I loved the premise of having your first love reenter your life years later. TAte and Sam meet when they're 18 and 21 and quickly fall in love only to have Sam betray her. Fast forward 14 years and they meet again. The beginning definitely read like a YA book and it reminded me why I've struggled with these authors writing style in the past. I'm looking for more structure and a fast-paced, yet well-plotted romance and I didn't get that here. I found that the story unfolded slowly, the characters felt flat and I didn't feel any chemistry between them until maybe the last 5% of the book. Way too long to wait. Overall, this wasn't for me,

Okay! I can definitely see why a lot of readers have mixed feelings with this one. I really loved the idea of the story and I did love a lot parts of the book, but I felt like it wasn’t as much about Sam & Tate as it was about Tate & her dad. Or even just Tate and her other relationships with her friends. I felt like just when Sam and Tate’s relationship was going to reveal more and have more intimacy, the book was almost over. I wanted more of their relationship.

Now don’t get me wrong I really liked the book itself, the story was great! But for a second chance romance, I wanted more romance!!

Can you forgive your first love, your first everything, who hurtfully betrayed you when you discover it’s for a totally understandable reason? That is the question at the center of Christina Lauren’s heartfelt Twice in a Blue Moon.

The first part of the novel shows Tate and Sam meeting in London, Tate with her grandmother and Sam with his grandfather. Tate and Sam are immediately drawn to each other, their nighttime star gazing in the garden behind the hotel is sweet, and filled with all of those out-of-control emotions that teenagers experience. First love. Sam disappears and Tate discovers that he has outed her to the press as the daughter of famous actor Ian Butler. She was used.

Years later, Tate is starring in a film with her father, a film that could conceivably bring her accolades and put her solidly on the A-list when she sees Sam. The past is the suddenly the present, or is it?

The only Christina Lauren novels I’ve read have been romantic comedies. This wasn’t one of them. Not that that is a bad thing, but my expectation felt battered when flung aside. However, that writing and romance is just so solid in Twice in a Blue Moon that I (almost) didn’t care that it wasn’t a rom-com.

One of the elements that has always turned me off about female characters in romances and women’s fiction is that they react first and think seldom, if at all. In a new wave of novels, where angst is not a celebrity, women actually think before reacting. All of this is to say that Tate behaves as a modern thinking woman would/should. She asks questions. She realizes that life is short and that you might only have one chance to do things right. She doesn’t throw tantrums (❤) and storm off slamming doors.

If there are soulmates, Sam is Tate’s, despite not thinking things through during their first relationship. Even the second time around, they are as strongly drawn to each other as they were the first.

Like all of the Christina Lauren novels I’ve read, Twice in a Blue Moon is one you don’t want to put down. The characters ring true, the plot is well-constructed, and the writing involving. I did, however, miss the smart snarky humor of preceding novels. While Twice in a Blue Moon isn’t my favorite Christina Lauren novel, it’s still way beyond a lot of the chick-lit/romances out there.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Something a little different from well loved author, Christina Lauren. In 'Twice in a Blue Moon', we find two old flames find their way back to each other in a topsy-turvy journey that involves Hollywood drama, second chances, and emotional baggage. There are humorous moments that readers will hold on to for dear life when the tsunami of emotions hit. So grab some tissues, open your hearts, and enjoy the imagination of Christina Lauren.

This. Was. FANTASTIC. One of my favorite Christina Lauren books so far. Loved the character development in this one.

This book felt different than most of the CLo I’ve read in the past. My biggest complaint (although there aren’t really many complaints!) was the lack of a quirky leading lady (ahem Hazel). Josh and Hazel will probably always be my favorite CLo book and that’s because I loved Hazel so much! Tate had a different air to her. She has a very broken past but she’s in the limelight, she’s put together, and a lot of what she does is for the benefit of the public eye.

Overall, unsurprisingly, I loved this book! It got me thinking a lot about second chances and the choices we make. I loved seeing Sam and Tate grow and deal with the choices they made in the past. After all, can you forgive someone for making a very harmful choice if their intentions were good?

This one truly one of my favorite Christina Lauren books to date - so, so good! It was heartwarming and hard and relatable, and it has the element of a behind-the-scenes celebrity story that I love so much. Tate as a teenager was equally relatable to the grown up woman Tate, and I really enjoyed that she stayed consistent throughout the story. Sometimes as authors try to grow characters, they lose the essence of the character, and that wasn't at all what I experienced here. Another 5 star, tell all your friends about it, book!

