Book recommendation: The Supervillain and Me, by Danielle Banas

Normally when I choose which book to read next, I base it on what sort of mood I’m in—whether I’m craving something fluffy, for example, or maybe something that’ll keep me in suspense. Every now and then, however, I get very purposeful in my choices. I may be seeking to learn something, or get inspired, or make comparisons to my own writing.

Such was the case when I opened up The Supervillain and Me, by Danielle Banas. One of my own WIP novels deals with superheros, and I wanted to read something similar to see how mine stacked up.

And, of course, maybe be entertained in the process.

I got what I wanted when it came to my first goal, and wasn’t at all disappointed in that second.

Superheroes invaded Abby’s life a long time ago. Her older brother discovered his powers when he was sixteen, and he’s been masquerading as her city’s favourite hero ever since. But that doesn’t prepare her for the Iron Phantom, who saves her life one minute and announces himself the city’s newest supervillain the next. Abby isn’t sure she believes him when he comes to her to tell her he’s been framed, but she does know she can’t rest until she figures out who the masked boy is.

I admit, it took some time for The Supervillain and Me to pull me in. It was the question of who the Iron Phantom was that actually kept me reading for the first part of the book, alongside the hope that it was one character rather than another.

But after a while, the novel as a whole pulled me in. The plot became more gripping the further I read, and I started developing my own theories as to how things would turn out.

This was good, of course, but it had a dangerous element. It became risky to read before bed, for fear of not wanting to put the book down and go to sleep.

Goodreads summary

Never trust a guy in spandex.

In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees—they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.

That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.

After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.