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How to Date a Superhero
A romantic coming-of-age story about growing up, falling in love, and surviving life—all set in the world of superheroes—from debut author Cristina Fernandez, proving that you don’t need a superpower to be the hero of your own origin story, perfect for fans of The Rest of Us Just Live Here and Renegades.
* Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2023 * CCBC Choices Best of 2023 *
Falling for a superhero is dangerous. You have to trust that they’ll catch you.
Astrid isn’t a superhero, not like the ones she sees on the news, but she has something she thinks of as a small She has a perfect sense of time. And she’s not going to waste a single second.
Her plan for college is clear—friends, classes, and extra-curriculars all carefully selected to get her into medical school.
Until Max Martin, a nerdy boy from high school, crashes back into her life. Things with Max were never simple, and he doesn’t keep to her schedule. He disappears in the middle of dates and cancels last-minute with stupid excuses.
When a supervillain breaks into her bedroom one night, Astrid has to face the Her boyfriend, Max Martin, is a superhero. Double-majoring as a pre-med was hard, but now Astrid will have to balance a double-life. This wasn’t part of her plan.
* Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2023 * CCBC Choices Best of 2023 *
Falling for a superhero is dangerous. You have to trust that they’ll catch you.
Astrid isn’t a superhero, not like the ones she sees on the news, but she has something she thinks of as a small She has a perfect sense of time. And she’s not going to waste a single second.
Her plan for college is clear—friends, classes, and extra-curriculars all carefully selected to get her into medical school.
Until Max Martin, a nerdy boy from high school, crashes back into her life. Things with Max were never simple, and he doesn’t keep to her schedule. He disappears in the middle of dates and cancels last-minute with stupid excuses.
When a supervillain breaks into her bedroom one night, Astrid has to face the Her boyfriend, Max Martin, is a superhero. Double-majoring as a pre-med was hard, but now Astrid will have to balance a double-life. This wasn’t part of her plan.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
March 16, 2024
a shock to no one: I LOVED THIS BOOK
I’d say it’s a 4/4.5 but im rounding up bc I felt Seen
i knew I was going to love it from the title and I was scared it was gonna be cheesy but I loved it so much - I ate up the tropes and was called out on Multiple Occasions. I want more of Max and Astrid, I loved that they were in college (we need more college aged main characters!!!!!!!!!!) ALSO, surprising highlight I wasn’t expecting: the friendships and the support systems ughhhh I loved it
also pls, max??? ideal bf and not just bc he’s a superhero he sees astrid and that’s all I want
(this book could be my new geekerella)
I’d say it’s a 4/4.5 but im rounding up bc I felt Seen
i knew I was going to love it from the title and I was scared it was gonna be cheesy but I loved it so much - I ate up the tropes and was called out on Multiple Occasions. I want more of Max and Astrid, I loved that they were in college (we need more college aged main characters!!!!!!!!!!) ALSO, surprising highlight I wasn’t expecting: the friendships and the support systems ughhhh I loved it
also pls, max??? ideal bf and not just bc he’s a superhero he sees astrid and that’s all I want
(this book could be my new geekerella)
September 8, 2024
"FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO’S FELT LIKE A SIDE CHARACTER."
one of the reasons i picked this up is because i recently started rewatching the MCU, so i wanted to read about superheroes. this was such a fun and cute ya read. i was honestly not expecting to like it as much as i did.
while this was a sci-fi rom com, it was still a very relatable read for sure dealing with ideas such as time anxiety and finding your purpose. the romance was super, super cute and max was such a sweetheart. i had a good time reading this!
one of the reasons i picked this up is because i recently started rewatching the MCU, so i wanted to read about superheroes. this was such a fun and cute ya read. i was honestly not expecting to like it as much as i did.
while this was a sci-fi rom com, it was still a very relatable read for sure dealing with ideas such as time anxiety and finding your purpose. the romance was super, super cute and max was such a sweetheart. i had a good time reading this!
August 8, 2022
Astrid is that over-achieving premed college student. You know, the one aiming for a 4.0 GPA, schedules her life down to 5 minute chunks, and with a laser focus on achieving a career as a doctor some time a decade down the track despite being a tangled mass of anxiety and ambition. She's also just discovered that her boyfriend Max is actually a superhero, and that fact means that Astrid suddenly has a whole new course to take: how to survive dating a superhero.
Do not read this book if you're under any form of time pressure. Astrid's current day chapters are each preceded by a timetable of what she has on that week and reading those timetables made me feel exhausted, let alone the actual stress of following her through it all. Astrid herself is frustrating in the way she deals with (or more accurately doesn't deal with) Max's superhero life and the risks that brings to her own. That being said, the book is extremely clear that Astrid's college commitments already have her on the ragged edge of sanity. She doesn't have time to process that she's in danger.
As her college commitments ramp up, and Max's superheroism begins to directly involve Astrid in little and bigger ways, something has to give.
Overall this is pretty good. There's lots of little nods to superhero media, including things like the superhero dating program building being called "the Fridge" (I personally felt that was a little on the nose given the reference), to advice from other superheroic partners such as about grieving your superhero partner's death ("give it three months and if they don't turn up alive again, then start to worry"). It's an interesting imagining of the issues around living in a superhero world although I think there are better versions of the story out there (I'm thinking Hench).
Do not read this book if you're under any form of time pressure. Astrid's current day chapters are each preceded by a timetable of what she has on that week and reading those timetables made me feel exhausted, let alone the actual stress of following her through it all. Astrid herself is frustrating in the way she deals with (or more accurately doesn't deal with) Max's superhero life and the risks that brings to her own. That being said, the book is extremely clear that Astrid's college commitments already have her on the ragged edge of sanity. She doesn't have time to process that she's in danger.
As her college commitments ramp up, and Max's superheroism begins to directly involve Astrid in little and bigger ways, something has to give.
Overall this is pretty good. There's lots of little nods to superhero media, including things like the superhero dating program building being called "the Fridge" (I personally felt that was a little on the nose given the reference), to advice from other superheroic partners such as about grieving your superhero partner's death ("give it three months and if they don't turn up alive again, then start to worry"). It's an interesting imagining of the issues around living in a superhero world although I think there are better versions of the story out there (I'm thinking Hench).
January 20, 2023
Not for me. I wouldn't have even picked this one up except it was a book club pick so I got through it. I thought it was boring, I didn't connect with any of the characters, and I just didn't care. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it and I'll most likely forget I even read it.
