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Spandex and the City
Mild-mannered publicist Holly Phillips is unlucky in love. She's embarrassed beyond belief when the handsome stranger she meets in a bar turns out to be 'Ultimate Man' - a superpowered hero whose rescue attempt finds her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day.
But when Holly's fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn - and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.
Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?
But when Holly's fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn - and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.
Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?
355 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2017
11 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Jenny T. Colgan
29 books95 followersJenny T. Colgan is a pseudonym of author Jenny Colgan.
Jenny Colgan is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including 'The Little Shop of Happy Ever After' and 'Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery', which are also published by Sphere.' Meet Me at the Cupcake Café' won the 2012 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, as was 'Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams', which won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2013.
Under her Jenny T. Colgan pseudonym, she is a writer of romantic comedy fiction and science-fiction, and has written for the Doctor Who line of stories.
She also uses the pseudonyms Jane Beaton and J.T. Colgan
Jenny Colgan is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including 'The Little Shop of Happy Ever After' and 'Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery', which are also published by Sphere.' Meet Me at the Cupcake Café' won the 2012 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, as was 'Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams', which won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2013.
Under her Jenny T. Colgan pseudonym, she is a writer of romantic comedy fiction and science-fiction, and has written for the Doctor Who line of stories.
She also uses the pseudonyms Jane Beaton and J.T. Colgan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 10, 2017
This was a fun superhero romcom. Some of the humour worked and some of it fell a bit flat but the characters did prove a likeable bunch and the story always had enough about it to hold my attention.
Mild-mannered PR girl Holly Phillips is not a fan of her city's resident superhero Ultimate Man. That feeling is only reinforced when he rescues her from a gang of robbers and photos appear of her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day! To make matters worse Holly's embarrassing 15 minutes of fame end up making her a target for the city's latest villain and Ultimate Man has to save the day again.
This is a romcom so there was plenty of focus on the romance aspects of the story. Jenny T. Colgan actually did a decent job of keeping me guessing about about how things would work out in Holly's love life as Ultimate Man had to compete was a regular human who works his way into Holly's affection after starting at her work. I did enjoy how things developed between Holly and Ultimate Man as circumstances forced them to spend more time together but I also enjoyed how those moments compared and contrasted to the time she spent with Nelson. Holly proved to be likeable character and the secondary characters were a nice mix of likeable and interesting.
The superhero part of the story was actually quite fun. It took a bit of time to warm up but once it did both Ultimate Man and the main villain proved to be fairly interesting characters who had more depth to them than was apparent in the early parts of the story.
All in all this was a fun read. It could have been better. Not all of the humor worked and we did have to suffer a super cringeworthy sex scene but there was definitely more good than bad in the story overall.
Despite this story having superheroes it had the feel of a regular contemporary romcom rather than the typical UF superhero book feel.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Antonia Beamish did not do a great job narrating this one. It was like she missed the tone of the story and as a result some of the scenes and dialogue came off sounding far more cringeworthy than they might have if handled by a better narrator.
Mild-mannered PR girl Holly Phillips is not a fan of her city's resident superhero Ultimate Man. That feeling is only reinforced when he rescues her from a gang of robbers and photos appear of her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day! To make matters worse Holly's embarrassing 15 minutes of fame end up making her a target for the city's latest villain and Ultimate Man has to save the day again.
This is a romcom so there was plenty of focus on the romance aspects of the story. Jenny T. Colgan actually did a decent job of keeping me guessing about about how things would work out in Holly's love life as Ultimate Man had to compete was a regular human who works his way into Holly's affection after starting at her work. I did enjoy how things developed between Holly and Ultimate Man as circumstances forced them to spend more time together but I also enjoyed how those moments compared and contrasted to the time she spent with Nelson. Holly proved to be likeable character and the secondary characters were a nice mix of likeable and interesting.
The superhero part of the story was actually quite fun. It took a bit of time to warm up but once it did both Ultimate Man and the main villain proved to be fairly interesting characters who had more depth to them than was apparent in the early parts of the story.
All in all this was a fun read. It could have been better. Not all of the humor worked and we did have to suffer a super cringeworthy sex scene but there was definitely more good than bad in the story overall.
Despite this story having superheroes it had the feel of a regular contemporary romcom rather than the typical UF superhero book feel.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Antonia Beamish did not do a great job narrating this one. It was like she missed the tone of the story and as a result some of the scenes and dialogue came off sounding far more cringeworthy than they might have if handled by a better narrator.
May 23, 2017
Unlucky in love Holly was forever being pushed by her best friend Gertie to find herself a man. On a night out together, villain Frederick Cecil raided the bar they were in, taking every ones jewels, phones, money, etc. Not wanting her best friends new engagement ring to be taken, Holly stood up to the villain. Unfortunately, not everything went as she had hoped.
Dragged out of the bar by Frederick, Holly came face to face with Ultimate Man, the protector of Centerton, Holly’s home town. After a brief fight, Frederick disappeared, and Holly found herself thrown over Ultimate Man’s shoulder, leaving her knickers on show for the world to see.
Not exactly being a fan of Ultimate Man, she was disappointed when once again, she came face to face with him at a corporate party, in the city’s art gallery. Frederick Cecil had taken the opportunity to steal from some of the wealthy city dwellers. Unfortunately for Ultimate Man, after Frederick once again got away, Holly saw him mid changing, and for the first time someone knew his real identity.
With their paths continuously crossing, Holly started to fall for Ultimate Man, though he told her he couldn’t date anyone, as his life was too complicated. This attraction hadn’t gone unnoticed by Frederick, who decided to use her as a pawn in the battle between good and evil.
Spandex and the City, is a complete bonkers book, but it is oh so funny, and laugh out loud from beginning to end. Sometimes you just want to read a book that will give you a lift and make you feel happy, and this book certainly does that.
It is a take on all the superhero books, but rather than the focus being on the hero or villain, it is on Holly, the woman caught, unwantedly, between the two arch-nemesis.
Ultimate Man, is basically a very purple Batman, with his purple suit, purple bike, and purple phone. Though where Batman is a normal man wearing a suit, Ultimate Man is the product of a lab explosion which gave him his abilities. He is a little too clean cut for my liking, with his ‘need to save everyone’, and always having to be right attitude. He also didn’t have that emotional pull, that Frederick did.
Holly is an ordinary woman, working hard for little money, and never managing to get herself a date. She is the girl next door type of woman, who happens to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time – more than once. She is pig-headed, and likes to use sarcasm whenever possible, which is often lost on Ultimate Man. She is also far more brave than she likes to think she is.
Frederick Cecil, is the villain you love to hate. He has a beautiful house, on a beautiful sunny island. One that screams rest and relaxation. His motives for stealing are, to him, a worthy cause, one that he has spent his whole life thinking about, and one that he feels he is doing for the greater good. From starting out despising him, I felt myself conflicted as to whether he really was the bad guy.
I read the book at a time when I needed a real pick-me-up, in a week where everything, any anything had gone wrong. I found myself longing to pick up the book, even if it was only for a few minutes, just to escape reality. This book took me to a place which made me smile, made me laugh, and ultimately made me feel happy.
I became hooked from the very first chapter, by Ms. Colgan’s easy, relaxing, writing style, and her delightful, playful plot, unlike any of her other work that I have read.
If you are after a book that can give you that much needed break from life, to take you to a world just like your own, but one where good and evil come in the forms of superhero and super-villain, just like Batman and the Joker, then this is the book for you.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Dragged out of the bar by Frederick, Holly came face to face with Ultimate Man, the protector of Centerton, Holly’s home town. After a brief fight, Frederick disappeared, and Holly found herself thrown over Ultimate Man’s shoulder, leaving her knickers on show for the world to see.
