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The Cupid Dilemma
In the new paranormal romance from bestselling author April Asher, a down-on-her-luck wedding planner demigoddess and a Muse-less rockstar agree to a fauxmance that quickly turns anything but…
A lover of love and a champion for happily ever after. Those were two of many things people expected from Aphrodite’s daughter. To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ paid the bills, and currently, not well. Business was dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm and her sister Maxi’s matchmaking ability on the fritz. To top it off, there’s an ex-boyfriend calling her ‘the Anti-Aphrodite’ and paparazzi pics linking Addie to her new client’s older brother.
Phoenix ‘Nix’ Cross—song writer and drummer of the hot new band, The Stone Talons—was no saint, but he was far from the womanizer the band’s image rep bestowed on him. If anything, he was a romantic, hopeful to find a love like the one in which his parents shared. With the band’s star quickly rising and the record label pressuring him to deliver the band’s next hit, Nix’s writer’s block couldn’t have come at a worse time. But when he opens his door to his irate new next-door neighbor, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner.
With Addie needing an end to the public relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off?
A lover of love and a champion for happily ever after. Those were two of many things people expected from Aphrodite’s daughter. To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ paid the bills, and currently, not well. Business was dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm and her sister Maxi’s matchmaking ability on the fritz. To top it off, there’s an ex-boyfriend calling her ‘the Anti-Aphrodite’ and paparazzi pics linking Addie to her new client’s older brother.
Phoenix ‘Nix’ Cross—song writer and drummer of the hot new band, The Stone Talons—was no saint, but he was far from the womanizer the band’s image rep bestowed on him. If anything, he was a romantic, hopeful to find a love like the one in which his parents shared. With the band’s star quickly rising and the record label pressuring him to deliver the band’s next hit, Nix’s writer’s block couldn’t have come at a worse time. But when he opens his door to his irate new next-door neighbor, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner.
With Addie needing an end to the public relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2026
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May 7, 2026
The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher
Book Blurb: In the new paranormal romance from bestselling author April Asher, a down-on-her-luck wedding planner demigoddess and a Muse-less rockstar agree to a fauxmance that quickly turns anything but…
Rating: ****
Feels: Giggly, Warmth, Invested, Pleased
Style: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance
First published May 12, 2026 : 352pages
Such a fun ride !! I was giggly , blushing and just thoroughly entertained throughout this sweet paranormal romance. Addie doesn’t believe in love , and as the daughter of Aphrodite that can be an issue !! Things take a spicy and unexpected turn for her when a hot rock star moves in next door !!! Nix aka Phoenix is the bad boy of the band … or is he ? Hot musical neighbor is in need of a muse and our girl is in need of some good PR for her wedding / matchmaking busy. Fake dating cuteness ensues !!! Loved the found family between Addie’s extended family , can we say fun with gods and goddesses and Nix’s band mates including a Gargoyle 😍😍 Loved the light paranormal twist to this contemporary romance setting and all the absolutely amazing banter !! This was a perfect weekend read for me.
Favorite Quote: She was also the daughter of Aphrodite ... and Love - was most unfortunately - her middle name.
This book has:
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Neighbors to Lovers
- Demi Goddess & Rockstar
- Crazy family gatherings
Book Blurb: In the new paranormal romance from bestselling author April Asher, a down-on-her-luck wedding planner demigoddess and a Muse-less rockstar agree to a fauxmance that quickly turns anything but…
Rating: ****
Feels: Giggly, Warmth, Invested, Pleased
Style: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance
First published May 12, 2026 : 352pages
Such a fun ride !! I was giggly , blushing and just thoroughly entertained throughout this sweet paranormal romance. Addie doesn’t believe in love , and as the daughter of Aphrodite that can be an issue !! Things take a spicy and unexpected turn for her when a hot rock star moves in next door !!! Nix aka Phoenix is the bad boy of the band … or is he ? Hot musical neighbor is in need of a muse and our girl is in need of some good PR for her wedding / matchmaking busy. Fake dating cuteness ensues !!! Loved the found family between Addie’s extended family , can we say fun with gods and goddesses and Nix’s band mates including a Gargoyle 😍😍 Loved the light paranormal twist to this contemporary romance setting and all the absolutely amazing banter !! This was a perfect weekend read for me.
Favorite Quote: She was also the daughter of Aphrodite ... and Love - was most unfortunately - her middle name.
This book has:
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Neighbors to Lovers
- Demi Goddess & Rockstar
- Crazy family gatherings
June 25, 2026
✨🏹 The Cupid Dilemma 🏹✨
This was a cute paranormal romance that was maybe a little too cheesy for me at times. But I still enjoyed it! 💕✨
I actually really liked the audiobook narration a lot🎧💜
The ending was sweet, even if it was a bit predictable, and overall it was a fun, lighthearted paranormal romance. 🏹💘
💘 What to Expect
Fake Dating
Neighbors to Lovers
Demigoddess FMC
Rockstar MMC
Forced Proximity
Paranormal Romance
_ _ _ _
⭐ Star Rating: 4 Stars
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
This was a cute paranormal romance that was maybe a little too cheesy for me at times. But I still enjoyed it! 💕✨
I actually really liked the audiobook narration a lot🎧💜
The ending was sweet, even if it was a bit predictable, and overall it was a fun, lighthearted paranormal romance. 🏹💘
💘 What to Expect
Fake Dating
Neighbors to Lovers
Demigoddess FMC
Rockstar MMC
Forced Proximity
Paranormal Romance
_ _ _ _
⭐ Star Rating: 4 Stars
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 1, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Cupid Dilemma is a fun sorta paranormal Rom-Com that gives the reader almost exactly what they expect for the entire ride. It is a fauxmance, fake dating story with muse aspects to it. I enjoyed this, it was like eating a fun size snickers bar. You enjoy it but it is over in two bites and you want another one right away.
Addie runs a matchmaking and wedding planning business with her sister and cousin. They have or had a decent business but for some reason her sister's matchmaking mojo is on the fritz and Addie has just had the worst wedding possible for an influencer and has been deemed the Anti-Aphrodite in the press. She needs some good press and fast. Enter Phoenix the bad boy drummer of an indie Rock Band. He is struggling with new songs to finish out their record, that is until he met Addie. After a short interaction with her, he was able to pen a few good lines. Phoenix offers up his notoriety, popularity and influence to be Addie's fake boyfriend to help with the Anti-Aphrodite label and get some good press, she just needs to be his muse.
There are some very predicable moments the lead to PDA opportunities and help to create the tension between Addie and Phoenix as the reader wonders how long will it take for them to realize they have something real between them. I did like the dialogue between all the characters and feel like that was the best part of the story. How Addie talks with her sister, cousin and Nix made me laugh at multiple points in the story. I enjoyed the dual PoV so the reader has insight to the thoughts and motivations of each character. Phoenix's motivations and grand gesture at the end were some of my favorite parts.
Like I said, this was enjoyable. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more world building around the Greek God aspect and other paranormal aspects of the story. It was a little all over the place and I wasn't sure if there were more Gods in play from other cultures or only the Greek Mythos. There are shifters also and Gargoyles; the paranormal aspects felt like it was just a toss-up of a bunch of cool things that may or may not go together, kind of like polka dots and paisley. I was also confused if all the humans know about the paranormal world or just a select few.
This is a great vacation or beach read when you want something that is an easy fun read but you know what your getting so it is easy to put down and enjoy other things too.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Cupid Dilemma is a fun sorta paranormal Rom-Com that gives the reader almost exactly what they expect for the entire ride. It is a fauxmance, fake dating story with muse aspects to it. I enjoyed this, it was like eating a fun size snickers bar. You enjoy it but it is over in two bites and you want another one right away.
Addie runs a matchmaking and wedding planning business with her sister and cousin. They have or had a decent business but for some reason her sister's matchmaking mojo is on the fritz and Addie has just had the worst wedding possible for an influencer and has been deemed the Anti-Aphrodite in the press. She needs some good press and fast. Enter Phoenix the bad boy drummer of an indie Rock Band. He is struggling with new songs to finish out their record, that is until he met Addie. After a short interaction with her, he was able to pen a few good lines. Phoenix offers up his notoriety, popularity and influence to be Addie's fake boyfriend to help with the Anti-Aphrodite label and get some good press, she just needs to be his muse.
There are some very predicable moments the lead to PDA opportunities and help to create the tension between Addie and Phoenix as the reader wonders how long will it take for them to realize they have something real between them. I did like the dialogue between all the characters and feel like that was the best part of the story. How Addie talks with her sister, cousin and Nix made me laugh at multiple points in the story. I enjoyed the dual PoV so the reader has insight to the thoughts and motivations of each character. Phoenix's motivations and grand gesture at the end were some of my favorite parts.
Like I said, this was enjoyable. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more world building around the Greek God aspect and other paranormal aspects of the story. It was a little all over the place and I wasn't sure if there were more Gods in play from other cultures or only the Greek Mythos. There are shifters also and Gargoyles; the paranormal aspects felt like it was just a toss-up of a bunch of cool things that may or may not go together, kind of like polka dots and paisley. I was also confused if all the humans know about the paranormal world or just a select few.
This is a great vacation or beach read when you want something that is an easy fun read but you know what your getting so it is easy to put down and enjoy other things too.
"On a scale of one pearl to an entire string, how many pearls do we want people clutching wen they see us?"
