F.T. Lukens delivers another compelling entry in the YA paranormal romance genre with Love at Second Sight, a story that expertly weaves together supernatural abilities, teenage romance, and family drama against the backdrop of a high school where being human makes you the minority. This latest offering from the New York Times bestselling author demonstrates both their signature strengths and some areas where the narrative occasionally loses focus.
The story follows fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds, an aspiring artist who hopes to blend into the background at his new high school—a place where witches, werewolves, sprites, and other supernatural beings are the norm rather than the exception. Cam’s plans for anonymity are shattered when he experiences his first psychic vision in front of most of the student body, seeing a brutal murder through the killer’s eyes. This revelation transforms him from an “artsy oddball” into Central Shady Hallow High’s most sought-after student, as he discovers he’s a clairvoyant—one of the rarest supernatural beings.
Character Development: A Protagonist Growing Into His Power
Cam emerges as a relatable and authentic protagonist whose journey from insecure teenager to confident young clairvoyant feels genuinely earned. Lukens excels at capturing the awkward vulnerability of adolescence, particularly through Cam’s internal monologue and his interactions with his longtime crush, Mateo. The author’s characterization shines brightest in these quieter moments—Cam’s embarrassment over his sweaty palms, his mortification at being filmed during psychic episodes, and his genuine desire to help others despite his fear.
The romance between Cam and Mateo unfolds with realistic pacing that avoids the instalove trap common in YA paranormal romance. Mateo’s character development, though secondary to Cam’s arc, provides depth beyond the typical love interest role. His struggles with spontaneous shifting and family pressure create genuine obstacles that feel organic to the werewolf mythology rather than contrived for plot convenience. The moments where Mateo’s ears point and flush when he’s embarrassed become endearing character details that humanize the supernatural element.
However, the supporting cast presents a more mixed picture. Al, Cam’s witch best friend, serves multiple narrative functions but sometimes feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. Their jealousy of Cam’s newfound abilities creates compelling interpersonal conflict, but the resolution feels rushed. Gemma, the social media-obsessed sprite who becomes Cam’s “manager,” provides comic relief and moves the plot forward through her viral videos, but her characterization occasionally veers into caricature.
Plot Structure: Balancing Mystery and Romance
The central mystery—identifying the potential murder victim and preventing the crime—provides an effective framework for the story’s romantic and coming-of-age elements. Lukens demonstrates skill in maintaining tension while developing relationships, though the pacing occasionally stumbles in the middle sections where the mystery investigation slows to accommodate character development.
The use of social media as a plot device feels authentically modern, with Gemma’s ClickClack videos serving as both a realistic teenager behavior and a clever way to advance Cam’s reputation in the supernatural community. The viral nature of Cam’s predictions and the resulting attention from various supernatural factions create believable stakes that extend beyond the central romance.
The climactic revelation about Cam’s parents and their involvement with an anti-paranormal organization delivers genuine shock value, though careful readers may notice foreshadowing in earlier chapters. This twist effectively raises the personal stakes and provides emotional weight to Cam’s choice to embrace his abilities rather than hide them.
Thematic Depth: Identity, Acceptance, and Family
Lukens explores themes of self-acceptance and identity with particular nuance, especially regarding Cam’s struggle with being different in a family that values conformity. The parallel between Cam’s newly discovered clairvoyance and coming out narratives is handled with sensitivity, never feeling heavy-handed or preachy. The author’s treatment of family rejection and chosen family resonates strongly, particularly in how Cam’s friend group rallies around him when his biological family fails him.
The supernatural worldbuilding serves the themes well, creating a society where differences are acknowledged and even celebrated, contrasting sharply with Cam’s home environment. The various supernatural factions—witches, werewolves, sprites, the Psychic Guild—each offer different approaches to community and belonging, giving Cam options for where he might fit in the world.
Writing Style: Authentic Voice with Room for Growth
Lukens demonstrates a strong grasp of teenage voice and dialogue throughout the novel. Cam’s narration feels authentically fifteen, capturing both the melodrama and genuine emotion of adolescence without condescension. The author’s background in writing LGBTQ+ YA romance shows in their comfortable handling of romantic tension and relationship development.
The prose style is accessible and engaging, though occasionally the author relies too heavily on internal exposition to convey information. Some dialogue feels slightly stilted when characters need to explain supernatural concepts or advance the plot, but these moments are generally brief and don’t significantly detract from the overall reading experience.
Lukens excels at sensory details, particularly in describing Cam’s psychic episodes and their aftermath. The disorientation and exhaustion following visions feel viscerally real, grounding the supernatural elements in physical experience.
