that character).
I'm very interested to see what happens in the next book, though knowing me, it will be another year before I get around to it.
nelsonseye's review
4.0
So I powered (*cough*) through Heroine Worship last night and today. Everything I liked about the relationships in [b:Heroine Complex|27209443|Heroine Complex (Heroine Complex, #1)|Sarah Kuhn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460482959l/27209443._SY75_.jpg|47250933] was further developed, and Annie's journey of self-discovery (and her eventual willingness to take risks) was awesome. I also thought the pop culture references were very well done; admittedly I am a bit of a sucker for Star Trek references.
annvsted87's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-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
5.0