Read time: 4 minutes
🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
⏱ Duration: 7 hours 51 minutes
🏷️ Publisher: Tantor Media and Duet Books
📅 Released: September 8, 2016
📚 Genre: YA Fantasy / Superhero Fiction
Book Blurb:
Welcome to Andover… where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. High school senior Jessica Tran comes from a family of superheroes, but she doesn’t have powers of her own. Determined to build her college résumé, she lands a paid internship that turns out to be with the town’s most notorious supervillain. Working alongside her longtime crush Abby and a mysterious fellow intern known only as “M,” Jess begins to suspect there’s more going on beneath the hero-versus-villain drama. What starts as teenage rebellion soon unravels into something much bigger than capes and secret identities.
Let’s talk about the book:
All the usual superhero books and movies are obsessed with The Chosen Ones with their capes and dramatic rooftop monologues. But this book focuses on the kid who’s holding the clipboard in the background. In this, we get the underdog’s point of view. And I loved that.
Jessica Tran is not the spotlight character. She’s the daughter of heroes without powers of her own, permanently struck in the “supporting cast” lane. Jessica Tran feels charmingly real in a funny, determined, and quietly frustrated way. Seeing the superhero world through the eyes of someone sidelined makes everything feel sharper and more honest. The moral lines blur. The shine dulls. The politics get interesting. It’s less about laser beams and more about who gets to define what “hero” even means. Through Jess’s perspective, CB Lee gives us a fresh look at what happens outside the spotlight of heroism.
The worldbuilding is rich and never overwhelming, with a blend of futuristic tech, political tension, and small-town awkwardness. And the romance between Jess and Abby was sweetly done too, in the best YA way. The dynamics between Jess and Abby glows with authenticity. Sure, I guessed who “M” was early on, but that didn’t take away from the joy of watching it unfold. Emily Woo Zeller’s narration added heart and humor, making every twist feel alive.
It’s a fun, heartfelt ride that never loses its light, even when the stakes are high. The universe is beautifully built and feels expansive without being overwhelming. I’m absolutely continuing the series. Knowing that the fourth book in the series is on hold makes me sad, but I’ll keep hoping for C.B. Lee to return and give these characters their well-deserved finale.
Would I recommend it?
If you’re looking for a YA superhero story with queer romance, secret identities, and a genuinely refreshing take on sidekick energy, this is a solid pick. It’s clever, heartfelt, and quietly subversive without trying too hard. Perfect for readers who like their fantasy with emotional stakes and layered world-building.
If you liked Not Your Sidekick, try these
- Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn – Another witty, Asian-American superheroine learning her worth beyond the mask.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Renegades by Marissa Meyer – Big superhero vs. villain tension with complicated morality and romance.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune – Queer teen + superheroes + laugh-out-loud awkwardness.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Dreadnought by April Daniels – A trans teen inherits superhero powers and faces huge moral stakes.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Vicious by V.E. Schwab – For those craving a darker, morally gray take on superpowers.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
Capes, Crushes & Sidekick Energy
Are you a spotlight hero reader… or do you secretly love the “background character who sees everything” trope as much as I do? And tell me, did you guess who “M” was early on, or were you delightfully blindsided? Let’s talk in the comments.
Book Links:
Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal
Indiebookstores.ca
Bookshop.org
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
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