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The Lovers
A second chance at love is in the cards for two women working a stylish California wedding in this charming debut romance.
If Kit Larson believes one thing, it’s that the cards never lie. She’s seen it proven time and time again as a tarot reader and mystic influencer. But unfortunately the cards didn’t warn her about her most recent breakup or her parents’ divorce, so when Kit is offered a gig at another influencer’s boho-chic Joshua Tree wedding she accepts for the distraction. And distract it does when she finds out her high school crush, Julia, is the wedding planner.
Julia Kelley is her agency’s most sought-after wedding planner, and for a good reason—she's a perfectionist. Control means never showing others the vulnerable, blobby mess she really is deep down inside. Having an ex-girlfriend in the bridal party is a problem, sure, but reconnecting with the beautiful tarot reader who broke her heart as a teenager is so much worse.
Kit’s cards once told her that she and Julia were Twin Flames, two halves of the same soul. With wedding events pushing them together, their spark reignites . . . and so does a chance at being lovers.
If Kit Larson believes one thing, it’s that the cards never lie. She’s seen it proven time and time again as a tarot reader and mystic influencer. But unfortunately the cards didn’t warn her about her most recent breakup or her parents’ divorce, so when Kit is offered a gig at another influencer’s boho-chic Joshua Tree wedding she accepts for the distraction. And distract it does when she finds out her high school crush, Julia, is the wedding planner.
Julia Kelley is her agency’s most sought-after wedding planner, and for a good reason—she's a perfectionist. Control means never showing others the vulnerable, blobby mess she really is deep down inside. Having an ex-girlfriend in the bridal party is a problem, sure, but reconnecting with the beautiful tarot reader who broke her heart as a teenager is so much worse.
Kit’s cards once told her that she and Julia were Twin Flames, two halves of the same soul. With wedding events pushing them together, their spark reignites . . . and so does a chance at being lovers.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
75 people are currently reading
9582 people want to read
About the author
Rebekah Faubion
4 books169 followersRebekah Faubion is a queer author and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. Her books include the YA dark speculative thriller Lost Girls of Hollow Lake out now from Delacorte Press, sapphic rom-coms The Lovers and The Sun and the Moon, and her adult horror debut What a Nightmare, releasing October 13th, 2026 from Berkley Pub. She enjoys reading tarot, bingeing horror novels way past her bedtime, and thinking up places to bury the body—for the plot, of course.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
October 24, 2024
Alright, here we go,
If you're a baby gay, you're probably gonna like this book. If you're not, you're gonna cringe at the sheer volume of baby gay nonsense that comes out of this. Because the author is a baby gay who's still hetero married and doesn't know shit from fuck.
Pros: solid line writing and a relatively decent romance
Cons: about a third of this is filler and there's absolute mountains of straight up offensive nonsense to anyone who's been out of the closet for more than a year.
Let's get into it:
Racism: there are exactly two Black characters. One is a side kick of the wedding planner and the other plays the "magical Negro" trope of being the Tarot reader's advice sponge. Neither have any developed character traits beyond that.
Biphobia: the first bi character introduced is a cheater. No, I'm not making that up. There's also a line about how the Kit's sex life must be boring just being with men as though bi women can only be fulfilled if their sex life includes both. What in the cinnamon toast fuck is this absolute batshit baby gay nonsense is this and why did none of your gay friends scream at you for writing this?
Lesbophobia: there is exactly one lesbian in this book and she is, of course, the villain. Listen up baby gays and bi women - lesbians don't give a shit that you date men, more straight women are TERFs than us and we aren't the ones gatekeeping your queerness. All we want is for you to keep men out of our spaces because men are literally everywhere else. Speaking of which,
Hetero shit:
There is more gawking over disgusting frat boys and hotel staff than actual appreciation of women in this supposedly sapphic book. Yes, bi women are going to go gaga over it, but c'mon. I didn't pay money for this to read about you getting railed until you forget your name. Just ew.
Unbelievable shit:
I'm supposed to believe that coming out, in LA, surrounded by more gays per capita than almost anywhere else on the planet is the hardest thing to do? Piper, I can believe because of the religious thing, but Kit? Really?
Spice:
Mayonnaise. I cannot make myself believe that this author has ever had a wlw experience. I go down on you, you come in 15 seconds, switch repeat. More time was spent discussing how hot all the male characters were.
Listen, I'm not trying to shit on this author and I'm super happy that she's accepting her bi side, but for Crissakes, can we please, please get authors who have actual, current wlw experience published by the mainstream. Like, here we have Ruby Roe and Eden Empty, both of whom could use paid editors, doing kickstarters but selling out immediately when their books do make it to the bookstores while milquetoast shit like this collects dust. I promise you that it will sell. We're begging you for authentic gay experiences and you're only giving us shit that straight women won't read anyway.
And why does this bug me so much? Because I need every baby bi to understand with their whole being that dating women is most emphatically not like dating men, just with different parts. Sure, love is love and all that, but the mechanics of how a relationship works with a woman is completely different than how you were raised to believe relationships work. Even in a magical world with no homophobia, women are not men and there is serious unpacking of all that that needs to happen or your relationship is gonna implode. That part is never shown in books like this, so please, for the love of all that is wonderful and gay, find yourself some older queers, test out your baby gay ideas on them and figure your shit out before trying to get into a relationship with a woman.
