This book has one of the best characters for teenagers that I've read! It's so refreshing to see a character that is the hero but doesn't mean to be. There are so many teenagers that will be able to relate to this and especially to the kind of home Orla lives in and background she has. I really enjoyed 'Sing if you can dance' by the same author and love how real her protagonists are and the crossover with both of these books is fantastic. I hope Alexia writes a whole series and would be a great gift for any teenager or library.
I really enjoyed the love story but also appreciated that it wasn't the sole focus of the story and Orla's interactions with her friends and Cass felt really realistic and not silly like some other YA books out there. I'm sure alot of my students especially girls will champion Orla and relate to her.
I definitely plan to buy this book for our library and already have some students in mind that I know will love it.
I also really enjoyed the signs from Grace and the hint of a ghost story in there.

Orla see herself more as a sidekick than a hero but when she gets a place in an intensive, elite drama course, she suddenly finds herself under the spotlight and relishes every moment. She can't help feeling out of place though - all the other students seem to be experienced performer and they can easily afford any course fees, while Orla herself has to watch every penny, without forgetting all her responsiblities from her complicated home-life.

Still.... Maybe she deserves to follow her own dreams for once. She's all the more tempted to believe she can belong to that world when gorgeous drama boy Cass shows some interest in her.

There is the opptorunity of a life-changing scholarship at the end of the intensive and Orla finds herself torn between protecting her family or choosing something to do for herself. An impossible choice if there ever was one...

I absolutely loved Orla's story. The romance storyline is set against the brackdrop of Orla's family past (trigger warning for mentions of domestic abuse) but, when we meet her, things are better, quieter. The story still adheres to the usual staples of a good romance - initial attraction, things coming between the lovers, will they/won't they, things seem lost etc. There are many books in which I find this sequence of events contrived or irritating but not here! Not That Kind of Hero is full of emotion and truly took me of a rollecoaster - fear, tenderness, laughter - it's got it all and I loved it.

Okay, wow. I just finished Not That Kind of Hero
and I already want to reread it—it’s that good. Alexia Casale has this way of writing that feels like she’s plucked the thoughts right out of your brain and handed them back to you, but prettier and more profound. If you’re a fan of Alice Oseman’s messy, heartfelt characters or Judy Blume’s honest teen vibes, this book is 100% for you.

The story follows Orla, who’s spent her whole life being the reliable sidekick—until she lands a spot in this elite drama program and suddenly, she’s the one in the spotlight. And let me tell you, watching her navigate that shift is equal parts exhilarating and heartbreaking. She’s so real—like, she’s juggling family responsibilities, imposter syndrome, and this adorable (but complicated) flirtation with Cass, the charming drama boy who sees her in a way no one else does. I wanted to hug her, shake her, and cheer for her all at once.

The romance? Swoon. Cass is the kind of love interest you’d absolutely fall for in real life—funny, layered, and just the right amount of flawed. Their chemistry had me kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot, but what I loved even more was how the book didn’t just focus on the love story. It’s also about Orla figuring out what she wants, outside of everyone else’s expectations.

The pacing is perfect—no boring filler, just pure emotional momentum. And the ending? No spoilers, but it’s the kind that sticks with you. Satisfying but not too neat, because life isn’t like that.

Casale’s writing is so sharp and immersive—I felt like I was right there with Orla, sweating through auditions and melting over Cass’s dumb jokes. Plus, the side characters are chef’s kiss. They’re not just background props; they’ve got their own depth and quirks, which made the whole world feel alive.

If you love YA romance with heart, humor, and a side of emotional gut-punches, Not That Kind of Hero needs to be on your TBR. Just trust me.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc,

This book was not for me. Starting the story, I was very confused with all the characters, their names and who was related to whom. I kept getting confused in the first few chapters. I also did not connect with the main character and even when we learned more backstory, I still had a hard time understanding her actions and thoughts. It felt very repetitive.

When I read the summary, I was very excited to read but after a few chapters, it was hard to get through to the end. I just think I was not the target audience for this book and it's okay.

Sadly, this book really wasn't for me.

I found the main character insufferable to the point that I couldn't bring myself to finish this book. The writing is incredibly repetitive, which made the reading experience feel more frustating than immersive. The characters weren't compelling, I genuinely did not care about them... Overall, i found that the main character’s backstory felt like forced trauma dumping rather than something that added depth or meaning.

