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Average Joe
A purple rat changes everything.
Joe is an average man with an intense love for animals, his mom, and the 1980s. After learning of his brother’s risky experiments on lab mice—one of which was mutated into a monstrous, purple, rat-like creature with immense strength—Joe volunteers to be the human test subject. What’s the catch? The rest of the mice are off-limits to testing. Once injected with the same experimental protein, Joe transforms into a purple, beast of a man with an indestructible body and yellow veins that radiate like glowsticks in the dark. And he’s totally stoked about it.
Trying his best to stay hidden from the public, Joe paints his town red and attempts to woo the girl of his dreams—all while inadvertently causing chaos.
However, Joe isn’t the only one who was injected with the protein. He’s about to meet his match—and his mutant purple rat is along for the ride.
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of mild animal testing on mice.
What you'll get:
Clean humor
A crazy scientist
A powerful and cocky villain
80s references
Family bonds and pain from the past
Action and adventure
An animal lover
A totally 80s babe
A mutant rat sidekick
Superhuman strength
Underdog rising
Joe is an average man with an intense love for animals, his mom, and the 1980s. After learning of his brother’s risky experiments on lab mice—one of which was mutated into a monstrous, purple, rat-like creature with immense strength—Joe volunteers to be the human test subject. What’s the catch? The rest of the mice are off-limits to testing. Once injected with the same experimental protein, Joe transforms into a purple, beast of a man with an indestructible body and yellow veins that radiate like glowsticks in the dark. And he’s totally stoked about it.
Trying his best to stay hidden from the public, Joe paints his town red and attempts to woo the girl of his dreams—all while inadvertently causing chaos.
However, Joe isn’t the only one who was injected with the protein. He’s about to meet his match—and his mutant purple rat is along for the ride.
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of mild animal testing on mice.
What you'll get:
Clean humor
A crazy scientist
A powerful and cocky villain
80s references
Family bonds and pain from the past
Action and adventure
An animal lover
A totally 80s babe
A mutant rat sidekick
Superhuman strength
Underdog rising
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
B.L. Twitchell
5 books17 followersI’ve always enjoyed writing. It started off in grade school when I would write poems and enter them into contests listed in the backs of magazines, hoping to win it big and become famous like a lot of kids dream about. In high school, short stories replaced my poems. Even though I mostly kept those stories to myself, I continued to daydream about them as I got older. As an adult, I desired to write full-length books to get those larger stories out of my head and onto paper. And so here we are!
In life, I find it’s much easier to look on the positive side of things and to laugh every chance you get. Find what you love. Take those risks. After all, you miss out on 100% of the chances you don’t take!
If you would like to follow me on my writing journey, be sure to check out my website. I’m also a creature of Instagram, so be sure to follow me there for some funny reels and book talk! Let’s have some laughs! https://www.instagram.com/author_b.l....
In life, I find it’s much easier to look on the positive side of things and to laugh every chance you get. Find what you love. Take those risks. After all, you miss out on 100% of the chances you don’t take!
If you would like to follow me on my writing journey, be sure to check out my website. I’m also a creature of Instagram, so be sure to follow me there for some funny reels and book talk! Let’s have some laughs! https://www.instagram.com/author_b.l....
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 7, 2022
Genetical engineering, magical artifacts, mysterious events, or lab experiments gone wrong, these are the ingredients to make a hero into power.
In this wonderfully witty novel, B.L. Twitchell explores the superhero genre from this trope with an interesting perspective. Joe is an average man in his 40s who has never been anything close to extraordinary. His divorce, his job at a VHS store, and his residing hairline are some of the only challenges Joe has to face while he only has his nostalgia for the 80s and his attraction to a woman, Asia, to look forward to.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how relatable Joe was as a character. I've always loved underdog characters, and I feel like we don't see Joe's kind very often. He's an older man moving through life as most of us do without much control over our destiny. But what happens when a visit to his brother's lab uncovers risky genetic experiments and turns him into a superpowerful purple hunk? That's where the real fun begins.
Overall, this was a delightful quick read that made me laugh and fed my need to see different heroes in the genre.
In this wonderfully witty novel, B.L. Twitchell explores the superhero genre from this trope with an interesting perspective. Joe is an average man in his 40s who has never been anything close to extraordinary. His divorce, his job at a VHS store, and his residing hairline are some of the only challenges Joe has to face while he only has his nostalgia for the 80s and his attraction to a woman, Asia, to look forward to.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how relatable Joe was as a character. I've always loved underdog characters, and I feel like we don't see Joe's kind very often. He's an older man moving through life as most of us do without much control over our destiny. But what happens when a visit to his brother's lab uncovers risky genetic experiments and turns him into a superpowerful purple hunk? That's where the real fun begins.