July 10, 2026
The Cupid Dilemma was a fake dating paranormal romance that was fun and flirty. With laugh out loud moments, a disastrous meet cute, characters that popped from the pages, and a story-line that was effortless to follow, I adored this book! It was light-hearted and just what I needed!
Addie was a wedding planner who didn’t believe in love, even though her mother was Aphrohdite. With her business struggling, she agreed to fake date her hot musician neighbor….she would be his muse, and he would help with her PR issues. I was squealing and clapping my hands as they agreed to the terms!
Addie was so easy to adore and follow along with on her journey. You could feel how much she loved her business partners, her sister and cousin. And her dog, Do-Re-Me added the most adorable moments! Plus her pajama wardrobe was the best! But watching her get flustered by Nix?! That was priceless time and again!
Nix came off as having a player vibe because of the music he wrote, plus he could be so sure of himself. But getting to know him, he was entirely different. I loved his quick wit, humor, and protectiveness. He had such a kind soul. And the man had no problems being forward and letting Addie know exactly how much he wanted her!
With smile inducing dates, it was fun watching their chemistry explode. It gave me butterflies! As they started to spend more time around each other, it was heartwarming watching a friendship form. They cared for each other, supported one another, and cheered each other on. And when they did cross that line to more, their moments were sexy and so steamy!
I need more of this world, it was so much fun! And I loved all of the Greek Mythology that was woven into the story. The Cupid Dilemma is the perfect book to take to the beach or curl up next to a fire with. It was delightful, feel good, and so entertaining! I definitely recommend it!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Blog * Instagram * Facebook * Bloglovin * Feedly
Love.
Sparkling unicorns had more chance of being real than that four-letter word that never ceased to send people into a tizzy.
Addie was a wedding planner who didn’t believe in love, even though her mother was Aphrohdite. With her business struggling, she agreed to fake date her hot musician neighbor….she would be his muse, and he would help with her PR issues. I was squealing and clapping my hands as they agreed to the terms!
Dates. Public outings.
What the hell did she get herself into?
Addie was so easy to adore and follow along with on her journey. You could feel how much she loved her business partners, her sister and cousin. And her dog, Do-Re-Me added the most adorable moments! Plus her pajama wardrobe was the best! But watching her get flustered by Nix?! That was priceless time and again!
A serrated knife to the gut was less painful than hearing Addie play off the kiss that had just tilted his world on its axis and quite literally knocked a sweet melody into his head.
Nix came off as having a player vibe because of the music he wrote, plus he could be so sure of himself. But getting to know him, he was entirely different. I loved his quick wit, humor, and protectiveness. He had such a kind soul. And the man had no problems being forward and letting Addie know exactly how much he wanted her!
“This is a really bad idea, Phoenix,” Addie whispered, her voice scratchy.
“On average, I’m a big fan of them. They usually lead to the most fun.”
With smile inducing dates, it was fun watching their chemistry explode. It gave me butterflies! As they started to spend more time around each other, it was heartwarming watching a friendship form. They cared for each other, supported one another, and cheered each other on. And when they did cross that line to more, their moments were sexy and so steamy!
Phoenix grinned against her lips. “As you wish.”
I need more of this world, it was so much fun! And I loved all of the Greek Mythology that was woven into the story. The Cupid Dilemma is the perfect book to take to the beach or curl up next to a fire with. It was delightful, feel good, and so entertaining! I definitely recommend it!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Blog * Instagram * Facebook * Bloglovin * Feedly
June 29, 2026
The Cupid Dilemma is a fun and refreshing take on a love story with a mythological twist. Adalyn, Aphrodite’s daughter, is anything but a believer in love—even though she runs the ironically named Happily Ever Forever business. Watching her navigate a failing company while being branded the “Anti-Aphrodite” made for a strong and engaging start.
Enter Nix, a charming musician from a popular boy band, who brings both chaos and chemistry into Adalyn’s life. Their fake dating arrangement is entertaining, filled with witty moments and a slow-building connection that feels natural and enjoyable to follow.
The story is light, romantic, and easy to get hooked on, with a unique premise that stands out. However, the ending was fairly predictable, which took away a bit of the excitement and surprise.
Overall, The Cupid Dilemma is a cute, feel-good read with lovable characters and a creative concept—definitely worth picking up if you enjoy fake dating tropes with a touch of mythology.
Enter Nix, a charming musician from a popular boy band, who brings both chaos and chemistry into Adalyn’s life. Their fake dating arrangement is entertaining, filled with witty moments and a slow-building connection that feels natural and enjoyable to follow.
The story is light, romantic, and easy to get hooked on, with a unique premise that stands out. However, the ending was fairly predictable, which took away a bit of the excitement and surprise.
Overall, The Cupid Dilemma is a cute, feel-good read with lovable characters and a creative concept—definitely worth picking up if you enjoy fake dating tropes with a touch of mythology.
July 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐
This is a fun and careless book.
I read it in one gulp, and it had been a while since I'd managed to do that!
Maybe not unforgettable, but definitely worth the read for great entertainment 💗
I expected a bit more on the characterisation and background since we have the daughters of a goddess and all that, but I loved the fact that it has a rom-com feeling 🍿
Pub Date Jun 30 2026 💕
❁ Thank you to Netgalley and April Asher for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion — ARC provided by Dreamscape Media❁
This is a fun and careless book.
I read it in one gulp, and it had been a while since I'd managed to do that!
Maybe not unforgettable, but definitely worth the read for great entertainment 💗
I expected a bit more on the characterisation and background since we have the daughters of a goddess and all that, but I loved the fact that it has a rom-com feeling 🍿
May 31, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book called, The Cupid Dilemma. This is about Addie, she is a demigoddess, the daughter of Aphrodite, and she doesn't believe in love yet she owns a wedding planning business with her sister. The business is struggling after some wedding mishaps, and she is now being labeled the "Anti-Aphrodite" on social media. Phoenix is the songwriter and drummer in a rock band where the record label gave him the "bad boy" image, but lately he hasn't felt inspired when trying to write new music for the band. Until he meets Addie. When Phoenix's sister hires Addie as her wedding planner and then paparazzi pictures of Addie and Phoenix together end up on social media, people begin to speculate if they're a couple. So they get the idea for a fake romance to solve both of their problems. Addie's "Anti-Aphrodite" label would go away and business would improve if everyone thinks she's in love, and Phoenix can use Addie as his muse because when he's around her he finally feels inspired to write new music. But with sparks flying from the moment they met, this fake romance has real feelings involved real fast!
I absolutely loved this paranormal romcom! It was a reverse grumpy sunshine, fake dating, rockstar romance with Greek gods (with a side character gargoyle as Phoenix's friend and Cerberus's puppy as Addie's pet!) The tension between Addie and Phoenix was done so well, their connection felt so genuine, and their banter was absolute perfection! Addie starts as closed off and not believing in love, but her growth and character development throughout the story was so beautiful. Phoenix was a bad boy on the outside with a heart of gold on the inside, he was perfect. This was such a sweet, funny, and entertaining paranormal romcom! I loved everything about it! I would really love to get more stories in this universe, either more of these two or of the side characters, because I didn't want this book to end! 💛📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of The Cupid Dilemma, in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this paranormal romcom! It was a reverse grumpy sunshine, fake dating, rockstar romance with Greek gods (with a side character gargoyle as Phoenix's friend and Cerberus's puppy as Addie's pet!) The tension between Addie and Phoenix was done so well, their connection felt so genuine, and their banter was absolute perfection! Addie starts as closed off and not believing in love, but her growth and character development throughout the story was so beautiful. Phoenix was a bad boy on the outside with a heart of gold on the inside, he was perfect. This was such a sweet, funny, and entertaining paranormal romcom! I loved everything about it! I would really love to get more stories in this universe, either more of these two or of the side characters, because I didn't want this book to end! 💛📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of The Cupid Dilemma, in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2026
This book felt like standing backstage at a sold-out concert while accidentally falling in love.
Adalyn and Nix absolutely consumed my life for the duration of this story. What starts as a fake relationship to fix reputations and survive public scrutiny slowly becomes something achingly real, and I was hooked every second of the way.
Addie is desperately trying to save her wedding planning business after becoming the internet’s newest disaster headline, while Nix is fighting creative burnout under the crushing pressure of fame. Together, they become each other’s escape from the chaos—and honestly? Their connection felt effortless.
The emotional tension in this book was EVERYTHING. The lingering touches. The staged kisses that suddenly didn’t feel staged anymore. The way they saw through each other’s public personas and connected with the vulnerable parts underneath.
Nix was such a refreshing MMC. Beneath the rockstar image is someone soft, loyal, and quietly desperate for something real in a world built on performance. And Addie’s journey with self-worth and expectations gave the story so much emotional weight.
This romance was sweet, messy, tender, and full of heart.
Adalyn and Nix absolutely consumed my life for the duration of this story. What starts as a fake relationship to fix reputations and survive public scrutiny slowly becomes something achingly real, and I was hooked every second of the way.
Addie is desperately trying to save her wedding planning business after becoming the internet’s newest disaster headline, while Nix is fighting creative burnout under the crushing pressure of fame. Together, they become each other’s escape from the chaos—and honestly? Their connection felt effortless.
The emotional tension in this book was EVERYTHING. The lingering touches. The staged kisses that suddenly didn’t feel staged anymore. The way they saw through each other’s public personas and connected with the vulnerable parts underneath.
