Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the writing duo Christina Lauren for the opportunity to read and review their latest novel. I really enjoyed the Unhoneymooners - this latest book wasn't quite the same read for me but still a light, romantic novel with lots of feeling.

Tate Jones meets Sam Brandis while on a vacation in London with her over-protective grandmother and falls madly in love. She put all her trust in Sam, confiding her family secret that she is the daughter of one of the most famous current Hollywood stars. When he breaks that trust, her world is shattered. Fourteen years later, Tate is following in her father's footsteps and is beginning to shoot a film that is destined to make her career. Then she sees that the screenwriter is none other than her first love.

A nice romantic story filled with all those human emotions that go along with family, love, betrayal, forgiveness.

Christina Lauren really knows how to pull you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. I think I’ve found a new favorite author.
I was completely shredded after Tate’s return from London. I wasn’t sure how Sam was going to redeem himself. Did he do it? Will we find out it was someone else who betrayed Tate? And how will she react when she sees Sam again after 14 years?
So good. 5 stars!!!

Based on the blurb, I expected Twice in a Blue Moon to strictly be a second chance romance by an author pair whose work I’ve enjoyed in the past. There are elements of that here, but the real story is about Tate embracing and taking ownership of her life and relationships.

When we first meet young Tate (and Sam) on their London adventure, it’s a sweet first love that seems to be fated. It was a pleasure to watch them dance around each other and begin to make plans.

Adult Tate stuck me as somewhat isolated, a little lonely, and very easy to like. This well written piece shows her struggle with her feelings/relationship with her father, we see her in the midst of friendships both old and new, and the shock of reuniting with Sam.

This is not a fast paced book, but given the complexities of the relationships involved the pacing worked. I enjoyed watching Tate figure things out and decide where her future lies.

Every Christina Lauren book I read makes me look forward to the next one more and that is definitely the case here.

3.5 Stars. I try to not write spoilers but this might slightly qualify. I think it would be obvious that some of this happens as it's a romance. You been warned. Okay, so I loved Tate and Sam but I also wanted to shake them and say 'what the hell?' I get why Sam did what he did, but really just disappear? Is that forgivable? I don't know. For someone like Sam as he appears to be, maybe. Now, Tate... I really liked her and yet I felt she was so stupid. It was mentioned a couple of times about being spineless and yeah, I think she was and a DOORMAT! I get wanting your dad to be better than he was but seriously? How many times did he have to shit on her to get a clue? I wanted her to shout out and tell it like it was and quit taking crap. It seemed like she kind of did in the end, but it wasn't really spelled out in my mind. So underlying good story with some problems. I love Christina Lauren books and I guess just looking for a better ending. It had an HEA but still...

At last, I have read a Christina Lauren book! Twice in a Blue Moon is the duo’s newest book and is out 10/22/2019.

Tate Jones meets Sam Brandis during a trip to London with her grandmother when she is 18, and Sam is 21. Tate and Sam have immediate chemistry and hit it off during their time abroad, but then a betrayal arises that ends their relationship.

Fast forward 14 years, and Tate is an actress whose star is on the rise. Tate and Sam are unexpectedly reunited, and Tate must examine what went wrong and how she really feels. Did they truly have something special? The two are forced to confront one another and their history together.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this, as it was a quick, light read, but it didn’t do anything for me. The characters and storyline were just okay, and I was expecting much more from all the amazing things I hear about Christina Lauren. Based on other reviews I’ve seen online, it seems like this is not their best work, so I’m still definitely looking forward to reading their other books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
•
I feel in love with Christina Lauren when I read The Unhoneymooners back in June. So of course when I heard they had a new book coming out I knew I HAD to read it. Needless to say they didn’t disappoint. Twice in a Blue Moon was a cute love story about first love, betrayal and that rare occurrence of them coming back around a second time. This story captured my attention from the very first page. We can all remember our first love and the pain from it not lasting, I know I can.
•
So what happens when that first love not only betrays you and exposes you to the world but comes back into your life a decade later? Will Tate forgive Sam and rekindle their romance or will she walk away? Can she even trust him?
•
Despite being a huge thriller lover I do enjoy a good romance novel here and there. I have found that when I need a cute and fun love story I can count on Christina Lauren to deliver. Make sure to go grab your copy romance lovers!! I look forward to seeing what they come out with next!

