Cupcake by Cookie O'Gorman is a cute and delightful young adult romance, that I really enjoyed. Ariel, nicknamed Cupcake is surprised to be nominated for Homecoming princess. On top of that she gets partnered with the best looking boy at school, Rhys. Ariel is “big boned” girl who doesn't believe Rhys could be attracted to her. I love this genre, there is something so innocent about first loves. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow. I found this book to be a quick read, and highly recommend it to all readers who enjoy a YA sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my o own.

Cupcake was such a cute book! I love the fun banter between the MC's as well as the plus sized rep! As a Disney stan, I loved the little additions of the different fandoms as well

Ariel aka Cupcake is shocked when she is nominated for Homecoming Court and elected as once of the princesses. Although she loves herself and her body, she knows she is not-a-typical princess. To make matters even more awkward, she is paired with her prince - Rhys Castle - star quarterback, hottie and... all around nice guy? Not one is more surprised than Ariel when she and Rhys hit it off. But as they friendship grows and Homecoming looms, will Ariel find the courage to embrace something new - something she never thought she's have.

I love this book. Ariel has such a positive body image despite not meeting current standards of beauty. She has much more support from her peers than she expected. I also enjoy her baking/movie vlog which reminded me of an old TBS show "Dinner and a Movie" which paired meals and movies. Everyone should read this book.

“Isn’t it funny how you can be okay and love yourself, but still not think anyone will ever love you back?”
“If by funny you mean sad, then yeah. It’s hilarious.”

Omg this line made me laugh so hard but I totally had all those conflicting emotions and thoughts in high school. I was totally ok with myself but didn't know what other people thought of me and that is where the problems started.

Why don't we all just assume we are friends? Ok I solved a problem today -what's next?

This book was so sweet! I love high school "non typical" romances as in the QB falls for the girl that isn't the super popular girl or wears size 2 (no offense to my small peeps) but is the one that is overweight.

Ariel who goes by Cupcake has been nominated to the homecoming court which was unexpected as she is not one of the super popular girls. All the reasons why - that it is a joke, that she will get a Carrie moment cycle through her head but she was voted in by the students so people have to like her right.

There is one prince - Rhys who she gets partnered with who happens to be the quarterback and he really does seem interested in her not as a joke or to make her over, hopefully.

Cupcake has a baking vlog and loves to bake which has a good following - I would be watching it.

She takes a lot of crap for being overweight which excuse me who said it wasn't ok - it really is the norm. ughck pop culture needs a major face lift its gotten really old. I would rather have a relatable adorable character like Cupcake who speaks in movie quotes, (same girl), who is confident in her body and self but still trying to find her place in the world than a million girls that are not like me. Like it's ok but diversity with body type would be appreciated without focusing on the body type.

Also, thank you Rhys for being brave and being the jock that asked for help and isn't trying to go it alone.

Don't let other people doubt your worth. They don't know your whole story. They are in their own.

Thank you entangledteen and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

“There are no fat Disney princesses.” Well, Ariel was determined to prove that princesses come in all shapes and sizes.

This was signature O’Gorman. Her books are always super cute, and she manages to keep her stories on the lighter side while giving them depth by incorporating just the right amount of weightier topics in thoughtful ways. Once again, she delivered a delightful story that left me with a smile on my face.

The Romance

Cupcake featured an adorable romance between Ariel and Rhys, who were matched for homecoming court. Rhys was standoffish at first, but as he opened up, both Ariel and I saw how sweet and charming he was. I think Rhys’ quiet nature made me have a deeper appreciation for the things he shared. His reveals seemed more meaningful, and once I saw Rhys with his family, I knew he was the perfect match for Ariel. He saw the goodness in her heart, just as she saw his heart of gold. Not only were there all this tooth-aching sweetness, there was also swoon. Definitely a ship-worthy pair.

