Published: 18th May 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Humour, Chick-lit
My Rating:
LOCAL GIRL SWEPT OFF HER FEET
Mild-mannered PR girl Holly Phillips doesn't think much of costumed vigilante 'Ultimate Man' - and after his superpowered antics leave her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day, she's embarrassed beyond belief.
But when Holly's fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn - and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.
Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?
WOULD LIKE TO MEET: NICE GUY, LIKES DOGS, GSOH AND NO SUPERPOWERS
I got this one off Netgalley, it was one of those impulse requests you do when a book sounds like it’s going to go either way based off the summary. I’m still of two minds about it. On the one hand it was a great light read with a quirky fun look at the other side of superhero story. The story of the ordinary person in a city where there is a super hero and the city is filled with criminals. It was also a romance and I do feel like it was the romance which let this book down, which is bad coming from me as I am a huge fan of romance.
I loved the humour. It read as having a wry British humour and it was great. Our MC, Holly, is so not interested in her BFF trying to push her into a romance. Especially not when it involves her imparting her sage knowledge since she is in a committed relationship so knows it all. Instead, she'd rather be at home in her pyjamas, eating too much food, and watching bad reality TV (who can't relate to that feeling?). So, you can imagine her annoyance when she is forced to approach a hot guy to avoid grief and it ends up with her being tossed over the bar by him and an armed robbery by 'the bad guy' which ends with her having a photo of her arse in the paper... especially as she was wearing knickers which were past their best. She then proceeds to be the focus of the bad guy and in a strange sort of not relationship with her cities favourite super hero. I mean, life as a single girl in the city is difficult enough without adding in a maybe romance with a super hero whilst trying to pursue a normal life herself.
So many things about this book shouldn't have worked because it was so ridiculous and I think that's why I enjoyed it. It was very much a humorous take on the super hero genre which has become the focus of so many movies and TV shows of late. Holly wasn’t enamoured with our hero… and she wasn’t much impressed by the bad guy either. She honestly wished for some peace and quiet.
There were a few things I disliked, though. The humour and fun storyline was great. It wasn’t a serious take on the superhero genre, it was just fun. But the romance felt a bit forced. I didn’t get any chemistry there at all. I honestly would have been happier without the romance, if she had just been friends with Ultimate Man (yes, that is his superhero moniker). I felt like Holly in any kind of relationship was a bit like a teenage relationship of everything being OTT. Holly blew everything out of proportion and really was a little too self-centred in the relationship (but then, so was he). The pair definitely didn’t mesh well together. Just… I could see it coming and I liked it but it really added nothing for me at the same time. Isn’t that weird?
If you’re looking for a slightly ridiculous read then this is the book for you. It can never be taken seriously and whilst it won’t be for everyone or for every reading mood if you catch it at the right time it is a great book to enjoy.
Have you read any good old chick lit lately which is out there but still fun? And how is it I can enjoy a book which is marketed as having romance in it and declare I didn’t like the romance?
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