If you're a baby gay, you're probably gonna like this book. If you're not, you're gonna cringe at the sheer volume of baby gay nonsense that comes out of this. Because the author is a baby gay who's still hetero married and doesn't know shit from fuck.
Pros: solid line writing and a relatively decent romance
Cons: about a third of this is filler and there's absolute mountains of straight up offensive nonsense to anyone who's been out of the closet for more than a year.
Let's get into it:
Racism: there are exactly two Black characters. One is a side kick of the wedding planner and the other plays the "magical Negro" trope of being the Tarot reader's advice sponge. Neither have any developed character traits beyond that.
Biphobia: the first bi character introduced is a cheater. No, I'm not making that up. There's also a line about how the Kit's sex life must be boring just being with men as though bi women can only be fulfilled if their sex life includes both. What in the cinnamon toast fuck is this absolute batshit baby gay nonsense is this and why did none of your gay friends scream at you for writing this?
Lesbophobia: there is exactly one lesbian in this book and she is, of course, the villain. Listen up baby gays and bi women - lesbians don't give a shit that you date men, more straight women are TERFs than us and we aren't the ones gatekeeping your queerness. All we want is for you to keep men out of our spaces because men are literally everywhere else. Speaking of which,
Hetero shit:
There is more gawking over disgusting frat boys and hotel staff than actual appreciation of women in this supposedly sapphic book. Yes, bi women are going to go gaga over it, but c'mon. I didn't pay money for this to read about you getting railed until you forget your name. Just ew.
Unbelievable shit:
I'm supposed to believe that coming out, in LA, surrounded by more gays per capita than almost anywhere else on the planet is the hardest thing to do? Piper, I can believe because of the religious thing, but Kit? Really?
Spice:
Mayonnaise. I cannot make myself believe that this author has ever had a wlw experience. I go down on you, you come in 15 seconds, switch repeat. More time was spent discussing how hot all the male characters were.
Listen, I'm not trying to shit on this author and I'm super happy that she's accepting her bi side, but for Crissakes, can we please, please get authors who have actual, current wlw experience published by the mainstream. Like, here we have Ruby Roe and Eden Empty, both of whom could use paid editors, doing kickstarters but selling out immediately when their books do make it to the bookstores while milquetoast shit like this collects dust. I promise you that it will sell. We're begging you for authentic gay experiences and you're only giving us shit that straight women won't read anyway.
And why does this bug me so much? Because I need every baby bi to understand with their whole being that dating women is most emphatically not like dating men, just with different parts. Sure, love is love and all that, but the mechanics of how a relationship works with a woman is completely different than how you were raised to believe relationships work. Even in a magical world with no homophobia, women are not men and there is serious unpacking of all that that needs to happen or your relationship is gonna implode. That part is never shown in books like this, so please, for the love of all that is wonderful and gay, find yourself some older queers, test out your baby gay ideas on them and figure your shit out before trying to get into a relationship with a woman.
April 3, 2024
Dear Readers,
Now that The Lovers is starting to make its way into early readers hands, I wanted to share some important content warnings and relevant info to aid you in your journey with Kit and Julia.
Tropes & Temp:
✨Second chance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Fated love
✨Friends to Lovers
✨First Love
🌶 Spicy Times are open door.
The Lovers has a soft landing and a guaranteed happily ever after, but there are some moments of challenge along the way.
The Lovers features a coming out storyline that touches on biphobia and bi erasure, anxiety and panic attacks are also explored lightly, and there is a past emotionally abusive relationship that is referenced.
In the writing of this book, I drew from my personal experience with all these topics.
I hope all who read my books…
Have fun! Find an escape. Fall in love along the way. And, always, feel safe & seen.💜
xo
Rebekah
Now that The Lovers is starting to make its way into early readers hands, I wanted to share some important content warnings and relevant info to aid you in your journey with Kit and Julia.
Tropes & Temp:
✨Second chance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Fated love
✨Friends to Lovers
✨First Love
🌶 Spicy Times are open door.
The Lovers has a soft landing and a guaranteed happily ever after, but there are some moments of challenge along the way.
The Lovers features a coming out storyline that touches on biphobia and bi erasure, anxiety and panic attacks are also explored lightly, and there is a past emotionally abusive relationship that is referenced.
In the writing of this book, I drew from my personal experience with all these topics.
I hope all who read my books…
Have fun! Find an escape. Fall in love along the way. And, always, feel safe & seen.💜
xo
Rebekah
February 14, 2025
3.5 Stars.
The cover is very swoon-worthy and it's a second chance romance!
The cover is very swoon-worthy and it's a second chance romance!
September 21, 2024
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!
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance and Rebekah Faubion for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
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!
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance and Rebekah Faubion for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
second chance romance is a forever favorite! the angst and yearning are unmatched.
kit and julia were best friends growing up. on a dare, they got their tarot reading and found out they’re twin flames. and right before they go away to college, julia admitted she loves kit. and kit freaks out and ghosts. now several years later, julia is a wedding planner for a remote wedding in the dessert, and kit is the tarot entertainment and what follows is a super sweet story of the two of them finding their way back to each other.
i adored this book so much. julia was so strong and knew herself and what she wanted. kit was slowly learning and gaining confidence to be who she is and to love out loud. the premise was super fun and I’m realizing I love a chaotic wedding as a backdrop for a love story (see: the ex vows and tell me not).
my one problem with this is a common thing that happens in queer love stories: third act coming out drama. it’s very specific to queer stories and I just wish there was another way authors would set up a third act craziness. it really cheapens the story for me.
what to expect
⟢ sapphic romance
⟢ childhood friends to lovers
⟢ second chance
⟢ forced proximity
Thank you Berkley romance for a gifted copy!
