Valentine’s Day brings out the romantics and the cynics alike, and Piper Paisley definitely falls into the latter category. She hasn’t spoken to her father in two years, and her stepfather has moved on to another family, so it’s no wonder that Piper is a skeptic when it comes to love. Her two best friends believe in romance, though, and they convince her to join them in concocting a love potion, all part of “the Plan” for each of them to have dates on Valentine’s Day. With cute guys, gifts from a secret admirer, and V-Day (also Piper’s birthday) rapidly approaching, it may be tough for Piper to avoid Cupid’s arrow altogether. Despite some predictable story lines, teens will likely race through Hepler’s (The Cupcake Queen, 2009) heartwarming, sweet-as-a-candy-heart novel and enjoy not only the characters’ drama-filled love lives but also her realistic portrayal of imperfect friendships and families. The ending is satisfying, too: “Love? Maybe” turns out to be “Love? Yes!” after all. A great stepping-stone for fans of Lisa Greenwald. Grades 6-9. --Ann Kelley
Review
"...teens will likely race through Hepler's (The Cupcake Queen, 2009) heartwarming, sweet-as-a-candy-heart novel and enjoy not only the characters' drama-filled love lives but also her realistic portrayal of imperfect friendships and families. The ending is satisfying, too: "Love? Maybe" turns out to be "Love? Yes!" after all."
(Booklist )
"...goes beyond the usual teen romance and explores love from different angles -- lost love, friendships, family love, forgiveness, and hope...Fun, light, with morsels of sadness and plenty of chocolate"
(VOYA )
"Hepler (The Cupcake Queen) pens an energetic Valentine's Day tale for romantics and cynics alike....readers seeking a romance with sweet, salty, and spicy moments (not unlike Jan's candies) should be entertained."
(Publishers Weekly )