Not exactly being a fan of Ultimate Man, she was disappointed when once again, she came face to face with him at a corporate party, in the city’s art gallery. Frederick Cecil had taken the opportunity to steal from some of the wealthy city dwellers. Unfortunately for Ultimate Man, after Frederick once again got away, Holly saw him mid changing, and for the first time someone knew his real identity.
With their paths continuously crossing, Holly started to fall for Ultimate Man, though he told her he couldn’t date anyone, as his life was too complicated. This attraction hadn’t gone unnoticed by Frederick, who decided to use her as a pawn in the battle between good and evil.
Spandex and the City, is a complete bonkers book, but it is oh so funny, and laugh out loud from beginning to end. Sometimes you just want to read a book that will give you a lift and make you feel happy, and this book certainly does that.
It is a take on all the superhero books, but rather than the focus being on the hero or villain, it is on Holly, the woman caught, unwantedly, between the two arch-nemesis.
Ultimate Man, is basically a very purple Batman, with his purple suit, purple bike, and purple phone. Though where Batman is a normal man wearing a suit, Ultimate Man is the product of a lab explosion which gave him his abilities. He is a little too clean cut for my liking, with his ‘need to save everyone’, and always having to be right attitude. He also didn’t have that emotional pull, that Frederick did.
Holly is an ordinary woman, working hard for little money, and never managing to get herself a date. She is the girl next door type of woman, who happens to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time – more than once. She is pig-headed, and likes to use sarcasm whenever possible, which is often lost on Ultimate Man. She is also far more brave than she likes to think she is.
Frederick Cecil, is the villain you love to hate. He has a beautiful house, on a beautiful sunny island. One that screams rest and relaxation. His motives for stealing are, to him, a worthy cause, one that he has spent his whole life thinking about, and one that he feels he is doing for the greater good. From starting out despising him, I felt myself conflicted as to whether he really was the bad guy.
I read the book at a time when I needed a real pick-me-up, in a week where everything, any anything had gone wrong. I found myself longing to pick up the book, even if it was only for a few minutes, just to escape reality. This book took me to a place which made me smile, made me laugh, and ultimately made me feel happy.
I became hooked from the very first chapter, by Ms. Colgan’s easy, relaxing, writing style, and her delightful, playful plot, unlike any of her other work that I have read.
If you are after a book that can give you that much needed break from life, to take you to a world just like your own, but one where good and evil come in the forms of superhero and super-villain, just like Batman and the Joker, then this is the book for you.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
May 26, 2017
After reading charming Colgan books about a bakery and a book bus did a book about a superhero romance feel a bit different. Well, quite a lot different. But, I was curious. I mean check out this quote from the book:
‘Could you please . . . possibly . . . possibly forget we ever met?’
I thought of how much I wanted to be a journalist. I thought of what a gigantic scoop this was. I noticed how downcast and miserable he looked.
‘You know,’ I said. ‘None of the pictures on the internet of the people who are supposed to be you are actually you.’
‘I know,’ he said.
‘I mean, Ultimate Man . . . you sound like a bra.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘All the good names were taken.’
Yeah, despite no puffins in this book did I find it charming. Holly is such a likable character and being saved by Ultimate Man sounds like a dream come true, unless that means flashing the whole world your knickers. And, not even your good knickers. And, then there is the villain, that keep showing up wherever she goes...
Spandex and the City is an easy going book with a villain that actually has a point and a different kind of love story. I mean it's not easy dating a superhero that is pretty much indestructible. Holly gets to know the backside of fame (pun intended) and it's a perfect summer book to read on the beach, I enjoyed the book a lot!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
‘Could you please . . . possibly . . . possibly forget we ever met?’
I thought of how much I wanted to be a journalist. I thought of what a gigantic scoop this was. I noticed how downcast and miserable he looked.
‘You know,’ I said. ‘None of the pictures on the internet of the people who are supposed to be you are actually you.’
‘I know,’ he said.
‘I mean, Ultimate Man . . . you sound like a bra.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘All the good names were taken.’
Yeah, despite no puffins in this book did I find it charming. Holly is such a likable character and being saved by Ultimate Man sounds like a dream come true, unless that means flashing the whole world your knickers. And, not even your good knickers. And, then there is the villain, that keep showing up wherever she goes...
Spandex and the City is an easy going book with a villain that actually has a point and a different kind of love story. I mean it's not easy dating a superhero that is pretty much indestructible. Holly gets to know the backside of fame (pun intended) and it's a perfect summer book to read on the beach, I enjoyed the book a lot!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Read
June 2, 2017DNF.
I was liking this, I wasn't loving it then a few editing issues bugged me so I decided to put it down. The first was the fact Holly gets her computer hacked, so Ultimate Man can ask her out (because phones don't work??? IDK) and she goes to his house, wearing her "go-anywhere" black dress, somehow turns her phone off in the process after telling her housemate that if she doesn't hear from her by morning, she could call the police, and is then surprised to return home the next day, having stayed over at this strangers house, this vigilantes house, to find the police. And, apparently, despite no mention of a change of clothes, she's now magically wearing a red skirt. And it must literally just be a red skirt, because she was wearing a dress when she left. *Rages*
Then, the Internet dies. And it causes mass hysteria, because duh. Twenty years ago phones were just made for texting and calling, but the Internet dies and people forget how to function. ANYWAY. Holly states that the Internet was, since High School, part of her every waking minute. Holly is 26, and according to herself, she was 12 when the new Millennium came in, which means that she was in secondary school (because it was secondary school she attended, since she was in England before moving to America) from 1999-2003. The Internet was not that big of a thing during those years, at all. It's only really come to prominence with the invention of smartphones, the first of which wasn't even released until 2007 and likely didn't hit the mainstream til a bit after that. So it's physically impossible, unless Holly is lying about how old she was when the Millennium came in, to have the Internet as part of her every waking moment. Her phone in those years would have been a clunky Nokia, only capable of making phone calls and sending text messages and playing Snake. Computer lessons would have taken place maybe once or twice a week, and even then you would be making Powerpoint presentations or playing games.
I try not to get riled up. I know authors make mistakes, but I do get riled up. It does irritate me when authors can't properly age their characters appropriately, or assume that smartphones were a thing in the early 00s. When they have their character go out in one outfit, and somehow magically have an entirely different outfit on the next day (that she had been wearing for two days, no less, according to her flatmate?????).
It's just infuriating. It's even more so when you're the same age as the character, I'm actually younger, since in 2017 Holly would be 29 but this is all stuff I remember, this is stuff I am aware of which makes it worse when you read such silly things that are so easily proven inaccurate via Google (is that ironic?). This is why timelines are SO important. People just assume the Internet has been this thing we're addicted to forever, and yet, it wasn't back in the early 00s. In the early 00s, I don't even think WiFi was a thing, because you had to dial up with those horrible noises, etc. It's all so, so easy to disprove.
So, no. I wanted to like this book so much, especially because I love superhero shows. So I love the idea of a superhero romance book. It just needed to have its homework done properly. Or, if you don't want to have to do your homework properly, don't even mention stupid little takeaways like that, because it could have been lifted out without much notice, and I wouldn't have got all riled up.