Second Chance at Happiness
This book started off so slow and boring that I nearly quit reading it. I'm glad that I persevered. Once the book got to the 'today' area, it was a knockout. As a romance and more-so as Women's Fiction, this story has great depth and emotional range. I was pleasantly surprised and plan on reading more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I’m not sure what to make of Twice in a Blue Moon. I certainly didn’t hate it; in fact there are parts I quite enjoyed, but I wouldn’t call it Christina Lauren’s strongest work.

The first quarter of the book is one long flashback, and it’s very surface level young adult material. Tate and Sam fall in love unbelievable fast, all the characters are pretty one-dimensional, and the amount of drama surrounding Tate seems like much ado about nothing. I stopped and started so many times I began to wonder if I would finish.

The story finally jumps forward fourteen years to present day and that’s when the pace picks up. Tate is on the cusp of career greatness as she prepares to star in a high-budget film. I loved feeling immersed in the process of film making, and the set is a great backdrop for a reunion between the ex-lovers. Lots of wonderfully conflicting emotions are stirred up when Tate and Sam are forced to work together publicly while privately there is so much unresolved baggage between them. I definitely became more invested in the story, but I couldn’t help feeling like their breakup could have easily been avoided in the first place. I also grew frustrated by Tate’s inability to put pretty basic puzzle pieces together.

The tension between Tate and her estranged father is potent and painful. Their complicated relationship is one of the more interesting facets of the story. However, Tate is very meek and I was disappointed by the lack of accountability.

This book is in desperate need of an epilogue. It’s a shame to follow the cast and crew throughout the creative and emotional challenges of making a movie but then never see the end result.

I enjoyed this Christina Lauren book and found it a fun and easy read.

Both Tate and Sam were likable characters and were well written. The secondary characters were well written as well.

There was a little bit of a twist that I didn't see coming, but I enjoyed it, and I liked the themes of forgiveness and the importance of understanding that we all have struggles at different times.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

A second chance at love is what Twice in a Blue Moon is all about. Coauthors Christina Lauren have created two compelling main characters, with a supporting cast of interesting personalities. I especially liked the heroine, actress Tate Jones, for being able to handle total heartbreak from the two men in her life that should have known better.

Although Tate is the daughter of a super megastar actor, she grew up in a small town in Northern California. Her mother and grandmother raised her, yet never spoke of her narcissistic dad. Tate lived a sheltered life until the age of 18, when she was visiting London with her grandmother in celebration of her high school graduation. There she met Sam Brandis, a gorgeous and college educated young man. He and his grandfather took time away to see London, in celebration of Sam's college graduation. Tate and Sam are attracted to each other almost immediately, and their short time together evolves into lust and love. Tate shares her family secrets with Sam, which ends up on the front page of every tabloid, newspaper, and social media outlet. Sam wanted more time with his ailing grandfather, and selling Tate's story was the answer to his prayers. However, he totally regrets having to hurt the love of his life in the process.

Now we move forward fourteen years. Tate is a popular actress and Sam is a successful author. Tate has never gotten over the heartbreak and Sam's disloyalty from over a decade ago. Thanks to Sam's betrayal and her father's notoriety, Tate is able to live her dream of being an actress. With her latest role, she has the opportunity to win an Oscar. Unbeknownst to Tate, Sam wrote the book and the film's screenplay. Tate's dad has been cast in the film as well, and the publicity surrounding their first time working together is pure gold. Thanks to amazing publicists, the world believes that Tate and her dad have a warm relationship, which couldn't be further from the truth. They are both very good actors and are able to sell the lie. The remote location and isolated set, allows Tate and Sam rekindle their love for each other. Unfortunately, their personal lives become fodder for all of social media. This time Sam did not cause Tate's heartbreak, however, the man who did will never be forgiven.

This is a very interesting book and it kept me entertained from beginning to end. Although the story starts out a bit slow, it picks up speed along the way and never loses momentum. Many things happen in London and on the set of the film, which keeps the plot lively and intriguing. I was gutted when Sam betrayed Tate. Nevertheless, Tate and Sam have great chemistry. Overall, a wonderful romantic read!

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I LOVED this read! This duo is one of my favorites. I swoon and a laugh and sometimes they even bring the tears. This one brought the laughs and the swoon and honestly, at parts of it I was even angry.

I am a sucker for Hollywood reads. Give me all the behind the scenes Hollywood reads. This one though? This one also made me a little sad. To see another side of this world that isn’t typically depicted in reads.

But I digress. I wanted t talk about how this read was all the romance. It wasn’t insta-love, but it was an instant connection between characters, that literal once in a blue moon type of love. The kids you just know as soon as your heart sees the other.