Nix was such a refreshing MMC. Beneath the rockstar image is someone soft, loyal, and quietly desperate for something real in a world built on performance. And Addie’s journey with self-worth and expectations gave the story so much emotional weight.
This romance was sweet, messy, tender, and full of heart.
March 19, 2026
Overall I had a good time with this book and it was a quick read. I generally enjoy fantasy and tend to love a fake dating trope. I liked the characters and the writing style, although it did read as immature at times.
My biggest disappointment with the book was its lack of world building. From the start I was unsure how Olympus was tied in New York City; if it coexisted or if humans did/didn’t know. Some of my questions were answered in the book, but it was overall fuzzy.
In the same vein, there were many character traits mentioned about so many different characters in the book, but there was not a lot of character building. I wish background character relationships were established with our main characters before their lives began to intermingle. It felt like a lot going on without knowing our characters truly.
I felt like there were many sub-plots and side missions that took away from the story (e.g dad’s girlfriend, amazing race) and more scenes should’ve built up Addie’s internal conflict.
With that being said, there were plenty of scenes that had me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet.
My biggest disappointment with the book was its lack of world building. From the start I was unsure how Olympus was tied in New York City; if it coexisted or if humans did/didn’t know. Some of my questions were answered in the book, but it was overall fuzzy.
In the same vein, there were many character traits mentioned about so many different characters in the book, but there was not a lot of character building. I wish background character relationships were established with our main characters before their lives began to intermingle. It felt like a lot going on without knowing our characters truly.
I felt like there were many sub-plots and side missions that took away from the story (e.g dad’s girlfriend, amazing race) and more scenes should’ve built up Addie’s internal conflict.
With that being said, there were plenty of scenes that had me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Cupid Dilemma was such a fun, feel-good paranormal romance! It follows Adalyn, the daughter of Aphrodite whose struggling wedding planning business has earned her the unfortunate nickname “The Anti-Aphrodite,” and Nix, a rockstar dealing with a serious case of writer’s block. The two agree to a fake relationship that benefits them both, but, as expected, pretending starts to feel a little too real.
This was exactly the kind of light, entertaining romance I was in the mood for. The fake dating trope was done really well, Addie and Nix had great chemistry, and I loved the blend of Greek mythology with a modern rom-com setting. The paranormal elements added just enough magic without taking away from the romance, and the supporting cast made the world feel lively and fun.
The audiobook was also a great experience. The narrators brought both characters to life, making the banter, emotional moments, and humor even more enjoyable.
While I would’ve liked a bit more emotional depth in a few places, I still had a great time with this story from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a cozy, magical romance with fake dating, a swoony rockstar, plenty of banter, and a touch of Greek mythology, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Cupid Dilemma was such a fun, feel-good paranormal romance! It follows Adalyn, the daughter of Aphrodite whose struggling wedding planning business has earned her the unfortunate nickname “The Anti-Aphrodite,” and Nix, a rockstar dealing with a serious case of writer’s block. The two agree to a fake relationship that benefits them both, but, as expected, pretending starts to feel a little too real.
This was exactly the kind of light, entertaining romance I was in the mood for. The fake dating trope was done really well, Addie and Nix had great chemistry, and I loved the blend of Greek mythology with a modern rom-com setting. The paranormal elements added just enough magic without taking away from the romance, and the supporting cast made the world feel lively and fun.
The audiobook was also a great experience. The narrators brought both characters to life, making the banter, emotional moments, and humor even more enjoyable.
While I would’ve liked a bit more emotional depth in a few places, I still had a great time with this story from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a cozy, magical romance with fake dating, a swoony rockstar, plenty of banter, and a touch of Greek mythology, this is definitely worth picking up.
June 30, 2026
I’m kinda disappointed with this one. It started off great. I was enjoying the plot and the characters, but it took a very large nosedive quickly. I was bored listening to this after about 25%.
Audiobook narrators, Joy Belmont and Tim Paige were great though.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Audiobook narrators, Joy Belmont and Tim Paige were great though.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2026
This might be the most fun I’ve ever had with a fake dating fauxmance (yes, I’m stealing the term haha). When April told me about this story idea over a year ago, I was absolutely feral for it, and wow, it did NOT disappoint. Aphrodite’s daughter running a match-making/wedding service and not believing in love and a rock star who can’t write a song to save his life at the moment being NEIGHBORS and falling into this thing? I ate this story line up, and truly could not get enough. Nix and Addie were both adorably hilarious in their own ways, I loved the scenes with their respective families and the tie-ins with Olympus, and the way this entire thing played out was just sweet and plain old fun. I would absolutely recommend this book over and over again, and I kind of maybe sort of hope we get some spinoffs about the rest of the band mates/Addie’s sister and cousin? I literally loved every single character (except the stupid managers) and OMG THE SPICE!!! April kicked it up ten notches on the slice and it was freaking amazing. Might be my new favorite book by the author, truly!!
May 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Addie is the daughter of Aphrodite and doesn’t believe in love. With her sister, Maxi and her cousin, Bailey, they host a matchmaking and wedding planning business, Happily Ever Forever. After a wedding gone wrong, Addie is in desperate need of a PR win. The drummer of the Stone Talons, Phoenix, is in desperate need of a muse to write music. Sister of the drummer of the Stone Talon, Naiomi, is in desperate need of a wedding planner after being scammed. Since Naiomi is busy with her PhD, Addie and Phoenix plan her wedding together and have a fauxmance to help with Addie’s image and Phoenix write his songs. Lines become blurred after they spend more time together and play up their PDA.
Addie is unsure of her role as event planner after multiple wedding mishaps but is determined to stick around and make things better for her sister and cousin. Phoenix is unsure of his continuation in the Stone Talons and is torn between supporting his bandmates and following his passion of being a song-writer. They’re both a crossroads in their lives and trying to find the next write step. They’re also both in their 30s which I had to remind myself out because they both act a decade younger. Addie and Phoenix are a fine couple and have some cute moments like the Central Park scavenger hunt and their trip to Coney Island.
The rationale of Addie and her motivations hinge on her Greek mythology ancestry, however, because the worldbuilding is lacking, we never understand why they are included and how they fit into this urban fantasy world. We know there is portal to Olympus that looks eerily like Central Park in New York City and that like beetlejuice, Aphrodite and Eunice can be summoned by repeating their names three times. There are also other supernaturals like Easton, Phoenix’s bandmate, who is a gargoyle shifter. The paranormal and Greek mythology relies on the reader’s knowledge to fill in the gaps.
I think better worldbuilding and descriptions of places could have better anchored this story. I never had a good understanding of where certain places are. Addie and Phoenix live in the same building in NYC presumably near Central Park. Addie takes the subway and buses, so we know we’re in a city. Addie’s dad lives in the suburbs, I think. Phoenix’s uncle and parents live on the outskirts of the city, I think. But how these places all fit together is unclear. Again, like the paranormal and Greek mythology, the geography relies on the reader’s knowledge of New York City.
The third act breakup was also confusing because Addie incited the breakup but Phoenix completed the grand gesture (at his sister’s wedding nonetheless, yikes).
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Addie is the daughter of Aphrodite and doesn’t believe in love. With her sister, Maxi and her cousin, Bailey, they host a matchmaking and wedding planning business, Happily Ever Forever. After a wedding gone wrong, Addie is in desperate need of a PR win. The drummer of the Stone Talons, Phoenix, is in desperate need of a muse to write music. Sister of the drummer of the Stone Talon, Naiomi, is in desperate need of a wedding planner after being scammed. Since Naiomi is busy with her PhD, Addie and Phoenix plan her wedding together and have a fauxmance to help with Addie’s image and Phoenix write his songs. Lines become blurred after they spend more time together and play up their PDA.
Addie is unsure of her role as event planner after multiple wedding mishaps but is determined to stick around and make things better for her sister and cousin. Phoenix is unsure of his continuation in the Stone Talons and is torn between supporting his bandmates and following his passion of being a song-writer. They’re both a crossroads in their lives and trying to find the next write step. They’re also both in their 30s which I had to remind myself out because they both act a decade younger. Addie and Phoenix are a fine couple and have some cute moments like the Central Park scavenger hunt and their trip to Coney Island.
The rationale of Addie and her motivations hinge on her Greek mythology ancestry, however, because the worldbuilding is lacking, we never understand why they are included and how they fit into this urban fantasy world. We know there is portal to Olympus that looks eerily like Central Park in New York City and that like beetlejuice, Aphrodite and Eunice can be summoned by repeating their names three times. There are also other supernaturals like Easton, Phoenix’s bandmate, who is a gargoyle shifter. The paranormal and Greek mythology relies on the reader’s knowledge to fill in the gaps.
I think better worldbuilding and descriptions of places could have better anchored this story. I never had a good understanding of where certain places are. Addie and Phoenix live in the same building in NYC presumably near Central Park. Addie takes the subway and buses, so we know we’re in a city. Addie’s dad lives in the suburbs, I think. Phoenix’s uncle and parents live on the outskirts of the city, I think. But how these places all fit together is unclear. Again, like the paranormal and Greek mythology, the geography relies on the reader’s knowledge of New York City.
The third act breakup was also confusing because Addie incited the breakup but Phoenix completed the grand gesture (at his sister’s wedding nonetheless, yikes).
⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 10, 2026
As a romance reader who can never resist a good fake dating setup, The Cupid Dilemma was an easy book to enjoy. April Asher leans fully into the charm of the trope, delivering a light, playful story that knows exactly what kind of fun it wants to be. I also loved the setting of New York inhabited by descendants of Greek gods and supernatural creatures.
