Obsessed with this book. Obsessed with how the magic works in the book. I scream in the third act because HOW???? Like HOW? LIKE WHO? WHAT? WHERE? Not lying to you that I loved this found family in this whole book. Every second.

F.T. Lukens never ceases to capture my whole interest and prevent me from putting the book down until I finish it, and this book is no exception. In fact, Love at Second Sight might just take the crown for my favorite Lukens book. I am absolutely in love with every character in the main group, especially Cam and Mateo. I was so into their cute romance, it literally had me giggling and kicking my feet during class - because yes, I was reading in class, I could not put it down! Every twist and turn had me in a chokehold right there next to the characters. I felt all their highs and lows, and I even cried a bit at the final climax and resolution. It was very well done, and knowing that it was written as an allegory for queerness made it hit home for me. The unlikely friendship that formed between the main group was so endearing and I honestly just want more of them and whatever crazy adventures they get up to next. I cannot wait to add this book to my collection!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC.

This is my second F.T. Lukens book and I really enjoyed it. I really liked Cam and the whole cast of crew. Cam was a believable 15 year old, where he was nervous about starting at a new school and about his place in his friendship with his BFF, Al, dealing with his paranormal-phobic parents, his abandonment issues from his older brother, and now with his newly awakened powers as a clairvoyant. I wanted to give him a hug throughout the book. I also love the found family trope, so him having support was great. The other cast were somewhat fleshed out, but I felt there could have been more about them. The world building was intriguing with the different paranormal groups and how they operate.

The writing was easy to follow and the story was a bit cliched but still enjoyable. The cover looks more like an upper level YA but reads more lower level YA, like we were fed a lot of the mystery and emotions. Nothing is wrong with this, but in case others had expectations and don’t like that sort of writing. It was easy to devour the book and it was engaging, entertaining, and wholesome.

What I wish was done better was the romance between Cam and Mateo. It was believable at first that their interactions would be awkward, but it just never moved on from the awkwardness and just seemed stilted and shallow. I felt like there could have been so many moments where they could have had developments, but they never happened and when they were finally left alone and were able to talk about something other than the mystery, we got a brief summary of them talking about school. It left a lot to be desired. Cam’s friendship with Gemma was more believable and had way more screen time.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will continue to be looking out for F.T. Lukens books.

This was my first book by FT Lukens and after this one I'm very excited to read more by them. It was so good! I loved that it was a mix of different genres. It had some fantasy/paranormal elements with werewolves, sprites, witches, etc. as well as a cute romance all revolving around a mystery. Mysteries are hit or miss for me but I think this one worked because of that mix of genre. And it was a pretty good mystery!
I also just really loved the characters. There was some great found family elements with this friend group. That group was amazing but cam and Miguel especially! Even though the romance did take a little bit of a back seat to the paranormal and mystery elements, I still really liked how their romance unfolded. They were sweet and cute. Overall a really great read and I look forward to reading more from this author! Will definitely be going into their backlog at some point!

content warning: violence, blood

I absolutely adored this book! It's a coming of age story with a closed door romance and mystery plots. The stakes kept rising and I found myself very invested in figuring out how Cam could change the future. The queer found family was absolutely adorable and the overall message made me tear up at the end. The paranormal prejudice is definitely a parallel to homophobia and I found this universe's response to prejudice delightfully uplifting and just what I needed. I adored this book and I didn't want to put it down. I finished it in a day and I'm dying for more books in this world!

3.5 - I know that FT Lukens is iconic in the YA LGBTQ+ reader space and I was excited to try out one of his books!! This is not a dig at this book at all, just a personal note - while normally I love the young adult genre and enjoy reading it, I think I felt a bit too old to be reading this one. Sometimes that happens and I just know the actual audience of young adults would love this one. So honestly, it is on me for not liking it as much as I hoped.

Love at Second Sight is a paranormal mystery, where Cam is a human teen, going to school with other paranormal beings with super powers. One day, Cam has a vision about a murder, and suddenly Cam finds out that he has one of the rarest superpowers - he can see into the future. Cam then goes on a journey trying to figure out who murdered the girl to try and prevent it from happening, all while becoming one of the most sought after supernatural teens.

Honestly, this was a really fun read. It takes place in a high school setting with a bunch of supernatural/paranormal teens and I loved seeing paranormal fiction/romance in a young adult setting. The characters were all very unique and fun. The message was quite beautiful, about embracing yourself and accepting what makes you unique. I will say that it felt like a lot of the book happened and then at the very end BAM like major plot points occurred out of nowhere, which threw me off.

I think the desired market will really enjoy this YA paranormal romance/mystery!! Thanks to Simon Teen for the free book.

Paranormal is BACK, baby! (Okay, maybe it never left—but this book made me feel like I was back in high school devouring paranormal romances, only this time with a fun, humorous twist.)

The world in this story was such a blast—contemporary at its core, but layered with magical beings like faeries, sprites, vampires, werewolves, and witches just casually existing in society. Cam’s journey as he discovers his clairvoyance and is forced to deal with the fallout completely alone had me hooked. Watching his friend group come together was such a highlight—and each of them is so distinct! I genuinely need a whole series just about these chaotic, lovable weirdos.

