THOUGHTS

I absolutely adored this book. Superhero stories aren't really my thing, but this book absolutely captivated me. Jenna's narrative voice is perfect, so engaging, and the plot is so incredibly fun. This is a great read, a wonderful escape into a harrowing world of environmental collapse and burgeoning Heroes and Villains.


PROS
Great Narrator: This book is so voicey, and I loved it. I was sucked in at once to Jenna's narrative. And she's a great character, too, especially in such a masculine-dominated genre. Jenna knows what she wants (and what she doesn't want), and she won't let anybody else tell her who she is supposed to be or what she is supposed to do. She isn't one to politely decline. She stands firm in her convictions and expresses herself, even when that expression might be a bit, well, rude (though only rude for a girl like Jenna to say it, you know?). Jenna as leading lady is really wonderful.

Great Concept: In a market saturated by patriotic American superheroes, it is nice to have a heroic story centered somewhere else--here, the UK. It's a fun shake-up to all those NYC-set superhero stories. And the idea of these heroes emerging as the world grows more environmentally unstable--as the "EV" mutates humans and animals alike--is also very fun. It's a climate change apocalypse full of superheroes and their super villains, with a side of environmental monsters as well. And I love that.

Great Formatting: Not enough authors experiment with how a book will look on the page. And I get it. We read so many books that look the same way once we move out of actual children's books that it is easy to forget that we can, you know, do something a little different. This book plays with font sizes, with word alignment, and with overall style in a way that emphasizes rising emotion and rising tension. And I really love that.


CONS
Unreasonable: Jenna has to be in this alone, for plot reasons. And I get that. But boy if her family didn't get on my nerves! They're too stuck in their ways to even entertain anything she has to say, and that's just irritating. Because it isn't like Jenna asked for this to happen to her, and the least they could do is be a sounding board (even if they ultimately come to the same conclusion). If a book where communication issues cause more problems than not isn't your thing, this one might not be for you.

Inconsistent: Overall, I think Helen Comerford really nailed her characters here, with one major (and ironic) exception. Blaze doesn't quite stand on his own two feet. He's wishy-washy in a way that doesn't feel intentional. His characterization is all over the place, and it didn't feel consistent. It didn't feel like there was a strong central character behind these conflicting decisions and actions, and that is unfortunate.

Bad Conversion: I read an early version, so this issue will hopefully be resolved before the book goes to print. But the conversion here from a UK style guide to a US style guide felt lazy. And by that, I mean the use of "ctrl-f" and "replace all" was very obvious. UK publications generally use single quotation marks for dialogue where US uses double quotation marks, and there were times that an apostrophe was changed to a double quotation in this copy. Similarly, it is more common in the UK to say someone "came round" to something, where the US prefers to say that someone "came around." But every instance of "round" in this book was changed to "around," even when "round" was acting as, you know, an adjective. Whoever did the initial formatting for the new market did it the easy way, without checking for singular instances. I do hope this will be corrected before the book goes to print, but since it was published first in the UK (and fully edited there, obviously), I do have some concern that the US publisher won't think to do a real edit before sending it out. Which might mean that first editions of this book are littered with conversion errors.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9/10
Those who enjoyed Infinity Son by Adam Silvera will like this new twist on heroes and monsters. Those who love Marissa Meyer's Renegades will like this new world of superhero justice.

The characters are badass and don’t fit the usual molds, which I loved. Definitely worth the read if you’re into something spicy and layered!!

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Helen Comerford's debut novel, “The Love Interest,” is a brilliant addition to the YA genre, offering a refreshing take on the superhero narrative. Set in a slightly dystopian world, this book is filled with humor, wholesome romance, and wonderfully crafted characters that make it an enjoyable read for a wide audience. Like other reviews have said, this is similar to “The Boys” when exploring the problems with “superhero culture,” specifically with misogyny, though this book is way more PG than the show. I also found it similar to “My Hero Academia” by providing commentary on the hero society, which I found to be very interesting. I think younger YA readers and even MG readers would love this book, especially if they are fans of superheroes.

The story is fast-paced and action-packed, with some really good world-building, especially with the origins of the superpowers as well as the inner workings of the hero society itself. I really loved the setting and almost wished I was living in the superhero world of Comerford (minus the constant threat of being killed by some sort of unnatural disaster). The world created is well thought out and realistic, and I would love to read more about this specific world.

Jenna Ray, the protagonist, stands out with her strong, compelling character. She is a young Black girl who often ends up saving others, challenging traditional superhero stereotypes that are ridiculed throughout the book, specifically with men seemingly doing all the saving and how the women always have to be saved (in traditional superhero media). Jenna's human flaws, like making mistakes and then fixing them, make her a relatable character. The book also highlights the importance of mental health, with Jenna's anxiety being depicted in a realistic and empathetic manner. The depiction of Jenna’s anxiety really made me connect with her as she experienced panic attacks due to not wanting all the attention of being a love interest.

The supporting cast, including Jenna's sister Megan and her friend Joy, are equally well-developed. Their relationships with Jenna, whether familial, friendships, or romantic interests, are portrayed with a sense of lovable reality. These dynamics are central to the story and provide depth to the characters' interactions. There is also a lot of humor and tons of quotable lines throughout the book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were some lines, mainly from Joy and Megan that actually made me audibly laugh out loud. I also really liked the use of different fonts and text sizes to portray intense emotions or loud volumes; the change in text size made it seem like I was actually reading a comic book, which worked perfectly with the material!

As stated earlier, “The Love Interest” offers a sharp-eyed critique of the misogyny prevalent in superhero genres. It exposes the passive roles often assigned to female characters and flips this by having Jenna take charge. The book also focuses on the darker aspects of superhero organizations (similar to “The Boys” and “My Hero Academia”), highlighting the sacrifices and questionable ethics behind the scenes.

Overall, “The Love Interest” is a standout YA novel with its fresh perspective on superheroes, strong female characters, and realistic relationships. This book is perfect for fans of superhero stories and sweet teen romances. It's a fast, fun read that leaves you wanting more, which is perfect as there is a hint of a sequel at the end. I can’t wait to read more from Comerford!