TW internalized biphobia, public outing
kit and julia were best friends growing up. on a dare, they got their tarot reading and found out they’re twin flames. and right before they go away to college, julia admitted she loves kit. and kit freaks out and ghosts. now several years later, julia is a wedding planner for a remote wedding in the dessert, and kit is the tarot entertainment and what follows is a super sweet story of the two of them finding their way back to each other.
i adored this book so much. julia was so strong and knew herself and what she wanted. kit was slowly learning and gaining confidence to be who she is and to love out loud. the premise was super fun and I’m realizing I love a chaotic wedding as a backdrop for a love story (see: the ex vows and tell me not).
my one problem with this is a common thing that happens in queer love stories: third act coming out drama. it’s very specific to queer stories and I just wish there was another way authors would set up a third act craziness. it really cheapens the story for me.
what to expect
⟢ sapphic romance
⟢ childhood friends to lovers
⟢ second chance
⟢ forced proximity
Thank you Berkley romance for a gifted copy!
TW internalized biphobia, public outing
July 2, 2025
TW: taylor swift, forced outing
This was cute! I always wanted to read this just because the cover was so pretty and I'm glad I finally did. I didn't know what to expect (especially after reading some particularly heated reviews) but I generally had a good time. However, it did fall short in several aspects.
Kit and Julia have supposedly met before, 10 years ago, before Kit was out (she wasn't even out for a second time they're meeting). This is an increasingly popular "trope" in romance books that are a hard sell for me--the ones where they "knew" each other before, but there's no true expansion on that, or flashbacks to show it. Unfortunately I did not feel the connection between Julia and Kit, nor did I find the romance believable. Kit's whole thing is being a tarot card influencer and the manic pixie dream girl (which is literally beat to a pulp in this book). The ensuing problem is that Kit isn't ready to come out yet, and Julia yet again is afraid that she will retract. I don't find relationships built on "I'm afraid she's going to run away" to be very attractive. Furthermore, when Kit draws tarot cards, there are many that say "twin flame" and ones along the lines of soulmates/fated mates/ etc. I just didn't believe this at all given the lack of their chemistry. "The Lovers" kept being drawn, and I did think it was really sweet, but I just didn't feel it. The third act breakup had a revolting Taylor Swift "We are never, EVER getting back together" moment and that was the moment I was like... umyeah. I hate this lol
END THE TAYLOR SWIFTIFICATION OF ROMANCE BOOKS!!!!
This book felt very silly at points, with a pointed villain character that is introduced and utilized to ruin Kit and Julia's lives throughout the length of the book. Literally. Piper was the worst addition to this book, and I think she ultimately ruined it all for me because what is even the point of having a character this miserable to ruin your main characters' lives? There was so much page time and dialogue dedicated to discussing this character and including this character. My only question was why? I feel like there could have been more bonding/beneficial moments between Kit and Julia in its place, considering the present timeline only occurs over 4 days... She is also the only explicitly "outed" lesbian, and is the villian of the story, being manipulative, cunning, and overall just horrible. Several people have pointed out that they found this offensive. Hopefully the author will correct this in future works since it was absolutely unnecessary to the plotline anyway.
I did love the wedding aspect and all of the chaos that was surrounding that. Since other books like The Ex Vows and Forget Me Not are some all time favorites, wedding stuff will always be fun. It forced the characters (Julia particularly) to ease up on the reins and not seriously overexert herself, which Kit helps her learn to balance.
This was very instagram/influencer/LA Manic pixie dream girl coded (literally mentioned SO many times) and it was a little grating at times. The book focused heavily on this, ideal romcoms and the "right" (hetero) life path, and left little room for much else. Kit's parents are getting divorced after the mom, who came out as bi, cheated on the dad. I don't think this was handled the best; why was the dad sleeping in the pool house meanwhile the mom has the woman she cheated on him with in the main house? It felt extremely disrespectful, especially the mom's blatant disregard for anyone else's feelings. I am leaving this book without knowing much about either characters, and because of that, I failed to deeply connect to them in any meaningful way. The book felt very aesthetic but lacked substance and they at points felt obnoxious and like caricatures of the LA boho influencer manic pixie dream girl.
This was cute! I always wanted to read this just because the cover was so pretty and I'm glad I finally did. I didn't know what to expect (especially after reading some particularly heated reviews) but I generally had a good time. However, it did fall short in several aspects.