3.5*
I’m a newbie to the delightful, rom-com world of Christina Lauren, having only read three of their earlier works.
So from what I've experienced in their past reads, I was hopeful for something heart-felt to keep me smiling throughout. But lets just say, this book had a very different feel to it.

Tate and Sam have known each other since they were young. Traveling through Britain with their families. Tate, with her grandmother, and Sam with his dad. The two instantly hit it off. Sparks were flying! A whirlwind romance with all the brilliant stars in the sky that only a first love can present. But surely, all good things must come to an end.

And leave it to the cosmic fates that fourteen years later, their two love-struck paths cross once again. Will the spark ignite once again? Is it possible to rekindle the magic of first love? But a bigger immediate question is...can betrayals of the past be forgiven?

If you’re looking for the same chemistry that make their previous books unputdownable, be prepared. It’s a fun and charming read but it lacked the humor and heart I’d grown accustomed to.

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery, Pocket Books and Christina Lauren for this ARC to read and review.

Tate and her grandmother visit London to celebrate her 18th birthday and while on their trip they meet Sam Brandis and his grandfather Luther. Tate finds herself immediately drawn to Sam and she wants to share everything with him. As Tate finds herself falling more in love, she spills her chest of secrets and tells Sam everything. The quiet world Tate knew, came crumbling down as she is thrown into the spotlight.

Fourteen years later, Tate has the perfect life according to the news thanks to her meticulous and amazing PR Marco. She is cast for a career changing role in a new movie. Tate arrives on scene to find the man who changed her world.

Everyone deserves a second chance at love. I loved this book by the fantastic writing duo Christina Lauren. This book has a more gut-wretching emotional ride and does not have the usual humorous vibe that I am used to with their writing. I was attached the moment Tate arrived on scene. I most definitely recommend if you love a second chance a love story.

4.5 stars rounded up to five

Thank you #netgalley for providing an advanced copy.

I truly enjoyed this book. It was my first Christina Lauren novel. I've heard so many good things about them and I'm so glad I got a chance to read this early. It was such a quick, enjoyable read. I liked the second chance romance and there was a funny little Room with a View moment at the beginning that made my English major heart very happy. I will say that the chemistry between the two characters was a bit lacking for me and the book could have been a bit longer or more drawn out to make me start to care about the romance a little bit more than I did. However, it was still a very good read and I read it in about a day, so that says a lot. Is it the most swoon worthy romance I've ever read? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. And at the end of the day, that's all I ask for in a contemporary romance. A few hours of entertainment and fun. Again, I need a half star. 3.5 stars for me. Fun, light read. Lacking a bit in chemistry and depth.

Christina Lauren always writes a great romance / women's fiction book. The love seems real, without too much X-rated details. Twice in a Blue Moon follows the same format. We are introduced to 18-year-old Tate, on vacation in London. She meets a boy, Sam, and they connect and fall in love as you do when you are 18 and know someone for less than two weeks. Things don't end well, to say the least and they go on.
Fast forward 14 years. Tate becomes a movie star and is surprised to see Sam on set one day. Readers of Christina Lauren know what's going to happen next and they don't disappoint. It's predictable, but it's a light, easy read. It's exactly what you get when you pick up a Christina Lauren book.
This one, for me, wasn't as solid as some of their other books. The connection between Sam and Tate as adults didn't seem to be there as much for me. I wished I could have seen more of the romance building. I also had a tough time with them as a couple after how their younger selves romance ended. It's one thing to overcome adversity, but this was a lot to overcome.
I love the idea of second chance at love, but this one stretched the line a little bit too much for me. The writing was good, the sex was very tame (virtually non-existent) but it needed a little more convincing to get me on board with this romance.

There is nothing like experiencing your first love; the feelings can be overwhelmingly beautiful and intense. Then when that love is shattered, by the person you love, you feel like your life is falling apart. Christina Lauren has captured all these feelings and more in their latest book, Twice in a Blue Moon.

However, there is more than meets the eye in Twice in a Blue Moon. As I read and thought about this book, I realized that these two authors gave us two-second chance romances within this one book. The passion between Tate and Sam is undeniable, but the poignant, guileless love between Luther and Roberta is what made me adore this story.

