Punch-Girl

I very much enjoyed this book. I was in for a surprise, having never had heard of this book or the author. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was such a nice surprise though.

Super-heroes/villains, gizmos, gruesome deaths, money, social media impact and marriage all feature in this fast paced humorous story. Mixed feelings about this book, but am still really looking forward to book two. Because this is a story more about the supervillain nemesis of Punch Girl than Punch Girl herself. But maybe book two rectifies that. Time, and future reading, will tell. In the meantime I’m staring at the sky hoping for a glimpse of Punch Girl herself! Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given,

I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining novel, a mix of urban fantasy and mystery. Well plotted, fleshed out characters, fast paced.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Punch-Girl was a fantastic take on the superhero genre, feeling like a breath of fresh air. The author paints a well thought out story that makes me wish there was a sequel in the works.

I loved this book! A superhero and her nemesis with a “Jekyll and Hyde” aspect. Most of the story is told from the perspective of Alec Baum. Alec’s wife, Jess, works for a PR firm who just started representing up-and-coming hero Punch-Girl. This is huge for Jess. Alec obviously wants his wife to be successful and will do whatever he can to help…including become a rival to Punch-Girl to help her image.
Honestly, until the last quarter of the book, I was sure who I was supposed to be rooting for and I loved it!

I have a soft spot for super heroes, J.M. Reilly satisfies that need with a tale of Punch-Girl (ebook from BooksGoSocial), a high-tech batman who captures normal criminals. The Minister shows up, torturing a corrupt rich business man on and streaming the result. Alec Baum is a normal CPA whose wife, Jessica is running with Punch-Girl’s publicity, He has a terrible secret that gets worse when a truly psychotic super-villain, the Slayer, shows up. This is an edge-of-your-seat read thriller with lots of twists. I couldn’t put it down.

I love the play this story takes with superhero tropes. It’s enjoyable and kept me interested as someone whose been a comics fan for decades.

This fast-paced and humorous story blends superheroes, villains, high-tech gadgets, impactful social media, wealth, marriage, and gruesome deaths. While mixed feelings linger, anticipation for book two remains high. The focus on the supervillain rather than Punch Girl adds a unique twist, leaving readers curious about how the sequel will develop Punch Girl's character. Eagerly awaiting more Punch Girl adventures, the sky is the limit for what's to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Description
If superheroes have one downside, it’s supervillains. Superhero work is dangerous and expensive. Few attempt the job. Even fewer succeed. The celebrity superheroes get all the attention and applause, but one of them just died. The fallen hero was an icon, and Punch-Girl wants to fill his boots.

Punch-Girl is skilled and ready, but she is unknown. So she hires a marketing firm to position her among the big names. Just when her campaign takes off, a rising supervillain steals her thunder.

The Minister, a charismatic and mysterious criminal, divides the city and makes Punch-Girl look foolish and unworthy. But Punch-Girl’s troubles are just beginning.

The Minister came here for a reason. He has a terrible secret, which will alter Punch-Girl’s life forever. Worse, as Punch-Girl battles, losing ground to The Minister, their fight attracts a new evil with deadly plans for both of them.

Punch-Girl has her shot at the big time. If she can’t rise to the challenge, her failure will end her career. And her. If Batman and Wonder Woman had a daughter, she would be Punch-Girl. Equal parts sci-fi, crime thriller, and detective novel, the first book in the Punch-Girl series sets layered, endearing characters against impossible odds.

Punch-Girl will have you rooting for her through every battle and keep your pages turning long after bedtime.

This was right up my alley!