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Cupcake
I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking this will be just one more story of the ignored, "big-boned " girl, who sheds her glasses and a few extra pounds and finally attracts the notice of the most popular guy in school.
Except it isn't. Because I'm not unpopular. Not all that ignored. And I love the way I look―just as I am.
Then someone puts my name in for Homecoming Court.
The bigger surprise?
People actually vote for me!
Now, I'm a "princess"―whether I like it or not―but the guy I'm paired with isn't exactly Prince Charming.
Rhys Castle is the strong, silent type who always wears a frown―he's certainly never smiled at me. I'm 99.9% sure he hates being on Court and being my partner, but surprisingly…he doesn't switch when he gets the chance.
Turns out Rhys has a secret―something that makes him run hot and cold throughout the entire three weeks of Homecoming festivities. Whether he's stepping on my feet during dance lessons or gallantly escorting me through the Homecoming parade, I can't get a read on this guy, and for the first time, I find my confidence wavering.
But there's more to Rhys than meets the eye. And the more the spotlight shines on me, I realize there's more to me, too.
You're thinking this will be just one more story of the ignored, "big-boned " girl, who sheds her glasses and a few extra pounds and finally attracts the notice of the most popular guy in school.
Except it isn't. Because I'm not unpopular. Not all that ignored. And I love the way I look―just as I am.
Then someone puts my name in for Homecoming Court.
The bigger surprise?
People actually vote for me!
Now, I'm a "princess"―whether I like it or not―but the guy I'm paired with isn't exactly Prince Charming.
Rhys Castle is the strong, silent type who always wears a frown―he's certainly never smiled at me. I'm 99.9% sure he hates being on Court and being my partner, but surprisingly…he doesn't switch when he gets the chance.
Turns out Rhys has a secret―something that makes him run hot and cold throughout the entire three weeks of Homecoming festivities. Whether he's stepping on my feet during dance lessons or gallantly escorting me through the Homecoming parade, I can't get a read on this guy, and for the first time, I find my confidence wavering.
But there's more to Rhys than meets the eye. And the more the spotlight shines on me, I realize there's more to me, too.
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2021
31 people are currently reading
4976 people want to read
About the author
Cookie O'Gorman
25 books1,116 followersCookie O'Gorman writes YA & NA romance to give readers a taste of happily-ever-after. Small towns, quirky characters, and the awkward yet beautiful moments in life make up her books. Cookie also has a soft spot for nerds and ninjas. Her novels ADORKABLE, NINJA GIRL, The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad, The Kissing Challenge (YA novella), WALLFLOWER, CUPCAKE, FAUXMANCE, BOOKWORM, SWEETHEART, and INTROVERT are out now! She is also the author of NA sports romances The Best Mistake, The Perfect Play, The Sweetest Game, The Total Knockout, and The Merriest Christmas! Her newest release The Nicest Thing came out on October 9, 2025!
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October 23, 2021Just learned the MCs are SJM stans... And there's a bunch of ACOTAR references
No thanks bye!!!!! This isn't the plus size rep I want/need
No thanks bye!!!!! This isn't the plus size rep I want/need
October 26, 2021
you eat with your eyes first
Cupcake's Grandma D. had that right. This cover is evidence. How can you resist a book called "Cupcake" with that gorgeous cover? I also would be happy to have an actual cupcake in front of me now, but I am getting off track. Actually Grandma D. was talking specifically about baked goods. A girl like Cupcake (Ariel) who loves to share beautiful, delicious baked goods is a girl after my own heart. When Cupcake gets nominated to be a Homecoming Princess and is paired with Rhys, the swoon-worthy quarterback, I was hooked. As the two spend time together during all the Homecoming activities, romance grows. Along with the plethora of yummy baked treats, there is much talk of the best romcoms and mini-series. I couldn't help imagining Robbie Amell from "The Duff" as Rhys while I was reading.
My favorite thing about the book was that Cupcake is a princess who just happens to be a plus-size girl. We need more books like this to remind us all that wonderful people come in all shapes and sizes. Another recent release that helps us to think beyond the stereotypes is If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. This book was literally a treat to read and if you haven't read Cookie O'Gorman's previous book Adorkable, what are you waiting for?!
Thank you to Entangled: Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Cupcake's Grandma D. had that right. This cover is evidence. How can you resist a book called "Cupcake" with that gorgeous cover? I also would be happy to have an actual cupcake in front of me now, but I am getting off track. Actually Grandma D. was talking specifically about baked goods. A girl like Cupcake (Ariel) who loves to share beautiful, delicious baked goods is a girl after my own heart. When Cupcake gets nominated to be a Homecoming Princess and is paired with Rhys, the swoon-worthy quarterback, I was hooked. As the two spend time together during all the Homecoming activities, romance grows. Along with the plethora of yummy baked treats, there is much talk of the best romcoms and mini-series. I couldn't help imagining Robbie Amell from "The Duff" as Rhys while I was reading.
My favorite thing about the book was that Cupcake is a princess who just happens to be a plus-size girl. We need more books like this to remind us all that wonderful people come in all shapes and sizes. Another recent release that helps us to think beyond the stereotypes is If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. This book was literally a treat to read and if you haven't read Cookie O'Gorman's previous book Adorkable, what are you waiting for?!
Thank you to Entangled: Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2025
⭐3.4>
♡ Plot:
Comforting, warm and charming, young-adult romantic comedy meets self-discovery in Cupcake. The novel introduces Ariel Duncan, a confidently plus-sized high-school baking vlogger, who (to her surprise) is nominated for Homecoming Court in her small town. Suddenly she finds herself paired with her new "prince charming," Rhys Castle, the aloof star football player in her school. There are missteps and misunderstandings as Ariel learns to balance her self-esteem in public and behind the scenes.
♡ Writing Style:
Bright, bubbly and full of pop culture references - the prose is easygoing, packed with dialogue, and cosy moments. The pacing is steady, allowing Ariel’s authentic internal voice to shine.
♡ Characters:
The leading lady is warm, passionate about her interests and believably human. Her growing confidence, despite insecurities around body image and the expectations of others make her more than just “sweet protagonist.” The reader warms to Rhys slowly - while initially distant, and appearing to be the typical “golden boy,” depth and chivalry become apparent when he begins to open up (though he’s less front-and-centre than Ariel). Side characters offer support and rivalry, though they’re not super deeply explored: they serve the plot and Ariel’s growth sufficiently.
♡ Impact:
This book does a great job of highlighting body positivity, self-worth, and ambition. For readers who tire of traditionally well-put-together female leads, this is refreshing - being confident, big and more than a reflection of mainstream opinion is not an afterthought here. It doesn’t radically reinvent the genre, but it reinforces the message that you deserve love and respect as you are. Certain events feel somewhat predictable, but predictability here isn’t a flaw - it’s comforting.
♡ Entertainment Value:
Rather bingeable and perfect for the reader seeking something light and feel-good. If you like cute romances, baking, vlogging and high school themes, this will deliver. Cupcake leans into being sweet, hopeful, and fun, and those who enjoy young-adult romance with likeably flawed leads are likely to enjoy this one.
Genre:
♡ Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Tropes and Themes:
♡ Curvy, plus-size protagonist
♡ Homecoming
♡ Grumpy/sunshine
♡ Self-acceptance
♡ Small town
♡ High school
♡ Pop culture fandom references
♡ Navigating insecurities
Content Warnings:
⚠ Bullying / fatphobic comments (verbal)
♡ Plot:
Comforting, warm and charming, young-adult romantic comedy meets self-discovery in Cupcake. The novel introduces Ariel Duncan, a confidently plus-sized high-school baking vlogger, who (to her surprise) is nominated for Homecoming Court in her small town. Suddenly she finds herself paired with her new "prince charming," Rhys Castle, the aloof star football player in her school. There are missteps and misunderstandings as Ariel learns to balance her self-esteem in public and behind the scenes.
