This book is Mason’s lightest so far. Jude and Huy are both uplifting, friendly, and adorable characters, and it feels like Mason decided to especially spotlight the positive side of being trans.

Okay, Cupid is a very easy and vivid read. I started reading, and suddenly, I was already halfway through the book. The corners of my mouth pulled up in a smile so many times! And I loved the different ending. It felt so sweet! I highly recommend this book to all of you who love bright and comforting stories, especially if you’re trans yourself. I absolutely loved every character and their dynamics with each other. Huy, the love interest is just the sweetest, so much so that Jude falls for him quite quick. I’m often not a fan of the whole fast-burn romance but it definitely worked here. Especially since Cupids make people fall in love with each other way quicker than the main couple did. This was extremely cute and surprisingly moving. Fun (and unexpectedly nuanced) concept, executed just right.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book was really good. I read half of it, and then read the last like 20 pages since I only have a few days before the book gets archived, and I do not have enough time to read the entire book.

I really like all the characters (Jude, Cal, Huy, Alice, Neve, Leah, Richard, Huy's parents). They all had their own personalities and made the story interesting. Towards the end, I was very emotional reading the pages. Mostly because without spoiling it, I had experienced what happened ever since I was a kid. It really struck me badly, and I could not stop crying over it.

The ending was very up in the air, and I wish we had a more definite ending to finish it all off. But other than that, it was a great book, and I definietly will not forget about this.

Thank you Netgalley for sending an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much, Scholastic, PUSH and NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Jude is a young Cupid and they know everything about love, how to make people fall in love and even though they are now on probation for a past mistake, they are sure they can do their job, making matches without getting involved. Though their next assignment isn't exactly simple. Two ex best friends are meant for much more, but they aren't currently speaking after a falling out. Jude has to go to their high school and make this match, proving themselves they can be a Cupid. But nothing in human life is simple and love isn't so scripted, after all.

I absolutely loved reading this book! It's funny, sweet and I loved every single character! Jude is a magnificent MC, who spent all their lives as a Cupid, making matches, living with Leah, listening to Richard, being friend with Cal, another Cupid, until six months ago, something changed everything, forcing them to be on probation and to prove themselves. But making plans to push people together, to catch perfect moments and planning plans isn't easy while dealing with a real life and Jude isn't prepared to live a human life. At all. The new assignment means befriending people, having actual friends, doing homework, worrying about things like parents and school and sport and Jude finds themselves more and more involves, mostly with Huy.

I loved how Mason Deaver was able to capture these characters' essence, their struggles, fears, falling outs, responsabilities and the complex and difficult choices they have to make in their own lives. The author was perfectly able to create a funny and uplifting story, with, also, complex themes, like the strength of choosing one own's life, being a teenager and accepting one's body, first loves and second chances and I've found this book one of the best I've read.
This should have been another hundred pages long!

An original, sweet and funny story about finding your own path and following your heart. Okay, Cupid is the new masterpiece of Mason Deaver and I loved everything. Jude is a wonderful and complex character and I so enjoyed their journey into understand themselves and what they want from their lives. The book is filled with Amazing characters and found family in this lovely and sweet story about first love and second chances. Unique and so so original.

I love the idea of a meddling cupid with mixed success. The whole premise of Okay, Cupid has romantic comedy spelled out. And you can just read this delightful swoony book about love and end with a smile. But what I loved most is that throughout Deaver leaves us these beginning crumbs of a story also about humanity and discovery. About the ways in which we as humans are bound to love in spite of the end. Sometimes we even fall in love with the end in sight. Or all the ways in which we allow ourselves to have our hearts broken over and over again.

Extremely cute and surprisingly moving. Fun (and unexpectedly nuanced) concept, executed just right.

A story like no other.

Typically, a newer author has a genre they stick to–and yes, you could say that Mason Deaver writes queer YA romance. But saying just that is a disservice to Deaver, whose four novels are so different in tone, pace, and trope.

In Okay, Cupid, we meet Jude, a teenage Cupid whose job it is to make humans fall in love. The life they were born into, Jude tries their best to be a good Cupid. Unfortunately, their heart is a little too big. Set in contemporary San Francisco, Jude is tasked with helping two estranged friends rekindle their former romance. But as they attend high school for the first time, thrust into the world of teenage humans, Jude learns that love isn't quite to black and white.

