DNF
I plead guilty on the conviction of picking up a book solely for the cover.
I had no idea what to expect when I picked this one up other than it was (i assumed) sapphic and witchy.
Instead, we got social media influencers, crystal shop level witchy, and multiple page long descriptions of the scenery.
I felt like I understood the setting better than I did the characters. Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book.

This book is sapphic, sensual, and SO worth the read. I read this book in one sitting and will be recommending it to anyone and everyone. The two main characters have such incredible chemistry. 5 stars!

My first traveling ARC experience and it was fun! I almost never mark up books unless its for school or now work- but it was fun to see what people loved and said- towards the end it would be super cool!!
One big reason I loooove romance is not only do we get that HEA but we get to step into someone's shoes even if it's fiction and learn the good, bad, and ugly from their point of view. This one was super interesting for me to see the internal Biphobia but then in the end her accepting and coming out her way. There is some drama with ex girlfriends - one horrible lady you want to dump your drink on as well. Amazing side characters and a super fun hip setting- made me want to go on a road trip! I also learned a lot about Tarot cards and now want a reading!!

Great second chance, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺 and best friends to lovers queer romance!!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early copy.

I was instantly drawn to the cover and the influences of tarot. I found the tarot elements and the twin flame the best part of this book. Unfortunately, I wanted more development from Kit and Julia's characters and relationship. This did read like a debut, so I'm interested to see Rebekah Faubion's growth as an author.

This is a great book for fans of Haley Cass and Alison Cochrun.

Though not a new favorite for me, I'm likely to recommend "The Lovers" to fans of sapphic contemporary romance. Left reeling from the news that her parents' rom-com worthy romance has imploded, Kit needs to get out of the city. She agrees to a 3-day tarot gig at wedding in the desert, hoping to clear her head. This plan backfires when Kit runs right into the wedding planner, Julia, her former best friend turned one-time lover. Kit, who grew up believing that loving a woman was incompatible with the life her parents wanted for her, must come to terms with the decisions she made that ended her relationship with Julia. Julia, desperate for this wedding to be a success as she gears up to start her own business, is forced to face the woman who broke her heart and disappeared all those years ago, all while attempting to evade her manipulative ex-girlfriend in the bridal party.

"The Lovers" was a quick, fun read albeit not wholly memorable. Kit and Julia were likeable, mostly well-rounded characters. However, there was a lot of repetition in terms of motifs and even phrases. I am not a fan of the copious amounts of pop culture references found in so many contemporary romances (they are SO easily dated) and "The Lovers" unfortunately fell victim to a few too many. I could have done with one or two (or three) less references to Taylor Swift. The references to Kit's idea of the "rom-com ideal" were also overly plentiful. As a reader, I understood what she was talking about, I didn't need the exact same phrase regurgitated every 25 pages. There were also notable spelling/grammatical errors that I'm hopeful will be corrected before this is sent to final print. Overall, this was a 3.5/5 for me -- a great beach poolside read!

So I loved the couple and their relationship, but I hated everything else 😂

I am not usually a fan of second chance romance but I really liked the dynamic between our two MCs. They are two women that were best friends in high school and eventually fell in love before parting ways when going to college. The story follows them meeting again as they both work a high profile influencer wedding. One as a wedding planner and the other as a tarot reader. The forced proximity and spiritual elements had me sold. I loved their moments together and was rooting for them from the beginning.

Although I inhaled this book I don't think this is going to age well. It is very white, wealthy, southern California influencer and girl boss focused. All the characters we meet, aside from our two MCs, are caricatures of instagram influencers. Everyone is wealthy, thin, and fed into their own influencer stereotypes. I am also on the fence about how uncomfortable I was by the bi representation in this. I could see how it could be interpreted as internalized biphobia of one of the MCs that is coming to terms with her own sexuality. However, from the very beginning, the bi characters were represented as untrustworthy, closeted, and let's not forget, selfish cheaters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Lovers makes a point to emphasize the journey that the main character, Kit, is going on; not becoming a stereotypical rom-com protagonist. That she's not a character in some story, but a real person with her own feelings. But god, did this book hit all the cheesy rom-com notes in a joyful, self-aware way.

I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, and The Lovers serves it in spades, with Kit and Julia—high school best friends who hooked up once before Kit ghosted, unprepared to face her burgeoning queerness, leaving Julia heartbroken and without a best friend.

Cut to ten years later, where Kit is working as a tarot reader (walk with me), and Julia an uptight wedding planner. Kit is hired for the typical Southern California influencer desert wedding that Julia's planning, and, well—you get the vibe of the rest.

