I've read almost everything written by dynamic duo Christina Lauren, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Twice in a Blue Moon. What's impressive about this latest work is the range shown in this book. At face, this is a book about first love and second chances between Tate Jones and Sam Brandis. At a deeper level, it's also about familial relationships, the cost of fame, and how deep the bonds of love go.

Tate and Sam meet and spend two magical weeks falling in love together in London. A deeply buried secret and broken trust shatters their fragile bond. When Tate runs into Sam 14 years later, she's left with a difficult choice. Can she open herself up to love again? Can the harshest of transgressions be forgiven?

This book exists across time periods and with a strong cast of characters. Christina Lauren has taken her craft to another level with this book, and I predict that readers are going to love it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Let's see. How do I say I loved this book differently than the way I have said that about other CL books? Hmmmm?
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I adored this book. Christina Lauren is the perfect read for me, for several reasons...first being, it is always enjoyable. This book was different for me.
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I'm not sure if it was the setting (both of them), the characters, the second chance love story (I am such a sucker for those) or the fact that I was interested in everything about this novel. Spoiler: It was all of these things.
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I found myself trying not to fall asleep while reading because I just didn't want it to end. I was entranced in Tate and Sam's world. The characters came to life.
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If you are a Christina Lauren fan, you are not going to want to miss this one. It was lovely and personal all the while just steamy enough. Huge kudos. They have done it again!!

I typically love reading Christina Lauren books as they are a nice light break but also very dependable to get me out of any reading ruts. This novel just missed the mark for me. I never felt really connected to the main character and the side characters were not fleshed out enough for me to really feel or relate to them.

Tate was a female protagonist that did not come across overly strong or independent. The acting career she ended up having was not very well foreshadowed in the beginning chapters that cemented hers and San's history together so, when time forwarded, her acting seemed to come out of nowhere and really threw me off. Speaking of those first few chapters, I LOVED her grandmother, Jude, as well as Sam's grandfather, Luther. I wish more was done with these characters but they disappeared almost completely when the plot was moved to present day. That was a huge let down to me as I really thought there was going to be some major female and familial bonding happening that would give Tate more body behind her character. Instead, the book chose to focus on the romantic relationship which, although it was very believable in the beginning, it became so forced and conjectured by the end that I was really wishing for more side plots to appear. The only visible side plot was the one between Tate and her father which was intriguing to a point but, again, I wish we had more to go off of for his character that would either explain his actions more or at least make the reader more interested in him in general. I found him boring and predictable.

The authors had so many routes to go down with this novel, whether it be more focus on Charlie or Nick or even Tate's mom. Instead, it became too much of a stereotypical romance for me with not much else to go on. It doesn't mean I will stop reading Christina Lauren because they have definitely put out some hits. I just hope they spend more time really expanding on the inner thoughts and motives of characters in the future instead of portraying women as being only motivated by sex and love.

Many thanks to Gallery and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Twice in a Blue Moon is charming story about first love and second chances. The story had unique twist that I adored. I loved how it was split between past and current times. I only wish I could have read it from both points of view. I loved Tate. She was strong, brave and sassy. Sam was a little harder to love but I ended up falling for him completely. In true Christina Lauren form this book will make swoon, laugh and fall in love. I flew through this book and was sad when it was over. Honestly this story could have gone on forever and I would have been fine with it.

Christina Lauren is somewhat hit or miss for me. BUT, I'm here to tell you that I LOVED Twice in a Blue Moon.

All characters were well developed and I appreciate how they told this story. I enjoyed reading about a magical, blissful London vacation where two soulmates meet. Sam Brandis is so super duper dreamy and Tate Jones falls head over heels for him and lets him know about a key part of her past--that only few people know about. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, he is not at trustworthy as would seem. There's a reveal and Tate's entire life changes because of this situation.

Fast forward 14 years later, Tate is a major star set to star in a movie called Milkweed written by S.B. Hall. This movie is set to push her into the stratosphere. The Big Misunderstandings abound when the filming of Milkweed begins, but Tate and Sam are able to handle them adroitly.

What a story, it begins with Tate and Sam meeting in London when they were young. They have a whirl wind romance then ... major betrayal.

Fast forward 14years later they are thrown back together , can tate find it in her heart to forgive sam?

This book is everything you expect from Christina Lauren! This second chance romance is a must read you won’t be disappointed to add this to your to be read list , the only thing I wish this book had was an epilogue to see the characters in the future a bit

I must say I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book but once I got into the story I was hooked. I instantly fell in love with Tate and Sam and omg their story was so swoon perfection! This book really surprised me with how much honestly was written into their characters and storyline.

Twice in a Blue Moon is another great read from Christina Lauren! It’s about falling in love, making mistakes and the journey to finding forgiveness.

