I was very up and down with my feelings about this book throughout. The best part of it was the relationship, it was sweet and genuine and I thought they had great chemistry! What I hated most was the way that the main character was too into being “not like other girls.” I just want girls to stop having to compare themselves and constantly be in competition and I think this book did exactly what it was trying not to do. Just not my favorite.

"Isn't it funny how you can be okay and love yourself, but still not think anyone will ever love you back?"
Man, what a read this was! So much about this book was lovely.
I enjoyed the fact that the heroine was a confident curvy girl who wasn't bullied and was somewhat popular but still struggled with self love at times. It was a realistic depiction of what it can feel like when you have tons of people who love you but still have a little voice in your head that makes you doubt yourself.
The love interest was charmingly sweet and exactly the kind of boy I wish I could have come across when I was in high school.
Of course we have a mean girl, but the turn it takes with her character was quite pleasing to read.
The side characters were enjoyable and the pop culture references were fun and lighthearted.
The only thing I noticed were some typos and misinformation (Don't Worry Baby was a song by The Beach Boys not The Beatles) but I also received an ARC thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley so those may have been fixed before publishing.

Big ole yikes for this one.

The best thing I can say about this one is that it held my attention and it was a fast read. That's it.

The writing was very cringeworthy and the pop culture references were incredibly over the top. Listen, I'm a Sarah J. Maas fan. I'm not ashamed. But I also wouldn't write a book with the main characters names being "Ariel" and "Rhys" and then write an actual conversation between them about how their names are so close to "Azriel" and "Rhysand" from ACOTAR. Who edited this and thought "yes yes, sounds good" ?!

I can't adequately speak for the representation seeing as I'm not someone in need of this rep, but I will say that it didn't seem like the body positivity I felt when reading "One to Watch," "If the Shoe Fits," or "Fat Chance, Charlie Vega." This one seemed much more negative and she could just not believe that someone like Rhys could like someone like her. I just don't think it came off as positive as the author intended for it to be and seemed to fit into the 90's rom com perspective, which isn't particularly kind or empowering.

Also. A lot of this book felt like... plagiarism? I mean, I get the author was taking inspiration from a bunch of different rom coms since her protagonist was a movie enthusiast, but to literally give her the mic while Can't Take my Eyes Off of You plays in the background was a bit much. And the "bet" (that ended up not being a bet) for taking her to Homecoming... just felt like I was reading a medley of 90's rom com greatest hits.

This also read young. Very young. Younger than young adult. This was pretty much a middle grade read for the girl that's excited to go to high school.

I wanted to give this 2 stars because it at least held my attention, but when I realized I didn't have anything positive to say about the actual story or the characters, I had to stick with 1.

It was the cover, which drew my eye on Netgalley. Than the blurb got me smiling, so I knew I had to request the arc. Although I hadn’t read anything from Cookie yet, I was looking forward to reading this one.

And it was cute, funny and also confronting. Yes, there are a lot of prejudices in the world and I am sure that for big-boned girls, it can be hard indeed. But I really liked the way that Cookie just gave Ariel a ton of self confidence and have her stand tall. Because she is a princess and although she never expected it, people were also voting for her. And we have the mysterious and broody guy: Rhys. He is also more than meets the eye. In true Disney-style we get a wonderful treat of a girl embracing her quirkiness and just enjoying her time. Go Ariel!

Thank you Netalley for providing the arc. Five out of five stars from me.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ariel is a full bodied young woman and she’s proud of who she is even when others are unkind. Her best friend, Toni, nominates her for the Homecoming royalty without Ariel knowing. Ariel may like herself but she’s been bullied about her size and that makes her wary of gaining attention or being in any spotlight. Being part of the homecoming royalty stresses her out. Rhys is her designated homecoming prince for all of the activities and he’s also the star quarterback. She’s a bit intimidated by him and the other royalty. As she gets to know the other royalty better and they get to know her, friendships begin. Cupcake is an adorable story of growth, confidence and loving yourself!

I absolutely LOVED this feel good swoony YA romance between star football player Rhys and plus-sized food blogger Ariel (aka 'Cupcake'). When Ariel unexpectedly gets nominated for Prom court and gets paired up with grumpy football player Rhys the two are suddenly thrown together, slowly learning they have more in common than they first thought (including a shared love of Sarah J. Maas!).

