The Supervillain and Me

by Danielle Banas

Never trust a guy in spandex.

In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees—they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.

That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.

After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Superheroes, Contemporary, Science Fiction, Mystery

378 pages, Hardcover

First published July 10, 2018

About the author

Danielle Banas is the author of THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME and THE GOOD FOR NOTHINGS. She earned a degree in communication from Robert Morris University, where she spent slightly too much time daydreaming about new characters instead of paying attention in class. When she isn't writing, Danielle can be found loudly singing show tunes, spouting off Disney World trivia, and snuggling with her puppy. She lives in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHERE ARE THE SUPERHEROES?!!!?!?!?!!

WHERE ARE THEY.

(If you didn’t read that in Michael Scott’s where-are-the-turtles voice from The Office, please go back and try again.)

This was, like, shockingly un-superhero-y. When I read a book called The Supervillain and Me, I am expecting hijinks. I am expecting powers. I am expecting flight and invisibility and super-strength and lots of fight scenes in which people, like, getting punched through windows and stuff. Also, because of the villain part, I am expecting nefarious plotting and criminal mastermind-dom.

Plus some fun costumes and masks and stuff, for flair.

What I am not expecting: high school. High school theater. High school cafeterias. High school friendships and high school crushes and high school romances and high school classes and OH MY GOD SO MUCH HIGH SCHOOL.

It’d figure that the one contemporary that actually puts an appropriate amount of education into the life of a teenager is actually not even really a contemporary at all.

Pretty much this reads as super contemporary-y, even though it should be pretty fantasy-y because, you know, superheroes.

Do not expect villainy. Do not expect superherodom. Do not expect fun stuff or action or anything like that. If you expect “Disney Channel movie,” you’ll have more of a good time.

Bottom line: This was not a bad book. It was an easy read and sometimes-almost-kinda fun. BUT IT WAS NOT SUPERHERO-Y.

(thanks to macmillan/swoon reads for the ARC <3)

[♛ may · Rating 5 out of 5]

initial thoughts: ?!!!!!????!!!!??!!!?????!!!

pardon me but why the hell is everyone sleeping on this book. ive been desperately needing a FUN, entertaining, heartfelt sUPERHERO book LIKE THIS SINCE FOREVER FRICK I LOVE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE SO MUCH

okay but seriously, y'all this book was EVERYTHING i wanted Renegades to be, im just really happy right now



Reasons this book is Fantastic
- Iron Phantom
- THE DIALOGUE IS GENUINELY GREAT and the banter between the character is marvelous and the plot is so engaging GAHHHHH
- the relationship between connor and abby is so adorable and relatable like i LOVE ME SOME BIG BRO AND LIL SIS REPRESENTATION IN YA IT WARMS MY HEART
- Iron Phantom, y'all im telling you, this ones a babe
- the romance was DONE REALLY WELL, in my professional opinion, i literally was shipping them from their first interaction and i just turned into an actual middle schooler, its kinda embarrassing how quickly it happened tbh
- the main character's best friend, sarah, is actually me. shes a crazy fangirl obsessed with the supers and ships every breathing thing like giRL GETS ME
- I LOVED THE LITTLE SUB-PLOT-GUESSING-GAME THAT WAS GOING ON BETWEEN THE BOYS OH MY LORD I WAS ROOTING FOR ONE OF THEM AND I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I WAS RIGHT
- IRON. PHANTOM. IS. MY. BABY.
- also its not just funny and entertaining, there are some really heartfelt scenes that got me choking back tears bc thats what i get for reading in public places 😭😭😭
- the characters are all so likeable like honestly it was one of the aspects of the book that just kept me engaged from the start

guys just read it, unless you dont like it then stay far far away from it okay i dont wanna see any negativity here. be good, kids

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like YA just as much as anyone else, even at my age, and I usually enjoy reading the genre. It reminds me of when I was a teen myself and would devour any YA book I could get my hands on, no matter how sappy or unrealistic it is.

Unfortunately, I couldn't immerse myself into this book. It felt so, well--basic. "The Supervillain and Me" is just another predictable high-school melodrama, albeit with super-powered teenagers in the mix. The writing is not bad, but not good either.

With that being said, I did enjoy some parts. I think this could make for a good Disney TV movie, and I would have lapped this up when I was a tween. Maybe I'm just jaded because I am middle-aged now...

