This took a bit for me to get into. Just kind of bored me at first. Honestly, I was struggling to read through it as much as Sam was struggling to get passed his past. But he was like able enough of a guy and the premise intrigued me enough that I wanted to press on because I jar kept hoping it would pick up.
And I’m so glad that I did. Sam and his quirky heroics and quirky romance really tugged at my heart. He’s hurting so badly and as a reader you’re just really pulling for him to work it all out. All in all, I’m glad I read it. Not sure I’d rave about it, but it a good read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this titles. Unfortunately this book archived before I was able to download it and I will not be able to submit a review at this time.

Cute, quirky, heartwarming. I enjoyed The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway. A good contemporary read for when you are in the mood for something a little different.

This was an interesting book that combined a very satirical look at the antics of an action hero with the life of a young man continuing to grieve (or avoid grieving) for his family. Sadly, I think it was the strong juxtaposition of the two worlds Sam Holloway inhabited that didn't work for me. By the end of the book I had come to terms with it, but at points while reading the book it was very annoying. I did enjoy the enduring threads of friendship that continued to pop up and came away with a great moment that I will always remember on trail runs about the unevenness helping to keep a person in the moment.

I adored this book. The story doesn't fit into my typical reading preferences and I'm all the more grateful to have read it because of that fact. When I say not my typical I mean that in the best way regarding the romance. As a contemporary fiction work it's a softer shade of romance that ultimately shows the healing power of love and kindness and decency. I wouldn't classify this book as a romance as much as adult fiction.

This is a thoughtfully written novel about man emotionally locked away from the world when it comes to himself but effortlessly passionate about the lives around him. The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway bases itself on the human condition of wanting to be loved and giving that love back, not only for yourself but furthering that complex emotion to an innate awareness of the humanity, or lack thereof, that goes on around you.

Sam Holloway is a selfless man and character who's been handed a lot of life to deal with. His outward courage doesn't correlate to bravery for himself so the story takes root there. The concept was brilliant to me, especially today. He's careful to the point of madness when the meticulousness of life is threatened. He's hardened and open at the same time. Scared yet brave. Sam Holloway consistently shines even through his own shadows. The book took several chapters for me to become fully invested but I felt a kinship to the characters and to both the painful and extremely heartfelt emotions Rhys Thomas was able to evoke. Definitely worth the read.

THE UNLIKELY HEROICS OF SAM HOLLOWAY is super cute, fast read about Sam Holloway (obvi), a quiet factory worker by day and somewhat fearless superhero by night. Sam and Sarah were an adorable couple to root for and the two intertwining narratives of his nighttime adventures and daily life worked really well. Solid 3 stars. Enjoyable, but it's not going to stick with me long.

4 Stars
Review by Amy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog

The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway is a story about tragedy and coping that takes on a unique twist. In this emotional story that was beautifully written by Rhys Thomas, a young man finds ways to handle his pain in an unexpected and unusual way.

Sam Holloway is a man struggling to make it on his own. He works for a large Japanese company, owns his own place and goes through his daily tasks in a monotonous and religious manner. That is, until he dresses in his superhero costume and enters the darkness to protect and serve. Suddenly, his path keeps crossing with a girl who catches his interest. Can he continue to live his secret life while his feelings for her grow?

This book was like a literary trip through the day to day life of an everyday person. Then, there are these snippets of his superhero life thrown in. And a little romance and danger to mix it up just a little more. Finally, the author pulls out this emotional baggage Sam has been carrying around and it just kind of breaks your heart for him.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the story. It was very slow going at first. It wasn’t until the halfway point that I really felt myself getting invested in Sam and his story. I struggled and put the book down many times in the first half, but flew through it once I hit the midpoint, all in all leaving me thoroughly delighted.

**ARC provide by author for honest review**

The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway, aside from its auspicious title, is a heart warming, sensitive and “good feel” read. This book is well written and draws the reader in such a captivating way. Kindness.....caring for one another......, lives being dealt a bad hand but the ability to plod on are all resounding themes. “Every past was once a future,” “ Let the past inform your future, but not define it.” Think about that! Thank you Netgalley and Wildfire for this ARC.

I received a free copy of The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway by Rhys Thomas in exchange for an honest review. Sam Holloway is quiet, meek, and unassuming. To all appearances, he lives a quiet life filled with work, a couple of friends, and good deeds. In truth, Sam is struggling; it has been years since a horrific personal tragedy, but Sam has not really gotten any better. The only thing that seems to help Sam cope with his overwhelming grief is suiting up as a masked vigilante, stalking through the night, and trying to help other citizens in sometimes showy and sometimes sweet ways. Then, Sam meets a girl, and Sam’s static life begins to change.

This truly was poignant. How far can someone fall into despair and still be able to recover?

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