This book is right up my alley! Superheroes? Drag queens? Little history flashbacks? West Midlands setting? Sign. Me. Up!

We follow Patrick and Will, a movie star and a drag queen respectively, who’s paths cross unexpectedly. Despite being from very different walks of life, they can’t help but fall for each other. I really liked how their relationship developed over the course of the book; there was instant attraction, but it took the whole novel for them to really get to know each other and to form a deeper connection.

Dotted throughout the book were flashbacks to the origin of Kismet, the superhero Patrick is playing in his new film. Very reminiscent of the origins of Wonder Woman, Kismet has undeniably queer origins, which have been actively erased from the superhero’s history by the publishers. It was a lovely touch which came full circle with the main plot towards the end of the book.

This was a really fun read, perfect for the queer superhero and/or drag fan!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

A Hero and a Queen

‘I’m a drag queen. I reserve the right to be dramatic.’

I bought the signed hardback of this when I attended the author talk at Heath Book Shop, Birmingham (UK), and I bought the ebook when it was released.
I'm a Birmingham resident and recognise so many wonderful locations in this book.
The story starts with Hollywood actor Patrick Lake browsing a bookshop in Birmingham on the hunt for a copy of the elusive 'Omega Issue' of comic book Captain Kismet.
He's there filming Kismet 2, and in the bookshop meets Will Wright.
But Will is no stranger to him.
Will is the drag artist Grace Anatomy, who saved Patrick from being mobbed by fans at The Village pub.
Will is a talented Queen, who helps with the drag queen story hour at the library as well as helping his best friend Jordan as an activist.
Part of Will's found family also includes comic book fan and cosplayer April, who is a woman of colour and expert on POC comic books.
Plus there's Will's sister.
Patrick is a closeted gay actor but in connecting with Will by fate ... Or kismet, he wants to get to know him more.
Even if Will does have to sign a NDA.
This is a laugh out loud rom com bubbling with queer joy, angst, protests and pride.
It's also told over two timelines where we find out the history of the creators of Captain Kismet - Charles and Iris - a couple who had to marry to survive in McCarthy era America.
These historical scenes add a poignancy to the story, just as the fierce vision of a parade of Queens fighting against homophobia in current day Birmingham add a sense of hope.
Amidst the love story are the hilarious parts, such as the deluge of pun-tastic drag queen names included in the book, some of which are genuine.
When Patrick has his moment of clarity in finding the original 'Omega Issue' I was close to tears.
I know ATM this is a standalone novel but I would love to see Audra or Jordan get their own stories.
This book is deservedly a LAMBDA finalist and I feel this story deep in my bi-licious heart.
A stunning story that shows us who the real heroes are.

There was an abundance of queer joy in this book which was lovely to read. The writing was witty and engaging. All the characters, main and side, are well written and fully fleshed out.

The narrative is dual pov, but we also have a dual timeline and various scenes from a movie script that disrupted the flow of the story. It did all come together in a very satisfying and heartfelt ending though.

That, combined with a whole lot of story plots - the romance, in / out of the closet, the drag club and queens, the movie set and costars, the movie's origin backstory, - made it feel like a hot mess. It felt to me like it was trying to do too much and I would have appreciated a bit of streamlining.

Will first meets Patrick whilst in full drag which makes him a bit braver, he helps the famous actor escape unwanted attention after being dragged on stage. The second time they meet, in the bookshop where Will works, Patrick doesn't recognise him but feels strongly drawn to Will. Patrick isn't out, being a movie superhero means that's impossible so he's learnt to live without being his true self. He asks Will to help him locate the last of the original comic books launching Captain Kismet, the 'Omega edition'. Being in close proximity makes them question what they feel about themselves. Engaging and fun romance.

Will is an English openly gay man who works in a bookshop by day and is trying to make a name for himself on the Birmingham drag queen circuit by night.

Patrick is an American actor, famous for portraying Captain Kismet (sort of Flash Gordon, All American hero who accidentally gets launched into space and finds himself on a strange planet) in a superhero movie, he is in Birmingham filming some additional scenes for Kismet 2 and this film could catapult him into the big leagues (think Marvel franchise). His agent has always told him he can be openly gay or he can be a successful movie star and he has heeded that advice, so much so that he hasn't had a relationship in four years.

One night Patrick's co-star, his stunt man and his nutritionist persuade him to come out on the town and their taxi driver takes them to a gay bar where Will's friends are performing and Will is serving cheap shots as a roving drag queen waitress. They meet ... and the rest is history.

