This was such a great book! It was definitely a second chance romance book and I loved it. I'm a sucker for this plot. Tate and Sam's story was cute and what I expected. Meet young, fall in love, betrayal, lose touch, reconnect and will they fall in love again? Although I liked the main characters, I didn't love them. Not like other CL books that I've read and the characters stick with me for a while. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for this duo's next book.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

I thought this book was a disappointment for Christina Lauren. I know that books require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but I thought it was far-fetched that Sam would have been able to make a lot of money for giving info about Tate. There wasn't a lot of chemistry between Sam and Tate. I really hated Ian and not in a fun to hate way. To me, this didn't measure up to her previous books.

As a huge Christina Lauren fangirl every time I read a book of theirs that I don't absolutely love it feels as if someone canceled Christmas. This was not a bad book but I knew almost instaneously that this one was not going to end up on any of my favorites lists. From the opening that is straight out of A Room With a View to the lackluster connection between Tate and Sam, I was left wishing for more. For a second chance story like this one to really work, there has to be enough depth to the relationship initially to sustain those feelings into the future. Nothing about Sam and Tate's meeting in London gave me any of that. They were attracted to each other but had no connection. It didn't help that they both seemed so much younger than they were supposed to be and without fully formed personalities. When they meet again a decade later none of that really changes. They rarely talk to each other and never about anything that doesn't involve their past. They didn't know each other then so how can they possibly know each other now? As I reader I never felt as if I knew them either. I never fully understood how they got from London to that movie set together. I was much more interested in the characters surrounding them and trying to figure out everything outside of the romance. Tate's relationship, or lack there of, with her father added some appreciated tension. This was a fast read but not one that will stick with me.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm convinced that the amazing duo known as Christina Lauren can't write a bad book. I've fallen in love with the characters in every single book I've read of theirs, and I have a hard time distancing myself from the story once the book is over. This one was just as wonderful as the others! We meet Tate, an up and coming actress who is going to be working on a movie with her Oscar winning (and kind of sketchy) dad. 14 years prior, Tate had met Sam, a boy from the other side of the country, on a 2 week vacation in Europe. They quickly fell head over heels in love, but he broke her heart and shattered her trust. When Tate steps onto the set of her new (and very anticipated) movie, Sam is the last person she expects to see … but he's there. She still thinks about him, and doesn't understand what happened and why he did what he did. The only problem is that he's even more attractive and alluring now, and she can't justify him with the image that she has created in her head (of a man who hurt and abandoned her). Will she be able to confront him & talk about what happened? Will their "once in blue moon" type of love be able to happen again?
This was such a sweet story, and I absolutely would recommend it to any romance lovers. Second chance romance books may be a new favorite trope of mine, and I need to find tons more of these types of books!

The book started out so good, with a love-at-first-sight kind of romance between young adults that have such an innocent and pure love, it was beautiful to see. It is ruined by sacrifice and impossible choices. Enter a nefarious father in the background trying to get more clout off the back of his up and coming actress daughter in a Hollywood that is moving one without him. Again, the beginning was very good and pure with the beginning of sweet relationship and then the story lags a lot in the middle and especially in the end it was very anti-climactic.

This is only my second Christina Lauren book and I officially need them all. Who knew I would love second chance romances so much! Sam and Tate were adorable and this book was just fun! I am such a fan of this duo and cannot wait to read more. Fully review on the blog next month!

*This title was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

This has to be one of my favorite Christina Lauren novel's ever and I've read almost all of them! Sam and Tate are so freaking cute together! I loved watching their romance start up in London and then skip to the now and see them reconnect again. The writing is fun and witty like usual, characters are so cute, real and flawed just like us.

As always with these authors this is a feminist, progressive book. Very PC, so if that bothers you, be warned you won't like this. If you like that or can look over then you need to give this book a chance because it's so dang cute!

My only issue was the marriage thing... no spoilers but it just seemed thrown in for more drama and made no sense to me personally but this is just opinion.

Will go live on my blog 09/25/2019

OMG that was so so so so good and quite surprising.

While I haven’t read every Christina Lauren book, included any of the Beautiful Bastard books, I’m mostly used to the duo writing fun, sexy humor mixed into the drama of their romances.