January 28, 2024
Super cute! Definitely fun! What more could you ask for?
December 7, 2022
The more I think about this book the less I like it. There was something with the way it always managed to miss it's mark, even when it was so close to hit it was always just a little off. Which makes it so frustrating, because you can easily see what it could have been but is not.
Supposedly it's a story told from the superhero's love interests perspective, imagine Mary Jane as the main character instead of Spiderman. But in reality, it's a story about the life of a stressed college student who tries to reach top grades and keep sacrificing her own happiness and all free time for it. Sort of. The two sides, dating a superhero and studying, does not really compute because our main character does not have time to deal with anything, not love, relationships, nor superhero stuff. When something happens it's usually fade to black, glossed over, or it happens to someone else.
This last part is important because the spin this book has on the superhero universe is that the love interests of superheroes are always in danger, so there's a special self defense class for all who dates superheroes so they can handle kidnapping situations. Which on paper might sound fun. If not for the fact that means our main character gets to meet a lot of other people who are in the same situation as her, only that they get to experience all the fun stuff while we get stuck with studying, the mundane student life.
You see, instead of having our main character worrying about her boyfriends safety while he's fighting off an alien invasion, we are having her console another person going through that breakdown that she should have had. There were so many moments like that, where I wished that the main character were the one experiencing stuff, or actually wished that anything would happen at all. It gets boring quick when all she has to do is to react to whatever already have happened to other people in dialogues with those people.
The other important ingredient in the title was also not satisfactory. There was little to no relationship development going on, nor did we have much time for it because you know - studying. The dating part was just not really there. Is it also just me it bugs when the epitome of a relationship is made to be sex? Like there's so much more to make a healthy relationship so why did it have to be brought up more than once. Overall, it was hard to see the appeal of the couple because we hardly got to see them at all, lest experience some good slice of life.
Also was it just me it bugged when the author kept saying that her superpower was her perfect sense of time? Or having her say it aloud (it just sounds so cringe)?
Overall, this book really needed some more superhero action, and I wouldn't have minded having more superhero tropes. The characters weren't engaging enough to make up for it. Which is a shame because there's so much potential to craft an unique story from this perspective in superhero fiction.
Supposedly it's a story told from the superhero's love interests perspective, imagine Mary Jane as the main character instead of Spiderman. But in reality, it's a story about the life of a stressed college student who tries to reach top grades and keep sacrificing her own happiness and all free time for it. Sort of. The two sides, dating a superhero and studying, does not really compute because our main character does not have time to deal with anything, not love, relationships, nor superhero stuff. When something happens it's usually fade to black, glossed over, or it happens to someone else.
This last part is important because the spin this book has on the superhero universe is that the love interests of superheroes are always in danger, so there's a special self defense class for all who dates superheroes so they can handle kidnapping situations. Which on paper might sound fun. If not for the fact that means our main character gets to meet a lot of other people who are in the same situation as her, only that they get to experience all the fun stuff while we get stuck with studying, the mundane student life.
You see, instead of having our main character worrying about her boyfriends safety while he's fighting off an alien invasion, we are having her console another person going through that breakdown that she should have had. There were so many moments like that, where I wished that the main character were the one experiencing stuff, or actually wished that anything would happen at all. It gets boring quick when all she has to do is to react to whatever already have happened to other people in dialogues with those people.
The other important ingredient in the title was also not satisfactory. There was little to no relationship development going on, nor did we have much time for it because you know - studying. The dating part was just not really there. Is it also just me it bugs when the epitome of a relationship is made to be sex? Like there's so much more to make a healthy relationship so why did it have to be brought up more than once. Overall, it was hard to see the appeal of the couple because we hardly got to see them at all, lest experience some good slice of life.
Also was it just me it bugged when the author kept saying that her superpower was her perfect sense of time? Or having her say it aloud (it just sounds so cringe)?
Overall, this book really needed some more superhero action, and I wouldn't have minded having more superhero tropes. The characters weren't engaging enough to make up for it. Which is a shame because there's so much potential to craft an unique story from this perspective in superhero fiction.
February 23, 2024
How to Read This Book (And Not Die of Boredom)
Just to be clear, I don't hate this book and my overall rating would be 2.5 stars, but there are more cons than pros.
I'll start with the good stuff:
• the friendship between Astrid and David was amazing - rarely do we get to see a friendship between a boy and a girl that doesn't turn into something more, or it turns into a love triangle/ second love interest kinda thing
• this book makes fun of all the tropes usually found in superhero books and while it does sometimes get a bit cringy, it's still light-hearted and fun
• Max ♥ he is such a fluffy golden retriever boyfriend you can't help but love
Now onto the cons...
Astrid is very goal-oriented and right now, her goal is to get her best scores on every exam/ presentation/ essay whatever. Which is fine. In fact, the first few chapters, I enjoyed her "study enthusiasm" but by the 50% mark, it started to get annoying. It was constantly shoved down our throats how "college comes first" and how she has lots of schedules for everything and it is what's most important. It was too repetitive and boring.
The other thing I disliked was how I had wildly different expectations for this book. The summary makes you think it's gonna have far more action than it does. Also, I thought there'd be more "superheroing." The whole book is written sort of on the sidelines (which is probably the point the author was trying to make, but I think that should've been made more clear in the summary) and all we get are lines like "this superhero just flew by here"; "that supervillain blew a building nearby" etc. We aren't in this world, we are sort of next to it. I was hoping for something more dramatic than a chem lab partner being slightly annoying and hogging the microscope Astrid wants to use...
Just to be clear, I don't hate this book and my overall rating would be 2.5 stars, but there are more cons than pros.
I'll start with the good stuff:
• the friendship between Astrid and David was amazing - rarely do we get to see a friendship between a boy and a girl that doesn't turn into something more, or it turns into a love triangle/ second love interest kinda thing
• this book makes fun of all the tropes usually found in superhero books and while it does sometimes get a bit cringy, it's still light-hearted and fun
• Max ♥ he is such a fluffy golden retriever boyfriend you can't help but love
Now onto the cons...
Astrid is very goal-oriented and right now, her goal is to get her best scores on every exam/ presentation/ essay whatever. Which is fine. In fact, the first few chapters, I enjoyed her "study enthusiasm" but by the 50% mark, it started to get annoying. It was constantly shoved down our throats how "college comes first" and how she has lots of schedules for everything and it is what's most important. It was too repetitive and boring.