There was great chemistry between Tate and Sam. I was surprised that a third of the book was dedicated to the time when they met and first fell in love. However, I loved getting to read about the details of when Sam and Tate first fell in love. Having the details made the betrayal that Tate experienced seem that much more heartbreaking. Even with their history, I loved when Tate and Sam met again. It felt like everything is set against them finding a way to reconnect but I found myself rooting for them the entire time anyway.

Another binge worthy read from my favorite writing duo!

A fabulous story. I shouldn't be surprised since I almost always love books by Christina Lauren. However, this was a second chance at love story, which usually aren't my favorites. But I fell in love with both Tate and Sam.

I love how there wasn't any overly drawn out angst.
I love how the "betrayal" wasn't a made up misunderstanding .
I love how both characters had flaws, but accepted it in each other.
I loved both the young and the nature versions of the characters.
I love how sweet this story was without being overly sappy.

I loved this so much im going shopping to see if there are any books by this author that I haven't read.

I did receive this as an advance copy from net galley. It didn't affect my review, which you will believe when you read this for yourself.

This is a story about first love. During a whirlwind trip to Europe with her grandmother, Tate Jones meets Sam Brandis and falls for him over late night chats discussing life. Tate tells him about things she’s never talked to anyone outside of her best friend before, including who she really is, the lost daughter of one of the biggest movie stars in the world. When her trust in Sam is broken, and her true identity is revealed, Tate’s entire life changes. Fast forward fourteen years, Tate is an actress herself on the set of her first dramatic film role when she unexpectedly runs into her first love again.

When we were chatting about the book, my friend said Tate gave her Suri Cruise vibes and she really does! Tate goes from a relatively normal teenager to being forced into the spotlight, and having her world turned upside down. While she becomes the famous actress she dreamed about being, she holds a lot of conflicting feelings towards Sam. Anger, heartbreak, desire, it’s ALL there when she see’s Sam on set after 14 years. This entire story is told from Tate’s perspective, and while I love dual POV, being in Tate’s head for the entire book works so well. Although I wanted to shake Tate at times, she can be a little clueless, I felt so sucked into her story. I absolutely loved the settings, London and Northern California wine country, and the side characters (minus Tate’s dad). Christina Lauren created real magic with this one!

Twice in a Blue Moon was a 4.5 star read for me. I would have loved to have an epilogue (maybe from Sam’s POV?) and more steam

Californian Tate and her grandmother are on a dream of a lifetime trip to London to celebrate Tate’s high school graduation. Staying at their hotel are Luther Hill and his 21 year old grandson Sam. Brandis from a farm in Vermont. The four Americans hit it off and soon are enjoying the city together. As the young couple get to know each other they fall in love. Both have had teen age relationships but this feels really different, more like a soulmate thing. When Sam does something very bad, exposing a secret Tate told him, she feels doubly betrayed.

Cut to 15 years later. Tate is an actress poised for her break-out role, a strong white woman running a farm on her own who dares to fall in love with black salesman. She comes by her talent honestly as the daughter one of the most famous male stars in recent Hollywood history. In fact, her estranged real dad plays her movie dad in the film. It is the talk of the tabloids, the relationship between the rising star and the super star. The drama on the set only increases when Tate finds out that the author/screenwriter is no other than her first, and so far, only love.

This is a very sweet novel. Tate and Sam have to reconcile their past before they can have any kind of a future together. The authors use humor and a succession of interesting secondary characters to help the pair along. A fun read for romance readers.

Extraordinary! I wasn’t sure I would love this book, but once I got started I couldn’t set it down. This book is romantic, passionate, and honest. I fell in love with Tate and Sam’s story, and inside one story, I fell in love with another, that of Luther and Roberta. This book values honesty, and the notion of what someone is willing to sacrifice for the person they love, even if it means letting the love of your life go, to save the love of someone else. Behind every turn there was something new and beautiful to be exposed, I loved the idea of taking charge of your own narrative! This was my first read by Christina Lauren, and I will definitely be running out to get another! I would like to thank the Publishers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review such a tremendous book!

Such a great read! A different story line that I've heard before. I didn't know how the title connected to the book till I was in a good chunk of the book. It was the perfect weekend read with the HEA that I was looking for. I loved the characters, I was rooting for the both of them from the very beginning. I will definitely recommend Twice in Blue Moon once it's out.

CLo can do no wrong in my eyes; I am their forever fangirl of <i>all</i> of their words, characters, and stories. I fully admit though: this one was different. The voice didn't feel like a CLo book when I first started it. They normally have a vibe to their novels. Don't ask me to explain it. They hook me good and fast like a good book should, every single time. The hook was just a little more subtle this time, but oh, it happened. It was slow and sweet and it hurt, and by the time I was texting C to say: “DYING. I AM DYING,” I was fully immersed in the future of Tate and Sam’s lives. I couldn’t put this one down until I knew how everything would work out.

