OBSESSED with this new and upcoming release from my favorite author duo Christina Lauren! I DEVOURED Twice in a Blue Moon in a day and just could not put it down. Maybe I have a major weakness for Hollywood and Second Chance Romances; but this book was so good I had to reread it because I was just not ready to say goodbye to these characters!

Thank you Gallery Books for the advanced copy via NetGalley.

Thanks for granting my request to read Christina Lauren’s upcoming novel. What I typically love about their novels is the way characters and relationships are built up so much that I feel the heartache when something goes wrong. I want that heart in your throat moment where you ache for the characters going through something, even if you as the reader saw it coming. Twice in a Blue Moon was entertaining but I felt the emotional buy-in fell short. Maybe it was the break up of the years, the different characters involved, or the movie script going along in the book but I didn’t feel the emotional investment that I typically do in their books. That being said, I’ve read and loved enough of their books that I’ll always be on the lookout for what comes next.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I happen to really love this author and have enjoyed many of her books. Tate and Sam's story has many of those elements the author is famous for: heart wrenching lines and an interesting plot. Although this wasn't my favorite, the characters felt real and their emotions intense. Tate experiences her first love and her first heartbreak with Sam but the heart never forgets. Touching novel.

My blurb:
Two people who fell in love when things were a little less complicated, run into each other again - feeling the brunt of all kinds of complications.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

 🔥🔥🔥 out of 5 steam level

What I liked-
Wow! I cannot believe I actually read a second chance romance that I liked! If I could describe the look of absolute shock on my face while I'm writing this I would try to... but I can't so you'll just have to believe me.  Not sure what a second chance romance is? Well, it is the trope where you fall in love once with someone and there's some sort of miscommunication or backstabbing that occurs... then years later you fall in love again. I always hate it! One day in December... Love and other words... It's just not my thing! Yet here I am reading this book and loving it!
This book was funny, but the storyline was really strong. I very much enjoyed both of the main characters and would even be interested in reading a novella with some of the side characters. Tate's mother, for instance, would be really interesting to read about!
This did have some steam but I would still recommend it to people who like a really low steam romance novel. There were multiple sex scenes in it that weren't close door, but they were not very descriptive either. (I almost tried to rate this a 2 steam level but consulted my friendly steam rating in my sidebar here and decided it HAD to be a three).  Definitely on the lower end of seam levels for a Christina Lauren novel! [If you haven't read my review of the unhoneymooners, check that out too because it has a very low steam level and is great for newbie romance readers!]
This book took place in Northern California.  My old stomping grounds!!! I wish that they would have mentioned specifically where in northern California this book took place, because I love to picture a specific place. I was imagining something kind of like big Sur, but I would have loved to have a point of reference for that! Regardless the book does get points for even mentioning northern California!

What I didn't like-
Literally the only thing I did not like about this book was that it needed an epilogue very badly. Very badly. Not even necessarily an epilogue but maybe just one last chapter. I actually thought that maybe they forgot a chapter in my advanced readers copy...that's how much it needed it! I know it's hard to believe I would still rate this at 5 starts but I'm hopeful that they will put an epilogue into the finished book. There is some major vengeance/sass/wit needed in the final chapter, that specifically has to be channeled toward the character who deserves it! Without that chapter the book is missing something... I still loved it, I read it over 48 hours and enjoyed every minute of it! But Christina and Lauren - if you're reading this, please add a final chapter!

While reading this book you should...
Do: reminisce about your dreams when you were in high school/ college.  (I'm personally not a fan of longing for the road not traveled- but who says you can't try to get back into an old passion! ...I'm talking about a hobby here not a person! haha)
Eat:  Strawberries... make a crepe, put them on a pancake, eat them on their own!
Listen to: playlist I created for this book on Spotify!


Happy Reading,
Dux

Christina Lauren has done it to me again and I’m so upset because I’m now two books ahead of publication and just KNOW I’m going to hate waiting for the next one. Twice in a Blue Moon is a cute Hollywood-movie-centric romance that blooms and then dies and then blooms again and I’m obsessed and cannot wait for the next book by this amazing duo.

This book is divided into two main parts: London, 14 years ago,and a movie set in present day. 14 years ago, Tate Jones and her grandmother went to London for vacation, Tate’s first taste of freedom before college, and they meet another traveling duo–Sam and his grandfather, Luther. Tate and Sam hit it off quickly, but her grandmother is quick to remind her not to spill the big family secret to her new friend. But Tate and Sam connect in a way far beyond that threshold,and Tate falls hard for this handsome farm boy. But can love last when it happens to fast on vacation? Fast forward 14 years and Tate is an actress, set to do a big movie she’s super excited about only to find a familiar face on set: Same, the boy from London. With all of those emotions floating in the air, will she be able to throw herself into her role,or will things get derailed once again?

