San Francisco Couple Finds Love Through Shared Passion for Reading

Breana Teubner and Peter McGuiness connected over their mutual admiration for Benjamin Franklin's autobiography.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:23pm

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Breana Teubner and Peter McGuiness, who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, hit it off on their first date after bonding over their shared love of reading, particularly Peter's admiration for Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. The couple faced some logistical challenges due to living in different cities and having opposite personalities, but ultimately decided to buy a home together in San Francisco. After a year of dating, Peter proposed to Breana, and they were married in a ceremony in Healdsburg, California.

Why it matters

This story highlights how a shared intellectual interest and commitment to personal growth can bring two people together, even when they have differences in other areas of life. It also showcases the enduring appeal of classic literature like Benjamin Franklin's autobiography in modern dating and relationships.

The details

Breana Teubner, 45, and Peter McGuiness, 40, met on the dating app Bumble in June 2024 and went on their first date at an Italian restaurant in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood that Peter had frequented. During their conversation, Breana asked Peter to name his favorite autobiography, and he cited Benjamin Franklin's, explaining that one of Franklin's guiding principles was to reflect each day on how he could contribute to the greater good. Breana was impressed by Peter's intellectual interests, and the two discovered they also shared a love of sports, having both played baseball and softball in college. Over the course of their next few dates, the couple continued to bond, with Breana even acting as a 'defense lawyer' to challenge Peter on some of his legal cases. By their third date, Peter knew Breana was the one he wanted to spend his life with.

  • Breana and Peter matched on Bumble in June 2024.
  • They went on their first date at Original Joe's in San Francisco in July 2024.
  • Peter proposed to Breana on July 12, 2025, exactly one year after their first date.
  • Breana and Peter were married on January 17, 2026.

The players

Breana Teubner

The 45-year-old chief operating officer of TYB, a community rewards platform based in San Francisco. She was born in Denver and raised in San Juan Capistrano, California, and earned degrees from UCLA and USC.

Peter McGuiness

A 40-year-old deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, focusing on homicides. He was born in Oakland and grew up in Alameda, and has degrees from Fordham University and UC Davis.

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What they’re saying

“Peter said one of Franklin's guiding principles was to ask in the morning how you might contribute to the good of the day, and at night reflect on how you did.”

— Breana Teubner, Chief Operating Officer, TYB (The New York Times)

“After she arrived at the restaurant, I saw how excited she was looking around the room for me. I thought, 'This is the woman I want to spend my life with.'”

— Peter McGuiness, Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County (The New York Times)

What’s next

The couple plans to continue settling into their new home in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood and start planning for their future together.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how a shared intellectual curiosity and commitment to personal growth can bring two people together, even when they have differences in other areas of life. Breana and Peter's connection over Benjamin Franklin's autobiography shows the enduring appeal of classic literature in modern relationships.