The other thing I disliked was how I had wildly different expectations for this book. The summary makes you think it's gonna have far more action than it does. Also, I thought there'd be more "superheroing." The whole book is written sort of on the sidelines (which is probably the point the author was trying to make, but I think that should've been made more clear in the summary) and all we get are lines like "this superhero just flew by here"; "that supervillain blew a building nearby" etc. We aren't in this world, we are sort of next to it. I was hoping for something more dramatic than a chem lab partner being slightly annoying and hogging the microscope Astrid wants to use...
April 3, 2022
How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) is the debut novel from Cristina Fernandez. This young-adult romance novel comes out on August 2, 2022; the publisher Harper Collins provided me an early galley in exchange for an honest review.
First, kudos to the author for completing her first novel while still a college student herself. That is an amazing feat. It also helps being in the midst of her own collegiate years when writing about a college-aged heroine. It lends that authenticity to the setting.
I like the idea of a super-hero story that focuses on the significant others of the costumed champions. It is an angle that does not get as much focus; it has a wealth of potential for stories. However, when doing that you have to really make the normals engaging. I wish there was a bit more of that here. I felt that many of the characters came across as a bit flat and one-dimensional.
The other challenge when focusing on the normals is that all the super-hero action happens around them (for the most part). That means that the story ends up being more dialogue driven and not action driven. The super-hero genre thrives on that action element. Putting that in the background or provided via heresay means the characters need to be even more engaging to compensate for it. That was not what I found here.
Because the book is shooting at a YA (young adult) audience, all of that might be fine and expected. YA books tend to be more about relationships and dynamics between people anyway. They also tend to be more balanced when it comes to showing all kinds of relationships, even LGBTQ ones. As a man in his fifties, I'm very much outside of that target YA audience. Maybe it will work for younger readers in their teens and early 20's.
First, kudos to the author for completing her first novel while still a college student herself. That is an amazing feat. It also helps being in the midst of her own collegiate years when writing about a college-aged heroine. It lends that authenticity to the setting.
I like the idea of a super-hero story that focuses on the significant others of the costumed champions. It is an angle that does not get as much focus; it has a wealth of potential for stories. However, when doing that you have to really make the normals engaging. I wish there was a bit more of that here. I felt that many of the characters came across as a bit flat and one-dimensional.
The other challenge when focusing on the normals is that all the super-hero action happens around them (for the most part). That means that the story ends up being more dialogue driven and not action driven. The super-hero genre thrives on that action element. Putting that in the background or provided via heresay means the characters need to be even more engaging to compensate for it. That was not what I found here.
Because the book is shooting at a YA (young adult) audience, all of that might be fine and expected. YA books tend to be more about relationships and dynamics between people anyway. They also tend to be more balanced when it comes to showing all kinds of relationships, even LGBTQ ones. As a man in his fifties, I'm very much outside of that target YA audience. Maybe it will work for younger readers in their teens and early 20's.
August 29, 2022
A YA paranormal/fantasy romance between an ordinary, type A college student and a supernatural 'superhero'. Ostensibly a friends to lovers story, this book gave me a lot of TJ Klune's Extraordinaries' vibes. I really wanted to love this book but it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow!! I could have done with a lot less book and a lot more action. Things picked up towards the end but there was way too much angst and introspection for me. I just wasn't a fan sadly. Okay on audio (if you can speed it up past 2x). I listened on scribd and 2x was not fast enough to keep me interested! Just an okay read for me unfortunately.
May 17, 2022
How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) is the perfect book for people who have always been fascinated by the extraordinary. It's also the perfect book for people who are fascinated by the ordinary itself.
Astrid Rose is just trying to survive her sophomore year of college when she finds out that her boyfriend, Max Martin, is leading a double-life as superhero Kid Comet while being kidnapped by one of Kid Comet's rivals. In order to safely date a superhero (and not die trying), "super"-dating expert Eleanor Olsen recruits Astrid to a program specially designed for the significant others of both superheroes and supervillains. Now Astrid has to learn how to avoid being targeted by any of Kid Comet's enemies and figure out whether dating Max is really worth it, all while balancing being a pre-med student at one of the most prestigious institutions in the country.
More than anything else, this book was about how complex people and their relationships are. Astrid Rose is the first main character I've read in a while who felt like a tangible human being. Her worries, her hopes, her outlook on life, were all so incredible real and relatable that if not for the casual mention of "super"-related events, I might have even mistaken this book for creative nonfiction. The way she interacts with others and herself is delightfully realistic, and Fernandez is able to sprinkle in little bits of life advice in a way that seems natural to the story's progression. Another aspect I really enjoyed was the pacing of the novel. Chapters switch between being in the present (Astrid's sophomore year) and the past. which really helps the audience understand Astrid and Max's relationship as she struggles with the discovery that Max is a superhero. It also contributed to my perception of Astrid as a real person with real problems.
The only let-down in this book was that one of the major plot points was something that I saw coming very early on in the story, so when the Big Reveal actually happened, I wasn't surprised the way I wanted to be. That being said, I did really enjoy the way Fernandez built up to the final conflict throughout the book and how she handled the resolution. Furthermore, minor disappointment wasn't nearly enough for me to stop turning pages like my life depended on it.
By this point, this book and its characters feel like old friends, and I'm a little upset that this is Fernandez's debut novel, since it means I can't read any of her other books yet. I genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next.
I was lucky enough to receive and ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. All thoughts and comments about this book are my own.
Astrid Rose is just trying to survive her sophomore year of college when she finds out that her boyfriend, Max Martin, is leading a double-life as superhero Kid Comet while being kidnapped by one of Kid Comet's rivals. In order to safely date a superhero (and not die trying), "super"-dating expert Eleanor Olsen recruits Astrid to a program specially designed for the significant others of both superheroes and supervillains. Now Astrid has to learn how to avoid being targeted by any of Kid Comet's enemies and figure out whether dating Max is really worth it, all while balancing being a pre-med student at one of the most prestigious institutions in the country.
More than anything else, this book was about how complex people and their relationships are. Astrid Rose is the first main character I've read in a while who felt like a tangible human being. Her worries, her hopes, her outlook on life, were all so incredible real and relatable that if not for the casual mention of "super"-related events, I might have even mistaken this book for creative nonfiction. The way she interacts with others and herself is delightfully realistic, and Fernandez is able to sprinkle in little bits of life advice in a way that seems natural to the story's progression. Another aspect I really enjoyed was the pacing of the novel. Chapters switch between being in the present (Astrid's sophomore year) and the past. which really helps the audience understand Astrid and Max's relationship as she struggles with the discovery that Max is a superhero. It also contributed to my perception of Astrid as a real person with real problems.