The strongest part of this book for me was the way that Kit and Julia's journeys were built into their second chance at love. Kit, daughter of a screenwriter going through a divorce, has been preached about the movie perfect life and romance and struggles with the pressure that applies on her life. Julia slowly lost herself over the years, with the nail in the coffin being a sociopathic ex-girlfriend she broke up with a year prior to the story who made her lose her sense of self and become a control freak in most aspects of her life.

Watching both characters break out of the mold—Kit realizing that she doesn't have to run away from things that scare her because they aren't what's expected, and Julia realizing she can let go a little bit and trust the people she cares about and refinding her sense of self—as they found each other again was such a joy.

All of this was framed with playful jabs at your typical "spiritual influencers" that never felt mean. Though I think tarot is fun, anything too deep beyond that is out of my realm—but I'm not about to judge people who care about it, and neither is this book. While sometimes poking fun, the bride and her gaggle of bridesmaids are never made out to be complete fools, just a little silly, and genuinely girls who care about each other even if they also care deeply about the photo op. They become important towards the end and a part of me wishes that some of them had had a little more development, but I know there's not always space for that in a romance.

The book is very "of now"—that is, the modern pop culture references are plentiful and can sometimes seem a little heavy-handed (in the last quarter of the book there's at least five Taylor Swift references that all seem to come in a row, which was fun as a Swiftie but should have maybe been a little more paced through the entire book), the plot with Kit's parents and their divorce needed a little more nuance to make the message clear (it's not bad because she was with a woman, it's bad because she was cheating), and the antagonist was admittedly a mixed bag for me and I wasn't entirely sure until the ending what the author wanted me to feel about her.

I also feel like the end of the book felt off; for a couple with insecurities about losing each other and a lack of communication, (spoilers!) having one of the characters leave and then not speak to the other for an entire month feels completely off track even if the message was to trust that she would come back this time. And then waiting another week after that just for the sake of a dramatic gesture? It was all very sweet in the end, but I don't know that it fit for the journey that these characters were supposed to be on.

All in all though, this had the makings of a joyful, cheesy rom-com and a lovely summer read.

I really thought I'd love this one but that wasn't the case. I'm just starting to learn tarot and that's part of what drew me to this, and I did enjoy the bits where I learned more about the cards!

Unfortunately though, the characters felt flat to me, and I know a lot of the characters in this book were influencers but they felt a little too cariacture-esque to me. I didn't buy the romance between Kit and Julia as well. It was a really cute premise, I just don't think the wedding setting was the right place for their reconnection to play out. So much of their "romance" was sidetracked by the wedding party who weren't the most likeable. With all that being said, I think the 2020 version of me would've loved this book - if you're a big Taylor Swift/pop culture fan you'll love all the references and overall vibes.

I will say I love seeing bi characters in books and I think it's a really under represented group so I'm glad another book exists with a character that explicitly states her bisexuality!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the earc.

I wanted to love it, I wanted to adore it but in the end, The Lovers fell flat for me.

Kit is a tarot reader, having a fan base of over a million subscribers on YouTube. She is what you call an influencer from LA. Julia is a type A, can’t release control, wedding planner.

Kit and Julia were best friends in high school until they do something that is more than friends worthy, freaking Kit out and essentially disappearing from Julia’s life.

Ten years later, as fate would have it, and there were many mentions of fate, Julia is the wedding planner of an influencer who hires Kit (or Mystic Maven) to read tarot cards.

BAM. We’re now sucked into a Second Chance romance. Did I mention this wedding is in the middle of this desert resort in Joshua Tree? BAM FORCED PROXIMITY.

I liked the story but I’ll be honest… the content made me want to scrub my skin raw. If I ever hear Manic Pixie Dream Girl in my life ever again, it will be too soon. Also, reading about influencers in LA is icky to me because it hits too close to home 🥲

These are very nit picky things and is not a testament to the writing or the talent Rebekah has. It was a very fun read. I enjoyed Julia’s growth. I wish I believed Kit’s growth a little more. ALSO PIPER?? What the heck? It was so strange to me having a high school bully like character in a story about almost 30 year olds. That threw me.

If you love tarot readings, witchy vibes, wedding planning and a few Taylor swift references, then yes pick this book up!

Such a cute and fun read. It did get cringy for me a few times but don’t all rom-coms have some of that? And the spicy scenes were extremely repetitive despite leaving a lot open to interpretation. Like, describing eyes being dilated was mentioned 7 times. Yes, seven separate times! And I know it was in relation to that TikTok “love test” trend. Taylor Swift lyrics were quoted randomly several times with the characters acknowledging the source which felt like a quick cash grab. There is nothing interesting about simply name-dropping. Overall, it’s a very trendy and cutesy story just like a rom-com movie today. Kit & Julia are adorable.

