The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas tells the story of Abigail Hamilton, a regular teenage girl trying to survive her senior year and land the lead in the school musical. But that's a little hard to do when her brother is the town's most famous superhero. When Abigail is saved from a mugging by the mysterious Iron Phantom, the newest supervillain, she's caught in a web of conspiracies and questions. The deeper she and the Iron Phantom dig, the more she is forced to consider what it means to be a hero or a villain. Maybe the bad guys can be good, and the good guys can be bad.
This book is a delight from start to finish. Abigail is a relatable character right away—always looking for her father's attention, overshadowed by her brother's heroic achievements. Iron Phantom is immediately intriguing, and trying to figure out his true identity amid red herrings was a fun challenge—could I figure it out before Abigail did? (Yes) I was hooked the entire time as I collected the pieces of the mystery, witnessed Abigail and Iron Phantom's romance, and learned what made them tick. The world-building makes this book a liminal fantasy novel, as it takes place in a world exactly like ours, except for adding superpowers. And it was a fun treat that the musical Abigail participates in is a parody of Little Shop of Horrors!
My only complaint, which is very minor, is that the red herring character was hard to pin down. He was all over the place, and it didn't feel intentional. It seemed more like his characteristics and behavior could have used more refining to turn him into a believable character.
I rate The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas 5/5 stars. If you're looking for a fun YA romantasy with superheroes, check it out!
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