The only let-down in this book was that one of the major plot points was something that I saw coming very early on in the story, so when the Big Reveal actually happened, I wasn't surprised the way I wanted to be. That being said, I did really enjoy the way Fernandez built up to the final conflict throughout the book and how she handled the resolution. Furthermore, minor disappointment wasn't nearly enough for me to stop turning pages like my life depended on it.
By this point, this book and its characters feel like old friends, and I'm a little upset that this is Fernandez's debut novel, since it means I can't read any of her other books yet. I genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next.
I was lucky enough to receive and ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. All thoughts and comments about this book are my own.
September 27, 2022
4,5*
Ich liebe Astrid und Max. Bis zur letzten Seite habe ich deren Beziehung genossen. Die Autorin hat es wunderbar geschafft, diese junge Liebe realistisch und herzerwärmend darzustellen.
Für mich ist deshalb der Superheld*innen-Aspekt auch ein bisschen in den Hintergrund gerutscht, aber ich mochte die Welt, die Klischees und vor allem die Charaktere.
Ein ganz tolles Jugendbuch mit einem großartigen Schreibstil. 😍
CW: Tod/Trauer, Panikattacken
Ich liebe Astrid und Max. Bis zur letzten Seite habe ich deren Beziehung genossen. Die Autorin hat es wunderbar geschafft, diese junge Liebe realistisch und herzerwärmend darzustellen.
Für mich ist deshalb der Superheld*innen-Aspekt auch ein bisschen in den Hintergrund gerutscht, aber ich mochte die Welt, die Klischees und vor allem die Charaktere.
Ein ganz tolles Jugendbuch mit einem großartigen Schreibstil. 😍
CW: Tod/Trauer, Panikattacken
June 26, 2022
I adored this book. This genius, brilliant, amazing book. I love superhero novels and scramble to get my hands on any I can find. But this is not a superhero book and that’s exactly why it is so brilliant.
This is a book that’s not about your typical hero. This is a book about an ordinary girl, just trying to get on with her life, get through premed university and manage a relationship and a friendship. But it’s also a book that is set in a world where superheroes have been part of the culture and everyday life for decades. It’s normal to have your subway rain delayed due to a hero-villain fight and downtown is often a mess. But that’s all background to Astrid. Her focus is wholly on her classes, study, revision, assignments and updating her schedule. She is proud that she can fit in a date every now and again with her boyfriend and a room mate night with her friend David. But when a villain smashes through her dorm room window, she discovers her boyfriend Max is actually Kid Comet. A superhero. Warned she might become the target of another villain attack, Astrid must fit dating a superhero and survival classes into her already packed schedule. Is it worth all the drama to date Max?
Astrid is the perfect main character for this story. She’s actually anything but ordinary. She is super smart and super dedicated to her classes, schedule and plan. Discovering that she is dating a superhero is just another thing she has to fit into her schedule.
I loved the idea for this book and the way it pulled it off was perfect. It’s very clear that the world contains superheroes and the action can be seen in the background, but the superheroes, even Max himself never detract or distract from the main hero of this story - Astrid. So clever. Of course, there is still plenty of action and drama. Astrid is kidnapped a few times, involved in roof top battles and even discovers she might just be able to save the day sometimes.
How To Date A Superhero (and Not Die Trying) is the non-superhero novel everyone needs in their lives.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
This is a book that’s not about your typical hero. This is a book about an ordinary girl, just trying to get on with her life, get through premed university and manage a relationship and a friendship. But it’s also a book that is set in a world where superheroes have been part of the culture and everyday life for decades. It’s normal to have your subway rain delayed due to a hero-villain fight and downtown is often a mess. But that’s all background to Astrid. Her focus is wholly on her classes, study, revision, assignments and updating her schedule. She is proud that she can fit in a date every now and again with her boyfriend and a room mate night with her friend David. But when a villain smashes through her dorm room window, she discovers her boyfriend Max is actually Kid Comet. A superhero. Warned she might become the target of another villain attack, Astrid must fit dating a superhero and survival classes into her already packed schedule. Is it worth all the drama to date Max?
Astrid is the perfect main character for this story. She’s actually anything but ordinary. She is super smart and super dedicated to her classes, schedule and plan. Discovering that she is dating a superhero is just another thing she has to fit into her schedule.
I loved the idea for this book and the way it pulled it off was perfect. It’s very clear that the world contains superheroes and the action can be seen in the background, but the superheroes, even Max himself never detract or distract from the main hero of this story - Astrid. So clever. Of course, there is still plenty of action and drama. Astrid is kidnapped a few times, involved in roof top battles and even discovers she might just be able to save the day sometimes.
How To Date A Superhero (and Not Die Trying) is the non-superhero novel everyone needs in their lives.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
January 7, 2022
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
I'm struggling whether to rate this with three stars or four. It isn't a bad read, but I didn't love it either. I enjoyed the premise of dating a superhero and all that entails. However I felt the characters were just way too immature. Especially the heroine, Astrid. Though the characters are in college, it felt like reading a high school drama.
I'm struggling whether to rate this with three stars or four. It isn't a bad read, but I didn't love it either. I enjoyed the premise of dating a superhero and all that entails. However I felt the characters were just way too immature. Especially the heroine, Astrid. Though the characters are in college, it felt like reading a high school drama.
July 18, 2023
A very fun debut novel! Cristina Fernandez does a great job giving a fresh POV for the superhero genre and what it means to be a normal person in a world filled with heroes and villains. This book might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you’re a nerd who grew up in the modern age of Marvel and DC, this super romcom has plenty to offer!
June 30, 2022
*I received this ARC from my employer JosephBeth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH*
If there’s two things I love in this world, it’s romcoms and superheroes. Luckily, this book has both.
I fell in love with Max the minute he was introduced, and instantly saw myself in Astrid—the good and the bad. Not only did Fernandez do an incredible job building a world where superheroes just exist, but she also perfected the art of writing about panic attacks and anxiety, especially when it comes to college. I was thoroughly impressed by Fernandez’s ability to capture Astrid’s overwhelming panic in just the schedule chapter headings, and I related sooo hard to the endless markers and schedules Astrid has to keep her life in order (even though it’s all memorized in her head).
