Member Reviews
Olivia is saved from an overzealous flirty cowboy at a coffee shop by a sexy Irish guy who pretends to be there with her. Together they concoct an entirely fictional relationship to let the man down easy and also have more fun than either of them has had in a long time. On parting, they agree to meet up again in the same coffee shop in 10 years, with goals in mind: her, a completed screenplay in hand and him, an armful of Oscars desperately looking for a new project. This seems like a romantic plan until Olivia realizes that the two never exchanged names. Over the following years, she falls in love, she gets her heart broken, she breaks someone else's heart, she runs away and comes home again...all while every single February 4th brings up memories of that chance encounter in a coffee shop. When the official date rolls around, will Olivia be brave enough to see if her mystery guy shows up or will she decide that she's had enough of fate and finally take the reins of her own life?
I didn't really know what to expect from this book, because I felt like a story about a woman putting her life on hold for 10 years and living for February 4th's might seem a little silly. Not to mention that sometimes the plot device of revisiting characters on the same day in consecutive years is frustrating because the story in between suffers. However, I'm so happy to say that my fears were entirely unfounded here. Turner deftly fills in the gaps between February's so you don't feel like you missed anything at all. Each February 4th is different enough that you don't feel like Olivia is stuck in Groundhog Day, and that also keeps readers invested in seeing just where the next year will take her. Olivia is a funny character (her inner monologues are hilarious), and her relationship with her best friend, Fiona, is arguably the best in the book. And I wasn't able to guess how it was all going to end, even though I definitely had a HEA in mind. This book has exactly the right title! Turner's ability to tie up all the loose ends in a believable AND heartwarming way was really impressive. All her hard work on this book (10 years?) really paid off with how well she knew her characters and their story. I actually really loved it.
I didn't know this going in, but apparently this book is considered "Christian fiction" because it was released by a Christian publisher. Turner said that she basically classifies it as a clean romance, and I would agree with that (there are no love scenes) BUT...I had no idea that was related to the publisher or genre. It didn't feel like the story was lacking anything or was intentionally shying away from intimacy or anything too risque. It was just a story about a woman's life, her friends and loves, her dreams and failures, and where 10 years takes her. Anyway, I just thought that was interesting because I don't generally seek out Christian fiction, but I'd have missed out on a great story if I had let that label deter me.
All of that to say, though all of this author's other books to-date have had stronger faith elements so I'm not the right reader for those, I'm definitely really glad I read this one. So I'll be interested to see if this book finds its audience because I really hope she writes more like this one.
**Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**
When Olivia, an aspiring screenwriter, is unexpectedly saved from a handsy cowboy by an Irish lilting, aspiring actor, she makes a pact to meet back at the same coffee shop in 10 years. He will make her screenplay into a movie...but there's one catch. Olivia never told him her name, and he never told her his name!
Every year on the exact date, Olivia encounters ironic run-ins with past boyfriends, celebrities, and occasionally with the Scottish actor she is certain is her "Sexy Irish Guy." She experiences comedic encounters, life altering decisions, heartbreaking moments, and tear jerking episodes that bring her closer to the ones she truly loves.
Plot Twist is a fun and emotional roller coaster ride. It was hard to put down, and I loved all the little greeting card excerpts with each chapter. They really revealed Olivia's character and pulled you into the emotion of her story. A very fun read, and I cannot wait to read more from Bethany Turner.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Plot twist chronicles the ten year journey of Olivia and how the choices you make can have long lasting consequences. This story wasn’t at all what I expected, it was so much more. Olivia, a greeting card writer, meets a man in a coffee shop. After a funny incident, and a genuine connection, they decide to meet back at the same place in 10 years after they’d reached their lofty career goals. Without exchanging names, Olivia is left wondering about this mystery man and after years of fantasizing and romanticizing the interaction, ten years has passed, major life changes have occurred and Olivia finally get to have her rom com moment.
This book was such a fun, cozy, and quick read!
I was nervous about this book at first since I couldn't imagine telling a whole 10 year story in just 10 days, but I was pleasantly surprised. While of course I didn't learn every detail of Liv's or Fiona's lives during that year, you got a very good picture of what happened and how the relationships were able to develop.
And while I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going to end up there was a QUITE shocking "Plot Twist" in the final chapter that brought a smile to my face!
This one was 2.5 stars rounded up for me. I felt like I never really got to know the characters in such short pockets of time each year, and what I did know, I didn't really care for.
Overall, it was a clean, easy romance for anyone looking for that genre. It wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I can see where there's an audience for it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought about it when I wasn't reading and the suspense reading it was palpable. Bethany Turner was a new author for me, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Nobody does it like Bethany Turner in a rom-com. This one is filled with wonderful humor, romance and leaves a really "feel good" feeling when you are done.
