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earlgaytea711's review against another edition
I couldn't bring myself to care enough to pick it back up
kwugirl's review against another edition
2.0
64% of this book leaves you thinking, "omg just listen to some Brene Brown already," and then the rest is wondering we'll finally get to the Big Bad reveal (which was predictable this time around). There's so much that I wanted to like about it, too, with superheroes trying to figure out their purposes, female friendship, difficult relationship with Chinese parents, etc. Still not as disappointing as [b:Of Fire and Stars|25164304|Of Fire and Stars|Audrey Coulthurst|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457102645s/25164304.jpg|44868262] but could've been developed a lot more so that conflicts weren't so repetitive or obvious.
mezzythedragon's review against another edition
4.0
Well I have to say this is better than the first story, because I was already hooked from the beginning. Aveda/Annie shows a lot of growth from Heroine Complex, and unlike the first book, this story shows how she and Evie are bffs. In Heroine Complex, Evie keeps trying to convince the audience why she's Aveda's friend, when Aveda was nothing but a fake, image-obsessed, petty rhymes-with-witch.
That being said, Evie is still my favorite of the two, because she really was the underdog who blossomed. Annie, on the other hand, had to learn how to come back down to earth and accept that it's okay not to have everything figured out.
I really didn't care for the romance part. At least the love scenes were quicker, fewer, and more fade-to-black in comparison to the first. I think that's appropriate; Annie and Scott were more tender, while Evie and Nate were the hornier couple. In fact, I was more into the superhero mission in this book, while I was more into Evie and Nate's romance in the other one. I guess when everyone dumps on you (with the exception of Lucy and Scott, but they were minor characters in Heroine Complex), Evie needed someone to "relieve stress with." And yeah, I'd so take Nate "buttoned up in the streets, uncaged beast in the sheets" Jones over Scott Cameron.
Oh, and hooray for the "Hamilton" reference! Someone hinted the third book will be about Bea? That should be interesting, but if I can make a suggestion (I know, not likely to happen, but whatevs), I don't want her hooking up with Sam. I like to see one heroine who's an ace/aro.
That being said, Evie is still my favorite of the two, because she really was the underdog who blossomed. Annie, on the other hand, had to learn how to come back down to earth and accept that it's okay not to have everything figured out.
I really didn't care for the romance part. At least the love scenes were quicker, fewer, and more fade-to-black in comparison to the first. I think that's appropriate; Annie and Scott were more tender, while Evie and Nate were the hornier couple. In fact, I was more into the superhero mission in this book, while I was more into Evie and Nate's romance in the other one. I guess when everyone dumps on you (with the exception of Lucy and Scott, but they were minor characters in Heroine Complex), Evie needed someone to "relieve stress with." And yeah, I'd so take Nate "buttoned up in the streets, uncaged beast in the sheets" Jones over Scott Cameron.
Oh, and hooray for the "Hamilton" reference! Someone hinted the third book will be about Bea? That should be interesting, but if I can make a suggestion (I know, not likely to happen, but whatevs), I don't want her hooking up with Sam. I like to see one heroine who's an ace/aro.
nuevecuervos's review against another edition
4.0
Heroine Complex was one of my favorite books last year; I met the author at a signing, went home and read it, and was moved to message the author and let her know that it was fucking fantastic. I even sent a copy to my mother unbidden; she's a huge fan of light urban fantasy/paranormal romance, which I thought might be sidealong enough to this story for her to enjoy. We'll pretend she did (I keep hoping I'll send her something to read that she'll enjoy. I keep being wrong.)(no really, that's relevant. but moving on).
So, imagine my delight when I discovered that a sequel was not just on its way but freshly released in plenty of time time to take on my cross-country conference field trip, because omg perfect plane food. The first was told from Evie's point of view, this one on the other hand from Annie/Aveda's PoV, a bucket of fucked-up with the best of intentions. Kuhn did a magnificent job in Heroine Complex of making Annie/Aveda sympathetic and human, even if she was a misguided diva bitch, so I was still excited about it.
Here, then, we see Annie claiming to have learned her lesson and moving on to be Aveda 2.0: Awesome Superhero and Now A Truly Awesome Friend, Too, trying to keep Evie's wedding perfect while constantly being shit upon by luck, as well as the truly, deeply, annoying AF Maisy and her blogfollowers (all of whom I want to slap constantly). She bulls ahead while honestly trying to keep Evie at the forefront, is loud and angry and deeply insecure as she is wont to be which leads her to failing occasionally, and of course, there's some demonic shit trying to take over San Francisco that must be stopped. And Scott, dear sweet baby jeebus, who is so beautiful and fantastic, and who just wants Annie as she is, if Annie herself could just come to terms with the many facets of her personality.