Kit and Julia have supposedly met before, 10 years ago, before Kit was out (she wasn't even out for a second time they're meeting). This is an increasingly popular "trope" in romance books that are a hard sell for me--the ones where they "knew" each other before, but there's no true expansion on that, or flashbacks to show it. Unfortunately I did not feel the connection between Julia and Kit, nor did I find the romance believable. Kit's whole thing is being a tarot card influencer and the manic pixie dream girl (which is literally beat to a pulp in this book). The ensuing problem is that Kit isn't ready to come out yet, and Julia yet again is afraid that she will retract. I don't find relationships built on "I'm afraid she's going to run away" to be very attractive. Furthermore, when Kit draws tarot cards, there are many that say "twin flame" and ones along the lines of soulmates/fated mates/ etc. I just didn't believe this at all given the lack of their chemistry. "The Lovers" kept being drawn, and I did think it was really sweet, but I just didn't feel it. The third act breakup had a revolting Taylor Swift "We are never, EVER getting back together" moment and that was the moment I was like... umyeah. I hate this lol
END THE TAYLOR SWIFTIFICATION OF ROMANCE BOOKS!!!!
This book felt very silly at points, with a pointed villain character that is introduced and utilized to ruin Kit and Julia's lives throughout the length of the book. Literally. Piper was the worst addition to this book, and I think she ultimately ruined it all for me because what is even the point of having a character this miserable to ruin your main characters' lives? There was so much page time and dialogue dedicated to discussing this character and including this character. My only question was why? I feel like there could have been more bonding/beneficial moments between Kit and Julia in its place, considering the present timeline only occurs over 4 days... She is also the only explicitly "outed" lesbian, and is the villian of the story, being manipulative, cunning, and overall just horrible. Several people have pointed out that they found this offensive. Hopefully the author will correct this in future works since it was absolutely unnecessary to the plotline anyway.
I did love the wedding aspect and all of the chaos that was surrounding that. Since other books like The Ex Vows and Forget Me Not are some all time favorites, wedding stuff will always be fun. It forced the characters (Julia particularly) to ease up on the reins and not seriously overexert herself, which Kit helps her learn to balance.
This was very instagram/influencer/LA Manic pixie dream girl coded (literally mentioned SO many times) and it was a little grating at times. The book focused heavily on this, ideal romcoms and the "right" (hetero) life path, and left little room for much else. Kit's parents are getting divorced after the mom, who came out as bi, cheated on the dad. I don't think this was handled the best; why was the dad sleeping in the pool house meanwhile the mom has the woman she cheated on him with in the main house? It felt extremely disrespectful, especially the mom's blatant disregard for anyone else's feelings. I am leaving this book without knowing much about either characters, and because of that, I failed to deeply connect to them in any meaningful way. The book felt very aesthetic but lacked substance and they at points felt obnoxious and like caricatures of the LA boho influencer manic pixie dream girl.
Read
August 5, 2024DNF
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.
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.
July 1, 2025
Reread on audio 2025:
The first time around I physically read this and absolutely loved it!
Doing the audio was a whole new experience and a stellar way to revisit this story😘
I am beyond excited that Rebekah is joining our book club chat on Sunday!!!
Original review 2024:
First off, much love to @berkleyromance @berkleypub & @naturally.caffeinated.reader for adding me to this travelling ARC tour😘
I don't annotate often because I am hella lazy, but this was definitely the most tabs I have ever used.
A sapphic second chance with forced proximity, tarot readings, banter, squishy heart tugs and a whole lot of inner truth.
Oh, and some kissing 💋
To say I LOVED this book would be a massive understatement.
Only thing I didn't like?
That I didn't get to keep the book��
I will need to get my local indie @sarniabookkeeper to help me remedy this.
The Lovers is out in the world today and I highly encourage you all to read it!!!
Kit & Julia were well fleshed out characters with realatable personalities that I could not get enough off!
Now Rebekah, I need me a book with Coco as the FMC, please and thank you🤞
The first time around I physically read this and absolutely loved it!
Doing the audio was a whole new experience and a stellar way to revisit this story😘
I am beyond excited that Rebekah is joining our book club chat on Sunday!!!
Original review 2024:
First off, much love to @berkleyromance @berkleypub & @naturally.caffeinated.reader for adding me to this travelling ARC tour😘
I don't annotate often because I am hella lazy, but this was definitely the most tabs I have ever used.
A sapphic second chance with forced proximity, tarot readings, banter, squishy heart tugs and a whole lot of inner truth.
Oh, and some kissing 💋
To say I LOVED this book would be a massive understatement.
Only thing I didn't like?
That I didn't get to keep the book��
I will need to get my local indie @sarniabookkeeper to help me remedy this.
The Lovers is out in the world today and I highly encourage you all to read it!!!
Kit & Julia were well fleshed out characters with realatable personalities that I could not get enough off!
Now Rebekah, I need me a book with Coco as the FMC, please and thank you🤞
September 5, 2024
Yikes x10. Never want to read the words “manic pixie dream girl” ever again.
March 22, 2025
“I didn’t want to have to find my way back to you. I wanted you to stay with me.” Tears prick from the corners of her eyes, trailing down her cheek. I want to kiss them away. To taste the salt on her skin, the bitterness, and turn it sweet.
2.5 stars. Which really wasn't the rating I'd hoped to give this book, and not the rating I thought I would give it when I was halfway through it, and having a pretty good time. But alas. This is a second chance sapphic romance between a wedding planner and a tarot influencer in LA, and a lot of my problems with it are pretty subjective, so I have to say, if the premise interests you, you should probably still give it a try. Because, like, it definitely isn't BAD; just not as good as I'd hope it would be.