This is a cute story of first love, betrayal, the tabloid media, parental relationships, and really interesting movie scenes. I love the Hollywood element of this that looks at Tate as a celebrity and actress but doesn’t focus on her on the red carpet or some crazy photoshoot. We see her doing a live Twitter chat and on a farm doing some filming, etc. It’s nice! It’s sweet! It’s got those hot moments we love from Christina Lauren and I loved the split of the story. I’m so excited for their next book…but this one doesn’t come out til October…so we probably won’t get a new one until early 2020. Crap.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review***


It pains me to rate a Christina Lauren book 3 stars, but I can’t give this book 4 stars. Somehow, this book just fell a bit flat for me. If I had to pick what I think stopped me from falling in love with this story, it would have to be the romance. I didn’t fully believe it nor was I super invested in it.

Let me back up a bit. As you can tell from the synopsis, this is a second chance romance book. The first few chapters take place when our main character, Tate, is 18 years old and meets Sam Brandis. Her first real love. Then, the rest of the book is told from 32-year-old Tate’s point of view.

So, where did it go wrong for me? I needed more moments between Tate and Sam as adults. I wasn't completely sold on the fact that their feelings for each other never faded.

However, I can tell you that the main character and side characters are fantastic. Tate’s relationship with her best friend, Charlie, is one of my favorite things about this book! I also really loved how Christina Lauren depicted Tate’s relationship with her father. They wrote it flawlessly; I truly felt Tate’s pain and annoyance with her father.

That being said, I still recommend this book to fans of second chance romance and fans of Christina Lauren. This book fell a bit short for me, but that doesn’t mean it will for you. This book is so much more than a simple romance book. It’s a story about how our relationships with our parents affect us, first love, heartbreak, betrayal, and friendship. The message of this story is that love is out there for all of us. No matter how battered or cautious your heart may be, if you open yourself up, you can find love that will nurture you rather than cause you pain.

***Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I devoured this book! I've read a few of Christina Lauren's books and I found this a little different. It had the same witty, complex characters, but there was an added angst that I felt throughout. I'm not sure if that was a good thing and kept me motivated to read or if it just hurt my heart a little.

Either way, Christina Lauren remains one of my favorite romance writers!

Poor Tate. Her mother and grandmother have told her her whole life not to tell anyone who she is. The media storm around the world's biggest movie star's only child would bring way too much unwanted attention to her and their quiet, small-town life. Her post-graduation trip to London with her grandmother is where she meets Sam. The two have a rare connection and it's love at first sight. In less than two weeks these two are thinking forever and marriage until Sam does the unthinkable. I have to admit, I kept looking for another explanation. How could he?

Tate's like would never be the same after that fateful trip. Word is out about who her father is, her life takes a whole different direction than she expected and now she's set to star in a movie with none other than dear old dad. She's taken completely by surprise to realize Sam wrote the script!

There are a few misunderstandings, a lot of hurt feelings and the need to maintain professionalism all make for a lot of back and forth that keep the story very interesting. It turns out time and betrayal aren't enough to put out the fire between these two.

I enjoyed the book. It was definitely a worthy read. I didn't quite love it though. Perhaps I'm not as good as forgiving and forgetting as Tate is. I can definitely recommend the book despite my slight misgivings.

If you could receive a written representation of exactly what it would be like to receive the apology you never got and take a chance, not a second chance, but a chance on that person and a life on your terms, this is the book for you.

Tate Jones was eighteen when her whole world changed. During a vacation abroad in London with her grandma, Tate met Sam Brandis, a charming 21-year old who just so happened to be staying at the same hotel. Tate and Sam spent every moment they could together, learning about one another, sharing their hopes, dreams, and in Tate's case, their biggest secrets. Tate is the daughter of one of the worlds most famous actors, who hasn't been publicly seen since her parents messy divorce. She's spent her life since being someone else and only a handful of people know who she truly is. Sam is the first person she's ever felt comfortable enough to let in on her big secret. She was very wrong. Sam was Tate's first everything: first love, first time, and first heartbreak.

Now, fourteen years later, Tate, a big up-and-coming actress, just landed a major break out role and doesn't have time to dwell on her lost love. When she arrives on set, Sam Brandis is the very last person she expected to see. Tate is shocked to discover that Sam happens to be the screenwriter for the film, and he's just as handsome and charismatic as he was all those years ago. Tate is now forced to confront his betrayal head on, and must ask herself if doing something bad for the right reason is enough to put the past behind her, especially when old feelings start to stir up.

Christina Lauren just have a way of making me swoon. Seriously, I would love to just live in one of their worlds. Tate feels so real and relatable, and her actions seem genuine. Sam, despite his mistakes, never stopped loving Tate and does everything he can to make her see the error of his ways. I will say that I do think Tate seemed to forgive him a bit quicker than I thought she should, but hey, it's fictional and all. My other issue was that I didn't feel any resolution when it came to the drama at the end. I feel if we saw that conclusion this would've been a full 5 star read for me. Other than that, I loved this and flew through it. I loved the setting, both London and the movie set in the woods. The humor and dialogue were spot on. I also really enjoyed how you got little excerpts from the movie script as they were shooting the film. I thought that was a nice touch. All in all, another great story by this dynamic duo.