Witty characters, interesting and humor filled plot that leaves one warm and happy inside.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
My Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I was a little skeptical of this book at first, I’m not going to lie. The description was right up my alley! (I’m a total sucker for a “meet cute” with lots of twists and turns) although, I was hesitant in reading this book, I will say it was well done! A little long in places, but overall a really good read!
I will say that I did not anticipate the ending!! 🔥 (I won’t spoil it, but wow! I was impressed!)
I hope that as the reader, you will give this book the patience it deserves (because what happens is totally worth it!)
This book had so much potential. I was intrigued from the beginning but I felt like all the time in between the ten years of Feb 4 were just fillers. I wanted to see what happened with Sexy Irish Guy! Olivia to me wasn’t the most likable character either. Plus she was hurtful to Liam and then all of a sudden once the relationship with Sexy Irish Guy falls through she realizes she still loves him. This book just fell flat for me in general.
Where else would a hopeful screen-writer work other than a hipster-sounding coffeeshop in LA? This is where Olivia Ross finds herself on February 4, 2003 on a particularly busy day. Wouldn't fate have it that she meets an up-and-coming actor and though they don't instantly hit it off, they make a pact that in 10 years they will meet at that coffeeshop and that he will star in Olivia's screenplay. On that day over the next decade, a series of coincidences occur that almost make it seem cursed: a day continuously filled with revelations, drama, and heartbreak. However, every year the question still looms: will her nameless actor actually show up on February 4, 2013?
As the title suggests, there were several twists on my initial assumptions about the book from reading the description. First, the book gives off vibes that it is strictly romance. Though romance certainly plays a role, Olivia's journey focuses on self-discovery and friendship as much as her romantic endeavors. Second, the description led me to believe we would hear the perspectives of both Olivia and the actor whereas we only hear from Olivia's POV. I think I actually preferred this because I was really wondering whether this man would show up in 2013...and isn't that the point? To wonder if they will both be there? Finally, I wasn't expecting the chapters to be more like a yearly diary style and it took me awhile to adapt to the style. It didn't hinder the character development, especially with Liam who really ended up being a Redford. This man is a saint! He just really loves Olivia and she just spends 10 years pushing him away!! Talk about a bright character, and plot device in the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this change of pace for a typical romcom and the references to pop culture in the early 2000s (honestly can't believe I'm STILL watching Grey's Anatomy!) and following along Olivia's journey of friendship, development, and love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Oh this had such potential but sadly fell flat for me. Olivia was a highly unlikable character. She treated her ex Liam horribly then wondered why she also was treated awful by men. She doesn't love Liam in the beginning and says he doesn't get her sense of humor. Then from the middle of the book to the very end, she realizes she's been in love with him. What is even going on?
Calling all romcom book lovers, Plot Twist by Bethany Turner is for you! I LOVED this ground hog day-esque love story set in LA over ten years. Olivia Ross's entire life changes one day at her local coffee shop when she meets a handsome actor who says in ten years he'll star in her yet to be written screenplay. From that day on every year on the day the stars align for Olivia and crazy things happen. I loved seeing so much of a character's life play out and the growth and change she gets to have! Turner's writing is funny and makes for fast reading!
I really tried with this book. I did. But man... Sometimes the description falls so short of how the book can turn out. This was just plain boring and from the 1st CH I was like you got to be kidding me girl. She instantly irritated me and that's hard to do. After that, it was like a snowball of not quite thought-out plots. I really don't, even now, see what the book was supposed to be about. Fate and serendipity maybe?
And to top it off I can tell that author maybe visited CA a handful of times. When in the first few pages there are name drops for famous franchises that people who don't live in CA think all CA swear by you kinda get that feeling.
As always thank you NetGalley for this ARC
Wow, just wow. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and what an introduction. I couldn’t put this book down. Navigating ten years with Olivia was an angsty, emotional roller coaster and I loved it. I honestly didn’t see how things were going to work out for her. She seemed to have everything going against her, but I absolutely loved the ending and read it with tears in my eyes. My advice...go into this book blind. It’s unique and fresh, hopeful and romantic. Can’t recommend it enough.
I wanted to like this book but it just didn't do it for me. I don't love stories about love triangles (this could've been my bad for not reading the summary in full). Love triangles are so 2005 and Twilight.
