The Love Interest - by Helen Comerford (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this swoony and electric YA rom-com that offers a satirical take on superhero conventions, a teenage girl finds herself reluctantly fake-dating a superhero.

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Ray has just been saved by the world's newest superhero, Blaze. And, in the eyes of the public, that means one thing: Jenna has been cast as the Love Interest.

Jenna has no interest in being a helpless love interest, kidnapped by villains whenever they want Blaze's attention. In fact, she disapproves of the whole hero industrial complex on principle. But then an association of villains offers her a chance to find new information about her mom, who has been missing for ten years. All she has to do is get close enough to Blaze to spy on him.

The more time Jenna spends with Blaze, though, the harder it gets to lie to him. And the more she uncovers about the Hero's Association, the more she realizes that her town is in danger-and she might be the only one who can save it.

Review Quotes

"This novel 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

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

"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

"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

About the Author

Helen Comerford graduated from the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People and is an SFF aficionada obsessed with time travel. Originally a history graduate, she formerly worked as a stage manager in the theatre and now works part-time for the Wise Children company and Bristol Old Vic. She lives in Wales with her pet dog Cocoa, loves going for walks up mountains, and fuels her writing endeavours with chocolate raisins. The Love Interest is her debut novel.
Helencomerfordauthor.com Instagram: @helen_jcomerford Twitter: @HelenJoC