Body Positive

Though Ariel didn’t fit the traditional “beauty standard”, she still loved herself and her body. Her relationship with her body was healthy, though, being thrust into the spotlight where she was being judged largely on how she looked was stressful for her. I found Ariel’s experience fairly realistic. O’Gorman also shed some light on the struggles bigger women experience every day. From stores not carrying larger sizes to people judging every morsel of food you ingest. There were times I wanted to give Ariel a hug, but more often than not, I was proud of the way she tackled these events while not shying away from challenging people and their “fat-ist” ideas.

Rom-Com Elements

Ariel was a baker with a blog showcasing baked goods and rom-com pairings. This may have be heaven for me because those are two of my favorite things. Aside from the wonderful food descriptions and rom-com references, the story itself lived up to the rom-com label. There were the mishaps that turned tender and some grand gestures too. Total highlight moments for me.

Overall: This book lived up to its name – a sweet and delicious treat!

Such a beautiful story. It might just be my favorite read of the year. It was like a Jane the Virgin and Gilmore Girls mash up! And I absolutely love those shows.


The two big relationships that Cupcake has are very important. Her mom is more than just her mom, she’s also her friend. Toni is not just her BFF, she’s also the push that Cupcake needs at times.

It’s not very often that I get a lot of references in other books, but I got so many in this book. Especially the ACOTAR references? Uh hello! I freaking loved that. And the fact that the lead dude READ it?! AHHHH! My heart!!!! 😍

I loved that the most popular guy fell for the not so popular girl but not in the cliché ways; bet, fake interest to get something from her, etc. Their pairing up and spending time together, they get to know one another, and he develops feelings just as she does. It’s not a one-sided story.

The underlying topics really hit home with me as I have struggled with my body image, especially in high school but looking back, I now know that I should’ve been kinder to myself. I wish I could’ve had a Toni to have my back.

The book was just perfect. The relationships, especially Rhys’ and Ariel’s, weren’t rushed or sudden. We had time to go along the journey and I was totally invested. My heart broke when Ariel’s did, and I was totally head over heels over Rhys!

I enjoyed this book. The story was cute and fun and the characters were exceedingly likable. I really liked that Ariel was comfortable in her own skin and had a good life. I was also thrilled and relieved that we didn't have to endure one of those "Magical Makeover" moments in this story because I truly hate that. I thought this book had a very sunshine/grumpy vibe and that really worked for me. Rhys was a wonderfully broody book boyfriend that had my heart skipping many a beat and together these two made an awesome couple that gave me some very delightful feels. My one complaint was that I wished this book felt more reality instead of coming across more like a fantastical. Even with that pet peeve though, I have nothing but love for this read.

This was a very cute and sweet YA book. I was intrigued by the premise and enjoyed the overall story and the main characters. I appreciated the author's effort to bring a plus-size protagonist to the page and pair her up with a caring high school star quaterback that wasn't your usual snobby popular guy. I particularly enjoyed that Arial and Rhys started as friends and formed a connection that felt believable. Having said that, I have to be honest and say that although I enjoyed the story, I found that it lacked some depth. I thought that there was a lot more that could have been done with the story to bring a more insightful and thought-provoking story. As it stands, it was a fun, quick read with some laugh out loud moments as well as some swoony ones.

All in all, a sweet YA romance perfect to read all cozied up during a quiet afternoon.

I love a good heartfelt underdog story and Ms. O’Gorman gave me that and more.

Ariel “Cupcake” Duncan has a heart of gold, a passion for baking, and is not thrilled to be in the running for Homecoming queen. She loves 80s romances, Disney movies, and all things baking. And then there is her prince she was paired with for Homecoming court. Rhys Castle, tall handsome quarterback seems nice enough, but he has a secret. Her experience has her cautious when opening her heart, but it’s not just her heart she has to worry about.

Rhys Castle is a good guy who likes Ariel just the way she is. He understands more than she knows about trying to fit in and he is honest about his feelings for her. His determination to learn the dance steps for Ariel is noteworthy as she agrees to attend his football games.