The story is interspersed with flashbacks to 1949 and the husband and wife duo who originally wrote the Kismet comics, their imaginations envisaged a world where they could be their authentic selves whilst having to hide who they really were in real life.

I enjoyed this (sort of). My problem is that it didn't really know what it wanted to be. Is it a romance? Is it a political statement about the way in which current society appears to be reverting back to 1950s views about repressing homosexuality and anything other than heterosexual behaviour? Is it about some idea that stories transport us to other worlds and open our minds to things being different? I don't know and that was the problem for me. Then everything had a lovely happy ever after all wrapped up in a nice bow.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Patrick Lake has managed to do what a lot of actors couldn’t…become the next Blockbuster Movie Superhero, Captain Kismet, and is currently filming the sequel in the Kismet movies in lovely old Birmingham. Not Birmingham, Alabama…good old Birmingham city in the UK. However one thing about Patrick, he hasn’t dated for a long time…also he is firmly in the closet.

While he has been doing his research on Captain Kismet comics, an old rumour keeps persisting, there is a mysterious “Omega” edition that he wants to get his hands on, but he needs specialist help. This is where Will comes in, a second-hand bookseller, but their fates seem intertwined, as on a cast night out Patrick gets stuck in a gay bar and a glamorous drag queen helps Patrick. To his surprise and delight, that drag queen is none other than Will. He cannot believe that Patrick Lake aka Captain Kismet could be interested in him…but he is! However, their romance needs to stay a secret.

As we follow Patrick and Will’s love story, we are taken back to New York 1949 and the story of the writer (Iris) and illustrator (Charles) of the original Captain Kismet comics…and its surprising origins and heart-breaking secret. This truly depicts how life was for gay people in post-war America.

Just in time for Pride month, this was a fun, quirky and funny romance between a closet gay American actor and his very British Drag Queen Boyfriend. You experience the highs and lows, the emotions, love and tragedy of their story and the writers’ stories. There is a great diverse cast to support…and a WHOLE LOT OF GLITTER!

If you enjoy romances like in 2000’s movies, you will love this read, super easy and relatable. Beware there are themes of Homophobia, so please keep that in mind before reading as it can be distressing. Has some incredible messaging in this one…don’t ever be afraid to be yourself and fight for others who cannot do it themselves. Honour those who have lived and died before us, and you never know what the future may hold for you.

Thanks to @harpernorthuk for approving me to read this arc…its out now so go enjoy…and get your Pride on!!

Favourite Quote:
“Perhaps it is all a childish fantasy. They are my stock in trade. Am I so silly, to want one to be real? Top want more than a life where we have to hide and sneak and lie, like crooks? A life free to be ourselves?”

We Could Be Heroes is an absolute joy of a queer romcom that blends celebrity romance, drag culture, and queer history into one fabulous, heartfelt story.

It follows Patrick, a closeted American movie star filming a superhero sequel in Birmingham UK, and Will, a local bookseller and drag queen.

What begins as an unlikely friendship quickly turns into a secret romance - one full of warmth, chemistry and the inevitable tension of life in the spotlight.

The book strikes a lovely balance between fun and meaningful.

There are steamy scenes and hilarious drag performances, but also thoughtful conversations about identity, coming out, and the very real pressures of public life.

Patrick’s fear of losing his career feels honest and raw, while Will’s out-and-proud confidence brings both joy and complexity to the relationship.

It's great to see a different area of the UK being the backdrop of a novel rather than the usual London and Cornwall etc.

Running alongside the main romance is a 1940s subplot that follows Charles and Iris, the original creators of the Captain Kismet comics. While I’m often wary of dual timelines in romance novels, this one works beautifully. It enriches the story with layers of queer history and legacy, tying past and present together in a way that feels both emotional and thematically strong.

The supporting cast is brilliant and brings that perfect found family vibe that makes queer romance shine. Yes, there’s a third act break-up (of course), but it’s handled with maturity and growth, adding depth to both characters.

Is it a little cheesy and a bit predictable? Maybe. But it's also funny, moving, and filled with heart.

We Could Be Heroes is a celebration of queer love, identity and community. If you’re after a romance that sparkles with sass while packing an emotional punch, this one’s for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW
cw: queerphobia, mention of parental cheating

In the present day, when thirty-one-year-old American movie star Patrick comes to the UK to star in a blockbuster superhero movie, his and British bookseller Will’s worlds collide. Patrick’s life may be glamorous, but his contract obliges him to play up to his status as a sex symbol, and he can’t let anyone find out that he’s gay. Will, who does drag, understands there’s power in having an alter-ego, but he also knows the importance of being openly yourself and following your heart. Might he succeed in drawing Patrick out of his shell?
Back in 1948, Charles and Iris are not like other married couples. Partly because they are the writer-illustrator duo behind a comic destined to become the multi-billion-dollar superhero franchise that will eventually bring Patrick and Will together. Partly because they don’t love each other as anything more than best friends, Charles and Iris are both queer, at a time when homosexuality is illegal. In spite of the adversity they face, their unconventional partnership leads them on an empowering journey of self-discovery, with romance on both sides too.