I enjoyed this second chance romance. There is enough of a real "click" in the first chance part of the story to make me really look forward to seeing how the leading lady could get to the point where she could let the leading man back into her heart years later.

Believe it or not, I hadn't even heard of Christina Lauren's books until this summer, when I read the Unhoneymooners! So I just learned that they are two people writing together (an impressive feat!) and that they enjoy writing light romance stories with a heavy dose of sweet. This one was different than Unhoneymooners, and I really liked it. Maybe because I'm still pining for my first love? :0) Thanks, NetGalley for letting me read this AND for introducing me to new authors!

A lovely book, very sad at times and sweet. A good story! This story didn't capture my heart as much as the unhoneymooners, but it was a solid read.

Could not put this book down. Another amazing contemporary romance by the Christina Lauren duo. This book was new and original and unlike many romances I have read before. It is a story about chance love, love at first sight and second chances.
Tate travels abroad for her 18th birthday with her grandmother. Unexpectedly she meets the most gorgeous man she has ever seen and falls fast. Tate is never allowed to travel and not many people know her true identity- daughter of one of the most popular actors. She lets go and tells Sam everything and is heartbroken when the quick whirlwind romance ends with broken trust and betrayal.
Fast forward fourteen years and Tate is successful and about to begin a career changing movie. In the process of making a new movie she may have to confront Sam as he is also tied into this new chapter.
This was an amazing story about love, loss, and second chances. I always end up loving all the Christina Lauren books I read. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christina Lauren is a newer author for me, but ever since reading The Unhoneymooners, I cannot get enough! I have since devoured every book I could! Twice in a Blue Moon was a truly fantastic read. I love a second chance at love story, and this book was so enjoyable reading the past and the present. Well done, great story, truly enjoyable read which I highly recommend!

I am such a fan of this writing dynamic duo however since Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating I have not been wowed. The first half of Twice in a Blue Moon was exceptional I was ecstatic to finally have a CL winner however my enthusiasm quickly dissipated once we came to current time. I just didn't resonate with the movie, scenes or that entire world. It took away from Tate and Sam. Also the grandmother plays such a pivotal role in Tate's life yet we never meet her. It was hard to fully grasp the love between his grandparents when one of the parties was never present. Although not a winner I will continue to read CL and hopeful the next one will indeed wow me.

I cannot believe I'm giving a Christina Lauren book a 3 star, but alas. Here we are.

This book was a SOLID 4 star for me all the way until the end. It may have even creeped up to a 5, but it's hard to say.

I loved almost everything about this book. I was really hesitant about Sam in the beginning and I think knowing he betrays Tate from the synopsis made it kind of hard to like him at first, so I wish that was left out of there, but I soldiered on knowing I would probably like him by the end. He was sweet when they first meet in London and I just knew there was a good reason why he did what he did and there was so keep that in mind when you first meet him.

Tate was a good character. I liked how she took things in stride, but also allowed herself to feel whatever emotions she needed to feel and didn't try to put on a brave face. I really liked that she seemed like a genuine, flawed person.

The story itself flowed really well and, as usual, was written beautifully and seamlessly. Sometimes I forget that this is written by two authors, not just one.

So why the three stars?

There is no resolution. It just ends. Sure Tate and Sam find a resolution, but what about all of the other things that happen? What happens with all of that? It feels like the book was so incomplete, as if the authors just decided to be done with the book or they were expecting the other person to complete it. There is no epilogue (at least not in the ARC) and we are left with a huge unintentional cliffhanger of sorts. Is this a duet and I missed it? I'm very much confused.

It's hard for me to recommend this book because of that, but the rest of it was so well done it's also hard not to. I think I'd recommend it with the warning of, "It just ends and you will never know what happens in this situation". It kills me a little because I've loved every CL book I've ever read. Ugh.

Twice in a Blue Moon is unlike anything else CLo have written. I love their usual romance books, but I really loved this. Twice in a Blue Moon was a joy to read.

Twice in a Blue Moon is a story of young love, redemption and second chances. I really enjoyed this book. The character development was great, and you can really understand both sides of the conflict even if one side is clearly "wrong," you can still understand the motivations and drive of that character. It felt like a slight departure for Christina Lauren, more serious and emotional than normal but that’s not a bad thing.

My only complaint is that I think the end was a little vague, I wanted more details. Maybe the release copy will have an epilogue to explain more (hopefully at an awards ceremony where Tate is giving her best actress speech!)

I adored Tate and Sam. The chapters from the past of them falling in love were so real and heartfelt. I was so upset when the betrayal happened: thinking there must be some good explanation. Flash forward to "now" and Tate and Sam are still feeling the effects of it. I loved how the story played out and I LOVE these two characters. I was sad when I got to the end because I wanted to read about their whole life together.