I was liking this, I wasn't loving it then a few editing issues bugged me so I decided to put it down. The first was the fact Holly gets her computer hacked, so Ultimate Man can ask her out (because phones don't work??? IDK) and she goes to his house, wearing her "go-anywhere" black dress, somehow turns her phone off in the process after telling her housemate that if she doesn't hear from her by morning, she could call the police, and is then surprised to return home the next day, having stayed over at this strangers house, this vigilantes house, to find the police. And, apparently, despite no mention of a change of clothes, she's now magically wearing a red skirt. And it must literally just be a red skirt, because she was wearing a dress when she left. *Rages*
Then, the Internet dies. And it causes mass hysteria, because duh. Twenty years ago phones were just made for texting and calling, but the Internet dies and people forget how to function. ANYWAY. Holly states that the Internet was, since High School, part of her every waking minute. Holly is 26, and according to herself, she was 12 when the new Millennium came in, which means that she was in secondary school (because it was secondary school she attended, since she was in England before moving to America) from 1999-2003. The Internet was not that big of a thing during those years, at all. It's only really come to prominence with the invention of smartphones, the first of which wasn't even released until 2007 and likely didn't hit the mainstream til a bit after that. So it's physically impossible, unless Holly is lying about how old she was when the Millennium came in, to have the Internet as part of her every waking moment. Her phone in those years would have been a clunky Nokia, only capable of making phone calls and sending text messages and playing Snake. Computer lessons would have taken place maybe once or twice a week, and even then you would be making Powerpoint presentations or playing games.
I try not to get riled up. I know authors make mistakes, but I do get riled up. It does irritate me when authors can't properly age their characters appropriately, or assume that smartphones were a thing in the early 00s. When they have their character go out in one outfit, and somehow magically have an entirely different outfit on the next day (that she had been wearing for two days, no less, according to her flatmate?????).
It's just infuriating. It's even more so when you're the same age as the character, I'm actually younger, since in 2017 Holly would be 29 but this is all stuff I remember, this is stuff I am aware of which makes it worse when you read such silly things that are so easily proven inaccurate via Google (is that ironic?). This is why timelines are SO important. People just assume the Internet has been this thing we're addicted to forever, and yet, it wasn't back in the early 00s. In the early 00s, I don't even think WiFi was a thing, because you had to dial up with those horrible noises, etc. It's all so, so easy to disprove.
So, no. I wanted to like this book so much, especially because I love superhero shows. So I love the idea of a superhero romance book. It just needed to have its homework done properly. Or, if you don't want to have to do your homework properly, don't even mention stupid little takeaways like that, because it could have been lifted out without much notice, and I wouldn't have got all riled up.
September 13, 2017
Don't let the quirky cover and title fool you because this is brilliant and fun and I freaking loved it!!!❤️
April 26, 2017
This is so much fun! Colgan mashes up chick-lit/rom-com with all those tales of superheroes and supervillains trying to either destroy or save the world, and pulls it off with panache. Holly, our narrator, is a smart, sassy heroine and if it's tough doing modern dating, imagine how much more complicated it is when the object of your desire dresses in purple spandex, a cape and is always flying off to rescue the city...
This isn't quite as wonderful as Colgan's Resistance is Futile but is still a funny, clever, ultimately gloriously romantic homage to caped crusaders!
This isn't quite as wonderful as Colgan's Resistance is Futile but is still a funny, clever, ultimately gloriously romantic homage to caped crusaders!
May 25, 2018
It's hard to write a superhero novel - we're so used to seeing them in films and in comic books - but Jenny does a really charming, fun job of poking affectionate fun at the genre, and at modern life. A really charming, off-beat romance story. (14+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
May 23, 2017
I liked this book a lot, though not as much as Resistance Is Futile. I think Colgan has stumbled onto a new sub genre and I can't wait to see what's next
Full review will be up on www.bookmoodreviews.com
Full review will be up on www.bookmoodreviews.com
August 22, 2017
Cute romantic comedy with quirky characters.
Superhero parody with elements of Superman and Batman specifically. The setting had a Gotham-esque ambiance to add to the overall superhero/vigilante illusion within the narrative.
While the story was humorous the plot itself was a little on the obvious side, especially if you have a weakness for superheroes ;)
Superhero parody with elements of Superman and Batman specifically. The setting had a Gotham-esque ambiance to add to the overall superhero/vigilante illusion within the narrative.
While the story was humorous the plot itself was a little on the obvious side, especially if you have a weakness for superheroes ;)
May 26, 2017
Guys! Who doesn’t know Jenny Colgan and her loveliest chick – lit novels in the world, right? However, there is the other side to Jenny Colgan, the one where she writes about super – heroes, spandex, aliens… Sounds totally bonkers, right, and it is totally bonkers, but bonkers in a positive way! “Spandex and the City” is SO FUNNY, I couldn’t stop giggling and I finished reading it with a big grin on my face. It is a comical, farcical take on superhero stories and a girl caught up between the good and the evil and I know it sounds totally like not from this world but I think this is probably what makes this book work!
I was hooked right from the beginning. This book is written in a brilliant way. The chapters are ultra – short and I just had a feeling I am watching them like a kaleidoscope, on a dime. The storytelling was such relaxed and playful and the plot was so unusual and I just couldn’t wait to see what’s going to happen. You have to take this story with a pinch of salt but I think that it is mostly this unpredictability and impossibility of the things happening that make this book so unique and so outstanding.
The author has delivered the perfect mix of a rom – com with superheroes adventures. The whole story is told from Holly’s point of view – Holly works in a boring PR job in the mayor’s office of the fictional town of Centerton and has the ability to appear in places that are being robbed and then put herself in danger and into the attention of the bad guy. Holly is a brilliant character – she’s so engaging, with this great dry British humour. She is your ordinary girl from the neighbourhood, working hard in a boring job and never going on dates. She wears her made of gold heart on her sleeve and she is so much braver that we could expect her to be, and I simply loved her. Centerton also has its own superhero – Ultimate Man, who – basically – is a mix of all the good guys but dressed in a purple spandex, driving a purple bike, with a purple phone. He rescues Holly those few times that she’s being kidnapped by Frederick Cecil and this is when their brilliant, belly – laughing will they/won’t they begins.
I so loved what the author has done with the villain, Frederick Cecil. You know, there was a moment or two that I really truly felt sorry and fell for him, as I could understand his point of view. Yes, internet has done a lot of good but there is also this dark side of internet, and Frederick Cecil has pointed it out, spot on. And well, he was right about those dangers, no? So you know, yes, I felt compassion to our villain. And I fell in love with his island and the fact that the first thing he wanted to save was his library. With Frederick it was love and hate relationship. A man who thought he’s doing all those evil things for greater good and really, you will find yourself in debate if he’s really as bad as we initially thought him to be.
This is a book that is guaranteed to take you to a better, funnier place and give you the much needed break. Even if you’re not into super – heroes, or you think this book can be a little too sci – fi for you, just give a try – I am sure you won’t regret it and you’ll be surprised how much you’re going to like it.
This story was so absurd that it just somehow worked! It was so very well done, guys, there was the right level of humour and sadness, the exaggeration and irony and the dialogues are brilliant. It was incredibly clever and Jenny Colgan has made a point or two in this story! It was not only entertaining, but thought – provoking and insightful – Jenny Colgan brilliantly captured the world, showing how internet has shaped us and our surroundings. It was really so great to read something so different. It was so quick and easy to read, even if there were moments that it was so unbelievable. There are so many things happening – the drama, comedy, romance – that even the additional touch of science fiction didn’t bother me at all. There were so many things that usually and normally wouldn’t work for me because they were so impossible and ridiculous but they did work! I know it’s the usual type of book I – and probably you – read but I urge you to leave your comfort zone for a moment and read “Spandex and the City” – it is a hilarious, clever book. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2017
I enjoyed Spandex And The City. As a man in my 60s, I'm not really in its target audience, but a great title and a friend's recommendation persuaded me to try it and I'm glad I did. I thought it was funny, engaging and rather exciting in places.
