There’s no denying that whenever this writing duo has a new book coming out, it goes to the top of my must-read list. When I need a book to make me smile, laugh, or just to feel good, their books hit the mark. When it was mentioned that this book was going to be a bit different from their previous work, my curiosity was piqued. While they are known for their witty characters and laugh-out-loud banter, I was intrigued to go on a different journey and see a new side to this fab duo.

The book starts out when Tate is eighteen years old and on a trip to London with her grandmother. She meets Sam and his grandfather, and she embarks on a two-week fling with Sam in which they both open up and divulge very personal pieces of themselves. When Tate’s biggest secret gets revealed publicly, she knows that the only person who could’ve betrayed her trust is the same person she gave her heart to.

Fourteen years later, Tate is an actress with the starring role in a film that could send her career soaring. Sam is the last person that she expects to see on the set, but there he is, bringing back all of those old feelings of resentment, betrayal and, much to her chagrin, love. But how could she still feel anything but the sting of betrayal toward Sam? Well, this novel is one that makes you question your own scruples. Is it possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason? What would you do for love? Could you sacrifice one person’s feelings for another’s? My mind kept circling around these questions and what I would do if I was faced with a similar situation.

Twice in a Blue Moon should have checked off all of my boxes. It should have pulled me in and held me captive until the final page. In all honesty, it had everything that I normally look for in a novel, but for whatever reason I didn’t feel a connection to the characters. I wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters. It was a good story with solid writing and an interesting concept, but when I don’t feel something for the characters, it tends to fall short for me. With that being said, as soon Christina Lauren’s next book is announced, it will be finding a place at the top of my to-be-read list.

*3.5 Stars

I have only read two other CLo books, and enjoyed them both immensely, so I was super excited about this one.
I usually don't like to have expectations because I feel they can only lead to disappointment. I went into this book with little expectation but still came out disappointed. Was it a good story? Yes. Did I like the characters? Yes. Then what happened? It felt a little flat to me. No big laughs, no highs and lows that, to me, make me want to keep reading to know what is going to happen next. I just couldn't connect to it at all. To be honest, I would have preferred the screenplay to be the full story.
Will I recommend this to friends? Yes. Why? Because not all books are for everyone. They may connect where I did not.
I received an advance reader copy for an honest review.

A big thank you to Simon and Schuster, as well as Netgalley for the e-arc.

Never in my life have I been disappointed with Christina Lauren’s writing. This is one of their best. I went in with low expectations, considering the negative pre release reviews but I loved this. My heart was so connected to these characters that I could actually hurt for Tate when people betrayed her. I felt the ache as she would, and to have an author create a character so connected to a reader that they feel the heartbreak of a character is such a beautiful thing. I applaud them for that immensely.

Christina Lauren is known for rom coms but I wouldn’t say this is a rom com. A romantic adult fiction. This book doesn’t have much humour to it, but a lot of heart break. It’s not your trashy but addictive rom com with a bad boy and a sassy girl. Twice in a Blue Moon is passionate, heartbreaking and totally real. I loved to see this author branch out into something new and show her readers that they are more than just guilty pleasure rom coms and I’m so happy they achieved that.

Also, as a side note, this book has excerpts from the screen play featured in the book and it allows the reader to become that more immersed in the lives of the characters and their back stories.

So so so amazing. If you like Colleen Hoover books, I would say this is the closest of Lauren’s books to the genre Hoover writes.

I’m so happy I got to read this. Christina Lauren you will forever be an auto-buy. Thank you, for another amazing piece of literature.

Eighteen-year-old Tate is visiting London with her nana when she meets Sam, who's also touring London with his grandfather. For some reason, Tate has been hiding who she really is...only one friend knows her secret. After knowing Sam for just a couple of days she falls in love and divulges the secret. Fourteen years later, Tate and Sam meet again and she's not happy about it.

DNF at 50%...I was bored and annoyed. I've read many other reviews and there are PLENTY of readers who gave this 5 stars - so please don't take my word for it. I did hear that it's similar to another book by Christina Lauren called Love and Other Words (which I haven't read). If you liked that book then you may enjoy this one too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Actual rating: 2.5

Twice in a Blue Moon follows Tate and Sam who instantly fall in love as teenagers during a two week trip to London. They share their hopes, dreams and all their secrets. They embark on a whirlwind romance but Sam betrays Tate’s trust by revealing her biggest secret: she’s the daughter of a famous Hollywood star. They meet again fourteen years later on the set of a movie when Tate is an actress and Sam is the screenwriter of the film. Obviously, old feelings are bound to come back.

