Project Hero

Have you ever seen Can't Buy Me Love (Dir. Steve Rash, 1987) or Oxford Blues (Dir. Robert Boris, 1984)? Project Hero (2020) written by Briar Prescott reminds me of those films and that time frame. When movies were about the teenage underdog and life was about a more innocent time.

Prescott does not place the hero in high school nor is the hero a heterosexual looking to pay someone to help him get his dream girl. Andy is a college virgin looking to finally land the love of his life who cannot see him. Andy creates his own summer project: himself. He is going to create a better version of himself to offer not only his love, but to the world to get better job prospects and opportunities.

In walks all of his answers and problems in the character of Law. Prescott gives us the perfect foil to Andy. An automatic rom-com in the making. The entire time I was reading the story I was thinking that this book was the perfect 1980's movie and just needed a soundtrack to go with it. There is nothing wrong with being a 1980's movie, the story just felt familiar to me. I was expecting Ferris Bueller to show up any minute and start singing in a parade.

It could be just me (laugh) who responds this way to Project Hero. Prescott gives Hero all of the comforts of an ‘80s movie. For me, this is something I greatly need at this crazy time. Reading Andy's story is a familiar one. Prescott makes his journey a fun one and though it is a familiar trope it is one you want to take with him. You want Andy to succeed in his project and finally see what we see all along. The Hero Prescott writes from the first page...or the opening credits as I read it.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

3.5 stars. Cute, somewhat wordy jock/nerd college student love story. Andy is hilarious, and his character growth is notable, especially as he realizes that there are other roles to play besides “hero” or “sidekick.” Law is perhaps a little too perfect, and his journey isn't as obvious, but Andy helps him feel more confident about his decision to follow his dreams instead of the ones his parents have for him. Lots of humorous scenes and dialogue, although some of the extraneous details could have been eliminated to make the book tighter. Really quite impressive for a debut, and I'd read definitely read more books by this author.