♡ Writing Style:
Bright, bubbly and full of pop culture references - the prose is easygoing, packed with dialogue, and cosy moments. The pacing is steady, allowing Ariel’s authentic internal voice to shine.
♡ Characters:
The leading lady is warm, passionate about her interests and believably human. Her growing confidence, despite insecurities around body image and the expectations of others make her more than just “sweet protagonist.” The reader warms to Rhys slowly - while initially distant, and appearing to be the typical “golden boy,” depth and chivalry become apparent when he begins to open up (though he’s less front-and-centre than Ariel). Side characters offer support and rivalry, though they’re not super deeply explored: they serve the plot and Ariel’s growth sufficiently.
♡ Impact:
This book does a great job of highlighting body positivity, self-worth, and ambition. For readers who tire of traditionally well-put-together female leads, this is refreshing - being confident, big and more than a reflection of mainstream opinion is not an afterthought here. It doesn’t radically reinvent the genre, but it reinforces the message that you deserve love and respect as you are. Certain events feel somewhat predictable, but predictability here isn’t a flaw - it’s comforting.
♡ Entertainment Value:
Rather bingeable and perfect for the reader seeking something light and feel-good. If you like cute romances, baking, vlogging and high school themes, this will deliver. Cupcake leans into being sweet, hopeful, and fun, and those who enjoy young-adult romance with likeably flawed leads are likely to enjoy this one.
Genre:
♡ Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Tropes and Themes:
♡ Curvy, plus-size protagonist
♡ Homecoming
♡ Grumpy/sunshine
♡ Self-acceptance
♡ Small town
♡ High school
♡ Pop culture fandom references
♡ Navigating insecurities
Content Warnings:
⚠ Bullying / fatphobic comments (verbal)
November 8, 2021
Cupcake was a laugh out loud, adorable, heartwarming story! With characters that felt real and a storyline that was oh so easy to devour, I finished this book in two sittings. Cupcake became an instant favorite and romance lovers will definitely enjoy this book!
Ariel Duncan, aka Cupcake, had a heart of gold. She was kind, caring, compassionate and I loved her passion for baking! I connected with her on such a deep level with baking ♥. She not only stress baked too, but I loved how she baked to bring others joy. I desperately wanted to be bestie’s with her!
During the announcements for Homecoming court, Ariel was shocked to hear her name listed! She was to be a Princess. Which led to her being paired with a sexy, blue eyed quarterback named Rhys Castle. Rhys was such an unknown. Yes he was gorgeous, but he could come off as cold and grumpy. And Ariel was stuck being his partner for the next three weeks for all of the Homecoming festivities.
Ariel and Rhys had to do everything together from dancing, trust exercises to so much more to prep for homecoming. I loved every minute of it! From getting to know each other to the inevitable dancing where they had to touch, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was adorable watching them try to connect and work together. It felt real how everything played out and I could easily see myself watching their story as a movie! It was a ton of fun!
I was obsessed anytime Rhys was on the pages! I desperately wanted to know what he was thinking. Because while he came off as quiet and distant, we also got to see moments where he was kind and thoughtful. He seemed so much more than meets the eyes and as the story progressed, he made me fall so hard for him! Sometimes the simplest words from Rhys made my heart melt. But still, I wanted to know exactly where he stood with Ariel and what secret he was keeping too!
Rounding out this story were side characters I adored. From Ariel’s mom who was loving and caring. To Ariel’s bestie Toni who was her biggest champion! I loved that she had Cupcake's best interest in heart. That she stood by her side and cheered her on every step of the way. She was a true friend. And even the “mean girl” Lana's story turned into more. I’m not saying anything else other then I loved how it didn’t take the typical path, yay!
Warmth, humor and romance splashed across the pages and I loved every minute of it! Cupcake was a feel good story that left me with a smile on my face! If you adore YA and romance, then definitely make sure you have this one on your tbr!
PS Even the acknowledgements had heart! Her comment about the cake and princess, oh my heart that made me cry. Hugs!
*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:
“Hi, my name is Ariel,” I said, feeling so embarrassed. “Because my mom loves Disney, I was named after a mermaid who collects forks and talks to fish.” Rhys’s lips twitched at that, but I forged ahead. “Surprisingly, I don’t hate it. I just wish the name fit me better.”
I nodded for him to go.
Ariel Duncan, aka Cupcake, had a heart of gold. She was kind, caring, compassionate and I loved her passion for baking! I connected with her on such a deep level with baking ♥. She not only stress baked too, but I loved how she baked to bring others joy. I desperately wanted to be bestie’s with her!
“Do you enjoy embarrassing me?” I asked.
Rhys pretended to think about it as he handed back my phone. “Honestly? I don’t hate it,” he said with a smirk.
Jerk.
During the announcements for Homecoming court, Ariel was shocked to hear her name listed! She was to be a Princess. Which led to her being paired with a sexy, blue eyed quarterback named Rhys Castle. Rhys was such an unknown. Yes he was gorgeous, but he could come off as cold and grumpy. And Ariel was stuck being his partner for the next three weeks for all of the Homecoming festivities.
“Are you going to put your hand on my shoulder or what?”
I scoffed. “Of course. I was just about to do that.”
It was clear Rhys was laughing internally. His eyes dared me to make the first move. In what seemed to be slow motion, I watched my hand rise and then rest gently on his shoulder. In answer, his hand moved to my waist.
My breath hitched.
Ariel and Rhys had to do everything together from dancing, trust exercises to so much more to prep for homecoming. I loved every minute of it! From getting to know each other to the inevitable dancing where they had to touch, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was adorable watching them try to connect and work together. It felt real how everything played out and I could easily see myself watching their story as a movie! It was a ton of fun!
“Did you like Dirty Dancing?”
“I did.” Rhys lifted a brow. “If that was us, though, you’d be Johnny, and I’d be Baby, aka the one who carries a watermelon.”
I laughed in delight.
I was obsessed anytime Rhys was on the pages! I desperately wanted to know what he was thinking. Because while he came off as quiet and distant, we also got to see moments where he was kind and thoughtful. He seemed so much more than meets the eyes and as the story progressed, he made me fall so hard for him! Sometimes the simplest words from Rhys made my heart melt. But still, I wanted to know exactly where he stood with Ariel and what secret he was keeping too!
“You like him,” she said.
I blinked, not having expected that. “N-no, I don’t.”
“And she stutters on the denial.” Toni stared at my face then shook her head. “You must like him a lot, huh?”
My tongue felt paralyzed for a moment. I was so surprised.
Rounding out this story were side characters I adored. From Ariel’s mom who was loving and caring. To Ariel’s bestie Toni who was her biggest champion! I loved that she had Cupcake's best interest in heart. That she stood by her side and cheered her on every step of the way. She was a true friend. And even the “mean girl” Lana's story turned into more. I’m not saying anything else other then I loved how it didn’t take the typical path, yay!
Feeling a bit funny about it, I placed the tiara on my head, then turned to Rhys.
“Well?” I said. “Is it straight?”
“Almost,” he said. “Here, let me.”
As he reached up, I held my breath. His hands were gentle as he adjusted the tiara. When his eyes met mine, he pushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
“You look perfect.”
Warmth, humor and romance splashed across the pages and I loved every minute of it! Cupcake was a feel good story that left me with a smile on my face! If you adore YA and romance, then definitely make sure you have this one on your tbr!
For the first time in my life, I actually felt like a princess.
And it had nothing to do with the tiara. Or even the boy.
It was all me.
PS Even the acknowledgements had heart! Her comment about the cake and princess, oh my heart that made me cry. Hugs!
*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:
September 5, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I loved this book so much as it embodied all of my favorite things from Disney movies to Chick Flicks and even the popular storyline of Homecoming Princess and the cover sparkled which I love. In Cupcake, we have to meet Ariel who is a plus-size girl whose mother named her after the Disney Princess. Imagine her surprise when she is named as part of the Homecoming court. With each princess they have their prince, Ariel is Rhys who is the perfect mysterious guy - he loves reading SJM, he watches Chick Flicks, and loves Ariel for who she is as a person. This book follows her journey through being nominated and then her practicing for the court from dancing and then falling in love. If you love movies of the '80s, the 90s, and 2000s chick flick/romantic comedies, then Cupcake by Cookie O'Gorman is the perfect YA HEA read for everyone and should be added to everyone's 2021 reading list.