Supernatural Elements: Familiar Yet Fresh
The paranormal worldbuilding draws from familiar archetypes—witches, werewolves, sprites—but Lukens adds enough unique details to make the world feel fresh. The concept of clairvoyants being extremely rare adds weight to Cam’s newfound status, while the different types of psychic abilities (seeing future, past, ghosts, reading minds) create an interesting hierarchy within the supernatural community.
The magic system feels internally consistent, with clear rules about what different supernatural beings can do. The author’s attention to consequences—Cam’s exhaustion after visions, Mateo’s difficulty controlling his shifting, Al’s magical limitations—prevents the supernatural elements from feeling like easy solutions to narrative problems.
Social Commentary: Prejudice and Acceptance
The novel’s treatment of prejudice operates on multiple levels, from Cam’s parents’ anti-paranormal bigotry to the tensions between different supernatural groups. Lukens doesn’t shy away from depicting the real harm that prejudice can cause, particularly in the climactic scenes involving Cam’s parents’ attempted “cure.” The parallels to real-world conversion therapy and family rejection of LGBTQ+ youth are clear without being explicitly stated.
The school setting, where supernatural students are the majority, creates an interesting inversion of typical minority/majority dynamics. This allows Lukens to explore themes of belonging and otherness from multiple angles, showing how power dynamics shift depending on context.
Technical Craft: Strengths and Areas for Improvement
Lukens demonstrates solid control of pacing and structure, keeping readers engaged through a combination of romantic tension, supernatural mystery, and coming-of-age drama. The author’s use of multiple plot threads—the murder investigation, Cam’s relationship with Mateo, his family problems, his friendship with Al—generally works well, though some threads receive more development than others.
The dialogue generally feels natural and age-appropriate, though exposition occasionally weighs down conversations. Character motivations are usually clear and believable, with the notable exception of some rapid personality shifts in supporting characters that feel driven more by plot necessity than organic character development.
Comparison to Similar Works
Within F.T. Lukens’ bibliography, Love at Second Sight shares DNA with their previous works like So This Is Ever After and Spell Bound, particularly in its comfortable blend of supernatural elements with authentic teenage relationships. Readers who enjoyed those novels will find familiar strengths here, though this book feels slightly less polished than some of the author’s more recent offerings.
Compared to other YA paranormal romance series, “Love at Second Sight” most closely resembles works like Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On or Maggie Stiefvater’s The Listeners in its integration of supernatural elements with realistic character development. However, Lukens’ work tends toward lighter tone and more straightforward plotting than those series.
Cultural Impact and Representation
“Love at Second Sight” continues Lukens’ commitment to LGBTQ+ representation in YA literature, featuring a gay protagonist whose sexuality is treated as a natural part of his identity rather than a source of conflict. The casual inclusion of diverse supernatural beings and family structures creates an inclusive world that reflects contemporary values while maintaining the escapist appeal of fantasy.
The author’s treatment of social media and viral fame feels particularly relevant to contemporary teenage experience, addressing both the opportunities and dangers of internet celebrity in a supernatural context.
Final Assessment
Love at Second Sight succeeds as both paranormal romance and coming-of-age story, delivering satisfying character development and relationship progression within an engaging supernatural mystery. While not groundbreaking, the novel demonstrates Lukens’ continued growth as a writer and their commitment to authentic LGBTQ+ representation in YA fiction.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its authentic portrayal of teenage emotion and relationship dynamics, grounded by supernatural elements that enhance rather than overshadow the human story. Cam’s journey from insecure outsider to confident young psychic feels earned and emotionally resonant, supported by a romance that develops naturally rather than feeling forced by plot requirements.
Some weaknesses in supporting character development and occasionally uneven pacing prevent “Love at Second Sight” from reaching the heights of Lukens’ best work, but these issues don’t significantly detract from the overall reading experience. The climactic revelation about Cam’s parents provides genuine emotional impact and raises the stakes effectively, leading to a satisfying resolution that promises future growth for all characters.
For readers seeking LGBTQ+ paranormal romance with authentic teenage voice and genuine emotional stakes, Love at Second Sight delivers exactly what it promises. While it may not convert skeptics of the subgenre, it will absolutely satisfy existing fans of Lukens’ work and readers looking for supernatural stories that prioritize character development alongside magical elements.
Recommended for Readers Who Enjoyed
- So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
- Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Love at Second Sight stands as a solid addition to both F.T. Lukens’ growing bibliography and the broader landscape of LGBTQ+ YA paranormal romance, offering readers a story that sees the future of the genre clearly through its authentic characters and heartfelt emotional core.