In the end, I identified deeply with Annie where I wouldn't have expected to, from her saying one thing to Scott while feeling an entirely different thing because she's trying to maintain the "calm, immovable badass who doesn't need feelings like normal people" (raise your glass, girl; I feel that so hard), and her insistence that internal Annie is too soft and mushy to be trusted, to her feeling that her parents are eternally dissatisfied with everything she does, wishing she were better and more dutiful like her cousin Sophie, and finding out that her parents love her just the way she is, too. Granted, they don't understand her so well, but they love her just the same.
They mystery itself is of course steeped in Bridezillas and wedding wank fantasy culture, and it was great to be wrapped up in a group of women and their hangers-on (as opposed to vice-versa); the side characters are wonderful, any and all of whom I would gladly plunk down $10 for a book of their own. Thank you yet again for bringing us all of the diverse characters we would have wanted to see in literature from the jump.
I'm just saying that as soon as I have internet again, I'mma send the author another love letter over this book, in the totally utmost non-creepy way. :D Uh and mom, I'm not sending you this one, but it's the thought that counts and hopefully you love me even though you hate my book selections for you, right? right.
So, imagine my delight when I discovered that a sequel was not just on its way but freshly released in plenty of time time to take on my cross-country conference field trip, because omg perfect plane food. The first was told from Evie's point of view, this one on the other hand from Annie/Aveda's PoV, a bucket of fucked-up with the best of intentions. Kuhn did a magnificent job in Heroine Complex of making Annie/Aveda sympathetic and human, even if she was a misguided diva bitch, so I was still excited about it.
Here, then, we see Annie claiming to have learned her lesson and moving on to be Aveda 2.0: Awesome Superhero and Now A Truly Awesome Friend, Too, trying to keep Evie's wedding perfect while constantly being shit upon by luck, as well as the truly, deeply, annoying AF Maisy and her blogfollowers (all of whom I want to slap constantly). She bulls ahead while honestly trying to keep Evie at the forefront, is loud and angry and deeply insecure as she is wont to be which leads her to failing occasionally, and of course, there's some demonic shit trying to take over San Francisco that must be stopped. And Scott, dear sweet baby jeebus, who is so beautiful and fantastic, and who just wants Annie as she is, if Annie herself could just come to terms with the many facets of her personality.
In the end, I identified deeply with Annie where I wouldn't have expected to, from her saying one thing to Scott while feeling an entirely different thing because she's trying to maintain the "calm, immovable badass who doesn't need feelings like normal people" (raise your glass, girl; I feel that so hard), and her insistence that internal Annie is too soft and mushy to be trusted, to her feeling that her parents are eternally dissatisfied with everything she does, wishing she were better and more dutiful like her cousin Sophie, and finding out that her parents love her just the way she is, too. Granted, they don't understand her so well, but they love her just the same.
They mystery itself is of course steeped in Bridezillas and wedding wank fantasy culture, and it was great to be wrapped up in a group of women and their hangers-on (as opposed to vice-versa); the side characters are wonderful, any and all of whom I would gladly plunk down $10 for a book of their own. Thank you yet again for bringing us all of the diverse characters we would have wanted to see in literature from the jump.
I'm just saying that as soon as I have internet again, I'mma send the author another love letter over this book, in the totally utmost non-creepy way. :D Uh and mom, I'm not sending you this one, but it's the thought that counts and hopefully you love me even though you hate my book selections for you, right? right.
cgbart's review against another edition
5.0
Okay I was a bit concerned going into this because, you know, I LOVE EVIE TANAKA AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ISN'T HER POV, right?
NEVER FEAR. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE AND CREATIVE AND FUNNY AND HEARTFELT AND WONDERFUL. 10/10 would recommend for more Asian Lady Superheroes being amazing in all aspects and ALSO for use of one of my favorite tropes. I wasn't expecting to relate to Annie so much--she is, after all, a total diva in book one--but I found her incredibly empathetic and her search to balance identity with work incredibly compelling. Bonus points for literally everything because seriously I loved this book so much why are you still reading this LOVE YOURSELF AND FIND A COPY.
(On a less emotional note: I wasn't sure how Kuhn would carry this off, even though Complex gave me every confidence in her. I needn't have feared; this book is possibly even more fun and even better written than the first, and I cannot wait for the third one.)