I'll be frank and say that this isn't my favorite of Deaver's books, but Jude is an absolute nugget and I'm a little obsessed with them. I wish we'd gotten more background on the Cupids, how they work and who they are, but it wasn't necessarily relevant to Jude's story and therefore not important. I'm just nosey. Just as beautifully written as their other novels, Okay, Cupid is a joy to read. I enjoyed every bit of it, and recommend this book to anyone who loves love, and those who fall into it. Four shining stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Scholastic for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was super cute! No spoilers but the ending DESTROYED me. I loved this twist on a typical YA contemporary. It felt fresh and adorable, it definitely held my attention more than I expected it to. I think this book would be super cute to read around Valentines Day, but bring some tissues!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve mostly stopped reading YA books because I found they didn’t appeal to me as much as they used to. Nothing against the books or the genre, I’d just personally moved on. But when I saw Okay, Cupid on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued! I went back and forth on requesting because I didn’t want my general bias against (disinterest in? Apathy towards? Whatever.) YA books to color a review. I have read and enjoyed Mason Deaver’s books before so I decided to go for it.

And I’m so glad I did! The premise is so unique and interesting. Jude is a teenage cupid who is sent to a human high school to try to help a pair that is “meant to be” get together. Obviously, shenanigans ensue, and as much as this book is a lot of fun, it’s also a really sweet, thoughtful look at what it means to be human and also what it means to be yourself to the fullest. As with all of Deaver’s books, there’s a lot of queer representation. Jude, the main character, is non-binary and one of the pair they’re trying to get together is a trans man. Both of the people Jude is trying to pair up are Vietnamese, but I’ll leave it to someone else to evaluate the representation there.

I wouldn’t say Deaver’s writing style is anything particularly exciting but I don’t have anything to say against it either. The characters and the premise are definitely the stars of the show here, and it’s more than enough to keep me interested. I’d recommend this book to just about anyone, but especially anyone looking for t4t romance.

My one semi-complaint is the ending. It felt a little unsatisfying, but at the same time, given the set up, I have no idea how else it could’ve ended.

A cute and sweet rom-com hallmark worthy read with a Trans Mc who is a cupid trying to reconnect a pair but finds themselves conflicted as their own feelings grow. This is a great read and fabulous for the LGBT community.

This was such a delightful palette cleanser at the end of a pretty heavy year of reading. The concept of a queer Cupid navigating school and love and friends is super refreshing. I was skeptical of going into another queer romance with a magical entity main POV because it didn't work for me at all in Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked here. The development of the character dynamics is very charming and organic, despite the premise itself relying on contrivance of relational moments. I am impressed how the author pulled off that delicate balance of the fantastical element squarely based on realistic young adult story. Jude's love of romcoms and Huy and Alice's Vietnamese culture are woven in seamlessly with each other, and the setting in San Francisco allows all those elements to really paint a very cohesive and bright picture even when the narrative is taking place in Jude's introspections. If anything I wish there was little bit more of the fantasy element for that extra flair of inventiveness for the genre. But the sparkling chemistry between Jude and Huy, and their friendships with Neve and Alice just shine over any number of deficiencies I could nitpick over. Very glad for the Netgalley approval so close to pub date. I hope it resonates far and wide!

I was a bit confused by this novel but in the end loved how effortlessly and easily it captured the human experience of a teenage falling in love. I also LOVED the queer perspective this novel took on and it gave me a better understanding of the struggles they may have. I also loved the twist at the end of not knowing where this would take you and knowing that the future was truly open to whatever possibilities the world has to offer. Overall, a wonderfully written and beautifully captured novel of love, joy, and happiness are.

MASON DEAVER I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS ENDING OH MY GOD IM ACTIVELY SOBBING AS I WRITE THIS- I started this on Friday night and I’m writing this on Sunday night… I am a broken human being. I straight up screamed at my mother “I JUST GOT LA LA LANDED” because that’s how it felt to be betrayed once again by the most beautiful, romantic, heartfelt and heartbreaking book I have had the pleasure of reading. If you see this… be prepared to get yelled at by a girl in indianapolis.

Mason Deaver’s latest book definitely isn’t something to miss! This light fantasy YA book follows Jude, a nonbinary Cupid, as they are sent to a mission to reunite a past couple that now hates each other. This book was an absolute blast! I already knew that I’d love this book (because Mason never fails I fear) but this is definitely a new comfort read. Full of queer and trans joy, this is definitely sometimes I’ll be picking up again soon.

I absolutely loved every character and their dynamics with each other. Huy, the love interest is just the sweetest, so much so that Jude falls for him quite quick. I’m often not a fan of the whole fast-burn romance but it definitely worked here. Especially since Cupids make people fall in love with each other way quicker than the main couple did.

Overall, definitely recommend for fans of t4t romance with light fantasy elements as well as lovable characters! This book hits shelves Jan 2024 and I can’t wait to get a hardcover copy.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchanged for an honest review.

