This is a fun read focusing on a younger Peter Parker facing the challenges of balancing his high school life with the challenges of being Spider-Man. This book has a lot of fun humor and web slinging adventures.

It is a marvelous story that will delight Spider-Man fans of all ages. This book will take you back to school even if you didn't get bite by a mutant spider.

Every now and again, a story comes out that just makes you smile. This is an original story about a Spider-Man (respect the hyphen) that is still fairly new to his role. He's sixteen, has a crush on Mary Jane, and learning how to use social media to build his brand. There was so much heart in this story, a compelling mystery, and I'm very eager to check out the sequels when they're released.

Thank you Disney Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

A middle grade superhero farce, we follow Peter Parker balancing life as both an average high school student and a crime fighting spider soaring over the streets of New York City. His double life is thrown for a loop when a strange lamp sets him off to solve a mystery affecting friend and foe alike.

I truly wanted to enjoy this book, but there was something that kept holding me back from loving it. Something I still can’t quite put my finger on. I’m not going to lie, it has been some time since I read a book below a YA level and that might have skewed my perspective. For a middle grade read, the story interweaves multiple points of view so we see both the heroes’ and villain’s perspective as the book chugs along.

But I wasn’t exactly drawn in by the plot to enjoy seeing more than the interactions between Peter/Spidey and MJ. It was nice to see a familiar face in the form of Sandman, but the overarching enemy felt much less threatening and tangible. Plus, the eventual resolution fell flat and in exciting despite the relatively higher stakes of the situation.

My favorite character ended up being the mouthy obnoxious newspaperman, J. Jonah Jameson, which was strange given I usually love every interpretation of Peter. He felt true to earlier iterations and provided brief interludes of comic relief.

I personally would rather stick to the comics and onscreen appearances for Spider-Man lore, but this would work for the little ones who are ready for chapter books and want to read about their favorite superhero!

#bookreview Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma by Preeti Chhibber

🤔where did ya come from?🤷🏼‍♀️
- I received an eARC of this via NetGalley from the publishers 🤩

😍the good stuff😍
- This is an early Spider-Man that is still adjusting to his powers and responsibilities.
- MJ is right next door and Aunt May is very supportive 😂
- Sandman is a villain I’ve always enjoyed just cause his powers are cool.
- The story is pretty good. You get bad guys and sciencey stuff and alien-ish stuff and Spider-Man saving the day. Just what you want in a Spider-Man story.
- There’s not a cliffhanger but it does leave it open ended a little bit because it’s the first of three books, I believe.

🫢my complaints🤫
- The beginning felt long and slow moving.

⚠️the warnings⚠️
- Give the story time to get moving. This is a book geared towards middle grade.

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARCand audiobook.


Description from NetGalley:
Peter Parker has been swinging and thwipping his way through New York City as Spider-Man for just a few months, and balancing his double life is complicated. He goes to school and tries not to embarrass himself in front of his crush, MJ; he takes photos for the Daily Bugle and tries not to embarrass himself in front of his boss, J. Jonah Jameson; and he fights crime in the evenings and . . . well, he’s kind of always trying to not embarrass himself. Easier said than done when you’re a teen with spider powers you’re still getting used to.

On top of all that, the notorious villain the Sandman is acting more strangely than ever, social media seems to be taking a toll on MJ, and someone keeps trying to steal an artifact that’s supposedly powered by alien matter . . . which can’t be good. Something eerie is going on, and Peter is determined to figure out what it is before things go from weird to dangerous.

This is the first in a planned three book middle grade series, and I can’t wait for the next one. If you are a fan of Spider-man then I think you will enjoy this book. It feels very much like modern, teenage Peter Parker. The narrator does a great job with the voices. The multiple POV helps us to fill in the gaps and know something that Spidey doesn’t yet know. While Sandman is definitely the villain of this book, there is an unknown baddie pulling the strings that definitely gave me the same set up vibes as the recent Marvel movies. The book has a quick pace and will keep middle grade readers engaged.

Overall: 4/5

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing for receiving a digital ARC copy of Spider-Man's Social Dilemma. I enjoyed reading this book. It's a typical Spider-Man story full of teen-age problems, job problems, school problems, Spidey problems. and more.