[winnie ₊ ⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

three stars ∗ it’s been a long time since i’ve read a book and thoroughly enjoyed it, much less read it in a day. going into this book, i knew i was going to love it, but i just didn’t know how much. undoubtedly, this book perfectly encompasses the life i wish i had when i was like 15 years old. like it’s scary how this book perfectly portrays the scenarios i came up with in my head years ago. i absolutely loved every single aspect of this novel; the writing, the characters, the jokes, the plot, everything. rylan was so utterly cute that he’s now apart of my book-boyfriend list. this was such a light, heartfelt, fun book, and i’m so glad i picked it up!!

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Supervillain and Me was playful, fun and crazy addicting. This book was so easy to devour and I loved how the mystery surrounding the supervillain had me flipping through the pages even faster. The action moments were perfectly sprinkled here and there and I adored how character driven this book was. I always find myself falling for those the hardest and that's exactly what I did with The Supervillain and Me.

Regardless of who he was with or without his mask, I knew, no matter what my dad or brother said, I wanted to spend more time with him.

The city that Abby lived in was crawling with crime. The police and the superheroes were stretched beyond the limits. And with her father being the mayor and her brother being one of the superheroes, it almost felt like Abby was lost in the shuffle sometimes. Even though her family definitely loved her. So when Abby found herself being mugged she thought her brother, Connor aka Red Comet, would be the one to rescue her. Instead it was a new super. And the very next day the new super was caught on video burning city hall and then disappearing. The city dubbed him as a Supervillain and called him Iron Phantom. But he saved Abby so he can't be all bad, right? Or can he?

“Abigail,” he whispered, his voice so low it nearly got lost amid the hum of the AC unit. “I’m not the bad guy. I’m not a villain. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already.”

After Iron Phantom rescued Abby, he started randomly showing up in her life. Their times around each other had me cracking up. But there was a secret going on in the city, and he was hoping that Abby could help him figure out what was going on. And while I hoped Abby would be able to help him out, I was definitely focused on their interactions. Every time they were together their banter was smile inducing and you could feel the sparks flying. Plus I loved that even the littlest thing that Iron Phantom did could be seductive. I swooned so hard and found myself sighing out loud. I absolutely loved that cocky, brave, selfless, thoughtful, playful Supervillain!

He saw me in a way I hadn’t realized I wanted to be seen until I met him. Not a hero, not someone with powers, but just a girl. Just Abigail.

The more Abby found herself interacting with Iron Phantom, the deeper she got pulled into a dark mystery that was twisted into her city. I was so nervous waiting to see what was going to happen. But all the while, her normal life chugged on. She was still working hard in theater, had her best friend Sarah in her life and she was trying to spend time with her superhero brother and father who both worked constantly. My heart hurt for Abby at times and I didn't expect for her to get into all of the perilous situations she found herself in. But I absolutely loved her. Abby's sarcastic voice and the fact that she wasn't impressed with the supers had me liking her right from the start. I even loved how she wasn't exactly 100% trusting with Iron Phantom in the beginning. She definitely thought for herself and I found myself respecting her for doing what was right and not what others would have wanted her to do.

“I guess I thought if anyone could figure it out, it would be you.” He headed for my window. “I need to go.”

As we got pulled further into the story, I found myself obsessed with the mystery surrounding Iron Phantom. While I guessed who Iron Phantom was right from the start, I found myself switching my mind a few times. I never should have second guess myself! And when I reached that last page I absolutely loved how everything was wrapped up. It is definitely a standalone but here's the thing, there's still so much going on in their world that future books would definitely be feasible. I absolutely adored the Supervillain and Me, so whether we stay with Abby and her supervillain or switch to another character in this world I'd be a very happy girl! *fingers crossed*

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Swoon Reads. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book sounded amazing but I didn't expect a lot from it. I definitely didn't expect to love it as much as I did. This book was so much fun to read and I loved every second it of. I couldn't put this book down and I never wanted it to end.
I loved the concept of this book. I love superheros and I thought the idea of superheros being a common thing was awesome.
I loved the characters so much and I loved the dialogue between the characters even more. Abby's banter with Iron Phantom was so cute and had me laughing out loud at 2am. I loved Abby's relationship with her brother as well. I was really pleasantly surprised by the family themes in this book and I really appreciated the value that Abby had for her relationship with her brother. I also loved how Abby continued to put effort into her friendship with Sarah. I've read a lot of YA books where the main character drops their friends when something exciting happens or when they meet a boy. But Abby and Sarah stuck it out the entire book and I loved that.

