From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it… Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak. During a whirlwind two-week … heartbreak.
During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate–the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars–ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.
Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.
With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.
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The book was good but very predictable. I couldn’t really relate to the main characters.
Absolutely Stunning! I LOVED this book and I really thought that I was going to HATE it! The low-star reviews that I read are just not fair for this beautiful book from our darlings Christina & Lauren. All these reviewers wanted to re-read the CLo books of the Beautiful Bastard troupe and this is not one of those books. Don’t get me wrong – BB is one of my all time favorites – but this is a lovely, heart-wrenching, second chance love story.
The Past: Tate is a sheltered 18 year-old everygirl – sheltered from the public as her father is a iconic movie star who wronged her mother years ago. Sam is visiting London with his dying Grandfather. Whirl wind romance thru London staring at the stars ends in a crazy cosmic betrayal.
Sam: “Can you believe me, though?” he asks quietly. “That the worst thing I ever did was for the best reason I ever had?” SWOON!
The Now: Sam’s betrayal forced Tate into a fabulous acting career – rough, huh? The second chance meeting is not a pleasant surprise as they are forced together on Tate’s Oscar-potential breakout film role – 14 years later! Lots of angsty drama (not what we are used to from our authorettes) but it WORKS!
Supporting characters – CLO really puts a lot into the ancillary characters which always has you rooting for follow up sequels. Charlie (Tate’s outgoing bestie) and Marco or maybe some Nick and Trey – all sorts of fun scenarios running thru my mind.
I cried throughout and I was delighted by the ending – wishing for at least 4 more chapters! This is a wonderfully written, soulful story. I became emotionally invested in both flawed characters just anticipating their ultimate real reunion which was beautiful. Good Job Ladies!
Loved this book.
I’m pretty fickle when it comes to books because new ones come along all the time. But for now, at least, this one has become my favorite.
What do you do when your first love (who, coincidentally shattered your heart) suddenly reemerges in your life 14 years later? This is the core dilemma that protagonist Tate Jones has to grapple with in Twice in a Blue Moon. After meeting Sam Brandis in London over a decade ago, Tate took a chance and revealed her deepest secret… a secret that Sam then exploited. Now an up-and-coming actress, Tate finds herself on set with the same man who broke her heart. Will Sam be able to repair the damage he’s caused? Will Tate let Sam back in? Do they have a second chance at love?
Twice in a Blue Moon is another triumph in the Christina Lauren catalogue. I greatly appreciate how they always manage to create compelling characters and narrative circumstances that feel wholly authentic. They also have adeptly managed to incorporate more diversity into their novels without being heavy-handed or co-opting other cultures. Their awareness of how to craft characters and a story is what makes them among the best romance writers out there, and also among the best general fiction writers out there.
While I love the humor that Christina Lauren always infuses into their work, I find that I like them best in the smaller, more emotional moments that inhabit their novels. Where you feel the poignancy and the angst emanate right from the page. Twice in a Blue Moon in on par with Love and Other Words in its ability to engender a range of emotions from the reader. This is a wonderful selection for any type of fiction reader.
And, as always, I’m already counting down to their next novel.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
I enjoyed this book set in the world of world class actors and the film industry. We spend quite a lot of time on location for a new film, which enables some clever dynamics to come into play. Living at close quarters with the crew and cast inevitably brings issues to the fore more readily. I found that entertaining and forced issues which in a normal situation could have been dragged out.
We first meet Tate visiting London with her grandmother. She has a huge secret and sadly trusts the wrong person with the facts. This leads to her 18-year-old self having her whole life turned upside down. Fast forward to now, and we get to understand the fallout and how relationships have changed. Now a successful actress, Tate finds out what happened to the ‘one.’
I absolutely bought into this story and enjoyed watching how it all worked out – between Tate and Sam, and between Tate and her close family. The only thing I found strange was that it took her so long to understand what the script was all about; up until she saw who wrote it, I completely got it, but once she knew? But maybe she was just so overwhelmed by everything else going on… which I could convince myself.
A really enjoyable romance, definitely worth a read.
Sarah –
This is a sweet and angsty second-chance love story about an actress and a script writer. The first part of the book is pure joy – Sam and Tate’s first meeting in London is a heady, explosive few weeks of first love excitement. The second part of the book is a little darker. When Tate meets Sam again twelve years later, Sam’s betrayal hangs heavy between them. Both are older and more established, but neither has managed to find love with anyone else.
This is Tate’s book. The story is told from her perspective and at times the book is as much about her relationships with her parents and her career as it is about her relationship with Sam. I really loved Tate but there are a few moments when I found it difficult not to roll my eyes at her privileged and pampered self-pity. It’s difficult to feel sympathy for an A-list actress whose career has been boosted by her A-list actor father. In some ways, Sam is the more interesting character – but we don’t get to know him as well as I’d have liked to.
I love the film set setting for the second part of the story. The behind the scenes glimpses we get of the filmmaking process are fun and entertaining. Most of the characters are engaging but few move past type and trope. The story is a simple, easy read. It’s a satisfying – if predictable – read.
Erica –
Spoiler-Free Review. The writing duo of Christina Lauren is new-to-me.
4 Stars. Rated based on the contemporary romance genre, not necessarily my enjoyment. I struggled to keep interested while reading, simply because it wasn’t my cup of tea, even though second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. However, I do believe fans of the author and this genre in particular will be highly entertained. Hence my 4-Star rating.
At the beginning of Twice in a Blue Moon, Tate is only eighteen years old, so it reads age-appropriate, more like a young adult novel, which I appreciated and enjoyed. Vacationing with her grandmother, Tate meets Sam, who is also with his grandfather. They spend the next two weeks in a whirlwind love affair, many secrets shared, then they part ways. Sam broke Tate’s heart by betraying her.
Fast-forward 14 years, Tate is now an actress, and while on location, she runs into Sam, where a tangle of animosity is felt toward him. With the promise of angsty deliciousness, Sam is none other than the screenwriter. I’m a sucker for the angst of love-hate and second-chance romance. Where this didn’t hit the mark is how the emotions were just at the surface, not too deep or realistic. I felt as if I was being told Tate and Sam were connected, instead of actually seeing the connection develop on the pages.
Twice in a Blue Moon is a light and fuzzy, quick read, which is sure to please fans of the author(s) and of the contemporary romance genre. I just needed something a bit deeper to truly entertain me, because I won’t remember much of it after reading another book or two.
Mary Jo –
For me, this book was a hard read. The first half of the book was what happened in the past… Tate’s first love, Sam, and how they fell hard and fast while in London. Sam’s betrayal of her trust and love not only broke Tate’s heart but cracked her soul as well.
The second half of the book deals with the fallout of Tate seeing Sam again. Tate’s life has done a complete 180 since they last saw each other. She’s a leading lady, ready for the role that’s sure to earn her acting nominations aplenty. What she didn’t know until the first day on set is that Sam is the screenwriter.
The angst that follows Tate through her journey of self-discovery is very tangible; however, I believe Tate is very naive for having been in show business for 12 years.
This book did offer me some moments to ponder about things that happen and why they happen and how, in the end, it’s really up to you to stand up and create your own path.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I cannot fathom how two women write so seamlessly as one author. Their books just keep getting better and better.
Tate Butler’s life was dictated to her by everyone else, and the moment she tries to find her own voice? Chaos.
I think a lot of people would be able to relate in some way, whether you have a micro-managing boss, an overbearing relative, or a “friend” that seems to roll their eyes at anything you find interesting. Most of us, at one point or another, have smiled when we want to cry or swallowed back a sarcastic response.
The only problem I have with this story is that I feel we never got to see Tate find her voice. It was like the whole book was leading up to that moment when she has had enough, when she is going to start taking charge of her own life, when she is finally going to speak her truth, and then….. The End.
The fact that I didn’t get to read whether everything was a success, whether Tate’s life became more simplistic, or the chance to read about a certain someone’s bout with karma….. fine. I can deal. However, to not let this poor girl have her mic drop moment? I’m a little bothered. It just felt unfinished.
The writing is still wonderful and I do recommend this book. Everyone has an opinion. This is just one.
/ 5
I don’t know how I managed to hold off so long you guys. Twice in a Blue Moon is my first time reading a Christina Lauren book, but now I am super pumped to read ALL of their books!
Christina Lauren is a writing duo of 2 women, and I seriously love how they put this story together. Twice in a Blue Moon had a bit of steam in the beginning and towards the end but for the most part it was just rom-com perfection. This book made me laugh almost nonstop but was also filled with plenty of mushy romantic moments, and a couple parts that almost had me in tears. I loved Tate and Sam and was busy rooting for them the entire time I was reading.
Twice in a Blue Moon was a super quick read for me and I was able to finish in just over 4 hours. It was hard for me to put down, and although I wasn’t sure about the book in the very beginning, it was still making me laugh and I’m glad I stuck with it. The ending was maybe a tiny bit abrupt, but I see that a lot in rom-coms so it didn’t really both me. I thought it was the perfect ending to this sweet book!
Song/s the book brought to mind: Hold My Hand by Hootie & the Blowfish
Final Thought: If you aren’t a Christina Lauren fan yet, prepare yourself because you will be! I heard the audio was disappointing, so I recommend reading this like I did instead of listening to it. Twice in a Blue Moon was a perfect palate cleanser between thrillers and will be a great pick for contemporary romance lovers and those of you that like to laugh!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
After Tate’s first love Sam betrays her, she moves on with her life as best she can. But it isn’t easy when she measures every man against Sam and what they had. So when he appears back in her life, as the writer for the new movie she’s filming with her father, she’s understandably shocked. He betrayed her all those years ago, and things are tense enough with her father as it is, it might just be too much for her.
I really enjoyed The Unhoneymooners and so of course, I wanted to give this one a go. This was a syrupy-sweet read and I realize it isn’t for everyone. I did feel like the first separation of Tate and Sam was a bit forced, and I absolutely hated the relationship Tate had with her father. He was an absolute jerk and I felt it took her way too long to realize he was a user who was only interested in his failing career. I would have liked to have seen it blow up spectacularly.
But even though I didn’t love certain aspects of this, I loved the book overall. It was a fun romance that started off heavy on the YA and then blossomed into more. Once I got into the story, I was caught up and I didn’t want to put down. Nicely done.
There are certain authors whose books I read no matter what they’re about; I don’t even read the blurbs, so I have no idea what I’m getting into. Christina Lauren are on that list for me. So I didn’t know I was getting a “famous person” story with Twice in a Blue Moon. I’m not into those, whether they’re rock stars or actors or some other sort of well-known person living the celebrity life. It obviously did not make me stop reading it, because Christina Lauren, but I was a little disappointed. This would have had to be a REALLY INCREDIBLE book for it to earn a spot at the top of my favorite CL books like Roomies, and Love and Other Words, and it wasn’t.
That being said, I did really enjoy this book. I’ve said it before, but I LOVE a couple with a complicated history and BOY, do Sam and Tate have that. The first section of the book was my favorite, because we’re getting to know them as they’re getting to know each other. But again, being a CL book, there comes a moment when BAM, your heart is ripped out. There’s always a reason, and it usually turns out to be a good reason, but it’s rough going until you find out that reason.
One of the things I like best about CL is how good they are at wordcraft. Sometimes a sentence will make me stop and marvel over how beautiful or clever it is. This is where reading on a Kindle comes in handy, since you can highlight the sentence (and share it with your Goodreads friends!) Here are a couple of examples: “I feel like an old toy put on a shelf, waiting to be wanted again” and “He was a life raft in the middle of a green ocean” and “I haven’t exactly worked out what I need to tell him, how to take the feelings inside me and turn them into words.” Incredible. This is why Christina Lauren will always be on the top of my Favorite Authors list, and I will read every book they put out, no matter what it’s about! Thanks for Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The first chunk of the story starts off as a young adult novel, and I found this rather overdone. However, once the story switches to the current age of Tate, the main character her voice doesn’t sound any different. Somehow I’m supposed to believe she is older….it didn’t work for me. Secondly, the book is mess of father-daughter relationship and love story mixed in with a script for the movie. It was a little much for me. While I loved The Unhoneymooners, this story didn’t work for me.
Amazing book. Don’t miss reading.
I love the cover for Twice in a Blue Moon. I love all things Christina Lauren and can’t wait for the next book. I am sucker when it comes to second chance romances. Sam and Tate have amazing chemistry that sizzles off the pages. They met in London when Tate went with her grandmother for a two week trip. They fall fast for each other quickly and then Sam breaks her heart.
Now fourteen years later Tate is doing what she always wanted, a movie star. Her big break is coming, and she never expected the screenwriter of this movie to be Sam. Now she has to decide how she’s going to handle it.
This book pulled me in and I was sad when it ended. I can’t wait for another book by Christina Lauren.
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 received an early copy to voluntarily read.
Christina Lauren always deliver!
Tate and her grandmother take a vacation to London. Tate meets a wonderful young man. Or so she thinks! In just the few weeks she is in London, she falls in love with Sam. She tells him her deepest secret. Then she is betrayed.
Years later, Tate encounters Sam on the set of a movie. This throws Tate completely off her game. You will have to read this story to find out their where’s, when’s, why’s and how’s.
This is not your typical story from this duo. It is missing all the snarkiness and the funny innuendos. But, it is still a good tale. I will say, when the story began, I felt like I was reading a teen love story. I will be honest, I almost put it aside. I am glad I continued reading. The connection between Sam and Tate is strong. But, is it strong enough to survive?
I received this novel for St. Martin’s Press and Book Expo 2019.
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren is sweet and swoon-worthy and has all the feels. Tate and Sam start off with this amazing connection and I instantly fell in love with them. Life rips them apart, but fate has different plans. And I ate every word of it up.
Twice in a Blue Moon is a delightful, heart-wrenching romantic tale that starts with a chance meeting of two starry-eyed young loves in London.
Right off the bat, I liked Sam. He was down-to-earth, kind, and I found myself wishing I was in Tate’s place. I struggled a little with Tate simply because I felt like she shared her secrets too quickly. I don’t see how it could have been done differently writing-wise, it was just tough to watch and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And oh boy did it. The beautiful, hope-filled romance in the beginning helped carry me through the angst of the middle of the book. Honestly, I couldn’t find it in myself to hate Sam.
My main complaint was the ending happened so quickly that it all came to a head abruptly and felt disjointed. I also wish we had more time exploring the adult relationships. The timeline just didn’t allow for enough growth.
I don’t think I’m completely sold on the second-chance trope but I was in love with the initial romance between Tate and Sam. I also loved watching the complex relationships Tate has and her growth through the end of the book. This was an interesting departure from the light-hearted Christina Lauren books I’ve read and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Christina Lauren has been an automatic yes for me since the Beautiful Bastard series, and while I’ve liked some books better than others, I hadn’t read one that I could say I didn’t like. Until now. With all the hype leading to this book’s release, I expected greatness. I didn’t find it. Twice in a Blue Moon has a much more serious tone than other books that I’ve read by these authors. And there’s really nothing wrong with that. But I didn’t find any of the wit and charm that I’ve come to expect from Christina Lauren, and to be honest, I missed it.
The first time around for Tate and Sam is sweet and full of all the things that older teens/young adults feel when they have chemistry. The problem is it moves along so slowly that I was beginning to wonder about whether they’d actually get their second chance in this book. From the blurb, we know that some kind of betrayal leads to their breakup, and it’s pretty easy to see what that betrayal will be way before it actually happens. Then we finally come to the second chance in this second chance romance, and I feel like I got shortchanged. We have the expected turmoil between them and the explanation for the betrayal, but the actual second chance is way rushed and just not up to the standards I expect from this duo.
I think a large part of my problem with this book was a lack of connection to the characters. I felt like I knew more about Nana and Luther than our romantic couple. Oh, we get to know them plenty in the beginning, but the grown-up Tate and Sam, the pair we meet fourteen years later? Not so much. Instead, we get a condensed account of some of the events from the missing fourteen years, and then we’re thrown into the here and now with these characters. I would rather have had the condensed version of the young love beginning than the rush to conclusion I got in this couple’s present.
Regardless of what I would’ve preferred, I got what I got, and I have to say that I was disappointed. As I said, I’ve loved most everything I’ve read by Christina Lauren, but this one breaks that streak. I suppose we can’t love them all, and given my past experience with these authors, I will read future books by them. This one just wasn’t for me.