Like every Spidey story I've ever read, Peter Parker has constant problems he has to deal with. He has school problems, Spidey issues, problems trying to help Aunt May, and issues finding time for romance with his new love interest.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. My only issue is I'm so used to reading Spider-Man comics that it was hard to get into reading a Spider-Man story that was not a Comic book full of detailed beautiful illustrations. I really missed not having beautiful artwork complimenting this fun Spider-Man story. That's one of the great things about superhero stories, most of them are comics with awesome artwork. That wonderful artwork usually compliments the story perfectly and gives the audience a front row seat for all the action. My suggestion would be to have a piece of artwork at the start of each chapter to give the audience a preview of what's coming next.

If you like Spider-Man and teenaged angst stories, then please give Spider-Man's Social Dilemma a chance. You'll really enjoy it!

Stay awesome and keep reading!

This was a fun read. It's a quick read and perfect for the younger audience who love Spider-Man. I like the characters, they're long established characters they're what we expect. Peter's awkwardness comes across charmingly.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Sandman has gotten out of prison and something seems different about them. Spider-Man keeps an eye on them and learns they are trying to obtain a mysterious object. Will this is going on Peter gets a great job opportunity and gets to work on a school project with MJ. With some surprise help Peter might have found out about a strange new enemy who has dastardly plans. As this book comes to a close it is clear this adventure is far from over.

Thanks to Disney Books Publishing and NetGalley for the digital arc!

Spider-Man's Social Dilemma is one of the most fun and heartwarming books I've read so far this year. Following a 16-year-old Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the middle-grade novel charts the teen's adventures both in and out of the Spidey suit - from the daily struggle of trying to make it to class on time and drumming up the courage to ask out MJ to swinging through New York City and stopping bad guys.

The main villain of the novel is Sandman/Flint Marko, but the true big baddie of this new series (this is book 1 of 3) is a mysterious, possibly alien entity who is just getting started in Spider-Man's Social Dilemma.

The book is an engaging, quick read and perfect for its younger target audience as well as older fans who love both classic comic Spider-Man and the MCU web-slinger.

The biggest highlights of this novel are Peter's naturally adorable awkwardness in most social situations and with MJ - and equally, her awkwardness because she has just as much of a crush on him - and the attention to detail author Preeti Chhibber pays to the world-building.

New York City and particularly the world of Spider-Man aren't new to readers, but Chhibber's writing feels fresh and tuned to the elements young readers would most want to see. Spider-Man's Social Dilemma is just as much about navigating the obligations of school, friendships, family, and the online world as it is about Spidey thwipping around Queens and stopping Sandman.

Overall, the book is an engaging story that mixes comic book action with an inspiring and heartfelt narrative that more than earns its place among the canon of Spider-Man stories. I'm excited to see what happens next!

Anything Spider-Man is worth getting for our library, so I was excited to see the start of a middle-grade series for Marvel fans. Chhibber has a fast-paced but accessible story with Peter Parker saving the city at night while trying to keep up with high school during the day. I could see this being a good recommendation for reluctant readers. The story ends on a cliffhanger so readers will be excited for the next book in the planned series. Recommended for libraries serving youth.

This book was so much fun! I have always been a sucker for Spider-Man stories, and as soon as I saw this one on Netgalley, I had to request it. I'm so glad that I did.

In this book, Peter deals with being Spider-Man for just a few months, first love, a group project, a new job, and a mystery of what is happening around New York City. I'm glad that this was not an origin story and the fact that Peter has been Spider-Man for a bit of time. The Spider-Man origin story has been done enough. It was great seeing him start at the Bugle in this book and all the interactions with J. Jonah Jameson. JJJ will always be a favorite Spider-Man character of mine, and his parts give a ton of laughs.

This book was hilarious and sweet. Loved the budding relationship between Peter and MJ. Preetri has given Peter a great voice that stands out throughout the book. Also, MJ was one of the best parts of this book, and I loved seeing how much she supported Peter and her feelings throughout the book. It's great not only having Peter's perspective on everything but also other characters such as MJ and Sandman. I'm interested to see where the next book will go, especially with the ending.

I will pick up the other books in this series when they come out. This book would be great for middle schoolers and anyone who loves a good Spider-Man story. Also, I want to say that this is not the MCU Spiderman, so you know that going in.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

I remember the first Spider-Man novel I ever read, the Film adaptation of the first Sam Raimi film. I read it SO many times, so needless to say, I love Spider-Man.

This book took me back to that time as a young teen reading the book and basically devouring it. But the fun thing with this is its updated to todays lingo and technology.

One thing to note, this is different from the MCU Spider-Man, so don’t go in expecting that!