Overall, I loved this book so much and it has quickly become one of my favorites. I definitely recommend Men in Tights. It's well worth the read.

[Aila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summed up in three words: Generic Superhero Book.

Don’t get me wrong, The Supervillain and Me was fun, it really was. But it was also flighty and frivolous and flat and… you get the point. You know that one movie, Sky High? It had a bunch of no-name actors, from what I remember, and it was about a white boy attending a school full of superheroes. I really liked it when I was little. This book reminds me of that movie. It’s very light-hearted and cute, leaving nothing but a sweet aftertaste in the end. The reason why it won’t get higher than a 2.5 star from me is because it’s so generic. The world-building is incredibly shallow, the characters don’t exactly stand out, and I predicted the plot from the second chapter. It doesn’t help that the book is also way too long. I swear, 100 out of these almost 400 pages was unnecessary high school angst and the main character being oblivious to the things around her. I really do think this works for a younger audience. I would have enjoyed it more about 5 years ago. But now? Eh, I think superheroes can do better. Especially with more unique ones like Renegades by Marissa Meyer and Vicious by V.E. Schwab out in the world.

This book was basically Sky High x High School Musical. The generic main character Abby has a brother for a superhero, while she’s balancing a potential love interest who’s also a superhero but getting framed as a supervillain. Oh, also, the title kind of led me to think of the characters having a moral dilemma about what constitutes right/wrong but the plot ultimately follows the same generic pathway of clear-cut distinctions between the heroes and villains. Nothing too exciting to see here.

“I didn’t need the reporter to spell it out for me. The man who saved me last night was no hero.
He was a villain.”

Sure Jan, keep telling yourself that.

Anyway, the plot is simple and easy to follow, the characters didn’t really stand out (except for that one bisexual character that got weirdly, ~15 pages of page time!). I felt like I was watching a kid’s TV show. And me, being the curious person I am, ended up reading the ending of the third book that this author has on WattPad (LOL) and suffice it to say, I’m for sure not sticking with this series.

Also, background note: superpowers appeared out of nowhere and NO ONE knows why. There are no scientists trying to figure it out. There is no explanation. Maybe radiation? I'm laughing because radiation => superpowers is a plotline that was done YEARS AGO. (Also debunked years ago, but who am I to say anything in the world of fiction.) Sorry, but... OUT OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.

There’s not much more to talk about this book, despite it being almost 400 pages. I was pretty bored while reading this, even though it was supposed to be a quick read, and I really found myself struggling to pick it up. Final verdict? Save your time. This is fun if you’re looking for something very generic, buttt I’d say start with other YA superhero books first, because then you’d actually be rooting for characters you actually cared about.

Thank you Macmillan for the review copy!

[✧ k a t i e ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He saw me in a way I hadn’t realized I wanted to be seen until I met him. Not a hero, not someone with powers, but just a girl. Just Abigail."

Eh. This was okay. It's honestly what I was expecting: a cheesy superhero novel that was focused on the romance. But it was super generic.

The characters were okay. There really wasn't anything exciting or different about them, they were just there. They were stereotypical characters. Abby, the smart girl who's into theater but not sports. Connor, the jock (or I guess superhero in this case) who is not booksmart. Fish Boy (I don't know if revealing his name is a spoiler so I'm not going to say it), the side character who has funny one liners. Sarah, the fangirl best friend who squeals. at. everything. And Iron Phantom, the "supervillian" who is sarcastic and falls in love with the superhero's sister. This book was just very cliche characters that didn't really stand out to me.

Abby and Iron Phantom's romance was cute and fluffy. I enjoyed, it was my favorite thing from the book. But it felt like this book was too focused on Abby and Iron Phantom. There wasn't alot of action scenes. You don't get a real feel for the superheros in the world, you just hear about them.

Using the term supervillian was honestly misleading because Iron Phantom isn't one. Even in the description he's called a vigilante so I don't know why supervillain is in the title. Iron Phantom should've been a little more villiany or the title shouldn't have villian in it. Maybe I'm just being very nitpicky.