Jenny Colgan (whom I hadn't read before) has produced a comic mash-up of a rom-com and superhero adventure and done it very well. It is narrated in the first person by Holly who works in a dull job in the PR department of the mayor's office in the fictional US city of Centerton - which has its own superhero in Ultimate Man. ("I mean, seriously? Ultimate Man?" "Well, all the good names had gone.") He's a Batman/Superman type who rescues Holly from a supervillain a couple of times and a will they/won't they love story begins. It could have been awful, but Colgan has a lovely touch so the story is humorous with exactly the level of irony needed to be witty, the dialogue is excellently done, Holly is a very engaging protagonist and there's some genuine excitement and some rather thoughtful content in places.
This isn't intended to be Great Literature, but it's a very well-written and entertaining book which I enjoyed a lot. It would make a great beach read! Recommended.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
Jenny Colgan (whom I hadn't read before) has produced a comic mash-up of a rom-com and superhero adventure and done it very well. It is narrated in the first person by Holly who works in a dull job in the PR department of the mayor's office in the fictional US city of Centerton - which has its own superhero in Ultimate Man. ("I mean, seriously? Ultimate Man?" "Well, all the good names had gone.") He's a Batman/Superman type who rescues Holly from a supervillain a couple of times and a will they/won't they love story begins. It could have been awful, but Colgan has a lovely touch so the story is humorous with exactly the level of irony needed to be witty, the dialogue is excellently done, Holly is a very engaging protagonist and there's some genuine excitement and some rather thoughtful content in places.
This isn't intended to be Great Literature, but it's a very well-written and entertaining book which I enjoyed a lot. It would make a great beach read! Recommended.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
September 29, 2017
Hmmm I don't know what to think of this book.... It's so so so SO different from the other books from Jenny Colgan that I have read in the past. So different. And therefore I was disappointed. It was still chicklit but chicklit version spiderman or superman. Yes it was like reading a superman's book but for women ;-) or should I say girls because really this story was way too childish for me. The way it was written was too childish, and the characters as well. But I read the entire book because it was still pretty addictive and you want to know what will happen. That's why I have given this read 3 stars instead of 2 stars. I hope the next Jenny Colgan will be more like her usual books.
June 5, 2018
I love Jenny Colgan's books. This was a departure in genre to the ones I have read before. It contains superheros. romance, humour and very touching in parts. I got used to the superhero element and enjoyed reading this one.
May 2, 2018
it's really funny and a sure page-turner. Couldn't put the book down as its so funny and cute.
February 3, 2021
Ah, I really thought I was going to hate this. I was lent a pile by a bookish friend and left this one till last as I was fairly sure we wouldn't gel. It was ridiculous, even a teeny bit predictable, but thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are easy to relate to, with brooding back stories, grappling to make it work in the now.
I often wonder how I will react in situations life throws at me, and have found I am sometimes not the person I thought I was. Sometimes I'm better, sometimes I'm not. Each of the characters in the story had their turn being my favourite as they went thru similar journeys of self discovery. It isn't the typical superhero vs bad guy tale, but has enough of the markers to keep it familiar and friendly. Its light, its fun, its a total escape. I hope you enjoy it too!
I often wonder how I will react in situations life throws at me, and have found I am sometimes not the person I thought I was. Sometimes I'm better, sometimes I'm not. Each of the characters in the story had their turn being my favourite as they went thru similar journeys of self discovery. It isn't the typical superhero vs bad guy tale, but has enough of the markers to keep it familiar and friendly. Its light, its fun, its a total escape. I hope you enjoy it too!
May 3, 2019
Probably the worst book I have ever read.
September 12, 2024
I read this book in a single day while I was camping, and it's a good fit for that. It held my attention, but it's really just fluff rather than anything that will leave a lasting impression.
The basic premise is that you have Lois Lane in a love triangle with Superman and Clark Kent. Or rather, you have Holly Phillips in a love triangle with Ultimate Man and Nelson Barmveyer. Putting that another way, the broad strokes are familiar, but this isn't just a case of writing fanfic and changing the names: there are some significant differences.
There are a few places where the novel could have done with better proofreading. For instance, chapter 22 mentions "how to meet everyone without 95 dsm and texts zipping back and forth between them". I assume that "dsm" is supposed to be "DMs" (i.e. direct messages).
Similarly, chapter 16 refers to "an actual cursor arrow, in actual green, like an ancient film from the eighties". Having a flashing cursor (i.e. a line or a rectangle) makes sense, and you still see something similar on modern computers if you go to a command prompt. Similarly, an arrow makes sense if you're moving a mouse pointer around in a GUI (such as Windows). However, a "cursor arrow" doesn't work in this context.
There are some problems with the premise, maybe as a result of multiple drafts.
In both cases, I think that the early chapters needed to be re-written to fit in with the later chapters, but that step of the editing process was skipped.
On a more positive note, the chapters are generally quite short, which helps to keep the momentum going. In a couple of cases, they're extremely short, which is nicely done for dramatic effect.
There's also some interesting commentary about the internet, which I'm inclined to agree with.
The basic premise is that you have Lois Lane in a love triangle with Superman and Clark Kent. Or rather, you have Holly Phillips in a love triangle with Ultimate Man and Nelson Barmveyer. Putting that another way, the broad strokes are familiar, but this isn't just a case of writing fanfic and changing the names: there are some significant differences.
There are a few places where the novel could have done with better proofreading. For instance, chapter 22 mentions "how to meet everyone without 95 dsm and texts zipping back and forth between them". I assume that "dsm" is supposed to be "DMs" (i.e. direct messages).
Similarly, chapter 16 refers to "an actual cursor arrow, in actual green, like an ancient film from the eighties". Having a flashing cursor (i.e. a line or a rectangle) makes sense, and you still see something similar on modern computers if you go to a command prompt. Similarly, an arrow makes sense if you're moving a mouse pointer around in a GUI (such as Windows). However, a "cursor arrow" doesn't work in this context.
There are some problems with the premise, maybe as a result of multiple drafts.
In both cases, I think that the early chapters needed to be re-written to fit in with the later chapters, but that step of the editing process was skipped.
On a more positive note, the chapters are generally quite short, which helps to keep the momentum going. In a couple of cases, they're extremely short, which is nicely done for dramatic effect.
There's also some interesting commentary about the internet, which I'm inclined to agree with.
July 14, 2017
In Spandex and the City, Jenny Colgan has written a genius romantic comedy. I've read countless rom-coms and the format is almost always the same. The woman is clever or ditzy or a bit of both. The guy is tall, dark and handsome. They have everyday problems which impact on their relationship. They work it out in the end and have a happy ever after. Am I complaining? Not at all! But Spandex and the City is a rom-com with a huge difference. Imagine going on a date only to find your date actually wears purple spandex with a crappy superhero name emblazoned on his costume. Imagine that he never sleeps at night, or even during the day, and when you first spend the night together, he almost definitely won't be there when you wake up. Imagine how it would feel if someone tries to get in the way of your relationship? Not a disapproving friend but a villain who, shock horror, resents the internet! What if he switched it off? How would you survive?
Meet Ultimate Man. Holly has already met him when he rescued her from a mugging, causing a well-publicised accidental flash of unsightly knickers that Holly will never live down. I loved the way these two met and I enjoyed getting to know the man behind the mask. Ultimate Man is a lonely character, a bit awkward and uncomfortable when he is spending time with Holly, only there is a chemistry between the two of them that keeps them coming back for more.
