ALA Booklist (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 1995)

"Thwonk." That's the sound made by Jonathan Cupid's bow when he fulfills A. J. McCreary's wish that hunky Peter Terris become hers and hers alone. Unfortunately, A. J. soon finds that Peter's total adoration is more than she bargained for, especially since there's not the slightest bit of depth (or interest in A. J.'s beloved photography) beneath Peter's handsome face. The question then becomes, Can a spell invoked become a spell broken? Although this novel isn't as substantial as Squashed (1992), which dealt particularly well with the question of self-image, Bauer decks out a comfortably familiar scenario with some good comic flourishes and gives strong, full voice to A. J.'s character. It's a novel YAs will read just for fun.

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1995)

An artistic, witty senior, gifted in photography, A. J. is obsessed with Peter, the class stud. When a real cupid causes Peter to fall hard for her, A. J. is thrilled--until she becomes disgusted with his vapid, cloying manner. Aside from the cupid's fantastic presence, the novel offers a realistic high school scenario with convincing characters, especially the assertive, likable heroine.

Kirkus Reviews

A.J. McCreary, 17, lives for two things: her photography and her as-yet unrequited love for class hunk Peter Terris. The former is suffering from the latter and A.J. is mired in a deep, very funny funk when a love-worn, mournful but supremely helpful cupid named Jonathan appears and offers her academic, artistic, or romantic success (or at least, her idea of romantic success). As a result of her choice, Peter becomes A.J.'s love toy, nearly sick with his worship of her and making spectacles of them both wherever they go. When the spell is, as it must be, ultimately reversed, A.J. is dateless again, but now she revels in it. A.J. is a hilarious, self-consciously angst-ridden teen of the first order, and though readers know from the first moment of her decision what's in store for her, it's to Bauer's credit that this wacky ride through adolescent affairs of the heart never grows predictable. Though not as perfectly realized as Squashed! (1992), this is a fine romance, with plenty of hitches. (Fiction. 12+)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

When A.J. is assigned to take the cover photograph for her school newspaper, she stumbles onto a stuffed cupid that comes to life and catapults her into love. "Bauer's buoyant narrative will elicit chuckles as it delivers its message (thwonk!) with the accuracy of a well-aimed arrow from Cupid," said <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW. Ages 12-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(June)

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10--This silly, offbeat novel warns all readers: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! A.J. McCreary, photographer extraordinaire, lovelorn, and invisible to school hunk, Peter Terris, is unable to capture a fitting cover shot for the school paper's special Valentine's Day edition. Then, she stumbles upon a stuffed cupid who comes to life and offers her one of three alluring choices: artistic, academic, or romantic assistance. In spite of the cupid's vehement protests against the last and his admitted previous failure in the arena of teen love, A.J. follows her heart. After Peter is smitten, and her date for the King of Hearts dance is secure, she finds that his slathering, abject devotion and unrestrained attention embarrass her, and that he is boring. Like Ellie in Bauer's Squashed (Delacorte, 1992), A.J. is a witty, intelligent protagonist whose fresh perceptions of her peers keep readers chuckling. In the end, a brilliant newspaper cover shot convinces her former-filmmaker father of her talent and makes the novel's ultimate statement about young romance. Thwonk revels in the vagaries, insecurities, and uncomfortable realities of teen love.--Alice Casey Smith, Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, NJ