I have read and loved many Christina Lauren novels, and even though I love smutty books as much as the next person, I am a big fan of the recent direction they’ve been going with their newer releases. They’re more “chick lit” esque where there isn’t as much sex and more focus on the characters, their relationships and the plot itself.

I thought this book was simply beautiful. It starts out really strong with an 18-year-old Tate Jones on a trip to London with her grandmother. It’s her first taste of freedom after a life of strict rules and being sheltered, and Tate loves getting to see a different part of the world other than her small town in California. There she meets Sam Brandis, who’s on a trip with his grandfather, and they two fall fast and hard for each other. She trusts him with all of her secrets, including the fact she’s the daughter (sort of long-lost) of the biggest film star in the world.

After the biggest betrayal that rocks Tate’s world to its core, they don’t see each other again for 14 years. Now in her early 30s, her life now revolves around Hollywood as an up and coming actress with several great projects under her belt. Her relationship with her father is less than stellar, but now she’s going to be doing a movie with him. A movie that’s set to change her career path altogether, and where her movie-star father is playing a side character. She’s the main lead and it’s role is more than ready for.

Until she finds out the person who wrote the screenplay is none other than Sam. The second half of this book follows as these two as they work on making this movie and their feelings about one another after all this time.

I really did love this book. The atmosphere in both “parts” of this book were beautiful and so well developed. I felt like I was on the farm with Tate and the crew making that movie right along with them (fun fact the movie was set in Iowa, which is where I live. Even though it wasn’t filmed in Iowa, it gave me such major Iowa vibes and I was loving it. We Iowans get super stoked when Iowa is mentioned in anything).

I also love the way these two women write a story. Love and Other Words is one my favorite book of theirs and I think always will be, but Twice in a Blue Moon also gives me the same kind of feelings it did. It’s a book packed with raw emotion and depth as these two main characters try to reconnect after years of silence and betrayal. I love books that give you so much more in-depth emotional background to the characters in books because it just makes the reading experience that much more memorable because they’re characters I can understand and relate to. I just love emotional books, I guess.

There are so many aspects I love about this book. I do have some things I didn’t like as much – mostly the fact the ending felt rushed. I kept looking at how much I had left in my e-arc and being worried because the story wasn’t really close to wrapping up. Maybe it’s because I loved these characters so much, I felt there needed to be one or two more chapters, or at least an epilogue. It just sort of…ends…and then that’s it. What?! I need more, Christina Lauren. MORE of this. I need to know how the movie did at the box office – where there awards? Nominations? Where do they live? I just have so many questions and I just want more content.

I felt like there needed to be more overall. More interactions between Tate and Sam as adults. We got so much great chemistry and tension between them when they were younger, but it felt in the second half of this book there just wasn’t enough. I also needed more conflict between Tate and her dad. You felt the tension between them a little, but I just wanted more. Without spoilers, there’s something that happens toward the end of this book that, while I understand why it happened, I feel like the repercussion didn’t match the conflict. The fall out with a character just didn’t happen and I felt like it should have. Was that vague enough? I think so.

Overall, this is still one of my favorite books in Christina Lauren’s repertoire. They are so talented and write books with characters that tug on the heart strings and usually leave me a little teary-eyed and giddy. Sometimes they’re funny and sexy, sometimes they’re emotional and heart-wrenching – but I love them all.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review posted on my blog:
https://mybookjourneysite.wordpress.com/2019/07/19/twice-in-a-blue-moon-by-christina-lauren-netgalley-arc-review/

Christina Lauren have become an auto buy and give me everything they have ever written author(s) because I know I will love it. I was shocked and so excited when I got approved to read and review Twice in a Blue Moon from Netgalley and Gallery Books. Like all of CLo’s books, I was hooked and finished reading in basically one sitting.

“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.”

Tate left her small California town for the first time ever, to celebrate her 18th birthday, with her grandmother, in London. While there they meet Sam, and his grandfather who are visiting from their small town in Vermont. After a few meals and a night under the stars, Sam and Tate have an instant connection. Over the next week, they have a whirlwind London romance. They confide in each other about their wants for the future, and their pasts. They both experience love for the first time. Their trip seems like the start of their future together, until one betrayal shatters that future before it even has a chance to start.

Fourteen years later, that betrayal is still very much present for Tate because it changed the course of her entire life. She is chosen to play the lead in a new movie, Milkweed. While on the set the first day, Tate sees a familiar body, one that she would know anywhere, even if she hasn’t laid eyes on it in over fourteen years. Once Tate sees Sam, she feels 18, and heartbroken in London all over again. Now having to film a movie together, with the past looming all around them. They both must decide if fourteen years and the heartbreak too much to come back from? Or is your first love, truly your only love, and worth a second chance, when it comes around Twice in a Blue Moon.

