Scan barcode
bookcheshirecat's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
“As much as we might not like it or want to admit it, being out and proud is an act of defiance.”
➽ I had so much fun with Okay, Cupid!! I'm finally getting around to catching up on Mason Deaver's books and this might have been one of my favorites! It's set in our world ... but there are Cupids working behind the scenes to make certain people fall in love who are meant for each other. Our main character Jude is one of these Cupids. They look just like a human but have a responsibility to help humanity with romantic love while never revealing themselves. I immediately liked Jude, as they were a bit awkward and their life was in chaos, which was very relatable to me. Jude broke one of the big rules for Cupids and fell for a human ... but their crush forgot all about them when they kissed. Heartbroken and scared of disappointing their caretakers for a second time, Jude needs their next job to go well!
➽ Jude has to infiltrate a high school in order to get exes Huy and Alice to fall in love again! They were never properly in school due to being a Cupid, so Jude is a bit lost at first. I found them trying to adjust to high school and acting like a normal teenager to be so funny! Jude is determined to prove that they've moved on from their past mistakes and brave the scary world of high school. As a cupid, they have a small amount of powers but also have to work in order to infiltrate their target's surroundings. I liked that balance as Jude has to find a way to get close to Alice and Huy in order to find out how to get both of them back together! I thought Jude's character voice was really distinct and I felt for their struggles. Jude is supposed to be 'above' human attachments and never supposed to get too close to them, but they struggle to keep themselves detached. Getting a glimpse into the cupid culture and how Jude questions if they even belong there was very interesting!
➽ The romance was super cute! Jude has to get closer to Huy and manages it a bit too well. They end up becoming friends and Jude also warms up to Alice, who's a harder nut to crack. They're not supposed to get attached to their new friends, as they have a month for the job and then need to leave again. Still, Jude enjoys being a normal teenager and ends up growing closer to charming Huy. Once everything is done, they are supposed to erase everyone's memories of them, but Jude doesn't want things to be over. I liked the pining between Jude and Huy and how Jude desperately tries to deny the newfound feelings, as they're not supposed to fall for a human twice!
➽ The only thing I didn't enjoy as much was the ending. There was a lot of setup for Jude's struggles between a normal life with their new friends and their identity as a cupid in their community.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Transphobia
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
booksbeyondthebinary's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
fanboyriot's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read For:
Romcom
Meet Cutes
Matchmaking
Found Family
Wholesome Friendships
This gave all the romcom Cupid vibes I was expecting and I loved it. The queer rep in this book was amazing.
Jude a teenager themself is a cupid, working to bring couples together with their one true match. However, Jude ends up falling for a human and as a cupid, that is unacceptable. They move on and get a new mission, being sent to a high school to get two close friends back together, for them to fall back into love, simple right? Not exactly.
This book was so fun to read. The meet cutes and how people impact each other's lives no matter how simple or mundane the action is. I loved the moment Jude realized Huy was trans, it was hilarious and relatable. The only negative thing to say is that the second to last chapter seemed a bit rushed at the end. The last chapter brings everything together and leaves on a good note, albeit a bit of an open ending but hinting to a happily ever after.
Overall, this book was super cute and lived up to the hype I had for it. The characters were written well, the friends that quickly turned into a found family were delightful to read about, and of course, the plot itself was great.
Thank you so much to Scholastic for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I am very grateful.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)
Release Date: 02, January 2024
POV: First Person
Spice: 🌶️ PG-13 (sexual jokes, and kissing)
Rep: Nonbinary (MC), Vietnamese-American Transmasc (LI), Vietnamese-American (SC), BIPOC (SCs), Queer Characters
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
More...