A DNF for me... I felt no chemistry between the two main characters and the setting and secondary characters stressed me out. A cute cover though, and maybe I would have liked it better when the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I could see this being for fans of Julie Soto and Ashley herring Blake. I really enjoyed the tarot aspect and it was a super fun element for tarot lovers like myself. Honestly, the tarot reads could get a bit tense! I had a few issues with this story though - the characters came off toxic, the flirting and banter was definitely there but very drawn out to the point where I was just underwhelmed by the time the spice hit. Spice level was probably 2/5 peppers. 3.5 rounded down

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

dnf at 18%

I will admit that I was initially drawn into this book by its cover. I think the cover design and color palette is amazing!

But I sadly did not connect with this book but I do think others can enjoy it.

This is a sapphic second chance romance, between two childhood friends who are thrown back into each other's lives when they both happen to be working the same wedding.

This particular wedding atmosphere is what threw me off a bit, because everyone is an influencer of some sort / or have these great connections and I just don't want to be reading about that.

100% drawn in by the cover - it's gorgeous! But the content is fantastic as well(: The Lovers is such a quick read filled with drama, tension, and yearning in all the best ways.

I really liked the tarot aspect of the story and how it's done. Usually when I read a tarot related romance it's more fantasy, but this one is very much a contemporary romance with a bit of fate. Kit and Julia received the Twin Flames card during a tarot reading when they were in high school and at the time just best friends and since then Kit hasn't drawn the same set of cards - until she sees Julia again. Kit and Julia very much have unfinished business since Kit ghosted after Julia admitted her feelings for her and they hooked up. Since then, Kit has only dated men and hasn't explored that she might like women because she grew up believing in the "Ideal Rom-Com Life Path" her father extolled and that she thought her parents had. But when she learns they're getting divorced because her mother is in love with a woman, her whole world tilts on its axis and she starts to come to terms with the fact that she likes women and that the romance she had built up in her head isn't the one she wants for herself.

To escape the drama unfolding between her parents and what their divorce and learning that her mother is also bisexual means for her, she accepts a job for an influencer's wedding in Joshua Tree -- which is where she runs into Julia. Taking place over the course of a wedding that both Kit and Julia are working gave me the forced proximity that I LOVE to see in romance and a pretty dreamy setting for reconnecting with your Twin Flame. This one is big on the influencer vibes, which felt very reality tv-esque but was entertaining. The added drama of Julia's manipulative ex popping up as a last minute addition to the wedding party gave an extra element of reality tv villain vibes. The chemistry and romance between Julia and Kit is obvious from the start and their story is very well written. Plus, I love that each of them grows individually, pushing themselves to become who they really want to be and to live the lives they truly desire - romantically and professionally.

There's a part when Kit is talking to her mom about her bisexuality and she says that by not telling her about that part of herself, her mom essentially gave Kit "a guide with a really important chapter missing" that I really loved because it just resonated. Parents aren't given guidebooks and there's no perfect way to raise kids but I liked this moment between Kit and her parents where they all confront and acknowledge that kids look to their parents for guidance and to relate to and by not knowing that her mom was also bisexual, she didn't see herself represented and didn't know how to bring it up/accept that part of herself when as far as she knew they both believed in this ideal romance between a man and a woman. Knowing that part of her mom's identity could have opened up a new path of communication and acceptance for her - which it does now when she's an adult - and their conversation was very healthy and mature, allowing them all to become closer.

Definitely add to your tbr if you like:

*second chance
*sapphic romance
*friends to lovers
*fated love
*bisexual rep
*forced proximity
*first love
*self-discovery/acceptance

CW: biphobia, manipulative/emotionally abusive ex, public outing, cheating (not the MCs), parents' divorce

I received a drc from Berkley via NetGalley which I have voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed watching Kit and Julia (re) fall in love in this cute and fast read. Faubion's writing was descriptive and lush. I loved reading the descriptions of the beautiful scenery of Joshua Tree as well as the interactions between the main characters and how they perceived each other. Their attraction to each other was clearly evident and hot to read.

I found the internal conflict Kit and Julia both had to be compelling. For Kit, the fear of coming out, and for Julia the difficulty of dealing with an unsupportive partner that turns into a disrespectful ex. I found the scenes with Piper hard to read at times because she was such a horrible person, but the writing and the conflict itself were both excellent and made for a heart wrenching but ultimately uplifting story.

Thank you to Berkely Romance for the free book. The Lovers follows ex-best friends Kit, a tarot reader, and Julia, a wedding planner, as they get stuck spending the weekend together in the desert for a wedding. Kit and Julia had a little fling in high school until summer ended and Kit ran off scared. Ten years later they meet again and the feelings start to bubble up. I really liked the friends to lovers and second chance romance of this story. Having met my wife in high school, it was very relatable to read about that connection of finding yourselves together at a young age. It’s a very sweet queer romance, however I did have some issues with it. My biggest of those being Kit’s reluctance to come to terms with her sexuality. I understand that everyone’s experience is different, but it was a bit hard for me to believe that Kit was scared to come out to her loving parents and her queer best friend in her very queer loving hometown of LA. It made me more confused than sympathetic for her. Other than that I felt there was a lot of unnecessary fluff in some places- there was a whole scene where Julia tells us about a big conversation she had with Kit but I wished I could see that actually play out and learn about them as they learned about each other. Also the sex scenes were kinda eh and not super realistic. Overall it’s a good romance but it was lacking a bit for me.

