Twice in a Blue Moon is the first Christina Lauren novel I've read. I liked the idea of the divided timelines and the second chance romance, but the result seemed like each part was rushed. I would have loved to seen the sides developed a little bit more. I really did enjoy being on a movie set in the second part though, which was so fun. I actually read this one by listening to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. In the future, I definitely want to read Christina Lauren's other novels!

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Christina Lauren is my favorite romance author duo, so when I was approved for my second book by them in the same year I was THRILLED! The cover, the title, the synopsis- everything appealed to me, and I found myself procrastinating on starting it, waiting for a time when I could really sit down, focus and enjoy it. When I finally did have a chance to sit down and read it over the course of a few days, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, sneaking it in during lunch breaks, waiting for rides, etc. It’s one of my favorite Christina Lauren novels to date!

I’ll be honest- though this book was a strong 4 star read for me, what made it so enjoyable for me wasn’t the romance, but the overall plot and setting of the book. It follows protagonist Tate, who is the daughter of a really big movie star but has kept her identity hidden. Split between two time periods, it starts with a focus on her life right before the world rediscovers who she is, and then jumps over a decade later to her adult life as she navigates her acting career. I was so interested in reading all of the behind the scenes details of what the film industry is like, how her father acts in public vs. private, how movies are made, etc. I was so intrigued reading about how once Tate’s identity is released to the press she starts off as a vampire on a CW show which catapults her career until she’s a serious actress playing the lead in an Oscar-worthy period piece. The career progression fascinated me and though I can’t speak to how accurate the depictions were, I found it really interesting to read about how different parts of a movie are shot, staged, and created (like when they build a barn on set to actually burn it down for the film- wild!) I also loved the Northern California farm setting that serves as the backdrop for the movie Tate is filming- you could practically feel the crisp air and easily imagine the serene peacefulness of the rural setting.

Obviously, as a Christina Lauren novel the story is a romance, but it felt very romance “light” compared to many of their other novels (which may be a good or bad thing depending on the mood you are in). It actually reminded me a lot of their novel Love and Other Words although a less intense version, what with the dual timelines and the plot centering around a second chance love story. I felt like the first part of the novel that focused on Tate and Sam’s love story was really well done, and felt believable even though they were only falling in love over the course of a couple weeks during a trip to London. The authors really managed to capture the intense, all consuming feelings of teenage love and infatuation that move at a very accelerated pace, coupled with the tension of following your family’s rules and expectations. Though brief, their whirlwind romance as teens resonated more with me than their reunion as adults. I want to avoid spoilers in this review so I won’t go too in depth, but Tate and Sam’s reunion as adults didn’t move me much. There’s a betrayal they must communicate about and eventually move past, however I personally don’t think I could have 1) moved past it and 2) rekindled the romance after everything that had happened in the time in between. Also, Sam didn’t feel like the same character as his younger self to me, and I had trouble reconciling his older and younger self.

Overall: Twice in a Blue Moon has easily become one of my favorite Christina Lauren novels not for its romance, but for the plot, setting and intimate look at the movie industry and behind the scenes elements of how films are made. It felt to me more like a story of the personal journey of the protagonist who had a romance kick start the rest of her life, rather than her life revolving around a romance, which was a refreshing change.

3.5 Stars. I just didn’t love how easily issues are forgiven. I wish there was more hardship because the resolution wasn’t satisfying. Other than that, it was as sexy and charming just like all of CL’s other books.

A second chance romance story. This book may not be for everyone, for me, it had me from the beginning. Tate Jones is on Vacation in London with her grandmother, she also is experiencing like a lot of teens her grandmother’s ways. She paid for something and expects that, which at times embarrasses Tate. Tate and her grandmother meet Sam Bandis and his grandfather at breakfast, a friendship starts. The friendship continues at night because each of their chaperones goes to bed early. They become romantic and Tate shares with Sam that she is the lost daughter of a famous actor.
Everything crashes down around her one morning when Sam and his grandfather are not downstairs, she is also told that they checked out. Problems come when she and her grandmother walk out of the hotel and she is accosted by photographers and newspaper people. She is also taken by one person to a car and given a choice. To end all of this today or the person can use this and help her be a star. She does the later.
Now fourteen years later getting ready for a new movie, she runs into Sam the man she feels not only betrayed her but left her as well. They are to play nice for the movie and everything will work out.
See I know that this is a book, a story and the story is good. But in life having known my wife since I was 14 ns now being married over 40 years, yeah if I would have pulled something like that when I was young, she may have spoken to me 14 years later but that would be about it. Taking that part out of the story it is good and like I said it is a story, to be fun, that is what I looked at ii as.

A bit different than other Christina Lauren books that I've read that incorporated more sassy dialogue adn humor. But I still loved this.