Addie Whitlock, daughter of Aphrodite, enters a fake dating agreement with Phoenix “Nix” Cross to salvage the tainted reputation of her wedding planning business. In exchange, she has agreed to become Nix’s muse to get him out of his song writing funk. The fake dating dynamic is the real highlight here. Watching the characters navigate their pretend relationship, complete with forced proximity and gradually blurring lines, was genuinely entertaining. Asher does a nice job building romantic tension, and there are plenty of moments that made me smile, especially when the characters start catching real feelings despite their best efforts to keep things “just an act.”
While the chemistry was solid, I occasionally wanted more complexity from the characters and higher emotional stakes to really elevate the romance. Overall, The Cupid Dilemma is a fun, cozy romance that delivers on its premise. If you’re a fan of romance—especially fake dating—you’ll likely have a good time with this one. A solid 3.5-star read that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for something sweet, familiar, and easy to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Addie Whitlock, daughter of Aphrodite, enters a fake dating agreement with Phoenix “Nix” Cross to salvage the tainted reputation of her wedding planning business. In exchange, she has agreed to become Nix’s muse to get him out of his song writing funk. The fake dating dynamic is the real highlight here. Watching the characters navigate their pretend relationship, complete with forced proximity and gradually blurring lines, was genuinely entertaining. Asher does a nice job building romantic tension, and there are plenty of moments that made me smile, especially when the characters start catching real feelings despite their best efforts to keep things “just an act.”
While the chemistry was solid, I occasionally wanted more complexity from the characters and higher emotional stakes to really elevate the romance. Overall, The Cupid Dilemma is a fun, cozy romance that delivers on its premise. If you’re a fan of romance—especially fake dating—you’ll likely have a good time with this one. A solid 3.5-star read that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for something sweet, familiar, and easy to enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2026
3/5 Stars
Adalyn Whitlock is the daughter of goddess Aphrodite, yet she couldn’t be more against the concept of love. After some awful press, Adalyn decides to fake date someone in hopes of improving her image. It so happens she lives right next door to the perfect candidate; Rock star drummer Phoenix Cross.
The Cupid Dilemma is a paranormal romance book. I found it to be an easy read, and the world building was acceptable. The idea of an anti-love demigoddess partaking in a fake relationship with a rock star is amusing. The dialogue between the characters was juvenile, and I had to remind myself they were in their 30s.
Adalyn Whitlock’s aversion to “love” felt forced. She had a decent relationship with her mother, although she claimed otherwise. Phoenix Cross was a romantic at heart, but he had to play the bad boy for the audience. The conflict in this story was resolved with ease, which left much to be desired. I wish the best for April Asher’s future projects.
A warm thanks to April Asher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Adalyn Whitlock is the daughter of goddess Aphrodite, yet she couldn’t be more against the concept of love. After some awful press, Adalyn decides to fake date someone in hopes of improving her image. It so happens she lives right next door to the perfect candidate; Rock star drummer Phoenix Cross.
The Cupid Dilemma is a paranormal romance book. I found it to be an easy read, and the world building was acceptable. The idea of an anti-love demigoddess partaking in a fake relationship with a rock star is amusing. The dialogue between the characters was juvenile, and I had to remind myself they were in their 30s.
Adalyn Whitlock’s aversion to “love” felt forced. She had a decent relationship with her mother, although she claimed otherwise. Phoenix Cross was a romantic at heart, but he had to play the bad boy for the audience. The conflict in this story was resolved with ease, which left much to be desired. I wish the best for April Asher’s future projects.
A warm thanks to April Asher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 28, 2026
The Cupid Dilemma – Audiobook Narrated by Joy Belmont and Tim Paige
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up to three because it had cute moments
**I received an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, but all opinions and thoughts are my own!
I am not really an audiobook person, but I’ve been trying. There is only one other audiobook I’ve listened to and I enjoyed that one. Overall the story is good, but the voice acting and the writing style is not for me. If you are looking for a cute quick spicy rom-com vibe, then this is the [audio] book for you! This is my first April Asher book, so maybe I had high hopes from the hype I’ve seen about her. As for the VA’s, I don’t have much experience in audiobooks but they did a great job in my opinion (also why it was bumped up to 3 because this is the *audio*book.
I am going to start with what is working well. The fact that the goddess’ are in distress allows for a fresh breath of air. I like that Addie has red hair instead of blonde as Aphrodite is depicted with red hue hair in mythology, but in many books I’ve read with her in it she’s had blonde hair. I also love that Addie, as I imagined her, is a plus size woman. I also liked that Aphrodite was modernized and not wearing a robe or toga, this allowed for the story to be in a more modern day setting that worked well. These two are cute together though, and I do like a fake-dating romance but it was cliche. Would make for a cute movie, but I feel like it could also work well and maybe be a better story if it wasn’t spicy or open door spicy (usually I love spice and smut). I loved that he fell first and she is against love. Do, Re, and Mi are cute little inclusions throughout, and I love that they aren’t forgotten about but you get them in mini scenes. This book also showed that the demigods wait for their abilities but they can train in them. I enjoyed this as many they just have them and don’t go through trial and error.
Now, I am going to go onto what made me not like this story more. The opening chapter was really rough for me to listen to due to the details being… a lot but not a lot? The voice actors grew on me slightly as I continued to listen, but I don’t particuarly enjoy them – certain voices for characters they did (the female VA specifically) was like nails on a chalk board for me. This isn’t too deep into the supernatural/mythological world, but the little sprinkle works. I do wish there was more world building, I felt like something was missing. Overall, I was bored when reading and within the first three chapters I almost DNF’d. I just don’t think this book was for me, but I listened all the way to the end!
The middle could’ve been better, as I feel like the spicy scenes just weren’t working that well (especially Chapter 15). I hated yet expected the third act break-up, it would’ve been better without it and could’ve shown how Addie had developed as a character. I wanted more about Addie being against love and why her dad and mom didn’t work out, maybe it was mentioned but I missed it since this story was not memerable to me. It did seem pointless but makes sense for Addie’s character. Some of the details and slang felt like it was social media censored (unaliver), I didn’t really care for this as I’d rather it say killer or murderer. The craft was okay but the writing style was not for me as the details of the sweat going into her boobs and how perfect/nice they were is tiny and insignificant, but it’s the fact it was mentioned so much that brought me out of the book. The focus on her breasts and the sweat in them throughout was not it for me. Maybe it’s a saying but “the silence was pregnant” is just a weird thing and didn’t make much sense to me. Overall my critiques about the novel come from small details and not feeling much of anything for the spicy scenes. Part of me thinks they were only added in there to go with the trends of open door romance’s blowing up. I would rate it a 1/5 on the spice scale. I also hated how many times it said “his perfect cock” as it was repetative and I just didn’t vibe with the spice in this book. I felt as if it could’ve had more meaningful tension/conflict throughout, it was lackluster in this department for me. I would say it’s a little weird that Addie and her sister weren’t *both* trained by their mom.
Overall though, the audiobook was good as the VA’s did different voice’s for different characters when they were reading so it was easier to follow along. I will also say I love that it is duo POV so we get both sides of the story. I just don’t think the writing was for me or the VA’s in the end.
**I received an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, but all opinions and thoughts are my own!
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up to three because it had cute moments
**I received an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, but all opinions and thoughts are my own!
I am not really an audiobook person, but I’ve been trying. There is only one other audiobook I’ve listened to and I enjoyed that one. Overall the story is good, but the voice acting and the writing style is not for me. If you are looking for a cute quick spicy rom-com vibe, then this is the [audio] book for you! This is my first April Asher book, so maybe I had high hopes from the hype I’ve seen about her. As for the VA’s, I don’t have much experience in audiobooks but they did a great job in my opinion (also why it was bumped up to 3 because this is the *audio*book.
I am going to start with what is working well. The fact that the goddess’ are in distress allows for a fresh breath of air. I like that Addie has red hair instead of blonde as Aphrodite is depicted with red hue hair in mythology, but in many books I’ve read with her in it she’s had blonde hair. I also love that Addie, as I imagined her, is a plus size woman. I also liked that Aphrodite was modernized and not wearing a robe or toga, this allowed for the story to be in a more modern day setting that worked well. These two are cute together though, and I do like a fake-dating romance but it was cliche. Would make for a cute movie, but I feel like it could also work well and maybe be a better story if it wasn’t spicy or open door spicy (usually I love spice and smut). I loved that he fell first and she is against love. Do, Re, and Mi are cute little inclusions throughout, and I love that they aren’t forgotten about but you get them in mini scenes. This book also showed that the demigods wait for their abilities but they can train in them. I enjoyed this as many they just have them and don’t go through trial and error.
Now, I am going to go onto what made me not like this story more. The opening chapter was really rough for me to listen to due to the details being… a lot but not a lot? The voice actors grew on me slightly as I continued to listen, but I don’t particuarly enjoy them – certain voices for characters they did (the female VA specifically) was like nails on a chalk board for me. This isn’t too deep into the supernatural/mythological world, but the little sprinkle works. I do wish there was more world building, I felt like something was missing. Overall, I was bored when reading and within the first three chapters I almost DNF’d. I just don’t think this book was for me, but I listened all the way to the end!
