This book centres on the romantic relationship between Patrick, a closeted Hollywood actor and Will, a book seller and drag queen from Birmingham (uk) who meet while Patrick is filming a superhero movie, “Kismet 2” in Will’s home town. Occasionally the chapters go back through time to the story of Charles and Iris, the original writer and illustrator of the Kismet comic, I found these parts intriguing and more and more exciting as the story developed and you understood their significance.

I felt like Patrick fell for Will so quickly, not just as a person but the idea of him and his life and that he so desperately wishes to have that sort of freedom for himself, to be his queer self but he’s afraid and it’s that fear and the pressure and sometimes shame from different parts of his life that prevents him from being that person. Will is authentic, sarcastic, funny and at times chaotic which I found very enjoyable to read.

I smiled and laughed so much reading this book, there were sad moments too but i felt like the queer joy and humour in this story really shines through. You are willing these two characters to get it together and ultimately choose each other and hoping that Patrick will ultimately choose to be himself.

At first I was confused by the Charles and Iris story and how it fit in but by the end I felt like it was a clever addition and I would have gladly read a whole book just about their story! I would have loved to learn even more about them.

For me the heart of this story is self discovery, love and acceptance, not only of yourself but of situations and people you cannot change. Can you be brave enough to be your own hero when the world would rather you be their version of one?

"Real love is nothing like the movies"

Patrick Lake is a popular, handsome Hollywood actor who has landed the gig of a lifetime as the lead in a Super Hero movie series, adapted from a beloved comic strip written in 1949.

Originally from South Amboy, New Jersey (Violet Sanford country), Patrick and his co-stars are doing some additional post-production work in Birmingham, England. When a spontaneous night out ends with him crossing paths with drag performer Grace Anatomy (Bookseller Will Wright by day), Patrick feels a spark - but he's not out, for fear of jeopardising his career. He enjoys his job, and the perks it affords him - but how much longer can he live a lie?

Back in 1949, we see the original comic strip come to life, where we meet Charles and Iris, the original creators. Their marriage is not like most - but if the truth came out, they could lose everything. They dream of a world where they can just be themselves.

I ADORED this book. If you know me at all, you'll know I'm a savage for a good pun, bit of banter, pop culture reference, or slice of queer culture - and all were served in bucket loads. From the little sprinkling of iconic references ("what, like it's hard?") to the sweetest found family storyline, this book warmed my cold little heart so much. I loved the lead characters, but the side ones also deserve a mention - Margo, Dylan, Audra, Jordan, Hector, Corey - everyone was so full of life and I felt like I had the measure of them immediately.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the book used the comic strip series to bridge the gap between past and present. There were so many similarities between the two stories, and while queer joy was sometimes under threat in both timelines, ultimately I found it to be a really uplifting, hopeful, beautiful love story that's so badly needed in the world today.

Absolutely adored this, it was just lovely.

I read 2 banger novels back to back this month; both had so much to say about queerness, queer joy, and the community that exists for people across the queer spectrum. Phillip Ellis’ sophomore novel was the first of the two; it’s a gorgeous story of two men who fall in love, overcoming all obstacles - it had me kicking my feet and giggling, but I learned a lot from it too, and isn’t that what we all want, in the end?

Patrick Lake is a popular, handsome Hollywood actor who is currently the leading man in Captain-America style blockbuster, filming in Bermingham. Patrick is America’s sweetheart - he’s fuckin’ adorable, to be fair - but he’s gay, and coming out would have massive ramifications for his career.
But when he meets bookseller-slash-drag performer Will Wright/Grace Anatomy, the chemistry between the two is electric, meaning Patrick has to make a big decision. Will, for his part, refuses to even consider going back to the closet - he is out and proud, and his refusal to tone himself down to fit into a heteronormative world is a wonderful element of the book.

The second part of the novel is set in 1949, and follows the two queer creators of Captain Kismet. They are living happily enough in a sham marriage, but both want more, too. This second storyline acts as a bridge between the past and present, and it’s a wonderful reminder of the importance of remembering our queer forefeathers (and mothers) who paved the way for people like Patrick and Will living happily ever after.