The romance was cute, if a little more low-key than I expected. (Maybe it’ll take center stage in future books? Fingers crossed!!)

At its heart, this book is about embracing who you are and having the courage to let go of people who can’t or won’t accept that. I didn’t expect to get emotional, but I was absolutely tearing up by the end. These characters deserve the world, and I truly hope we get to see more of them.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

F.T. Lukens has done it again! A lovely young adult paranormal romance with the perfect balance of adventure and emotion.

Lukens has a way of writing compelling and complex characters. Cam is young, so him feeling insecure in his friendship with Al is very understandable and many young adults may relate to this. The romance between Cam and Mateo is just so wholesome and very lighthearted. While Al was not always the best, they still cared for Cam and showed up when it mattered. Although this is a romance, there is a focus on friendship and family with other important topics like prejudice and anxiety. Kaci, Gemma, Reese, Mateo, Al, and Cam made a lovely group and I enjoyed their mystery solving so much!

This story follows Cam as he discovers he is clairvoyant after having a glimpse of the future. In this glimpse, there is a murdered teen girl seen from the eyes of the killer. With the help of his friends, Cam explores this mystery in an attempt to prevent the murder and identify both the girl and her killer. With the newfound psychic powers, there is a political/factions aspect that Cam must also navigate. This plot was so intriguing that I had no desire to put this book down! There were many twists and turns, some of which caught me completely off guard and some that were predictable. I really enjoyed the different factions. The mystery is probably my favorite part of the book. It was well developed and so fun to read.

Overall, I absolutely loved this. F.T. Lukens has been an auto-read author of mine for a while now and this has further solidified that for me. This story blends paranormal elements with a contemporary setting beautifully. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I’ve read a few other FT Lukens books and the premise of this one really had me intrigued, I generally don’t gravitate towards YA books but I wanted to give this one a shot. Although the themes and characters are unmistakably YA I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Things that worked for me:
While high school was a long time ago for me I think the story really showed a typical HS experience for someone who was not necessarily in the ‘in crowd’ and some of the struggles that may go along with that.

I really liked the mention of the town being inclusive as there is all kinds of beings in this story. Night time shopping for vampires sounds amazing.

I couldn’t comment on the ‘coming out’ conversation Cam had with their parents after they found out he’s a seer but I like that it was included and felt genuine.

Some things didn’t work for me (this aside I still enjoyed and recommend, just some cautions)

Cam’s parents gave me the ick lol

Based on the title I thought the romance would be a little more forward but it really takes a back seat to the main plot line (not mentioned in case spoilery) it was cute but not explored too much

The pacing was a wee off. Like 75% of the book was a little meandering and the the ending goes in to over drive

Over all really enjoyed and recommend this especially if you’ve enjoyed any of their other books

FT Lukens does whimsy so well, and this book is no exception. It’s incredibly sweet and fun, filled with vibrant storytelling and a voice that’s unmistakably Lukens. There’s a charm to the way they balance lighthearted adventure with heartfelt moments, and the friendship dynamics add so much depth. Throw in a little Scooby-Doo energy and you’ve got a winning formula.

That said, the pacing does feel a bit uneven. It takes a while to really get going, and much of the first 80% feels like filler rather than forward momentum. Still, I recognize the importance of world-building in fantasy, and Lukens creates a universe that’s immersive and full of personality. The final 20% is where it truly shines, with everything finally clicking into place in a way that most will find satisfying.

If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with great vibes, lovable characters, and a dash of mystery, this one is absolutely worth the read.

Thank You F. T. Lukens, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was adorable. I am not sure that is the correct word, but it is found family, it is working your way out from under oppressive forces. It is finding acceptance in the people who matter most to you.

Cam is headed for his first day at a newly integrated high school - now all the normal kids are mixed in with the fairies and werewolves & witches. Which is amazing, because Cam's best friend is a witch, and they are finally going to the same school. And his crush is a werewolf, who he'll now see every day. Everything should be perfect.

But on his first day, everything goes a little sideways, and he has a vision of a girl getting murdered. Now he has to figure out high school AND prevent a murder. He can't admit anything about his visions to his parents because they hate magic. Meanwhile all the paranormal factions are vying for his commitment to them, and he isn't sure who he can trust anymore.

FT Lukens is absolutely brilliant. I loved the setting, the rather overt take down of unsupportive/oppressive parents. I loved the little found family that formed at lunch & worked to solve the mystery together. I loved that the romance plot was non-dramatic. It felt very real for all that it was about paranormal kids.

As with every other FT Lukens book I've read, this was incredibly sweet and fun. I still don't think it has topped my favorite from them, Spellbound, but it definitely still held that vibrant storytelling that is unique to Lukens. A little silly, a little emotional, a lot of love.

Cam is just trying to start his sophomore year as a total normie human at his high school filled with supernatural classmates, when he has a prophetic vision of an unknown girl covered in blood, dying. Not only that, but he had this vision while in a catatonic state in front of a huge crowd of students, so everyone finds out about his supernatural ability the same time that he does. Hijinks ensue, friendships are made, and some awkward teens try really hard to not embarrass themselves in front of their crushes.