The middle could’ve been better, as I feel like the spicy scenes just weren’t working that well (especially Chapter 15). I hated yet expected the third act break-up, it would’ve been better without it and could’ve shown how Addie had developed as a character. I wanted more about Addie being against love and why her dad and mom didn’t work out, maybe it was mentioned but I missed it since this story was not memerable to me. It did seem pointless but makes sense for Addie’s character. Some of the details and slang felt like it was social media censored (unaliver), I didn’t really care for this as I’d rather it say killer or murderer. The craft was okay but the writing style was not for me as the details of the sweat going into her boobs and how perfect/nice they were is tiny and insignificant, but it’s the fact it was mentioned so much that brought me out of the book. The focus on her breasts and the sweat in them throughout was not it for me. Maybe it’s a saying but “the silence was pregnant” is just a weird thing and didn’t make much sense to me. Overall my critiques about the novel come from small details and not feeling much of anything for the spicy scenes. Part of me thinks they were only added in there to go with the trends of open door romance’s blowing up. I would rate it a 1/5 on the spice scale. I also hated how many times it said “his perfect cock” as it was repetative and I just didn’t vibe with the spice in this book. I felt as if it could’ve had more meaningful tension/conflict throughout, it was lackluster in this department for me. I would say it’s a little weird that Addie and her sister weren’t *both* trained by their mom.
Overall though, the audiobook was good as the VA’s did different voice’s for different characters when they were reading so it was easier to follow along. I will also say I love that it is duo POV so we get both sides of the story. I just don’t think the writing was for me or the VA’s in the end.
**I received an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, but all opinions and thoughts are my own!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book. This was a cute romcom where a matchmaker and wedding planner Addie slowly falls in love with a Rockstar named Phoenix. I enjoyed this book but at times it felt too predictable and I was left wanting more. I wished the author added more world building between the Greek Gods. I feel like I wanted to know more what a Muse is and it was not fully hashed out to me. I also wished we saw some more aspects since there are shifters and gargoyles in the story. I was lacking the interaction between the species and I felt like they could have added a level of complexity to the story.
I did listed to the audiobook of this story. I liked how there was 2 narrators so I could differentiate between the two characters. I felt like there could have been better emphasis on certain parts particularly the dialogue between the two characters. I also wished that any song lyrics were read in a different tone to give me a sense that this was music or a song rather than the character just speaking.
I did listed to the audiobook of this story. I liked how there was 2 narrators so I could differentiate between the two characters. I felt like there could have been better emphasis on certain parts particularly the dialogue between the two characters. I also wished that any song lyrics were read in a different tone to give me a sense that this was music or a song rather than the character just speaking.
April 25, 2026
3.5 stars
I'm always down for an April book and this was a fun read.
I really liked Addie and Nix. They're both snarky and loyal and so damn good. Together they have instant chemistry and it was delightful reading them navigate the fauxmance into more. There's also a really good group of supportive friends.
Plot wise, it was good. I wish there was some sort of explanation as to why everyone knew about these supernatural beings and or why the portal to Olympus was in the middle of a park, but here we are. Besides those things, it was nearly all fluff and very low stakes.
Overall, it was a quick and fun read and I can't wait for whatever is next from April.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I'm always down for an April book and this was a fun read.
I really liked Addie and Nix. They're both snarky and loyal and so damn good. Together they have instant chemistry and it was delightful reading them navigate the fauxmance into more. There's also a really good group of supportive friends.
Plot wise, it was good. I wish there was some sort of explanation as to why everyone knew about these supernatural beings and or why the portal to Olympus was in the middle of a park, but here we are. Besides those things, it was nearly all fluff and very low stakes.
Overall, it was a quick and fun read and I can't wait for whatever is next from April.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
February 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.
The Cupid Dilemma was a perfect light hearted romance. I am a big fan of April Asher and got sucked into this book. I finished it in a day.
Our FMC, Addie is a wedding planner who has not been having the best of luck lately. Our MMC, Phoenix, is a musician that is struggling to write songs. When their paths cross a fake relationship/muse contract is put into place. Whatever could go wrong?
I love the paranormal setting and the sweet, yet steamy, novels that April puts together. This book is the perfect romance to add to your list. 5⭐️
The Cupid Dilemma was a perfect light hearted romance. I am a big fan of April Asher and got sucked into this book. I finished it in a day.
Our FMC, Addie is a wedding planner who has not been having the best of luck lately. Our MMC, Phoenix, is a musician that is struggling to write songs. When their paths cross a fake relationship/muse contract is put into place. Whatever could go wrong?
I love the paranormal setting and the sweet, yet steamy, novels that April puts together. This book is the perfect romance to add to your list. 5⭐️
March 2, 2026
This was a cute read. I liked A Simple Twist of Fate better but this one was fun too, albeit slightly more predictable. Phoenix was such a sweetheart. He’s for sure a cinnamon roll and I loved him. Addie was a little frustrating. Like I get it sucks to have Aphrodite as your mom but wow, way to take going the opposite direction of your parents to the extreme. I did love Aphrodite, Maxie, Bailey, Naia and East and the band! This was a really fun group of secondary characters. I enjoyed this one even if Addie wasn’t my fave. I’ll def be reading whatever April writes next!
June 27, 2026
This was okay.
Lots of tension, drama and several giggles and I do love me some fake dating.
This one was a bit weird? I don't even know if that is the right word to use.
The MMC came on waaaay too smarmy and the FMC liked it? Gave me the vomits.
The story itself is pretty interesting, but again, bit annoying at how slow the characters came to figure out something that was obvious from the very start of the book.
This is my second book by this author and the first book was stellar (Not the Witch You Wed), so I encourage others to give this one a whirl.
The writing is strong, I just think I wanted something different from nearly every character in this book 🤣
Joy Belmont & Tim Paige do a great job on the narration and I will certainly be looking for more from both of them.
Big ups to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC.
Lots of tension, drama and several giggles and I do love me some fake dating.
This one was a bit weird? I don't even know if that is the right word to use.
The MMC came on waaaay too smarmy and the FMC liked it? Gave me the vomits.
The story itself is pretty interesting, but again, bit annoying at how slow the characters came to figure out something that was obvious from the very start of the book.
This is my second book by this author and the first book was stellar (Not the Witch You Wed), so I encourage others to give this one a whirl.
The writing is strong, I just think I wanted something different from nearly every character in this book 🤣
Joy Belmont & Tim Paige do a great job on the narration and I will certainly be looking for more from both of them.
Big ups to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC.
May 20, 2026
3.7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 22, 2026
3.5 stars
June 25, 2026
4⭐, 2.25🌶️
This was a fun and cute read! I loved the premise of Aphrodite’s daughters working as a team in the love/ marriage/ wedding industry, and our FMC being anti-love. I didn’t get REALLY invested in the story or romance, but still enjoyed the read and loved the unique take on an Olympus-adjacent world adaptation.
Thank you NettGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media for an eARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was a fun and cute read! I loved the premise of Aphrodite’s daughters working as a team in the love/ marriage/ wedding industry, and our FMC being anti-love. I didn’t get REALLY invested in the story or romance, but still enjoyed the read and loved the unique take on an Olympus-adjacent world adaptation.
Thank you NettGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media for an eARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
May 12, 2026
This was a fun paranormal romance! It's an easy, light-hearted paranormal rom-com, and the premise hooked me immediately. A wedding planner who happens to be Aphrodite’s daughter but doesn’t believe in love fake dates her rockstar neighbor? Love it! Both characters have reasons for wanting to be in a fake relationship, but neither plans to catch feelings. The story had a rom-com movie vibe from the start, and it was easy to get swept up in Addie and Nix’s relationship as the lines between fake and real started to blur.
One of my favorite things about this book was the romance. No surprise there! lol Addie doesn't believe in love, which is ironic considering she's a wedding planner. And Phoenix “Nix” Cross was fantastic. Underneath his bad-boy rock star image, he was entirely different. He's so sweet, romantic, supportive, and completely gone for Addie. I loved how protective and patient he was with her, especially because Addie spent so much of the story fighting her feelings and trying to convince herself that love wasn’t real. Their chemistry was great, and the fake-dating trope worked really well here with all the sexual tension underneath all the staged moments for the cameras.
The mix of a modern New York romance and setting with Greek mythology elements was an interesting combination. I also liked Addie’s sister and cousin. What a great trio! They added humor and energy to the story, and I enjoyed their family dynamics. The world itself definitely asks you to suspend disbelief a little since gods, magical creatures, and Olympus are just casually part of everyday life, and there were times when I questioned some elements of the worldbuilding, but overall it was interesting.
There were a few moments where the dialogue felt a little repetitive, especially with the constant references to the fauxmance agreement. I also would have loved a little deeper worldbuilding because the paranormal aspects of the story were interesting enough that I wanted to know more about how everything worked. Still, those things didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
One of my favorite things about this book was the romance. No surprise there! lol Addie doesn't believe in love, which is ironic considering she's a wedding planner. And Phoenix “Nix” Cross was fantastic. Underneath his bad-boy rock star image, he was entirely different. He's so sweet, romantic, supportive, and completely gone for Addie. I loved how protective and patient he was with her, especially because Addie spent so much of the story fighting her feelings and trying to convince herself that love wasn’t real. Their chemistry was great, and the fake-dating trope worked really well here with all the sexual tension underneath all the staged moments for the cameras.