The superhero aspect of this book was intriguing, and I loved the different names and powers we got outside of the stereotypical MCU and DC universe superheroes. Fernandez’s heroes were all camp, with names like Kid Comet and the Black Cape. I also liked that Astrid wasn’t immediately floored and impressed by Max’s abilities, but instead wary. Often I think authors/directors romanticize having a superhero partner (like Molly), but at the end of the day, Astrid’s whole world has been turned upside down, and I enjoyed her realistic reaction.
Of course I loved the classic romcom tropes—damsel
in distress, breaking up for protection, soft boy and hard girl—but I also loved the friendships this book produced. David was the classic best friend, and I loved how much he cared about Astrid’s mental health. The three high schoolers, Lucy, Molly, and Thomas, were a great way to give Astrid perspective and a sense of duty to others, and Wally, my favorite character, added the beautiful duality of over-protective father figure and teasing uncle that I love so much. I’m intrigued by Eleanor and her love triangle of heroes and villains, and would love a spin-off sequel about her running the project.
Overall, this was a great, fun read with a perfectly camp title and premise. Any fans of the MCU/DC universes or original comics will find this amusing, and romance lovers will get there fill of cheesy moments and awe-worthy confessions of love. Make sure to check your local bookstore on August 2nd, 2022 for this lovely book!
If there’s two things I love in this world, it’s romcoms and superheroes. Luckily, this book has both.
I fell in love with Max the minute he was introduced, and instantly saw myself in Astrid—the good and the bad. Not only did Fernandez do an incredible job building a world where superheroes just exist, but she also perfected the art of writing about panic attacks and anxiety, especially when it comes to college. I was thoroughly impressed by Fernandez’s ability to capture Astrid’s overwhelming panic in just the schedule chapter headings, and I related sooo hard to the endless markers and schedules Astrid has to keep her life in order (even though it’s all memorized in her head).
The superhero aspect of this book was intriguing, and I loved the different names and powers we got outside of the stereotypical MCU and DC universe superheroes. Fernandez’s heroes were all camp, with names like Kid Comet and the Black Cape. I also liked that Astrid wasn’t immediately floored and impressed by Max’s abilities, but instead wary. Often I think authors/directors romanticize having a superhero partner (like Molly), but at the end of the day, Astrid’s whole world has been turned upside down, and I enjoyed her realistic reaction.
Of course I loved the classic romcom tropes—damsel
in distress, breaking up for protection, soft boy and hard girl—but I also loved the friendships this book produced. David was the classic best friend, and I loved how much he cared about Astrid’s mental health. The three high schoolers, Lucy, Molly, and Thomas, were a great way to give Astrid perspective and a sense of duty to others, and Wally, my favorite character, added the beautiful duality of over-protective father figure and teasing uncle that I love so much. I’m intrigued by Eleanor and her love triangle of heroes and villains, and would love a spin-off sequel about her running the project.
Overall, this was a great, fun read with a perfectly camp title and premise. Any fans of the MCU/DC universes or original comics will find this amusing, and romance lovers will get there fill of cheesy moments and awe-worthy confessions of love. Make sure to check your local bookstore on August 2nd, 2022 for this lovely book!
February 25, 2023
It was weird, but it seemed like Astrid didn’t mind her boyfriend (Max) running off in the middle of dates or canceling at the last minute, until she learned that he was a superhero. Astrid never said anything about this, it was just a vibe I was getting from her as I was reading.
Astrid was a strange character. I never read a book about someone who appeared so organized, scheduling everything that she was doing throughout her days, and yet seemed so scatterbrained and all over the place at the same time (which again was weird for a character that we were being told had such an excellent sense of time). I think the biggest reason for this was the way the chapters were set up. The author had us jumping in between so many timelines that if you didn’t pay attention to the headings of each chapter, you wouldn’t know where Astrid currently was in her life.
It didn’t make sense why Molly thought that Astrid would get why she wanted to date a superhero so badly. Molly didn’t fall in love with her boyfriend, Arthur. The only reason she originally got together with him was because he was a superhero. Molly loved the idea of being the damsel in distress, but that was specifically the reason why Astrid broke up with Max. She couldn’t handle all of the dangerous situations that came with it.
3.5 stars
Astrid was a strange character. I never read a book about someone who appeared so organized, scheduling everything that she was doing throughout her days, and yet seemed so scatterbrained and all over the place at the same time (which again was weird for a character that we were being told had such an excellent sense of time). I think the biggest reason for this was the way the chapters were set up. The author had us jumping in between so many timelines that if you didn’t pay attention to the headings of each chapter, you wouldn’t know where Astrid currently was in her life.
It didn’t make sense why Molly thought that Astrid would get why she wanted to date a superhero so badly. Molly didn’t fall in love with her boyfriend, Arthur. The only reason she originally got together with him was because he was a superhero. Molly loved the idea of being the damsel in distress, but that was specifically the reason why Astrid broke up with Max. She couldn’t handle all of the dangerous situations that came with it.
3.5 stars
July 25, 2022
While Astrid isn't one of the heroes you see on TV, she does have one superpower. A perfect sense of time. After all, that's how she's getting through her premed program at Columbia. By maintaining an absolutely perfect schedule. Everything she does fits into her carefully planned life. Even her meals and downtime have a place.
However, Max Martin messes all that up. Max Martin, who she knew from high school, and who just so happens to be a superhero. And Astrid's current boyfriend. After getting kidnapped by a supervillain one night, Astrid learns her boyfriend's secret identity. And now she has to decide if living a double life is worth it. Especially since it doesn't fit into her schedule.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced of How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) to review! As an avid superhero fan, I was super excited to pick this up. It sounds like such a fun time, and I wasn't wrong about that. It's such a quick fun read!
The dynamic between Astrid and Max in this book was great. You can tell that they really care about each other, even if Max is a bit absentminded. Which you know, is bound to happen if you're off saving the world half the time. For the most part, the setting in college also felt realistic, and the inclusion of Astrid's schedule helped with laying out the passage of time.
However, I really wanted the characters to be more developed. Outside of her obsession with schedules, I didn't think we got a lot of depth from Astrid, even as the main character. The same with Max. He's just a "good guy" out saving the rest of the world. I wanted them to be more complex. This would have made the book even more enjoyable for me.
Despite that, I did have a fun time reading this! It makes me want to pick up some more comics again. If you're looking for something fun that will be a quick read, I'd recommend picking this up for an end of summer book!