This book grabbed me from page one with its sparkling take on dating and superheroes and the completely mad mash-up of the two. It was car-crash entertainment dressed up with a purple cape. Fast-paced, fresh and frenetic, there’s a lot to love about the way Jenny Colgan constructs this story. With the entertainment value just as good as the book’s brilliant title, I was always eager to see what was to come next.
One thing I struggled with a bit in Spandex and the City was trying to warm to the heroine. Holly was a bit of a difficult character, hard to please and almost always complaining about something. In a way, I really wanted to like her. She’s quite sarcastic and quick-witted and at times she made me laugh with some of the things she came out with, or some of the things she was thinking. Often this book featured bracketed pieces of humour from Holly and I did find her funny. But then there were many other times where I found her to be a bit irritating…
Something I did particularly enjoy about this book though was the divide between hero and villain, and the blurred lines in between the two. I sided with both Ultimate Man and his enemy Frederick Cecil (yep, Ultimate Man is not the only one with an unfortunate name) at times during the course of this book. I also found the outlook on our fascination with technology and the internet to be scarily realistic but reading this book does prove that there is more to life than the technology that lives within our mobile phones. I’m struggling with the idea that a superhero romance could be thought-provoking… but it sort of was!
As predicted, the story in Spandex and the City is a ridiculous one. This was a good thing. I loved the quirky, farfetchedness about it. Who doesn’t love to read something different every now and again? This book had me laughing out loud and it had me hooked. I just couldn’t help reading chapter after chapter and any other plans I had were soon forgotten as I got wrapped up in this superhero romcom – and that is a line I never thought I’d use! Smart, sassy and just a lot cheesy, Spandex and the City is a whole lot of fun, and highly recommended.
Meet Ultimate Man. Holly has already met him when he rescued her from a mugging, causing a well-publicised accidental flash of unsightly knickers that Holly will never live down. I loved the way these two met and I enjoyed getting to know the man behind the mask. Ultimate Man is a lonely character, a bit awkward and uncomfortable when he is spending time with Holly, only there is a chemistry between the two of them that keeps them coming back for more.
This book grabbed me from page one with its sparkling take on dating and superheroes and the completely mad mash-up of the two. It was car-crash entertainment dressed up with a purple cape. Fast-paced, fresh and frenetic, there’s a lot to love about the way Jenny Colgan constructs this story. With the entertainment value just as good as the book’s brilliant title, I was always eager to see what was to come next.
One thing I struggled with a bit in Spandex and the City was trying to warm to the heroine. Holly was a bit of a difficult character, hard to please and almost always complaining about something. In a way, I really wanted to like her. She’s quite sarcastic and quick-witted and at times she made me laugh with some of the things she came out with, or some of the things she was thinking. Often this book featured bracketed pieces of humour from Holly and I did find her funny. But then there were many other times where I found her to be a bit irritating…
Something I did particularly enjoy about this book though was the divide between hero and villain, and the blurred lines in between the two. I sided with both Ultimate Man and his enemy Frederick Cecil (yep, Ultimate Man is not the only one with an unfortunate name) at times during the course of this book. I also found the outlook on our fascination with technology and the internet to be scarily realistic but reading this book does prove that there is more to life than the technology that lives within our mobile phones. I’m struggling with the idea that a superhero romance could be thought-provoking… but it sort of was!
As predicted, the story in Spandex and the City is a ridiculous one. This was a good thing. I loved the quirky, farfetchedness about it. Who doesn’t love to read something different every now and again? This book had me laughing out loud and it had me hooked. I just couldn’t help reading chapter after chapter and any other plans I had were soon forgotten as I got wrapped up in this superhero romcom – and that is a line I never thought I’d use! Smart, sassy and just a lot cheesy, Spandex and the City is a whole lot of fun, and highly recommended.
May 25, 2017
Reviewed first on Got books, babe?
Fantastically funny, flirty and fabulous, Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan was a witty and sassy story that had me hankering after my very own superhero from the moment that Ultimate Man stepped on the scene. Colgan's clever way with words and even cleverer imagination made this an exciting and wholly refreshing book that really stood apart from my usual choice of reads, and I'm rather surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Novels based on superheroes and villains aren't my usual "thing" but after having sat and thought about it for a while, aren't those what we find in any other genre, just beneath a different name? Putting that little bit of food for thought aside, Spandex and the City was an entertaining and robust book with plenty of KAPOW! & ZAP!
In Jenny T. Colgan's Spandex and the City readers are introduced to Holly Phillips. Holly isn't really on the look-out for romance but after numerous nudges from her friend Gertie while out together at a bar one night, Holly sets eyes on a rather dashing gentleman and decides to give it a whirl. After all, what exactly has she got to lose? Things take a rather out-of-the-blue turn though, when their evening is gate-crashed by villain Frederick Cecil, and Holly has to turn to Centerton's superhero, Ultimate Man, to save her from harm. It seems, though, that these two are destined to be reunited more than once and each time they do, the chemistry sparks like firecrackers. It was totally delicious and I was so intrigued as to how the relationship between these two would progress, or even if it would at all.
What I really loved about this story was how vibrant each of the characters were. Holly was hilarious, and for the leading lady of this novel, I felt that was important. Some of the comments she came out with, and sometimes just simply how she spoke, had me giggling away to myself, and the situations she managed to find herself in were, also, hilarious. Holly's brother, too, was a character who I warmed to immediately. The focus on social media taking over our lives was a fascinating one, and one which I felt was all too real in today's society. It seemed even the villain had some truth to tell which, although he was technically the bad guy, made me like him just that tiny bit. But Ultimate Man was the man I swooned for. Beneath the mask and the purple costume, he was just as vulnerable as the next person, and that spoke to me.
All in all, Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan was a fantastically entertaining novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As I mentioned previously, not the sort of thing I would usually read but in this instance, I'm so glad I chose to take a chance on something new because it was fabulous! With thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this book.
Fantastically funny, flirty and fabulous, Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan was a witty and sassy story that had me hankering after my very own superhero from the moment that Ultimate Man stepped on the scene. Colgan's clever way with words and even cleverer imagination made this an exciting and wholly refreshing book that really stood apart from my usual choice of reads, and I'm rather surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Novels based on superheroes and villains aren't my usual "thing" but after having sat and thought about it for a while, aren't those what we find in any other genre, just beneath a different name? Putting that little bit of food for thought aside, Spandex and the City was an entertaining and robust book with plenty of KAPOW! & ZAP!
In Jenny T. Colgan's Spandex and the City readers are introduced to Holly Phillips. Holly isn't really on the look-out for romance but after numerous nudges from her friend Gertie while out together at a bar one night, Holly sets eyes on a rather dashing gentleman and decides to give it a whirl. After all, what exactly has she got to lose? Things take a rather out-of-the-blue turn though, when their evening is gate-crashed by villain Frederick Cecil, and Holly has to turn to Centerton's superhero, Ultimate Man, to save her from harm. It seems, though, that these two are destined to be reunited more than once and each time they do, the chemistry sparks like firecrackers. It was totally delicious and I was so intrigued as to how the relationship between these two would progress, or even if it would at all.
What I really loved about this story was how vibrant each of the characters were. Holly was hilarious, and for the leading lady of this novel, I felt that was important. Some of the comments she came out with, and sometimes just simply how she spoke, had me giggling away to myself, and the situations she managed to find herself in were, also, hilarious. Holly's brother, too, was a character who I warmed to immediately. The focus on social media taking over our lives was a fascinating one, and one which I felt was all too real in today's society. It seemed even the villain had some truth to tell which, although he was technically the bad guy, made me like him just that tiny bit. But Ultimate Man was the man I swooned for. Beneath the mask and the purple costume, he was just as vulnerable as the next person, and that spoke to me.