So, I am a HUGE comic book fan as well as a lover of movie adaptations (done right), so this book felt like it had been written for me. There were so many in-jokes, and I LOVED all of the X-Men references, but even if you know next to nothing about either comic books or movies, this would be a thoroughly charming story, full of witty one-liners, and I cannot recommend it enough!
I loved Patrick, but I hated that he had to hide his authentic self from the public eye, just like so many in the acting profession over the years. The meet-cute was hilarious, but the mutual attraction and pining were so stinking cute! Their first kiss made me kick my feet giddily. It was SO adorable.
Will was immediately adorable and I LOVED his drag name, as well as the story behind how he became a drag artist. I also wished I'd had a 'screaming cupboard' when I used to work in retail as a student. But I loved his vulnerability just as much as his sense of humour. I was so angry on his and Faye's behalf at the library. But Will's way of helping Patrick become incognito was brilliant.
I did think the pacing in the middle third of the story slowed a little, and every time it felt like the romance between Patrick and Will was deepening, we'd abruptly turn back in time to the origins of Captain Kismet, but I still loved the story within a story about Charles and Iris, and how they created the comics. That said, I was so angry (though sadly, not surprised) on Iris’s behalf at the way both she and Charlie were treated by the vile editor, Walter Heywood. The Omega edition was such a wonderful storyline, though. My heart also broke for Iris when we discovered the reason for the name of Kismet's sidekick in the comic books. Her candid conversation with Charles about gender, but especially her own, was well-written. The threats of McCarthyism just added another emotional layer to the story, but Charles' love story with Dickie, and Iris's with Eleanor were beautifully written.
In the present-day storyline, there were so many wonderful supporting characters. I loved the hilarious banter between Will and his sister, Margo and her son. But the origins of how they became close made my heart ache. Still, the memory of them watching THAT series of ANTM was so nostalgic, and I loved how supportive Margo was of Will. I liked Audra, Patrick’s colleague in the movie franchise. She was hilarious, but also fierce, and I loved how utterly gone Hector, Patrick’s trainer, was for her. I also LOVED Hector, Corey, and Patrick’s revelatory talk while hiking. While I understood that Patrick's manager, Simone, needed to project his image in a certain way, I hated how restricted he became because of it, and the situation with Reece made me so angry on Patrick’s behalf.
Jordan, Will’s Drag stepmother, was hilarious, but I hated that they fell out for so long. Faye was utterly iconic, and though I hated the reason for the protest, she and all of the other queens were amazing.
Even though I knew conflict was coming, I hated how suddenly dismissive Patrick became of Will in chapter twenty-five, and the aftermath made me even more furious. Though I empathised with Patrick’s inner turmoil, I seriously wanted to hug Will, although my heart also ached for Jordan after his outburst. But after Patrick’s confrontation with his parents, his actions started to make a lot more sense, and my heart broke for him as well. Still, the chapter where Will and Jordan made up was cathartic.
The final chapters really pulled everything together in an incredibly satisfying way. I won’t spoil all of the details, but I went on a rollercoaster of emotions as we finally caught up with the fate of Charles, Iris, and Eleanor, as well as the fate of the Omega edition. As for the final few chapters? Well, they were PERFECT, and the ending made me SWOON so much! The epilogue was equally adorable.
Though separated by time, these two stories intertwined into a beautiful story of love and hope.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️. 5
Heat Rating: 🔥

*Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. We Could be Heroes is out now*

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a Birmingham drag queen and an action hero met and there was instant chemistry then you're in luck! We Could Be Heroes is a witty, warm rom com that you will zoom through. The main characters are well written and the chapters looking back in time feel well integrated into the current timeline. Really enjoyed it.

From the cover I thought this may be a rather superficial love story but I was very pleased to find it was actually a heartfelt love story with brilliant characters and at times back stories.

I was lucky enough to receive a Netgalley ARC ahead of the paperback release!

Loved loved loved this romance! It's been such a long time since I read any romance and THE writing is refreshing!