This had the perfect amount of steam for me (someone who is relatively new to the romance genre). I was so intrigued by the story and I LOVE Hollywood drama, so I had a feeling this would be right up my alley.

While the story was intriguing, I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I wasn’t expecting it to be so YA-heavy at the beginning. The teenage romance took up a pretty good chunk of the start of the book...and while I love YA, this just didn’t work for me. I also have a hard time with the enemies-turned-lovers trope and this book particularly made it difficult to enjoy. I never felt a connection between Tate and Sam because so much of the novel focused on their issues - by the time they fall in love, the book is already over. All of that being said, I finished it in less than a day so clearly I enjoyed it.

I do love several other Christina Lauren novels, but this one just wasn’t a favorite.

This was an okay read. I am a fan of Christina Lauren books but I felt this was missing something. I feel like some of their trademark humor was missing. I also didn’t feel the chemistry between Tate and Sam. This isn’t much different from other CL books it was just lacking the snark that I am used to.

Hello. My name is Jillian and I’m a huge Christina Lauren junkie. It should come at no surprise that I was beyond excited to get my hands on an advance copy of this book and as soon as I did you can bet your behind I dropped everything to dive in. Well, I’ve gotta give it to this dynamic writing duo….they’ve done it again. I mean is there anything these ladies can’t write?

From start to finish, Tate and Sam’s story pulled me in and didn’t let go. I’m already a sucker for a second chance romance and when CL writes it, forget about it! *swoon* These characters are beyond dynamic and the plot is beyond emotional and I loved every page.

Whether you’re a CL junkie like myself, or new to their work, I know you’ll love Twice in a Blue Moon just as much as I did!

I was not in love with this book. I think we were supposed to root for Sam in order to forgive him and I did not feel that connection to him.

I was entertained, but I never fully connected to any of the characters. I wasn't attached enough to want to see them get to their HEA.

I did really enjoy the past, until things with Sam happened. And I definitely enjoyed the being on set aspect of the present storyline. But, overall, it wasn't enough for me to give it anything higher than 3-3.5 stars.

Twice in a Blue Moon unfortunately was not for me. I have reach other Christina Lauren books and I love the romantic scenarios and characters they create, however, in this novel I felt that the characters were not likeable and difficult to root for.

Sam and Tate meet while both traveling in London in their late teens. After Sam betrays Tate, they don't see each other again for 14 years when they pick up where they left off. The pacing was off for me, especially with the Before and After structure. Some scenes or plot points took a very long time and while others happened in a matter of paragraphs, which I found frustrating as the book itself is not very long.

I will definitely be reading more Christina Lauren books in the future, but I do not feel that this was one of their best.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

whelp.
i went into this with fairly low expectations - mainly because i did not absolutely love their last one + several of my friends were reviewing this as 'meh/fine'... so i just kept putting it off, which sucks. i used to get super excited about a new CL. i don't know. i don't know if it was my low expectations or the book but i just didn't click with this one at all. super slow paced (i was texting my friend 'why are we still in the past at 30%?! when do we get to the present?!') and i think i was at like, 55% or more and the two main characters had barely talked since being reunited... wait, what? mostly, i just didn't care. i didn't know the characters well enough to give a shit about them or their relationship. which sucks big donkey balls and honestly, i'm a little hesitant to read their new one now :\

While on vacation in London with her grandmother, eighteen-year-old, Tate Jones falls in love with Sam Brandis. She also learns a few days later what heartbreak really is.

Tate meets Sam and his grandfather, Luther soon after arriving in London. Luther, Sam's grandfather and Tate's grandmother strike a conversation and at the beginning, Tate's grandmother is not very friendly. She's tired and upset that her room doesn't have a view. In a selfless act, the men decide to give their room to the ladies to accommodate them.

During the next two weeks, Tate and Sam will spend most days together (and most nights), learning about each other, their fears, their dreams. Tate confides in Sam, she tells him her deepest secret. When her trust is broken, Tate's life spirals into a nightmare.

Fast forward fourteen years, Tate is now an acclaimed actress who's going on location. Her latest movie will be filmed on a farm. Her father is playing her dad in the movie. Tate feels pressure to be at her best. She doesn't want to let her father down. The last thing on her mind was to come face to face with Sam.

I liked Twice in a Blue Moon. I can see it becoming a movie and having a great ending as the book does. I like both characters, I just didn't love them. I wish the second part of the book had more in-depth interaction between Tate and Sam. It was hard to believe they were still so in love with each other after more than a decade. I needed more dialogue. I also missed having the fun banter I have come to expect from these writers since it's one of the things I adore about their books.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Gallery Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Last night I drove to a book store that is 40 miles from my home to see them speak. I might have fallen a little in love with the Lo half of this writing duo I have enjoyed many of their books. I regularly recommend their books. They are never perfect books but typically I get drawn in and get lost in the story and don’t see the flaws.