All in all, Spandex and the City by Jenny T. Colgan was a fantastically entertaining novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As I mentioned previously, not the sort of thing I would usually read but in this instance, I'm so glad I chose to take a chance on something new because it was fabulous! With thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this book.
May 4, 2017
This is what the story of Lois and Superman would be if narrated by Lois Lane. This is the bit where I say I don't like or read chick-lit and then give it lots of stars. I found it fun,funny, quick to read and something where I didn't have to think too hard after a few too many depressed detective stories.
Holly is your typical superhero gal that keeps getting kidnapped although she does have a bit more sass that most of them. The hero - Ultimate Man - keeps having to rescue her. I enjoyed the gentle loving mocking of the hero in spandex whilst at the same time trying to get inside the said lycra outfit. And purple spandex...urgh rightly deserved mocking.
A credit to the writing I actually fell a little bit in love with the bad guy. I mean who wouldn't want to live on their own island and do nothing but read??? Frederick Cecil's ideas about the dangers of the internet echoed a lot of my own thoughts. As a small business owner who relies on social media I do wonder how I would have attempted to build up a business without it even just 20 years ago while at the same time acknowledging how much it turns us into zombies that just don't talk to each other anymore. (And I'm so guilty of spending hours doing nothing on twitter). I'm slightly in danger of being the bad guys acolyte!
The other potential love interest is co-worker Nelson, ex-farm boy. I'm so disappointed (in a good way not in a bad book way) that he didn't turn out to be Superman! I can't say anymore on that without spoilers but seriously (sod copywrite) he would've been a cool Superman.
And as a mum to an autistic son I was so happy to see a spectrum character. Thank you for that.
My only real bug bear was the superhero himself. I just found him a bit bland. Maybe I bought in too much to Frederick Cecil to really like him but he didn't seem very interesting. Maybe he needs more cool toys?
Anyway this is a great book. Put down the kindle, phone apps, buy a paper copy and then join a book club and go talk to some people about it :)
Free ARC from netgalley - thank you
Holly is your typical superhero gal that keeps getting kidnapped although she does have a bit more sass that most of them. The hero - Ultimate Man - keeps having to rescue her. I enjoyed the gentle loving mocking of the hero in spandex whilst at the same time trying to get inside the said lycra outfit. And purple spandex...urgh rightly deserved mocking.
A credit to the writing I actually fell a little bit in love with the bad guy. I mean who wouldn't want to live on their own island and do nothing but read??? Frederick Cecil's ideas about the dangers of the internet echoed a lot of my own thoughts. As a small business owner who relies on social media I do wonder how I would have attempted to build up a business without it even just 20 years ago while at the same time acknowledging how much it turns us into zombies that just don't talk to each other anymore. (And I'm so guilty of spending hours doing nothing on twitter). I'm slightly in danger of being the bad guys acolyte!
The other potential love interest is co-worker Nelson, ex-farm boy. I'm so disappointed (in a good way not in a bad book way) that he didn't turn out to be Superman! I can't say anymore on that without spoilers but seriously (sod copywrite) he would've been a cool Superman.
And as a mum to an autistic son I was so happy to see a spectrum character. Thank you for that.
My only real bug bear was the superhero himself. I just found him a bit bland. Maybe I bought in too much to Frederick Cecil to really like him but he didn't seem very interesting. Maybe he needs more cool toys?
Anyway this is a great book. Put down the kindle, phone apps, buy a paper copy and then join a book club and go talk to some people about it :)
Free ARC from netgalley - thank you
July 13, 2017
He almost certainly had no idea that the fact that he was rich was as strange to me as the fact that he could lift up a truck with one hand. [loc. 1255]
Holly lives in Centerton, an American city, though she grew up in Britain. Centerton has its very own vigilante hero, Ultimate Man, who Holly encounters when she gets caught up in a meticulously-planned robbery conducted by Frederick Cecil and his henchmen. Holly, with typical lack of forethought, stands up to Cecil and ends up rescued by Ultimate Man. As if that weren't bad enough -- Holly is not a fan of Ultimate Man -- she encounters him, and Frederick Cecil, again, when Cecil targets a party at an art gallery.
But this time Holly discovers Ultimate Man's secret identity ...
Spandex and the City is a witty love-triangle romance -- Holly finds herself attracted to both hero and villain -- with rather more in the way of underlying philosophy than that capsule categorisation might suggest. None of the characters are especially happy. Holly has problems finding a suitable date, and is alienated from her family: she thinks they don't care about her. Ultimate Man also has problems dating (see 'Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex' for one of the reasons) and is isolated by his wealth and his powers. Frederick Cecil's mission is wholly philanthropic and well-argued (I do feel he has a point) but he's the product of an unpleasant childhood and hinted-at abuse.
Nevertheless, Spandex and the City is a witty and entertaining read. It's also a perceptive exploration of the pervasiveness of social media and the internet, typified by Holly's dependency on her smartphone and the social crises caused by a telecomms failure.
Also features a namedrop for Spiderman -- "We meet at, you know, trade conferences and so on". Colgan knows her genre: Spandex and the City is in part a critique of the superhero genre, but an affectionate and well-informed one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2017
And now for something completely different – well, not completely, exactly, but there’s certainly some extraordinary qualities to Spandex And The City.
When I opened the email asking if I’d like to read this book I was hesitant because it’s not totally my sort of thing. I then saw it was written by Jenny Colgan, under the pen name Jenny T Colgan – an author I have enjoyed on more than one occasion – so I thought “why not?”.
I’m so pleased I did (and also thinking I should break out of my comfort zone more often).
So, it turns out that a relationship with a superhero – especially one dressed in purple and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t have the greatest “good guy” name, is actually even more complicated than the “regular kind” – who knew?
Not that Ultimate Man is really into dating, despite (or perhaps because of) the truly explosive chemistry between him and Holly. It seems the life of a superhero is a lonely one, something else he has in common with Holly, on occasions, even in a city crammed full of people.
But these two can’t seem to keep apart, especially when Holly catches the attention of the “bad guy” (if you thought Ultimate Man was an unlikely name, wait until you meet him).
It certainly makes for an entertaining, funny and, at times, emotional read. It is also rather thought provoking but in a gentle way (no lectures here).
Jenny, who under her pen name has written the Doctor Who tie-in novel Dark Horizons and several Doctor Who short stories, takes us on a crazy ride where the lines between good and bad, fact and fiction, are certainly blurred.
It has all the elements I love in the books I generally read – romance, comedy, drama and a happy ending – but it turns out adding a touch of science fiction is a turn-on not a turn-off.
I’m definitely going to add her first book with this added extra, Resistance Is Futile, to my TBR pile.
With thanks to the Little, Brown Book Group (via Netgalley) for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
When I opened the email asking if I’d like to read this book I was hesitant because it’s not totally my sort of thing. I then saw it was written by Jenny Colgan, under the pen name Jenny T Colgan – an author I have enjoyed on more than one occasion – so I thought “why not?”.
I’m so pleased I did (and also thinking I should break out of my comfort zone more often).
So, it turns out that a relationship with a superhero – especially one dressed in purple and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t have the greatest “good guy” name, is actually even more complicated than the “regular kind” – who knew?
Not that Ultimate Man is really into dating, despite (or perhaps because of) the truly explosive chemistry between him and Holly. It seems the life of a superhero is a lonely one, something else he has in common with Holly, on occasions, even in a city crammed full of people.
But these two can’t seem to keep apart, especially when Holly catches the attention of the “bad guy” (if you thought Ultimate Man was an unlikely name, wait until you meet him).