August 24, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Cupcake in exchange for an honest review.
Cupcake could have been really good and I was looking forward to reading a plus-side lead who's story wasn't "I'm lame and unpopular but then a hot boy likes me and people accept me", but it tries so hard to be relatable that it become unrelatable. From the "I'm not like the other girls" hallmark of the protagonist instantly letting you know she loves Sense and Sensibility to her and her love interest Rhys's entire initial bonding scene being them talking about ACOTAR as if Rhys's name being plucked from the story was a coincidence, this is just reference after reference until it becomes more reference than actual book.
Cupcake could have been really good and I was looking forward to reading a plus-side lead who's story wasn't "I'm lame and unpopular but then a hot boy likes me and people accept me", but it tries so hard to be relatable that it become unrelatable. From the "I'm not like the other girls" hallmark of the protagonist instantly letting you know she loves Sense and Sensibility to her and her love interest Rhys's entire initial bonding scene being them talking about ACOTAR as if Rhys's name being plucked from the story was a coincidence, this is just reference after reference until it becomes more reference than actual book.
November 4, 2021
This book was just so wonderful! It was definitely body positive, and I loved that Ariel, nickname Cupcake, was happy with herself. But it was also realistic in that just because she was okay with her body, it didn’t mean other people wouldn’t still be rude, and that those rude remarks couldn’t still get to her.
The story was about so much more than that though. Ariel had so many layers, as well as the other characters in the story. There was Lana, another homecoming princess, who felt she should be the winner. But when we got to see her family, well it pointed out a bit about why she was the way she was, and even gave her a chance to show some growth. There were also lots of other characters in the story, the stereotypical types of high school characters, but all had such great back stories and their behavior was more than what you would expect.
And wow did this school make a major production about their homecoming court. Of course as someone who was never involved in that aspect of high school when I was that age, I was definitely not someone who would ever be nominated, maybe that’s how it always is? I’m sure it was embellished for a fictional story and dramatic additions to the story, but it was really neat.
The love interest, Rhys, was one that like Ariel at the beginning I was unsure how to take. But soon he grew on me, just as he did on Ariel, and I think I could fall in love with him along with her.
And as much as there is a certain very well known book series that I love and always geek out over when I read about it in books, I like that this author used a more current title by Sarah J. Maas for the characters to bond over. It was also fun to hear all the different movies, rom-coms especially, that were talked about.
Loved this one, as much as I seem to have loved every other book I’ve read for this author!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
The story was about so much more than that though. Ariel had so many layers, as well as the other characters in the story. There was Lana, another homecoming princess, who felt she should be the winner. But when we got to see her family, well it pointed out a bit about why she was the way she was, and even gave her a chance to show some growth. There were also lots of other characters in the story, the stereotypical types of high school characters, but all had such great back stories and their behavior was more than what you would expect.
And wow did this school make a major production about their homecoming court. Of course as someone who was never involved in that aspect of high school when I was that age, I was definitely not someone who would ever be nominated, maybe that’s how it always is? I’m sure it was embellished for a fictional story and dramatic additions to the story, but it was really neat.
The love interest, Rhys, was one that like Ariel at the beginning I was unsure how to take. But soon he grew on me, just as he did on Ariel, and I think I could fall in love with him along with her.
And as much as there is a certain very well known book series that I love and always geek out over when I read about it in books, I like that this author used a more current title by Sarah J. Maas for the characters to bond over. It was also fun to hear all the different movies, rom-coms especially, that were talked about.
Loved this one, as much as I seem to have loved every other book I’ve read for this author!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
March 14, 2022
This story was so CUTEEEEEEEE!!!! I love every second of it! I read the first sentence which was "If you could date an Avenger, who would it be?" and as a Marvel fan, it obviously sparked an interest. There are so many great quotes in the book like "It's natural to care what people think. You just can't let it dictate or change how you feel about yourself.". Talk about power. And I'll be sharing some more quotes on my Instagram so stay tuned. I also wanted to say that the topic that this book focuses on is something that not many authors write about. Like curvy people get shamed on by how they look and it's wrong. As someone who has been bullied by how I look, I could relate to some of the things that Ariel goes through through the story. And over time I have learned that I cant dictate myself by what people think because if I did I would be living a very miserable life. And no one should live like that. We should ALL live and enjoy life no matter how one looks or where we're from. But sadly it is something not everyone will or can accept so we just have to not let them get under our skin and live the way we want to live. Anyway, I LOVE Ariel! She is so strong and she doesn't dictate herself by what people think of her. And Toni made me laugh so much to the point my facial cheeks started to hurt! Love this book and I hope you read this book. I highly recommend you do!
A song that reminded me of this book is: The Rose Song from HSMTMTS by Olivia Rodrigo. Go listen to this song after, before, or while reading Cupcake!
And THANK YOU Entangled Teen and Netgalley for the eARC!!!
A song that reminded me of this book is: The Rose Song from HSMTMTS by Olivia Rodrigo. Go listen to this song after, before, or while reading Cupcake!
And THANK YOU Entangled Teen and Netgalley for the eARC!!!
November 5, 2021
2/5 stars ⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
-
Cupcake is a sweet story about a fat girl named Ariel “Cupcake” Duncan in the running for Homecoming Court who gets paired with the star quarterback, Rhys. She’s unapologetic and caring towards everyone! It’s a fast read and very light-hearted.
Let’s start with the positives: I think Ariel is a fun protagonist, despite some of my gripes (which I’ll address later in the review). She’s clearly passionate about the things she enjoys, and she’s always proclaiming her confidence in her body type/shape. I think Rhys is a good love interest, and he's less hot-and-cold than the description made him out to be. He’s a dorky sweetheart! Lastly, I think the plot is entertaining enough that I wasn’t bored… although elaborating on it will take me into the more critical section. So let’s jump into it!
The writing is incredibly cringy at times, with whole scenes dedicated to Ariel fangirling over real-life media—the example that sticks out to me was when she bonded over the Sarah J. Maas series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, with her own Rhys (ha! But also, ha…). There’s something about the constant real-life allusions and references that rubs me the wrong way when overdone, and this book was filled with it. There are also numerous scenes that made me super uncomfortable in terms of dialogue as well as plot/shenanigans. The dialogue is oftentimes unrealistic and awkward, and the shenanigans feel very staged and unnatural. For instance, there's one point where Ariel rolls her ankle (because she's bothered by some girl’s “fat-ist” comment), and Rhys just… picks her up and carries her. It's odd. Also, they use the non-existent term “fat-ist” multiple times throughout the book when the term fatphobic is literally right there. The side characters are almost all two-dimensional and have very little elaboration; the Homecoming Court and its events took a backseat to all of this inner turmoil that Ariel faced regarding Rhys; Ariel tries very hard to be not like other girls, which is irksome; and Ariel doesn’t really know what being a jerk means because Rhys was either sweet or withdrawn the whole book (side rant: just because he’s being mysterious about a private meeting/appointment does NOT mean he’s being a jerk!! He barely knows you!! He might not want to read with you, either!! Introverts exist!! People are allowed their privacy!!). There were just so many things that made me go, “huh?” that I was distracted and couldn’t immerse myself into the story. But there were points where the story redeemed itself, so 2 stars from me!
Read the blog post here
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
-
Cupcake is a sweet story about a fat girl named Ariel “Cupcake” Duncan in the running for Homecoming Court who gets paired with the star quarterback, Rhys. She’s unapologetic and caring towards everyone! It’s a fast read and very light-hearted.
Let’s start with the positives: I think Ariel is a fun protagonist, despite some of my gripes (which I’ll address later in the review). She’s clearly passionate about the things she enjoys, and she’s always proclaiming her confidence in her body type/shape. I think Rhys is a good love interest, and he's less hot-and-cold than the description made him out to be. He’s a dorky sweetheart! Lastly, I think the plot is entertaining enough that I wasn’t bored… although elaborating on it will take me into the more critical section. So let’s jump into it!
The writing is incredibly cringy at times, with whole scenes dedicated to Ariel fangirling over real-life media—the example that sticks out to me was when she bonded over the Sarah J. Maas series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, with her own Rhys (ha! But also, ha…). There’s something about the constant real-life allusions and references that rubs me the wrong way when overdone, and this book was filled with it. There are also numerous scenes that made me super uncomfortable in terms of dialogue as well as plot/shenanigans. The dialogue is oftentimes unrealistic and awkward, and the shenanigans feel very staged and unnatural. For instance, there's one point where Ariel rolls her ankle (because she's bothered by some girl’s “fat-ist” comment), and Rhys just… picks her up and carries her. It's odd. Also, they use the non-existent term “fat-ist” multiple times throughout the book when the term fatphobic is literally right there. The side characters are almost all two-dimensional and have very little elaboration; the Homecoming Court and its events took a backseat to all of this inner turmoil that Ariel faced regarding Rhys; Ariel tries very hard to be not like other girls, which is irksome; and Ariel doesn’t really know what being a jerk means because Rhys was either sweet or withdrawn the whole book (side rant: just because he’s being mysterious about a private meeting/appointment does NOT mean he’s being a jerk!! He barely knows you!! He might not want to read with you, either!! Introverts exist!! People are allowed their privacy!!). There were just so many things that made me go, “huh?” that I was distracted and couldn’t immerse myself into the story. But there were points where the story redeemed itself, so 2 stars from me!
Read the blog post here
September 26, 2021
As the title would suggest, this book was oh so sweet. All the while reading it I kept saying “this is so adorable” to myself.
As a fat girl, I definitely wish I had a book like this when I was a teen. I ended up fully sobbing when I read O’Gorman’s acknowledgements because of this: “[...] my hope is that this book will be one of many that shows young readers—and all readers—that everyone, regardless of size, is worthy of kindness, love, and happily-ever-after.”
It’s such a meaningful thing to have the plus-sized girl love herself and her body and doesn’t need a “makeover” to be happy. I absolutely loved this book!
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Entangled on NetGalley. An honest review was provided.
As a fat girl, I definitely wish I had a book like this when I was a teen. I ended up fully sobbing when I read O’Gorman’s acknowledgements because of this: “[...] my hope is that this book will be one of many that shows young readers—and all readers—that everyone, regardless of size, is worthy of kindness, love, and happily-ever-after.”
It’s such a meaningful thing to have the plus-sized girl love herself and her body and doesn’t need a “makeover” to be happy. I absolutely loved this book!
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Entangled on NetGalley. An honest review was provided.
August 20, 2021
This was such a cute and fun YA book! I enjoy reading YA books, but I am really picky. However I am happy to say that this was a winner! Cupcake is the first book that I have read written by Cookie O’Gorman and I loved it. I have her other books on my TBR now.
Ariel was such a fun character to read about. She was fearless and she was confident. I adored the story and how O’Gorman wrote her. Ariel, or Cupcake which is what people called her at school, was a baker who baked whenever she felt stressed or really any kind of emotion. Cupcake was a relatable character. She wasn’t the most popular person in school but she was kind. I loved how she thought of others and how she loved to bake.
Rhys was also an awesome character. He was the mysterious type, but as you got to know him you found a sweet thoughtful guy. I loved getting to know him and finding the kindness in him. However, he wasn’t perfect and he had struggles of his own.
Okay, so what I really liked about this book was it wasn’t a book about Cupcake learning to love her body. She loved who she was and she was okay with being “different”. However, this book was about Cupcake learning more about herself and even seeing that it was okay to have some cracks in her confidence. She did love her body, but there were days where the voices of doubt got louder and it was okay. I loved the message this book gave, at least this was what I got out of this book. Being different and being yourself is something you should be proud of, don’t let the doubts of others bring you down.
Cupcake was an awesome book! This was an amazing, clean, fun YA book. I would definitely recommend it to those who love reading teen books and even to those who don’t usually read teen books. This didn’t have a lot of unnecessary drama, but instead felt like it could be a real life situation. I would recommend Cupcake to those 13 and up
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
Ariel was such a fun character to read about. She was fearless and she was confident. I adored the story and how O’Gorman wrote her. Ariel, or Cupcake which is what people called her at school, was a baker who baked whenever she felt stressed or really any kind of emotion. Cupcake was a relatable character. She wasn’t the most popular person in school but she was kind. I loved how she thought of others and how she loved to bake.
Rhys was also an awesome character. He was the mysterious type, but as you got to know him you found a sweet thoughtful guy. I loved getting to know him and finding the kindness in him. However, he wasn’t perfect and he had struggles of his own.
Okay, so what I really liked about this book was it wasn’t a book about Cupcake learning to love her body. She loved who she was and she was okay with being “different”. However, this book was about Cupcake learning more about herself and even seeing that it was okay to have some cracks in her confidence. She did love her body, but there were days where the voices of doubt got louder and it was okay. I loved the message this book gave, at least this was what I got out of this book. Being different and being yourself is something you should be proud of, don’t let the doubts of others bring you down.
Cupcake was an awesome book! This was an amazing, clean, fun YA book. I would definitely recommend it to those who love reading teen books and even to those who don’t usually read teen books. This didn’t have a lot of unnecessary drama, but instead felt like it could be a real life situation. I would recommend Cupcake to those 13 and up
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
August 20, 2021
If good reads would let me I would give this book 100000/5 starts but it won’t so I’m Saying it here.
Cupcake follows Ariel a plus sized high schooler who loves rom coms, baking she is a character who I can relate to so much I feel like cookie write me into her book haha. Then we have a Jock named Rhys who is all serious and comes off as a little bit of a jerk at first but is a total marshmallow. It has some very swoon worthy moments, comments that will have you smiling like a fool to yourself in the middle of a dark room, moments that will have you want to hold
Your heart because something so sad happened that you were not expecting and all the mention of my favorite fandoms which is what cookie is know for. She just makes it work. I almost lost it at the end when one the most iconic scene of my all time favorite movie gets remained and not by the guy this time by Ariel herself.
This book means so much to me because I am plus sized and sometimes it’s hard to be chubby even thought you love yourself. Society seems and things that being heavier is a bad thing and not a lot of people see the struggles us chubbier girls go through. Not because we’re not happy with ourself but because of the stares and the hurtful comments we get. So reading a book that a MC is going through what I go through on a daily had me all emotional and just made this book even more special to me. It shows you that it doesn’t matter if you’re skinny or heavier we’re all beautiful in our own way and deserve love and happiness.
This book comes out Nov 2nd 2021 so mark your calendars you will make this your new favorite book promise. I was lucky enough to get an arc of this book and I nearly twisted my ankle from jumping up and down from excitement. Cookie is my absolute favorite author so I will recommend any book by her.
Cupcake follows Ariel a plus sized high schooler who loves rom coms, baking she is a character who I can relate to so much I feel like cookie write me into her book haha. Then we have a Jock named Rhys who is all serious and comes off as a little bit of a jerk at first but is a total marshmallow. It has some very swoon worthy moments, comments that will have you smiling like a fool to yourself in the middle of a dark room, moments that will have you want to hold
Your heart because something so sad happened that you were not expecting and all the mention of my favorite fandoms which is what cookie is know for. She just makes it work. I almost lost it at the end when one the most iconic scene of my all time favorite movie gets remained and not by the guy this time by Ariel herself.
This book means so much to me because I am plus sized and sometimes it’s hard to be chubby even thought you love yourself. Society seems and things that being heavier is a bad thing and not a lot of people see the struggles us chubbier girls go through. Not because we’re not happy with ourself but because of the stares and the hurtful comments we get. So reading a book that a MC is going through what I go through on a daily had me all emotional and just made this book even more special to me. It shows you that it doesn’t matter if you’re skinny or heavier we’re all beautiful in our own way and deserve love and happiness.
This book comes out Nov 2nd 2021 so mark your calendars you will make this your new favorite book promise. I was lucky enough to get an arc of this book and I nearly twisted my ankle from jumping up and down from excitement. Cookie is my absolute favorite author so I will recommend any book by her.
November 2, 2021
not the SJM stans.. lmao
November 7, 2021
“You really are a prince, Rhys,” I murmured. “In every sense of the word.”
“I’m actually a king now, but who cares about semantics.”
Okay, this? This made me laugh, and maybe my humor’s just dead at this point but yes, I did indeed laugh.
I wish I could’ve loved this, I really do. Someone just didn’t click and I’m incredibly sad about that.
.......................
*tears 'because oh my god, another bingable masterpiece'*
“I’m actually a king now, but who cares about semantics.”
Okay, this? This made me laugh, and maybe my humor’s just dead at this point but yes, I did indeed laugh.
I wish I could’ve loved this, I really do. Someone just didn’t click and I’m incredibly sad about that.
.......................
*tears 'because oh my god, another bingable masterpiece'*
November 1, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Since the first book that I have read by Cookie O'Gorman, I have been hooked! When this #ownvoices book was announced by the author I was ecstatic!
I have always enjoyed O'Gorman's writing style. Her words are polished and I always fly through the pages of her stories. She keeps her readers wanting more. The pacing felt a little off to me in this book. I can't quite place my finger on it, but it feels like there are some key scenes missing from the book. Nothing in particular that I can pinpoint in terms of the story arc, but more of a feeling that there should have been more.
I liked the characters well enough but I didn't feel especially connected to them. Especially Rhys's character. I felt like he could have used a lot more character development. We get bits and pieces of him but I never truly felt like I knew him. Ariel's character development was much better. She was easy to understand and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. I really loved the strong female friendship in this book. It was so nice to see Ariel and her best friend Toni and how supportive and caring they were with each other. I also really loved the close relationship that Ariel had with her mother. Rhys also seemed to have a good relationship with his parents and brother which was also nice to see.
The romance in the story was adorable. I felt that their relationship could have used more build-up, but overall it was very positive and endearing. Rhys really seemed to like Ariel and he was a gentleman even as he pursued her. Ariel had reservations about Rhys but deep down she cared just as much for him. I liked how they spent time together getting to know each other.
Overall, this was a delightful story with representation that I love seeing. While I enjoyed the story and there's not really anything wrong with it, I also didn't connect to it as much as I would have liked to. It is a good book but perhaps not that memorable to me. I think that a lot of people will find this book uplifting and on point with body image issues and the stigma attached to them. O'Gorman tells an emotional story about self-worth while keeping things light-hearted. I can't wait to pick up Cookie O'Gorman's next book!
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Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Since the first book that I have read by Cookie O'Gorman, I have been hooked! When this #ownvoices book was announced by the author I was ecstatic!
I have always enjoyed O'Gorman's writing style. Her words are polished and I always fly through the pages of her stories. She keeps her readers wanting more. The pacing felt a little off to me in this book. I can't quite place my finger on it, but it feels like there are some key scenes missing from the book. Nothing in particular that I can pinpoint in terms of the story arc, but more of a feeling that there should have been more.
I liked the characters well enough but I didn't feel especially connected to them. Especially Rhys's character. I felt like he could have used a lot more character development. We get bits and pieces of him but I never truly felt like I knew him. Ariel's character development was much better. She was easy to understand and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. I really loved the strong female friendship in this book. It was so nice to see Ariel and her best friend Toni and how supportive and caring they were with each other. I also really loved the close relationship that Ariel had with her mother. Rhys also seemed to have a good relationship with his parents and brother which was also nice to see.
The romance in the story was adorable. I felt that their relationship could have used more build-up, but overall it was very positive and endearing. Rhys really seemed to like Ariel and he was a gentleman even as he pursued her. Ariel had reservations about Rhys but deep down she cared just as much for him. I liked how they spent time together getting to know each other.
Overall, this was a delightful story with representation that I love seeing. While I enjoyed the story and there's not really anything wrong with it, I also didn't connect to it as much as I would have liked to. It is a good book but perhaps not that memorable to me. I think that a lot of people will find this book uplifting and on point with body image issues and the stigma attached to them. O'Gorman tells an emotional story about self-worth while keeping things light-hearted. I can't wait to pick up Cookie O'Gorman's next book!
BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON PINTEREST
November 3, 2021
I was hooked from the first line!
I was so excited when I recieved an ARC of this book from netgally. As soon as I found out the main character Ariel was plus sized and knew who she was I was hooked! Before I continue my review even though I did receive an ARC of this book I would like to share that all thoughts and opinions are my own. This was such a cute book! I loved all the rom com references and definitely knew every single one lol! I loved how caring and kind Ariel was and just how strong and confident she was. It was nice to see that even though she was confident she still had her doubts and that sometimes things can hurt even when you know it shouldn't. Even though she had her doubts she never let what others said about her affect her for long. Something I could relate to which is why I enjoyed this book so much. As for Rhys I wasn't sure how to take him in the beginning. I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. It wasn't until after a few interactions with Ariel that I ended up really liking his character.
There is so much love, support, and laugh out loud moments in this book that I enjoyed that I wish I could share but I don't want to spoil it lol! If you love reading rom coms this is a book I would recommend you checkout!
Ariel also known as Cupcake loves baking and watching rom coms. She isn't unpopular at school but she never thought she be part of the homecoming court. Now a homecoming princess she must spend the month participating in homecoming activities along with her not so charming homecoming prince Rhys Castle. Rhys may be one of the most popular guys in school but he's also very secretive. Ariel has never even seen him smile but as they go through the homecoming activities she notices that he isn't who she thought he was.
(Genre:Young Adult Rom Com)
I was so excited when I recieved an ARC of this book from netgally. As soon as I found out the main character Ariel was plus sized and knew who she was I was hooked! Before I continue my review even though I did receive an ARC of this book I would like to share that all thoughts and opinions are my own. This was such a cute book! I loved all the rom com references and definitely knew every single one lol! I loved how caring and kind Ariel was and just how strong and confident she was. It was nice to see that even though she was confident she still had her doubts and that sometimes things can hurt even when you know it shouldn't. Even though she had her doubts she never let what others said about her affect her for long. Something I could relate to which is why I enjoyed this book so much. As for Rhys I wasn't sure how to take him in the beginning. I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. It wasn't until after a few interactions with Ariel that I ended up really liking his character.
There is so much love, support, and laugh out loud moments in this book that I enjoyed that I wish I could share but I don't want to spoil it lol! If you love reading rom coms this is a book I would recommend you checkout!
Ariel also known as Cupcake loves baking and watching rom coms. She isn't unpopular at school but she never thought she be part of the homecoming court. Now a homecoming princess she must spend the month participating in homecoming activities along with her not so charming homecoming prince Rhys Castle. Rhys may be one of the most popular guys in school but he's also very secretive. Ariel has never even seen him smile but as they go through the homecoming activities she notices that he isn't who she thought he was.
(Genre:Young Adult Rom Com)
October 29, 2021
Genre/Tropes: YA, Curvy Girl
POV: 1st, FMC
Standalone
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥
What a SWEET, amazing romance. What this story taught me is you can have all the self-confidence and love in the world, but social confidence takes work. Our FMC, Ariel, even points that out at one point:
𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤?
When Ariel is elected as a Homecoming Princess, she’s confused and a bit wary. She’s confident in her curvy body but she knows she doesn’t fit the typical “princess mold,” which is indeed pointed out a few times because people suck. When she’s paired with the star QB, Rhys Castle, she begins to question everything she didn’t know about him and how the world may actually view her. From her stress baking to her quirky love of romance, I fell for her just as hard as Rhys.
And Rhys? Le sigh. That boy is 1000% swoon-worthy, sweet, and hot. I think he had always seen Ariel but due to his own insecurities nothing ever came from it. But when they’re paired and have to spend time getting to know each other, the sparks flew, y’all. What I found unique the most is the fact that it was Ariel that created all the drama and angst because of her expectations and biased opinions because of pop culture. It was eye opening for sure.
This is a CLEAN, super sweet romance. I cracked up, teared up, and sighed happily as these two souls bonded and fell in love. This was exactly what I needed.
November 3, 2021
So many good things about this book. It features a plus size female who is nominated for Homecoming Court along with Rhys who is the star football quarterback. I loved that Cupcake/Ariel wasn't in the complete background at school and she loved who she was, even though there were some insecurities. Rhys wasn't in the complete foreground. He seemed to be well grounded and didn't have to be the focus of everyone. Story was laugh out loud funny at times. Really enjoyed Cupcake/Ariel's pairings of movies and desserts. Also got the added bonus of a playlist and recipes. I could even seen a sequel for when so goes to the baking competition.
October 26, 2021
Okay, this is just classic romcom. One that I probably needed because I've been in a book slump for quite a bit!
Here's what I loved:
- the fat rep (I love the discussions in this book about being fat, e.g. how shopping is messy, how there are no fat princesses/not much fat MCs in the media, how fat people also eat healthy and are healthy but still disregarded, the small insecurity/doubt fat people still have despite being confident, these are all so important and so real/relatable, and I love that the author clearly showed that)
- mental health rep (not talked about a lot, but still I love that it was highlighted)
- the main plot didn't pit women against women! I love that the author showed camaraderie between Ariel and the other Court princesses, especially Lana. At first I thought they were going to be against each other, but I love how they sort of came together and understood each other at the end
- the romance. I have to admit there were some swoon-worthy stuff in here
- funny and light prose/writing style
What I didn't exactly like:
- they kept saying "fat-ist" in the book?! Just say fatphobic, please, it's literally right there (sorry, this annoyed me lol) ((edit: 10/26 Apparently some people are slowly moving away from -phobia words as they claim bigots aren't afraid. This might be the reason why the author chose this word! This is some interesting info I'll have to keep in mind.))
- at times, I feel like the book is actually such a cliche, but I feel like that's exactly the mission of the author. Especially since Ariel herself likes romcom movies so much and is a sucker for these cliche/classics.
- Characterization. I've gotten to know Ariel and Rhys pretty well in the book, but I feel like the minor characters didn't shine that much.
Overall, Cupcake is such a fun book and I enjoyed reading it! If you're looking for a quick, romcom read with great fat rep, this is it!
Exact rating: 3.75/5
CW: fatphobia, mentions of eating disorder in the past, bullying (verbal, physical (on a flashback not on page)), mental illness, food/desserts
Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for sending over an ARC! (This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Here's what I loved:
- the fat rep (I love the discussions in this book about being fat, e.g. how shopping is messy, how there are no fat princesses/not much fat MCs in the media, how fat people also eat healthy and are healthy but still disregarded, the small insecurity/doubt fat people still have despite being confident, these are all so important and so real/relatable, and I love that the author clearly showed that)
- mental health rep (not talked about a lot, but still I love that it was highlighted)
- the main plot didn't pit women against women! I love that the author showed camaraderie between Ariel and the other Court princesses, especially Lana. At first I thought they were going to be against each other, but I love how they sort of came together and understood each other at the end
- the romance. I have to admit there were some swoon-worthy stuff in here
- funny and light prose/writing style
What I didn't exactly like:
- they kept saying "fat-ist" in the book?! Just say fatphobic, please, it's literally right there (sorry, this annoyed me lol) ((edit: 10/26 Apparently some people are slowly moving away from -phobia words as they claim bigots aren't afraid. This might be the reason why the author chose this word! This is some interesting info I'll have to keep in mind.))
- at times, I feel like the book is actually such a cliche, but I feel like that's exactly the mission of the author. Especially since Ariel herself likes romcom movies so much and is a sucker for these cliche/classics.
- Characterization. I've gotten to know Ariel and Rhys pretty well in the book, but I feel like the minor characters didn't shine that much.
Overall, Cupcake is such a fun book and I enjoyed reading it! If you're looking for a quick, romcom read with great fat rep, this is it!
Exact rating: 3.75/5
CW: fatphobia, mentions of eating disorder in the past, bullying (verbal, physical (on a flashback not on page)), mental illness, food/desserts
Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for sending over an ARC! (This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
August 19, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.
This was a very sweet and simple story that left me feeling warm and happy. As a curvy woman, I am really appreciative of the positive representation that is being written in YA books these days and would be so grateful to see more of this! I loved our female MC, Ariel or Cupcake as she is affectionately known and the confidence and positive vibe that she brought to every situation she encountered. O'Gorman discusses the effects of body shaming on perceptions of self and how it often stems from our home environment or from those closest to us. The consequences can be on your physical, emotional and social wellbeing and the negative thoughts can unintentionally pass on to those around you. We see an example of this between Ariel and Lana's relationship with their respective mother's and how this has formed their approach to eating and confidence in their bodies.
Set on the backdrop of a Homecoming event there is a broody and mysterious male MC who brings a lot more to the story than what meets the eye. At times, this book may feel predictable but it never loses on its charm and cuteness factor. I found this to be the perfect, feel good YA read that is a beautiful reminder that you are worthy of love and more importantly, you must learn to love yourself first.
This was a very sweet and simple story that left me feeling warm and happy. As a curvy woman, I am really appreciative of the positive representation that is being written in YA books these days and would be so grateful to see more of this! I loved our female MC, Ariel or Cupcake as she is affectionately known and the confidence and positive vibe that she brought to every situation she encountered. O'Gorman discusses the effects of body shaming on perceptions of self and how it often stems from our home environment or from those closest to us. The consequences can be on your physical, emotional and social wellbeing and the negative thoughts can unintentionally pass on to those around you. We see an example of this between Ariel and Lana's relationship with their respective mother's and how this has formed their approach to eating and confidence in their bodies.
Set on the backdrop of a Homecoming event there is a broody and mysterious male MC who brings a lot more to the story than what meets the eye. At times, this book may feel predictable but it never loses on its charm and cuteness factor. I found this to be the perfect, feel good YA read that is a beautiful reminder that you are worthy of love and more importantly, you must learn to love yourself first.
November 2, 2021
Books about big boned people always catch my attention. Especially if it’s a story about someone who is plus-sized and is still positive about her body.
Cupcake is a sweet and cute story, a fast and easy read, and recommended to read on a quiet evening, a day on the beach or a rainy Sunday afternoon. I like that it’s not about being big boned itself—it’s just a given, and Ariel is pretty confident about who she is. It’s so important that we all (not only girls!) accept that we have different shapes and sizes, and get more at ease with our body (although I get why so many people aren’t, I know the feeling …).
Ariel and Rhys were two people to root for. I loved how natural their relationship grew and waited eagerly for them to get romantically involved.
Like I said above, I liked the story, but in my opinion, it could have had a little more depth—it’s quite predictable, and while reading, I wished that diversity was more visible throughout the book. It felt like everyone was white in the story (there were some Asian and Latin last names in the story, but the descriptions overall were quite vague). And why not adding at least one queer character on Homecoming court?
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
Cupcake is a sweet and cute story, a fast and easy read, and recommended to read on a quiet evening, a day on the beach or a rainy Sunday afternoon. I like that it’s not about being big boned itself—it’s just a given, and Ariel is pretty confident about who she is. It’s so important that we all (not only girls!) accept that we have different shapes and sizes, and get more at ease with our body (although I get why so many people aren’t, I know the feeling …).
Ariel and Rhys were two people to root for. I loved how natural their relationship grew and waited eagerly for them to get romantically involved.
Like I said above, I liked the story, but in my opinion, it could have had a little more depth—it’s quite predictable, and while reading, I wished that diversity was more visible throughout the book. It felt like everyone was white in the story (there were some Asian and Latin last names in the story, but the descriptions overall were quite vague). And why not adding at least one queer character on Homecoming court?
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
November 3, 2021
It had potential, could be fixed with removing all the fucking pop culture references. And by making the romance actually good. And by creating better characters. And by never saying the words 'awesome' or 'BFF' ever again.
September 19, 2021
Ariel, or Cupcake as she’s better known, has been nominated to the high school homecoming court of her small southern town where homecoming is a big deal. She doesn’t know how she got nominated because she isn’t exactly popular, nor does she look like the girls who are usually nominated. Ariel lives in a bigger body. She knows that girls like her aren’t often nominated, but Cupcake is kind, and people notice. She brings baked goods to people all the time. She hosts a baking vlog where she pairs desserts with rom com movies. She loves herself and lives her life, so although she is surprised, she goes along with it. She gets paired with the hunky but sullen quarterback. At first she thinks he’s a jerk, but as she gets to know him she realizes there is much more to Rhys than what meets the eye. Their love story is so swoony, like a smile-and-hold-the-book-to-your-chest level of swoon.
Cupcake does deal with bullies and she goes through some hurtful experiences, but I liked the way the book came at it. Her feelings get hurt; she allows herself to feel that hurt, but she does not fall into a narrative of harmful self hate. There was one line in the book that stood out to me and sat with me. She talks about how it is still possible to love yourself but also question if other people will love you. That sentiment really sat with me. I think this is where a lot of us sit with body positivity, we love ourselves but don’t know if the world is quite ready to love us. When we do start to love and accept ourselves, it doesn’t mean we are magically ready to dance around in a bikini on social media, and that’s ok. We all have good days and bad days with our bodies and our mental health, and the best thing we can do is allow those feelings honor and space, the good and the bad.
This is a book that I am glad will be sitting on my shelves. I want my daughter to have her choice of books like this as she grows up. I want stories where people of all sizes are allowed to be happy throughout the book and get a happy ending. This book walks that path better than most, it deals with the pain that can come from growing up in a fat body but it doesn‘t get bogged down in the trauma. There is so much more to Ariel and to her story, just like there is so much more to all of us than our fatness.
Cupcake does deal with bullies and she goes through some hurtful experiences, but I liked the way the book came at it. Her feelings get hurt; she allows herself to feel that hurt, but she does not fall into a narrative of harmful self hate. There was one line in the book that stood out to me and sat with me. She talks about how it is still possible to love yourself but also question if other people will love you. That sentiment really sat with me. I think this is where a lot of us sit with body positivity, we love ourselves but don’t know if the world is quite ready to love us. When we do start to love and accept ourselves, it doesn’t mean we are magically ready to dance around in a bikini on social media, and that’s ok. We all have good days and bad days with our bodies and our mental health, and the best thing we can do is allow those feelings honor and space, the good and the bad.
This is a book that I am glad will be sitting on my shelves. I want my daughter to have her choice of books like this as she grows up. I want stories where people of all sizes are allowed to be happy throughout the book and get a happy ending. This book walks that path better than most, it deals with the pain that can come from growing up in a fat body but it doesn‘t get bogged down in the trauma. There is so much more to Ariel and to her story, just like there is so much more to all of us than our fatness.
August 23, 2023
This was a cute read. It's about teenagers and a Homecoming. About our female protagonist who is a plus size heroine and even though she's confident, she has many trust issues that are connected with her weight. It definitely gives some food for thought with some important questions such as why aren't there any fat Disney princesses or why when in movies there are thin protagonists the theme is never around their weight or why when there's a fat protagonist there must be a makeover and for her to lose weight to find love and happiness etc.
I loved the secondary characters and our male protagonist as well who thankfully wasn't a stereotype such as the stupid quarterback and the mean girl showing us where she got her attitude from etc. It was a nice, light read overall!
I loved the secondary characters and our male protagonist as well who thankfully wasn't a stereotype such as the stupid quarterback and the mean girl showing us where she got her attitude from etc. It was a nice, light read overall!
December 6, 2021
“Isn’t it funny how you can be okay and love yourself, but still not think anyone will ever love you back?”
“If by funny you mean sad, then yeah. It’s hilarious.”
Omg this line made me laugh so hard but I totally had all those conflicting emotions and thoughts in high school. I was totally ok with myself but didn't know what other people thought of me and that is where the problems started.
Why don't we all just assume we are friends? Ok I solved a problem today -what's next?
This book was so sweet! I love high school "non typical" romances as in the QB falls for the girl that isn't the super popular girl or wears size 2 (no offense to my small peeps) but is the one that is overweight.
Ariel who goes by Cupcake has been nominated to the homecoming court which was unexpected as she is not one of the super popular girls. All the reasons why - that it is a joke, that she will get a Carrie moment cycle through her head but she was voted in by the students so people have to like her right.
There is one prince - Rhys who she gets partnered with who happens to be the quarterback and he really does seem interested in her not as a joke or to make her over, hopefully.
Cupcake has a baking vlog and loves to bake which has a good following - I would be watching it.
She takes a lot of crap for being overweight which excuse me who said it wasn't ok - it really is the norm. ughck pop culture needs a major face lift its gotten really old. I would rather have a relatable adorable character like Cupcake who speaks in movie quotes, (same girl), who is confident in her body and self but still trying to find her place in the world than a million girls that are not like me. Like it's ok but diversity with body type would be appreciated without focusing on the body type.
Also, thank you Rhys for being brave and being the jock that asked for help and isn't trying to go it alone.
Don't let other people doubt your worth. They don't know your whole story. They are in their own.
Thank you entangledteen and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
“If by funny you mean sad, then yeah. It’s hilarious.”
Omg this line made me laugh so hard but I totally had all those conflicting emotions and thoughts in high school. I was totally ok with myself but didn't know what other people thought of me and that is where the problems started.
Why don't we all just assume we are friends? Ok I solved a problem today -what's next?
This book was so sweet! I love high school "non typical" romances as in the QB falls for the girl that isn't the super popular girl or wears size 2 (no offense to my small peeps) but is the one that is overweight.
Ariel who goes by Cupcake has been nominated to the homecoming court which was unexpected as she is not one of the super popular girls. All the reasons why - that it is a joke, that she will get a Carrie moment cycle through her head but she was voted in by the students so people have to like her right.
There is one prince - Rhys who she gets partnered with who happens to be the quarterback and he really does seem interested in her not as a joke or to make her over, hopefully.
Cupcake has a baking vlog and loves to bake which has a good following - I would be watching it.
She takes a lot of crap for being overweight which excuse me who said it wasn't ok - it really is the norm. ughck pop culture needs a major face lift its gotten really old. I would rather have a relatable adorable character like Cupcake who speaks in movie quotes, (same girl), who is confident in her body and self but still trying to find her place in the world than a million girls that are not like me. Like it's ok but diversity with body type would be appreciated without focusing on the body type.
Also, thank you Rhys for being brave and being the jock that asked for help and isn't trying to go it alone.
Don't let other people doubt your worth. They don't know your whole story. They are in their own.
Thank you entangledteen and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
October 3, 2021
'Cupcake': 5⭐
(Unpaid Review: thank you to @cookieogorman, @entangledteen and @netgalley for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)
I so regret not having read this book sooner! One of the best #OwnVoices I've ever read and one I plan on re-reading every year! Beautiful writing, so much love spread through the words of this story and so much kindness!
I loved the fact that the author brought so many pop culture references as well as the name of the male main character - his name is Rhys, as in Rhys (SJM). I literally swooned 🥰
I loved Ariel and Rhys, such a sweet, young, full of love couple and loads, loads of baking as well! Such a pretty story about friendship, self-discovery and self-love. A story about a plus-size that discovers there's no such thing as many sizes: loving yourself is the only size you need.