The Lovers made my bi heart so happy!! As someone who didn’t openly acknowledge their queerness until their late 20’s, I found a kindred soul in Kit. I was able to relate so much with her and I really admired her character growth. Julia’s ability to forgive and understand Kit’s struggle with coming out and the willingness to build back trust between them was a highlight to this romance. The tarot element was a ton of fun and makes me want to take out some of my cards and do a lil reading just for funsies. I don’t often find myself identifying heavily with fictional characters, so being able to do so with Kit was truly special. I want to thank the author for putting this story out in the world - I feel so seen as a bi woman and would love to see more similar storylines in romance.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for sending me an early copy!

The twin flames part of this story I absolutely hated, but other than that this second chance romance was good! I thought there was a TON of chemistry between Kit and Julia and I do love me a chaotic wedding.

I was so excited for this book and it was a fun read! I couldn't believe this was Faubion's first novel! I thought the setting was so unique and entertaining. And as a tarot girlie, I really enjoyed how prominently and authentically tarot was featured in the story! Can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

I tried very hard to get into this one but it just didn't work for me. Kit and Julia were okay characters but I didn't really feel a strong connection to either. They did have good romantic chemistry but I felt like everything else kind of fell flat. The vibes of the whole wedding were a little too eccentric to keep me engaged or invested in the story. I wanted to like this book so much but in the end it just didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of this queer romance was pretty compelling - lovers to exes to lovers again, but the motivations and fears of one protagonist seemed like quite a stretch. It's hard to believe someone who is from LA would be so stuck on compulsory heterosexuality in 2024, but it was still a fun little read set in one of my favorite places, so it was worth it!

Rebekah Faubion does a great job with the second chance romance trope, delicately building out the characters' past to make their present romance all the more satisfying when it happens. HOWEVER, my biggest issues with this book were the lengthy descriptions of the setting that seemed completely unnecessary and, more importantly, the discussions around coming out that included a slew of biphobic language that at times was very uncomfortable to read, especially as a queer person. I can understand what the author was trying to do, but between the biphobia and the lack of diversity in the romance, this definitely missed the mark.

I did not finish this book. It didn't grab me at all. I'm sure it would appeal to some readers but not to me.

So cute! I absolutely adored this one. I received an ARC of this (thanks!) and would love to pick up a physical copy for my home library. Kit and Julia are everything you want a second-chance romance to be. If you're looking for a sapphic romance, choose this one!

I love a good bi-awakening book but this was not it. I had such high hopes at the beginning and should have DNF'd when I started cringing over the influencer stuff.

I loved the romance, but did not love the side characters. There was zero diversity, and seemed to have obvious stereotypes. However, romance and chemistry was truly amazing. Not for me, but i can see it being great.

Another tale of parental expectations warping someone's childhood development into an adult, and escalating the pressure not to let them down.

But it also has an adorable relationship, revisiting the thing that made you question your identity in the best way, and being able to still feel connected to someone even with years and hurts between you.
Some of those hurts get fixed, there's a bit of petty revenge, and moments of revelation.

Tarot plays a big part in the story too, and it's always fascinating to know the different interpretations of the cards. It was also fun to be inside the head of someone trying to balance what they see and know with what the person who is getting the reading wants to hear.

Overall, AdORABLE, and with satisfying resolutions to all the plots.

A beautiful sapphic romance filled with angst, yearning, and second-chance magic! Second chance romances are forever favorites, and The Lovers delivered! Kit and Julia, former best friends and flames, reconnect at a wedding in the desert, and their chemistry is undeniable. Julia’s confidence and Kit’s journey to self-acceptance made this story so sweet and satisfying. The chaotic wedding backdrop added fun to their love story.

I think this is just a beautiful book. It’s a romcom in all its might but also gives that extra heart. I cried so many times not because it’s exactly sad but because I felt so very (as cliche as it sounds) seen in so many of her words and the characters experiences. Like living in someone else’s fictional life or even my own, being scared of who I am, being scared in general to let go. I just loved it and it all
Weaves together so well.

While I loved the history and romance between Kit and Julia, some of the supporting characters and obvious stereotypes didn’t sit well with me. There wasn’t much diversity in the cast, and the influencer aspects felt a bit pandering. Even so, the setting was beautifully vibrant and allowed Kit and Julia space to rediscover their connection, which was the best part for me. Overall, this book wasn’t quite my style, but I can see it resonating with other readers.