Also, do not get me start on the names of the supers in this book. You have Red Comet, Iron Phantom (which I don't hate), and Fish Boy. Fish Boy . I mean, c'mon. Really? Even Aquaman doesn't have a name that cringy.

The one thing that bothered me alot and caused me not to give this book higher than 3 -stars was Abby, Iron Phantom, and Connor's interaction at one point in the book. When Connor finds out who Iron Phantom is he gets really possessive of Abby. And so does Iron Phantom. They both fight over her, saying they know what's best for her, pulling her arms and acting like she can't speak or make decisions for herself. It just really didn't settle right for me.

Overall, this is a generic superhero story with stereotypical characters, a cliche plot, but a fluffy romance with some funny lines. It's a quick, lighthearted read that isn't a terrible.

[Lia Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

es una historia sencilla que me lleno el alma. Como amante de los superhéroes desde que tengo memoria, cuando algo hace mención a estos es fija que me voy a leer el libro y este libro no iba a hacer la excepción. El libro habla sobre una sociedad donde hay mucha delincuencia y estos superhéroes tratan de pararla, eso es lo típico en todos estos libros pero lo divertido es que a uno de nuestros principales lo creen un supervillano (suele pasar cuando quemas cosas y te vestís de negro) en fin el se ve en un medio romance medio investigación con Abby. Y QUE QUIEREN QUE LES DIGA? AMO LAS HISTORIAS DE AMOR Y MAS SI HAY SUPERHEROES EN ELLA.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an awesome cover and title.

Here are some of my thoughts:
• For a superhero/villain book, I just felt so… underwhelmed by the plot. I know this is YA, but it definitely focuses a bit too much on Abby and her high school life and romance for my taste. I mean I am normally OK with those things, but if this is a superhero/villain book, I wanted entertainment, action, plot twist, saving, and lessons. There are a bit of those in there, but I find it bogged down by Abby’s romance with a boy who everyone calls a supervillain but he isn’t really a supervillain, and besides having powers, he’s actually a very normal guy.
• Speaking of that guy, I find him sweet. He’s a solid love interest. I like him. He is confusing and frustrating at times, but it could be worse. Again though, the plot is so centered on Abby’s romance with him and her trying to find out who his real identity is from her high school. Also, I do think he can be a bit more fleshed-out. His personality and presence is good, and we get some random details about him like his favorite color and some important details like about his family history – but we don’t know much about his interactions with anyone else, like friends. Our view on his world seems centered on his interactions with Abby, and other people through knowing Abby.
• I like Abby’s best friend. She’s an amusing character.
• It’s great to see a strong bond between Abby and her superhero brother, Connor.
• Isaac is a big surprise. He turns out to be all right.

For such an interesting title, I was expecting something more with the hero/villain concept, but instead, we get a book that’s primarily about Abby’s rather “normal” life in high school as she tries to find out which guy from her high school is the hero/villain she has been chatting with. There are other things in the plot, but this is what Abby seems most concerned about for most of the book. However, overall, it is a cute, light read and I’m sure some people can appreciate the romance aspect of it. 2 stars

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending? Yes
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note? Yes, no, low.

Abby is in a love interest. She kisses them both at different points of the book. The secondary love interest she kisses once and she knew right away that she wasn’t feeling it.
Tears-worthy? No
Humor? Yes, it’s more a lighter read, but it’s not really laugh-out-loud funny.
Favorite scenes? When Abby and her love interest kiss for the 1st time. When her love interest finally reveal his identity.

When Isaac finally opens up and we find out what he has been going through. Also, we find out that he’s bisexual.

What age level would be appropriate? I feel mature words, and vague mentions about sex. No actual scenes of it though, so quite innocent. Teens and up.

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mini review:

Minor spoilers ahead!

Trigger warning: An attempted mugging, and an explosion. Up till the point I read.

DNF

This review is based on the 5 chapter sneak-up on Wattpad.

I heard about this book through Swoon Reads. I was really excited when they announced it! I thought it was going to be a fun and interesting superhero story. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it.

The only thing I am going to give this book, is that it's easy. It was easy to read the 5 chapters. However it was not enjoyable. I didn't like Abby. She was bratty and always had something to complain about. This girl had zero respect that her brother saves lives. Instead focusing on his behavior and then whining about her relationship with her father.