“I can’t fathom what it had to have been like for Luther, or the bond that must have existed between the two of them to press on, continue to fight against such bigotry and evil and in the end truly live such vibrant, optimistic lives.”

Tate has found her person in Sam. She has only just met him, and they have spent less than two weeks together, but they have fallen hard for each other. She doesn’t understand the feelings she has for him, but she feels in her heart that they are real. And how lucky can a girl get that Sam feels the same way about her? Tate shares herself and her biggest secret with Sam.

“He just seemed to pull everything out of me: my truth magnet.”

Then betrayal strikes.

Fourteen years later, Tate has her life back on track. She may be the daughter of one of the most successful leading men in Hollywood, but she has worked hard, and now she is an actress on the brink of her first serious movie roll. What could go wrong? Let us say that Christina Lauren takes us on one heck of an emotional ride.

I love the way these two women write. Their books are a joy to read. The character development of both main characters is well done. I found Tate to be tenacious, but also at the same time vulnerable, which made her very relatable. The supporting characters were well thought out and well written. There was a positive balance between the three women in Tate’s life, her Nana, her mom, and her best friend, Charlie. We must not forget Maro, who is Tate’s PR manager and who helps Tate navigate the very complicated Hollywood scene. They all supported Tate in very different ways.

“Marco is my calm, Mom is my home, Nana is my conscience, but Charlie is my wide-open sky, my free-dancing, stargazing wild rumpus.”

Sam, Sam, Sam, what to say about Sam, I loved him and wanted to strangle him at the same time. The man is simple and complicated all at the same time.


Twice in a Blue Moon, hit all my good feels. Twice in a Blue Moon showed us that being in love could be sweet and wonderous at times, but it also showed us that it could also be full of heartbreak and loneliness, but well worth it in the end.

I enjoyed reading Twice in a Blue Moon and would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good second chance love story.

** Please note the quotes in my review are subject to change once the book is published**


*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***

Twice in a Blue Moon follows Tate who is the daughter of a famous actor. Her parents are divorced and she’s been living with her mom and nana in a small town away from Hollywood. On her first trip out of the country she meets a boy named Sam and instantly they fall for one another.

Sam comes from a small rural town but dreams of being a writer. Though Hollywood has ruined her family she secretly wants to be an actress. Tate has a lot of pent of resentment of her dad for essentially abandoning her. Both want to chase their passions in life but also don’t want to disappoint their loved ones. Upon the end of the trip everything falls apart as Tate’s existence is exposed and she is thrust into the spotlight.

Fast forward to ten years later and Tate is a actor working along her dad in a film called Milkweed in which she has the lead role. On set she runs into Sam for the first time in years and is shocked. Sam is now a writer and a farmer and happens to be the screenwriter of this film. All those feelings of pain and love come back. Can they both move on from the past?

As time goes on Tate is able to immerse herself into the movie as the lead role and being away from the hustle of the city allows her to reflect on her past. Her and Sam have many conversations about London and slowly reconnect over the years they’ve lost. Tate keeps her guard up so that she won’t get hurt again. While working on the film the two reconnect and start to talk about about what happened. Slowly the rift begins to fade away.

I enjoyed this book, but I wanted a bit more from it. The novel moved very slow at first but picked up towards the middle. I loved the secondary characters as much (if even more than the main characters) Charlie is a loyal best friend to Tate, Marco is her headstrong manager, Nick who is her co-star has a playful side but gives her support on set and good advice. Most importantly, her mom and nana and have always been there for despite all the drama from the press.

This a was a entertaining and heartwarming novel about a whirlwind romance and a first love. It was more sentimental and a bit more serious compared to other recent romances from the author duo, but very good.

3.5 stars. This is my third book by Christina Lauren. Overall I enjoyed this book, but it was missing a lot of the humor that I've seen in their two other books (Unhoneymooners- 5 stars & My Favorite Half Night Stand- 4 stars). This book had a more serious tone, and hardly any funny moments. I felt like the middle dragged on a bit. I liked the chemistry between the main characters and loved the scenes when they first met in London. I also liked that the book included scenes from the movie. They really added to the story. I did enjoy the ending, and I loved the side characters.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

The Delight

Second chance romances are a personal favorite of mine and this new book by the author duo, Christina Lauren, hit it out of the ballpark with this one for me. First love, first everything for one sheltered eighteen year old with an older(21)guy who falls in love as well was bound to not go well, especially when betrayal is in the mix. What happens fourteen years later is the crux of this engaging book-although this couple’s beginning was important as well.

