Member Reviews
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas Nelson.
Overall Impression
This was a quick read for me (I had trouble putting it down), but one that left me with mixed feelings, as I didn’t understand why it was labeled as Christian fiction.
Things I liked
The Structure
I really enjoyed the book’s unconventional structure. Based on the synopsis, I thought the novel would be a standard romance story, so the unexpected structure was a pleasant surprise.
The structure also contributed to the novel’s pacing. I liked how each chapter introduced lots of new information, so the book didn’t have the normal “slow parts.”
The Plot
The plot really pulled me in, to the extent that I felt an emotional connection to the characters. There were definitely moment when I wanted to punch Olivia or became angry with Liam, and it’s been a while since a book elicited that kind of response from me.
Along a similar line, I noticed other readers saying that this book would make a great movie, and I agree. I liked that it was slightly cleaner than your typical PG-13 rom-com (though it didn’t quite feel PG) but was not predictable like a Hallmark story. In fact, there were several fun plot twists.
The Humor
The book was both fun and funny, and I found myself laughing out loud.
The Setting
The book took place from the time I was in 2nd grade until I graduated from high school. Because the main character is an adult, there were some references that I couldn’t fully understand, but there were also quite a few that I enjoyed.
Spiritual Content
As I read, I kept thinking that the spiritual themes were coming up a little later on. Given the premise of the novel and the occasional nods to “coincidence,” I was thinking there would be, at the least, discussion about God’s planning. But there wasn’t. In fact, there was no content even alluding to faith or relationship with God.
While some Christian books present subtle, allegorical meaning and others offer nods to religious practices like church attendance (which is not my favorite “Christian book” identifier), I really saw no reason to call this a Christian book. It was comparatively “clean” (please see Content notes), but it was not what I expected.
Content Concerns
In contrast, there were some “worldly” elements. Most of these things will seem pretty “nitpicky.” However, I am reviewing not only as a Christian reviewer, but also in the context that this book is considered a Christian book. For me, these elements felt out of place in a Christian book.
Olivia is very impressed that her best friend, Fiona, has celebrities’ phone numbers in their phone and thinks “a friend like that deserved better.” While I think the line is meant to be comedic, I feel that it subtly endorses celebrity worship. There’s also a reference to the “sanctity” of a singer.
Olivia and Fi have a really sweet lifelong friendship, which I really enjoyed reading. I didn’t like the line that described Fiona as the love of her life. It was just like but it weirded me out!
At least one use of the Lord’s name in vain (“Geez”).
One of the main characters is referred to as “Sexy Irish Guy.”
Romantic Content
I think most people would comfortably describe this as a “clean” read. There were, however, quite a few passionate kissing scenes. The descriptions were enough to make me feel uncomfortable, although this definitely wasn’t the worst I’ve seen. Compared to mainstream novels, I’m sure this is a very clean read. Because this is a Christian novel, I would have liked to see a more innocent romance.
Concluding Thoughts
While undoubtedly an entertaining read, this isn’t a book I would characterize as Christian. Therefore, it’s not something I would endorse as “here’s a good, pure [as in purity] work of fiction.” I don’t read much adult fiction, but this is probably a good alternative to mainstream choices.
I couldn't relate to FMC. The premise of the book was great but the execution wasn't what I expected. I couldn't feel the chemistry.
Didn’t really enjoy this. Olivia was whiny and selfish throughout. Repeatedly saying how she tells Fiona everything, well everything but the fact that she’s in love with someone Fi is dating. Ugh. Talk about a terrible friend. But then it seems they just share way too much as friends, such as chasing or lusting after the same guys. It’s just too weird for me. None of the story worked and the format was wonky. Definitely not a relaxing read, more frustrating.
The Plot Twist by Bethany Tuner was a delightful rom-com revolving each year on February 4th. The main character, Olivia, met an aspiring Irish actor that could be the "man of her dreams" on February 4th, 2003. They decide to meet in the same coffee shop ten years later to celebrate Olivia being a famous screenwriter and her mystery man will be a famous actor. I enjoyed Olivia and her bestie Fonia, they had the best friendship. Overall, it was an enjoyable story that kept me entertained.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, for my copy in exchange for my honest review.
