This book is the kind of showmance/backstage drama I live for and it’s dialled up to 100 because it’s teens falling hard and fast and making mistakes and not always coping in the best of ways. It’s so human and bittersweet and funny. There’s sex positivity here and hormones galore and first loves and family troubles PLUS putting on a show. The am-dram group it follows is a bizarre and wonderful mix of characters that mess up and show up for each other. There is such a sense of community here, and just reading about the act of people making tea for others in need was almost enough to make me tear up.

I didn’t know before going into this one that it would be set post-lockdowns, but I’m actually so glad that it touches on the effects the pandemic had on not only people but the arts and theatre industry. The discussions of familial grief, loss of work, pivoting to new careers to stay afloat etc. felt so current and relevant and getting to explore the impact it had on this one creative family as well as the wider arts world definitely worked for me. I would check out CWs on this one just because it features topics like loss, dealing with Alzheimer’s in the family, and has some mentions of disordered eating. Take care of yourselves while reading.

This book is very Gen-Z. So much that the beginning was hard to get into, but I just told myself to pretend I was a teenager and it was better. It is very stereotypical and predictable, but it's also kind of silly in a fun way. The main character's backstory is also very predictable and basic but that can help a younger audience quickly pick up her character type maybe.

I did finish it, which I didn't think I would, but I'd say you probably need to actually be a teen to enjoy this one.

This one was super fun and pretty hard hitting in places too!!! I really love the writing style but I loved the writing style in the authors first book too but yeah really enjoyed this one and will recommend because its super cute

I was aware of Cupid's Revenge before I received this e-ARC, but I didn't know more than the title. The premise of the story is that Tilly is dragged along to the auditions for "Cupid's Revenge", a charity cabaret night, by her best friend so he has a chance to get to know the girl he fancies better- what she wasn't expecting was to fall for her too! We follow Tilly as she works with the other people involved to ensure that this evening is a success, whilst at the same time looking after her Grandad with Dementia. I thought that this was a really interesting concept and was relieved that despite the tricky topics, the overall tone is quite lighthearted and there is strong humour throughout. As a lesbian who has a personal connection to the theatre their event is to be held at, this novel felt like it was written for me. Wibke Brueggemann is a true talent and I can't wait to read whatever she releases next.

This was a fantastically entertaining read.
It was equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and heartbreaking.
It was a super relatable look into first love as a teen and figuring out who you are, all set against the backdrop of amdram.

A favourite part of the book for me was seeing Tilly's relationship with her grandad. It was touching and emotional and it made my heart happy.

I sped through this in a few hours as I just couldn't put it down.

Tilly’a experiencing changes to her home life and her friendships at the same time. Her grandfather has moved into her family home with early onset dementia, and her best friend Teddy wants to join the local theatre group for an upcoming production; to win the heart of one Katherine Cooper-Bunting. But Cupid’s arrow is heading in another direction - and it’s not where Tilly or Teddy expects.

A fun, sapphic YA romcom set in a post-pandemic Britain - it’s great to see stories set the other side of what we’ve all been through these last few years. Tilly’s story encompasses grief, relationships and finding one’s place in the world - all when the world may feel a little bit much.

The perfect read for the beach, or sofa

⭐⭐⭐💫
🎭🎹🍦🏳️‍🌈

3 and a half stars, rounded to 4.

This cute YA book is about a theatre group who are doing a variety play to raise money for acting. The main character, Tilly (Matilda) joins up with her BFF, Teddy (Theodore) who is only joining up because he knows the girl, Katherine Cooper-Bunting is auditioning and begs Tilly to come along and help him get the girl.

Tilly is a lesbian and falls in love with Katherine Cooper-Bunting, which has her all sorts of conflicted, considering her best friend likes her too. Add the fact that she is still getting over the death of her friend, Grace, who likes to show up every now and again in her imagination. Plus she has to help her granddad who has Alzheimer's, while tackling not being the favourite daughter of her musician parents.

The story has some cute moments, especially the found family aspect of the theatre group. I loved how they all loved Tilly's Granddad when she brought him along to rehearsals. The relationship between Tilly and Katherine was also cute, but the one thing I didn't like about it, which is why I am only giving it 3 and a half stars, is the way Tilly handled it with Teddy, and what she told Robin. Katherine had every right to be upset, and I wish it was dealt with a little more than just saying it and then moving on like nothing happened.

But in saying that, this book is definitely cute. It's #sexpositive. It has queer characters, including lesbians, gays and non-binary characters. The theatre world was cute.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.

