This was a fun read! I prefer FT Luken’s other YA book more but this was fun. It definitely took a shocking twist I was not expecting! Some of the writing was very juvenile which can be expected from a YA novel

Listen while it did take me 3 months to read this book, 95% was in one day. Once I got over the hump that was the first 10% I had a great time reading this. While I did guess the basic plot early on and the allegory was a little heavy handed, I ended up loving the ensemble of characters that are the heart of this book (which if you know anything about me, you know that's rare).

Also FYI the audiobook is one of those that is great for when you're doing those chores you hate (my plants will survive another week thanks to F.T. Lukens)

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a cute book overall. It didn't hold my attention as much as I thought it would, but I liked the characters and the friend group was great. The characters were definitely the highlight for me because the story never fully pulled me in. The plot moved along pretty slowly before accelerating at the end. It was the kind of book that's worth it for the journey and the friends you make along the way.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I was really looking forward to this release but found myself entirely unable to enjoy it. I fear this may have been F.T. Lukens’ most juvenile story. I enjoyed the campy aspects of the story but I felt that the conflict was unclear and the diverse yet abundant cast of characters made it very difficult to keep up with. Overall, an underwhelming read.

A heartwarming paranormal mystery with Scooby-Doo vibes and a powerful exploration of queer identity, Love at Second Sight is a light yet meaningful read that’s impossible to put down.

Love at Second Sight is light, fun, and fast-paced, but it also carries surprising emotional depth, which I really appreciated. It gave me strong Scooby-Doo vibes, especially that Supernatural crossover episode. The main character, Cam, lives in a paranormal society but believes he’s just an ordinary human—until he discovers he’s actually clairvoyant. His journey of coming out to his parents as clairvoyant is genuinely heartfelt.

Exploration of Queer Identity

Cam is, at the very least, bi (he has an adorable crush on Matteo, the local werewolf boy), and the story features additional queer representation, including Cam’s friend Al, a non-binary witch. I loved how being queer is normalized in this world—but interestingly, Cam still feels like an outsider because he lacks any paranormal abilities at the start. That twist on the “coming out” narrative added meaningful complexity.

Once Cam realizes he is part of the paranormal community, he has to figure out where he belongs and how to be himself. His family, who value “normalcy,” pressure him to hang out with other “normal” kids, rejecting his witchy, magical friends. This conflict reflects the challenges of coming out and being accepted for who you truly are.

Scooby-Doo, Supernatural & Charmed Vibes
Layered into Cam’s journey is a murder mystery—his first psychic vision reveals a murder in progress, setting him on a mission to solve it. Along the way, he forms new friendships with Matteo, Reese, a mischievous sprite, and Kaci, another medium. He even has a falling out with Al, which adds extra drama. All of it felt very Scooby-Doo in the best possible way. As someone who grew up watching the classics—and now enjoys newer versions with my kids—I loved the nostalgic touch.

While I was never a huge Supernatural fan, I did love the original Charmed (no surprise there), and this book gave me similar cozy paranormal vibes. The mix of humor, heart, and supernatural intrigue really enhanced the story.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Love at Second Sight is a moving and meaningful read without ever feeling heavy. It’s short, sweet, and satisfying—perfect for finishing in one sitting. The themes of identity, acceptance, and community will resonate with a wide range of readers.

If you’re a fan of Supernatural, Scooby-Doo, Charmed, or anything quirky and magical, I definitely recommend picking this one up. FT Lukens knows how to weave deep themes into a light, paranormal story—and I’m already looking forward to whatever they write next.

Thanks again to the publisher for the review copy. If you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with your fellow bookworms. Until next time—happy reading!

Classic Ft Lukes book! These stories always hit for me in terms of the
- queer normative world
- diverse genders, races and body types
- good discussions around consent

This book? Absolutely to die for. F.T. Lukens delivers a gripping paranormal mystery wrapped in sharp wit, tender friendships, and just the right amount of queer longing. Imagine if Veronica Mars went to school with witches, werewolves, and potential murderers—and also had a massive crush on her best friend. Yeah, it’s that good.

Cam Reynolds is the kind of lovable disaster you can’t help but root for. He just wants to be a normal human teen and pine quietly after his werewolf bestie, Mateo. Instead, he has a full-on murder vision in the middle of school and instantly becomes supernatural-famous. Turns out Cam’s not just human—he’s a clairvoyant, and suddenly everyone wants a piece of him. Including some very powerful, very sketchy magical factions.

What follows is a twisty, tense race against time, with a lovable cast of magical misfits, the perfect amount of snark, and a budding romance that had me absolutely melting. Cam’s voice is fresh, funny, and deeply relatable, and the plot keeps you hooked while still giving room for heart, growth, and just enough horror to keep the lights on.

Perfect for fans of Carry On, The Raven Cycle, and Buffy with a queer, contemporary twist, this book is riveting, emotional, and totally unforgettable.