This book was an exception. I didn’t like it. At all. The best part of the romance is relegated to the first 30% of the book. And they are 18 & 21. I don’t read YA but that part had a very YA feel to it. The rest of it was not enjoyable. At one point I considered DNF’ing it. The hero does a terrible awful thing, is barely remorseful, for reasons, and the heroine forgives him very easily. I wasn’t buying it. The grovel was almost non-existent. This angered me.

There is a story within the story as the heroine is an actress and the hero is a screenwriter. The movie bits were weird and felt like they dragged on. There is also part of the sub-plot that felt a little icky and left me with a lot of complicated feelings. My friend Suzanne, from Love in Panels did an in-depth review and that talks about this book and the things happening in it. You should definitely check it out.

This book does have a HEA but I didn’t like the hero enough to care. I’m sure loyal CLo readers will probably really enjoy this book. Not enjoying this book won’t stop me from reading the next one. And if they do another book tour that is an hour +/- from my house, you’ll probably see me in the crowd.

What can I say, I’m complicated.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book set in the world of world class actors and the film industry. We spend quite a lot of time on location for a new film, which enables some clever dynamics to come into play. Living at close quarters with the crew and cast inevitably brings issues to the fore more readily. I found that entertaining and forced issues which in a normal situation could have been dragged out.

We first meet Tate visiting London with her grandmother. She has a huge secret and sadly trusts the wrong person with the facts. This leads to her 18-year-old self having her whole life turned upside down. Fast forward to now, and we get to understand the fallout and how relationships have changed. Now a successful actress, Tate finds out what happened to the 'one.'

I absolutely bought into this story and enjoyed watching how it all worked out – between Tate and Sam, and between Tate and her close family. The only thing I found strange was that it took her so long to understand what the script was all about; up until she saw who wrote it, I completely got it, but once she knew? But maybe she was just so overwhelmed by everything else going on... which I could convince myself.

A really enjoyable romance, definitely worth a read.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet and angsty second-chance love story about an actress and a script writer. The first part of the book is pure joy – Sam and Tate’s first meeting in London is a heady, explosive few weeks of first love excitement. The second part of the book is a little darker. When Tate meets Sam again twelve years later, Sam’s betrayal hangs heavy between them. Both are older and more established, but neither has managed to find love with anyone else.

This is Tate’s book. The story is told from her perspective and at times the book is as much about her relationships with her parents and her career as it is about her relationship with Sam. I really loved Tate but there are a few moments when I found it difficult not to roll my eyes at her privileged and pampered self-pity. It’s difficult to feel sympathy for an A-list actress whose career has been boosted by her A-list actor father. In some ways, Sam is the more interesting character – but we don’t get to know him as well as I’d have liked to.

I love the film set setting for the second part of the story. The behind the scenes glimpses we get of the filmmaking process are fun and entertaining. Most of the characters are engaging but few move past type and trope. The story is a simple, easy read. It’s a satisfying – if predictable – read.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-Free Review. The writing duo of Christina Lauren is new-to-me.

4 Stars. Rated based on the contemporary romance genre, not necessarily my enjoyment. I struggled to keep interested while reading, simply because it wasn't my cup of tea, even though second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. However, I do believe fans of the author and this genre in particular will be highly entertained. Hence my 4-Star rating.

At the beginning of Twice in a Blue Moon, Tate is only eighteen years old, so it reads age-appropriate, more like a young adult novel, which I appreciated and enjoyed. Vacationing with her grandmother, Tate meets Sam, who is also with his grandfather. They spend the next two weeks in a whirlwind love affair, many secrets shared, then they part ways. Sam broke Tate's heart by betraying her.

Fast-forward 14 years, Tate is now an actress, and while on location, she runs into Sam, where a tangle of animosity is felt toward him. With the promise of angsty deliciousness, Sam is none other than the screenwriter. I'm a sucker for the angst of love-hate and second-chance romance. Where this didn't hit the mark is how the emotions were just at the surface, not too deep or realistic. I felt as if I was being told Tate and Sam were connected, instead of actually seeing the connection develop on the pages.

Twice in a Blue Moon is a light and fuzzy, quick read, which is sure to please fans of the author(s) and of the contemporary romance genre. I just needed something a bit deeper to truly entertain me, because I won't remember much of it after reading another book or two.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
For me, this book was a hard read. The first half of the book was what happened in the past... Tate's first love, Sam, and how they fell hard and fast while in London. Sam's betrayal of her trust and love not only broke Tate's heart but cracked her soul as well.