I am not sure how to rate this fairly because on one end, I loved the authenticity of Jude and the other characters. I felt like I was able to picture them as not just characters written on the page but people I could meet in real life. I love story where the characters are strong and I can actually see how well the author crafted them in their story.

But I did struggle a bit at some points. Maybe it was the whole Cupid world or maybe it was the whole “bringing two people who are meant to be” together when I felt like there wasn’t any romantic emotion between the two characters involved in bringing together. The ending was not as clear as maybe the author intended and it left me unsure on how to rate the book.

It is a fair book and one that I was looking forward to since Mason is an Auto-buy author for me; I just am left with feeling unsure. So though my rating is low it’s only because I can’t rate it too low but also not too high - just a sweet middle.

This was a fun YA read with light fantasy elements!

The main character, Jude, is a Cupid. They orchestrate meet cutes between humans are destined to be together. When the story starts, they are on probation because they got too close to a human on their last assignment. Now, they have been assigned to a month-long stint at a high school to help reunite Alice and Huy, who were middle school sweethearts that had a falling out.

As Jude gets to experience being a “high schooler,” making friends and developing a crush, they decide to question whether they want to continue being a Cupid, or if maybe it wouldn’t be so bad being a human after all…

Jude and Huy are just… adorable precious beings. Alice and Neve were such a fun friend group. I loved the humor, pop culture references, and food talk. I loved the positive trans rep - trans-masc and non-binary, as well as queer rep in general. I also loved learning more about Vietnamese culture and seeing how Tết Nguyên Đán was celebrated. I loved that Huy liked making mixtapes and had a Walkman, very 90s/00s.

I had only a few things I would critique.
1) I was kind of confused with the whole Cupid world. I think we could have used more of an explanation at the beginning. I didn’t understand why Jude’s parents disappeared (that was never really explained, and they didn’t seem to know either), and why he was basically adopted by Richard and Leah (it made that whole dynamic feel a little sinister? lol but not really bc they seemed like Jude’s found family). However, Leah never really seemed that likable to me and neither did Cal. We never really got to know Richard.
2) The ending was kind of open-ended. I would have enjoyed something more concrete, but it did seem like a hopeful ending which was nice!

I recommend this one! And if you haven’t read it, I love Mason Deaver’s book “I Wish You All the Best” and look forward to reading their other works as well!

Dang, this book had me CRYING. It’s so good.

I was worried the whole Cupid thing wasn’t gonna work for me, not gonna lie, but I absolutely fell head over heels for Jude and their love of life and love and humanity.

I really freaking loved Jude’s friendships with Alice and Neve. Those three had my whole dang heart and I felt so happy for them in a way that filled me to the brim.

And Huy. Gosh, I loved Huy. He was just so good for Jude, so right for them, so worth taking that leap into the unknown. I know they’re only 16 but it was too dang sweet to not get swept up in.

This whole book is so full of heart and love and soul and I absolutely loved every minute of it. I binged it in one sitting. I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for this advanced copy!

I would read Mason Deavers grocery list at this point. Everything they write is so authentic and I learn more about my own queerness with every book of theirs.

This book is a must read in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I found myself tearing up through most of this book. I also caught myself laughing and smiling through a lot of it too. What a beautiful read about what it means to live, love, and be human.

Jude was a delight. I loved them so much. They were so pure and wholesome. I enjoyed being able to peer into their brain. I also loved Huy. He seemed like a genuine and amazing guy and they were a sweet pair. The side characters were just as great. The friend group of Alice and Neve made me long for friends like that. They were so open and welcoming to Jude. Everyone seemed to accept their gender identity and didn’t even bat an eye at their pronouns or makeup. I loved seeing it.

The end was both heartbreaking and filled with hope. Again with my tears. This is also my first Mason Deaver book and I’m so excited to read more!

This sweet queer YA story follows nonbinary teen, Jude... who just happens to be a cupid. Cupids, in this world, blend into modern society and help arrange meet-cutes for couples destined to be together. Once their task is complete, they are able to erase themselves from the collected memory of those they've interacted with.
Jude is a cupid on probation. They made the mistake of getting too attached to a human... a mistake they're making again on their first long-term assignment.
Jude is tasked with helping Huy and Alice, middle school sweethearts, reconnect in high school. But Jude can't stop themself from falling for Huy, the kind-hearted soccer captain.
At it's heart, this book is about destiny vs free will, taking risks vs staying safe, and parental expectations vs following your own hopes and dreams as Jude is faced with choosing between the messiness of humanity and the anonymous safety of being a cupid.

*****
I received this eARC from @netgalley and publisher @scholastic in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, Cupid will be released Jan 2, 2024.