I

I'll be honest, I read Wibke Brueggemann's first book 'Love Is For Losers' and didn't really enjoy it. The tone wasn't really for me but sometimes authors don't find their groove right off the back. I'm delighted that this offering worked a lot better for me.

Cupid's Revenge follows Tilly, who over the course of a summer finds herself auditioning for a local play as a favour to her best friend. She's mainly there to help her best friend get with the girl of his dreams, but she doesn't expect to also fall for her.

This book packs in quite a lot and has surprising depth for a YA romance. We have the enemies-to-lovers trope, discussions of the pandemic and how it affected teens, friendship troubles and also Tilly dealing with family issues such as her grandfather's recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Whilst Tilly herself might not want to be spending her summer looking after her granddad or being in a play, it opens herself up to new experiences and growing closer to those in her life.

Tilly wasn't the most likeable protagonist at times, but she was dealing with a lot and I think at the end of the day her heart was in the right place. Anyway, who is perfect at sixteen years old? Tilly acts and talks like a teenager which at times is annoying, but she's meant to be! I appreciate that Wibke Brueggemann gets the tone right for someone who is young and a little bit selfish.

A well-written novel that was a really enjoyable read.

thank you to netgalley for this arc

i loved this book! there’s a lot of important topics in it; life after the pandemic and how it affected teens and people working in the arts, dealing with grief over a friend dying young, discovering your sexuality, falling in love for the first time, whether friendships are more important than relationships, and dealing with a family members dementia.

i went into this expecting mainly a romance, but it is so much more than that (although the romance is amazing). teddy and tilly’s friendship is so nice, even when they fight at some points. and the storyline with tilly’s grandpa broke my heart, but i loved the moments of happiness with him.

there is also some amazing queer rep in this, from tilly who has always known she’s a lesbian, and katherine who has recently discovered her sexuality. there is also an older gay couple which i loved, a gay immigrant who’s family moved for his safety, and a non binary character who is easily accepted.

overall i highly recommend this book!

Cupid’s Revenge was a fun theatre-themed read that dealt with some quite heavy topics. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a cutesy little story about amateur dramatics, but that wasn’t the case. Well, it was cute for the most part, but it does deal with serious topics such as dementia and even touches lightly on eating disorders - this isn’t talked about so openly but it is heavily implied.

From the little knowledge I have, the dementia storyline was done very well. It wasn’t completely over the top, which I know can happen as authors sometimes like to over-dramatise things for entertainment, but that wasn’t the case here. It seemed like an honest experience and I loved how Tilly didn’t treat her grandad differently because of it. If anything she was just more caring and she really grew throughout the book.

Although she liked to keep secrets and was generally a bit of a crap friend, Tilly was a good character. She felt like an authentic teenager.

Based on the cover, I thought this was going to be a middle-grade book, so imagine my surprise when the characters talked about sex a lot. Obviously nothing wrong with this, but I didn’t realise for quite some time they were 16. I still found it a little strange for them to be talking about sex so much, but it is the legal age of consent in the UK so it’s not that weird.

The side characters really shine in this story. They all have such distinct personalities and they really brought Cupid’s Revenge to life. The whole ensemble was a joy to read and I’d actually like to read another book with them present. I especially loved Miroslaw and Olivia, they were hilarious without even trying to be.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the main romance plotline as it felt a little contrived. The build-up just wasn’t there and I didn’t root for them at all. There is, however, a sneaky little romance that pops up near the end and I was hoping for it to happen for at least half of the book.

Cupid’s Revenge was a pretty decent read. It was very fast to get through and I enjoyed many of the characters. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sold on the romance aspects, but I had a good time reading this.

Rating: 3.5

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a fun read that takes on the several issues, alzheimers, teenage crushes, friendships of all ages and your first sexual encounter....

at times it was funny and sad but worth a read for young teenagers to see that life is ok

"I opened my mouth, and she did the same, and then we were properly kissing with tongues and everything, and I thought how she tasted of strawberries, and that I hadn't been that physically hot in all my life. Like, my skin was on fire. And I wanted to get inside her, like, deeper and deeper, and she seemed to want the same, because she was pulling me closer and closer and closer, and I thought my head would explode. Or I would faint. Or just die."

As a lover of Wibke Brueggmann's debut novel, Love Is For Losers, I jumped at the chance to read her newest release, and it's safe to say that my excitement was well placed.