Review

Anytime I see the names Christina Lauren on a book, I am totally in for the read. And in all but one exception, I have loved all of the ones I have read. I find their books to be different from the normal contemporary romance with deeper messages/story lines/problems than those of the lighthearted variety. Not that there isn’t humor because there is, and not that they are tragedies, because they’re not, but rather that they are a bit more complicated. And that’s a good thing in my mind. I did find that this book lacked some of the humor that is the norm in their books.

Fresh out of high school, Tate Jones is on a two week vacation in London with her grandmother. There they meet a older man and his grandson, Sam Brandis on their first day. It’s not long before the four are eating most of their meals together and visiting all the touristy places together. It’s also not long until Tate is sneaking out when her grandmother is sleeping to spend time alone with Sam in the hotel’s huge garden. There they lay under the stars and tell each other all their secrets. Tate’s secret is that she’s the daughter of one of the most famous actors in the world, one that has disappeared from his life. The two are young and attracted to each other and fall in love. End of story. Not quite, because of course true love doesn’t run smooth and the two lose track of each other for fourteen years.

Fourteen years later and Tate is an actress in her own right and only has fleeting encounters with her father. He’s not a really good guy. She’s found the role of a lifetime and her father will be a supporting character in the movie. It involves being sent to a rural area and living on a huge farm for weeks. It also involves her meeting Sam again. Tate was a good character. She was raised mostly away from Hollywood in a small town where no one but her grandmother and mom knew who she was. She’s beautiful, intelligent and considerate. She also has a temper when it comes to Sam. Sam is actually a good guy who did a very stupid, but necessary? thing years ago. He’s a tall, well built man with a beard and is still stupidly handsome to Tate. Tate’s father is the ultimate egotistical actor. He’s always on in front of people and is so not the same in private. I disliked him immediately. Other important characters were her best friend Charlie, her movie co-star Nick, her mother, and her manager. They were all fleshed out almost as much as the two leads.

I found the book to be well written as usual, plotted and paced well and I loved the time spent in London as much as the time spent at the farm. The older romance was very believable and actually very sweet and full of lust. The new romance was a bit less believable(hence the blue moon)but still a good one and okay yes, in the end, full of lust as well. Don’t get me wrong, this is not erotica, but there are sex scenes and not ones to fill in where story should be. I also liked the inclusion of some of the dramatic scenes from the movie. They were actually important to the story and that’s all I am saying about that.

If you are adult and like good contemporary romance and characters, I highly recommend this one. I think you will be pleasantly surprised if you are new to the authors and not surprised at all if you are already fans of the authors. (DelightedReader.com)

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren is a modern love story about what happens when your first love renters your life when you least expect it.......Does love happen to the same person after being separated after 14 years? This is what happens to Sam and Tate. It was a light romance novel. A well-organized plot. Tate tried to connect with her estranged father but he was only concerned with his acting career. Will it last this time around?

A very sweet story of first love and hopefully coming back to it someday. Can it work?

Sam and Tate meet as teens while both traveling in London. They fall in love, but are not destined to be together and their romance is cut very short. Fast forward years later and they are thrown together again, as adults. However, things don't go smoothly.

While the book does have somewhat of a YA vibe, don't let that stop you from savoring a cute, sweet story, that you know how its going to turn out. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The tale that unfolds at its heart is a second chance romance, but it also deals with an absentee father, secrets and abandonment issues. The first twenty-five percent is spent in London when Tate is eighteen we don't meet Sam again until about the forty-four percent mark. Which is all fine and good, but it made the novel feel more women's fiction or chick-lit and that vibe remained.

Full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer October 22, 2019. It will be uplifted on all social media. Reviews will also cross-post to Goodreads and Amazon.

I love Christina Lauren's books, but this one was not the duo's best. The writing was great as usual overall, but I kept feeling like there was something missing throughout the book. This was partly because I couldn't connect to the characters at all, which made me knock off a star, but there was something else missing that I can't quite pin down. The plot was intriguing-a lighthearted overall story with some dark elements-although somewhat easy to predict, which made me knock off another star. I'm still really excited for the duo's next book, but I hope it's up to par with their previous novels, unlike Twice in a Blue Moon.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.