Unfortunately, I don't see myself recommending this book. Especially for young adult readers, I think there are so many better options out there.

This one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Not That Kind of Hero is a Romantic Drama, with a focus on the lasting effects of domestic violence on the children who witness it. Orla lives with her mum, her 5 full siblings, her 2 'semi-siblings' and their mother. The two families joined forces while in a refuge centre after both women experience ongoing domestic violence with their respective spouses. They are now one big and understandably chaotic family living in a small flat and just about making ends meet. Orla and semi-sibling Roks are coming to the end of their A Levels, but only Roks is planning to attend uni. Orla is very willingly forfeiting that experience so that she can stay at home and get a job that helps pay the bills. She doesn't think she wants anything else out of life and, as the eternal sidekick, she's happy with the way things are. Until Roks pushes her onto a 2 week theatre intensive where Orla realises she might have bigger dreams.

The premise of this story is strong, and Orla's family dynamic shows a unique and underrepresented experience which can only be a good thing for the empathy of young readers. The characters are likeable and I found myself rooting for Orla. I found some of the supporting characters to be a little bit of a caricature, with only surface level development. I also found that the scenes set during the theatre intensive were... intense. Which is not a criticism, but readers who are not into theatre may struggle a bit as I did. I think this story will appeal greatly to a very specific audience, particularly GCSE and A Level Drama students.

A really solid contemporary YA novel, with just the right amount of romance. The main character's flaws and growth were well-developed, and it will be a great read for any theatre kids.

The writing was lovely, but it was hard to begin. I found the first couple of chapters gave a lot of information and sometimes I had to read things a couple of times to make sense of them

There are a lot of characters and so remember who's who was tricky, but that doesn't meant the main characters aren't well written.

There were some references I wasn't keen on, and it seemed odd in a recent book.

I think the DV pieces are written well, and children of abuse might feel represented.

My first time reading an Alexia Casale novel but definitely not the last! Aspects of this didn't fully ring true at times which is why it doesn't get a full five stars BUT I absolutely loved the warmth and chaos of the domestic scenes, the way Orla really grows into herself during the drama course and of course the slow burn, will they-won't they romance at the books heart. Definitely one I'll be recommending in the libary.

Generally I prefer to read SFF but Alexia is one of the few authors I make the exception for and this gem is evidence as to why. I adored Orla's story, she's perfectly happy in her own life. She's the sidekick helping to keep her family chosen and biological together in the aftermath of before. That is until chosen sister Rocks makes her audition for an elite drama course. And she actually gets in, fully funded.

Except her course mates are seasoned actors whose parents have paid A LOT of money to be there. She feels like an outsider and doesn't initially trust the gorgeous funny Cassian when he starts to pay attention to her.

The story unfolds brilliantly, I felt every twist every turn, and the long dormant theatre kid who auditioned twice for the National Youth Theatre and came alive on a stage with confidence I had nowhere else woke up and latched on to this story, and the amazing characters. I love Orla and Cass' arc, I love the way Orla slowly realises she doesn't need to be a hero, but she does need to be herself.

Casale so carefully and tactfully handles the DV and abuse history in Orla and Roks' lives and the impact it's had on them, the trauma it leaves and how that informs every decision Orla makes. She also does a brilliant job of highlighting the huge disparity in the availability of the arts to kids these days, especially with drama and music being stripped out of so many state schools.

It's an emotional rollercoaster and a joyful delight and the roadtrip reminded me of so many daft journeys my ADHD has caused me over the years. This was my best read last month and I will beat people with this book until they read it.

A massive thanks to the people at Faber for the eARC on @netgalley.

Not That Kind Of Hero is not a groundbreaking YA novel. It seems to be primarily aimed at younger teens, and it may be a good read for kids that have experienced some kind of trauma, especially in relation to domestic violence.

There is not a lot of substance to the plot. Orla keeps secrets and must learn to prioritize her own wants and needs. There is of course the theatre aspect, which was fun, though not as interesting as I hoped. I think the parentification of Orla and her best friend/sister was glossed over too much.

The cast of characters is very big, which makes for a confusing first few chapters. I had trouble getting all the characters straight. There is a big focus on found family, which is nice. Orla herself is a fine protagonist for this kind of story, I just found her a little whiny and a little “woe-is-me”. The love interest, Cass, is very sweet. Most of the other characters didn’t feel very fleshed out.

