We Could Be Heroes

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.