However, Max Martin messes all that up. Max Martin, who she knew from high school, and who just so happens to be a superhero. And Astrid's current boyfriend. After getting kidnapped by a supervillain one night, Astrid learns her boyfriend's secret identity. And now she has to decide if living a double life is worth it. Especially since it doesn't fit into her schedule.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced of How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) to review! As an avid superhero fan, I was super excited to pick this up. It sounds like such a fun time, and I wasn't wrong about that. It's such a quick fun read!
The dynamic between Astrid and Max in this book was great. You can tell that they really care about each other, even if Max is a bit absentminded. Which you know, is bound to happen if you're off saving the world half the time. For the most part, the setting in college also felt realistic, and the inclusion of Astrid's schedule helped with laying out the passage of time.
However, I really wanted the characters to be more developed. Outside of her obsession with schedules, I didn't think we got a lot of depth from Astrid, even as the main character. The same with Max. He's just a "good guy" out saving the rest of the world. I wanted them to be more complex. This would have made the book even more enjoyable for me.
Despite that, I did have a fun time reading this! It makes me want to pick up some more comics again. If you're looking for something fun that will be a quick read, I'd recommend picking this up for an end of summer book!
June 8, 2022
3/5 stars for How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying)
I really did not enjoy this book. The whole plot just jumped around a lot. I wished there was more storytelling instead of information just being handed to me. More character development would have been nice too. It was just so blah, like no good buildup. It fell flat. Something a little more, more drama or romance would have been great to really bring this book up. Sorry for such a depressing review.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy!
I really did not enjoy this book. The whole plot just jumped around a lot. I wished there was more storytelling instead of information just being handed to me. More character development would have been nice too. It was just so blah, like no good buildup. It fell flat. Something a little more, more drama or romance would have been great to really bring this book up. Sorry for such a depressing review.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy!
August 31, 2022
-cute and fun!
September 27, 2022
I thought this was a creative and refreshing way to tell a superhero story. I loved the fact that it was set in college, I loved that Astrid was in a relationship with Max before she found out he was a superhero, and I liked the writing style a lot.
I also really liked some of the jokes that the author put in, like “wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?”
A very cute and well-written YA romance. Thanks to netgalley for the eARC!
I also really liked some of the jokes that the author put in, like “wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?”
A very cute and well-written YA romance. Thanks to netgalley for the eARC!
October 16, 2023
ADORABLE I love my babies
August 2, 2022
This book has defined an entire era of my life so I think it's earned a five-star rating from me.
October 15, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, prior to its release. Thank you. This gift has not impacted my review.
Astrid is a perfectionist. A superhero in her own right. While she doesn't possess the powers that the superheroes who fly across the skies every day do, she can plan her life down to the minute. The time she sleeps is planned. Her time in class. Her time for extracurriculars. Everything has to be perfect. Her boyfriend Max isn't very good at understanding this. He misses dinner dates, he skips their plans and his excuses are always half-assed. That is until one night a supervillain breaks into Astrid's dorm room and attempts to kidnap her only to be saved by her boyfriend who has been living a double life since they were in high school together. Her Max is actually also Kid Comet. When she is then approached by an organisation that tells her she has to begin training to balance Max's secret double life also, her schedule goes out the window. She thought being a pre-med student was tough, but nothing is going to compare to the journey she is about to go on.
Firstly, I loved the world this story was based in. I really enjoy the idea that superheroes exist in the normal world. Everybody knows about them, and they have fans, but the vast majority of people simply accept their existence and get on with their day. The idea of everything being the same with one minor difference is great. I've always wondered how the citizens in New York felt in the 2012 Avengers movie and think this book covers that perfectly.
Astrid is a good character too, not necessarily one I can relate to because I have never been a perfectionist a single day in my life, but it's clear from the get-go that she loves Max so much and honestly, it seems like Max needs a bit of love. Their relationship is so sweet, very PG-13 kind of love where they make a lot of eye contact and take a lot of naps but it's clear they have a nice connection. I liked that this story isn't just pining and angst, it has a lot of heart and a lot of joy even when things are rough. Astrid's spiral around academia is something I can relate to as a PhD student, so I felt bad for her when her book bag went launching off the side of a building.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll be looking out for more from this author in the future.
Astrid is a perfectionist. A superhero in her own right. While she doesn't possess the powers that the superheroes who fly across the skies every day do, she can plan her life down to the minute. The time she sleeps is planned. Her time in class. Her time for extracurriculars. Everything has to be perfect. Her boyfriend Max isn't very good at understanding this. He misses dinner dates, he skips their plans and his excuses are always half-assed. That is until one night a supervillain breaks into Astrid's dorm room and attempts to kidnap her only to be saved by her boyfriend who has been living a double life since they were in high school together. Her Max is actually also Kid Comet. When she is then approached by an organisation that tells her she has to begin training to balance Max's secret double life also, her schedule goes out the window. She thought being a pre-med student was tough, but nothing is going to compare to the journey she is about to go on.
Firstly, I loved the world this story was based in. I really enjoy the idea that superheroes exist in the normal world. Everybody knows about them, and they have fans, but the vast majority of people simply accept their existence and get on with their day. The idea of everything being the same with one minor difference is great. I've always wondered how the citizens in New York felt in the 2012 Avengers movie and think this book covers that perfectly.
Astrid is a good character too, not necessarily one I can relate to because I have never been a perfectionist a single day in my life, but it's clear from the get-go that she loves Max so much and honestly, it seems like Max needs a bit of love. Their relationship is so sweet, very PG-13 kind of love where they make a lot of eye contact and take a lot of naps but it's clear they have a nice connection. I liked that this story isn't just pining and angst, it has a lot of heart and a lot of joy even when things are rough. Astrid's spiral around academia is something I can relate to as a PhD student, so I felt bad for her when her book bag went launching off the side of a building.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll be looking out for more from this author in the future.
August 2, 2022
Astrid and her class, while on a field trip had a school bus incident, where they were saved from certain death by the superhero Kid Comet. It was then that she realized, she didn't have time to waste and she started her life long plan for college and ultimately medical school. Schedules become her religion and she will sacrifice all to keep them. One night a supervillain breaks into her bedroom, and her boyfriend, clumsy high school friend, Max Martin, saves her. He's a superhero. But even worse, she now has significant other superhero support group and training, to fit into her packed premed schedule.
Why I started this book: I requested this book from netgalley months ago, and then didn't start reading immediately because the publication date was so far in the future... my mistake. This book went from something fun to read, to something I had to read and I rebelled against myself. I finally set a goal this month to read and review all my Netgalley titles.