The mix of a modern New York romance and setting with Greek mythology elements was an interesting combination. I also liked Addie’s sister and cousin. What a great trio! They added humor and energy to the story, and I enjoyed their family dynamics. The world itself definitely asks you to suspend disbelief a little since gods, magical creatures, and Olympus are just casually part of everyday life, and there were times when I questioned some elements of the worldbuilding, but overall it was interesting.
There were a few moments where the dialogue felt a little repetitive, especially with the constant references to the fauxmance agreement. I also would have loved a little deeper worldbuilding because the paranormal aspects of the story were interesting enough that I wanted to know more about how everything worked. Still, those things didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
February 8, 2026
Look I wanted to like this, I really did. I love a Greek mythology twist and paranormal romances. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into this one.
Fake dating, contract, lots of family and friends, rock star, she doesn’t believe in love, he falls first. Low stakes, steamy.
Warning there is a third act breakup, while miscommunication doesn’t actually show up there are some annoying moments with the record label. I couldn’t get over the lack of tension or any meaningful conflict despite several aspects that could have presented as much bigger conflicts.
Fake dating, contract, lots of family and friends, rock star, she doesn’t believe in love, he falls first. Low stakes, steamy.
Warning there is a third act breakup, while miscommunication doesn’t actually show up there are some annoying moments with the record label. I couldn’t get over the lack of tension or any meaningful conflict despite several aspects that could have presented as much bigger conflicts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Cupid Dilemma Book Review 🦇
What would you be the god or goddess of?❓
To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ pays the bills, and currently, not well. Business is dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm. With the world calling her 'the Anti-Aphrodite,' she turns to Phoenix "Nix" Cross—songwriter and drummer for the hot new band, The Stone Talons. Despite the womanizer image rep bestowed on him, Nix is a romantic. When Nix opens his door to an irate Addie, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner. With Addie needing an end to her public-relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off? 🦇
Oh I am SQUEALING, I am SWOONING, I am ALL heart-eyed for Addie and Nix. Let's break it down. 🦇
I started my Bookstagram journey with a Supernatural Singles ARC, so I adore being able to read an April Asher romance every year. And honestly? They keep getting better and better. This is my favorite Asher supernatural romance by far! 💘
April Asher is the QUEEN of paranormal romances. Her worldbuilding is natural and easy to step into. 💘
I adored Adalyn's Anti-Aphrodite reputation versus bad boy Nix's romantic mindset (the dichotomy of an Aphrodite offspring not believing in love AND a rockstar with a womanizing reputation going all heart-eyed). 💘
He falls first and harder and it's SO good. 💘
The flirting. The flirting is SO good. 💘
The smut doesn't overshadow the main plot or character development, which has lately been a rarity. It's also not instant. There are little dates, moments that allow the chemistry to build naturally, scenes that get the tension to sizzle before it finally bursts -- romance done RIGHT. 💘
Asher excels at creating a cast that doesn't overshadow the lead couple, but still holds space and purpose to the story. I'm hoping we get to see every member of the band find love. 💘
Thank you for adding a non-binary character to a world with gods and shifters. And a background sapphic ship. THANK. YOU. 💘
April Asher! Two questions: Would you say all your supernatural books are in an interconnected world, AND will this story continue for Maxi and Gavin? Because I NEED the latter. I'm SO down for that story. 💘
Recommended for fans of Bride and Good Spirits. 🦇
The Vibes ✨
Paranormal Romance 💘
Grumpy / Sunshine 💘
Wedding Planner / Rockstar 💘
She's His Muse 💘
Touch Her & You Die 💘
Fauxmance / Fake Dating 💘
Forced Proximity / Neighbors 💘
True Love / Soulbonds 💘
Banter / Top Tier Flirting 💘
Dual POV 💘
He Falls First 💘
Curvy FMC / Tattooed + Pierced MMC 💘
Playlist 🎶
Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. # 🦇
Quotes 💬
“Am I to guess from the casual ensemble that you’re my neighbor? Did you stop by to ask for a cup of sugar? Because I’m sorry to say that I don’t usually keep the stuff on hand. I drink my coffee black as a starless night.” “I’m not here for sugar.” “Then what exactly are you here for?” His gaze slid down her body. “Unless that daydream I’ve been having since running into you at the wedding is finally coming true.”
"Since you’re asking me to give up my inspiration, I’ll need to find another. You up for the position?”
“Teach me, Master Yoda.” Addie pushed up the sleeves of his leather jacket. “Star Wars references, Miss Whitlock?” Phoenix teased. “You just may be my soulmate.”
"On a scale of one pearl to an entire string, how many pearls do we want people clutching when they see us?”
“If my girl wants to ride the unicorn, she’ll ride the unicorn.”
The kiss that had just tilted his world on its axis and quite literally knocked a sweet melody into his head.
"My demigoddess Muse.”
Addie stole the breath from Phoenix’s lungs and he wasn’t sure if he wanted her to give it back. He’d always thought this spot enchanted, too, but it paled in comparison to the magic emanating from the woman standing in front of him. She inspired feelings he’d never felt before.
"What's on your mind, rock star?” “Our first kiss.” A little, nearly inaudible gasp left Addie’s lips. “The kiss?” “As lovely as it was, all I’ve been able to think about since is how much I wished our first time had been just for us.” He gently tilted her chin up. “Not in front of a crowd of thousands. Not for the benefit of a cover story. And with no polite pearl limitations.” “An entire strand?” Addie asked on a whisper. “An entire strand.” His lips danced into a smirk. “A kiss that would imprint on us both for a damn long time if not forever.”
“Tell me you’re not the least bit curious what it would be like between us and I’ll back off right now. But if you can’t stop thinking about it, and want it more than you want your next breath— just like me . . . then say so. And then the next music genre that will be spilling from my apartment will be your pleasure-filled moans.”
"Want to experience some bad ideas with me?”
“If this is the end, I want to permanently etch every facet of you onto my soul,” Phoenix admitted unashamedly. “Adalyn Love Whitlock”— he slowly brushed his lips against hers in a whisper of a kiss—“ you will always and forever be my goddess of love.”
Imagery
Sir-Axe-A-Lot
Club Olympus
Coffee
Baby Cerberus
News Clip: “Naughty Nix or Knightly Nix: Who Is Nix’s Mystery Damsel?”
Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement (FAMA)
Angry Athena Artery
Warning label: The man should come with a warning label, one that read DANGER: WILL MAKE YOU FANTASIZE ABOUT HAPPILY EVER FOREVER.
The Stone Talons
What would you be the god or goddess of?❓
To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ pays the bills, and currently, not well. Business is dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm. With the world calling her 'the Anti-Aphrodite,' she turns to Phoenix "Nix" Cross—songwriter and drummer for the hot new band, The Stone Talons. Despite the womanizer image rep bestowed on him, Nix is a romantic. When Nix opens his door to an irate Addie, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner. With Addie needing an end to her public-relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off? 🦇
Oh I am SQUEALING, I am SWOONING, I am ALL heart-eyed for Addie and Nix. Let's break it down. 🦇
I started my Bookstagram journey with a Supernatural Singles ARC, so I adore being able to read an April Asher romance every year. And honestly? They keep getting better and better. This is my favorite Asher supernatural romance by far! 💘
April Asher is the QUEEN of paranormal romances. Her worldbuilding is natural and easy to step into. 💘
I adored Adalyn's Anti-Aphrodite reputation versus bad boy Nix's romantic mindset (the dichotomy of an Aphrodite offspring not believing in love AND a rockstar with a womanizing reputation going all heart-eyed). 💘
He falls first and harder and it's SO good. 💘
The flirting. The flirting is SO good. 💘
The smut doesn't overshadow the main plot or character development, which has lately been a rarity. It's also not instant. There are little dates, moments that allow the chemistry to build naturally, scenes that get the tension to sizzle before it finally bursts -- romance done RIGHT. 💘
Asher excels at creating a cast that doesn't overshadow the lead couple, but still holds space and purpose to the story. I'm hoping we get to see every member of the band find love. 💘
Thank you for adding a non-binary character to a world with gods and shifters. And a background sapphic ship. THANK. YOU. 💘
April Asher! Two questions: Would you say all your supernatural books are in an interconnected world, AND will this story continue for Maxi and Gavin? Because I NEED the latter. I'm SO down for that story. 💘
Recommended for fans of Bride and Good Spirits. 🦇
The Vibes ✨
Paranormal Romance 💘
Grumpy / Sunshine 💘
Wedding Planner / Rockstar 💘
She's His Muse 💘
Touch Her & You Die 💘
Fauxmance / Fake Dating 💘
Forced Proximity / Neighbors 💘
True Love / Soulbonds 💘
Banter / Top Tier Flirting 💘
Dual POV 💘
He Falls First 💘
Curvy FMC / Tattooed + Pierced MMC 💘
Playlist 🎶
Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. # 🦇
Quotes 💬
“Am I to guess from the casual ensemble that you’re my neighbor? Did you stop by to ask for a cup of sugar? Because I’m sorry to say that I don’t usually keep the stuff on hand. I drink my coffee black as a starless night.” “I’m not here for sugar.” “Then what exactly are you here for?” His gaze slid down her body. “Unless that daydream I’ve been having since running into you at the wedding is finally coming true.”
"Since you’re asking me to give up my inspiration, I’ll need to find another. You up for the position?”
“Teach me, Master Yoda.” Addie pushed up the sleeves of his leather jacket. “Star Wars references, Miss Whitlock?” Phoenix teased. “You just may be my soulmate.”
