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A review by analenegrace
We Could Be Heroes by Philip Ellis
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
One of my must-read authors blurbed this book, so I was excited when my local library got a physical copy. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. A lot is happening in this book, and it is shorter, so it gets convoluted in the third act.
This is a bit of Chris Evans fan fiction, which I greatly enjoyed. Celebrity romances can be very hit or miss, but the rom-com aspect was charming. Our MCs, Patrick (Evans) and Will, come from very different lives and experiences, with Will doing drag and Patrick being an actor in a Captain America-style movie series. They have a bit of an instant-love situation and are forced to hide their relationship because of Patrick's career, which isthe eventual cause of their third act breakup , which I thought was pretty well-written with both characters taking accountability for their mistakes and choices.
A series of flashbacks told how Patrick's movie character, Captain Kismet, was created by a couple in alavender marriage in 1949. At first, I was SUPER confused by why this was included, although it eventually made sense. If this book had been a bit longer, the history tie-in could have been super interesting, but with the short length, both storylines lost steam because of each other. Also, I am mad they essentially fridged Eleanor... .
Finally, I think this book takes a critical political lens through drag and Hollywood queer representation. Will experiences protestors and hate crimes, and he and his fellow queens stage a counter-protest to make their voices heard and have to essentially force the police to act against the people who did the hate crime. Similarly, Patrick is being forcibly closeted by his morality clause and manager (WHOSE A LESBIAN...) He chooses to come out publicly and be a member of the community rather than an ally.
That ties in with my final criticism. Women in this book felt like they were there to assist the plot and didn't have much characterization. I understand this book's focus on gay men and drag queens, but particularly making his agent a lesbian who wanted to closet him and set up that bathroom scene made me very uncomfortable. Even Will's sister and Audra were just there to move the plot without much agency.
Best Line: "Love was, fundamentally, an act of perception. I see you. I know you. Don't think I haven't noticed and remembered every last thing about you."
This is a bit of Chris Evans fan fiction, which I greatly enjoyed. Celebrity romances can be very hit or miss, but the rom-com aspect was charming. Our MCs, Patrick (Evans) and Will, come from very different lives and experiences, with Will doing drag and Patrick being an actor in a Captain America-style movie series. They have a bit of an instant-love situation and are forced to hide their relationship because of Patrick's career, which is
A series of flashbacks told how Patrick's movie character, Captain Kismet, was created by a couple in a
Finally, I think this book takes a critical political lens through drag and Hollywood queer representation. Will experiences protestors and hate crimes, and he and his fellow queens stage a counter-protest to make their voices heard and have to essentially force the police to act against the people who did the hate crime. Similarly, Patrick is being forcibly closeted by his morality clause and manager (WHOSE A LESBIAN...) He chooses to come out publicly and be a member of the community rather than an ally.
That ties in with my final criticism. Women in this book felt like they were there to assist the plot and didn't have much characterization. I understand this book's focus on gay men and drag queens, but particularly making his agent a lesbian who wanted to closet him and set up that bathroom scene made me very uncomfortable. Even Will's sister and Audra were just there to move the plot without much agency.
Best Line: "Love was, fundamentally, an act of perception. I see you. I know you. Don't think I haven't noticed and remembered every last thing about you."