Tate Jones is a girl from Guerneville, California. A small town close to the Russian River. Her Nana, Jude, owns a bakery, and people line up outside for her homemade pies. Nana and Tate are on the trip of a lifetime; visiting London for the first time together while Tate’s mom is holding down the fort at home.

Sam Brandis and his grandfather, Luther, who are from Vermont also happen to be visiting London. After a chance meeting, and some room swapping, it’s not long before Tate and Sam forge a friendship that turns into more.

Tate confides her secrets in Sam. Like, oh yeah, she’s not Tate Jones. She’s actually Tate <i>Butler</i>, and her father is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Tate has no idea that trusting Sam and revealing all of her secrets—not to mention maybe falling in love with him too—will turn her entire world upside down.

Fourteen years later, Tate Butler is an actress herself, and she’s ready for the role of a lifetime with a script she absolutely adores… until she finds out who wrote it, and the past comes rushing back.

These ladies impress me so much with every book they write, because they were already good—duh—but they just keep getting BETTER. I don’t know how they do it, or what kind of deals they made with the devil, but girls, I love you both, and don’t ever stop doing what you do because it’s what you were born for: to create; to entertain. Bravo, ladies. Ready for the next one!

I was so very excited for this book when I heard about it. But while the first section of the book, which shows how young Tate falls in love with fellow American Sam on a trip to London when they're both still young, made me absolutely ACHE, the second half of the book left me fairly cold.
A few time throughout this book I thought about the media and how it's influenced me and how I think about celebrities and how quick we are to consume the ready-made story delivered to us on a plate of ready-made drama and we just accept it easily without question.
I was honestly wishing the book was going to be similar to Love and Other Words, but it didn't live up to that comparison. This one is really two books - it takes over 100 pages to get to the present part of the book, which isn't really how the book is marketed in the blurb and it annoyed me the whole time I was reading the first part waiting for the "real" story to begin. Unlike Tate, I found it harder to forgive the Sam for his earlier betrayal. Yes, he had good reasons and needed the money, but he was twenty-one and could have found a better way or talked to the heroine.
It was an okay read for the year.

This is the second book by Christina Lauren I've read. It is a second chance romance. The daughter of a famous Hollywood star and the guy who broke her heart years ago are reunited when she is filming a movie. Will they reunite?? Will he break her heart again??
While I didn't enjoy this books as much as The Unhoneymooners, it was still a good read...and as always I think her novels would make great romcoms!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book to read and review.

This book though....just give it all the stars.
I spent 2 solid days in a book hangover after reading it...and then I reread it!
If you loved "Love and Other Words' you will ADORE this!
Christina Lauren takes you on an emotional roller-coaster will all the feels.
I think this one took over as my favorite Christina Lauren book. (and that's saying something)

Beautiful writing and a great story. This is your must read for fall!!

I received Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. First off-- I was completely excited and "over the moon" about getting chosen to have one of Christina Lauren's books before publication. I have been reading her for years and am a huge fan! I devoured the book in one night. It was so very good. Lots of angst and heart break and also was very heartwarming with a "happy ending." I highly recommend this book and any of her books that I have already read! (Read the UnHoneymooners last week and it was great also!)

This book’s synopsis is crystal clear, so you know we’re facing a second-chance type of romance.
They meet when she was eighteen, during a vacation in London with their grandparents. She’s the daughter of a big, famous Hollywood, but has been living a sheltered type of life, away from the public. Back to their time in London, they fall easily in love and she trusts him enough to reveal all her secrets and also gift him her virginity, only to realize he sold her story to the tabloids, running off and never contact her again.

Fast forward fourteen years and they meet again on the set of her biggest role of her career. Now things start to get really interesting and exciting.

My feelings about this story are mixed. First of all, it took me a little while to connect to it and get invested. Then, I got really mad when he sold her story. Then, I got sad for her messed up life, her non-relationship with her no-good father, excited for seeing how will she be able to work with Sam right there and intrigued by his motives from so long ago.

I feel like this book is more about the idea of whether love can conquer all. Is it worth it a second chance, even if there’s a huge betrayal? There’s also the complicated relationship between her and her father, particularly when their lives are open to public judgement and there’s no privacy at all.

Don’t expect too much of a Hollywood scene. This book will take you on such an emotional journey, filled with tons of drama, but also a few sparks of humor and some sassy and sarcastic remarks that make one incredible heroine.

In the end, here’s something to think about: can you forgive someone or the one and only you ever loved for doing the worst thing possible, even if it was for the best reason he ever had? 🤔

”ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Christina Lauren is back at it again with another A++ romance. This book is delightful, heartwarming, and one you won't regret picking up! This will be a great read for my library book club - they always love a little drama with their steamy books.