Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Avoid spoilers. Don’t get fired. Defeat a not-so-fictional supervillain?Seventeen-year-old fangirl Rosemary Collins lives for VIGIL & ANTE Studios movies. From action-packed superhero fights to sweet character moments, she’s here for it all. But in a real-life crossover no one saw coming, the fandom’s heartthrob supervillain, Ironfall, isn’t as fictional as the film studio wants her to believe. Beyond the glamorous red carpet lies the government’s most guarded secret: the movies are real.Armed with a devilish grin and a wit as sharp as his knives, Ironfall needs her help, and refusing means he’ll kill her parents. Her only other option involves spying on him for the government’s secret superhero division. Suspended between fact and what she thought was fiction, Rosemary must join her heroes and create an impenetrable web of lies—or guarantee her parents’ safety as she watches the world burn at its adored villain’s hand.Perfect for fans of pop culture and comics, WE COULD BE VILLAINS packs an entire cinematic universe into a book. Join Rosemary and the not-so-fictional heroes (and villains!) of the VIGIL & ANTE films in this imaginative science fiction where superhero battles equal publicity stunts, fictional characters become family, and the villain just might steal your heart.
Is We Could be Villains appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This YA superhero story features moderate action violence, blackmail, and morally complex choices, but no sexual content or strong language. The villain threatens the protagonist's parents to coerce her cooperation.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include kidnapping, captivity, and manipulation (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who love superhero movies and meta-fiction will enjoy this twist where the cinematic universe is real and the charming villain needs help from a fangirl.