This book is full of body positivity not just for Cupcake but for the mean girls forced to try to live up to traditional beauty standards. There is also really strong mental health rep, both Rhys and Cupcake see therapists. Rhys is such a swoony book bf, his love for Cupcake just made me smile from ear to ear. HIGHLY recommend this one, especially for fans of Lynn Painter's Better than the movies. The ending of this book is just as epic and romcom movie perfect! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Pub Day to this cute little YA rom com, ‘Cupcake’ by Cookie O’Gorman! I read ‘Cupcake’ last week and I’m happy to report that it is perfect for fans of movies such as She’s All That, 10 Things I Hate About You and the Duff. It was a great lighthearted story I added to my line up during spooky season!

This book pretty much fits the formula of a high school rom com.
-Girl, Ariel, thinks she’s unnoticeable/not popular.
-Ariel is announced as part of homecoming court. ‘Who me?! Is this a joke?!’
-Ariel is matched up with hottie QB Rhys Castle (sweet name bro!).
-Rhys actually LIKES her! Other girls are bitchy. Queue up the angsty girl rock.

Anyway, I didn’t spoil anything, really. There’s a lot to this story… body image and confidence issues and standing up for yourself... Being yourself in high school is SO hard and Ariel does a good job of owning it. Although of course there’s conflict as with any rom com where the characters just need to TALK. IT. OUT.

This was a cute story and a super cliché teen drama and honestly meant for a 15 year old. BUT, it was an easy and quick read and I liked it- it was just what I wanted. It made me wish that my old homecoming date would have actually wanted to hang out with me and not just drop me off at my friends house and leave. Oh the memories of youth. 😅

Also, I should have prepared more for this picture and baked cupcakes buuuut…

Thank you to @entangledteen for this gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review! And once again, happy pub day! 🥳

🖤🖤🖤

Cupcake could have been really good and I was looking forward to reading a plus-side lead who's story wasn't "I'm lame and unpopular but then a hot boy likes me and people accept me", but it tries so hard to be relatable that it become unrelatable. From the "I'm not like the other girls" hallmark of the protagonist instantly letting you know she loves Sense and Sensibility to her and her love interest Rhys's entire initial bonding scene being them talking about ACOTAR as if Rhys's name being plucked from the story was a coincidence, this is just reference after reference until it becomes more reference than actual book.

Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman is fun and sweet read. Sometimes maybe too sweet for my taste. Ariel, MC, is plus size character which i really appreciate but she was looking for problems where were none. Also I didn´t really liked the whole Sarah J. Mass thing- bonding during one small talk about her books and honestly? Rhys from Cupcake just seem like teen human version of ACOTAR Rhys. But thats maybe just my problem as I am not fan of Mass.
Otherwise I really enjoyed whole story. It was fast and easy read.

I have some issues with this book. It is definitely a great story, geared towards YA readers... but all the pop culture references are targeted towards millennial readers. So, the story is a bit immature for an adult reader, but the references are not teen friendly. Where are the YouTube stars, the TikTok references? The things that YA readers are actually interested in? I honestly would not recommend my students read this. I would recommend adults who primarily read YA storylines read this one. The author does have a cute, romantic storyline with some body positivity messages. I hope in future books she attempts to be more relevant with her targeted audience.

Cupcake 🧁

A charming, heartwarming, positive story!

The perfect and feel-good YA romance that give readers a taste of fun, swoon worthy love and a beautiful happily-ever-after.

I simply adored the story - a joyous, cute and charming tale. This was a great story with many underlying serious topics but told in a lighthearted way.

Perfect if you’re looking for an easy, fun-filled romcom.

In this we get a glimpse on school life and homecoming time. Cookie is a character with positive energy who is happy in herself. Sometimes school seems to make kids dark or negative. She gets a surprise being nominated for Homecoming Court along with frowning Rhys. She thought he would decline but he doesn't. We are given them through a busy time in school. Turn the pages to see if they survive it and each other.

At first this book had me feeling like I was reading something of wattpad but it eventually did get better and I think it’s a super cute ya romance. The writing is a bit basic but I love the story and how it made me feel like I was a teenager again!

Ariel loves to bake, loves to watch movies, and is an awesome baker of cupcakes, hence the nickname. She’s not one of the super popular girls, but she’s kind and friendly so she’s well liked. She ends up getting nominated for Homecoming Queen and gets paired with with handsome heartthrob quarterback Rhys (like the SJM book) and romance ensues.

Cupcake features a heroine who just so happens to be plus sized. It’s mentioned throughout the book, and it’s worth nothing that there are some fatphobic comments/experiences mentioned in the book from “mean girl” characters as well as one mention of a character with a previous ED. One thing I did like is Ariel knows who she is, she’s aware of the body she inhabits, and she’s ok with herself and how she navigates the world.

I also enjoyed the romance storyline. Yes, it was a little formulaic, right down to the final lover’s tiff and big romantic gesture, but that’s exactly what I want in a romance. I want to see the characters do stupid things and learn about how to communicate, how to say they’re sorry, and how to be better people!