I didn't mind Connor. If anything he was a good brother. Iron Phantom was rude and proud. If I were Abby I would've just walked away. That's not how you talk to someone after saving them. The only person I liked was Sarah. And according to reviews she disappears part way during the book.

The superhero stuff made absolutely no sense. There is no way scientists and doctors wouldn't want to do research into all these powers. And yet in this world we're supposed to believe that! It goes against basic science. Really though why would people just accept that powers somehow came into the world and not do some research?! What if there were ramifications to this? Then what would the characters do?

The tone of the book didn't fit the story. The tone is fairly light-hearted, whilst the world is very dark. There is a huge crime rate, thus relying on superheroes. I didn't feel any tension because the tone makes you believe that everything is going to be fine. There's really nothing to worry about. It felt unbalanced and didn't make any sense.

Considering the crime rate in this city I still find it baffling that Abby doesn't even try to self-defend herself. Her father offered to put her in self-defense lessons but she refused. I do understand why she refused. What I don't I understand, is why she doesn't even practice on her own. Her father sends her all these self-defense videos and she does nothing except watch them. I know that some people can remember what they watched, but this is they type of thing you should practice as well.

There were lots of cringey scenes too. Particularly with Sarah's porn fanfic of Red Comet. Also some of Abby's inner monologue. And lot's of things occur just for plot convenience which could've easily been avoided. I have no interest in reading the full copy. Honestly there is only so long I can suspend my disbelief for. Regardless of genre.

I can't bring myself to recommend this. I truly believe there are better books.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected something fun and cute, when I read this book, but I also got a story with a lot of heart, and a reminder that we can all be some sort of superhero.

• Pro: Abby was so complicated. She had all these feelings, which were in constant conflict with each other, and Banas did a great job helping her work through some of them. I loved that when the going got tough, Abby dug in and came out with her fists up.

• Pro: This story had that old school superhero feel - think Adam West era Batman. This is not a bad thing in my book, because I always found Batman to be amusing and enjoyable.

• Pro: Sibling relationships are something I tend to enjoy in books, and Abby and her brother had a great relationship. They kind of only had each other, with their father throwing himself into saving the city full-time, and she may not have had super powers, but Abby provided a lot of encouragement, love, and support to her brother.

• Pro: I am going to tell you right now, I did not select this book for the superheroes, I selected it for the fun factor and the romance, and I was very pleased with both. Though I did predict, who the Iron Phantom was, I still enjoyed the build-up to the unmasking. I also really loved the quiet moments Abby and the Iron Phantom spent together, getting to know one another better and exploring their friendship. I was definitely shipping this ship.

• Pro: As with any superhero story worth its salt, the loss of a parent played a role in this story. These characters were carrying around a lot of residual pain and grief, which they worked through during the story. It was the moments surrounding this loss, which packed an emotional punch for me.

• Pro: I was team Iron Phantom from the get-go. The interactions between him and Abby were adorable, and the banter was snappy and made me smile.

• Pro: The story really moved along. Between the romance, the mystery, the rescues, the nefarious plot, and the school play, there was lots to keep my attention, and I throughly enjoyed it all.

Overall: A fun romance filled with a little mystery, action, superhero antics, and swoons. I, for one, and looking forward to more Morriston Superheroes.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Glory · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 звезды

Очень приятный, где-то забавный, где-то серьезный супергеройский янг адалт.
Действие происходит в городе, погрязшем в преступности, эдаком Готеме. Благо в этой реальности с нею вполне успешно борются супергерои, в Морристоне их аж целых два: Красная Комета и Фишбой. Они спасители и народные любимцы, девицы визжат, обвешивают их постерами стены комнат и встают в очередь за автографами. Все, кроме Эбби. Потому что она-то знает, как минимум кто скрывается под маской Кометы - ее старший брат Коннор.

Коннор мочился в кровать до восьми лет, и никакие горы мышц и костюм из спандекса не заставят меня забыть ночи, когда он врывался в мою комнату в мокрой пижаме.