For me, this book was hard to rate. I did want to know what was going to happen and I did enjoy reading the book. But overall, Twice in a Blue Moon fell short for me. I didn’t love Tate or Sam and I didn’t connect to their story. I felt like the story was very predictable and I wasn’t moved by it, like I have been with so many of their other books. Overall it was a good second chance romance, and a light summer read. And although it is probably unfair to compare Twice in a Blue Moon to other CLo books ... I am doing it anyways, and this one just didn’t measure up for me.

Parts of this were as swoony and lovely as Christina Lauren always is, but the balance between Tate and Sam's first meeting and relationship and their re-meeting as adults seems off. There is too much time spent on them as teenagers, at the expense of the wonderful second half of the book, which is full of interesting movie set moments, well-developed supporting characters, and Tate's complicated relationship with her dad. I wanted far more of their adult relationship.

However, I would still purchase this and promote it to fans of Lauren and contemporary romance.

Christina Lauren does it again! They know how to right swoon like no one else. I really enjoyed the adult summer camp feel of the movie set.

I don't think this book was for me. I thought it did a good job explaining the pasts of these two characters, but not nearly enough to explain why they are in love now. So much time has passed that it would make sense to have more of a build up or reconnecting before they just jump in like all is forgiven. Especially since it seems like they totally moved on from one another and didn't really pine away for years.

As always, the writing is awesome, the swoon is formidable, and I blew through this in a day.

But...BUT...I cannot for the life of me get behind Tate forgiving Sam for doing such a terrible thing. Yes, I get it, Luther was sick, but there were so many other ways to solve this problem. I love a HEA, don't get me wrong, and I love love and romance, but this was all too much for me.

Twice in a Blue Moon is a cute, yet predictable, romance. After meeting Sam in London & getting hurt, Tate becomes an actress. Several years later, they surprisingly meet and get a second chance at love. I was rooting for Tate and Sam the whole way, as well as hoping Tate could work on herself and her relationship with her father. It’s an easy read, but had an ending I could guess based on reading the first chapter.

Opening lines: (Fourteen years ago) Nana turned to inspect the hotel room. Behind her, the curtains drifted closed with a whisper. With her dark, sharp eyes, she surveyed the cream and red decor, the generic paintings, and the television she no doubt thought gaudily perched on the otherwise beautiful dresser. Never in my life had I been in a room this fancy, but her gaze, as it touched everything, read Given the cost, I expected more.
Reason I picked up the book: I'm a huge Christina Lauren fan and have read all of their books (it's two people, writing under one pseudonym).
And what's this book about?
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a love story or stories about the movie industry.
Favorite paragraph: (Now) The tires crunch over gravel, and I stir awake at the sound: we've reached Ruby Farm. I'm nervous and excited and feel the proverbial weight of a thousand pounds on my chest, but still - something tight inside me unwinds instinctively at the unfolding green serenity directly ahead of us.

We pass through the gates, waving to a guard there who notes the license plate, and I assume, check the box to indicate Tate Butler has arrived.

I am officially on set.
Something to know: I'd compared this to a situation like if Suri Cruise (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter) all of a sudden disappeared from the limelight, and Katie Holmes disappeared as well. It was a pretty compelling read.
What I would have changed: Nothing except the ending was a little short, and I wanted more! (can we have a sequel?!)
Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? Click here to order on Amazon.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a fan of this author's books and can usually devour a story in one sitting because i'm engaged immediately, but this took awhile to get there. I'm glad I finished the book as the ending was the best part.

Sam and Tate meet while on vacation in London. Their chemistry is immediate and they wonder if their feelings are the real thing. After all, Tate is 18 and Sam is 21, but their feelings are intense and they enjoy the time they have together with plans to see one another in the future. However, a betrayal is revealed that ends their relationship.

Fourteen years later, Tate is a star on the rise as an actress and is starting a new film that could propel her status. Unbeknownst to her, she is reunited with Sam and the old feelings begin to surface again, beginning with the pain of their separation. They can no longer avoid one another and are forced to discuss the event that divided them and if there is any chance to move past that.

I did like Tate and Sam's characters, however, there were so many supporting characters that did not add alot of value to the narration and they became a distraction. Good story, not the best.

Second chances and life. When something is meant to be fate will always find a way not matter curves life throws. This is a fabulous read. If one piece of the past changed nothing would be what it is but was the heartache worth it and can you ever return to what you once had?

All is answered in this addicting Christina Lauren read.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book during their younger years. Second part had a lot of daddy drama rather than Sam. There is a time jump so we don't see Tate grown up after "the incident". Ending was good and it was interesting to see an on set experience through her eyes.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Below is my opinion of Twice in a Blue Moon.

Another hit from the duo- Christina Lauren- who have quickly become my favorite writing team!