It certainly makes for an entertaining, funny and, at times, emotional read. It is also rather thought provoking but in a gentle way (no lectures here).
Jenny, who under her pen name has written the Doctor Who tie-in novel Dark Horizons and several Doctor Who short stories, takes us on a crazy ride where the lines between good and bad, fact and fiction, are certainly blurred.
It has all the elements I love in the books I generally read – romance, comedy, drama and a happy ending – but it turns out adding a touch of science fiction is a turn-on not a turn-off.
I’m definitely going to add her first book with this added extra, Resistance Is Futile, to my TBR pile.
With thanks to the Little, Brown Book Group (via Netgalley) for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
May 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Don't you hate it when you're of two minds on a book? On the one hand it was a great light read with a quirky fun look at the other side of superhero story. The story of the ordinary person in a city where there is a super hero and the city is filled with criminals. It was also a romance and I do feel like it was the romance which let this book down.
I loved the humour. It read as having a wry British humour and it was great. Our MC is so not interested in her BFF trying to push her into a romance and have her relay her sage knowledge now she's in a committed relationship. Instead, she'd rather be at home in her pyjamas eating food to make you after and watching bad reality TV (who can't relate to that feeling?). So you can imagine her annoyance when she is forced to approach a hot guy to avoid grief and it ends up with her being tossed over the bar by him and an armed robbery by 'the bad guy' which ends with her having a photo of her arse in the paper... especially as she was wearing her knickers which were past their best. She then proceeds to be the focus of the bad guy and in a strange sort of not relationship with her cities favourite super hero.
So many things about this book shouldn't have worked because it was so ridiculous and I think that's why I enjoyed it. It was very much a humourous take on the super hero genre which has become the focus of so many movies and TV shows of late. The part which I didn't enjoy was he romance. It just felt a little forced. I think I would have enjoyed a friendship or something more because our MCs reactions to many of the relationship things was OTT and way too dramatic. I mean, when the guy is saving a city and a genuinely good guy he deserves some slack. And fine, his priorities and attitude needed a little work but it definitely could have been done better.
Don't you hate it when you're of two minds on a book? On the one hand it was a great light read with a quirky fun look at the other side of superhero story. The story of the ordinary person in a city where there is a super hero and the city is filled with criminals. It was also a romance and I do feel like it was the romance which let this book down.
I loved the humour. It read as having a wry British humour and it was great. Our MC is so not interested in her BFF trying to push her into a romance and have her relay her sage knowledge now she's in a committed relationship. Instead, she'd rather be at home in her pyjamas eating food to make you after and watching bad reality TV (who can't relate to that feeling?). So you can imagine her annoyance when she is forced to approach a hot guy to avoid grief and it ends up with her being tossed over the bar by him and an armed robbery by 'the bad guy' which ends with her having a photo of her arse in the paper... especially as she was wearing her knickers which were past their best. She then proceeds to be the focus of the bad guy and in a strange sort of not relationship with her cities favourite super hero.
So many things about this book shouldn't have worked because it was so ridiculous and I think that's why I enjoyed it. It was very much a humourous take on the super hero genre which has become the focus of so many movies and TV shows of late. The part which I didn't enjoy was he romance. It just felt a little forced. I think I would have enjoyed a friendship or something more because our MCs reactions to many of the relationship things was OTT and way too dramatic. I mean, when the guy is saving a city and a genuinely good guy he deserves some slack. And fine, his priorities and attitude needed a little work but it definitely could have been done better.
May 17, 2017
I was first drawn to this novel by the author, I love all Jenny Colgan’s stories but I haven’t read any of her sci-fi romances however, the cover it’s purple so that’s a bonus in my eyes and the synopsis drew me in further.
During a night out with her friend Holly get’s caught up in a traumatic event but is rescued in a rather unladylike way by Ultimate Man. Holly works at the Mayor’s Office in the city in the publicity department and her night out is soon all over the media in full technicolour. Holly starts to build up a rapport with the masked man and her feelings become very confused. Holly inadvertently becomes a target and her life becomes in peril again, the only person who can help is Ultimate Man. Can Ultimate Man reach her in time?
This is unlike any other story I’ve read but I was drawn in by the outstanding wit and humour and the warmth from the characters that Jenny T. Colgan had radiated across the pages. Also, I was starting to have a crush on a certain man in purple! The story was like an updated version of Superman and you get to see all sides of the characters; the damsel in distress (aka Holly), the villain (aka Frederick Cecil) and the hero (aka Ultimate Man). There’s a side to the story that is quite thought-provoking and I could appreciate why certain actions were taken. My heart at one point was very much divided between good and evil in this story’s sense and I wanted to bang both their heads together to knock some sense into both our leading men. I loved the action and the crazy, cool gadgets but amongst all this the author had cleverly interspersed these times with some very tender poignant moments leaving me quite emotional.
A fabulous story that was cool, geeky, fun and a little bit sexy. 5/5*
May 17, 2017
Well, this was something a little different and so far removed from my usual gritty crime dramas, it was a delight to read something that doesn't take itself too seriously. This was a light romp through the world of a vigilante superhero and his sort of girlfriend Holly.
They meet when Ultimate man saves her from the bad guys, slinging her over his shoulder, she becomes famous for more than this as the photo blasted all over the papers depicts her flashing her knickers. After a second encounter, she then turns the tables and find him in a compromising position - mid change! With his identity blown, they start dating, well, sort of, as dating a superhero turns out to be a bit more trouble than it's worth. What follows next is a delightful romp, funny and quirky and, for me anyway, a bit of fresh air.
Characterisation was, on the whole, good. I loved Holly and the bad guy but, despite trying real hard, I just couldn't connect with Ultimate man, even in his "mild mannered janitor" phase. I found him to be bit wooden to be honest. I did find Cecil more interesting and so I guess I sided a bit with him at times. I also liked the ethos he was trying to instil in people with his antics. A bit of food for thought there methinks!
The story was, at times, a wee bit silly, although as already mentioned, contained a message. That said, it was well suited to the genre. As I have said many times, I do like my lighter reads to have a bit of grit, and this book ticked that box for me too.
So, all in all, a nice little read that made a chance from the norm for me. A palate cleanser if you like, one that ticked most of the boxes I need, leaving me refreshed and ready to go back to the darker side.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
They meet when Ultimate man saves her from the bad guys, slinging her over his shoulder, she becomes famous for more than this as the photo blasted all over the papers depicts her flashing her knickers. After a second encounter, she then turns the tables and find him in a compromising position - mid change! With his identity blown, they start dating, well, sort of, as dating a superhero turns out to be a bit more trouble than it's worth. What follows next is a delightful romp, funny and quirky and, for me anyway, a bit of fresh air.
Characterisation was, on the whole, good. I loved Holly and the bad guy but, despite trying real hard, I just couldn't connect with Ultimate man, even in his "mild mannered janitor" phase. I found him to be bit wooden to be honest. I did find Cecil more interesting and so I guess I sided a bit with him at times. I also liked the ethos he was trying to instil in people with his antics. A bit of food for thought there methinks!
The story was, at times, a wee bit silly, although as already mentioned, contained a message. That said, it was well suited to the genre. As I have said many times, I do like my lighter reads to have a bit of grit, and this book ticked that box for me too.
So, all in all, a nice little read that made a chance from the norm for me. A palate cleanser if you like, one that ticked most of the boxes I need, leaving me refreshed and ready to go back to the darker side.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 13, 2017
When I was offered a copy of Spandex and the City to review, I accepted knowing that it didn't look like my usual sort of book. One of the great things about blogging is the chance to read a great variety of books and step outside your comfort zone. So it proved with this book which turned out to be great fun. I soon learnt to take it with a giant pinch of salt!
