A book cover can indeed convince readers to read a book, which is what happened to me when I first came across The Lovers cover. It’s absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t wait to read it. Not only did the cover persuade me, but so did the synopsis and the fact that it’s a Second-Chance Romance story, which happens to be one of my favorite tropes. This is Rebekah Faubion’s debut novel, and I always love finding new authors and I can’t wait to check out what other books she writes in the future.

The story is told from a dual point of view (POV), with Kit Larson and Julia Kelley being the main characters. Kit and Julia were friends when they were younger, and at one time, the cards said they were Twin Flames and were meant to be together. One of them, though, decided to leave and break the other’s heart. Now, they are forced back together at a wedding years later working together. Julia is the Wedding Planner, while Kit is the tarot card reader for a fellow influencer’s wedding. The more time they spend with each other, the more the spark they had before is reignited. However, both of them will have to work through some things first, and hopefully, everything will align for them in the end. (Which it definitely does.) =)

I enjoyed this Second-Chance Romance story between Kit and Julia and rooted for them to be together the whole time. It was apparent they were always supposed to be together; they just had to work through some things, mostly being honest with one another and with themselves. I felt for Kit because her parents, who had the perfect marriage after so many years and always pushed to have a Rom-Com life, were going through a divorce now. When it came to Julia, I felt for Julia because she had always loved Kit, but Kit had broken her heart. Kit makes up for it at the wedding when they are reunited. It’s like they were never apart when they do get together, and this is why I love second-chance romance stories.

I have to admit that I almost didn’t finish this book because the author became overly descriptive about certain things. While I enjoy details in the storyline that make me feel like I’m there with the characters, I prefer to focus on the characters themselves rather than their clothing or specific information about influencers. I did appreciate the setting and learning more about the tarot cards, especially from Kit’s perspective, but there were times when it felt like too much, and I wanted to focus on Kit and Julia. Despite this, I’m glad I finished the book because, in the end, I was happy that Kit and Julia found each other and were back together after being apart for so long.

Overall, this is a good book, and I give it 3.5 stars. I have already convinced my college-aged daughter to read it because she’ll probably appreciate the pop culture and influencer information more than I did. The book cover alone probably sold her because she’s always loved tarot cards.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy reading Second Chance Sapphic Romance stories, you should check out this debut novel from Rebekah Faubion.

What to Expect:
🩷Sapphic Romance
💜Second Chance
💙Friends to Lovers & Twin Flames
🩷Forced Proximity
💜Tarot Card Reader/Content Creator FMC
💙Wedding Planner FMC

Thank you Berkley Pub and Berkley Romance for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for the #gifted listening copy of The Lovers! #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #berkleyromance #TheLovers #RebekahFaubion

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧-𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

I really enjoyed this one! While I struggled at the very beginning to connect with the storyline, I’m glad I stuck with this one because the pace picked up for me and I started to really enjoy Kit and Julia’s story! I am a sucker for a second chance romance and this one had such a sweet premise. I also really enjoyed learning a bit about tarot cards!

🌵Sapphic Romance
🌵Second Chance
🌵Friends To Lovers
🌵Forced Proximity
🌵Dual POV
🌵Fated Love

🎧I listened to the audiobook, narrated by an amazing duo! Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw were absolutely perfect for this one and I felt like they did such an amazing job bringing this story to life. I felt like the pacing was perfect and I could not get enough of this one on audio. I cannot recommend this one enough on audio!

Posted on Goodreads on September 23, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around September 24, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on September 24, 2024
**-will post on designated date

The Lovers is one of those reads that I IMMEDIATELY wanted to read because of the cover. It's giving alll the fall vibes, something that I am currently invested in. However; I found the cast of characters confusing, especially when Kit's Mom drops the bombshell that she's dating one of her ex's however; I found that this ex was not mentioned a lot as the story progressed. The amount of Kit's ex-girlfriends that were present on page were confusing to me and I wish the author would have stuck with one plot point- either issues w/ her Mom or many of her ex's showing up at the wedding she was helping plan.

I am not super into tarot or astrology, but I thought it was really interesting to dive into that world for this story. As an LA native, the characters in this book were definitely stereotypes, but I have met every single one of them. I enjoyed the second chance romance and the beautiful desert setting.

The Lovers was a fun read! From the start, I was really rooting for the two main characters. They were both easy to love, and their chemistry was enjoyable. The atmosphere was exactly what I would expect from an influencer’s wedding: think Joshua Tree, glamping, and all the new-age vibes.

The writing was simple and easy to get through, so this a super quick read. I always love a good second chance romance, and this one delivered on that front. However, the family drama felt a little underdeveloped for me? It came in with a bang but then didn’t really get resolved until very quickly at the very end. I would have liked to see more of that explored throughout the story. That said, it was still an enjoyable read with a fresh setting and great romantic tension!


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The Lovers was unfortunately not the book I hoped it would be. I wish that tarot and that whole witchy crystal shop girl vibe had been more of the book rather than the wedding in the desert setting than it actually was. It was fine I just didn’t love it. If you want a regular second chance romance and drama with coming out and outing, then you will be fine, but if you’re looking at this cover and reading the synopsis and character description and hoping for that slightly magical witchy vibe, it’s not here.

My own mistaken expectations aside, it was just okay. I didn’t care for the conflict/villain plot line.

This was an enjoyable read and entertaining enough but it didn’t meet my expectations. I’ve been really excited for this sapphic romance since I’ve seen that cover and read the premise but I was left wanting more.