"On a scale of one pearl to an entire string, how many pearls do we want people clutching when they see us?”
“If my girl wants to ride the unicorn, she’ll ride the unicorn.”
The kiss that had just tilted his world on its axis and quite literally knocked a sweet melody into his head.
"My demigoddess Muse.”
Addie stole the breath from Phoenix’s lungs and he wasn’t sure if he wanted her to give it back. He’d always thought this spot enchanted, too, but it paled in comparison to the magic emanating from the woman standing in front of him. She inspired feelings he’d never felt before.
"What's on your mind, rock star?” “Our first kiss.” A little, nearly inaudible gasp left Addie’s lips. “The kiss?” “As lovely as it was, all I’ve been able to think about since is how much I wished our first time had been just for us.” He gently tilted her chin up. “Not in front of a crowd of thousands. Not for the benefit of a cover story. And with no polite pearl limitations.” “An entire strand?” Addie asked on a whisper. “An entire strand.” His lips danced into a smirk. “A kiss that would imprint on us both for a damn long time if not forever.”
“Tell me you’re not the least bit curious what it would be like between us and I’ll back off right now. But if you can’t stop thinking about it, and want it more than you want your next breath— just like me . . . then say so. And then the next music genre that will be spilling from my apartment will be your pleasure-filled moans.”
"Want to experience some bad ideas with me?”
“If this is the end, I want to permanently etch every facet of you onto my soul,” Phoenix admitted unashamedly. “Adalyn Love Whitlock”— he slowly brushed his lips against hers in a whisper of a kiss—“ you will always and forever be my goddess of love.”
Imagery
Sir-Axe-A-Lot
Club Olympus
Coffee
Baby Cerberus
News Clip: “Naughty Nix or Knightly Nix: Who Is Nix’s Mystery Damsel?”
Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement (FAMA)
Angry Athena Artery
Warning label: The man should come with a warning label, one that read DANGER: WILL MAKE YOU FANTASIZE ABOUT HAPPILY EVER FOREVER.
The Stone Talons
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and April Asher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
What if the daughter of the Greek goddess Aphrodite doesn't believe in love? Better yet, what if she's a wedding planner in the thriving metropolis of modern-day New York? Those two conundrums are at the heart of The Cupid Dilemma, a new rom-com by April Asher.
The story follows Adalyn "Addie" Love Whitlock, one of Aphrodite's daughters, as she tries to navigate love and life in thriving, bustling NYC. Working as a wedding planner with her sister Maxi and her cousin, Bailey, she co-owns and operates Happily Ever Forever, an all-in-one matchmaking and wedding planning service. After steadily growing a following on social media and finding a string of devoted clients that found their ever-afters, the Happily Ever Forever team experiences a downtown in their success. First, their once-perfect matches start going awry. Then, their dreamy weddings start having mishap after mishap. Finally, after a fire breaks out at the wedding of a spoiled Bridezilla, the team finds themselves the subjects of cancellation and social media attacks, all of which threaten their livelihood.
But when a chance encounter at that very wedding introduces Addie to Phoenix "Naughty Nix" Cross, a member of darling indie band The Stone Talons, an opportunity to reverse their fortunes drops into their laps. Addie will fake date Nix, bringing her publicity, while Nix can find his musical mojo again with Addie as his muse. Everyone wins, right? Not so fast.
As their relationship blooms and Addie and Nix get to know each other, what was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement (a "Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement", or FAMA) suddenly becomes far more complex than they could have ever guessed. As pressure from his label to create the Talons' stereotypical "panty party" sound and Addie finds herself in danger of catching feelings, the two must search their hearts to find what really matters, and whether the "anti-Aphrodite" truly is what she's claimed.
There's a lot to enjoy about this book. The thriving, vibrant setting of New York stands out as the reader follows Addie and Nix from their first "non-date" at an axe-throwing bar, to an "The Amazing Race"-style scavenger hunt, to the sparkle and shine of the indie music awards. Addie's sister Maxi and her cousin Bailey offer comic relief throughout the novel, and it was fun to see little touches of Greek mythology appear throughout the novel (wait 'til you meet Do-Re-Mi), but I wish the author would've expanded upon that a little more. The novel leans heavily into online culture and meme-speak, which helps to drive the pace of the novel, but I think it will appeal most strongly to a young adult audience (late teens/early 20s). The drawback to the constant banter and back-and-forth is that we struggle to really know who the characters are and who they value, which makes it harder to root for them. I enjoyed seeing Phoenix's protectiveness and yearning for Addie, but other than "I don't believe in love", it was harder to parse Addie's core personality traits and what makes her tick. I also think that there were segments in the novel that got to be a bit repetitive (especially when mentioning the FAMA/fauxmance).
I think you'll enjoy this book if you love the fake dating trope and are looking for a low-stakes rom-com that you can enjoy with a cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon. There are plenty of cute moments throughout the novel and it's fun to dream up the idea of dating a sensitive rock star who wears a playboy mask to the rest of the world. While it wasn't the perfect book for me, I think there are a lot of people who will swoon at Addie and Phoenix, and will enjoy seeing whether they find their Happily Ever Forever.
What if the daughter of the Greek goddess Aphrodite doesn't believe in love? Better yet, what if she's a wedding planner in the thriving metropolis of modern-day New York? Those two conundrums are at the heart of The Cupid Dilemma, a new rom-com by April Asher.
The story follows Adalyn "Addie" Love Whitlock, one of Aphrodite's daughters, as she tries to navigate love and life in thriving, bustling NYC. Working as a wedding planner with her sister Maxi and her cousin, Bailey, she co-owns and operates Happily Ever Forever, an all-in-one matchmaking and wedding planning service. After steadily growing a following on social media and finding a string of devoted clients that found their ever-afters, the Happily Ever Forever team experiences a downtown in their success. First, their once-perfect matches start going awry. Then, their dreamy weddings start having mishap after mishap. Finally, after a fire breaks out at the wedding of a spoiled Bridezilla, the team finds themselves the subjects of cancellation and social media attacks, all of which threaten their livelihood.
But when a chance encounter at that very wedding introduces Addie to Phoenix "Naughty Nix" Cross, a member of darling indie band The Stone Talons, an opportunity to reverse their fortunes drops into their laps. Addie will fake date Nix, bringing her publicity, while Nix can find his musical mojo again with Addie as his muse. Everyone wins, right? Not so fast.
As their relationship blooms and Addie and Nix get to know each other, what was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement (a "Fauxmance Arrangement and Muse Agreement", or FAMA) suddenly becomes far more complex than they could have ever guessed. As pressure from his label to create the Talons' stereotypical "panty party" sound and Addie finds herself in danger of catching feelings, the two must search their hearts to find what really matters, and whether the "anti-Aphrodite" truly is what she's claimed.
There's a lot to enjoy about this book. The thriving, vibrant setting of New York stands out as the reader follows Addie and Nix from their first "non-date" at an axe-throwing bar, to an "The Amazing Race"-style scavenger hunt, to the sparkle and shine of the indie music awards. Addie's sister Maxi and her cousin Bailey offer comic relief throughout the novel, and it was fun to see little touches of Greek mythology appear throughout the novel (wait 'til you meet Do-Re-Mi), but I wish the author would've expanded upon that a little more. The novel leans heavily into online culture and meme-speak, which helps to drive the pace of the novel, but I think it will appeal most strongly to a young adult audience (late teens/early 20s). The drawback to the constant banter and back-and-forth is that we struggle to really know who the characters are and who they value, which makes it harder to root for them. I enjoyed seeing Phoenix's protectiveness and yearning for Addie, but other than "I don't believe in love", it was harder to parse Addie's core personality traits and what makes her tick. I also think that there were segments in the novel that got to be a bit repetitive (especially when mentioning the FAMA/fauxmance).
I think you'll enjoy this book if you love the fake dating trope and are looking for a low-stakes rom-com that you can enjoy with a cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon. There are plenty of cute moments throughout the novel and it's fun to dream up the idea of dating a sensitive rock star who wears a playboy mask to the rest of the world. While it wasn't the perfect book for me, I think there are a lot of people who will swoon at Addie and Phoenix, and will enjoy seeing whether they find their Happily Ever Forever.
May 15, 2026
Fun Spicy Bubblegum Paranormal Romance. This is another of those books where the 2* reviews are so wrong as to be laughable. I don't know what is happening with those reviewers of late, but they used to be at least somewhat more reliable, pointing out things that were actually problems from certain perspectives rather than just completely not getting a book at all or even making shit up about it. So ignore those bastards. Seriously.
What we *do* get here is exactly what I said in the title of this review - a fun spicy bubblegum pop paranormal romance that never takes itself overly seriously and just has fun with its premise. We get the children of Greek gods living in NYC - along with a singular "they" most often presented as female but always using "they", so do with that what you will with no judgements from me either direction there. We get a band full of mythological beings that is essentially virtually any teen/ early 20s rock band of any era of the last 50 yrs or so. To the level that my own mind was essentially making them a mashup of Sum 41/ Good Charlotte/ etc (because that was my own era of that age) but with griffins and gargoyles and phoenixes.
Yes, a lot of this is quite silly from a "Serious Romance Reader" perspective. It isn't meant to be "Serious Romance Reader" approved. This is light summer reading specifically targeted at that very late teens/ early 20s ish "new adult"/ starting their career set that these characters themselves are, with a lot of the issues common at that age.
