I have been extra depressed for the past few days since the election and desperately needed something to cheer me up. I decided to listen to the audiobook of this (mostly because my libby hold had just come in) while doing a puzzle. And it lifted my mood quite a bit. I cried a lot but it was a cathartic crying, not a sad crying.

The love story, between a closeted actor in popular superhero movies and a drag queen, was sweet and I enjoyed it. But it actually wasn't the main draw for me. What kept me listening, and kept me crying softly, was the sheer queer joy that this story exuded.

There was the more overt queer joy when the drag queens banded together to resist the protestors at drag queen storytime, and also the ending. But there was also the quieter but no less joyful queer joy found in the second timeline between the husband and wife team who created the superhero in the first place, both of whom were queer and forced to hide in the 1940s, and their secret partners. And the everyday joy of the found family groups of queer characters.

It reminded me that no matter what some people want, queer people aren't going away. We're still here. We still love. We can still find joy. And that's exactly what I needed to be reminded of.

*Thanks to HarperNorth and G.P. Putnam's Son's for providing an early copy for review.

DNF @ 17%

I was so hopeful for this and really disappointed.

I am kind of amazed that's only how far I got. It felt like so much longer, this was just a drag (pun unintended and unfortunately not a positive in this case) to read. It was just....boring? The characters are flat and feel like they rely on stereotypes to be 'fun' and 'relatable'.. I started this, struggled through the bit that I did, and then put it down for almost 7 months before finally calling it quits. Just not for me I'm afraid.

The two timelines seemed interesting but from what I could read, didn't really integrate well. The conflicts felt manufactured from the start and I can guess how it builds up but am not invested in any of the characters to even care enough to see if I'm right. The writing was also off. It felt like it was geared for a younger audience - meant to be easy to fly through and full of slang in the mindset of the main characters, but felt forced and awkward.

This was a miss for me :/

This is such a gorgeous, fun book. Real sense of place. Great characters and sense of humour running through it, and a sexy, unexpected romance that, as a gay reader, I really responded to.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This was a lovely romance about finding out who you can be when you let yourself. Getting to see Patrick connecting with Will and his community was delightful and I loved reading about all of Will's supportive friends. The romance was believable and compelling and I'll definitely want to reread this book for a pick-me-up at some point.

I had fun, love Will and Patrick and thoroughly enjoyed this story as old as the world: celebrity-falls-for-underdog.
I rooted for the characters, loved the description of Hollywood life, and had fun.
Some parts about you-must-hide-if-you-want-to-succeed are a bit old but the rest was fun.
The dual timeline is interesting and I liked it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A joyous split timeline romance, partly set in my hometown, just filled my heart and put the biggest smile on my face.

4/5 stars.

We Could Be Heroes" by PJ Ellis is a fun split timeline romance that jumps between two different timelines. The book follows the lives of Patrick and Will in present-day Birmingham, as well as Iris and Charles, comic creators in 1948 New York. The characters are all really well-written, from the shy but lovable Patrick to the outgoing and charming Will. The story mixes humour and deeper themes, touching on LGBTQ+ issues in a sensitive way that still keeps things light and interesting. My only complaint is that I wanted a bit more from the 1948 storyline and the side characters. Overall, "We Could Be Heroes" is a feel-good read that touches important issues with a lot of charm and cleverness.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper North for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that this was such a fun book, full of thought provoking and emotional events. This is definitely for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, and is fairly similar (but not so similar that it feels as though you’re reading the exact same book).

Patrick is a Hollywood film-star who is filming in Birmingham. One unexpected night, he comes across the charming local bookseller and drag performer Will, who is simply irresistable. Working in a primariliy heterosexual film industry makes it difficult for their blossoming relationship.

Additionally, throughout this the true story of a comic that Patrick is after is unveiled, helping him to find a solution to his problem.

This book is packed full of passion and love, it is a must read!

This was a nice little romance, with slightly more gravitas leant to it by the inclusion of the historical plotline. Not my favourite queer famous-people romance I’ve read and tbh I think it overall lacked a lot of depth I’ve found more in books like Sophie Gonzales’s If This Gets Out. Regardless, a fun little read.