I couldn’t connect with the characters and their romance as much as I wanted. I love second chance romance because they usually contain lots of pining and tension but it fell flat here. Personal preference I also can’t stand “evil” exes (especially when it’s women) who are evil for no reason.

I really enjoyed the tarot/twin flame aspect but I did wish it went further with those elements.

Overall it was not a new favorite but I would check out something different from the author.

This romance had So. Much. Yearning. I'm not typically drawn to coming out stories, but the relationship here was developed enough and the characters memorable.

I wanted so badly to like this - bisexuals! Second chance! Lush setting! But the characters were *too* messy and wow I just do not care that much about influencer culture. For a romance novel to work, I'd like to see *some* growth from both characters, whereas this one seemed like two people who couldn't figure themselves out, let alone be in a relationship with each other.

The Lovers is a second chance romance following Kit, a tarot reader looking to get away from her life and the ideal rom-com path her parents have instilled in her. Going away for the weekend to Joshua Tree to work a wedding, the last thing Kit expects is to run into her former best friend and flame, Julia. As they reunite, it's clear their chemistry has not fizzled out, and with romance in the air, the two must decide if a chance at love is worth finally being honest with each other and their selves.

Hmm I'm so conflicted... While I really loved the romance and history between Kit and Julia, some of the surrounding cast and obvious stereotypes rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think there was a single BIPOC or diverse character in the story and the influencer vibes were rather condescending. Despite my hold up, I really enjoyed the vibrant setting and how it played throughout the book, letting Kit and Julia be away from outside sources and get a chance to rekindle their love. Their romance and chemistry was so palpable and truly the only thing keeping me going. In general, I feel like this book was not my cup of tea, but, I do think it could work for other people!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a sweet and charming second chance sapphic romance

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Second chance sapphic romance
Forced proximity
Fated love
Childhood friends to lovers
Tarot card reader x wedding planner
Multiple POVs
Coming out later in life
Influencers
Opposites attract

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The cover
Bi MCs

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Such a messy read- I fell like everything was going wrong
Lots of characters inner monologue
There were a few things that I didnt like

I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I loved the setting of the wedding with one of the MC being a wedding planner. The tension that adds to the story is immense (former wedding photographer here). I also loved the sly digs at influencer culture. The thing that did irritate me was the many Taylor Swift references/lyrics.

Thank you so much for the ARC of this sapphic romance novel! I really enjoyed reading it! The characters had depth and a believable connection and there was plenty of development from both of them which was great to see. The chemistry between Kit and Julia was really well done, you could feel the tension and the longing from both sides which had me rooting for them from the beginning. The spice was done very beautifully as well!

I've seen some reviews commenting on how much scenery description there was, but I really loved it as it made the environment come alive in my imagination. The side characters were also done well, I thought they had enough depth and helped move the story along. The conflict in the story was believable because of this too.

Lastly, this book made me want to get back into tarot! I loved all of the references to specific cards, fate, and spirituality, as these are things I am personally interested in. Although I did come into this thinking it would have a witchier feel to it, I was not disappointed as the story was unique and encapsulating in its own unique ways.

I definitely recommend reading this book!

This book is not for me, even as a bisexual, I could not get past the first chapter. I'm all for flowerly imagery to set the tone but this was just flat. It being in first POV I know I will not enjoy the rest of the story. I can already tell the first main character.

This literally has all the things I love - second chance, friends to lovers, first loves?? Kit and Julia are so wonderful.

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved that this book had so many homages to 90s and 00s romance movies, though I didn't actually pick up on it more toward the end. Using a dual POV for the two FMCs has become pretty standard, and for the most part, I think the author did a good job with keeping their narratives just different enough to remember who's chapter I was reading...it didn't always happen, but it worked for 2/3 of the book. I love a sapphic romance, and this one was no exception. It was very much a vibe.

I LOVED this book so much! I am normally not a second chance person but this one just hit in all the right ways. Loved that there was no third act break up.

I think second chance romance is one of the hardest tropes to nail but in her debut adult romance Rebekah Faubion does just that. I loved the desert setting that brought together a wedding planner and a tarot reader who were each other's first loves. I am sure this book is going to be a hit this fall!

I wanted to love this so so badly. Tarot! Sapphic romance! Later in life coming out! Grappling with internalized biphobia! All things I thought would make a delightful exploration of queerness and sexuality. But I was so annoyed with the amount of influencer culture in this. I don’t like reading influencer romances and thought this would maybe be different since it’s tarot influencing. But it was over the top and wildly annoying. I saw other reviewers talking about how white rich woman this book is and….yes. Yes it is. And I couldn’t enjoy it.

This was a heartfelt, personal Sapphic second chance, dual POV romance debut that has two former best friends and almost more reunited as they both work to help pull off a Bride's wedding events to satisfaction.

Kit is a tarot reader and mystic influencer who recently broke up with yet another boyfriend and just learned that her parents are getting a divorce too. No one is more surprised than her when the wedding she was hired to perform for is being planned by her former bestie, Julia and the only girl she's ever kissed.

What follows is a Joshua Tree wedding weekend where the two women have to confront their pasts and face their fates as destined mates as foretold by the cards. Can Kit fully embrace her bisexual identity and is Julia willing to give her the chance to try to be out and open about their love? Both women will have to search their souls for the answers before the weekend ends.

Good on audio, this was a solid debut that had family drama, emotional depth, humor and even a bit of heat. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!