Love At Second Sight eBook

So many reasons to love both Love At Second Sight (LASS) and Shane (our main character) who we meet as a young single mom; LASS and Shane are strong, smart, and stirring. I recommend this book without reservation.
I could feel the passion and care Ayoka B. (the author) put into her work; her writing is expressive and drew me right in. I enjoyed getting to know and travelling for a while with Shane and existing in Shane’s world chock full of the love of family, poetry, music, painting, planning, designing… LIVING!
The scope of the story is sweeping without being overwhelming. We get to know Shane over years and years and get to witness not only Shane’s growth and development as a woman, but also as a professional.
I love a love story especially a multifaceted one because LOVE is multifaceted. I appreciate that LASS explores love as it evolves and love between/among friends who may or may not be (or become) lovers and may or may not remain lovers. The book is grown and sexy without being raunchy or gratuitously sexual. It is also tender and sweet without being saccharine.
Sometimes books that focus on BlackUs can seem devoid of our realities and sometimes they can get bogged down in (and even glorify) the most traumatic parts of some of our collective experiences. Love At Second Sight felt real without being a downer. The characters seemed like people I might know: good people living good lives. The experiences seemed like real life. The struggles and support systems were believable. LASS is not a fairy tale and at the same time, it is not a horror story. It is real good, striking a nice balance.
As readers, Shane, like any well-developed character, is a resource for us. Shane’s character is a great model of how we can connect with joy while living with pain. It sounds weird, but I am happy that LASS has an ongoing exploration of grief, loss, and the accompanying fear; I wished those subjects had been delved into more. Ayoka B. has demonstrated that she has the talent to not only entertain through her work, but also to stimulate our progress as people. As Black folks we have layers and layers and generations and generations of grief and loss (of our freedom, culture, legacy, joy, history, traditions, languages, families…) on top of what all humans experience. I appreciate Love At Second Sight as a tool for the healing of BlackUs at the same time it is a comfy place to escape.
Also, I—being the curious person I am—wanted to know more about what shaped Shane into the person we meet. I found Shane to be a hard person to know. There is so much going on inside of her that we never get access to. Which is like life: some people have rich internal worlds that only they are acquainted with. As readers, we get glimpses here and there of Shane’s inner space. I would have welcomed additional insight. In her next books I hope Ayoka B. directs more of her powerful descriptive abilities inside of the characters.
Love At Second Sight is dynamic and complex but still accessible. There is a LOT going on and I am here for it! It was a pleasure to read. MORE! I want more! I am so excited to see what Ayoka B. will offer us next and I know her work will keep getting better-er and better-er. I look forward to reading whatever she writes. I am confident that just like this first one, her next books will be well worth the money and time.
I strongly urge you to read this book! You can thank me later. 😉

Love at Second Sight is the perfect romance novel that explores many relatable themes of life. Ayoka B. explores themes of love, artistry, career, travel, family and friendship. She discusses the ups and downs of romantic relationships while also navigating parenthood, career changes, and friendships. She writes about the importance of keeping your heart open and using your pain as inspiration for art. She’s done a ton of research on cities, foreign countries, careers, and activities, like surfing. This makes the fiction novel feel very realistic. The entire novel is full of imagery, so it feels like you’re watching a movie! This page-turner is a must read for all romance lovers.

When a poet writes fiction it’s a masterpiece. This is an incredibly written work, where the imagery forces you to feel your way through the novel. Love at Second Sight is a beautiful depiction of all the different types of love that sustain us. The themes of this book make it a must read and discuss with all the people you love. A phenomenal first for author Ayoka B.

I used to be an avid reader but life took over. So glad I took the time to read this book, though it only took me a couple of days. The book grabbed my attention and kept it. And I loved the references I knew because I live in DC. I also loved that it was not predictable.

This book gave me all the feels! It gave happiness, sorrow, excitement and even suspense (not in a scary way)! The description was on point and the story made you feel good. And I love when I can't predict what's going to happen! Also, the characters were memorable and fun. Shane, the main character, felt like my good friend.