Отец их мэр, который так же жаждет искоренить преступность, потому с сыном-супергероем они заняты активной общественной деятельностью, а Эбби... просто живет, храня эту тайну и стараясь не винить брата за смерть матери, которую тот, будучи таким одаренным, не спас от грабителей.
И вот в один не самый прекрасный день нападают и на саму Эбби, но спасает ее не Коннор и не второй местный герой, а какой-то неизвестный супер в черном костюме без опознавательных знаков. Он умеет исцелять и телепортироваться. А еще у него зеленые глаза.
Когда на следующий день этого же супера обвиняют в поджоге мэрии и объявляют первым в истории города суперзлодеем, Железным Фантомом, Эбби не знает, что делать, но с выводами не спешит. В конце концов, не всегда все именно так, как кажется.
И пока Эбби разрывается между преданностью семье и дружбой с Фантомом, кто-то плетет заговор. Кто-то без костюма и способностей, настоящее зло.

Я не назову роман прям таким глубоким, но в нем есть хорошие мысли о добре и зле, о семье, о потерях, о самоопределении. Приятный юмор, не картонные персонажи. История сравнительно небольшая и читается очень легко. Здесь есть и школьные будни, и шпионские вылазки в стан врага, и уморительные диалоги, и отрефлексированное прошлое. Повествование ведется от лица Эбби, и голос у нее приятный. Она не идеальна, но лично я нашла много точек соприкосновения и с ней, и с ее видением мира, хотя порой ее хотелось встряхнуть.
А еще тут совершенно разные, но такие интересные суперы - судя по названию серии, дальше нас ждут книги про самого Коннора и Фишбоя, и их я тоже с удовольствием прочту. А у этого романа завершенный сюжет.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book existed in a vacuum where no other superhero books, comic or movies existed, it might get a higher rating. But that’s simply not the case.

This isn’t necessarily a bad book, it’s just terribly predictable. Like a cheesy Disney channel movie


Also another pet peeve of mine: The model on the cover does not match the description in the book. The main "villain" is supposed to have a black suit that blends in with the night. Like come on design department, do better.

[soph.connects.the.dots · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good (like a rom com mostly, not as much superhero stuff), but a tad predictable in some spaces. I don't have major faults for it, though. I liked it.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot to add this to my READ books HOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW it was so good

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby Hamilton's brother is Red Comet, the superhero in charge of saving the city. And her father is the mayor of the crime-ridden city. All's going well, until a new super shows up—and rescues Abby right before he burns down city hall. But the Iron Phantom tells Abby he's not a bad guy, he's actually a good guy. And he's hot...

UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT

This is a DNF at 68%. Maybe it gets better, maybe it doesn't. I already got past one big reveal, but I still stand by my initial assessment that this is Twilight in superhero form. Maybe this changes. Maybe it doesn't. So far, signs point towards Twilight. Lemme just put this out there...this book won the 2014 Wattys on Wattpad (although tbf, there are really unique and awesome stories to be found on WP), a site known for fanfiction, so draw your own conclusions

At 23%, I started counting similarities/YA tropes:

1. Abby Hamilton is super, super, super clumsy Granted, unlike Bella, she's apparently fairly talented at singing/acting, but we never see her practicing (or geeking out to Broadway show tunes or whatever like she says she loves) because boy toy quickly sucks up all other interests and activities—except the play she's the heroine in, to show she's totally not Bella bc, talent. Methinks it's going to take a little more to distinguish yourself, Abbellastasia.
2. Abby Hamilton has no mother (Bella's mom is basically an absentee parent anyways), and her dad is loving but kinda negligent and also moderately important as the major of the town (but of coooooooourse this does not make Abby popular!). Bonus: in this world her Jasper is Connor, the superhero.
3. She's not hot. I mean, she's blonde and skinny, but she has acne on her forehead that ruins her features and forces her to cover it up with makeup. She's a total dog.
4. We had the "Edward Cullen catches Bella from near-fatal fall out of nowhere"
5. the love triangle with an interesting twist, the describing herself in a mirror
6. the chin-grabbing
7. the alpha-male possessiveness
8. the breaking and entering
9. the watching her sleeping (watching. her. sleeping)
10. the alpha male stalking and physically and emotionally isolating his prey—and asking her to trust him without giving her any other reason beyond his hotness (and she does trust him and go along with him...because duh, he's a hottie)
11. case in point: disappearing female best friend as love interests highjack her life
12. the tickling. OMGF the tickling scene. the dude literally knows her three days and he tickles her!!!!
13. aaaaaaaaaaaand he's rich
14. he calls her "Abigail," and says her name practically every other sentence. She goes by Abby. No one but this dude calls her Abigail.