Now, for the "clean" vs "spicy" romance debate, this one definitely comes in fairly spicy. Somewhere between a habanero and a Carolina Reaper, you're definitely going to feel the heat here... but you may not be rushing off to find a private area yourself. Unless, perhaps, you *are* that late teens/ early 20s ish target audience (or someone who still acts like it even at more advanced ages), in which case, well, hey, do what you need to do. So "clean" romance crowd... this one may not send you to the emergency room, but you're probably going to be reaching for the smelling salts and maybe checking your pulse to make sure it isn't too high. Might be best for y'all to just skip this one, unless you're feeling particularly adventurous. (But if you *do* read this one despite these warnings, please don't 1* it for being too spicy - I already warned you about that!)
The paranormal aspects here are done in a fairly realistic way that doesn't require much of a leap... but also requires that you not think too deeply about it. Just follow the jump through the portal and don't worry about how it works or where they actually are. This is bubblegum. It isn't supposed to be deep or thoughtful. Just enjoy the spectacle and keep moving. You'll be fine. If you're one that can't help but think too deeply about even bubblegum... again, this may not be the book for you. I think one of the best illustrations I can give that a lot of people may be somewhat familiar with is how Loki just shimmers his armor on in his first scenes with Captain America in The Avengers or just shimmers his way into other realms in those early MCU movies. If that isn't something you can handle in novel form without deep explanation... this probably isn't the book for you.
But for those looking for exactly what this book is - fun spicy bubblegum paranormal romance, again - hey, this one works on a lot of levels and will very likely be something you'll enjoy.
Very much recommended.
What we *do* get here is exactly what I said in the title of this review - a fun spicy bubblegum pop paranormal romance that never takes itself overly seriously and just has fun with its premise. We get the children of Greek gods living in NYC - along with a singular "they" most often presented as female but always using "they", so do with that what you will with no judgements from me either direction there. We get a band full of mythological beings that is essentially virtually any teen/ early 20s rock band of any era of the last 50 yrs or so. To the level that my own mind was essentially making them a mashup of Sum 41/ Good Charlotte/ etc (because that was my own era of that age) but with griffins and gargoyles and phoenixes.
Yes, a lot of this is quite silly from a "Serious Romance Reader" perspective. It isn't meant to be "Serious Romance Reader" approved. This is light summer reading specifically targeted at that very late teens/ early 20s ish "new adult"/ starting their career set that these characters themselves are, with a lot of the issues common at that age.
Now, for the "clean" vs "spicy" romance debate, this one definitely comes in fairly spicy. Somewhere between a habanero and a Carolina Reaper, you're definitely going to feel the heat here... but you may not be rushing off to find a private area yourself. Unless, perhaps, you *are* that late teens/ early 20s ish target audience (or someone who still acts like it even at more advanced ages), in which case, well, hey, do what you need to do. So "clean" romance crowd... this one may not send you to the emergency room, but you're probably going to be reaching for the smelling salts and maybe checking your pulse to make sure it isn't too high. Might be best for y'all to just skip this one, unless you're feeling particularly adventurous. (But if you *do* read this one despite these warnings, please don't 1* it for being too spicy - I already warned you about that!)
The paranormal aspects here are done in a fairly realistic way that doesn't require much of a leap... but also requires that you not think too deeply about it. Just follow the jump through the portal and don't worry about how it works or where they actually are. This is bubblegum. It isn't supposed to be deep or thoughtful. Just enjoy the spectacle and keep moving. You'll be fine. If you're one that can't help but think too deeply about even bubblegum... again, this may not be the book for you. I think one of the best illustrations I can give that a lot of people may be somewhat familiar with is how Loki just shimmers his armor on in his first scenes with Captain America in The Avengers or just shimmers his way into other realms in those early MCU movies. If that isn't something you can handle in novel form without deep explanation... this probably isn't the book for you.
But for those looking for exactly what this book is - fun spicy bubblegum paranormal romance, again - hey, this one works on a lot of levels and will very likely be something you'll enjoy.
Very much recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.0⭐
(+) :
- I like paranormal rom-com where the paranormal characters are just living amongst the normies and that’s normal. I always appreciate where it’s not a story about “oh no we’ve been found out” or “oh no we can’t be found out”.
- I liked Nix and I wish we got a bit more of what made him tick besides being “ex-bad boy who wants to write love songs”. I understood why he loved love and why he liked Addie and that was all fine.
Addie was also fine. She was grumpy and didn’t love love despite her origins and work but it made sense and added to her development. The end to her character arc re: her origins was also kind of nice, if not a bit (quite a bit) flimsy.
- It’s a cute cover. I like the pop of yellow against the purples and pinks and the skyline is nice.
(-) :
- I really struggled with the world of this book. It was just a grab bag of paranormal character ideas (Greek mythology, shifters, …gargoyles?) and it just became really messy. I was especially disenchanted with the use of the Greek Gods. I’m just kind of…tired of them being a catch all for Gods. I get it. They’re the most well known. But if you’re not going to actually use the mythology in SOME WAY (yes I know I’m outing myself as a nerd here I know I am aware) then just…have them be generic goddesses. Have her just be the God of Love or whatever. Also Athena was NOT just the Goddess of War. UGH.
- The muse contract was confusing af. I barely understood the pearl levels when they were introduced and then they just kept being mentioned and barely elaborated on. It was just too much.
- The slang or operative word usage in this book made me physically cringe multiple times over. Do NOT use “unalive” in a printed book. We are not being censored as of yet. This is not TikTok. “For the Win” has been dead slang for like a decade. And WHO is using ‘World War Z’ as a reference in the year 2026?? Wild. Wild behavior.
- I lost track of who all of the band members were. Except for the BFF/Soon-to-be brother-in-law, I got them all blended together and mixed up and did not care in the end.
- And speaking of the band - their whole “brand” was just…a whole suspension of disbelief I couldn’t get behind. We’re supposed to believe that they wouldn’t be able to write love songs? And they have to keep writing “panty” songs? And then their concerts involve panties being thrown at them as a core moment? YEESH. Sign me up for whatever the anti-newsletter would be to never even know about tickets if this band existed.
- Yo what is this title? The Cupid aspect BARELY plays a role in this. Why is this the title? Why not save this for the sister’s book? (if there is one).
(?) :
- No seriously - what IS this brand for the band and why can’t they just write love songs?? It’s not like their The Lonely Island.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : No. This is my second time trying April Asher’s work and I really just don’t think her writing is for me.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Who knows. I don’t care enough.
*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Sounds Like Love' by Ashley Poston
- 'Wolf Gone Wild' by Juliette Cross
- 'A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon' by Sarah Hawley
- 'All Superheroes Need PR' by Elizabeth Stephens
(+) :
- I like paranormal rom-com where the paranormal characters are just living amongst the normies and that’s normal. I always appreciate where it’s not a story about “oh no we’ve been found out” or “oh no we can’t be found out”.
- I liked Nix and I wish we got a bit more of what made him tick besides being “ex-bad boy who wants to write love songs”. I understood why he loved love and why he liked Addie and that was all fine.
Addie was also fine. She was grumpy and didn’t love love despite her origins and work but it made sense and added to her development. The end to her character arc re: her origins was also kind of nice, if not a bit (quite a bit) flimsy.
- It’s a cute cover. I like the pop of yellow against the purples and pinks and the skyline is nice.
(-) :
- I really struggled with the world of this book. It was just a grab bag of paranormal character ideas (Greek mythology, shifters, …gargoyles?) and it just became really messy. I was especially disenchanted with the use of the Greek Gods. I’m just kind of…tired of them being a catch all for Gods. I get it. They’re the most well known. But if you’re not going to actually use the mythology in SOME WAY (yes I know I’m outing myself as a nerd here I know I am aware) then just…have them be generic goddesses. Have her just be the God of Love or whatever. Also Athena was NOT just the Goddess of War. UGH.
- The muse contract was confusing af. I barely understood the pearl levels when they were introduced and then they just kept being mentioned and barely elaborated on. It was just too much.
- The slang or operative word usage in this book made me physically cringe multiple times over. Do NOT use “unalive” in a printed book. We are not being censored as of yet. This is not TikTok. “For the Win” has been dead slang for like a decade. And WHO is using ‘World War Z’ as a reference in the year 2026?? Wild. Wild behavior.
- I lost track of who all of the band members were. Except for the BFF/Soon-to-be brother-in-law, I got them all blended together and mixed up and did not care in the end.
- And speaking of the band - their whole “brand” was just…a whole suspension of disbelief I couldn’t get behind. We’re supposed to believe that they wouldn’t be able to write love songs? And they have to keep writing “panty” songs? And then their concerts involve panties being thrown at them as a core moment? YEESH. Sign me up for whatever the anti-newsletter would be to never even know about tickets if this band existed.
- Yo what is this title? The Cupid aspect BARELY plays a role in this. Why is this the title? Why not save this for the sister’s book? (if there is one).
(?) :
- No seriously - what IS this brand for the band and why can’t they just write love songs?? It’s not like their The Lonely Island.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : No. This is my second time trying April Asher’s work and I really just don’t think her writing is for me.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Who knows. I don’t care enough.
*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Sounds Like Love' by Ashley Poston
- 'Wolf Gone Wild' by Juliette Cross
- 'A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon' by Sarah Hawley
- 'All Superheroes Need PR' by Elizabeth Stephens
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews