Review by Booklist Review
Jude Ricci knows everything there is to know about love and romance--they are a cupid, after all. The fact that they've experienced romantic attraction--and have even kissed a cute boy--means nothing. A cupid's specialty is uniting humans who need a helping hand, and Jude's next assignment is going undercover at a high school to reconcile two best friends who broke off their romantic relationship. Already on probation after that kiss, Jude starts falling in love with one of the humans they're supposed to be helping--which is strictly forbidden. This lighthearted, funny fantasy-romance presents Jude as a sympathetic and layered protagonist, and their journey toward going after what they want shines as brightly as their elaborate makeup looks. Though this is billed as a romance, the friendships and chosen-family relationships are phenomenal, and it's endearing to see so many LGBTQ+ characters in community. The experience of being queer/trans and Vietnamese is explored with sensitivity in Huy's and Alice's arcs, and by the time readers finish, they'll be a little in love with everyone in the book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As a Cupid, 16-year-old agender Jude is responsible for keeping the universe in balance by facilitating romantic relationships. But Jude, who cues as white, is still on probation after breaking one of the cardinal rules by falling for a human on the job. As a test, their new assignment is a long-term undercover mission at a Bay Area high school, where they're tasked with rebuilding the budding relationship between two estranged best friends. Things go well at first, with Jude insinuating themself into the lives of transgender soccer captain Huy Trinh and moody musician Thanh "Alice" Tran, who are both of Vietnamese descent. But in restoring the fractured friendship, Jude develops unexpected feelings for Huy, which jeopardizes the mission and once again threatens to undermine Jude's very existence as a Cupid. Deaver (The Feeling of Falling in Love) eschews deeper exploration of the Cupid lore, leaving much to the imagination. The undeniable chemistry--both platonic and romantic--between Jude and the intersectionally diverse, distinctly rendered cast fuels this insightful romantic comedy, which sensitively explores the queer spectrum and issues of privilege while keeping the emotional components front and center. Ages 14--up. Agent: Lauren E. Abramo, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An agender 16-year-old from the Bay Area is torn between love and their Cupid duties. Jude recently made the biggest mistake of their Cupid career: They fell in love with a human boy. Worse, they kissed him. Broken-hearted Jude, who is white and trans, was placed on probation, and they are determined not to make the same mistake twice: Kiss a human again, and they'll lose their powers and their memories of ever having been a Cupid. When Jude's latest assignment goes off the rails, senior Cupids consider imposing more consequences but instead give them a challenging test as a second chance. Their assignment: restore the broken relationship between a girl named Alice Tran and a trans boy called Huy Trinh, who are both Vietnamese American. Posing as regular high school student Jude Ricci, befriending the pair, and then engineering a reconciliation should be child's play. At first, everything seems to be going smoothly, but the situation gets hairy when Jude grows closer to Huy, raising the stakes with both their memories now on the line. Jude and Huy's budding romance is both tender and heartbreaking, given that readers are constantly aware of potential tragedy looming over every sweet moment. The romantic tension between the two will move even the most stonehearted readers. A deep look at the expectations of family and society and how they can negatively affect teenagers' lives fills out the narrative. A well-crafted slow-burn romance with plenty of depth. (Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
