Cupidity

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Addition to the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy Series
Review: High school dating is one of the most challenging things a girl - or guy - is forced to face in their lives. After all, it's every man - or woman - for themselves. Then throw in the fact of the social totem pole, and you're pretty much looking for trouble. High school senior, Laura Sweeney, is no exception to this problem. Not that it really matters, since she hasn't had a date since...ever. This year, however, Laura plans on going out on dates and getting invited to the Homecoming Dance. The problem, she knows that she can't do it conventionally, so she calls to the higher Gods. The Roman Gods, to be exact. Suddenly, girls and guys from every social class are being thrown together in strange, mismatched relationships. It's now up to Laura to figure out how to stop the matchmaking mastermind she's called from far and above known as Cupid, before he throws everything related to high school dating out of whack.

As a fan of the previous books in the new SIMON PULSE ROMANTIC COMEDY series, I had a hunch that I would love CUPIDITY, and I truly did. Laura is a fun character whose obsession with Mythology is interesting, while at the same time hilarious. Her bright personality makes the book fun, while the touch of paranormal phenomena thrown into the story makes it truly fabulous. Teen readers looking for a cute romance for Valentine's Day will adore this new addition to the genre.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Rating:
Summary: not my idea of Roman mythology
Review: Well, I hate to say it, but I didn't like this book. For starters it was too long and the main character, Laura Sweeney got on my nerves. She whines way too much. All she does during the first six chapters of the book is moan and complain. I certainly didn't want to hear her go on and on about not having a boyfriend. I'm seventeen, and I don't have a boyfriend...so get over it. Basically the story (or attempt at one) is about high school senior Laura Sweeney being one of the geekiest girls in school and wanting a boyfriend. She sends out a plea to the Roman gods. Mercury catches her message and the gods decide to help her. Cupid arrives at Laura's Ohio high school in the guise of a hot female student Cupidity. But Cupidity's arrows go awry and the whole thing turns to a big mess. Laura also gets mixed up in the lives of the gods, making it somewhat interesting. But her complaining just took away big time from the book. The ending, happy, but predictable, seems more of an afterthought. I bought this, but now I'm considering a refund. The characters are so dumb you feel like you just want to go in the book and smack some sense into them--Laura especially. The best character by far was Mercury, the Roman god of speed/commerce, messenger god, etc. His part is small, but I enjoyed him a lot more than Laura Sweeney. Even Cupidity (Cupid) wasn't doing the trick. Take my advice: if you're interested in Roman mythology and sappy love stories, by all means buy this book. But if you're looking for a humorous Roman god (Mercury) to lift your spirits and don't want to read a girl whining in a book, then pick it up at the library (as I should have). I only gave this book two stars because of Mercury, who was the most interesting and smartest person in the book. Over and out.