I read this book in one day much like their other books. And, much like their other books, I give it ALL THE STARS! I love the characters: Tate and Sam, Charlie, Marco, and I even loved Nana. The story is sweet and simple and yet not like one I have read before.

I look forward to many more books by Christina Lauren!

I absolutely adore Christina Lauren and the delicious combination of humor, romance and swoons in their books. I especially loved the premise of experiencing a first love a second time around as both Sam and Tate were engaging characters. I loved the backstory of their past in London, the betrayal that tore them apart and how they reconnected in the present. But while I loved the idea of the story I did not fully connect and "feel" the romance aspect of the story. 

Don't get me wrong, I might have a girl crush on Tate. She was strong, sassy and sweet and Sam was just as swoony but when they reconnected fourteen years later as adults, I felt like there were instances where I needed more. This story had swoony moments where I caught my breath, but unfortunately I never really felt Sam and Tate's love and heartfelt feelings. I absolutely love this dynamic author duo however and can't wait for more from them in the future!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. 4 stars! ~Ratula

Full Blog Review: http://bit.ly/2GuwC0V

This was a cute, if somewhat predictable, romance novel that I found very enjoyable. I really liked Tate and Sam and found the story gripping.

I have read a few Christina Lauren books and this one does not feel like their best. I felt that the heroine forgave the hero just because his family was in need of money to pay for his grandfather's cancer treatment. He outed her family history and didn't apologize for a good ten years. No amount of unrequited love can forgive that. I also felt there was some instalove once they started talking again. I did enjoy some of the minor characters, like her costar Nick. He was my favorite character. I also liked how her dad didn't change and they weren't tempted to make him become a better person. Sometimes a toxic parent is a toxic parent. Overall, it was a cute story, but it needed some editing and another draft to improve some of the bumps.

Yes, yes, yes. JUST YES. I don't know how Christina Lauren continues to write so many entertaining and amazing novels, but they just keep getting better and better. I loved this novel and would have finished it in one sitting if I could have. I was in love with it when I was reading it, and I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn't able to read it. I loved the characters and I thought the setting was a lot of fun. There were a few times when I felt like I wanted a little more from the characters, but all in all it was incredibly entertaining and left me flipping pages late into the night.

This was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy Christina Lauren novels or romance novels. Thank you to Gallery and NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

I want every wish he ever makes to be for this. A penny in a fountain. The first star. An eyelash. 11:11. Just for one more time.⁣⁣

⁣⁣Oh. My. HEART. I just devoured @christinalauren ‘s #twiceinabluemoon and I’m literally S W O O N I N G. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣If you know me you know that I have read all of their books and haven’t had a bad word to say about a single one of them. But Love and Other Words was easily my favorite. Until I read this one. I think LAOW might have been unseated. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣On the surface this is a story of love lost and love found. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a story of friendship, family, vulnerability, and deception.⁣⁣

⁣⁣It has a beautiful subplot covering discrimination, race, and hope. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣It’s just perfect. Christina Lauren can do steam to perfection. But their best novels combine steam with true depth. Their absolute best moments can make me cry and swoon simultaneously. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣Twice in a Blue Moon will stay in my heart for a long time to come. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for an advance reader’s copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

What starts as a modern retelling of E.M. Forster’s A Room With a View takes a sharp turn into the familiar Christina Lauren territory of romance, sex, and self-discovery. Young Tate Jones is content with her quiet, isolated life in a small Northern California town. When her grandmother takes her to England for a trip of a lifetime, she discovers more than London landmarks. She makes a deep connection with a fellow traveler that leads to love, risk-taking, and a complete 180 in her life’s path. We might question Tate's choices to trust the men who have betrayed her; but we respect that Tate is finally strong enough to make these choices for herself.

Christina Lauren’s books have been reliably good—funny, sweet, sparkling, with a depth that a lot of romance novels don’t have. But this one misses the mark.

Sam and Tate have a two week fling in London, he betrays her, they meet again 14 years later and get back together. Okay, that sounds like the bones of a good romance, but (if you’ll forgive a gross metaphor) the flesh is missing.

One thing I like about CL’s romances is how easily the characters talk to each other, and how they talk like real people talk. Sam and Tate don’t really get past the small talk portion of getting-to-know-you before they’re parted, yet I’m meant to believe their connection is so deep that it affects literally everything else in their adult lives.

The dialogue didn’t crackle like it usually does, and the story fell flat for me.

How does one even begin to review a book that left them speechless?

I will say that the first half of this book was definitely more interesting to me than the second half. But I loved the entirety of the book and what it all came to mean. I didn't particularly like seeing the Milkweed script in the book but I also don't like the trope of other works being in a book. However, I realized that it played a role in piecing together some things.

I think the ending was exactly what I wanted it to be and truly felt like the ending we deserved after that emotional roller coaster. It was wonderfully written and I will always give a Christina Lauren book a chance.