I’m always glad to read a new Christina Lauren book. I read the Unhoneymooners earlier this year and loved it. This book one of my most anticipated books of the year. The idea of a second-chance romance was so appealing. This book is well written in the Christina Lauren style that we all know and love, however; it just wasn’t my favourite from this author duo. The characters’ meet-cute was pretty cute but the insta-love… just felt too much. I actually liked the part from the past more than the part of the story set in the present. Some parts of the story were well done but other parts were over the top. The whole idea of never forgetting your first love even after they betrayed your trust didn’t feel realistic. The story is told in Tate’s POV so we don’t get to see what’s going on in Sam’s head. Overall, an average read.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Twice in a Blue Moon🌙 by Christina Lauren

When I received this ARC from NetGalley I was so excited to read this amazing duo’s new work! Twice in a Blue Moon was a beautiful love story of first loves, heartbreaks and second chances. I absolutely loved that I was hooked right from the first page.

The love story told about Tate and Sam was written with such passion. Their relationship was so strong and vulnerable and it gave me all the feels! I felt happy, angry, hopeful, sad, and happy again! The steamy parts were so passionate, you could tell how much these two loved each other.

Christina Lauren, you two are brilliant writers and I can’t wait to read something else by you!! Twice in a Blue Moon 🌙 is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I can’t stop thinking about it!! I think it should be made into a movie!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster and Christina Lauren.
Thank you to this amazing duo for another great read.
Second chance romance at its best. Loved Sam and Tate connection.
I especially enjoyed the beginning of this book when they were in London.
Their tender sweet romance of young first love.
Highly recommend. 4 stars

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for a review copy of Twice In a Blue Moon, available October 22!

I think I loved The Unhoneymooners a little too much, as this one did not quite live up to the humour aspect of that one. I found this one a little more serious. Lots of issues and back story for our main characters and I was hoping for a more fun read.

That being said, I did love the celebrity aspect of this novel a ton. I pictured Tom Cruise and his daughter Suri the whole damn time. It was an interesting plot line and not too steamy. A couple of decent scenes but nothing to knock your socks off. I did also enjoy the use of consent through those scenes, especially the first one.

By some weird coincidence, this is the third book in a row I’ve read by a Lauren, though this one is much more familiar to me, since I seem to devour anything Christina Lauren have written in a day or two. And their latest, Twice in a Blue Moon (out October 22), is no exception. I didn’t even read the synopsis before I requested it on NetGalley; I just knew I had to read it.

This is, admittedly, only the third book of theirs that I’ve read, but it is probably my least favourite so far. In saying that, I do not want to imply that I didn’t enjoy it—I definitely did; I read it in basically 24 hours—but seeing as it’s my job to compare, there was something (only so slightly) lacking with this one. My guess it that maybe it was the humour that I’ve come to love that wasn’t quite on par with the others, but not every story needs to be humourous to be effective.

I really enjoyed Tate and Sam’s love story. The beginning of the book, which read like a YA novel, was probably my favourite, but as their relationship develops later on, I come to love them together just as much as I did when they were basically teenagers. Sam’s backstory was interesting, and it was clear why he was motivated to do certain things. I felt I could relate to Tate in terms of her love-life situation (not so much the Hollywood/PR part of it), and I liked that she didn’t jump into relationships just because she could, like, unfortunately, a lot of “actressy” women tend to do in fiction.

The secondary characters were fully developed and really added to the story, though I think Tate’s relationship with her father was missing something. I understand that it was really complicated, but I don’t know if it was really needed or whether it just muddled the story a little bit. I feel like we could have gotten the same plot without bringing her father into the picture… maybe. I’m not sure. Her mother, on the other hand, is amazing. I wish we got a little bit more of her in the story.

Without spoiling too much, I do love that there were part of the script that were fully written into this story. Though I don’t quite get the sense of how it could be a full-length feature, the scenes that were portrayed were powerful and really added a touch more heart to the story. I’ve read a few books that take place in Hollywood or on a movie set, and this is the first time I came across the moving-making experience quite like this. I liked it a lot.

If you’re a fan of their writing, you will love this story, too. It was a quick, heartwarming read with a twist that I didn’t see coming (but makes total sense in retrospect), and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

4 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Book and Simon & Schuster Canada for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

This review will be posted on my blog, The Modest Reader, on October 21 at 7:15 am.

This was such a cute read! I really enjoyed Sam and Tate's story and found them to have great chemistry. This one is very light on the typical steamy parts which are usually present in this genre. This gives the story a younger feeling which fits well especially in the first half of the book. Although I can't say this was my favourite Christina Lauren book I would definitely still recommend if your looking for a cute romantic read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

UGH SO GOOD. These ladies can do no wrong. Seriously. Just read it. Can't wait until it comes out so I can add it to my shelf!

Tate Butler had both her heart and her trust in men shattered by her first love. Years later, she’s created a name for herself in Hollywood and is about to start filming the film that will truly define her career. Who walks onto set the first day? The man that changed the course of her life at 18.
I’m a longtime fan of Christina Lauren and have read most of what they’ve had published. I had a harder time getting into this one. I’m not always a fan of the Hollywood trope. However, once I recommitted, I quickly fell in love with this wit and the romance that Christina Lauren are known for. I could have used a bit more from the ending but I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good romcom.