First of all, and what a relief: this book gets Birmingham right. It gets my adopted home city down to a t, and I'm really, really fussy about books set here. I laughed out loud and read bits out to my husband as a group of fabulous drag queens discuss never going to the nightclub Snobs because it's not Old Snobs so it's not the same, and little comments about the city are woven through the book, making a charming novel (yes, there's a fair bit of sex in it, but it's still charming) even more so.

So, we have a film star so far in the closet he's got an automatic expression his face just makes by itself when he's photographed with a female "love interest" and whose only friends seem to be his agent and the star and stunt doubles he's working with, who encounters Will, part-time bookshop assistant, part-time drag queen, so unmistakeably gay he was told he was before he knew it himself, and with all the worries and dangers that involves, which are not played down. There's an acknowledgement there also of the anti-femme sentiment that runs rife through gay male life, not accepted here, with Will and his best friend Jordan out and proud and unashamed.

There's a dual timeline plot here with the writers of the superhero comic series whose film Patrick is making in a marriage of convenience in 1949, with a repressive atmosphere worrying them, each with a lover of their own gender, trying to create a character who reflects some aspects of their own lives; this is touchingly done and also cleverly written to reflect the language of the time, so quite different from the modern touches. W

Will and Jordan's fellow drag queens are wonderful and hilarious and Will's found family touching and lovely - there's his not-really-a-sister-at-all who helped bring him up, their agender kid and his Black, superhero-obsessed fanfic writer colleague, April. The story is fun but also tender and the subplot about the threat to both their venue, The Village, and the Drag Queen Story Time they run in the Central Library adds an authentic and serious side that goes along with the comments of how women's bodies are policed and how sexuality is controlled.

So yes, it's a romcom, yes, there are misunderstandings and outfits and crying on sofas, but it's more than that, a rounded and super book I thoroughly enjoyed.

Review on my blog will be out here https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2024/06/21/book-review-pj-ellis-we-could-be-heroes/ when I've been to a book event for the book

Wha t a brilliant book! PJ Ellis writes a rom com that’s clever, moving, sexy- and yet wholly believable. A perfect rom com, but also a brilliant explanation of superhero tropes that looks to the origins of classic superheroes but allows the creators to embrace the queerness they were unable to publically. Gorgeous

I had so much fun reading this, it was so different to most books I've read before but I loved both the characters and the storyline.

This celebrity romance novel follows the story of Patrick Lake, a famous American actor who is currently filming his latest superhero movie in Birmingham, and Will, a local drag queen, whose worlds collide on a night out.

I found this a cute, easy read where I was rooting for Patrick and Will all the way through. The storyline was kept mostly light with funny quips that made me laugh while also touching on some serious topics as well. I also loved the pop culture references throughout, especially the mention of my favourite Taylor Swift song!

I really did love this book, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, queer celebrity romance with found family and finding your identity.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Patrick is a superhero well he plays a super hero anyway. Filming in England brings him to a bar with a drag queen that catches his eye but could America's boyfriend actually have one of his own?

This was such an interesting read and the drag names are brilliant and hilarious. Especially Will's. The plot is sweet, fun but does focus on the way the world still sees drag queens and the lgbtq+ community. The ending was perfect and I loved how it all came together. We also learn the story of the creators of KIssmet adding a little more depth and tying everything together. I really liked Patrick and Will, Plus April was great too. A fun read.

This story was nothing short of enlightening, painfully truthful (in the right way), organic, and heartbreaking. “We Could Be Heroes” follows Patrick, an actor whose career is on the rise, especially because he is filming the second installment of his superhero movie, which is bound to lock him into stardom. We then meet Will, a bookseller by day and Grace Anatomy by night, his drag persona. Patrick finds himself at the local gay bar, The Village, on a night off with his colleagues. Things take a turn for the worse when Patrick is recognized by the MC, and the crowd goes wild. In a scene of craziness, Patrick is saved by Grace Anatomy in all her redhead glory. This sparks the beginning of a long journey that both characters are not ready for… or are they? We are also taken down a parallel storyline that dates back to the 1950s, where we watch the creators of the “Captain Kismet” comics gain their inspiration and how it ties back to the present day.