Ariel and Rhys are really good together. Ariel is a beautiful soul who has been burned by bullies both female and male so she is every right to be careful. But Rhys is the real deal and his romantic gestures and thoughtful prose are a sure thing. Until one misunderstanding has Ariel scrambling to find a way to get Rhys to forgive her. The grand gesture is bold and just what is needed to prove her love. Way to go, Ariel!

This delightful book is filled with humor and romance while covering serious subjects such as body shaming and bullying. It’s good to see a plus-sized woman who loves herself and doesn’t need to change to be happy. Not to mention she gets the handsome prince in the end!

Thanks to Ms. O’Gorman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectations of a positive review.

This book was just so wonderful! It was definitely body positive, and I loved that Ariel, nickname Cupcake, was happy with herself. But it was also realistic in that just because she was okay with her body, it didn’t mean other people wouldn’t still be rude, and that those rude remarks couldn’t still get to her.

The story was about so much more than that though. Ariel had so many layers, as well as the other characters in the story. There was Lana, another homecoming princess, who felt she should be the winner. But when we got to see her family, well it pointed out a bit about why she was the way she was, and even gave her a chance to show some growth. There were also lots of other characters in the story, the stereotypical types of high school characters, but all had such great back stories and their behavior was more than what you would expect.

And wow did this school make a major production about their homecoming court. Of course as someone who was never involved in that aspect of high school when I was that age, I was definitely not someone who would ever be nominated, maybe that’s how it always is? I’m sure it was embellished for a fictional story and dramatic additions to the story, but it was really neat.

The love interest, Rhys, was one that like Ariel at the beginning I was unsure how to take. But soon he grew on me, just as he did on Ariel, and I think I could fall in love with him along with her.

And as much as there is a certain very well known book series that I love and always geek out over when I read about it in books, I like that this author used a more current title by Sarah J. Maas for the characters to bond over. It was also fun to hear all the different movies, rom-coms especially, that were talked about.

Loved this one, as much as I seem to have loved every other book I’ve read for this author!

Wow! The storytelling skills are beautiful. This book is the one which will lift up your mood and aslo take you on an emotional ride.
And because of book like this, I love a good rom-com. It was cute and a total delight to read.

The author touches the issue of body sizes and how the society views them. I loved how Ariel (Cupcake) is chosen to be part of homecoming court, a princess who happens to be of plus size. I liked her confidence, attitude and oh! she loves to bake. I wish I had Rhys pov as well. His character was awesome. It would have been great to know his thoughts and feelings. If that would have been the case I would have been very expressive and loving every minute. The MCs were pretty good. I enjoyed the little backstory of Lara and how things turned at the end for her and Ariel.

"For the first time in my life, I actually felt like a princess.
And it had nothing to do with the tiara. Or even the boy.
It was all me."

I loved the message the author gives that it is okay to have doubts but that doesn't mean you don't deserve the best, don't let doubts bring you down, sort to clear them and how body shaming is so wrong. This book has smooth flow with some swooning moments that will make you smile and cute references. I liked how supportive Ariel's friends and family were, it was realistic. Oh and the book has cupcakes recipes as well. I recommend this one for everyone who enjoys YA/teen books. This book is an example of Love comes in all shape and sizes and don't forget to love yourself.