There is A LOT of pop culture in here, some of it from back in my day. It may lose some meaning for some of the younger readers if they’ve not experienced the true joy of movies like “10 Things I Hate About You” or read any of the ACOTAR series.

All in all, I thought this book was super cute. I wish high school had been this cool when I was younger!

|| 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

Cupcake
Cookie O’Gorman
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3.5)

|| 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:
Cupcake is not your typical homecoming princess according to outdated society standards. She is not a size 2, she loves to bake, and while she’s friendly with everyone she is far from popular. She also doesn’t expect to get paired with the quarterback as her prince. Cupcake deals with a lot of issues of self worth. She loves herself, but has to learn that it’s okay to be worthy of love from others as well.

|| 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
•YA Romance
•All the romcom and romance references
•Supportive friends and families
•Body positive teens

|| 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Honestly it’s a pretty standard YA Romance. But I honestly like ya romance, I know they bother some people but it’s a book and it’s fiction. So I don’t put pressure into it being 100% realistic and I think teen angst and cringey stuff just adds to the comedy part and is what makes it fun! This one had lots of laugh out loud moments which I love in a romcom. I enjoyed the pop culture references and most I think will still be relevant many years down the road! Really the worst part is the guy MC’s name is Rhys, which this ACOTAR fan doesn’t like, but they actually have a conversation about SJM in the book because of it which made me laugh. I think it was an enjoyable read and if you need something that is light and fun, but still hits on a few deeper issues then this would be a good one for you!

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for a copy of this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fun High School/teen romance,
With a heroine who doesn't think she has a chance.
She's shocked to discover - she'd never have thought -
She's a princess in the school's Homecoming Court!

She's usually happy with herself and her size
But being selected for the role is a huge surprise.
As she usually stays quiet, behind the scenes
And now she's unsure just what it all means.

Her partner is to be Rhys Castle who
Is a hunk and sportsman, what should she do?
With weeks of festivities and activities to weather
Can they survive this time together?

But even though he's offered the chance
He chooses to say with her and learn to dance.
As they're involved in activities, getting to know each other
There are surprises for both of them to discover.

It is a heartwarming read full of fun that shows
That, given the chance, love grows
Regardless of size, everyone deserves their chance
At kindness, love and romance.

Their secret problems they discuss and share
With others who they trust might care.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
And at the end are recipes for you to cook!

This is my honest review after choosing to read a complementary copy of this book.

This was such a cute YA rom com. I love that there are more books targeted toward young girls that don't focus on how you have to make yourself "more pleasing" to be loved by someone. She is a healthy girl who isn't a size 0, and she's ok with that and approaches it with a very mature attitude when discussing it with others. She still has a bit of self-doubt, but I don't think it would be realistic for anyone to go through life without facing those feelings from time to time, especially in High School. Overall, loved the story and can't wait for more from this author!

I'm not sure that this body-positive romantic comedy from Cookie O'Gorman adds anything new or unexpected to the cannon, but it sure was fun to read.

Seeing a character so confident in her curves? Certainly refreshing. But watching that confidence deteriorate in the presence of an attractive football player? Less so.

Seeing an attractive jock more concerned with maintaining his mental health than spending every waking hour at the gym? Equally refreshing. But watching Cupcake jump to the worst-case scenario instead of giving her dream guy the benefit of the doubt? Much less so.

Flirty but flawed, Cupcake was certainly worth the few hours it took me to finish.

I really loved everything about this story.
This featured the type of heroine that I adore. We need more Ariel's in young adult so that all girls can see themselves in stories. She is a "curvy" girl who has been picked on over the years but finally found a place of acceptance. I was so impressed by the way she handled herself. She didn't let it make her a miserable person and she continued to treat others how she wanted to be treated despite them doing otherwise.
Rhys was a bit unrealistic for a teenage boy, but it is a fairytale type story. I enjoyed watching him blossom through the course of the book when he was able to trust Ariel too. He was so sweet and patient and he knew just how to make her feel special and valued.
I couldn't get enough of the two of them.
There are so many good lessons out of this story and it is perfect for teenagers (and adults) to read.

After reading so many steamy romances lately, a good “innocent” YA one was just what I needed!

I give this one 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend, especially if you love YA romance! Cupcake had so many of my favorite things incorporated, from SJM to 80s film classics to even Disney references. And one of the best things, Ariel is plus-sized and is pretty secure with herself. She also has some great supportive people in her life that help her handle mean people that threaten her self-esteem. I would’ve loved reading this in high school, as I identify with a lot of Ariel’s experiences.

Big thanks to @entangledteen and the author for this copy!