The premise of a comic book author working with an investigator to solve a crime that mimics a comic series is pretty dang cool. It’s almost satirical in its writing in that it’s mirroring comic events, like a chance meeting at a coffee shop. This and the other happenstance occurrences give this story a sarcastic feel. The difference with this novel and comics is its tone.

The main character is immediately unlikeable as she’s brash and thinks she knows everyone from the moment she meets them. This judgementalism is really a reflection of how she’s treated, however, as she’s the only female comic book author in her office. She feels like she has to work twice as hard to be seen by her peers. Which in the case of the big boss, is completely true. Her unwillingness to conversate and get to know her coworkers makes her feel more isolated than she should be. It all stems from her parents not supporting her in her dreams. Parents pushing their hopes onto their children never goes well for them. It causes the kid to be disconnected and rebel against their wishes in ways that they normally wouldn’t. This is evident in MG’s appearance as she dyes her hair constantly and assumes everyone thinks she doesn’t belong. Her off putting demeanor and attitude were hard to deal with at first, but as the story progressed, she really developed in a subtle, meaningful way. It was really nice to see her open up and connect with people she shared interests with. This growth is perfectly interwoven with the story that I didn’t really notice it until thinking back over it.

Speaking of story, the comic book crimes being echoed in ‘real life’ was a great hook. I felt somewhat out of the loop in the crimes being mimicked as the comics themselves were not explained in much detail, though the intrigue of the situation was enough. There was some subtlety to the reveals even though one was a blatant unmasking. The other perpetrator is not directly revealed, though one can speculate on who it was after finishing. It, again, leans into the comic theme in the motivations of the bad guy, though it does so earnestly that I didn’t mind it.

What really shines here is the growth of MG, but also the detective, Matteo. He’s a great detective in that he always tries to be professional about his work, though he and MG start to develop feelings for one another. There’s a nice back and forth between them as they try to understand each other. I’m not usually one for romance, but the chemistry between them was quite endearing. I honestly expected some smut out of this relationship, and I was fortunately incorrect in that assumption. It’s just a relationship that develops out of awkward occurrences and introspection that helps both characters develop in meaningful ways. I was surprised at how much I liked the dynamic of MG and Matteo.

If you’re looking for something more lighthearted with some romance and solid character development, I'd definitely recommend this one. It’s hard to read at first, but the abrasiveness of MG dissipates throughout the story and her development alone really does the novel justice. It’s a nice break from the smuttiness of some contemporary love stories, and I think fans of those stories would appreciate a relationship that develops in a healthier way like this.