A fun story about Livs life over ten years. I enjoyed the unique storytelling style and characteristics. I liked the major plot twist in the ending. It wasn’t what I expected but I ended up enjoying it just the same.
This is my first book by this author and I loved it and ended up staying late two nights in order to finish the book. The story was good and only slightly repetitive/annoying in how the main character behaved or thought, but it made sense for those with low self esteem. Nonetheless, I liked all the characters and liked how the story wrapped up and ended. I was able to relate to the characters, and they reminded me of people I knew in real life, which is always fun. I already recommended this book to some friends. I'll definitely be looking into other books by this author for quick, light-hearted rom-com type books.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for opportunity to read this ARC and provide my honest feedback.
This story was an easy read by the pool. I liked the idea of this story but I feel like the characters kind of held this back from being a great read.
When first requesting this book I was super excited to read a romance story that spans 10 years. I really tried with this book, but the jumping from year to year made it challenging to really get to know the characters. I had a hard time connecting with the MC and was very frustrated by her behavior and how she treated the closest people she has.
Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Bethany Turner is my new favorite author. I adore the sweet, slightly off-beat characters she creates. They feel like friends. I was so excited to get a copy of Plot Twist and it did not disappoint!
The structure of the book was just mind-blowingly creative. I'm jealous that I didn't think of it. On February 4, 2003, greeting card writer/wannabe screenwriter Olivia Ross has a meet-cute with an unidentified "sexy Irish guy" in a coffee shop in LA. They vow to meet back up in ten years in the same spot, but fail to exchange names. What follows is an annual check-in on Olivia and her best friend Fiona, as well as her on-again, off-again love, Liam.
Bethany Turner gets pretty deep as she explores the perceived impacts of fate and freedom through a series of rom-com worthy bungles. I could not put this book down because I had to know how things turned out on February 4, 2013. I won't spoil the ending but I will tell you, I wasn't disappointed!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating edit: 1.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book, as I found the plot interesting, but I didn't. It doesn't have any purpose, or maybe the purpose is pointless.
The writing style is nice but but it cannot help if you don't have an interesting situations/characters/dialogues. The situations are quite unimaginative, the characters uninteresting. The story just jumps, every chapter starts with a new year and you don't know what's going on.
It reminded me of One Day in December by Josie Silver and The First Time We Met by Jo Lovett but these books are interesting. Plot Twist isn't. I'm disappointed.
While there were times when I absolutely hated Olivia, overall I liked this book. It was engaging lighthearted a nice vacation read. I thought the plot twist was great, so hilarious that it was never Hamish after all.
An angsty RomCom with an actual twist so it’s not just a clever name. A story similar to One Day or Same Time Next Year which follows our main character as she goes through life on same day each year which is when she met and made an agreement with an “unknown” actor to meet in exactly 10 years. The anniversary of this day turns into a burden as every year something “ironic” or unexpected or downright infuriating happens making her dread the cursed day.
This story was unexpected. At times hilarious and heartbreaking I found myself flying through it wanting to know what happened to our main character this year. The main character is equal parts relatable, endearing, and frustrating…as are all the other characters in her orbit. They are flawed yet likable. Their story as aggravating as it is page-turning. You are rooting for all of them and their HEA.
- good meet cute
- sexy Irish guy
- Fiona is gonna be fun
- I'm making my prediction. But I'm not putting it here because I want to post this without spoilers
- I'm impatient, I might skip to the last chapter
- fun book
- I like how it's set up
- it had a GREAT plot twist
- 4 cups
- very sweet story
- ended so well
Favorite Quote:“I do. She’s amazing, but—” He walked toward me again, and I felt my heart break into a million pieces. “She’s not you, Olivia. It’s always been you, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to figure that out. I mean , I’ve always known. I just didn’t think you felt the same way. I thought it was just something I had to come to terms with.”
I was all geared up to root for Sexy Irish Guy from day 1...then I was rooting for Hamish...but it turns out my heart belonged to Liam all along! I absolutely loved this book, from the yearly time hops to the Heartlite cards and most especially the ending. Olivia was a relatable heroine- one who is a loyal friend but needs a boost of confidence in life. Thanks to Bethany Turner, I will now have Ironic stuck in my head for ages!
