Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren Published by Gallery Books on October 22, 2019
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
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As an adventurous send-off to her childhood, eighteen-year-old Tate Jones travels with her grandmother from their small town in Northern California to London. But the vacation of a lifetime is wonderfully derailed by the appearance of two charming Vermont farmers: grandfather Luther and his handsome grandson Sam.
Sam and Tate fall hard and fast. For two glorious weeks, the couple share their hopes, dreams, and secrets. Sam admits he suspects his grandfather is dying and that this could be the last trip they take together, and Tate reveals that she is the hidden daughter of one of the biggest film stars in the world—a secret she’s never told anyone before.
But when Tate is exposed by a crush of cameras and reporters, she knows she's been betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust. She is forced to decide whether she will return to her quiet life or embrace being in the public eye. So when Sam reappears in her world more than a decade later, can Tate forgive the past and rekindle the passion they shared on their magical trip abroad? And does she even want to?
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.
Recommended for fans of:
Second chance romance
Hollywood
London
Movie making
* I received an early copy from the publisher to voluntarily read. *
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About Christina Lauren
Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal, been selected as one of NPR’s Top 100 Swoon-Worthy Romances, and won both the Seal of Excellence award and Book of the Year from RT Magazine.
Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.
Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you’ll probably find her on tumblr. She is married and absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 16 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter. She also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.
Great review. You are spot on about the needed epilogue. The lack of one just made the story feel not worth it. I think it’s their weakest book to date. It’s like they rushed to finish it.