The second half of the book deals with the fallout of Tate seeing Sam again. Tate's life has done a complete 180 since they last saw each other. She's a leading lady, ready for the role that's sure to earn her acting nominations aplenty. What she didn't know until the first day on set is that Sam is the screenwriter.

The angst that follows Tate through her journey of self-discovery is very tangible; however, I believe Tate is very naive for having been in show business for 12 years.

This book did offer me some moments to ponder about things that happen and why they happen and how, in the end, it's really up to you to stand up and create your own path.

Another solid story by Christina Lauren! I will say, I think because I love them so much, I might hold them to a higher standard than others.

Tate Jones meets Sam when she’s in London. She shares her biggest secret, that she’s actually the daughter of one of the world’s most famous actors. When she is found by the paparazzi, she is crushed. Fast forward 15 years, and Tate is now a famous actress acting in a movie with her famous father for the first time. When she gets to set, she learns that the writer is Sam.

I’m going to start with what I like, in hopes that maybe it will help me figure out what didn’t work for me. I liked Tate a lot. I thought she was a great character and I liked seeing her grow. The first 30% or so of this book is a young adult novel and it really shows up different someone can be at 18 vs 32. Tate is a strong female lead and I liked all of her scenes.

Sam was almost annoyingly good. I think him turning Tate into the press was supposed to make the reader dislike him, but in the end he does it for good reason. I also kept waiting for it to be exposed that he wasn’t the one who leaked her story to the press, so maybe that effected my point of view. Spoiler alert in hopes that it makes you enjoy it more than I did, he did leak her story.

I think one of the things that didn’t work for me was that some of the passion was lacking for me. Christina Lauren is usually packed with passion and characters that can’t keep their hands off of each other and I love the way that drive their stories forward. Tate and Sam were very standoffish with each other and it took until the final part of the story until they started to reconnect.

The story is a good story and after a slump of books I had no desire to finish, I was happy I found one that was interesting and paced well. I think if this wasn’t a Christina Lauren book, I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher, but because I had such high expectations for it, I was a little let down. It’s a little different from what I’ve come to know and love from them, so that threw me a bit. I would still recommend reading this book, because it is a good story. I would just maybe recommend some of their other books first.

I'm a sucker for second chance romances and when it's one written by Christina Lauren, I know it's going to be a doozy. In other words, a whole lot of feels! It all begins in the past when Sam and Tate meet during a two-week vacation abroad with their respective grandparents. They fall in love in that intense first love kind of way where they share everything about themselves. That's how Tate ends up revealing that she's the long-lost daughter of a famous movie star and soon after, it's clear her trust was misplaced. Flash-forward to fourteen years later when Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, steps onto the set of her newest film only to find Sam, her not-so-forgotten first love, there as well. What transpires is a whole lot of angst, slow reveals to the past and getting to know one another in the present. Christina Lauren really do excel at making readers believe in that rare, immediate connection with someone at first-meet and the notion of "one true love," both of which can be seen here. It's not a perfect story and I actually would've loved to see more of Sam and Tate as individuals in the past, during the years apart and when they're reunited again. I think knowing more history and more character development would've given the story more emotional impact. But I honestly didn't mind it much. I felt very invested in the present romance and watching these two individuals who never forgot one another, slowly work their way back.

Do I recommend? | I do! Twice in a Blue Moon is my favorite of their two 2019 releases but the title of ultimate fave still belongs to Sweet Filthy Boy.

Love, love, LOVE Christina Lauren! Their books are always my go to for a good romance that isn’t overly cheesy or cliche.

This one is super cute, but not one of my favorites, unfortunately.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Twice in a Blue Moon is a good read but wasn’t entirely a hit for me — likeable but not loveable!

I truly love Christina Lauren’s writing! I appreciate how seamlessly they write as a duo and always find their style(s) easy and evocative. Told in the POV of the leading lady, Tate, this is a story of first love, betrayal and heartbreak, second chance romance, and redemption.

Although I found this to be beautifully written, there was some kind of disconnect for me that I can’t entirely explain. Some of my issues were that I found the shift in the story from Tate’s past to her present-day life a bit jarring, I was never completely invested in the characters, and I wanted more from the romance.

I absolutely adored the present day setting, the behind the scenes of making the film, and learning the story behind the script. The story within the story is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking — it is probably my favorite aspect of this book.

Overall, I didn’t love Twice in a Blue Moon, but I also didn’t hate it. I know there are a lot of readers who will thoroughly enjoy this one, especially if they are fans of CLo’s Love and Other Words.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.

This was my least favorite Christina Lauren. I hated these characters. I couldn't care less about what was going on. They all made stupid choices. Tate was just stupid. Her emotions are all over the place and so inconsistent. Nick was such a great guy and he just gets tossed to the curb because Sam made a half hearted explanation about why he was an asshole. And her relationship with her father was just confusing and jumbled.