To top all this off, I have literally no clue about Abby's motivation. Iron Phantom literally breaks into her room and tells her that he's on a mission to bring down her father because ~shady shit~ and tells her to trust him without actually ever telling her any details, and she goes along with him. She chooses a total stranger over her brother and dad for no other reason than he makes her downstairs tingle.

Aside from the love interests, I haven't mentioned the casual misogyny thrown everywhere, but goodness gracious this is ridiculous. All this isn't even discussing the slipshod plotline of the microchips or anything else.

Again, maybe this changes. Maybe it gets better. But with less than a third left of the story, it isn't worth my time.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a good villain?

“The Super villain and Me” takes us on an adventure where Abby tries to find her place outside of her super hero brothers shadow when a new super arrives and quickly makes a name for himself as the city’s first villain. When the two cross paths Abby finds herself questioning his newfound title and they decide to work together to uncover what may be lurking in the shadows to handle the crime in the city once and for all.

This book was so much fun! All of the characters were great and I loved the back and forth between Abby and Iron Phantom their chemistry was everything I could have hoped for with a book like this where it’s got a bit of that enemies to lovers sort of vibe.

The story itself is your run of the mill story worthy of a lesser known marvel or dc hero so it’s kind of basic so the characters really help build it up into something memorable. I really liked the mystery surrounding who was behind the mask and on the other side of that we really explore the concept of what makes a hero and give time and credit to those who don’t have powers to fall back on but are part of the world and the strengths they bring both during and after the fight.

This was a very pleasant surprise and though I may not be someone who reads contemporaries that often I have to say this is probably my favorite and I wouldn’t mind a sequel or two just to stay in the world a bit longer!

[ضحى الحداد · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
OMG .. I REALLY enjoyed this book so much .. I like these kind of books it's so relateable and remind me of those cute and fluffy super hero movies
So this story is set in a city called Moriston where superheros are a part of society, until a super villian called the Iron Phantom is attacking the city in so many ways, and that's how Abby out main character is tangled in all this since her father is the Mayor of the city
it was really cute and I liked how Abby's character developed and the romance was SO on point I LOVED it :D .. most recommended

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME promised a light, fun read about superheroes from the point-of-view of someone ordinary. And while that is true, the majority of the novel takes place at Abigail's high school, focusing more on the drama of auditioning for a play and dealing with potential crushes than on superheroes and villains.

A quick read, THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME is predictable and not always in a fun way. Abby is clumsy, caught in a potential love triangle, and lacking in agency. As the back copy states, she follows Iron Phantom around. It's more his story than hers because there's never a moment where she decides to investigate the threat for herself. Iron Phantom provides the questions and the answers while stalking her and refusing to tell her his true identity for the sake of creating extra drama.

Readers looking for some light hearted high school drama will find enjoyment in THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME's pages. The relationship between Abby and her brother is heartwarming. But the novel suffers from pacing issues, and a lack of conflict and agency on Abby's part.

[✶Rachelle✶ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superheroes have been having an amazing decade. With Marvel delivering incredible movie after movie, and DC entertaining me every week with shows like Arrow and The Flash, nerds really are having their moment. (I won't talk about DC movies. Blegh.) So why not have more superhero movies? I'm definitely down for it, which is why I was excited to get a copy of The Supervillain and Me, Danielle Banas' debut novel.

I really liked the idea of superheroes being fairly common and with better and worse abilities. (Lol at Fish Boy.) Seeing them be normal people as well, with families and everyday responsibilities, gave it a bit of a The Incredibles feel. I particularly loved that Danielle didn't focus on one of the supers for her main character, but the very ordinary sister of a super, having to deal with life on the sidelines. But this gave her the opportunity to be her own hero! And get a bit of super love on the side. ;)

Though a bit predictable, The Supervillain and Me was a light, fun read for your summer break!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! I absolutely loved it.

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After discovering a newfound love of superhero books, The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas caught my eye. The book follows a girl who partners with the town’s “villain,” and the main character is likeable. I especially enjoyed the setting and how believable it is. If you are a fan of superhero books like I am, I would definitely recommend this one.

Full review on The Candid Cover

[Christine Manzari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It was fun and quirky. I had one lingering question at the end of the book, an assumption that was overlooked and not answered, but I have a feeling it will be answered in the next book.