A quirky, funny read, it features Holly Phillips who meets a superhero with the unusual name of Ultimate Man. Those who are au fait with the superhero genre will recognise all sort of references which went over my head, I am sure, but there was still enough to keep me amused. In addition, there is the inevitable boy meets girl situation.
Probably the most interesting character , in my opinion, has to be the so-called villain, Frederick Cecil, who hatches a plan to turn off the internet. Knowing how dependent society seems to have become on the internet, I can appreciate the anguish at the loss of it. You only have to sit on a train and watch everyone glued to their smartphones to grasp how used everyone is to being in contact with everybody else, all the time. It does add another level to the story, prompting you to consider the power of technology in our daily lives. Fast paced, with some far-fetched situations and laced with humour, Spandex and the City proved to be a fun read.
In short: superheroes, romance, a dash of humour and a gentle dig at 21st century popular culture.
Thanks to Little, Brown for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
A quirky, funny read, it features Holly Phillips who meets a superhero with the unusual name of Ultimate Man. Those who are au fait with the superhero genre will recognise all sort of references which went over my head, I am sure, but there was still enough to keep me amused. In addition, there is the inevitable boy meets girl situation.
Probably the most interesting character , in my opinion, has to be the so-called villain, Frederick Cecil, who hatches a plan to turn off the internet. Knowing how dependent society seems to have become on the internet, I can appreciate the anguish at the loss of it. You only have to sit on a train and watch everyone glued to their smartphones to grasp how used everyone is to being in contact with everybody else, all the time. It does add another level to the story, prompting you to consider the power of technology in our daily lives. Fast paced, with some far-fetched situations and laced with humour, Spandex and the City proved to be a fun read.
In short: superheroes, romance, a dash of humour and a gentle dig at 21st century popular culture.
Thanks to Little, Brown for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
June 17, 2022
I recently read (Literally just returned it to the library!) Spandex and the city by Jenny Colgan and I wasn't as impressed; The book was quite basic and repetitive to me - A single white brown haired/eyed lady who tousles her curls (I rolled my eyes at that bit.) to me it reads like she's a supporting actor in friends. I wish that authors would move away for such a Harry Styles 2010's fanfiction style and change it up a little! The world is more diverse! but anyway, I did enjoy the humor a little bit but again, it read like a sitcom so I just inserted my own laughing track anytime the slightly slapstick comedy was written. I would recommend this to people who are similar to the main character as I think they would enjoy and understand the main character more than I did.
I think for people who like basic reads, its a nice book; simple 'Girl meets boy in a purple skintight suit, girl falls for boy ect', I didn't get far enough into the book before putting it down as the storyline was obvious and predictable, A very good 'Anxiety read' (Where the ending is obvious it calms you down as you know what's coming ie easily re-readable in times of stress) but not for me, personally: I have only recently gotten back into books (Yay, summer break from those big dusty law books!) and I want something more eye-catching, thrilling and enough for me to spend hours-a-day wasting away in my box room with a good book.
I think for people who like basic reads, its a nice book; simple 'Girl meets boy in a purple skintight suit, girl falls for boy ect', I didn't get far enough into the book before putting it down as the storyline was obvious and predictable, A very good 'Anxiety read' (Where the ending is obvious it calms you down as you know what's coming ie easily re-readable in times of stress) but not for me, personally: I have only recently gotten back into books (Yay, summer break from those big dusty law books!) and I want something more eye-catching, thrilling and enough for me to spend hours-a-day wasting away in my box room with a good book.
June 19, 2017
Chick Lit on a new kind of theme - dating a superhero!
I'm really not a big fan of romantic fiction, it all sounds pretty similar. But a novel about a woman who may be dating a superhero? Refreshingly different. Gave it a whirl.
Enjoyable fluff really, no deep meaning but a good fun read. Holly accidentally gets caught up in a heist, rescued by her city's superhero (Ultimate Man - yes, a bit of a rubbish name) and they meet again when she unwittingly discovers a secret about him - she starts to see the 'man behind the mask'. Though this also means a bad guy may make her a target... surprise, surprise.
Self-referential, tongue-in-cheek, dry humour about the superhero genre, it's wryly smart and a great idea. Holly is enough of an Everywoman to be sympathetic, she's not a leggy blonde or simpering 'oh save me!' helpless victim. We have a rather unusual bad guy as well (again with a terrible name) and though the story itself isn't wholly new, enough elements are different to keep it interesting and fresh.
Would want to hear more about Holly's romantic story with Ultimate Man and how it develops in later books, there's room for it.
Unexpectedly, quite an explicit sex scene is present, some swearing, which some readers may not be anticipating.
I'd be happy to watch this at the cinema, it would make a very funny summer movie.
I'm really not a big fan of romantic fiction, it all sounds pretty similar. But a novel about a woman who may be dating a superhero? Refreshingly different. Gave it a whirl.
Enjoyable fluff really, no deep meaning but a good fun read. Holly accidentally gets caught up in a heist, rescued by her city's superhero (Ultimate Man - yes, a bit of a rubbish name) and they meet again when she unwittingly discovers a secret about him - she starts to see the 'man behind the mask'. Though this also means a bad guy may make her a target... surprise, surprise.
Self-referential, tongue-in-cheek, dry humour about the superhero genre, it's wryly smart and a great idea. Holly is enough of an Everywoman to be sympathetic, she's not a leggy blonde or simpering 'oh save me!' helpless victim. We have a rather unusual bad guy as well (again with a terrible name) and though the story itself isn't wholly new, enough elements are different to keep it interesting and fresh.
Would want to hear more about Holly's romantic story with Ultimate Man and how it develops in later books, there's room for it.
Unexpectedly, quite an explicit sex scene is present, some swearing, which some readers may not be anticipating.
I'd be happy to watch this at the cinema, it would make a very funny summer movie.
May 26, 2017
The publicist Holly Phillips doesn't have a personal life, and the day she decides to take the chance is being saved by Ultimate Man, the saviour from the city. Is this a sign that they have a chance as a couple or dating a superhero is more difficult than a human?
I have to say I loved Spandex And The City, we are so used to see the superhero falling in love with the human and that they are happy forever that is refreshing reading that they can argue, have troubles and disappointments too! Because neither Ultimate Man or Holly will be "normal", as obvious Ultimate Man is a saviour, but he has feelings and dreams as all human being... And don't expect Holly to be rescued, she is ready to fight for the city and her friends even if she has to risk her life!
We will meet a baddie too, I will not reveal his true identity, I don't want to make spoilers! I am not sure his master plan is as bad or as good as he wants us to believe... but he won a little piece of my heart too!
This is a delicious read, with superheroes, villains and an intelligent woman that will try to decide if knowing the truth about the superheroes world would be worth the sacrifice! Ready for an action, funny and romance book?
One little question... what do you prefer to save or be saved?
I have to say I loved Spandex And The City, we are so used to see the superhero falling in love with the human and that they are happy forever that is refreshing reading that they can argue, have troubles and disappointments too! Because neither Ultimate Man or Holly will be "normal", as obvious Ultimate Man is a saviour, but he has feelings and dreams as all human being... And don't expect Holly to be rescued, she is ready to fight for the city and her friends even if she has to risk her life!
We will meet a baddie too, I will not reveal his true identity, I don't want to make spoilers! I am not sure his master plan is as bad or as good as he wants us to believe... but he won a little piece of my heart too!
This is a delicious read, with superheroes, villains and an intelligent woman that will try to decide if knowing the truth about the superheroes world would be worth the sacrifice! Ready for an action, funny and romance book?
One little question... what do you prefer to save or be saved?
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