I absolutely love Christina Lauren. I devour all of their books and Tate and Sam's story was another great book. The premise of this story was amazing and had so much potential. As someone who travelled as a teenager I always dreamed of a fling like Tate and Sam had. Someone to sneak out and meet in the middle of the night, talk to and stargaze with. The beginning of this book was absolutely perfect. My only real complaint is that I wanted more. More of Tate and Sam together while filming, more of them at the end. Their story felt too short as adults, like we barely got to see what was under the black crayon. Even though it wasn't perfect I still really enjoyed reading Twice in a Blue Moon and honestly couldn't put it down. I can't wait for their next book!

I recently discovered and became a fan of Christina Lauren, so when I found out they had a new book coming out I was SO excited.

The story begins with a trip to London where a newly eighteen-year-old Tate Jones is ready for the adventure of a lifetime, but everything changes when she meets Sam Brandis. Tate has never been in love, but she falls hard and fast and, in the end, shares a secret with Sam that only few in her life know – Tate is the long-lost daughter of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. After their whirlwind romance comes to an abrupt end, Tate’s left wondering how the man she loved so much could be the one to betray her so badly.

Fourteen years later, Tate’s life has been turned upside down and she is now an up and coming actress who has just landed the part of a lifetime. Arriving on set, Tate is excited to get to work until she comes face to face with her first love, and the man that ruined her life so many years ago.

I was so excited for this book, and while I did really enjoy it, this one is definitely different than your typical Christina Lauren book. While their other books are a little bit more humorous, Twice in a Blue Moon is definitely a lot more emotional. This story is filled with ups and downs, but I absolutely loved watching all of the drama go down! I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a good romance, BUT I wouldn’t go into this one expecting anything super light hearted.

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of Twice in a Blue Moon in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, cheesy read! Not my favourite of the authors’... but still a cute read! I really love Tate and Sam’s relationship! Although I really cringe at how they only knew each other for a little bit before “falling in love”, the rest of the story was super cute! ❤️

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and this one fits the bill nicely. Not my personal favourite Christina Lauren book but a solid one nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

This was refreshing! It’s been a little while since I’ve read a romance novel with characters that grabbed my attention. I’ve actually changed my reading preferences lately because I’d sort of grown tired of being underwhelmed. This was different. I truly enjoyed Tate and Sam as young people and was glad that CL decided to give a fairly lengthy chunk of the book to their early days. It really helped to set up the events that followed.

I was genuinely interested in the play between Tate and her father, the behind the scenes look at filming a movie and the building tension between Sam and Tate. It’s been a while since I’ve been eager to get back to a book, but this one did it for me.

Review!! 🍂🤗
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I want to start off by saying that the first book I read by Christina Lauren was “The Unhoneymooners” and I feel like that novel set the bar INSANELY high for me. Because of that I feel like “Twice in a Blue Moon” didn’t quite reach the expectations I had, but I’m not sure if it ever could have.
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That does not mean that I didn’t like this book, I really enjoyed it! I thought it was such a solid Rom-com novel. I loved Tate and I loved the chemistry between her and Sam. The beginning of the book was my favourite part. Seeing Tate and Sam when they were younger felt very much like a Sarah Dessen novel and brought me so many YA vibes which I loved!
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While I didn’t find their story as adults as strong as the first part I still really liked it! I loved that I didn’t quite know exactly what was going to happen towards the end and I thought the ending was absolutely perfect! All in all I feel like this book is a great rom-com novel but not quite at the level that “The Unhoneymooners” is for me. .
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If you are a sucker for a rom-com I definitely recommend this to you! Pub date is October 22nd so make sure you get a copy! 🤗
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I love Christina Lauren books but I just didn't like this one. I had to force myself to finish it. If it weren't that it is a review book I would have quit this book.

I was really loving this book while I was reading the first half but then the second half happened...

This book is about Tate, the daughter of a famous movie star who has been in hiding with her mother and grandmother since she was little. At the beginning of the book, she goes on a vacation to London with her grandmother and meets a boy. The other half of the book takes place in the present day when she is reunited with the boy after they had a falling out. Now, Tate is a movie star and working with her dad on a movie.

The first half of the book was really cute because you get to see Tate and Sam fall in love. The beginning of the book also feels like a fun travel book since Tate is exploring the tourist sites of London. Then once you get to the second half of the book, it feels like a separate book. Now you're on the set of a movie and there's all this drama because Sam hurt Tate and he's on the movie set. I did find the movie setting interesting and I loved how much this book dug into Tate's relationship with her father. But I just hated the resolution of the romance and since it's a romance book, it coloured my opinion of the book.

It was a fun read but it's not my favourite Christina Lauren book because I didn't like the idea of Sam and Tate together by the end.