[Danielle Banas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi friends!

I might be biased (or maybe I'm just really enthusiastic) but I think this book is pretty super. Some awesome things you can expect are: snarky heroines, guys who wear spandex, guys who don't wear spandex, puns, superpowers (of course), and much more! Happy reading!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a world where supers exist (some people have superpowers, others don't) this felt a lot like a mixture of the Incredibles and Megamind. But in high school. Abby doesn't have powers and being the sister of the Red Comet (Connor), the town's (or the whole country's) most popular super, that can get a little frustrating.
I was scared when starting this that Abby would have a terrible relationship with her brother because of this, but their sibling-relationship was really fun. Connor and Abby love each other and are very protective and supportive of each other, especially after having lost their mother. Lots of banter and sarcastic comments made it all feel very natural.

The story starts when a new super, the Iron Phantom, saves Abby's life, but only a day later it becomes clear that at the exact same time this new super appears, trouble picks up in the city as well.

This story was very cute and had a fun plot. It's very clear who the 'supervillain' is from pretty much the beginning of the book, but the way it's all set up still makes it believable for Abby to not realise who he actually is.
The only thing that bothered me just a little happened after Abby was about to meet up with the Iron Phantom 'in real life' to finally find out who he is and he didn't show up, which shouldn't have been a problem since she knows he's a super and could very much be doing some super stuff instead of meeting up with her at a donut place. Not even 2 hours after getting stood up he finds her anyway and she finds out who he is and gets upset, which is understandable because everything was confusing for a long time. But then for some reason the next chapter both of them mentioned he had hurt her and I was confused as to what he had even done wrong... Okay he could've told her his name sooner, but it didn't seem like that was what the problem was here, only I don't know what else it could've been.

The ending was predictable, but it played out nicely so I didn't mind. There were no real crazy plot twists except for the last few sentences of the chapter just before the big villain reveal, where I was so confused because it felt like the reveal was going in a different direction than it was.

Overall I'd say I give this one 4 solid stars (maybe 4.5). I really enjoyed it. The romance was very cute, the sibling relationship was nice, the plot was interesting enough and the dialogue was funny.

March 8th, 8pm - March 9th, 3:02am

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't terribly impressed by this one. I thought the story was a little too drawn out. Very little happened until the last couple chapters. The characters were ok. I thought the mystery of the Iron Phantom's identity should have been wrapped up sooner. It was written to make you think it was so obviously one person that you knew it couldn't be that person, so it obviously had to be the other person. And it just took way too long to reveal it. It looks like this is supposed to be a series, but I don't know if I'm interested enough to pick up the next book when it comes out.

[Nastassja · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A damn shame I couldn’t write villainous activities and superhero stealth on my résumé.”

Light and funny but surprisingly serious when it has to be, The Supervillain and Me is perfect for the fans of comics-related reads. With the hype around Marvel's and DC's film adaptations, this book perfectly fits in the niche but doesn't stand up too much to be the next best thing.

For the fans of cute romantic adventures, there will be plenty of moments to swoon over. The characters are loveable and it's so easy to relate with them during the book.

The plot is not too original but it didn't prevent me from enjoying little twists we get. It's obviously going to be a series (though this book is a finished story), continuing the stories of other secondary characters of the book. The ending leaves a nice aftertaste and the wish to continue exploring the world of Morriston superheroes.

The only thing I missed is the real supervillain the title promised, but I guess for that part I will have to read Schwab.

Recommended!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a really cute romance with super heroes that shows people are the same with or without the mask and that the best intentions can still have horrible consequences.

Because you're quiet," he said. "It's always the quiet ones you need to watch out for. You never know what they expect from you or what you should expect from them. They have the power to turn the world right on it's head"

Did it take Abby too long to determine the identity of Iron Phantom, probably. But it still managed to be adorable while she took her time figuring it out. Overall the characters are great and feel fairly real. There's good side characters and plot to go along with the romance and uncovering of the microchips.

"Playgrounds in the dark - that's like some warped metaphor for adults realizing their hopes and dreams died once they grew up"

At its core this is a high school romance book. There's musical theatre, cafeterias and the drama that comes with being 17 and having crushes. Its cute and well done. There just could have been some more superheroes for a book with this title. Aside from that adorable and worth the read!