When a community announces that a school for gifted students will be opening soon, four families become caught up in the storm of trying to get their children a place in it.
There were so many things to love about this book! I enjoyed the realistic feel of it - these wealthy families who all believe their child is intelligent and special enough to deserve a place in the gifted school, doing some questionable things to get them there, and how the community as a whole responded to the new school. There were a lot of relationships at play, and a lot of pressure put on them (spouses, friends, parents and children). I thought the narrator did a great job distinguishing between the many characters, as the various chapters flitted between women, men, teenagers, and even children. Although I'm not usually a fan of child POVs, it worked here because we get to see the story from all angles. I wasn't super-crazy about the twist/reveal near the end of the book; the story needed something but I'm not sure that was it. But, if you're a fan of stories about friendships, competition, and secrets, I'd highly recommend this one! 4 stars
I am fairly new to the writing duo of Christina Lauren and I've loved pretty much all the books I've read by them, but this one wasn't my favorite.
Tate meets Sam in London, and because they share such an instant connection, she feels comfortable telling him her biggest secret - that her dad is one of the most famous actors in the world and she and her mom have been hiding their identities for years. Sam ends up leaking the secret to the press, and the two don't see each other for 14 years, ending up together on the same movie set. Can Tate forgive Sam?
One thing that bothered me a little about the story is that I felt there were holes in Tate's background that were never really explained. Did her dad ever try to get in touch over the last 10 years? Why the need to stay completely hidden and change their names? And Sam's betrayal seemed to work out pretty well for her - I understand she was hurt, but it catapulted her into an acting career, and the issues she seems to have with her fame felt like things that are common to lots of celebrities and not unique to her. I had some issues with the audiobook narrator - it's not easy for a woman to mimic a man's voice, but all the male characters sounded the same and kind of smarmy. However, I liked the movie set setting and all the behind-the-scenes industry stuff, and I appreciated that Tate was still close with her childhood best friend. 3.5 stars
Hmm... I liked the one Christina Lauren book I've read but I'll probably skip Twice in a Blue Moon.
ReplyDeleteI've seen lots of other reviewers say this wasn't their favorite of theirs.
DeleteI wasn't overly impressed with Twice in a Blue Moon either. I did like the movie setting too though! I'll have to check The Gifted School!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll like The Gifted School!
DeleteI usually have good luck with Christina Lauren’s books - and some I have truly loved - but Twice in a Blue Moon was pretty middle of the road for me. I enjoyed the first section - in the past when Tate and Sam met. But the rest felt pretty lackluster and by the end I felt like not a whole lot had happened.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Each section took place over such a short period of time.
DeleteBoth sound good, especially the first one. Twice In a Blue Moon I can see where those issues you mentioned would definitely affect my enjoyment a bit, but glad it still mostly worked for you.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Not my favorite, but I still enjoyed Blue Moon. The beginning and the end were strong for me, and there were quite a few laughs in between to keep me happy.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, it was still a good read, just not the same as some of the others.
DeleteThe Gifted School definitely sounds like a book that would interest me. I'm glad to hear the audio version is good since that's the route I'd probably go. Twice in a Blue Moon isn't my favorite CLo book either. I still found it entertaining overall but got bored during the film set scenes.
ReplyDeleteThe Gifted School was a great audio choice!
DeleteI've been meaning to read Twice in a Blue Moon forever but still haven't gotten around to it. I'm sorry it wasn't amazing. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy! I still have high hopes for their next book.
DeleteI wanted to read Twice in a Blue Moon but backstory's holes would bother me too!
ReplyDeleteIt could just have been me - sometimes with audio I tend to miss things! I just felt like things weren't fully explained.
DeleteI had a couple of issues with Twice in a Blue Moon too. But overall, it was pretty good. The Gifted School sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteI think you would like it!
DeleteI like the setting of Twice in a Blue Moon and the Gifted School sounds like the perfect setting for some delicious secrets!
ReplyDeleteIt really was! These parents would do anything to get their kids in!
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