Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Okay, Cupid

Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver

2 reviews

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Through most of the book, this would have been a 4-4.5 for me. But alas, one of my worst tropes had me disappointed and pity hard. Honestly though, I can have a nice vision of what took place after the book ended which can make me feel a bit better.

A+ though for:
- the humor and cute moments
- the creativity of the world of the cupids and the diverse cast of characters in terms of gender, sexual orientation , race, nationality
-the amazing characterization and personalities of the main characters
-the depiction of positive queer experiences!

Also I am not usually big on dissecting symbolism but below is one I am proud of!

It was really interesting to see Jude accepted so easily as nonbinary by those who love them, yet the realization of finding belonging as a human and not as a cupid was parallel to a common trans narrative. Jude was fine being a cupid and never questioned it- it’s who they were and they were good at it. But then starting 6 months prior to the book’s beginning, they made what they thought was a huge mistake falling for a human boy. They spend the next months trying so hard to get back on track and focus on their work as a cupid but then not only does it all start happening again in terms of love, but they also find a deeper connection with other humans. Yet, other cupids don’t get it at all, even if they can relate to certain aspects like making mistakes or repressing feelings. But for Jude, their actions are not mistakes but rather what they are meant to be doing even if the path can be harder compared to the safe, secure life guaranteed as a cupid. This was really similar to when I gradually realized I was queer. And the reactions of Jude’s loved ones were also all to familiar. l

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bookcheshirecat's review

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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.

When they kiss Huy, his memories of Jude get erased and they also no longer remember what happened. It took me reading other reviews to understand that kissing a human for the second time made Jude forget they were ever a cupid. I didn't get that when I read the ending, so I was mostly confused. Even with this knowledge, them meeting again (pretty sure Cal orchestrated this) and having a proper meet cute, didn't fill me with joy. I just don't think they have a future, as Jude is supposed to leave the city with Hannah and I have no idea what she'll do now that they no longer remember their true identity? The ending felt too ambiguous for me, as Huy and Jude's relationship doesn't have a good chance in my opinion.

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