This was the read that got me so invested I raged with the main character and I was sad with her and then at the end I was completely in love with her and her story and I would absolutely love to have more in this world.

This duo did what they always do. They gave us a world that we felt at home in and gave us the love story we didn’t know we needed.

When Tate and Sam meet during vacation in London in college, they quickly become involved in a whirlwind romance. When Tate shares her deep hidden family secret, Sam quickly jumps on an opportunity to sell the secret for self gain. Flash forward 14 years, Tate is now a successful actress and Sam's betrayal is behind her. That is, until Tate finds herself on the same movie set as Sam....

Even through Sam's betrayal is very shocking, the story is a good reminder that there are two sides to every story. Tate is a strong female protagonist who protects herself and uses bad situations to her best advantage while still being able to channel the forgive-and-forget in her. There is also a lot of family discord in this story that will pull at your heartstrings.

Anyone who is a fan of Christina Lauren's work I am sure will love this read. Twice in a Blue Moon is fun contemporary romance that everyone will enjoy.

I love my Kindle more than anything that I own, and I've even been known to snuggle it (yes, my husband also thinks that's weird), yet this book make me seriously debate throwing my Kindle across the room with rage. I hated this book so much.

It's been a long time since I've felt this way about a (so-called) romance book.

I want to state for the record that I'm a total Christina Lauren stan. I met them recently at a book con, and they couldn't have been lovelier, and but I wish I could go back in time and un-read this book.

Twice in a Blue Moon starts off with a prolonged flashback, which, okay, I always hate, but I was willing to roll with it for the sake of these authors. But it felt so, SO juvenile. Just incredibly predictable and young, and not in an endearing way.

So, the meat of the story had to be better, right? Absolutely not.

My biggest issue, which can't be ignored, is the total lack of grovelling. I mean, what the hell, Christina Lauren?!? I know I'm a total sucker for grovel-porn, but in a book like this one, I need EXTRA grovelling. I need begging, pleading, nose-on-floor- style action. I got literally none of that. A few half-hearted apologies and a "I'm having a bad day, too" and that's all we get??? I DON'T FORGIVE HIM.

To top it off, the story was very one-note, just ho-hum and predictable all the way through. I was hoping for some intense emotions, intense chemistry, but I didn't get any of that. In fact, I felt like the story was vaguely familiar (kind of Swear on This Life vibes), and the book felt very junior, not like an adult romance. Twice in a Blue Moon not only didn't engage me, it angered me (could you tell??), which just compounds my negative feelings about the story.

Sadly, my least favorite Christina Lauren to date.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Title: Twice in a Blue Moon
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Twice in a Blue Moon" by Christina Lauren

My Rationalization:

I found "Twice in a Blue Moon" quite some read that was about Sam and Tate. They met when he was 21 and Tate is 18. It was a cute romance however what will happen when a betrayal will come that will change their lives. What will happen when 14 years later these two will meet up again? Will Tate be able to forgive Sam for his betrayal? Will old feeling began to surface again for Sam and Tate? And with all of what will be going on who else is in the picture that will cause more problems for these two? This was definitely one story for me that left me wishing that we had been given an epilogue because there were several questions that needed to be answered.

