The Hero Complex - by Helen Comerford (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In the second book of this swoony, striking YA duology, a teen girl finds herself reluctantly stepping into the role of superhero.

It turns out that having superpowers doesn't make life any easier.

For starters, Jenna Ray learns that being an official superhero means she and Blaze can work together but not be together--no matter how much they are drawn to each other.

Jenna can make it work, though. She can be "just friends" with Blaze while balancing intensive hero training, a world-ending prophecy, and her own power-triggering panic attacks.

But as Jenna tries to be the perfect hero, she's forced to make a choice: save the world or follow her heart?

Review Quotes

"Manages to strike a beautiful balance between satire and storytelling; it's a hilarious sendup of the superhero genre and of modern superhero fandom that serves up an exciting action story peppered with creative superpowers." --School Library Journal, starred review, on THE LOVE INTEREST

"The nonstop action is incredibly fun, and clever jokes combined with swoony, tender moments between Laurie and Jenna make this adventure a real page-turner. . . . Fast-paced, cinematic action paired with a heartfelt love story." --Kirkus Reviews

"A fun, smart, trope-laden read for fans and haters of superhero stories alike." --BCCB, on THE LOVE INTEREST

"A picturesque superhero universe and the 21st-century world collide in Comerford's rom-com debut, which features comedic dialogue, sophisticated depictions of mental health, and empowering, authentic female relationships." --Publishers Weekly, on THE LOVE INTEREST

"Comerford peppers her work with clever, inventive twists as Jenna starts falling for Blaze. This fast-paced story culminates in a dramatic, satisfying conclusion that promises an exciting sequel . . . A sharp romantic comedy that takes aim at the patriarchy." --Kirkus Reviews, on THE LOVE INTEREST

About the Author

Helen Comerford graduated from the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People and is a rom-com aficionada obsessed with superpowers. Originally a history graduate, she worked as a stage manager in theatres, before becoming an (almost) full-time writer. She lives in Wales with her pet dog Cocoa, loves going for walks up mountains, and fuels her writing endeavors with chocolate raisins. She is also the author of The Love Interest.
Helencomerfordauthor.com Instagram: @helen_jcomerford X: @HelenJoC