I must also mention the multiple Harry Potter references. It's 2025, JK Rowling has shown her true face more than once. She actively hurts Trans people. Including a reference to her or her work will always make me question an authors intentions and stance on these issues.

NOT THAT KIND OF HERO is a funny, heartfelt romance about working out what your dream is, even if it's not as big and showy as others'.

I really liked how this book explored goals and dreams and the importance society places on them through the archetypes of hero and sidekick. Orla's dreams are small - keep her family going and happy - so she sees herself as a sidekick. She likes to help others, finds reward in that, but society doesn't see that as something deserving of "hero status", so she has put herself in this sidekick role. Across the book, the story challenges whether the hero is really the hero or if that's the sidekick, as well as looking at why we think some dreams are more important than others.

It's played very humorously, using the chaos of her home life, her various accidents, and crush to great comedic effect. It takes her very stressful, intense life and doesn't play it as a "woe is our heroine" situation (that in that set up would require a romance to "rescue" her from), but instead shows why she'd fight for it and not a problem.

The book takes place over the Christmas break but it manages to sit in the ground between seasonal and not. There's no snow etc so it doesn't feel in your face wintry - hence reading it in the Spring didn't feel weird. But at the same time, there is enough Christmas in it that I imagine you could quite happily read it as a seasonal romance.

NOT THAT KIND OF HERO is set in the same "world" as SING IF YOU CAN'T DANCE, as Ven (the heroine of that book) is one Orla's friends. You don't need to have read that though and doesn't spoil anything (given that the genre demands HEAs so Ven and Ren being together is not a spoiler!)

I love Orla especially as we see her background and how different it is to her peers. I definiteyl rooted for her to succeed.

this book surprised me in more ways than just one. it wasn't as romance-y as i thought it'd be, but i still fell completely in love with orla, cass, the brood and others.

orla was a great main character, selfless, smart and so so caring. seeing her finally finding time for herself and allowing her wishes and desires to matter was a beautiful sight. sometimes letting go of the past and moving forward are hard things to do, but this book and its characters showed me that everything is possible if you have good people beside you and believe in yourself.

Whilst the story was entertaining and good, i didn't vibe with the writing style unfortunately. So it was a miss for me.

2.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This is my first book by Casale, and I don't know if I have it in me to try more.

Orla considers herself the sidekick, never the hero, of a story. She has an enormous brood of siblings and semi-siblings and a mom that works too many jobs to be home very much. When she's encouraged to apply for a prestigious acting course over the Christmas holiday, she struggles to be okay with abandoning her family when they need an extra pair of hands the most.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't find it in me to care about the characters. Maybe Roks, but even that's a stretch. Casale tended to have Orla repeat herself over and over again about her mixed feelings on her dad, what semi-siblings mean, and the feeling of being a sidekick. I was really hoping for some kind of personality from Orla or even Cass, but god they were just so boring.

All in all, I thought the story was A Way To Pass The Time, but not anything to write home about.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I found the beginning circumstances confusing due to the formatting of the chapters (the e-version of the ARC was difficult to read) and the unfamiliar names for the characters (The Brood, Raim, Roks, Ven, Jas). It took me a while to understand the genders of the characters and what the relationship between everyone was. I decided to DNF at 15%. I wish I didn't have to leave a star review because I did not read enough of this, so I'll give it a 3.

Orla is perfectly comfortable in her role as the “faithful sidekick.” This her niche at home within her large family, and among her close circle of friends. Then, Orla joins a drama intensive, hoping to learn some things about backstage theater. Unexpectedly, she becomes the “go-to” person that almost everyone in the class seeks out for assistance, and to Orla’s surprise, she loves the “teacher-ey” feelings she gets from helping out. So much so that she considers doing this as a career. But doing that would require stepping out of “sidekick” and into the “hero” role, and perhaps breaking some promises she made to herself and her family long ago…

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

A fun YA romance about drama nerds finding love. I enjoyed this by a new to me author and definitely would recommend for fans of authors like Becky Albertalli. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was transfixed by Orlas story and the way it was told. I fell in love alongside her, rooting for her all the way. the topics discussed never felt forced but extremly relevant and I liked how they were woven into the plot. A must-read for theatre kids and everyone who is easily hooked by a setting that is not your classic highschool-YA-book.