Cupid's Revenge follows Tilly, a high school girl who is so not looking for a deep, romantic connection with anyone. Her life has been turned upside down in the aftermath of the pandemic, with the death of her grandma and her grandpa now dealing with dementia, and being forced to move in with Tilly and her parents.

Her only salvation is her relationship with her best friend, Teddy. They've been through hell and back together following the tragic loss of their other best friend, Grace - the girl that was more than just a friend to Teddy.

In walks his new object of affection, Katherine, and Teddy turns to Tilly, desperate for her help with talking to and wooing Katherine...but in Tilly's plight to make Katherine see how perfect Teddy could be for her, unexpected and unwelcome feelings arise between the two of them, and soon enough, Tilly finds herself in the middle of the worst kind of love triangle.

She's left with two options, and neither of them are things that she wants. She either hurts her best friend, or she loses what could potentially be her only chance of an epic high school romance.

Between the deep seeded feelings Tilly has found for Katherine, her love for her best friend, her family issues and the production of the play Cupid's Revenge, Tilly's life has been sent into one hell of a tailspin, and no one knows where it'll finally slow down.

Something that I admired in Brueggmann's first novel, Love Is for Losers, and absolutely adored in Cupid's Revenge is her ability to truly capture what it's like to be a gay teenager, with such little experience when it comes to relationships.

The essence of awkwardness and discomfort that comes with discovering and knowing who you are, but not knowing how to use that when it comes to not just your love life, but also your personal life, is wonderful and makes the story seem so much more real and raw. It makes the characters feel more like people you know, as opposed to just fictional characters in a book.

The relationships, be them romantic, familial or platonic, were the real highlight of Cupid's Revenge, and it showed so much throughout the story just how important these connections are, especially during the hardest moments.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and Wibke Brueggmann is certainly earning her new spot on my 'must read everything she ever publishes' list!

4/5 stars 💫

Cupid’s Revenge is a sweet coming-of-age romance which, while flawed, is an enjoyable, lighthearted read. There was several really funny moments, and the cast of supporting characters are very enjoyable, especially Olivia and Miroslaw. The will they/won’t they between Tilly and Katherine in the first half of the book was also really well done. The stand out is the treatment of Douglas’ dementia, something I wish the book explored more as Bruggemann does an excellent job depicting Tilly’s raw emotional reactions to the situation. However, I feel the book suffers from some pacing issues - both the start and the end of the book felt very rushed, with Tilly developing a crush on Katherine incredibly quickly without any reserve against it, and the ending felt a little too neat. Additionally, some of the dialogue and writing is incredibly unnatural is tic. The excessive use of hashtags and LOL from the teenage characters felt very inauthentic to how actual teenagers talk. It often took me out of the narrative, as it read like how an adult imagines a teenager speaks. Also, the teenagers often behave much younger than they are, which is then very jarring compared to their frank discussions of sexuality. I did really appreciate how Bruggemann presented teenagers talking frankly about sex, as it felt more honest than some other YA books covering the same topic. Finally, there are some parts of the book which felt like could have been developed more, specifically Tilly’s relationship with her mum and Grace’s death, which are interesting but never explored to their full potential. Overall, an enjoyable read despite its issues.

A funny, honest, and poignant coming-of-age story. I loved the themes of found family and community.

This was a sweet, exciting coming of age tale. The characters were a joy to read about; funny and honest. It was a great look into a teen girl's mind.
The novel was written with a great voice, one that will stay with me for a long time!

A perfect display of British youth. Tilly is in crisis. The pandemic lockdown has just ended, but it took her grandmother with it leaving her grandfather alone and dealing with dementia. Her dad feeling guilty for not being there decides to move him into the spare room. The problem being only Tilly is there to care for him as her family are too focused on their creative careers and never thought through the impact of caring for someone. In comes Teddy, Tilly’s best friend, who has suddenly fallen in love with Katherine Cooper-Bunting, great news since his last crush was their best friend who tragically passed away. Tilly agrees to be Teddy’s wingwoman, happy he’s moving on, even agreeing to go with him to audition for a play his crush is attending. There’s just one problem. Tilly has also fallen in love with Katherine and between the production of Cupids Revenge and handling family matters Tilly’s life gets flipped upside down, the good, the bad and the horny are about to take over.

I absolutely loved this book, it's funny, entertaining, moving and really pacey. It features some hilarious scenes based around an amateur dramatics group that can only have been observed at first hand. Searingly funny observational comedy at its best, satirical yet always kind at heart. It's difficult to find funny books for teenage readers and this book walks the difficult path between being funny yet tender throughout.