Why I finished it: I read it in one sitting and was late to an appointment because I couldn't stop reading. Fernandez has captured the joy, pain and scheduling necessities of college when long term goals are so dependent on the paper, test and problem sets of this week's homework. I loved her understated writing style and humor... but judging from others' review its not for everyone. Astrid is slowly falling apart during the book, but stubbornly refuses to quit... or ask for more help. She's convinced with a little more effort, a more detailed and highlighted planner she can save everything. Same girl, same. Such a fun story, and I look forward to more books by Fernandez.
Why I started this book: I requested this book from netgalley months ago, and then didn't start reading immediately because the publication date was so far in the future... my mistake. This book went from something fun to read, to something I had to read and I rebelled against myself. I finally set a goal this month to read and review all my Netgalley titles.
Why I finished it: I read it in one sitting and was late to an appointment because I couldn't stop reading. Fernandez has captured the joy, pain and scheduling necessities of college when long term goals are so dependent on the paper, test and problem sets of this week's homework. I loved her understated writing style and humor... but judging from others' review its not for everyone. Astrid is slowly falling apart during the book, but stubbornly refuses to quit... or ask for more help. She's convinced with a little more effort, a more detailed and highlighted planner she can save everything. Same girl, same. Such a fun story, and I look forward to more books by Fernandez.
August 9, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.
As far as book candy goes, this had a few of the notable elements that made it a good option - the goofy but big-hearted best friend who steals the scene every time he's on the page, a playful and gentle sweetness between the male lead and the main character, and a world where superheroes-vs-aliens fights are just something that pops up on the nightly news, no big deal.
Ultimately, though, I was disappointed.
When a book has the word "superhero" in the title, I guess I'm expecting a lot more superheroes and a lot less of the main character sitting in her dorm room studying or complaining to her mentors about how hard it is to fit her boyfriend into her schedule.
There were maybe one or two scenes that actually had the suspenseful, dangerous, action-packed superhero fun that I really, really wanted when I picked up this title, but we spent the balance of the book waiting for something interesting to happen. We mostly just got mentions of the superhero-y stuff happening in the distant, off-page world of the book and very rarely got to witness any of it firsthand or even see any of the aftermath. Honestly, Max could have been a regular guy with no superpowers whatsoever and it wouldn't have had much affect on whether or not Astrid felt comfortable squeezing him into her schedule. It would have had very little bearing on the story we end up with.
This is going to be one of those titles that I think of in the future whenever I talk about books that have great concepts but poor execution. Imagine if you will, someone you just met rattles off several facts about themselves. "I am a sophomore in college. I color-code my planner. And oh yeah, I'm dating a superhero." You're gonna be like, "Wait, WHAT? Tell me more about that!" She then proceeds to go into exquisite detail about her life as a sophomore and her color-coded planner and generally says nothing about the one thing you were most interested in. That is essentially what my experience with this book was, and I felt let down.
As far as book candy goes, this had a few of the notable elements that made it a good option - the goofy but big-hearted best friend who steals the scene every time he's on the page, a playful and gentle sweetness between the male lead and the main character, and a world where superheroes-vs-aliens fights are just something that pops up on the nightly news, no big deal.
Ultimately, though, I was disappointed.
When a book has the word "superhero" in the title, I guess I'm expecting a lot more superheroes and a lot less of the main character sitting in her dorm room studying or complaining to her mentors about how hard it is to fit her boyfriend into her schedule.
There were maybe one or two scenes that actually had the suspenseful, dangerous, action-packed superhero fun that I really, really wanted when I picked up this title, but we spent the balance of the book waiting for something interesting to happen. We mostly just got mentions of the superhero-y stuff happening in the distant, off-page world of the book and very rarely got to witness any of it firsthand or even see any of the aftermath. Honestly, Max could have been a regular guy with no superpowers whatsoever and it wouldn't have had much affect on whether or not Astrid felt comfortable squeezing him into her schedule. It would have had very little bearing on the story we end up with.
This is going to be one of those titles that I think of in the future whenever I talk about books that have great concepts but poor execution. Imagine if you will, someone you just met rattles off several facts about themselves. "I am a sophomore in college. I color-code my planner. And oh yeah, I'm dating a superhero." You're gonna be like, "Wait, WHAT? Tell me more about that!" She then proceeds to go into exquisite detail about her life as a sophomore and her color-coded planner and generally says nothing about the one thing you were most interested in. That is essentially what my experience with this book was, and I felt let down.
August 30, 2022
Following Astrid's day-to-day life with momentary glimpses into the world of superheroes and villains, How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) peels away the gold and glitter of the extraordinary to find the understated beauty in the mundane - and it does this in the most thoughtful way. I'm all for romanticizing the ordinary, and this is the perfect read for that.
What worked for me:
• An introspective coming-of-age story set in college (which we need more of!).
• A frazzled, perfectionist protagonist who obsesses over schedules because she feels like she's running out of time (very relatable to me personally!)
• A refreshing take on superpowered people told through the eyes of their un-superpowered partner - and it did make me wonder what it would be like to date a superhero.
• Reflections on happiness, ambition, and fulfillment - what they mean to us, how they are shaped, and how to pursue them.
• Slight romanticization of living a quiet, ordinary life (and I think, coming from an unprecedented global pandemic, this message can be comforting).
• Flashback snippets into Astrid and Max's relationship, which allows readers to see how they fell into each others' lives so naturally and tenderly.
What might not work for other readers:
• Very little action and superpowered heroics (as the focus is more on Astrid's college life and her development as a character).
• The back-and-forth between past and present with similar beats does slow down the story's pacing and can come across as repetitive.
Final verdict? Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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What worked for me:
• An introspective coming-of-age story set in college (which we need more of!).
• A frazzled, perfectionist protagonist who obsesses over schedules because she feels like she's running out of time (very relatable to me personally!)
• A refreshing take on superpowered people told through the eyes of their un-superpowered partner - and it did make me wonder what it would be like to date a superhero.
• Reflections on happiness, ambition, and fulfillment - what they mean to us, how they are shaped, and how to pursue them.
• Slight romanticization of living a quiet, ordinary life (and I think, coming from an unprecedented global pandemic, this message can be comforting).
• Flashback snippets into Astrid and Max's relationship, which allows readers to see how they fell into each others' lives so naturally and tenderly.
What might not work for other readers:
• Very little action and superpowered heroics (as the focus is more on Astrid's college life and her development as a character).