Overall, this was a delightful quick read that made me laugh and fed my need to see different heroes in the genre.
February 19, 2022
Joe Ross is an average guy, working at a movie rental store. He loves the 1980's, VHS tapes, and animals, and has a crush on Asia, a beautiful customer who seems unattainable. One day, his brother, a scientist, shows him a strange experiment that transforms a mouse into a large, super strong purple rat. On the condition that he stops testing on animals, Joe agrees to be a test subject, and he's transformed into a super-strong, purple man. He runs off with the rodent, who soon becomes his animal sidekick. Despite his best efforts to stay hidden, he is quickly discovered and causes panic wherever he goes. In the midst of the weirdness, he makes a play for Asia. But soon he's faced with another product of the experiment, a purple beast of a man who is up to no good.
Average Joe is a thoroughly enjoyable entry in the superhero genre. It takes a classic science fiction concept and makes it fresh with humor, warmth, and honesty. Joe is instantly relatable for his quirks and for his insecurity. He also has a superhero's sense of morality — which extends to the rights of animals. What's not to love about him!
The plot is has a number of twists, many stemming from Joe's doomed attempts to enjoy his invigorated state while somehow staying hidden. In the background, there is the tension of Joe's complex family relationships and hard memories that haunt him, all adding depth and emotional weight.
I did find Asia slightly frustrating. She was appealing enough, but I felt her characterization was a little thin. I would have enjoyed a little more of her back story, and a stronger sense of her motives.
All in all, Average Joe is a fun book with plenty of warmth, humor, and action. If you're a fan of superheroes, then you certainly enjoy it.
Average Joe is a thoroughly enjoyable entry in the superhero genre. It takes a classic science fiction concept and makes it fresh with humor, warmth, and honesty. Joe is instantly relatable for his quirks and for his insecurity. He also has a superhero's sense of morality — which extends to the rights of animals. What's not to love about him!
The plot is has a number of twists, many stemming from Joe's doomed attempts to enjoy his invigorated state while somehow staying hidden. In the background, there is the tension of Joe's complex family relationships and hard memories that haunt him, all adding depth and emotional weight.
I did find Asia slightly frustrating. She was appealing enough, but I felt her characterization was a little thin. I would have enjoyed a little more of her back story, and a stronger sense of her motives.
All in all, Average Joe is a fun book with plenty of warmth, humor, and action. If you're a fan of superheroes, then you certainly enjoy it.
July 21, 2022
Average Joe was a thourougly enjoyable read!
I didn't know what to expect since the theme was very different from the usual genere I read but I was pleasantly surprised!
Average Joe was a thourougly enjoyable read! B.L. Twitchell takes the classic sci-fi trope of an experiment gone wrong and places an average, somewhat nerdy and very likable main character in the thick of things.
Among other things, the story has a mutant rat sidekick (Named Bill), a mad scientist, a powerful villain, clean humor, lot's of 80s references, action and adventure.
It really kept me engaged.
If you are looking for a fun story about an underdog overcoming adversity, I recommend checking Average Joe out. It's a relatively quick read.
I didn't know what to expect since the theme was very different from the usual genere I read but I was pleasantly surprised!
Average Joe was a thourougly enjoyable read! B.L. Twitchell takes the classic sci-fi trope of an experiment gone wrong and places an average, somewhat nerdy and very likable main character in the thick of things.
Among other things, the story has a mutant rat sidekick (Named Bill), a mad scientist, a powerful villain, clean humor, lot's of 80s references, action and adventure.
It really kept me engaged.
If you are looking for a fun story about an underdog overcoming adversity, I recommend checking Average Joe out. It's a relatively quick read.
January 28, 2023
This was a fun and creative story
Very cool sci-fi story about an underdog transformed with super powers along with a pet super rat. Lots of innocent little quirks about suddenly being oversized and super strong. It’s also a comedy in a lot of ways.
Great close to the story with just enough of an open ending for maybe a sequel!
Good book to check out.
Very cool sci-fi story about an underdog transformed with super powers along with a pet super rat. Lots of innocent little quirks about suddenly being oversized and super strong. It’s also a comedy in a lot of ways.
Great close to the story with just enough of an open ending for maybe a sequel!
Good book to check out.
