Cam Reynolds wants to blend in at his new school, but a shocking psychic vision changes everything: he witnesses a murder through the killer’s eyes. Suddenly, Cam isn’t just the artsy oddball; he’s a clairvoyant—the rarest supernatural being.
With factions vying for his allegiance and danger closing in, Cam teams up with his witch bestie, his werewolf crush, and a cast of unlikely allies to prevent the murder before it’s too late. One wrong move, and the next vision might be his own death.
Oh, to be fifteen and in love with a werewolf (lovers of Wizards of Waverly Place will get it.)
Love at Second Sight incorporated the kind of world-building I admire and adore: simple, understated, yet introducing just enough lore to keep you invested without ever making you feel like you’re being info dumped on or held at arm’s length. It hit such a lovely balance that I could have spent another three or four books in this world, perhaps from other characters’ points of views, yet also feel satisfied with how this book represented Cam’s “normal” world with paranormal aspects.
Lukens excels at creating relatable, heartwarming characters that you want to put into your pocket to keep them safe from harm and Cam and Matteo were no exception to that rule.
I loved Cam and his struggle of fitting in with his best friend, especially in a world where his parents don’t want him to associate with Al (or really, any supernatural being). That struggle only gets harder once Cam’s own abilities emerge. Add to that the fear of his own visions while also doing his best to investigate and find the murderer before his vision ever becomes reality and the pressure it puts on him and you have a character you absolutely want to succeed.
Matteo, meanwhile, was so cute! Also, the awkwardness between them made my heart flutter, excuse me, what a privilege to catch glimpses of their first steps in a romance tango.
Love at Second Sight felt so fresh and young and made me reminisce about my own teen years in the best of ways. Despite the many complications Cam and Matteo face (you would not believe the gasp I had to suppress when Cam considered Matteo as a suspect, oh my), their genuine chemistry
The secondary cast of characters is as diverse and dynamic as you expect it to be in a Lukens novel. I love how they manage to give other characters space, yet also relate their storylines to— inevitably—lead to the protagonist learning something about himself and how to navigate the world at large. It’s no easy feat to do that justice in such a short book, yet I could tell you something significant about each of the side characters at the top of my head (which is a rarity, trust me). Reese, Kaci, Gemma and Al worked so well together with everyone bringing something else to the table that helped them figure out the mystery. They were so supportive and kind to Cam, especially considering he was struggling with figuring out how to be himself with his parents…well, with them just being who they are (no spoilers here, this is something you’ll want to find out for yourself).
While the characters are of course irreplaceable in Love at Second Sight, at the heart of this story lies the “murder” mystery revolving Cam and his unexpected visions of the future. Cam and his gang of trusty friends and allies are racing against the clock to solve a murder before it ever happens.
While the pacing was slow at times because of restating facts we’d learned in previous chapters and some clues were very much “in your face,” I still found myself surprised at some of the plot twists and even when I guessed things (because the foreshadowing was done so well that you could actually go back and say “oh yeah, this is why”), I still found myself heavily invested in figuring everything out together with Cam. The huge fallout toward the end of the book made all the anticipation worth it and had me gripping the pages as I was so scared for Cam—and everyone else’s – future. I wish we could have spent a little more time with the characters after the conflict was resolved, but in true Lukens fashion, they leave you wanting more.
All in all, this had all the staples of a memorable read that will have readers swept up in the murder mystery while also more than enough heartfelt moments to balance out the angst—which kind of feels like the perfect way to describe a Lukens novel.
In the mood for a book about a supernatural world featuring endearing characters, a sweet first love and a murder mystery that will have you bite your nails? Then Love at Second Sight will bewitch your mind!
Love at Second Sight is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 29th 2025.
Will you be picking up Love at Second Sight? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
When a teen has an unexpected vision about a future murder, he must juggle newfound interest from the supernatural community with trying to prevent the murder from happening in this “riveting” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) new romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author F.T. Lukens.
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.
