COURTESY OF CUPID, by Nashae Jones, Aladdin, Jan. 2, 2024, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 10 and up)
A girl uses her ability to make people fall in love in Courtesy of Cupid, an upper middle-grade rom-com by Nashae Jones.
Erin Johnson’s thirteenth birthday unfolds like any other day, from her mom’s quirky and embarrassing choice of outfit to racing her nemesis, Trevor Jin, to the best seat in class—front row, center. But her gifts this year include something very out of the ordinary: magical powers.
Erin discovers her mysterious father is actually the love god Cupid and she’s inherited his knack for romance. It’s not the most useful ability for an overachiever with lofty academic and extracurricular goals…or is it? Erin desperately wants to be elected president of the Multicultural Leadership Club, and as usual, Trevor is her fiercest competition. He’s never backed down from a challenge before, but if Erin makes him fall in love with her, maybe he’d drop out of the race and let her win.
With her magical pedigree, wrapping Trevor around her finger is a snap, and having him around all the time is a small price to pay for victory. But without their cutthroat rivalry bringing out the worst in each other, Erin realizes Trevor may not be as bad as she thought, and suddenly her first foray into love gets a lot more complicated… —Synopsis provided by Aladdin
Courtesy of Cupid is geared toward tweens who are drawn to romance but aren’t ready for full-blown YA romance. The cover does make it clear this is a romance, but it reads a little older than 13-year-olds.
Author Nashae Jones has a warm writing style that immediately draws you in. Her concept is sound and believable while still having an air of magic.
Erin is a bit tightly strung, and her need to be perfect is a touch overwhelming. Thankfully, there’s a lot more to her. And there’s a lot more to Trevor, as well, which Erin discovers when she finally opens herself up to the possibility. The push and pull between them is the highlight.
There are a few elements to the book that feel a bit forced — the campaign to be elected president of the Multicultural Leadership Club is just way to big and intense for what it is. I don’t think it’s a gamechanger, but this — rather than the magical powers — is what’s challenges belief.
Despite the age of the characters, Courtesy of Cupid does read a little bit older, making it a good choice for 11- to 13-year-olds.
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