Just as with all of Mason's books, I adored this storyline. The characters were well flushed out, though I would've liked to see a bit more from Leah and Richard specifically.

The romance that formed between Huy and Jude, ugh I was obsessed. I was right there with Alice and Neve, just waiting for those two to figure themselves out. Speaking of Alice and Neve, the surprise of their own relationship was just the cherry on top; I, unlike Jude, wasn't oblivious and had my suspicions about them so it was nice to have it confirmed.

The ambiguous ending was the only issue I took with the book. After all of Jude's inner turmoil, of trying to figure out whether or not they were meant to be a Cupid, to have it end the way it did was a bit disappointing. I would've liked a clear resolution of what happened between them and Huy; plus why would Leah still choose to force them to move if this was the outcome?

All in all, I'm excited to get my hands on a copy once January rolls around. Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the e-ARC!

I adore this book! It captivated me so much that I devoured it within a mere 24 hours spread across two days. The narrative evoked memories of the Netflix movie featuring Victoria Justice, 'AfterLife of the Party,' albeit with a twist – the central character in this tale isn't deceased.

The book introduces a delightful premise where cupids play matchmakers, orchestrating love connections between individuals. What adds a unique twist is that these matchmakers are not human. Enter Jude, a cupid who has always excelled at his matchmaking duties. However, a new mission awaits him, one that involves pairing up high school students. Initially, he believes he's merely there to fulfill his cupid obligations. However, as the story unfolds, he discovers that these individuals he's meant to match share common interests with him. This revelation transforms his mission into a dilemma – should he prioritize forging human connections and friendships over his cupid responsibilities?

The initial chapters left me a bit perplexed about who Jude's friends and associates were. I believe the cupid concept could benefit from an early introduction, perhaps in a prologue or introduction. While the book's summary hints at the cupid idea, delving into it further would provide a solid foundation. Once I delved deeper into the narrative and grasped the character dynamics, my appreciation for the book soared. It seamlessly navigated through themes such as LGBTQ identity struggles, human challenges versus cupid complications, and the overarching exploration of friendship, love, and self-discovery.

Admittedly, it took some time to acclimate to the non-human character arc. Nevertheless, the story's brilliance lies in its exploration of profound themes, making it a compelling read that delves into the complexities of friendship, love, identity, and the journey to self-realization.

I am giving this 5 stars because it is such a cute quick loveable read. I think that some readers might understand the cupid concept more than others.

I highly recommend this for reading with pride.

Stop it right now, that was so sweet!

“I’ve never understood why humans have to make it so difficult to fall in love.”

Jude is a Cupid who is obsessed with rom coms and the human world. On their last mission, they were sent to a camp to bring two people together, but ended up falling for a boy named Leo. When they kissed, Leo’s mind was erased of Jude completely. Jude was put on probation where they helped their best friend, Cal, with his missions. Now, with a second chance, their next mission is at a high school where they must help two ex best friends with lingering feelings, Huy and Alice, fall in love. They can’t afford to screw this up. But it’s easier said than done when they run into a few set backs at their new school. Namely, Huy is delightful and Jude is falling in love with him. As plans fall together, Jude must decide if they want to stay as a Cupid or go into the unknown as a human. It’s an impossible decision.

“…But one thing I’m not sorry for is falling in love with you.”

This was quick paced, entertaining, adorable and so sweet I could cry! I enjoyed the premise of this book-the idea of a cupid-Someone whos whole job is to help people fall in love. Of course they would question that. There were pros and cons to each decision and I think I would have agreed that either was the right one.

I loved the characters in this book, every one of them honestly. Jude is transgender, but seems to know who they are, at least in that sense. They don’t know where they fit in otherwise and I loved going through that journey with them. Huy is also trans, captain of the soccer team and helps run his parents square donut shop. Huy was so wholesome and I think I fell in love with him too! I also loved Cal (💔), Alice and Neve. Every character added to the story and I enjoyed each of them.

I almost gave this 4 stars because of the ending, but when I thought about it, I think it was perfect. 🥰

This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but sign me up for more!!