I do have to say, in the book's defence, I don't agree with some of the criticism I see it getting. I was scrolling through some reviews, trying to formulate my thoughts, and I disagree with a lot of things I saw there. Mild spoilers. These were all such silly reasons, imo, to critique this book.
So here, lemme complain about it for correct and valid reasons!
(Jokes, jokes, most of this is subjective.)
- The tarot stuff. Obviously, I knew what I was getting into when I picked up the book, but... woof. Tarot is like astrology to me. Really cute, completely fine and harmless, just people having fun... until some people start taking it extremely seriously, and then it just starts being weird. And this was weird for me. I simply don't believe in certain things, and because I didn't, a lot of the supposedly deep and grand moments involving tarot meant nothing to me. Like those moments when a card had good "energy" or Kit has a feeling that she's going to get a certain card, and then gasp, she does!! Alas, I am a sceptical killjoy who lacks whimsy, and that stuff is cheesy to me.
- The evil ex trope. 9 times out of 10, when a romance book has a "villain", someone who is committed to getting between the couple, thwarting them, or wants to get with one of them, and so tries to sabotage the relationship... 9 times out of 10, I hate it. It's never compelling, and it wasn't compelling here. I know that these sorts of people exist in real life, I know they do, but in romance books, they always come across as OTT; just complete caricatures. I usually prefer external conflicts in my romances, but... not like this. I had other problems with Piper, but I'll save that for below.
- All the media references. I like a good reference now and then, a little nod to other things I might know and like. And part of the book's premise is built on Kit having had this idea of an 'ideal life path', one that follows the themes and trends of her favourite rom-coms. So, sure. But after a while, all the repetition became more annoying than anything. Like, Kit just kept bringing up rom-coms, and even when it was non-specific, it got on my nerves. And by the third repetition of 'manic pixie dream girl', I wanted to tear my hair out. Same with 'ideal life path'. The latter third was pretty bad, because we got some extremely clumsy, hackneyed Taylor Swift lyrics/references shoehorned in, and that was kinda painful. And there's a bit near the end where a character just narrates out a list of actor duos who I suppose are from famous rom-com pairs, but I didn't know any of them, so I didn't care.
- The coming out stuff/closeted character stuff.
But the book did have its good points. Even though I found all the LA influencer stuff to be pretty obnoxious, it managed to be so in a fairly self-aware way. Destination weddings as romance settings are always fun. As a second chance romance, this was pretty convincing, even though it's not my favourite trope. We didn't have many flashbacks, but the author still managed to build a lot of chemistry between the main characters, whilst they excavated their painful history. I would have liked if their period of reconnection took place over a longer period of time, but there was enough spark between them that I still found their love story touching. This was sadly the kind of book where I only paused to make notes of the things that annoyed me, so I sadly don't have many examples of romantic moments that I loved. But they were there! I also really liked the subplot with Kit's parents, and her mom especially. I would read a book about her mom's romance in a heartbeat.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and that's honestly what saved this from being a dud. I loved both their voices so so much. I recently discovered Shaw and I adore the way she infuses each line with emotion. I've listened to a couple books by Shalan before, and she always delivers a stellar performance. The audiobook is definitely the way to go for this! I think it probably made the author's writing a bit more palatable for me. I would try this author again, for sure, depending on the characters and blurb. There was promise here! But there were also just... a lot of things I don't like, which brought the rating down.
Content warning:
March 29, 2024
As a gay woman i immediately found this book offensive in the first chapter. Lesbians being presented as crass careless women and bisexuals are stereotyped and reduced to cheaters made for shocking passages in overall bland writing that does nothing to add to the romance genre and doesn’t do anything new or creative with the tarot premise. The two white leads are about as spicy as you would expect a rich valley girl would be and the authors biphobia really shines through in the writing. I personally do not understand the seething hatred of bisexuality in the text.
September 23, 2024
4.25⭐️ This was a sexy, second chance sapphic romcom by a new to me author! It felt well paced, following along with a weekend wedding affair. Led by Julia, the glossy, sought after always in control wedding planner along with Kit, the Tarot Card Reader invited/hired by the bride for entertainment. They were once best friends who were shown the cards that they were twin flames. They were inseparable. Until Kit ghosted Julia after the first, and only, night together before college. Fast forward ten years and here they are at the same venue.
I loved their connection. You could feel that it was like time didn’t pass and the world didn’t exist when they were in each others orbit. Communication is a beautiful thing. Being true to yourself , finding your inner strength is screamed throughout!
It would have been nice to see (any) diversity in any area of the book although it seemed the stereotypes of the LA (no offense!) boho fake/forced influencer masked vibes were spot on imo. There was also some solidarity and support in some of those same people.
I recommend reading this if you like sapphic romcoms and second chance romance!
I loved their connection. You could feel that it was like time didn’t pass and the world didn’t exist when they were in each others orbit. Communication is a beautiful thing. Being true to yourself , finding your inner strength is screamed throughout!
It would have been nice to see (any) diversity in any area of the book although it seemed the stereotypes of the LA (no offense!) boho fake/forced influencer masked vibes were spot on imo. There was also some solidarity and support in some of those same people.
I recommend reading this if you like sapphic romcoms and second chance romance!