TiaBM is quite the opposite. It’s a drama novel with a hefty (though not unmanageable) dose of angst. And it’s superb.

Beautifully balanced and mixed with all the right components of a romance, the story tells the story of Sam Brandis and Tate Jones, across two periods of their lives.

Tate lives in hiding, but doesn’t have the entire picture of her childhood. She secretly dreams of becoming an actress, however being the daughter of the most successful Hollywood actor, and realizing the pressure she’d put on her mother and grandmother, she avoids mentioning it.

Sam lives with his grandparent and grateful to them for everything he has in life. He is intended to inherit their farm, but also dreams of becoming a writer.

When the two meet in London, the attraction is instantaneous, and love comes right on its heels, but when Sam’s betrayal tears them apart, it takes years for Tate to recover.

When Tate sees Sam on set 14 years later, her world as she built is almost crumbles down around her, but holding her own and supported by her closest friend and family, she pulls through and finding her way back to Sam again.

I loved the reasoning for Sam’s betrayal. I must admit I didn’t think of it at first, and I held hope and believed he was the one to actually do it. But the way CL unfolded everything was spot on beautiful, reaching straight through to the heart.

It’s been a while since I read a full novel in one sitting, but hey, who needs sleep when you come across such a great story.

A precious romance story with a happily ever after ending (of course!)! Sometimes this is just the kind of book that you need, and I always seem to enjoy Christina Lauren’s writing! Thanks so very much to NetGalley for providing this ARC! Reading it made me happy!

This was more emotional than I thought it would be. It will pull at your heartstrings and barely let go. You feel so bad for Tate and Sam, I really liked this book and the whole story line. I look forward to more from this author.

I just read The Unhoneymooners a couple months ago, so when I saw that Twice in a Blue Moon was available to request on NetGalley, I immediately had to get it. Christina Lauren has a knack for writing the perfect love story, full of humor and great characters, and this book was no different.

Twice in a Blue Moon tells the story of Tate and Sam, who meet when they are both on vacation in England and have a holiday fling. They reunite years later after parting under hostile circumstances. It’s basically lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers-again story. But speaking of that crazy relationship, that’s basically what this whole book is about: relationships.

And not just the new-romance relationship. A lot of this book deals with Tate’s relationship with her father. I think this book is really more about trust in relationships — romantic or otherwise — and what it means to gain and lose that trust. It’s different than anything Christina Lauren has written before, in good and bad ways.

It’s so good because it shows major development in their writing. The setting is extremely engaging and the characters are all amazing. The backstory, which is actually a lot of the main plot, is incredible. Like, by far, the backstory of Tate and Sam and of Sam’s grandparents, is the best part of the novel. The development is just so good.

But the bad part comes in with what readers typically expect from Christina Lauren. This is new for them. If you are expecting something similar to The Unhoneymooners, you will probably be disappointed. It’s just not the easy romance plot; it’s more about the development of a real relationship after being betrayed.

I still think long-time readers of Christina Lauren should get this book because it is great. I also think new readers would love it. Just know that it isn’t overly spicy or romance-y. The characters are vibrant and the story is unique. It is definitely a story of trust worth reading.

Unfortunately, this was a bit of a miss for me. The intense miscommunication between the main characters, as well as numerous other issues with parental figures, was more uncomfortable than it was compelling or romantic. It felt like everyone was second-guessing their own motivations, and the stakes felt a little flat. I've enjoyed other Christina Lauren titles, but the intense miscommunication and shady manipulation left me cold. Everyone was sort of hot and unlikeable.

I'd recommend other CL titles, like "Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not-Dating" in lieu of this title.

Wonderful! Really enjoyed this story of a young woman’s first love and how life turned out for her years later. Both settings (London and a movie set) were lot of fun and the characters were quite memorable.

4.5 <b> We will always have Paris </b> Stars
Yes yes yes
Second Christina lauren book that I have just lllluuuvvveedd!!!!
This book is adorable! This book is about Sam and Tate. Tate fell in love with Sam while on vacation in Paris and gave Sam her first everything and all of a sudden Tate has no secrets and her entire life is now in the limelight and Sam is no where to be found. What happens next is 14 years of a broken hearted Tate and a guilty Sam both trying to exist in a world knowing full wel they left their heart in Paris. This book is a quick read and really would be enhanced with an epilogue instead of such an abrupt end. You eat every bite of this story and you also want to punch both of them in their stupid faces. I am so glad I got to read this!