• The back-and-forth between past and present with similar beats does slow down the story's pacing and can come across as repetitive.
Final verdict? Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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June 5, 2022
I love this book beyond words. It’s not a perfect book by any means; honestly, it’s lacking in several areas – fully fleshed-out characters (I’m looking at you, Max) being the main one – but it took me two hours to read because I was so absorbed in the story instantly. So much so that I forgot to say I’d update that I’d started reading it on here and only realized when I hit the halfway mark.
All this to say that no, this book isn’t perfect – Max is basically a Good Guy Archetype who’s unfailingly earnest (take a shot every time that word is used in here and you’ll be blackout drunk) and a human love bot when it comes to Astrid; several characters who won’t be named for spoiler purposes are somewhat underdeveloped as villains/antiheroes; Astrid starts off the story as a caricature that readers might find it hard to like.
All that aside, I love this book so much. The premise is great. The plot and subplots might not be the most “original” things in the world, but at the same time, what made everything so fun to me was how the story plays with traditional capes-and-spandex superheroes, ones with funny names like Kid Comet and Dr. Midnight. It’s like a comic book come to life, from the point of view of a character who’s supposed to die off to serve the hero’s story. All that to say, How to Date a Superhero made me fall in love with Max and Astrid, and the rest of the cast. As simple as they might be, they’re so fun to read and I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a romcom with a twist.
All this to say that no, this book isn’t perfect – Max is basically a Good Guy Archetype who’s unfailingly earnest (take a shot every time that word is used in here and you’ll be blackout drunk) and a human love bot when it comes to Astrid; several characters who won’t be named for spoiler purposes are somewhat underdeveloped as villains/antiheroes; Astrid starts off the story as a caricature that readers might find it hard to like.
All that aside, I love this book so much. The premise is great. The plot and subplots might not be the most “original” things in the world, but at the same time, what made everything so fun to me was how the story plays with traditional capes-and-spandex superheroes, ones with funny names like Kid Comet and Dr. Midnight. It’s like a comic book come to life, from the point of view of a character who’s supposed to die off to serve the hero’s story. All that to say, How to Date a Superhero made me fall in love with Max and Astrid, and the rest of the cast. As simple as they might be, they’re so fun to read and I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a romcom with a twist.
April 19, 2024
3.5 stars! I really loved the concept of this book, the play out we get to see with anxiety, PTSD and panic attacks through our main cast especially in a college setting was also great to see. However, there are some things I kind of saw as unanswered or unresolved. One that kind of keeps spinning in my head is the main characters older sister like what happened there?
But wait, the banter ! The dialogue and the love confessions just got to me. The friendships too, like I really really loved the dynamics between Astrid and David and then Astrid and Wally (big bro little sis vibes). And I loved the little developments we get towards the end regarding time and the Ferris Buller reference ??? Stan!
Yes indeed Astrid was definitely a Cameron.
All in all, I think what really got to me with this book was the relatability towards the emotions that surge of losing time or not distributing it for a more “productive” plan. Especially in college where you’re literally basing your time there to start your path into the “real world” and into real adulthood. And Astrid having multiple schedules and literally scheduling when Max was gonna ask her out made me laugh and also made me flabbergasted because no, no I don’t want to live like that to accomplish my dreams. I want to also live happily in this moment, enjoying the journey but also eventually the destination. And in the end Astrid finally understood that too.
But wait, the banter ! The dialogue and the love confessions just got to me. The friendships too, like I really really loved the dynamics between Astrid and David and then Astrid and Wally (big bro little sis vibes). And I loved the little developments we get towards the end regarding time and the Ferris Buller reference ??? Stan!
Yes indeed Astrid was definitely a Cameron.
All in all, I think what really got to me with this book was the relatability towards the emotions that surge of losing time or not distributing it for a more “productive” plan. Especially in college where you’re literally basing your time there to start your path into the “real world” and into real adulthood. And Astrid having multiple schedules and literally scheduling when Max was gonna ask her out made me laugh and also made me flabbergasted because no, no I don’t want to live like that to accomplish my dreams. I want to also live happily in this moment, enjoying the journey but also eventually the destination. And in the end Astrid finally understood that too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
I wanted to love this book so badly. The premise is something I really want to read. And to be fair, I didn't hate it, but...
I didn't love Astrid. And this book is all Astrid. She's a really hard character type to write without coming off robotic, bland and annoying.
I applaud the effort though.
I didn't love Astrid. And this book is all Astrid. She's a really hard character type to write without coming off robotic, bland and annoying.
I applaud the effort though.
August 11, 2022
It's fun to find a book in the superhero genre thats refreshingly unique. Cristina Fernandez has done that by introducing us to a new group of people: the ones behind the scenes, the ones dating a superhero, the ones trying to balance their own crazy lives while worrying about supernatural threats to their loved ones.
Enter Astrid, shes the girl next door with super high expectations. She has difficulty balancing things and needs a calendar to schedule her entire existence. Makes perfect sense when you learn Astrid is in college and wants to be a doctor (and maintain her 4.0 gpa). It's unrealistic when your boyfriend, Max, is a superhero.
Hernandez has captured Astrid perfectly with her panic attacks and needing to have colored markers to schedule everything just perfectly And Max is the loving guy that would do anything for his girl (while saving the world). Nothing in this world is perfect - relationships, classes and super villians are real.
How to Date is a fun read from a debut author with a lot of promise. Those loving YA rom-com and books with heart while tackling issues will enjoy the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Cristina Hernandez for introducing us to the superheros behind the superhero. Thank you for true friendships and showing us what can happen when an ordinary person becomes involoved with a superhero.
Enter Astrid, shes the girl next door with super high expectations. She has difficulty balancing things and needs a calendar to schedule her entire existence. Makes perfect sense when you learn Astrid is in college and wants to be a doctor (and maintain her 4.0 gpa). It's unrealistic when your boyfriend, Max, is a superhero.
Hernandez has captured Astrid perfectly with her panic attacks and needing to have colored markers to schedule everything just perfectly And Max is the loving guy that would do anything for his girl (while saving the world). Nothing in this world is perfect - relationships, classes and super villians are real.
How to Date is a fun read from a debut author with a lot of promise. Those loving YA rom-com and books with heart while tackling issues will enjoy the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Cristina Hernandez for introducing us to the superheros behind the superhero. Thank you for true friendships and showing us what can happen when an ordinary person becomes involoved with a superhero.
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