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.

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.

I think I'm officially a loyal Christina Lauren fan. "Twice in a Blue Moon" is the second book I've read by them, and it was even better than the last. They're expert at giving real tension between two people in their romances, and still managing to pull you back so you can really root for their relationship. Also, I've often found romances about the Hollywood scene to be very cheesy and near unrelatable, but Lauren's version felt so down-to-earth and real. It was so easy to connect to Tate and her movie star life felt like her job not this flashy, royal, beyond belief lifestyle. Just like last time I read a Christina Lauren book, I had a hard time putting this one down and it kept me up late at night, which is bad for my health but good for my happiness. It's always great to be that hooked by a novel. The writing is crisp, beautiful, and sucks you right in. I definitely recommend giving this author duo a try.

Wonderful book with well developed characters. I loved the way the author takes you back to when the characters first met when they were young and on vacation is London. Circumstances cause them to part with a huge misunderstanding and they come back together years later. This is a slow burn romance with a secondary romance told through the characters in the movie that is being filmed throughout most of the book. I really enjoyed the story-line and how the characters grow and change throughout the story. A sweet and romantic story with lots of plot twists.

I consider myself to be a big fan of Christian Lauren. The Beautiful Bastard series Is like my Kryptonite as well as their Wild Seasons series. Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was five star read for me! So naturally with such winners under their belt, I thought CL could do no wrong.

That’s how I felt anyway, before I read The Unhoneymooners, which fell short for me. So after having been disappointed, I went into Twice in a Blue Moon with my guards up. And I was right to do so.

Blue Moon is story about first love and second chances. A very romantic concept. I’m on board for that. The trouble is we know the entire first half of the plot in the book description. Our female protagonist, Tate Jones is 18 and taking a trip to Paris with her grandmother, where she meets 21 year old Sam Brandis, a fellow American who just happens to be on a trip with his grandfather. The two hit it off right away in a quick budding romance where she reveals herself to be the daughter of a famous movie star. She’s been living a quiet life away from the media. This is supposed to be a close guarded secret but Tate decides to trust Sam with the info. Unfortunately that’ll prove to me a mistake when the press finds her and it’s no mystery that Sam tipped them off. He is also now MIA. Suddenly Tate has no choice but to come out of hiding and is rightfully heartbroken.

Jump ahead 14 years. Tate has a thriving career. She’s just landed lead role in a big budget film that’s about to go into production. It’s on set of said film that she once again runs into Sam, whom she hasn’t seen or heard from since Paris, and apparently is the writer of the film she is about to star in.

What follows next is forced proximity, interaction, angst and miraculous forgiveness that I can’t even begin to comprehend. There are so many problems I have with this...

Problems with Sam. Yes, he did in fact tip off the press of Tate’s whereabouts. In fact he SOLD HER OUT. And here’s the kicker...as “sorry” as he is, he says that given the chance. He would DO IT AGAIN. Now I get that apparently he and his grandparents were hurting for money and his grandfather was ill, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. What he did was take a life changing choice out of a teenage girl’s hands and disappeared without a trace. No word, no explanation. Just 14 years of nothing. And as the story progresses, Sam doesn’t get nearly enough grief for his actions. He got what he wanted out of selling out Tate, and he got to live his life and have his career. There is just so much wrong with him.

Problems with logistics. The fact that Tate had no idea that Sam was a creator of the film until she came on set is absolutely ludicrous. It’s evident that CL doesn’t have a grasp on the process of film making. There would have been script auditions and screen tests where she either would have met him, or been told his name. Sam apparently tried to contact Tate personally to give her a heads up, but the moron only thought to email her. Um...dude, how many emails do you think a movie star gets daily? CALL HER AGENT!!! CALL HER MANAGER!!! (Where are Tate’s representatives? She doesn’t even have a PA on set!! It’s like CL couldn’t be bothered to include them). He obviously didn’t want to contact her that badly, or he was just stupid.

Problems with Plot. I think it’s enough said that the fact that Tate finds it in her heart to forgive Sam at all is a plot hole. Some might say that Tate owes Sam her career but I strongly disagree .What happened in Paris caused earth shattering life changes .She wasn’t even given the choice. To me, that betrayal of trust is far beyond forgiveness and ultimately, he does nothing to redeem himself. He’s just there and still defending his choices and he has the nerve to be jealous of Tate’s male costar. He (for some reason) had to sit in on the movie’s sex scene shoot...Something that would NOT have happened. There’s this weird sense of entitlement Sam has to her, that seems to permeate that entire part of the story. He seems to think that this is all about HIM and how miserable the Paris incident made HIM, and how HE missed out on Tate for the last 14 years despite the fact that he never tried to reach out to her. He was actually dumb enough to think that her life wouldn’t be changed by his decision to sell her out.
Needless to say, it leaves such a terrible taste in your mouth.

So Tate decides to forgive him when I really don’t get why, but even the happily ever after doesn’t come for free because she gets screwed over (again) by someone else she thought was supposed to care about her and Sam has managed to disappear (again). And then we get a rushed ending with no real conclusion.

I thought the Unhoneymooners was some sort of lull or fluke. I hadn’t realized how bad it could get. I don’t know if Christina Lauren are cranking out too many books in a year, if it’s a quality control problem, or what, but this story took a huge dive for me. The problems with it were too essential to the story to ever get pass them. In the end I was left feeling upset and disappointed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️