The last few years have given us a wide variety of Spider-Mans (Spider-Men?) to get invested in and cheer for, from old faves coming back to the fight to newer iterations crossing the animated spider-verse and stealing the hearts of audiences everywhere. And now this summer, Preeti Chhibber’s take on Peter Parker becomes a worthy addition to that canon by getting right to the heart of what’s made Spidey so lovable over the last few decades.

Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma is not an origin story, per se, as Peter already has his powers, his suit and a reputation for being the friendly neighborhood superhero. Instead of picking up the story from that familiar beat, Chhibber instead chooses to focus on other no less beloved parts of his life, namely his job taking pictures for the Daily Bugle and his romance with girl-next-door MJ Watson. But for all that it’s a coming of age story, there is also a thrilling mystery woven in, that is just spooky enough, and just otherworldly enough to keep readers of all ages invested.

Though it’s true there are elements of the supernatural in the story, the true strength of the story, and of Chhibber’s writing, is how the “friendly neighborhood” part of “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” never really gets lost in the larger-than-life events surrounding Peter and his friends. At the end of the day, they act and feel like teenagers — very intelligent teenagers, but teenagers all the same — who are just trying to do their best.

A pleasant surprise I found while reading is that Chhibber did not keep the points of view limited to just Peter and Flint Marko (aka Sandman), the novel’s antagonist. She also gives plenty of time to MJ’s internal monologue, both as someone getting embroiled in a superhero conflict that is larger than her, but also as a teenager struggling at once with feelings she does and doesn’t understand. Her MJ is fascinating, and showcases the kind of vulnerability that we often lose in (usually female) characters when trying to portray them as “strong.” MJ is intellectually intelligent and emotionally intelligent. She has a good heart and genuinely cares about her loved ones and wants to make the world a better place. But she’s human too, she makes mistakes, and isn’t condemned for them, but instead is given the space to learn and to grow from them.

Though I left high school behind quite some time ago, Chhibber taps into such relatability with Peter and MJ in particular that it gave me a nostalgic lens with which to look back at that time of my life, and will no doubt give the younger readers at whom this is aimed something to look forward to in high school (sorry kids, superhero or not, emotions at that age truly are that messy). This one is a must-read for Spidey fans young and old, and I cannot wait to see where Chhibber takes this story next!

Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma is out July 26. Special thank you to Disney Books for an advance copy for review purposes.

I really enjoyed the story, my son enjoyed it the most. It’s definitely a middle reader and was a lot for my almost 8 year old to handle. I think the plot plays out nicely and the action scenes were well written. If my son had been older I don’t think I’d be able to get him to set this book down.

Something about the writing style of this just didn't work for me. I think it was maybe partially the switching between characters? I like Chhibber a lot, but this one just wasn't for me.

I’d love to interview Preeti. This book was so much fun to read and I loved reading about Peter Parker again.

The world truly needed a fast, fun, original Spider-Man story right now, and I'm glad this one exists. It's a different but worthwhile experience to read a Spider-Man story written in prose as opposed to a comic. This isn't the first of Preeti Chhibber's stories I've read and I cannot wait for more. Spider-Man and the general framework of his story has been around for decades, but the fact that writers can continue to craft new and exciting narratives with him continues to impress and delight me. Great job, Preeti!

For the record, I'm not the target audience of this book and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great for superhero fans of all kinds. Don't skip it!

I'm a big fan of Spider-Man and Preeti's interpretation of Spider-Man hits the spot. In Spider-Man's Social Dilemma, you find young Peter Parker navigating the responsibilities of being Spider-Man and the embarrassing reality of being a teenager. Witty, funny, and action-packed, you can't help but devour this book in one sitting. I can't wait to get my hands on books 2 and 3 to see what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and Marvel Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Spider-Man's Social Dilemma by Preeti Chhibber is a lot of fun.
In this tale, Peter Parker is a 16-year-old high school student who is night lighting as everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider-man and when the Sandman starts to look for an object from a local museum to increase his power and wealth Peter's life gets a lot more complicated.
Preeti Chhibber captures the feel and voice of these classic characters very well and the threat posed by the "unknown" enemy and the Sandman are interesting and keep the plot moving. The relationship between Peter and MJ is equally fun and engaging.
This is the first of three so it ends with a little of a cliffhanger but it was fun and I hope to be back for parts 2 and 3.
Thanks to #DisneyPublishing and #NetGalley for the ARC of #SpiderMansSocialDilemma.