NEVER FEAR. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE AND CREATIVE AND FUNNY AND HEARTFELT AND WONDERFUL. 10/10 would recommend for more Asian Lady Superheroes being amazing in all aspects and ALSO for use of one of my favorite tropes. I wasn't expecting to relate to Annie so much--she is, after all, a total diva in book one--but I found her incredibly empathetic and her search to balance identity with work incredibly compelling. Bonus points for literally everything because seriously I loved this book so much why are you still reading this LOVE YOURSELF AND FIND A COPY.
(On a less emotional note: I wasn't sure how Kuhn would carry this off, even though Complex gave me every confidence in her. I needn't have feared; this book is possibly even more fun and even better written than the first, and I cannot wait for the third one.)
howlsmovinglibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Actual Rating: 3.5
Heroine Complex and Heroine Worship are an odd duology of books. On the one hand, I think the story is, in the nicest possible terms, ridiculous. While we had demon cupcakes in the first book, in Worship the main villains are ‘Bridezillas’ under demonic possession. It strains my reading credulity, and I often find myself scanning through the action scenes at best. And yet…these books have some of the most relatable and interesting characters I’ve read, and that means I’m kind of happy to push through the cringey plot.
Pros:
- Awesome Asian-American rep (ownvoices)
- Flawed protagonist who has to face and deal with her flaws in a realistic way
- Steamy romance (if that's your jam)
- Hella nuanced female-female friendship
Cons:
- Villains are hard to take seriously
- Sometimes I wish the dialogue would be a little less Buffy-ish
- It never feels like the stakes are particularly high
Read the full review here!!
Heroine Complex and Heroine Worship are an odd duology of books. On the one hand, I think the story is, in the nicest possible terms, ridiculous. While we had demon cupcakes in the first book, in Worship the main villains are ‘Bridezillas’ under demonic possession. It strains my reading credulity, and I often find myself scanning through the action scenes at best. And yet…these books have some of the most relatable and interesting characters I’ve read, and that means I’m kind of happy to push through the cringey plot.
Pros:
- Awesome Asian-American rep (ownvoices)
- Flawed protagonist who has to face and deal with her flaws in a realistic way
- Steamy romance (if that's your jam)
- Hella nuanced female-female friendship
Cons:
- Villains are hard to take seriously
- Sometimes I wish the dialogue would be a little less Buffy-ish
- It never feels like the stakes are particularly high
Read the full review here!!
delaneybull's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like all the growth Evie achieved in the first book was wiped away to create drama for Aveda. Other than that, it was an interesting concept and I liked how the romance developed.
jenn_reads's review against another edition
This book was tough to handle - we spent the whole first book watching Aveda Jupiter be a nightmare of a person, just to have her be the narrator of the second one. Evie might love and forgive her after her redemption moment, but I'm not ready for this. I'm sure it gets easier the further you get into it, but life's too short.
jessica_lam's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.25
I liked this - it’s a good palate cleanser of a book after reading back to back intense novels. This definitely fits the bill - the enemies are literally bridezillas so tulle and fluff abound.
Like the first book, the story centers on two superpowered women in SF and navigating their friendship and identities. The narrator this time is the showy, brash, “Hurricane Annie” as she tries to plan her best friend’s wedding and solve the mass alien possession of brides in the city while reconciling her superhero identity and her more vulnerable, squishy self.
Of course, she gets her own love interest, deals with her relationship with her parents, as well as a PR nightmare as the press paints her to be an attention grabbing maid of honor. Honestly as I write this, I’m impressed by how many tropes Kuhn manages to fit in the book, but that’s what makes it a safe, comfortable, fluffy read.
Probably more of a 3.5, but giving a 4 and saying I really likes it would be a stretch. It’s a fun read though!
Like the first book, the story centers on two superpowered women in SF and navigating their friendship and identities. The narrator this time is the showy, brash, “Hurricane Annie” as she tries to plan her best friend’s wedding and solve the mass alien possession of brides in the city while reconciling her superhero identity and her more vulnerable, squishy self.
Of course, she gets her own love interest, deals with her relationship with her parents, as well as a PR nightmare as the press paints her to be an attention grabbing maid of honor. Honestly as I write this, I’m impressed by how many tropes Kuhn manages to fit in the book, but that’s what makes it a safe, comfortable, fluffy read.
Probably more of a 3.5, but giving a 4 and saying I really likes it would be a stretch. It’s a fun read though!