September 4, 2022
This book is exhilarating as much as it is exciting! This suspenseful thriller has great detail that kept me turning the pages! In one night alone I read over 100 pages and had to force myself to stop as it was way past my bed time! I’m excited to see if there is a part 2 in the making. It’s a nice read for all ages and has many great references. I was able to make many inferences throughout and allow myself to create a great image of what all the characters looked like! Well done author, looking forward to what’s next!
January 5, 2026
A great book that captivates the reader to continue for more thrill. A 1980's 'new wave' ballot that takes a young reader to a different world of sci-fi and wonder. This book was a fun read and when my children are able to read, I hope they will like this book as much as I do. I read the paperback version and loved it.
March 16, 2022
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique feel-good story with clean romance and rom com feels.
This book made me laugh, while making me appreciate my fur companions. I love all the 80’s references and it made me miss movie rental stores LOL.
This book made me laugh, while making me appreciate my fur companions. I love all the 80’s references and it made me miss movie rental stores LOL.
July 15, 2022
Vivid storytelling
Right away I fell for the author's style. I love the way she describes the character's actions and body language. It's incredibly vivid and sucks you into the story.
Such a fun read about an average guy who get the opportunity to be extraordinary.
Right away I fell for the author's style. I love the way she describes the character's actions and body language. It's incredibly vivid and sucks you into the story.
Such a fun read about an average guy who get the opportunity to be extraordinary.
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June 21, 2022An experiment gone wrong. A man transformed into a purple beast with glowing yellow veins. A purple mutant rat sidekick. And that's only the beginning...
Joe is an average man who is obsessed with the 80s. He manages a video rental store and pines after his favorite customer, Asia, who is totally 80s in her own right. With his thinning hair, soft gut, and gold aviator-style glasses, Joe skates through life during the day running the store, and spends his evenings at home taking care of his elderly mother who lives with him.
All is quiet, until his brother Stew-who just so happens to be a genetic scientist-frantically calls him in the middle of the night and begs him to come to the lab to see his new discovery. Does Joe go? Of course he does. He always supports his brother's crazy antics.
At the lab, Stew reveals something amazing to his brother: a purple mutant mouse, that is more rat-like than anything. What Joe isn't impressed with is the fact that his brother had experimented on a poor defenseless animal.
Wanting to leave, Stew stops him and offers an idea: Be the human test subject for the experiment, and Stew will leave the mice alone. Does Joe take the offer? He does. After all, he's an animal lover.
Swallowing his fears, Joe goes ahead with the experiment and is transformed into a muscular version of his old self, complete with a full head of hair and a lustrous beard. Is he purple? Absolutely. Do his veins glow in the dark? Yep. But he's hot. He has no problem with the trade off.
With a new mission in his mind, Joe paints his town red and goes after Asia as the sexy beast he is. But what Joe doesn't know is someone else took the protein. He has to face another testosterone-filled beast, and he's taking his purple mutant rat along for the ride!
https://www.amazon.com/Average-Joe-B-...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aver...
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/aver...
https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Joe is an average man who is obsessed with the 80s. He manages a video rental store and pines after his favorite customer, Asia, who is totally 80s in her own right. With his thinning hair, soft gut, and gold aviator-style glasses, Joe skates through life during the day running the store, and spends his evenings at home taking care of his elderly mother who lives with him.
All is quiet, until his brother Stew-who just so happens to be a genetic scientist-frantically calls him in the middle of the night and begs him to come to the lab to see his new discovery. Does Joe go? Of course he does. He always supports his brother's crazy antics.
At the lab, Stew reveals something amazing to his brother: a purple mutant mouse, that is more rat-like than anything. What Joe isn't impressed with is the fact that his brother had experimented on a poor defenseless animal.
Wanting to leave, Stew stops him and offers an idea: Be the human test subject for the experiment, and Stew will leave the mice alone. Does Joe take the offer? He does. After all, he's an animal lover.
Swallowing his fears, Joe goes ahead with the experiment and is transformed into a muscular version of his old self, complete with a full head of hair and a lustrous beard. Is he purple? Absolutely. Do his veins glow in the dark? Yep. But he's hot. He has no problem with the trade off.
With a new mission in his mind, Joe paints his town red and goes after Asia as the sexy beast he is. But what Joe doesn't know is someone else took the protein. He has to face another testosterone-filled beast, and he's taking his purple mutant rat along for the ride!
https://www.amazon.com/Average-Joe-B-...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aver...
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/aver...
https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews