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.

It’s happened. I’ve finally rated a CLo book two stars (we won’t count BEAUTIFUL BASTARD in this tally because reasons).

I don’t really know where this trend of having a chunk, or even half, of a contemporary set in the past (aka making it YA) started but.. I don’t want it, or like it. Is this because these books now quality as women’s fiction? Unsure. That said, if you want to write a YA romance, go for it. Flashbacks, fine. But not full, long, chapters of it. It’s just not for me. Likewise, and in a related vein, second-chance romances aren’t my favourite. But I thought CLo could make it work for me. And sometimes it felt like it could’ve, like it was almost there but, overwhelmingly, it didn’t.

This story is about finding that one-true-love twice in a lifetime. And it’s also about twice the betrayals.

I didn’t like the hero because, let’s be honest, he only served a purpose to the plot and as result had no real personality besides muscles. I only liked the heroine when she was confronted with said hero after said betrayal, and after fourteen years of time passing, and let him have it. She stood up for herself, she addressed the elephant in the room, and I rooted for her (we were all rooting for you!). Every other time she was just.. fine, I guess. But her family was made up of mostly frustrating concepts, and while she did have one good friend, she didn’t get half as much page time as she deserved — and that’s probably because so much page time was given over to the script of the movie that took up the focus of the story. And the catalyst for getting these two leads back together.

There just wasn’t a lot to love here. Like many of CLo’s recent books, the heat factor is tame, they seem to only insert humour for every other release (so, this wasn’t one that was funny), and nothing about it left any kind of impression. The whole thing felt kinda basic, pretty muted, and just.. standard.

Like another recent release by another favourite author, I think I’m getting off this train. Or at least the ARC list. I’d much rather wait for reviews, and borrow from my library, then be posting early about my disappointment or not knowing if it’s even one I’ll want to read in the end.

Quick the heels of their previous book, The Unhoneymooners, writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (aka Christina Lauren), are back with a new romance about second chances. I simply adored The Unhoneymooners - I loved its wit, charming romance and sassier love scenes.

Before starting this book, I knew that it would have a different feel. But even knowing that, this book didn't quite hit me like I had expected. I liked it but won't be getting all gushy about it. The tone has a subdued, sadder vibe to it with a distinctly YA feel for the first half as readers get to know a younger Sam and Tate and their Insta-Love. But I never quite bought in to their bond and found Tate hard to like and Sam's character not developed enough. That feeling transferred into the last half of the book when I struggled to feel the chemistry between them many years later.

There was also an opportunity in the plot that was surprisingly not resolved (for me at least). I had soooo wanted Tate to hold her own against someone who had wronged her in multiple ways, but nothing happened. No big 'stand up for herself and call him/her on it' kind of situation and that was a bit of a letdown.

Overall, this was a good, lighter read but makes me long for the authors' swoony and sassy romances with great tension. There are some sweet moments if readers are patient, but I found the plot predictable and it left me wanting just a bit more. While this wasn't a favourite of mine from this duo, I continue to look forward to their Rom-Com centred stories in the future.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story of what could’ve been..literally. It started off like a YA story, which I actually enjoyed then became somewhat a women’s fiction. I needed more romance, more connection, more wooing the second time around but we got more family connection, acquaintances, friends. It was more, “Act, Drink, and Pretend To Be Merry.” Second chance is my favourite trope and I’m willing to overlook some stuff so trust me when I say I’m being generous here.

I needed Sam to grovel more, but he wasn’t given the opportunities. I needed more depth in their reconnection but alas. If we’d been given Sam’s POV, we could’ve had a different persepective. This story would’ve greatly benefited from an epilogue as well because the resolution wasn’t satisfactory for me in light of the number of years they’ve been apart.

I never do this breakdown but here’s a summary:

Plot- 4/5 Content-2.5/5 Characters- 4/5 Heat- 2/5

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren is a beautifully written novel that showcases the true depth of this writing duo's talents.

I knew Twice in a Blue Moon would be something different when the editor's note said this novel was like "Jennifer Weiner meets Nora Roberts". It definitely feels more like a women's fiction novel than a rom-com, and that's not a bad thing. It just took some getting used to after coming off the high of The Unhoneymooners (one of my favourite reads of 2019 and new all-time favourite rom-coms!).

Fair warning: there are LOTS of spoilers in this review because I genuinely don't know how else to talk about this novel without revealing majority of what happens lol. Feel free to read on if you're okay with having plot points spoiled.

Twice in a Blue Moon begins with sheltered Tate Jones embarking on a summer vacation to London with her protective grandmother before setting off for college in the fall. It's during this vacation that Tate meets Sam Brandis who's on vacation with his grandfather. Tate is instantly attracted to Sam who's three years older than her and incredibly open about his life, something Tate, as the long-forgotten daughter of a famous movie star, has never had the luxury of being. Sam's openness inspires Tate to tell him the truth about her dad and from that moment on she begins falling in love with Sam. The two are inseparable and even steal moments away from their grandparents to embark on other firsts with each other.

Everything seems perfect until Tate goes down for breakfast one day and discovers Sam and his grandfather have checked out. Later that day, Tate and her grandmother are swarmed by photographers/reporters who discovered her true identity after a source close to Tate (read Sam) leaked her dad's identity to the Guardian. It's this Guardian article that forever changes the course of Tate's life.

Instead of going to college in the fall, Tate sets off on an acting career and even attempts to build a relationship with her father. Fourteen years after that fateful London vacation, Tate is reunited with Sam on the set of the first movie she's filming with her father. It's this reunion that makes Tate finally hit pause on her life and assess what happened during that vacation, whether she's happy with her life now, and how she feels about Sam's decision to break her trust.

About 34% of the novel is spent watching 18 year old Tate fall in love with Sam, which was surprising because I was expecting Christina Lauren to show Tate and Sam's relationship solely in flashbacks like most second chance romance novels. I think I prefer learning about past relationships in flashbacks, but I applaud the writing duo for trying something different with this trope.

I did struggle with some aspects of the novel, namely Tate's father and whether anyone could truly forgive Sam for what he did.

There's never any real resolution to Tate's relationship with her father, he's pretty terrible and I would have liked to have seen some growth in the way she approached that relationship. Even after he does something awful at the end, she doesn't write him off or even call him out so it still seems like she'll spend the rest of her life trying to win him over, or at the very least putting up with him to stay in the spotlight.

For me, what Sam did was unforgivable. I understand he felt it was his only choice to help someone he loved but I would never be able to forgive someone who took away my freedom, which is what Sam did by revealing Tate's true identity. Putting aside my own feelings on the issue, I didn't think there was enough time spent for Tate and Sam to genuinely rekindle their love. I realize they never truly stopped loving each other, but it's been 14 years and I think you need more than one argument and a few conversations to decide you really want to be together again.

I'm curious to see if future Christina Lauren novels will fall more on the women's fiction side or if the writing duo will continue to write the rom-coms they're beloved for.

I recommend Twice in a Blue Moon for fans of romances that are more on the women's fiction spectrum. This is not a rom-com but a very well written romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for the advance reader copy!