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bookishmillennial 's review for:
All Superheroes Need PR
by Elizabeth Stephens
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Oh my goshhh, I had SO much fun reading this science fiction romance about Vanessa, the head of a PR firm taking over Pyro's rebrand (rebranded as The Wyvern), also known as Roland Casteel. He is originally leaning towards the VNA (Villain Network of ... I'm blanking lol), but then agrees to this PR firm's deal to rebrand him as joining the "good guys" :)
After a very clumsy and confusing meet-cute at Vanessa's office, Roland saves Vanessa from a creep at the bar, and then flies her home to her family, where he causes even more of a ruckus. Following this night out, Roland demands that Vanessa's PR firm agree to his deal, on the grounds that she does all of the 1:1 individual tasks with/for Roland. Another contingency is that she must act out a Lois Lane role for him, and they begin to fake date! We then see their tension continue to build, and this romance gets spicyyyyy.
I absolutely loved the representation of two racialized love interests (albeit one non-Earthling), an orphan who couldn't remember his roots at all, an adoptee and former foster kid, and the mental health representation of Vanessa' PTSD and anxiety. Elizabeth Stephens wrote both of their first-person POV voices to be so different, and provided both of them with layers and nuance that we wouldn't see if this wasn't a dual perspective. I loved Vanessa's reclaiming of her sexuality, her desire for love and romance, and her confidence.
Also?!?!?!? How immediately down bad Rollo was for Vanessa?!?!?!? I ate that shit up, and I typically hate insta-love, but whatever. Life is so fucking bleak right now, let me have this!!!!!
Steam rating: 3.5/4 out of 5 because ..... knotting!! okay?!!?!? knotting!!!!! *still screaming*
Yall better go read this if you grew up loving Marvel movies, but wondered where the romance was (like we needed way more! know your audience!) and why it felt so white/cis/het/non-disabled (because it was lol).
After a very clumsy and confusing meet-cute at Vanessa's office, Roland saves Vanessa from a creep at the bar, and then flies her home to her family, where he causes even more of a ruckus. Following this night out, Roland demands that Vanessa's PR firm agree to his deal, on the grounds that she does all of the 1:1 individual tasks with/for Roland. Another contingency is that she must act out a Lois Lane role for him, and they begin to fake date! We then see their tension continue to build, and this romance gets spicyyyyy.
I absolutely loved the representation of two racialized love interests (albeit one non-Earthling), an orphan who couldn't remember his roots at all, an adoptee and former foster kid, and the mental health representation of Vanessa' PTSD and anxiety. Elizabeth Stephens wrote both of their first-person POV voices to be so different, and provided both of them with layers and nuance that we wouldn't see if this wasn't a dual perspective. I loved Vanessa's reclaiming of her sexuality, her desire for love and romance, and her confidence.
Also?!?!?!? How immediately down bad Rollo was for Vanessa?!?!?!? I ate that shit up, and I typically hate insta-love, but whatever. Life is so fucking bleak right now, let me have this!!!!!
Steam rating: 3.5/4 out of 5 because ..... knotting!! okay?!!?!? knotting!!!!! *still screaming*
Yall better go read this if you grew up loving Marvel movies, but wondered where the romance was (like we needed way more! know your audience!) and why it felt so white/cis/het/non-disabled (because it was lol).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood