Have a Heart, Cupid Delaney

by Ellen Leroe

A cupid-in-training is sent by the Love Bureau to New Jersey to match up two unlikely couples in time for the big high school dance.

Genres: Young Adult

148 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 30, 1986

About the author

Ellen W. Leroe grew up writing fairy tales in northern New Jersey. After graduating from Elmira College, in New York State, she worked as a fashion buyer. But she soon returned to her original love, writing.

Ellen moved to San Francisco and began working on novels while working at various administrative and editorial positions. When her first Young Adult novel was published in 1983, she became a full-time writer.

Thirty of her children’s books have been published since then, and Ellen has also created a greeting card line, won poetry awards, and lent song lyrics to a jazz CD. Writing continues to be her passion and chief form of entertainment. She lives in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Amy Ravenel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this book brings back memories. I was 13 when I read it, and it was one of my first forays into contemporary fantasy. I loved it so much. i just wish someone had told me there was a sequel. :(

[Grace Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I read as a kid and I recently rediscovered it at an estate sale...and it is UTTERLY CHARMING.
If you think this book might be just cutesy sweet fluff judging by the cover, you might be a little right with that reductive assessment...but it is ALSO witty and endearing and highly enjoyable 💖💖

Basically a Cupid in training (named Cupid Delaney, natch) wants to earn her wings and has one final assignment to prove herself worthy...go down to a high school in New Jersey to match up 2 unlikely couples before the big dance: a hunky football player lothario with a "mousy nerdette", and a beautiful but vapid cheerleader with the king of the nerds. And Cupid works her magic disguised on earth as a butterfly 🥺🥺🦋💖Buuuut Cupid doesn't anticipate falling for the "cute/ugly" nerd, Alvin, who turns out to be much more bullheaded than she anticipated. Sooo does she get her wings or nah? Or maybe she gets to stay on Earth in human form for a spell, and experience true love for herself?

My random thoughts and observations:

-The cheerleader calls the nerdette-who is woefully bedraggled and wears old, out of style clothing-a "1970's creature" ....bahahaha!!! ☮️

-Helen the nerd's mom is "Chloris Mapes, a faded woman in her late thirties". OKAY first of all, RUDE ageism 😂😤 But also....CHLORIS. MAPES. God help her.

-Apparently, teen Cupid's are super stylish and wear shimmery miniskirts, glowy and drapey blouses, lacy white stockings and white "Robin Hood boots". So chic! 💖

Ultimately, this was a delight to read, with an offbeat and fun writing style.
4 out of 5 proverbial Cupid's arrows to the heart this Valentine's month 💘💘💘💘

[Erica Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and imaginative. Charming!

[Lisa Stahlman]

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid.

[del]

I just remembered with a jolt that someone gave this to me (because my name was in the title) when I was probably 9 or 10 years old and I read it and obviously didn’t hang on to it for very long. I would love to track it down and revisit it, because I remember it being goofy and cheesy but sort of charming.