All in all, by throwing this story into a 'Hollywood scandal with a father/daughter with issues I found 'Twice in a Blue Moon" an interesting read.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years earlier- Tate and her mother had lived with her Nana since she was eight. They were way out of their comfort zone- Tate and Nana- in London. Nana owned a small town cafe and she was usually a good sport. But when she felt she didn’t get exactly what she paid for she became grumpy. They had went to London to celebrate Tate’s eighteenth birthday. They would be in London for two weeks. After settling in the hotel, they went on to a small pub- The Red Lion- to have a meal. Than a man named Luther invited them to eat at his table with himself and his grandson Sam Brandis. Sam made tate’s pulse seem to echo in her throat. She felt like she could stare at his face all night and still find something new in the morning. Only two weeks prior she ended a three year relationship with Jesse. The only boy she had ever found worthy of her affection. Boys were the last thing on Tate’s mind. London wasn’t suppose to be about boys but being in a place with museums, and history, and people who were raised in a city rather than a tiny damp redwood-lined river town. It was about doing every last thing Tate had ever dreamed of doing here. But it seemed that Sam didn’t get the message, he was still staring at Tate and holding her hand. Luther said they were celebrating Sam’s twenty first birthday which was three days ago. Tate met with Sam every night in the garden and they even got a day alone together and that afternoon Tate lost her virginity to Sam. She told Sam everything about her famous father Ian Butler who was a famous actor, leaving, having her mother take her away and living with her grandmother and keeping her secret. But she trusted Sam. Sam said he was falling in love with her and he would come see her when she was at college and take her to see her dad if she wanted to go. Then it all came out a day after she had last seen Sam and Luther. Sam had betrayed her and went to the newspaper and told everything and broke tate’s heart. Than tate found out she had a trust fund and now had a PR man named Marcus who worked for her and was paid by her trust fund. Now - 14 years later- Tate felt like a fraud that she didn’t actually know what she was doing, that she somehow got into acting on a technicality not because you earned it. She was acting in a film called Milkweed she would play the lead- Ellen Meyer- who had been a former civil rights activist and badass extraordinaire. Her father was doing a supporting role. A month in a half with Ian, and Tate had no idea if it would bring them closer together. Charlie had been Tate’s best friend for a long time now she did hair and makeup for the movie. Than Tate started toward the Community House to do the first read. Tate seen her father and was waving at her with some man next to him as she came closer she saw it was Sam the one who had betrayed her and broke her heart.
This was a good read and I enjoyed this a lot. I loved Sam and tate together and how they interacted. My heart hurt for tate when Sam betrayed her and broke her heart even though eventually she did find out why? Things went a little fast for Sam and Tate in London especially since she was generally cautious and had been raised to keep her secrets. I liked the plot of this book. I loved Tate’s relationship with her mother. I felt bad even after Tate was pushed into the limelight. But I didn’t really care for Tate’s father too much ego and what would be good for him and his disappointment with Tate all the time. I love the characters and the ins and out of this book and I recommend it.

Twice in a Blue Moon is another Christina Lauren gem!

My favorite thing about this book is that we get to watch Tate and Sam fall in love as kids in “real time” rather than thru one sided recollections and flashbacks. The back story was fully developed first and then we moved to the present where the two are reunited as very different people who still have this undeniable connection with one another.

I loved Charlie, Tyler, and Nick as Tate’s support on set and of course Emma and Nana at home. The story felt so organic without feeling overly predictable. My only complaints are that we never got to be in Sam’s head and it felt a little rushed at the ending...but then really good books often feel too short!

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

Twice In A Blue Moon is another amazing book by Christina Lauren 🌙 OUT TODAY!! ⁣
⁣
I finished this book in about 3 days And would definitely recommend it! ⁣
⁣
Tate Jones learns the truth about your first love and all the highs and lows that come with your first heartbreak. Tate and Sam Brandis’ love story isn’t over as they reunite and connect deeper years later in a way only possible with your first love. It’s a true story of truth, love, secrets and family. ⁣
⁣
This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 star rating for me! ⁣

Sam made a deliberate decision to do what he did to Tate in my mind. Why can’t he come out and ask Tate for help? I guess we won’t have a story. Their meeting again and the events surrounding it was surreal. The secondary story of Tate’s parents was interesting. Read like the story of one of our lead characters. Maybe they’ll get back together? Who knows.
I wasn’t as engrossed in this story as i used to be with all of CL novels though.

Tate Jones has spent most of her life living in a quiet little town with her mom and nana, and away from her famous actor dad. After graduating from high school, Tate's nana takes her to London for a two week vacation. While they are there, they meet Sam Brandis and his grandfather, Luther. While spending time with Sam, Tate is very drawn to him and starts sneaking away to spend alone time with him. Tate has fallen in love with Same and eventually confides all of her secrets to him. Of course this ends up blowing up in her face.

Fourteen years later, Tate is a famous actress and is going to star in a new movie that has a lot of Oscar buzz where she will also be working with her father for the first time. Imagine Tate's surprise when she sees Sam on the set. Even though he broke her heart, she is drawn to him. It will take a lot of conversations for these two to get to a better understanding of each other and over time it just might make them fall in all over again.

I just LOVED this story and could not put it down. I cannot even begin to imagine the type of life Tate has had to live. Even through it all, she has come out as such a strong and fragile character at the same time. I also just adored Sam. It was hard to stay mad at him after you hear what happened and why. Together these two just brought out the best in each other. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. Read it....you will not be sorry!

Christina Lauren are authors that I always look forward to. Twice in a Blue Moon is a great second chance romance that is touching and surprising. It's a story about Tate and Sam who meet years ago and had a quick, young romance. But when a betrayal happens it tears them apart and changes their lives.

Twice in a Blue Moon takes you on a journey of trusting and loving again between these characters. I have to say, this wasn't my favorite book from these authors, but as always, they are brilliant storytellers.