December 8, 2025
Genuinely horrible. Too many references to Tik Tok, Taylor swift, and manic pixie dream girls. I don’t think I’ve hated a gay book this much possibly ever.
Editing this to say it’s also biphobic and lesbophobic
Editing this to say it’s also biphobic and lesbophobic
September 17, 2025
dnf at 50%. I don't care to read about entitled, annoying white girls. There's also been an insane amount of biphobia so far and I don't want to read anymore
October 4, 2024
3.75 stars, 1.5 spice
Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
This was a super solid debut for Rebekah Faubion.
We follow Kit and Julia who were childhood best friends. They were each others firsts (yes this is Sapphic!) and originally thought they would be together forever. However Kit wasn’t ready, she feared that being with a woman didn’t align with the idea in her head of what a real life romcom would be. She basically ghosts Julia, breaking both of their hearts in the process.
Jump forward 10 years and Kit and Julia stumble upon each other at a wedding (in gorgeous Joshua tree). Kit is there as a tarot reader and Julia is the wedding planner. Both of them have a lot to work through individually. Kit has a lot of internalized biphobia and isn’t out, and Julia is at the beginning of rediscovering who she is after her last relationship with a narcissist. And for all the drama - that narcissistic ex is a last minute addition to the wedding party.
This story had individual growth for both of our main characters, it had angst and a little bit of spice. Overall I had a good time. I didn’t love some of the drama, especially in the 3rd act, but liked how it ended overall. I will be on the look out for Rebekah’s future books!
I listened to this on audio, it was a great duet narration with Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Both of them really captured the characters and did a good job voice acting for the drunk and sassy members of the wedding party.
Tropes:
- Second chance
- forced proximity
- childhood friends to lovers
Triggers:
- internalized biphobia
- Public outing
Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
This was a super solid debut for Rebekah Faubion.
We follow Kit and Julia who were childhood best friends. They were each others firsts (yes this is Sapphic!) and originally thought they would be together forever. However Kit wasn’t ready, she feared that being with a woman didn’t align with the idea in her head of what a real life romcom would be. She basically ghosts Julia, breaking both of their hearts in the process.
Jump forward 10 years and Kit and Julia stumble upon each other at a wedding (in gorgeous Joshua tree). Kit is there as a tarot reader and Julia is the wedding planner. Both of them have a lot to work through individually. Kit has a lot of internalized biphobia and isn’t out, and Julia is at the beginning of rediscovering who she is after her last relationship with a narcissist. And for all the drama - that narcissistic ex is a last minute addition to the wedding party.
This story had individual growth for both of our main characters, it had angst and a little bit of spice. Overall I had a good time. I didn’t love some of the drama, especially in the 3rd act, but liked how it ended overall. I will be on the look out for Rebekah’s future books!
I listened to this on audio, it was a great duet narration with Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Both of them really captured the characters and did a good job voice acting for the drunk and sassy members of the wedding party.
Tropes:
- Second chance
- forced proximity
- childhood friends to lovers
Triggers:
- internalized biphobia
- Public outing
March 25, 2024
▪️𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
▪️𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
▪️𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
▪️𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴
a tarot card reader and a wedding planner romance like who thought this dream romance could ever be created .. welp apparently @rffaubion and THIS FCKING DELIVERED. ugh, perfect, sexy, angsty. all the beautiful things i love in a romcom and this was just so addicting. highly recommend for my romcom gang🩷💜💙
thank you @netgalley & @berkleypub for the eARC🫶
▪️𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
▪️𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
▪️𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴
a tarot card reader and a wedding planner romance like who thought this dream romance could ever be created .. welp apparently @rffaubion and THIS FCKING DELIVERED. ugh, perfect, sexy, angsty. all the beautiful things i love in a romcom and this was just so addicting. highly recommend for my romcom gang🩷💜💙
thank you @netgalley & @berkleypub for the eARC🫶
March 24, 2024
The Lovers is a magical book and an otherworldly romance. It's filled with intense chemistry, tension and amazing characters. I loved this debut and the author's writing was amazing. It's the second chance of my dreams and I can't wait to talk about this book everywhere!
August 15, 2025
If Kit Larson believes one thing, it’s that the cards never lie. She’s seen it proven time and time again as a tarot reader and mystic influencer. But unfortunately the cards didn’t warn her about her most recent breakup or her parents’ divorce, so when Kit is offered a gig at another influencer’s boho-chic Joshua Tree wedding she accepts for the distraction. And distract it does when she finds out her high school crush, Julia, is the wedding planner.
Julia Kelley is her agency’s most sought-after wedding planner, and for a good reason—she's a perfectionist. Control means never showing others the vulnerable, blobby mess she really is deep down inside. Having an ex-girlfriend in the bridal party is a problem, sure, but reconnecting with the beautiful tarot reader who broke her heart as a teenager is so much worse.
Kit’s cards once told her that she and Julia were Twin Flames, two halves of the same soul. With wedding events pushing them together, their spark reignites . . . and so does a chance at being lovers.
This book was so freaking cute and maybe at a later date I'll have more to say but right now I'm just an emotional mess because I just loved this book so much. I knew that the Lovers would be a book that I really enjoyed: my background is as a wedding photographer and I'm a big fan of tarot so this was a blend of everything I could ever want. I loved how this story panned out and am so excited for the next book, The Sun and the Moon. This was a lovely sapphic romance that brought the friends to lovers trope with forced proximity and second chance romance together beautifully. I loved both of the main characters individually as well as together and thought they had wonderful banter and chemistry. The side characters were all magnificent and the setting was just wonderful!