“But that’s what being human means,” I spit out. “It means taking risks, it means giving your heart away, it means being sad and your friends helping you out of it, it means falling so hard for someone that it hurts even if you’ve never exchanged a single word with them. It means being messy, and ugly, and brutal. And it means being happy, finding the people that you love, that you belong with.”

First, thank you so much for the arc copy and allowing me to read the book.

I enjoyed the overall theme and story of the book. The characters were well thought out and just really adorable.

I cringed at second hand embarrassment and I laughed a lot.

I really liked Jude and I thought they had such a strong personality and it was well done.

I do wish there was more understanding aspects of the Cupid background. The way it starts throws you off at first.

I will say I adore Mason and their books. I am happy to read it and review

Did I really like this book? Yes. Is it so laden with current pop culture references that it is more than likely going to age absolutely horribly because of how set in exactly right now it is? Also yes.
But it is really sweet, and I love reading about trans people, so it was a fun, quick, fairly predictable read.

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

Love Jude. Love Jude. Love Jude. Have I already told you that I love Jude? Love Huy. Love Huy. Love Huy. Have I already told you that I love Huy?
 
I’m a Mason Deaver Stan. I’d pick up anything they write without reading a blurb. So, of course, I was excited to read Okay, Cupid. And, of course, it didn’t disappoint. Okay, Cupid is another story to die for.
 
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 (Jude non-binary/agender, Huy trans-masc). There are hardly any struggles, and the atmosphere in the story is very trans/queer welcoming. This doesn’t mean there isn’t any conflict to solve. Jude is longing to be a human and has doubts and needs just like those of human teens. They want to belong and to be seen, and even though they’re not supposed to, they keep falling in love. And although Huy’s life as a trans-masc guy seems easy, he has conflicts, too.
 
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.
 
Thank you so much, Scholastic, for the ARC! I can’t wait for Mason’s next book!

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

This wonderful romcom had me squealing from the beginning and bawling like a baby by the end. YA readers are in for such a treat this winter!! Jude is a teen Cupid, a supernatural being with the power to help humans break down their barriers that are stopping them from fighting for the people they love. Only Jude isn't supposed to do the same for themselves. As a Cupid, they must master their own emotions and can't fall for a human. It has already happened to Jude once, with devastating effects, and if it happens again, they risk losing everything. After being put on probation--the mythical love world is full of bureaucracy too!--Jude is sent with another teen Cupid into a human high school as students to help two old friends find love. What could go wrong? Um, a lot lol. On everything from fun meet cutes to self-image and gender identity to big questions of consent and how we impact each others lives, Mason Deaver writes it all with such care, charm, and wit that I felt all the comfort and angst of my fave romcoms. Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read early.

Jude is a cupid, meaning that they’ve been studying love their entire life. Naturally, they think they have a better understanding of it than most people. Despite that, Jude currently finds themselves on probation because of a mistake they made with a human. Now they’re desperate to prove themselves through success on their next mission.

Instead of setting up adults, Jude is sent to high school to bring two teenagers together. Teenagers that used to be friends, but have had a falling out. As Jude works to bring them together, they think they have everything under control. But as Jude is about to learn…love is complicated.

Thanks to PUSH and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver to review! I’ve loved Mason Deaver since reading I Wish You All the Best, and if you’re looking for rom-coms featuring trans characters, they are definitely the one to go to.

One thing that Deaver always excels at is well-rounded characters. Right from the beginning, you’ll fall in love with Jude (who is destined to fall in love with people they’re not supposed to). Throughout the book, they’re conflicted because they’ve only known being a cupid, but they kind of want the freedom of being human. The freedom of loving whoever they want, the ability to make strong friendships. It’s a conflict that plays out nicely throughout the story, through the characters and the overall plot.

The overall concept of the cupids is a fun one as well. I love this idea that there are people out there trying to orchestrate meet-cutes, helping love to spark and giving it a chance to grow. While the idea of cupid is necessarily a new concept, I enjoyed the way that Deaver re-imagined it.

This isn’t getting a full five stars because of the ending, honestly. No spoilers, but the ending isn’t wrapped up in a neat bow, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s left for the reader to decide what happens next. Which normally I don’t mind, but I was in the mood for more of a happily ever after.

All in all, if you’re looking for a cute rom-com to start out your 2024 with, definitely check this one out!