Cookie O'Gorman has long been one of my favorite indie authors, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review one of her books in exchange for an ARC. Though I didn't connect with this book as much as I have with her other ones, it was the perfect thing to curl up with on a rainy day to be transported to another world.
Cupcake tells the story of 18-year-old Ariel Duncan, nicknamed Cupcake by her peers for the delicious baked goods she brings to school. Ariel is just trying to get through her senior year the way she always has, by staying out of the spotlight. However, when she's voted as one of four Homecoming Princesses in her grade, she'll have to discover that maybe the spotlight isn't so bad after all.
O'Gorman's books always give me butterflies, and this book only continued that pattern. Though it's thoroughly PG-13, O'Gorman's writing provides a visceral reading experience with the kind of romance that leaves you "squee"ing out loud. I loved the characters and the message behind the book, but Cupcake really forced me to suspend belief for most of the story. There are aspects of Ariel's history that I think could have been explored further and more context could have been given to why Rhys, Ariel's broody love interest, is so immediately taken with her. The way the two main characters fell in "love" so quickly had me stepping back and reminding myself that the purpose of this book was to help a Happily Ever After come to life for a little bit. (That being said, Ariel and Rhys's relationship wasn't instalove. They really had to work to get along properly but I still think it felt a little fast.)
Aside from the slight unrealisticness of the romance, Cupcake was a truly enjoyable read. It emphasizes the idea that plus-sized girls can be happy and confident in their own bodies while still being insecure about the way others might perceive them. Learning to move past other people's opinions, even when she doesn't realize they're affecting her, is a big part of Ariel's journey. As I mentioned earlier, the romance was clean but still sizzling, and a lot of stereotypes are flipped on their head in the best ways. I found myself reacting visibly to multiple plot points and getting excited with the characters as they grew into themselves. All in all, O'Gorman delivered another lovely HEA with a message of gold.

3.5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

Since the first book that I have read by Cookie O'Gorman, I have been hooked! When this #ownvoices book was announced by the author I was ecstatic!

I have always enjoyed O'Gorman's writing style. Her words are polished and I always fly through the pages of her stories. She keeps her readers wanting more. The pacing felt a little off to me in this book. I can't quite place my finger on it, but it feels like there are some key scenes missing from the book. Nothing in particular that I can pinpoint in terms of the story arc, but more of a feeling that there should have been more.

I liked the characters well enough but I didn't feel especially connected to them. Especially Rhys's character. I felt like he could have used a lot more character development. We get bits and pieces of him but I never truly felt like I knew him. Ariel's character development was much better. She was easy to understand and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. I really loved the strong female friendship in this book. It was so nice to see Ariel and her best friend Toni and how supportive and caring they were with each other. I also really loved the close relationship that Ariel had with her mother. Rhys also seemed to have a good relationship with his parents and brother which was also nice to see.

The romance in the story was adorable. I felt that their relationship could have used more build-up, but overall it was very positive and endearing. Rhys really seemed to like Ariel and he was a gentleman even as he pursued her. Ariel had reservations about Rhys but deep down she cared just as much for him. I liked how they spent time together getting to know each other.

Overall, this was a delightful story with representation that I love seeing. While I enjoyed the story and there's not really anything wrong with it, I also didn't connect to it as much as I would have liked to. It is a good book but perhaps not that memorable to me. I think that a lot of people will find this book uplifting and on point with body image issues and the stigma attached to them. O'Gorman tells an emotional story about self-worth while keeping things light-hearted. I can't wait to pick up Cookie O'Gorman's next book!

3.5 stars

Cupcake is a sweet, fun YA story.

Ariel is shocked when she's nominated for Homecoming Court at her high school because she's not part of the popular crowd. She is paired with Rhys for all the activities the nominees are required to participate in.

It was interesting seeing how things played out between Ariel and the other girls and how she and Rhys connected and bonded. I also liked how Toni and Ariel's friendship was a key part of the story.

This is a quick read and I could totally see it turned into a teen movie.

So many good things about this book. It features a plus size female who is nominated for Homecoming Court along with Rhys who is the star football quarterback. I loved that Cupcake/Ariel wasn't in the complete background at school and she loved who she was, even though there were some insecurities. Rhys wasn't in the complete foreground. He seemed to be well grounded and didn't have to be the focus of everyone. Story was laugh out loud funny at times. Really enjoyed Cupcake/Ariel's pairings of movies and desserts. Also got the added bonus of a playlist and recipes. I could even seen a sequel for when so goes to the baking competition.

Cupcake by Cookie O' Gorman is a deliciously cute and innocently romantic read for young adults!
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. Ariel has many talents and friends. She’s kind and caring and loves to bake amazing treats for sharing and posting on her vlog. 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 was hooked from the first line!