- second chance romance
- childhood friends
- opposites attract
- fated love
- forced proximity
- first love
- dual pov
- slow burn
- wedding planner x tarot reader
- sapphic romance
July 5, 2024
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.
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.
June 24, 2024
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.
Thank you to NextGalley/Berkley Publishing for the eARC
Thank you to NextGalley/Berkley Publishing for the eARC
October 23, 2024
2.5 rounded up! This second chance romance stars Kit, a tarot card reader hoping to escape into the Joshua Tree desert to work a wedding and avoid her new reality for a few days. She knows she must really consider her own sexuality in light of the life-altering news that her parents are divorcing because her apparently bisexual mom is leaving her dad for a younger woman. Kit has always felt pressured by their “ideal” rom-com worthy love and is unsure of when/how to come out. The last thing Kit expects is for the wedding planner to be Julia, her teenage best friend/first love who first helped her understand her own bisexuality. The tarot reader who had predicted their twin flame souls when they were 12 years old was really onto something… their chemistry has not fizzled and neither has their true care for one another.
I’m really conflicted about this one. I really respect the author using her own experiences for the crafting of this story and that it is giving more bi representation in romance publishing. Kit’s journey out of the closet is one that I don’t think I can comment much on as someone who has never experienced that conflict of wanting to be fully known yet fearing being seen differently. While I am glad she eventually felt confident enough to share her truest self with everyone, I wish it was on her terms.
I found the surrounding cast and obvious influencer stereotypes to be tiresome. The white, wealthy, Southern California girl bosses had a lot of privilege and it got a bit old as the wedding weekend progressed. The villainous ex who goes on a social media revenge rampage was also unexpected and unnecessary, in my opinion. The means did not justify the end and the ending of Kit coming out could’ve been achieved without the drama that villainized the only lesbian-identifying character who had struggled with her own coming out and should’ve known better.
The setting was beautiful and the perfect place for these twin flames to rekindle their spark, but it sometimes read more like a reality show than a romance book. I dont think this was my cup of tea, but I love *love* and reading about Kit and Julia finding their way back to one another was a story I think many people will enjoy.
P.S. Taylor Swift’s “This Love” was well-chosen as the perfect couple song for Kit and Julia!
P.P.S. I never want to hear the term “manic pixie dream girl” ever again.
I’m really conflicted about this one. I really respect the author using her own experiences for the crafting of this story and that it is giving more bi representation in romance publishing. Kit’s journey out of the closet is one that I don’t think I can comment much on as someone who has never experienced that conflict of wanting to be fully known yet fearing being seen differently. While I am glad she eventually felt confident enough to share her truest self with everyone, I wish it was on her terms.
I found the surrounding cast and obvious influencer stereotypes to be tiresome. The white, wealthy, Southern California girl bosses had a lot of privilege and it got a bit old as the wedding weekend progressed. The villainous ex who goes on a social media revenge rampage was also unexpected and unnecessary, in my opinion. The means did not justify the end and the ending of Kit coming out could’ve been achieved without the drama that villainized the only lesbian-identifying character who had struggled with her own coming out and should’ve known better.
The setting was beautiful and the perfect place for these twin flames to rekindle their spark, but it sometimes read more like a reality show than a romance book. I dont think this was my cup of tea, but I love *love* and reading about Kit and Julia finding their way back to one another was a story I think many people will enjoy.
P.S. Taylor Swift’s “This Love” was well-chosen as the perfect couple song for Kit and Julia!
P.P.S. I never want to hear the term “manic pixie dream girl” ever again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
A solid 3 star read until the last third. I had a hard time understanding the main characters conflict and why they could be together from the get go. Also there is one too many Taylor Swift references in this book. I love Taylor too but these were just a bit cringe.
August 30, 2025
Overall, it was fun, but I was not a fan of the big catalyst moment. It was a bit overdone and seemed childish for the one character.
The romance was presented in such a decadent way. The author did a good job slowing down and describing all the best parts of being with a woman. There were also some great descriptions about characters who had lost themselves and were going through some introspection around that. It was right up my alley.
There was some ex drama. I dont think the story needed it. It felt quite one note and took away from the beauty of the two leads stories.
If you like lots of descriptive feelings this one might be for you.
The romance was presented in such a decadent way. The author did a good job slowing down and describing all the best parts of being with a woman. There were also some great descriptions about characters who had lost themselves and were going through some introspection around that. It was right up my alley.
There was some ex drama. I dont think the story needed it. It felt quite one note and took away from the beauty of the two leads stories.
If you like lots of descriptive feelings this one might be for you.
Read
March 30, 2024I want to enjoy romance novels more than I do. There's a specific type of them that works for me, but more often than not they fall short. It's been a repeating theme in my reviews where queer romance novels focused on two women falling in love are always lacking something to hold my interest. I spend a lot of time analyzing what specifically bugs me and usually fall short. There's a specific style of romance writing that isn't my favourite and I prefer third person POV over first, which makes the basis of these books hard to enjoy.