My favorite part of this novel was how the author compared the similarities between being a celebrity and being gay in a way that can be understood by all readers. Celebrities are public figures. They must act a certain way and be “role models” for their fans. They are not allowed to be sloppy, unattractive, poor, have their own opinions, and forget about having any privacy. One simple mistake can tank their reputation and career. The same can be said about the gay community. We are not allowed to be outgoing, feminine, masculine, loud, proud, experimental, etc. This results in us being called names and discriminated against. A long list can be found in this novel. We are confined to our society's expectations of us, whether they are right or wrong. This stood out to me and made many sections of this novel more meaningful to me when reading.

Actor falls in love with a drag queen, who wouldn't love this. That is what drew me to the book.
I liked Will an up and coming Drag Queen straight from the start. Will's sassiness had me laughing out loud, but he was endearing.
Patrick whilst a famous actor did not come across as one of those spoilt actors who demanded everything, but a person who when he found a friend, he kept them close to his heart and whilst I understand why he had to hide that he was gay, he shouldn't have had to. But slowly thanks to Will, Will's found family and Patrick's close work colleagues he could be himself.
This was a quick read that kept interested from page 1. I must admit I was a bit confused at the first time line swap as I was not expected it and I was too wrapped up with Will. Whist at first I thought the story about Charles and Iris wouldn't fit, I quickly changed my mind when more of their story was told.
However the very best thing about this book is that it is set in Birmingham, my excitement when I read place like Hurst street, the Floozie in the Jacuzzi and I have spent a many a time in the Village Inn with friends. As a Brummie living in Yorkshire I loved every minute of this and every time a place was mentioned I knew exactly where they were.
This is a book I will reread and it will be one I will keep recommending.

This book is definitely all tell and no show. Pretty predictable, as well, sadly. The queer joy tried to hook me in, but couldn't do much, sadly. The gen-z slang used was just... Weird.

This is a very short book, only 288 pages, and a gay romance which is not the sort of thing I usually read but the plot was sort of geeky so I thought I'd give it a try. The general storyline was pretty much as expected: two people meet and get coupled up, there's an argument and misunderstanding so they go their separate ways, but later on realise that they've been idiots and they make up. There's a nice twist with one of the couple being an actor in a recent series of superhero films but closeted, while his partner is a bookseller by day and drag queen by night. There's also a culture clash with the actor, Patrick being an American in England, specifically Birmingham, and his intended being a Brummy. It does make it very much less sexy if you picture Will talking in a thick Birmingham accent! In addition, there's a little bit of a second timeline every so often which gives some of the history of the creation of the superhero character that Patrick is portraying. I was little torn over that because it did give important backstory, as well as presumably being an accurate portrayal of comic history, but the characters in that timeline weren't as substantial or engaging. I did like that the reality of homophobia and Transphobia were included, so it wasn't all sunshine and roses. I can see that some people might not like that but I think it's an important aspect of LGBT+-ness. Overall it's a quick and easy read, fairly short but entertaining. I think it would make a good Netflix film.

This book was abjectly terrible. Aside from having a complete lack of plot, the most boring characters I’ve read in months, and bizarre writing and stylistic choices, it was dull beyond words. I also did not vibe with the casual drug use, horrible, bitchy and uninteresting side characters, and complete lack of atmospheric grounding. SUPPOSEDLY this is set in Birmingham, but all the author does is tell you a street name and occasionally say Brum. As another reviewer said, this book is all tell, no show. It’s only redeeming feature is the queer joy and representation, which was not enough to keep me interested

I had seen some reviews for this one online so I was delighted to be able to read an early copy. Honestly I wanted to love this one because the premise sounded great, but unfortunately it was just ok for me. I was predictable in parts as well, and it just sort of missed the mark for me sadly.