Available Oct 22: Twice in a Blue Moon
***** 4 stars: Loved it: Another great Christina Lauren novel - with a focus on a personal journey.



Recommended readers:

If you like Christina Lauren
If you like modern, witty writing
If like a good romantic drama
Here's my Rankings:

4/5 for characters
4/5 for plot
4/5 overall
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
Tate Jones has hidden her whole life from the world, being the daughter of a famous father. Finally on her graduation day, Tate takes a trip with her grandmother, where she meets the sweet, caring Sam Brandis, and they fall in love until Sam betrays her. Years later Tate is one of the most popular TV actresses trying to make her way as a lead actress and must face her past.

Twice in a Blue Moon has early heartbreak and personal challenges throughout for both characters. Another great Christina Lauren read, Twice in a Blue Moon has less comedy than their usual novel, and focuses more on a strong personal journey for Tate and Sam.

Available Oct 22: Twice in a Blue Moon

I had such high hopes for this book, but in the end, it didn't totally deliver for me. That said, I'm still glad I read it; it just wasn't my fave Christina Lauren book despite the fact it got off to a strong start!

I'm really not that big of a YA fan and especially "insta love" YA, but for whatever reason, I got sucked into the first part of this book. It could, in part, be because the characters were a bit older than typical YA at 18 and 21. While traveling to London with her grandmother, Tate meets Sam who is on vacation with his grandfather. The two hit if off and spend much of the two weeks together, quickly falling in love. But he suddenly breaks her heart and betrays her trust, leaving her totally confused. While the "love" didn't feel totally believable to me, I understood those feelings of excitement being away from home and majorly crushing on someone. And when Sam leaves, I was just as confused as Tate... How the heck could he do that?

Flash forward 14 years and Tate is now a well-known actress. She's still single and it seems she hasn't even been in love since Sam. But he's suddenly back in her life and she has to deal with all kinds of unexplored feelings. I don't want to give away too much and honestly, I feel like the synopsis of this book basically tells you the whole story (I luckily didn't see it before reading the book)... It just didn't feel like that much else happened. The second part of the book felt pretty slow and the movie script sections seemed totally unnecessary and out of place. I also couldn't fully understand why Tate couldn't let go of this 10 day "relationship" she had at age 18 or why these two still had such a strong pull to each other.

One of the reasons I generally really like Christina Lauren books is because the characters are so strong and their relationships are so personable and believable. They also know when to add humor in. This book was just a little bit empty in terms of those strong bonds and humor. I'll still read everything the authors come out with, but this one won't go down as one of my favorites!

3.5 “I want every wish he ever makes to be for this. A penny in a fountain. The first star. An eyelash. Eleven eleven. Just for one more time.”

Twice in a Blue Moon was a good read from Christina Lauren. This book takes place in the past and present of our main characters lives. In the past Tate and Sam meet while each on a London vacation celebrating life milestones. Sam turning 21, and Tate turning 18 and preparing to start college. I loved this part of the story because you could honestly feel the sweet tingly excitement of first love that Tate was experiencing with Sam. This part of the story takes place over two weeks, but it was very easy to fall for and invest in these characters feelings for each other. I loved every pillowy soft, with a dash of angst, new adult minute of it.

Then, comes the betrayal. Tate has a big secret that she shared with Sam. She’s the long time hidden away daughter of one of the most famous actors in the world, Ian Butler. While Sam has supported Tate on this subject during their time spent together, in the end he essentially rats her out to the press. Everything she thought about him has been stepped on by this betrayal. It was only two weeks, but she just KNEW she could trust him. Her first love ends with sudden and unexplained heartbreak. It takes the “unexpected people coming into your life and changing it forever” idea to the next level, because Sam changes the course of Tate’s life in so many ways.

The next part of the story is a fast forward. Here is where things get a little tricky. The story essentially goes from a sweet new adult romance, to chick lit. Which there is nothing wrong with that at all! It was just simply less about romance and more about Tate’s journey from 18 and in love in London, to becoming a Hollywood starlet seemingly overnight, and then finally being cast in the role of a lifetime. A role that not only brings her a second chance at love, but allows her to have new eyes on her life in general.