Patrick's acting career is taking off when he is casted as America's new superhero! But his costume isn't the only disguise he's wearing. A spontaneous night out and a chance meeting with a drag queen who comes to our superheroes rescue sets our love story in motion ❤️

Can Will help our closeted hero learn to embrace his true self... while they embrace each other 👀

The perfect LGBTQ+ romance for the summer.

The characters were so fun to explore and the storyline between Will and Patrick was so beautiful as it developed

So in all honesty I’ve really really struggled to get into this book. I think the premise is brilliant and I intend to give it another try soon, but for my brain at the moment it felt just a little too slow. Once my concentration is a bit better I’ll do a proper review once finishing but yeah.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, I think the right people will love it.

WE COULD BE HEROES – P J ELLIS ***
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this tale, it grabbed me at the start but, to be honest, I got rather bored by the third act. It’s the story of Patrick Lake, a young, bright, incredibly handsome American movie star whose world is blooming as he makes a sequel to one of his most successful films. Life seems pretty much perfect. But is it?
Into this mix comes Will, a Londoner, bookseller by day, local drag queen by night.
You can guess the rest, even the end of the story. Both men are appealing, as are some of their myriads of friends. This is Notting Hill lite without the appeal of Julia Roberts.
As a gay man, I enjoyed it, but not enough to award more stars.

Acting celebrity and closet Gay, Patrick arrives in Birmingham to film his latest super hero movie. he meets Will but cannot allow his fans to see him with a boyfriend. Can their relationship continue as a secret? An insight into the Gay and cross dressing community, how they cope with public condemnation . Enthralling reading, well written with relatable empathy for the characters.

Will and Patrick's story is such a brilliant rom com story but all the more beautiful for being in the gay community with all it's extra pressures. It was a bit weird at first with the dual storyline but that soon starts to make sense and brings an added depth and clarity. Fun, romantic but heartbreaking at the same time.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper North Publishing for a free e-ARC of 'We Could Be Heroes' by PJ Ellis.

This was such a wholesome queer romance! 'We Could Be Heroes' follows Patrick, a closeted famous actor currently playing 'Captain Kismet', a captain America-esque character, and drag queen and book shop employee Will who stumble into each other while Patrick is filming in Birmingham. I loved all of the American actors adjusting to shooting in Birmingham of all places - it made for some really funny scenarios.

'...a woman was forcibly ejected from the very same doors by a bouncer, vomit visible on her shirt. "It's eight thirty," Corey said in something akin to wonder. "This city is a horror show"'

'I don't think we've ever had a celebrity join us for poppers o'clock. Unless you count Joe Lycett, and I don't, because he's always bloody in here.'

I couldn't put the book down and I felt really connected to all of the characters. I loved that the relationships Will has with his sister and friends were just as emphasised as his romantic relationship with Patrick. The author wrote the relationships and humour well - as well as Patrick's struggle with coming out in the public eye.

'It makes no sense. Hating us, attacking us when we've done nothing, deciding that we're what's wrong with society, that we're the threat to children. All because what? Some absolute wally mistranslated a Bible passage into Greek and fucked us all over. Threw us in jail. Chemically castrated us. Forced us to justify our existence, to beg and scrape for the barest human dignity'

I would recommend this book to anyone -especially if you are a romance fan!

My criticisms of this book are very minimal, the first is of the ~third act conflict~ - but this is a personal opinion as I hate this in most romance books. I will say that the conflict in 'We Could Be Heroes' felt very realistic and happened organically, compared to some romance books where it feels jammed in through an unfortunate miscommunication trope.

Secondly, I appreciated that positive bi and pan representation was shown at other parts of the book but there was a situation where a character makes some statements about bisexual people that felt questionable and offensive.

Ode to queer joy, indeed.
I’ve found it fairly rare to experience a book that adequately captures the atmosphere of a bunch of queers in their safe space. That sense of belonging and unconditional acceptance are difficult for our community to find in general, so it was incredibly special to feel that in this book. Thank you PJ Ellis for sharing the intimacy of that space with the world.
That was probably my favorite thing about this book, and Jordan’s larger than life persona is my second favorite. We all need a Jordan in our lives.

This book was a delight start to finish! I enjoyed everything about it, perfect for romcom fans. It's got great side characters, a fantastic main duo and it's refreshing to have a setting that isn't america in a book like this. Loved it, more please!

A breath of fresh air. We Could Be Heroes is fun, cosy, and very moving. I loved Will and Patrick so much, Will’s friends were also amazing. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Loved it
A fun happy easy to read rom com with brilliant characters,good story and happiness
Rare to find a book that made me smile pretty much throughout
A joy to read and be part of