The Lovers, specifically, follows Kit, a tarot card reader and influencer and Julia, a wedding planner. They knew each other in high school and reunite later on, some might say by fate, at a wedding, they're hired to work and plan respectively. There is no grey area in this book. People are bad or good; there's no room left to figure it out by yourself. I had trouble with both main characters. Kit's nonchalance about everything coupled with her fear of coming out felt clunky. The comparisons to her mother's newfound sexuality and Julia's ex-girlfriend's matching fear felt unnecessary. It's an obvious book and I don't think romance novels have to be obvious in every way. The expectation of a happy ending and a clear path to getting together can be enjoyable. But without a strong connection to either of the main characters or a true belief in their feelings for each other, everything else falls flat. The story is told through alternating first POVs of both characters and removes any sort of tension. It was hard to believe that their past would still be this affecting and Piper was so villainized that the lack of sympathy created for her made her completely uninteresting. The writing falls flat. The word "pecs" is used often and phrases like "two white, wealthy hotties", "She looks like she just stepped out of a Nike ad, but like, for the expensive kicks, not sportswear", "She's a magnet, my eyes are metal, and when she glances my way, for a split second, I see uninhibited interest sizzle in her grass green gaze as it lands squarely on my face", "dalliance with pussy", and "I'm not a person with a sixth sense. My five normal ones work great, but trying to stretch beyond those is like trying to dig up concrete with a shovel" made it hard to keep reading. The book reads like a YA novel, which rarely works for me. Some aspects of the plot baffled me, and the immediate "we are in love" after a maximum of three days of being in each other's presence after ten years didn't work.
There's definitely an audience who will love this book, who might find the conflict relatable, who love specific references to Taylor Swift songs, and who impart tons of importance on coming out. However, I struggled to get through the ending of the book and only wanted to finish it to write a fair review.
Thank you to Berkley for an eARC.
The Lovers, specifically, follows Kit, a tarot card reader and influencer and Julia, a wedding planner. They knew each other in high school and reunite later on, some might say by fate, at a wedding, they're hired to work and plan respectively. There is no grey area in this book. People are bad or good; there's no room left to figure it out by yourself. I had trouble with both main characters. Kit's nonchalance about everything coupled with her fear of coming out felt clunky. The comparisons to her mother's newfound sexuality and Julia's ex-girlfriend's matching fear felt unnecessary. It's an obvious book and I don't think romance novels have to be obvious in every way. The expectation of a happy ending and a clear path to getting together can be enjoyable. But without a strong connection to either of the main characters or a true belief in their feelings for each other, everything else falls flat. The story is told through alternating first POVs of both characters and removes any sort of tension. It was hard to believe that their past would still be this affecting and Piper was so villainized that the lack of sympathy created for her made her completely uninteresting. The writing falls flat. The word "pecs" is used often and phrases like "two white, wealthy hotties", "She looks like she just stepped out of a Nike ad, but like, for the expensive kicks, not sportswear", "She's a magnet, my eyes are metal, and when she glances my way, for a split second, I see uninhibited interest sizzle in her grass green gaze as it lands squarely on my face", "dalliance with pussy", and "I'm not a person with a sixth sense. My five normal ones work great, but trying to stretch beyond those is like trying to dig up concrete with a shovel" made it hard to keep reading. The book reads like a YA novel, which rarely works for me. Some aspects of the plot baffled me, and the immediate "we are in love" after a maximum of three days of being in each other's presence after ten years didn't work.
There's definitely an audience who will love this book, who might find the conflict relatable, who love specific references to Taylor Swift songs, and who impart tons of importance on coming out. However, I struggled to get through the ending of the book and only wanted to finish it to write a fair review.
Thank you to Berkley for an eARC.
November 5, 2024
This felt like work getting through. It felt very… baby gay. It read like it was written by someone who has never been with a woman before. I never want to read “Thank Spirit”, “Manic pixie dream girl”, or “Rom com life path” EVER AGAIN. I was excited for the tarot aspect but we got an LA influencer’s white washed crystal shop instagram-able version of spirituality instead. YAWN. There was absolutely zero dimension to the one singular lesbian character (and she was the villain… c’mon now). Way too much pining over men (although that might just be a preference). It was 75 pages before the two love interests even interacted. There was an overflow of unnecessary word-vomit descriptions. Genuinely don’t know how I finished this one, I almost DNF’d. BAD.
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November 8, 2024Overall, better writing than a lot of romance books I’ve read recently, even if there were some really silly turns of phrase thrown in. I liked the plot generally but I did find the characters annoying. And one of them was so deeply in the closet for most of the book she kept making vaguely homophobic comments and like girl I’ve been there, but we’re both almost 30 and that’s not what I need in my life anymore. So overall, okay
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January 22, 2025respectfully, this reads like the first stab at a gaylor mystic AU fanfic.
I refuse to believe your LA parents accepted your tarot influencer job but you couldn't wrap your mind around the idea that they would accept you for being bisexual. One of those things is way less embarrassing than the other
I refuse to believe your LA parents accepted your tarot influencer job but you couldn't wrap your mind around the idea that they would accept you for being bisexual. One of those things is way less embarrassing than the other
October 29, 2024
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.
November 19, 2024
Felt like I was reading a book written by someone who didn’t know what it was actually like to be a wlw.
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