A sweet story firmly set in the spiritual world without it feeling forced or overdone. I appreciated how the shifting first-person POV helped me get a real feeling for who Kit and Julia are, and all the ways they fit together that the reader gets to see before they do. It was sweet and fun and deeply enjoyable to read.

I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, so hoped I would love this one, and it definitely delivered. This was a great sapphic rom com. I did enjoy the second half of the book a bit more than the first half. Overall, this book was definitely worth picking up when it is released later on this year.

I enjoyed the majority of this novel but struggled with Kit's character for the most of it. The internalized biphobia in her character was refreshing to read and I understand how different people have vastly different experiences when it comes to their queerness, but she was in a very privileged position and had nothing stopping her. I couldn't understand where her issues came from.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for approving me of this arc!!

Y’all!!!!! My queer heart is crying so many tears right now!!!! 🥹

This was such a beautiful story. It’s very character oriented which I really loved. The characters have such depth and there’s diversity, which I loved.

Kit, in a lot of ways, is who I am. In this story, she’s in her late 20’s but also still coming to terms with her queerness. She had this sort of mindset instilled in her by her parents and that kind of made her afraid to break from the mold, and be comfortable with her desires and attraction to women.

It’s easy to be frustrated at some things Kit did in the beginning of the story and when we learn of what happened in the past. However, that’s sort of what I love about this book.

It shows that people all live different queer identities and it may be difficult to some and not difficult to others. It’s a very REAL book that I think a lot of people will connect with.

Enter Julia, Kit’s best friend turned lover from high school who she essentially ghosted because she wasn’t ready to be out publicly.

I felt so bad for Julia that she went through so much after high school to present time. She is dealing with a VERY emotional abusive ex, so I would definitely be careful reading if that’s a trigger for anyone. (Who wants to come with me to throw Piper in the garbage???)

Julia is a sort of control-freak, which totally contrasts with her high school self. It just goes to show that a lot can change in ten years, but also show the effect of being in an emotional toxic relationship. I loved Julia in every single way. The growth she had after letting go was everything. (THE ENDING WAS SO CUTE TOO!!!)

Obviously, tarot cards play a huge role in this and I loved it. Although I am not a tarot card reader or anything, this made me want to get my cards read immediately. This whole incorporation into the story was so CUTE!!! I always think I believe in fate and this book just sealed that belief.

Best friends turned kind of strangers turned lovers! Coming into your queer identity! I just think this is going to be one of my top queer/bisexual books ever. It’s just everything to me, as someone who knows what it’s like to have to fit yourself into who your parents expect you to be. This story cut deep and I loved it.

Nina was also one of my favorite characters. I loved how she was apologetically herself and so supportive of Kit. Healthy friendships are everything!!!

Last but not least, the little spice that we got was top tier. No notes. 😮‍💨

As always, please do check trigger warnings and stay safe loves.

xx,
Z

3.75⭐️ rounded up to 4 for the app.

Kinda slow start with a *ton* of inner monologing, but the second half of the story was great! Open door, but lower on the spice scale. Second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, story of self acceptance and coming out in late 20s. Wedding planner x tarot card reader.

Kit (tarot card reader) and Julie (wedding planner) were best friends in high school who “went all the way” their senior year and then Kit freaked out about what that mean for her sexuality and identity and life-plan and ghosted Julie when she went away to college. This story takes place ten years later when Kit is hired to work a new-agey wedding that Julia is planning and orchestrating. Spending a long weekend in the desert together forces them to confront their feelings (good and bad, old and new) and try to decide if what a tarot card reader told them back when they were 18 could actually be true (that they’re twin flames, destined to always find their way back to each other; soulmates.)

CW: Mental health representation (anxiety and panic attacks), and parents divorcing later in life. Emotionally manipulative ex (side character in this story) plays a big role in how one of the FMCs feels about herself. Quite a bit of internalized homophobia from the other FMC despite living in Los Angeles and having liberal parents.

there wasn't anything specifically wrong with this book, it just fell super flat for me. the romance, the plot, the chemistry. everything was just eh

Unfortunately had to DNF at about the 70% mark. Just wasn't for me, no matter how hard I tried to push through. I also never have a hard time remembering which character's POV is which, but for whatever reason, I really struggled to remember whose head I was in while reading.

This is such a beautiful romance book about finding your way back to love. But this also is a book about healing and accepting yourself for who you are. It's very honest about that journey, especially for queer people. Everyone should read this book!

I don’t know if it’s contemporary romance lately or perhaps it’s just this book but it wasn’t for me. The writing wasn’t what I needed it to be and I couldn’t finish it.

If you love second-chance queer romances then "The Lovers" is a must read! The personalities of both main characters just shine, and, through it all, make the reader want to root for them to end up together. There are tropes that readers will loves (like forced proximity) but Faubion brings her own fresh voice to the story that makes it something all her own.