<spoiler> I did not like the ending that Hamish wasn't even the right person??? I would've been a lot happier if he was the right person but they didn't click or something </spoiler>
THANK YOU PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR FOR PROVIDING ME THE ADVANCE READER COPY OF PLOT TWIST AND MY OPINIONS ARE SOLEY BASE ON ME AND NOT INFLUENCED BY ANYONE
THIS BOOK WAS QUITE INTERESTING
I thought this would be an interesting read as the encounter from the blurb sounded really interesting. Sadly, this book just didn’t work for me and maybe it’s just a me thing.
The book begins on February 4th, 2003 with an encounter that Olivia will never forget and it also will play a huge role in her life on the same day for the next ten years. I can’t recall reading a book like this besides maybe One Day in December which I couldn’t get into so my brain is a little hazy on how that one worked out.
I can’t say that I ever connected to Olivia but I did like that she didn’t give up on her dream of writing a script even if it took longer than she had first anticipated. The rest of her life was kind of a mess which I get. No life is perfect and we all do rash things but a lot of her actions were pretty selfish, especially when it came to her friend and ex-boyfriend.
Spoilers in this next Paragraphs:
There is one thing that I can’t stand and that is cheating. Although Olivia wasn’t in a relationship at the time, her ex was and she kissed him not only once but twice when he was in two different relationships, one being her friend. That is just not okay and it really turned me off.
It also made me not like Liam because in the beginning he was this laid back guy and then when they broke up and she found herself in a relationship with his friend who cheated on her, Liam had a lot to say about it but also does the same thing. It doesn’t matter if you only have eyes for one person, don’t be in a relationship or stay far away from the person who keeps trying to get you back but then still walks away.
End of Spoilers.
The plot does match the title as it definitely didn’t turn out like I thought it would but I also think the plot was bogged down by all of the celebrity name dropping and the drama of Olivia’s life.
Overall, this was okay but it just wasn’t a book for me as I’m just not the right reader for it.
Plot Twist by Bethany Turner is a fun, joyful book about friendship, love, pursuing your dreams, and being courageous. I love how the book follows Olivia over the course of a decade of February 4ths. The ending is not what you'd expect (plot twist, after all!) but it is just perfect. It's hard to say whether Olivia's love stories or her friendship with Fiona was better, but both just made this story come to life.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced ebook copy. All opinions are my own.
This book features such an original plot concept that I think Bethany Turner was rather gutsy to write this one. Personally I think that her risk paid off, and she managed to pull it off. But I do think that there are a couple of important details that need to ring true for the reader.
1) He or she needs to be a fan of 90's/early 2000's pop culture. There are quite a few references to television shows and movies. If someone does not enjoy movie stars, they may not appreciate this book. This fact is only somewhat true for me, but I was definitely able to follow along.
2) He or she needs to be a fan of author Bethany Turner. This is definitely true of me. I have read all of her other books, and I think she is hilarious. I definitely had several laugh-out-loud moments. Turner has mastered the rom-com genre.
Yet if this had been my first book by this author, I might have paused in the middle because for a little bit, the story seemed stuck. I was getting a bit annoyed at the main character for not moving on. But I hung with it because I knew by the end of the book, my feelings of enjoyment would return. And they definitely did.
So what is the gutsy move? Basically the "live action" scenes all happen on February 4th from 2003 to 2013. Writing about one particular day each year was certainly original. The author definitely had to have vision to have all of the details come together.
Does the book live up to its name? I would say so. Not surprisingly, the biggest plot twist happens near the end of the book. (I definitely did not figure out that part!) Along the way, there were actually quite a few plot twists - unexpected details that could not be anticipated. For happening over such a long span of time, I thought that everything connected well. Yet even in the midst of varying directions, there was an element of predictability that will appeal to the reader.
This book did take me in many directions. When I finished reading, I couldn't stop thinking about the book. That is a sign for me of a book that I want to recommend. Sometimes a person wants to be surprised, and that element definitely fits this book.
I did get to read an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. I appreciate the publisher letting me read this one. All opinions are my own.
What a fun, unique, and just plain GREAT take on a romantic comedy.
Writer Olivia works for a greeting card company but is not so secretly working on a screenplay and would love to be in a serious relationship. She is 30, after all. She also is convinced that she will never be the leading lady - only a supporting character. This mindset messes with her in a number of ways...and really, there's too much to attempt a summary so here are my bullet points for your review reading pleasure:
The relationship with her longtime best friend is basically, the best
The card quotes are awesome
The timeline that follows our heroine through the years is well paced and interesting
There is plenty of sassy repartee and a ton of laugh out loud moments
I was surprised multiple times - and frankly, that doesn't happen very often in this genre
The most important takeaway: this book was a pleasure to read and I definitely recommend it!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.