Cute, quirky, and full of “aww” moments. The romance is soft and awkward in a way that feels real, especially with the magical twist. It’s very YA but not in a bad way—like comfort food for the heart. Gave me butterflies and a couple of chuckles. Quick read, lots of charm, no emotional damage (thankfully).

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads

Thank you Simon Teen for sending me a free copy of this book & providing me with an ARC on NetGalley!

I’m not usually the biggest fan of paranormal books, but after loving F.T. Luken’s previous book Spellbound, I knew I had to read this one, and I’m so glad I did! It was really fun and not at all like most other paranormal novels I’ve read in the past. This was a mix of many different genres. Obviously the fantasy because of the different species and powers, there was a good romance subplot, but there was also a mystery they needed to solve before a murder would occur. I couldn’t put this book down, I just kept wanting to read it and find out what happened in Cam’s vision.

This book was really fun. I always love found family and ensemble casts. I just wish that all of the characters had more pagetime individually. I could easily remember who was who and usually I struggle with that when there are so many characters. However, since all of them were very different, as they were all clearly described to be different species (is that the right word?), it was really easy for me.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books, NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Cam is a human who only wants to fly under the radar in a school filled with kids with paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch Al and his crush, Mateo, a werewolf. When Cam gets an unexpected psychic glimpse of the future, seeing a murdered girl from the point of view of the killer, he knows immediately two things. That he goes to school with a future killer and his life is about to change forever. Not longer a simply human, but a rare clairvoyant, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time and he doesn't like it. While the city supernatural factions court him and his new gift, Cam has to work with old and new friend to find this killer or the next victim could be him.

Love at second sight is the brilliant, funny and amazing new story from F.T. Lukens and I loved everything. Set into a world with supernatural creatures, from witches to werewolves to clairvoyant, the main character himself, the story is funny and compelling and a brilliant queer thriller, with a smart and witty main character. Cam finds himself with powers and at the center of attention, while struggling to understand who to trust, who is the potential killer and how to save the situation and I loved every single moment.

F.T. Lukens's YA fantasy Love at Second Sight is a mystery that is as soapy as it is thrilling. Queer witches, werewolves, sprites, and other fantastical beings stumble through awkward teen foibles, interrupted by monsters both real and metaphorical.

Cam Reynolds, a "honey blond"-haired 15-year-old, lives in a town where "witches, werewolves, faeries, sprites, and a whole host of supernatural entities" shop at the same grocery stores and attend the same schools as non-paranormal humans. His bestie, Al, has "beautiful brown skin," a "comforting and cozy" cottagecore witchy vibe, and a raven familiar named Lenore; his hunky crush, Latino Mateo, is a werewolf. But Cam is "only human"--he thinks. During a dustup on the first day of school, his latent gifts as a clairvoyant manifest: he sees the brutal murder of a young woman he doesn't recognize. Traumatized, Cam is unsure of this newfound power and what he's meant to do with it. And, since seers are rare, different factions of mystical beings all want a piece of him. Cam, with the help of Al, Mateo, and a new crew of friends, decides to find the killer, save the girl, and stop the future he has seen from becoming reality.

Lukens (Otherworldly) is no stranger to the world of the young, exceptional, and angsty. Lukens's mastery of the adolescent hero's journey is on full display here: though the whodunnit may be the endgame, it's Cam's arc of empowerment through the relationships he solidifies with his friends that fuel the book. A surprisingly substantive treat about surviving in a monstrous world.

Thank you, Simon Audio, for the ARC, both the audio and physical copy! I loved the mix of normal humans and supernatural beings all attending high school together. There’s so much humor in this story, and I couldn’t get enough.

Cal, a human, has a vision, which was like, wait, what?! I was hooked from the start, wanting to see what happens and whether the vision comes true. He sees a vision of a girl’s murder before it happens and tries to stop it. Along with his best friend, who has powers of her own, we get a sweet romance mixed with twists and turns of a thrilling mystery.

Such a fun read! Really enjoyed this one. Thank you Simon Teen for the eARC via Netgalley and the finished copy!

Characters 4.5/5: Absolutely loved the main characters in this one. Cam and Al's friendship is so sweet and I really felt their growing pains as well as their love for each other. The ragtag team of friends is also so good and I just ended up falling in love with all the characters. FYI the romance is definitely a back seat in this one to the friendship, so please don't go in expecting a lot of romance! There are definitely some super cute moments though.

**Spoiler (I'll try to be vague here): With the big reveal a certain character in the cottage, I was kind of expecting them to play more of a role in the book, and it was a bit disappointing that they only showed up at the end. They're a pretty important character plot wise/development wise so I just thought there would be more?

A pretty fast paced book, which I appreciated as someone currently going through a bit of a slump, but I definitely wish the last few chapters had more in them. It all wrapped up very quickly!

Overall a fun read! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun YA paranormal mystery.