This story was such an easy read. It’s set in Los Angeles, so it was fun seeing her life span across different neighborhoods. I felt like she used this fairytale in ten years as an excuse to make any big changes in her life. She didn’t want to jump into a relationship, she didn’t want to move too far because… what if? Ten years is a long time and it felt like it, but I relished the ending and the wait was worth it.
Olivia, a greeting cards write who dreams of finishing the screenplay she's been working on, has a meet cute with an up and coming actor in a LA coffee shop. They vow to meet in that same place in 10 years and make a film together, both dreaming of the successes ahead of them. But, as we meet Olivia on that same date every year and inch closer to that meeting, we see that dreams don't always work out the way we think.
I like the premise of this book, and the way it is structured, taking us through the same date every year between the meeting in the coffee shop and the planned reunion, made it very readable. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, as I thought it was going to turn out to be a version of some self-insert Gerard Butler fan fic but it turned out to be more than that thankfully! The main character however, is pretty irritating. Nobody is perfect but one of her first actions in the book is to dump her boyfriend for pretty pathetic reasons so I didn't feel like we got off to the best start. There's also a touch of "I'm not like other girls" about her which annoyed me. I'm not sure how much of this was intentional though, as to be fair, I'd probably not be particularly taken with myself if I met me 10 years ago and Olivia does change as the book progresses....a little.
It was enjoyable enough but it wasn't a stand out for me.
Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 29%. The writing style didn't suit my reading taste and the time jumps made it a very confusing read.
Bethany Turner’s romcoms are always fresh and brimming with pop culture. Plot Twist offers the same zest and smart plotting, but with celebrity references amped up thanks to the the LA setting and culture. This story is especially unique with its timeline and take on romance yet full of beloved tropes and one of the BEST roommate relationships I’ve come across in a while. And the hero, y’all. He’s unexpected and lovable and quite the surprise!
I absolutely laughed and highlighted my way through this novel. The celebrity name dropping and movie references make my heart happy, particularly as a movie buff. Its setting and cast of characters are a natural springboard for Hollywood happenings. And the way the actor Hamish MacDougal resembles real-life actor Gerard Butler is uncanny 😉 and hilarious.
Plot Twist is simultaneously a unique romcom and a story that harkens back to classic and beloved romcom tropes through its wry moments of spontaneity and over the top IRONY. It has, to name a few, meet cute(s) (yes, plural), a bachelorette auction, celebrity sightings, a Hallmark-like greeting card company, dreaded exes showing up at the most inopportune times, and a bff relationship to envy.
The timeline works for the story, checking in with Olivia and friends every February 4th for ten years, and is in favor of the character development. While it could feel abrupt, Turner takes her time with each “day” and builds complexity by catching up events of the past year and showing another crazy day in Olivia’s life. Olivia learns to how to be comfortable in her own skin. along the way, and she learns to appreciate the heroes in her life who come and go — and one hero, in particular, who is there for her all along.
My very favorite part of this story is the BFF relationship Olivia has with her roommate, Fiona. Fiona is pivotal to the plot in many ways. While the romance and zany comedy are a huge part of the story, my takeaway is that a relationship like Olivia and Fiona’s is as important in life as a HEA (happily ever after).
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Best Rom Com of the year. Plot Twist by Bethany Turner is the cutest love story you will find.
February 4 becomes an accidental date for Olivia Ross. After a chance meeting in a coffee house the greeting card author finds her life unchanged. Every February 4 for the next 10 years holds a goal she must work towards. With the twists and turns of fate, an unlikely love forms during this time.
A quick and quirky read. I found myself laughing and rooting for the underdog. This story has a delightful ending. I truly enjoyed this book.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Book Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Plot Twist tells the story of Olivia Ross each February 4th over the course of 10 years. I loved how this format highlighted Olivia’s growth as she confronts decisions about love and the challenges of chasing her dreams. This book is filled with movie references that add a level of fun, though they are a bit dated so I only understood some of them. The message of this book, being a main character in your own story, is one I think most people can benefit from. This is more women’s fiction than romance, but overall it was a good story.