Don’t get me wrong I ENJOYED the story immensely. How Tate dealt with life through everything. Her relationships with men. Her relationships with her family and friends. The set and message of the movie and all that good stuff. Her second chance with Sam. It was a good read over all, but I will say that the romance aspect kind of let me down in the second half. It was almost not enough about it, and too easy once things start rolling. What I will say is that some of the additional characters were an absolute JOY to read. I wanted more and more of them. Some were frustrating as all get out, but that lends to the fact that it was just an outstanding cast of characters given to us by these authors.

All in all this was a great read. If you’re looking for romance heavy, this may not be it, but if you’re looking for a young woman’s journey from first love to figuring out a successful and happy adult life, then Twice in a Blue Moon is where it’s at!

This is a hard review for me to write because I so wanted to like this book and it just didn't work for me.

I was looking forward to another Christina Lauren book with their trademark humor and steamy romance. Alas, this book wasn't that

It reminded me of their adult contemporary Love and Other Words, but not for the good reasons I liked it.

The story starts off and both of the main characters are teenagers who meet on a trip in Europe. Of course, there's attraction and then young love and then betrayal. Fast forward years later, and they are thrown together again. The beginning part was too long and while I understand that the beginning was the big set up for the rest of the book, it could have moved along faster in some ways and slowly develop in others. It felt like I was reading a YA (not bad, but not what I was looking for). Also, the characters weren't developed enough for my taste.

I kinda wonder if it was the premise that took me out of it. Of course the young good looking boy (Sam) betrayed her (Tate) all those years ago, but he had a really good reason! (sigh.) And of course she can't stay way from him now, even though she thinks he is married with kids. (of course he is not, btw. duh.) Tate is now a super successful actor who is starring with her incredibly successful father in a new film! The entire second part of the book takes place on set as Sam the screenwriter watches Tate act out his very personal script. Sigh.

The ending was anticlimactic. The most interesting part of the book was actually her relationship with her famous father (think Tom Cruise) and that thread tapered off into nothingness with no closure. I really wanted something to happen there and it just didn't. Meanwhile, wet mop boy and scattered main female had their ending which was less happy and more accepting. Their recent ones haven't been as good as their earlier works so I think I'll go back and read <em>Beautiful Bastard.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital arc.
I LOVE Christina Lauren and will gobble up any book up written by these ladies so it's hard to say that this book wasn't my favorite. It honestly felt like their weakest story to date.
Tate (18) and Sam (21) meet in London while on vacation. They quickly get to know each other and seemingly fall in love. She confides in him that her dad is a famous actor and she's been out of the spotlight for many years. Sam betrays her and sells her story to the tabloids and her life is flipped upside down. Fourteen years later, she's filming a movie with her dad and the screenwriter happens to be the one and only Sam.
Something was off about this book and I can't put my finger on it. I really enjoyed reading Tate and Sam when they were young and the build-up was classic Christina Lauren. You get a mixture of YA romance and regular romance in this book but it doesn't feel even to me. Young Tate and Sam's story gets nearly half the book so the second half, set in the present, doesn't get nearly as much depth and detail as I would have liked. There are a fair amount of supporting characters to keep track of that I didn't feel that I could be invested. The story could use probably 50 more pages to really build the chemistry back up with Sam and Tate as adults because it feels a bit rushed. I didn't particularly like how the format of filming scenes was written either. I like that they tried and wrote movie scenes but it could have been cleaned up. The ending worked well and that's what earns the rating. There wasn't the same kind of comedy and snappy dialogue in this one as their other stories. While I appreciate the attempts to put more heartfelt moments in the plot, it doesn't work as well as Love and Other Words. I also wish there was an epilogue to this one because the story would have greatly benefitted from it. The story was middle of the road and I enjoyed the story as a whole (enough to read it in two sittings) but it's not one I would re-read and come back to. I would recommend other Christina Lauren books over this one but I will still be reading any future books published by them.

A wonderful second chance romance novel from a duo I greatly enjoy. Full of heart, passion and great characters, it felt like I was watching a rom-com in my head as I read. I loved the story line and the premise. Some great swoon worthy moments too! Can't wait to see what these authors come up with next. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.