Author: Christina Lauren
Year of release 2019
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Romance, contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit, Adult
Release date: 29th October 2019
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
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?
Review
Tate Jones and her grandmother hear London Calling, having planned what sounds like the trip of a lifetime, they set off for their adventure upon arrival Tate Jones soon realises life has other plans in the shape of Vermont Farmers Luther and Sam.
Sam and Tate fall head over heals for one and other finding in each other someone they can confide their hopes and dreams in and even their secrets in, Sam believes his grandfather is dying, Tate has a bigger secret; her father happens to be global movie megastar Ian Butler.
One problem she has is she cannot share her secret with anyone. Tate decides to confide in Sam despite the continued warnings from her nana, Tate feels she has connected with him in just two short weeks and she has never done that with anyone else, she feels Sam is worth the risk.
What Tate doesn’t know is Sam has a secret plan all of his own which will impact Tate Jones for the rest of her life.
Fast foreword 14 years and we discover that Tate Jones now goes by Tate Butler and now calls Hollywood home, preparing for the role of a lifetime alongside her secretly estranged father. Tate soon learns this role has more than the opportunity for her mantlepiece to gain an Oscar, it has the opportunity to gain answers from questions asked long ago.
I read the Unhoneymooners late last year my first book of theirs and I loved it, so when I read the synopsis and discovered it has two elements of interest, I love books that feature travel and books that feature Hollywood tick all of my boxes, I loved the first half of the book it was fresh, a little too long but the characters likeable even approachable. Tate more so than Sam was the memorable character for me here.
“Do you want to live in the sun?” he asked quietly. “Or do you want to go back in the shadows?”
― Christina Lauren, Twice in a Blue Moon
Although I can’t say I buy into finding love of this magnitude this early on in life or even in a two week period I must say it was cute, especially in the month of St Valentine, so to the library I go and place a hold on Twice in a blue moon, months later here we are.
Upon reaching the second half of the story I found I really did enjoy the Hollywood aspect of this book for the most part but as always this detail falls flat for me, I found that Tate seems to treat her career like it just fell in her lap or forced upon her because of who her father is, and because of one encounter with the press 14 years earlier, rather then it being something she did play a part in building even if it was albeit a small part she does continue to live and gain access to the lurks and perks of the Hollywood lifestyle. This meant for me Tate went from being likeable to self-absorbed, just once I want someone to choose Hollywood and be grateful and excited for the opportunity.
I found my relationship towards Sam did not improve in the second half I found him even less likeable or believable then I did in the first half, I felt like even though he had a solid back- story I found it hard to see why he was the “it guy” without his looks I just found nothing to connect too. I prefer Nick for the role of Sam he seemed genuinely interested in Tate’s past but also keen to witness and be involved in her future even if just as a friend.
Sam seemed only connected to their past and watching her from a distance in the future. And dare I say living part of his life for his family. If what happened to Tate and her family happened to me or mine no-way would I still let him occupy the warm and fuzzy corner of my brain. Whose too say it won’t happen again? Well written and easy to follow when the time jump happens enjoyable minor characters fit in well with the story being told.
Perhaps an epilogue would have suited this book, that being this readers’ personal choice but even still I think if you’re a fan of Christina Lauren previous offerings you will enjoy this one.