***Full Review Post Coming On Instagram Soon***
(Unpaid Review: thank you to @cookieogorman, @entangledteen and @netgalley for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)
I so regret not having read this book sooner! One of the best #OwnVoices I've ever read and one I plan on re-reading every year! Beautiful writing, so much love spread through the words of this story and so much kindness!
I loved the fact that the author brought so many pop culture references as well as the name of the male main character - his name is Rhys, as in Rhys (SJM). I literally swooned 🥰
I loved Ariel and Rhys, such a sweet, young, full of love couple and loads, loads of baking as well! Such a pretty story about friendship, self-discovery and self-love. A story about a plus-size that discovers there's no such thing as many sizes: loving yourself is the only size you need.
***Full Review Post Coming On Instagram Soon***
September 30, 2021
Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman was a super cute book that swept me off my feet.
I loved the plot. It was a homecoming centric book. But it had a message behind it, which was you should always be comfortable with yourself.
I loved the romance. I loved the characters and the baking and all of the nods to the romantic comedy movies. This was another book that is making me want to do a movie night soon.
I also loved how the mean girl and the main girl character ended up becoming friends. If I had any complaints it would be that I wish their friendship was longer and explored, but it was nice to see them set aside their original beliefs and (spoiler alert) stick up for each other.
Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman was a five star rating book. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review this. I enjoyed every minute.
I loved the plot. It was a homecoming centric book. But it had a message behind it, which was you should always be comfortable with yourself.
I loved the romance. I loved the characters and the baking and all of the nods to the romantic comedy movies. This was another book that is making me want to do a movie night soon.
I also loved how the mean girl and the main girl character ended up becoming friends. If I had any complaints it would be that I wish their friendship was longer and explored, but it was nice to see them set aside their original beliefs and (spoiler alert) stick up for each other.
Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman was a five star rating book. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review this. I enjoyed every minute.
November 3, 2021
Huge thanks to NetGalley for this eARC.,
I flew through this book. I spent the entire day reading this amazing book and I just can’t help but swoon over these amazing leads! Both Rhys and Ariel are so lovable. Both have really strong personalities but they have stories that they hold close to their hearts, that made them who they are. I love seeing that side of each character.
I love how the story tackles issues that are not as talked about in the community. Like as much as people are always sharing about body positivity, there are still a lot of people shaming plus-size women without knowing why they are like that. Eat disorder was also talked about in this book and it was not something that was brushed over. They talked about why some would starve themselves to be the ideal size. I also love that they broke the stereotype of mean girls being mean girls until the very end. Lina was such a mean girl and I thought she would always be in between Rhys and Ariel's romance, but she changed, especially after knowing why Ariel is the way she is.
The fact that they both love SJM (this might be a deal-breaker for some) and books, in general, made me love them even more. I always love books that talk about pop culture or have real-life references. It just makes the book more relatable and real.
I also enjoyed the last few chapters with the Homecoming playlist on Spotify. Glad I took a break from reading and search up the playlist that was featured in the book.
Reading this book made me remember why Romance books are so comforting and the best creation there is. This would just be the sign I need to read more books from this amazing author, Adorkable is interesting.
I flew through this book. I spent the entire day reading this amazing book and I just can’t help but swoon over these amazing leads! Both Rhys and Ariel are so lovable. Both have really strong personalities but they have stories that they hold close to their hearts, that made them who they are. I love seeing that side of each character.
I love how the story tackles issues that are not as talked about in the community. Like as much as people are always sharing about body positivity, there are still a lot of people shaming plus-size women without knowing why they are like that. Eat disorder was also talked about in this book and it was not something that was brushed over. They talked about why some would starve themselves to be the ideal size. I also love that they broke the stereotype of mean girls being mean girls until the very end. Lina was such a mean girl and I thought she would always be in between Rhys and Ariel's romance, but she changed, especially after knowing why Ariel is the way she is.
The fact that they both love SJM (this might be a deal-breaker for some) and books, in general, made me love them even more. I always love books that talk about pop culture or have real-life references. It just makes the book more relatable and real.
I also enjoyed the last few chapters with the Homecoming playlist on Spotify. Glad I took a break from reading and search up the playlist that was featured in the book.
Reading this book made me remember why Romance books are so comforting and the best creation there is. This would just be the sign I need to read more books from this amazing author, Adorkable is interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2021
*spoilers in terms of one quote and stuff that happens in it*
I never thought it was possible to hate something more than Harry Potter references in books but this just proved me wrong.
Sarah J Maas is disgusting and way this book glorifies her makes me want to puke. She is not ‘a goddess’, Rhysand and Rowan are abusive trash and the fact the love interest is literally named Rhys🤢.
This is not the plus size rep we need. Also it’s so blatantly a Feyrug / Riceman insert because of the cover like COME ON🤨
If you must reference other works in your books - please make sure that author’s work or anything they have said or done is not harmful to anyone - PLEASE I BEG.
IF I COULD GIVE IT A NEGATIVE REVIEW I WOULD
I never thought it was possible to hate something more than Harry Potter references in books but this just proved me wrong.
Sarah J Maas is disgusting and way this book glorifies her makes me want to puke. She is not ‘a goddess’, Rhysand and Rowan are abusive trash and the fact the love interest is literally named Rhys🤢.
This is not the plus size rep we need. Also it’s so blatantly a Feyrug / Riceman insert because of the cover like COME ON🤨
If you must reference other works in your books - please make sure that author’s work or anything they have said or done is not harmful to anyone - PLEASE I BEG.
IF I COULD GIVE IT A NEGATIVE REVIEW I WOULD
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2021
**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I've always enjoyed Cookie's books; I've been a fan since she published her first book, Adorkable, years ago. She simply writes enjoyable, genuine and swoon-worthy YA contemporaries that never fail to make me smile. I don't usually go out of my way to read YA contemporaries but I always pick up Cookie's books when I get the chance.
I smiled a lot during this book. It was the perfect blend between a coming of age story and all the feels of your favourite romantic comedy movies.
I loved Ariel's personal story. Despite her confidence in herself, we see her vulnerability at times and that makes her such a relatable lead. She feels like she could be a regular person you'd meet in real life and I think all readers can find a piece of themselves in her.
I haven't really read any Young Adult books that have a plus sized girl as the lead and I think that's such a shame because everyone's body is different and beautiful. The need for diverse books where people can see themselves in characters is something that is long overdue and this book is a step in that direction.
This is Cupcake's story but Rhys shines when he is in the scene. I would have loved a little more of him at the start because he too has a great backstory and vulnerability to him--something we don't often see in our YA contemporary heroes. He's a total sweetheart and definitely charmed his way into my heart.
Cookie's books never fail to make me smile and warm my heart and this book is no exception!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: https://seriesousbookreviews.com/2021...
Actual Rating: 4/5
I've always enjoyed Cookie's books; I've been a fan since she published her first book, Adorkable, years ago. She simply writes enjoyable, genuine and swoon-worthy YA contemporaries that never fail to make me smile. I don't usually go out of my way to read YA contemporaries but I always pick up Cookie's books when I get the chance.
I smiled a lot during this book. It was the perfect blend between a coming of age story and all the feels of your favourite romantic comedy movies.
I loved Ariel's personal story. Despite her confidence in herself, we see her vulnerability at times and that makes her such a relatable lead. She feels like she could be a regular person you'd meet in real life and I think all readers can find a piece of themselves in her.
I haven't really read any Young Adult books that have a plus sized girl as the lead and I think that's such a shame because everyone's body is different and beautiful. The need for diverse books where people can see themselves in characters is something that is long overdue and this book is a step in that direction.
This is Cupcake's story but Rhys shines when he is in the scene. I would have loved a little more of him at the start because he too has a great backstory and vulnerability to him--something we don't often see in our YA contemporary heroes. He's a total sweetheart and definitely charmed his way into my heart.
Cookie's books never fail to make me smile and warm my heart and this book is no exception!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: https://seriesousbookreviews.com/2021...
Actual Rating: 4/5
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