Book Review: LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for a copy of Love at Second Sight in exchange for an honest review.

Summary of Love at Second Sight

Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds wants to spend his sophomore year flying under the radar. That shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and his longtime werewolf crush, Mateo.

Then, Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he’ll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust and who might be a werewolf in sheep’s clothing. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own.

F.T. Lukens Is at It Again

Whenever I pick up an F.T. Lukens book, I feel like I’m being embraced by a warm hug — a snarky warm hug — but a warm one nonetheless. And that is quite the feat considering their books are often the epitome of YA fantasy: chock full of angst, magic and supernatural situations that metaphorically also represent “regular” teen angst. Love at Second Sight is no different. It hits all the key elements of a signature Lukens book. However, here’s the real magic: Love at Second Sight, like all of their other books I’ve read, feels utterly original at the same time.

Cam is a new character. He’s his own full person: moody, fun, nervous and experiencing many growing pains. His pals are a motley crew of equally vibrant, well-drawn characters. While Love at Second Sight does feature a sweet romance, this is a tale of friendship more than a love story, which serves the novel well.

I must also praise the pacing of Love at Second Sight. A book like this could easily feel like a paint-by-numbers exercise since many of the events are revealed before they happen. But Lukens unfolds their story with care. I will say that there was one major twist in the story that I didn’t like, but it wasn’t necessarily unrealistic and came down to personal preference, not a flaw in the storytelling.

Who Should Read This Book?

First, any fan of F.T. Lukens would find a welcome spot for Love at Second Sight in their personal library. But also anyone with a love for ragtag found family or Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-adjacent “high school is Hell” type storytelling should pick up this book.

Love at Second Sight hits shelves April 29, 2025. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🔮

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