CW for blood, bullying, murder/attempted murder, parental abuse

This book had me in a full chokehold from chapter one—like, F.T. Lukens really said “murder vision + queer chaos + found family + flirty werewolf crush” and I devoured it. Cam is the most relatable disaster human I’ve ever read—anxious, sarcastic, and just trying to survive high school (plus, you know, a psychic murder premonition). The supernatural world is so fun but also surprisingly dark, and the way it balances humor, heart, and high-stakes danger?? Perfection. And don’t even get me started on Mateo—every time he and Cam interacted, I squealed. If you love queer paranormal fantasy with vibes like Carry On meets Veronica Mars, this book will absolutely live in your head rent-free.

Cam Reynolds is tired. Tired of feeling like the weird kid, tired of everyone always looking at him. A new high school may be exactly what he needs to start sophomore year off with a fresh start, alongside his best friend, blossoming witch Al, and the werewolf he's bee.n crushing on for ages, Mateo. Now is the time to start anew, to embrace a New Cam.

Except Cam has no idea how different things are about to become. After a fight at school reveals he is clairvoyant, his first vision—a gruesome murder of an unknown girl from the perspective of the killer—shifts everything. With the help of a perky freshman and a group of new paranormal friends, Cam must unravel his vision and prevent the horrific event before it’s too late. As tensions rise and friendships become complicated, Cam realizes he’s running out of time—with a target on his back, the next blood spilled could be his own.

This was a fun and cute YA queer paranormal romance thriller situation that was just the right level for that early high-school crowd dipping their toes into this genre. It's a perfect starter book, with fun characters and some really engaging twists and turns. The first 3/4ths of the story set up a lot of the characters and mystery, with a lot of the action occurring in the last 1/4th. I wanted more romance, more depth of the relationships between these friends-they are such a fun eclectic bunch and I would love to have gotten to know them a little better.

All in all, if you're looking for a fun mystery-thriller with some paranormal characters and some cute queer teen romance, this will 100% fit the bill.

{Thank you to F. T. Lukens, SimonTeen, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review-I am so sorry this is so late in coming!}

This was such a neat YA paranormal read! I loved all of the characters so much. The storyline with the magic and the mystery was genuinely so much fun! Cam is a wonderful main character. He was awkward and just trying to get through high school. I loved the cute romance with Mateo but it’s more of a subplot. Mateo is sweet though. Al was the bestest best friend and I loved Lenore too! All the other friends were great. It was a lot of fun with everyone coming to age while learning how to master their new magical powers. They were all different but they had each other’s back. The mystery was really interesting to try to unravel as well. I honestly liked this book a lot more than I even thought I would!
This is YA but there is some mild violence and cussing. If you enjoy YA then def check this out! This would be a great fall/halloween ish read 😍💜

Love at Second Sight by @ftlukens was such a dang fun read. I read it in two days. It combines mystery with supernatural powers and a very sub plot of a romance. It was intense but also fun and light. Our main character is a human surrounded by non-humans and is starting at a new school. He has a lot of pressure from his parents to make other human friends. On his first day he has a vision of someone being murdered and our story kicks into high gear.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Regular high school was tough enough for me. Add in a new power and all the responsibilities to use it wisely to try and save a mysterious girl from being murdered, all while just entering 10th grade in a new school district and unsure about the status of his friendship with long time pal Al, and I really feel for Cam. This is cute story with lots of feels, figuring out friends, dealing with parents who have closed minds when dealing with the paranormal and finally connecting with a crush and I loved it all. I did like how it focused more on friendships than just a love connection because friends are what Cam needed most in this time of the chaos of his new powers and standing in the paranormal world as he was no longer plain human. I was certainly rooting for him and his new friends as they worked to save the girl, though there was plenty of other drama.

Cam was a certified and accurate clairvoyant so everyone wanted a piece of him, from other students to the covens, packs and guilds in the area, gifting him with presents and making in harder for him to see if people liked him for him or just his powers. The story dealt with that well and I got warm fuzzies when he found how how stalwart his friends were, no matter the situation (and it does have some dark moments when that is sorely needed!). It was a sweet story though and I highly recommend it! Plus it goes by fast and you can get through most of it in one sitting because it will hook you from the very first page!

5/5, 10/10, 100% I don’t know how I could rate it better. This book competes with In Deeper Waters for my favorite FT Lukens book and that’s hard to do. I loved all of the characters (even Al whom I had a hard time with in the beginning). The dynamics between characters were fun. I want more. I could read so many sequels about this bestie gang. Can Gemma get her yatzee, what other powers was alluded to for Cam at the end, will Reese end up with Kaci which is what I hope. More more more!

This was a pretty interesting story. I enjoyed how the paranormal was out in the open in this story instead of some hidden thing that the main characters have to be discreet about. It was fun to see a bunch of teenagers struggling with their powers. Mateo and Cam together were great I really loved their dynamic. I think my favorite character was Reece though. He had some of the funniest lines and I love that his Sprite power was unconventional. I didn't really enjoy the plot about Cam's parents trying to remove his clairvoyant ability. It felt like a thinly veiled gay conversion scene. Maybe the author intended that but I didn't enjoy it. I was also confused why a spell might need werewolf's blood but, oh well. Overall I did like this story a lot!