Phillip Ellis has an outrageously charming writing style; We Could Be Heroes is filled with banter, jokes, references and wordplay that made it so much fun to read. I laughed out loud several times - not something all books do for me - but my heart was tugged at more than once too. Ellis does a fantastic job of digging into issues in the queer community that aren’t necessarily the mainstream ones, like hate crimes, right-wing bigots attacking drag queen story hours, kink and the need to flatten yourself to be “accepted” by the straights. Will’s relationship with his own flamboyance was wonderful; I loved how self-assured he was in himself. The found family elements are great - all the characters leap off the page, not just the two romantic leads Special shout out to Audra, the mad bitch.
A lovely, lovely book that I will be pressing into the hands of anyone and everyone once its published. I just adored it.

We Could Be Heroes by PJ Ellis is a captivating and unconventional romance that blends love, identity, and the power of storytelling across time. This novel is not just about the relationship between two men, but also a reflection on how our past can shape our futures, how secrets can bind or tear us apart, and how love, in all its forms, is anything but simple.

Set in two distinct time periods—2024 Birmingham and 1949 New York—the story unfolds in a way that is both intricate and mesmerizing. Patrick, an American actor starring in a blockbuster superhero film, has everything he thinks he needs in life—fame, fortune, and a schedule packed with filming. However, the last thing on his mind is falling in love, especially since he is not yet ready to come out as gay. That is, until he meets Will, a local bookseller and drag performer. Will’s charm is magnetic, and Patrick finds himself pulled into a secret romance that challenges everything he thought he knew about himself and his future.

Meanwhile, across the ocean and decades earlier, Charles and Iris, a married couple and comic-book artists, are living their own secrets. Together, they’re creating a superhero unlike any the world has ever known—one who might just change Patrick and Will’s lives forever. As their stories unfold in parallel, we begin to understand the profound impact that art, love, and bravery can have in both personal and public spheres.

Ellis’s writing is beautifully layered, moving seamlessly between the two narratives, showing how the creative spark of the past intersects with the very real desires and struggles of the present. The characters of Patrick and Will are irresistibly engaging, with their chemistry palpable from the very first meeting. Their romance, set against the backdrop of societal expectations and personal hesitations, is tender, secretive, and heartwarming in all the right ways.

What makes We Could Be Heroes stand out is how it takes the familiar tropes of a superhero story and turns them on their head, weaving them into the fabric of a love story that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about romance. The connection between the two timelines is both surprising and deeply satisfying, showing how the things we create—whether it’s a comic book, a relationship, or a secret—can shape the course of history in ways we never imagined.

If you’re a fan of complex characters, slow-burn romance, and the power of narrative to change lives, We Could Be Heroes is a must-read. PJ Ellis has crafted a novel that is equal parts thought-provoking and heartwarming, with a touch of whimsy and a lot of heart. I loved it!

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.

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.

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

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.

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 a joy. Patrick is closeted and doing his best to be the 'America's heart throb' that his agent is building him up to be. Things come undone a bit when he goes clubbing in a Birmingham gay bar with his work colleagues and is rescued by the drag queen Grace Anatomy. (I love the drag queen names!). Will is Grace Anatomy when he's performing. He is instantly attracted to Patrick - who wouldn't be? He's a literal movie star with movie star good looks.

They meet again and become friends and then more to each other. This is a lovely rom com with conflict baked in because Will and Patrick's relationship has to be kept a secret.

I enjoyed reading about the found/ chosen family that surrounds Will. Patrick has that too, to an extent, but he doesn't realise it until late in the book. The book has some serious things to say about being free to be yourself and the physical danger queer people face just by existing. I really liked the anti-protest during drag queen story hour in the library. Both Will and Patrick were realistic and relatable characters.

There is a secondary historical storyline about the people who created comic book that Patrick's character is based on. This was interesting too (and the unfairness of the situation, infuriating).

I raced through this book because, despite touching on some serious themes, this book is a lighthearted and funny romcom. Perfect for people who enjoyed Boyfriend Material.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. Thank you, Harper North.

This was an excellently fun gay rom-com with a great cast of characters that jumped of the page, which left me wanting it longer just so I could read about everyone hanging out.