This book was a fun adventure, with a great friend group. The romance was light, but cute (and age appropriate). None of the plot reveals will blow your mind, but you'll have a good time. I would happily read a whole series all set in this little supernatural community of Shady Hallow. There were a few characters in particular (Aiden, Reese, Val) who I would love a deeper dive on, so fingers crossed.

Shame on me for never reading anything by the author before this book. I absolutely loved this, huge five stars, I love how she blended friendship, paranormal, LGBTQ romance and magic. Now I’m planning on reading all her books and can’t wait for future books to come.

As if being a teenager isn’t stressful enough, toss in having a clairvoyant episode in the middle of the school year. Before I get more into details, I loved that Cam and his best friend Al communicate by using a raven named Lenore. Cam lives amongst witches, werewolves and clairvoyants and they all go to the same high school. As far as we know Cam is just a normal human amongst them. Until one day he has a vision of a girl in a not so good situation. What happens next will alter his life forever. He’ll make unlikely friends to uncover what really happened. I was so hooked with this story, it was so modern with all the uses of technology and social media elements. I will highly recommend this book for a long time.

Though I had high hopes for this one, the prose was ultimately lacking. The MC is an exhausting, immature narrator who tells us everything instead of showing us anything, leaving little in terms of imagery or suspense. With first-person narration, writers have to be wary about overusing "I," especially at the beginning of sentences; this story falls victim to that. The ending was anticlimactic for a read that seemed to drag.

The Vibes
* Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
* Queer Rep
* Found Family
* First Person Single POV
* Mystery / Suspense
* Slow Pace

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children Publishing, and Margaret K. McElderry Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

My favorite aspects of this novel were the friendship dynamics and the carefully unraveled mystery. Lukens did an amazing job putting this group together. They all stood out in some way: Cam develops clairvoyant tendencies after believing himself to be human, Mateo and Kaci struggle to control their abilities, Al fails to meet their Coven’s expectations, Gemma is outcasted for her interest in the paranormal as a human, and Reese wields uncommon swamp powers. I love how they lean on each other throughout the story, allowing them to find strength and confidence in their unique abilities as they fight to stop Cam’s glimpse from taking place. Everybody had me stressed at points in the story but it came together in the end. This is a beautiful tale of friendship, community, and inner strength from F.T. Lukens. I can’t wait to hold this book in my hands.

While I enjoyed this book, I definitely wasn't the intended audience. I likely would have liked it a lot more if I were ten years younger, the characters were just a bit too quirky for me. I also felt a little let down by the reveal at the end. I wasn't necessarily surprised, but it just didn't feel satisfying. This isn't a specific spoiler about the end, but I'm still going to include a spoiler tag just in case. <spoiler>For the majority of the book, we are under the impression that one of Cam's classmates is the murderer. This makes sense, as he had his glimpse after getting involved in a fight at school. But then we never actually learn specifically who this person is. It is also heavily implied that this person isn't a student at Cam's school at all. What is up with that? </spoiler> Anyway, I also felt like there was too much going on with this book. While I didn't necessarily dislike any of the varying plot points, the murder just felt like such a pressing issues that I feel like more time should have been put on it. It was kind of hard for me to enjoy watching Cam essentially get courted by different factions when there is a potential murderer on the loose. Lastly, I just wanted to clarify that romance is not a big part of this story at all. Yes, Cam has a crush on Mateo, but the majority of the book is focused on Cam learning to accept himself and his new friendships.

3.5 stars

As if high school isn't tough enough. Imagine adding supernatural/paranormal identities and powers to the mix! That's exactly what happens for Cam, the m.c. of this newest effort by Lukens, when his attempt to hide his special (psychic) powers goes haywire. Like all folks trying to pull a geographic, Cam has to learn the hard way that no matter where you go, there YOU are.

I really was drawn to the concept of this and pretty engaged in the storyline and characters during the first half or so, but I did start to struggle with the pacing and the diminishing development as the novel progressed. As this is my first Lukens read, I can't say if this is a common thread in my perception of this author's work overall, but I definitely noticed it here. I still enjoyed the read, but I wanted a little more out of these characters.

I am really glad I got to read this and will look forward to more from this author. I'll also recommend it to students looking for YA paranormal romance.

DNF at 32%. This was just so slow paced, I really couldn’t get into it. Cam is all right, but I didn’t particularly care about him.

5 stars

Okay, I have found a new favorite from F.T. Lukens. I really enjoyed everything about this. I loved how the fantasy was woven almost seamlessly into a contemporary world. The issues the MCs encounter mirror so much of what also happens in the real world, which manages to make this story feel rather relatable in the end. The magic is fun, the mystery was interesting, and the found family that hrows throughout the story was so heartwarming and just downright endearing. Cam is a very real character, which makes it easy to experience the story through his POV, despite the magical shenanigans that ensue. Overall, I really loved this, and I had so much fun while reading this. I highly HIGHLY recommend checking this one out.