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, 10:44, 8 July 2012
{{infobox
|title=Love at Second Sight
|author=Cathy Hopkins
|reviewer=Loralei Haylock
|genre=Teens
|rating=4
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0857075505
|paperback=0857075500
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=B007IL4WQM
|pages=320
|publisher=Simon and Schuster
|date=August 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857075500</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0857075500</amazonus>
|website=http://www.cathyhopkins.com/
|video=
|summary=A perfect summer beach read with a slightly paranormal twist. Full of teenage drama, cute boys, romance and fun.
}}
Jo is tired of being 'Miss Tag Along' as friends Effy and Tash hang out with their boyfriends. Jo has never had much luck in the love life department. Yes there's Owen, Effy's brother - but though they get on so well, and are so perfect for each other (according to everyone else) Jo's never really felt that special something with him, that spark.
Not like she feels with Finn O'Brady - lead singer of local band Minted. Finn is everything Jo wants, but she doubts he even knows she exists. He has a line of girls waiting for him, and his band is just about to hit the big time.
When Jo is dragged to a see a clairvoyant by Effy, she is told that she had true love in a past life, and she needs to find her soulmate again in this life. Jo is cynical, but a series of events leads her to question what she considers to be 'truth'. She's desperate to find her soulmate, but is it Finn? Or is she overlooking someone else in her quest to be noticed by him?
I picked this book out looking for something light and fun and it completely delivered. It's not the sort of book that will keep you up at night thinking about it, nor is it the sort of book where the plot will keep you guessing. But I read it in a couple of hours one night, and loved every minute of it.
The slightly paranormal twist of past lives and soul mates through time provided an interesting twist on the usual 'one girl, several boys' set up, but the story doesn't stray too far from the familiar chick-flick premise, with plenty of teenage drama, misunderstandings and swooning over boys to keep the pages turning.
All in all, a perfect summer read to be devoured in an afternoon at the beach. It's lighthearted, romantic, girly fun.
My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.
For more great beach reads check out Bookbag's [[Top Ten Beach Reads For Teens]].
{{amazontext|amazon=0857075500}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8844641}}
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