I was so excited when I recieved an ARC of this book from netgally. As soon as I found out the MC was plus sized and knew who she was I was hooked! Before I continue my review even though I did receive an ARC of this book I would like to share that all thoughts and opinions are my own. This was such a cute book! I loved all the rom com references and definitely knew every single one lol! I loved how caring and kind Ariel was and just how strong and confident she was. It was nice to see that even though she was confident she still had her doubts and that sometimes things can hurt even when you know it shouldn't. Even though she had her doubts she never let what others said about her affect her for long. Something I could relate to which is why I enjoyed this book so much. As for Rhys I wasn't sure how to take him in the beginning. I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. It wasn't until after a few interactions with Ariel that I ended up really liking his character.

There is so much love, support, and laugh out loud moments in this book that I enjoyed that I wish I could share but I don't want to spoil it lol! If you love reading rom coms this is a book I would recommend you checkout!

Ariel also known as Cupcake loves baking and watching rom coms. She isn't unpopular at school but she never thought she be part of the homecoming court. Now a homecoming princess she must spend the month participating in homecoming activities along with her not so charming homecoming prince Rhys Castle. Rhys may be one of the most popular guys in school but he's also very secretive. Ariel has never even seen him smile but as they go through the homecoming activities she notices that he isn't who she thought he was.
(Genre:Young Adult Rom Com)

This is such a charming book. It is very positive. Rhys is so kind towards Ariel. He genuinely liked Ariel and was not faking it. He is a true Prince Charming. Rhys never saw Ariel as "big boned". He viewed her as someone who had a genuine heart and baked yummy treats. She was his Princess. This in turned allowed Ariel to blossom.

I liked that this book was very upbeat. Even with the taunting that Ariel received from her classmates; it was not focused on and therefore kept this book from turning negative. Even Ariel's mom was very supportive of Ariel.

This is my first introduction to author, Cookie O'Gorman but it will not be my last. Cupcake is a sweet read of pure delightful fun!

Genre/Tropes: YA, Curvy Girl
POV: 1st, FMC
Standalone
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥

What a SWEET, amazing romance. What this story taught me is you can have all the self-confidence and love in the world, but social confidence takes work. Our FMC, Ariel, even points that out at one point:

𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤?

When Ariel is elected as a Homecoming Princess, she’s confused and a bit wary. She’s confident in her curvy body but she knows she doesn’t fit the typical “princess mold,” which is indeed pointed out a few times because people suck. When she’s paired with the star QB, Rhys Castle, she begins to question everything she didn’t know about him and how the world may actually view her. From her stress baking to her quirky love of romance, I fell for her just as hard as Rhys.

And Rhys? Le sigh. That boy is 1000% swoon-worthy, sweet, and hot. I think he had always seen Ariel but due to his own insecurities nothing ever came from it. But when they’re paired and have to spend time getting to know each other, the sparks flew, y’all. What I found unique the most is the fact that it was Ariel that created all the drama and angst because of her expectations and biased opinions because of pop culture. It was eye opening for sure.

This is a CLEAN, super sweet romance. I cracked up, teared up, and sighed happily as these two souls bonded and fell in love. This was exactly what I needed.

CUPCAKE by Cookie O’Gorman was such a fun, warm, and cute YA romance that felt as cozy as a fuzzy sweater. Lighthearted and so darn adorable, I absolutely loved Ariel and Rhys, and their romance was just as sweet and charming as they both were. ⁣
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Ariel (Cupcake) is plus-sized, confident, well-liked, and I loved the positivity surrounding her size. Even though she is comfortable and confident in her own skin, she still has many of the insecurities that we all face, and I loved how she dealt with them and how she didn’t let her insecurities stop her from being her. Rhys is the brooding, silent type, and I loved watching him come out of his shell and watching the relationship develop between them. ⁣
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Fast-paced, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments alongside all the swoon, CUPCAKE is definitely a book that’ll make your teeth ache from all the sweetness. 4 stars, and I’ll certainly be reading everything I can get my hands on from this author. ⁣
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*Many thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the digital arc.