I absolutely loved Dash's character and the way that he grew during the book, especially in terms of accepting help and standing up to his family. I also liked Sophie's character and the relationship between Dash and Sophie, but it often felt like Sophie was still not understanding herself and did not learn from what her exes and loved ones were telling her. This in turn made the point of conflict in the relationship about how Sophie believed that Dash didn't trust her, when he had explicitly said in several ways that he confided in her the most and that that scared him, which made me frustrated that Sophie could not hear that from him. Other than the miscommunication, I thought this was a good book and enjoyed reading it!

The main characters, Dash and Sophie, were what initially caught my interest in this book and made me request it, particularly that Dash used crafting (specifically pottery) as an outlet for working through anxieties and personal issues. Sophie, meanwhile, is a romance author who has somehow never fallen in love. However, I think it’s made me realize that I need to give up on the romance genre as a whole - I’m too cynical and have too little patience for it. I’m just not ever going to be a romance girlie and that’s okay. I think there’s definitely a market for this story and it’s younger and more carefree than myself lol.

I guess I’ll go through all the things that bothered me about this and then you can decide if it’s for you. In no particular order, here’s my list:

1. There was far too much content about TikTok, its inner workings, how to use it to become famous, how it works, etc. I do not give a shit about social media and I’m sick of it coming up in fiction that I’m trying to read to get away from the annoyances of real life.

2. Dash’s obsession with “Sophie’s perverse little canine tooth”. I wish I had flagged every single time he commented or thought about how her crooked, wonky tooth made him horny because I feel confident in saying it was at least four times, maybe more. That seems excessive to me but maybe that’s a kink I’m unfamiliar with.

3. Unless I misread or am remembering incorrectly, these people are in their mid 30s, yet they acted and spoke like they were in their early 20s/late teens. I can’t stand miscommunication and acting like the world is new to you when you’re supposed to be nearly middle aged. The characters would’ve worked better if they’d been younger.

4. Love conquers and cures all. There were some heavy topics in here and I think they were way too glossed over for the sake of getting to a happily ever after. It just added to the unbelievability of this whole book for me.

5. Tropes, tropes, tropes, including the author writing herself writing herself. I understand this was supposed to be meta but it just came across as awkward and forced to me. It felt like tropes were being forced into the narrative just to be checked off so that they’d be able to be hashtagged and referenced in the marketing later.

So yeah, I will be giving up on reading romance novels going forward (unless a plot line really draws me in and I’m feeling like a glutton for punishment), but I appreciate being given the opportunity to read an ARC by the publisher and NetGalley. Now I know better and hopefully this will work better for other folks.

I enjoyed this novel overall. I found that it was not a book I could binge read, however it was not at all bad. The continuous social media references didn’t bother me as it was a part of the story framework rather than thrown in as a one off, however I could see how some readers could be put off by main characters with TikTok accounts. I liked the progression of Sophie and Dash’s acquaintance, their connection was gradually built rather than feeling rushed.

However, I am no authority on addiction so take my opinion here with a grain of salt, I find it strange that Dash never went to a meeting and Chris never followed up. It seems like that would be something he should talk to Dash about, if only to get him to take accountability for not putting in the work when he wants nothing more than to stay sober.

I had high hopes for this because I liked the concept described in the synopsis but unfortunately, the execution was just not there for me. I found myself pretty bored by the plot and didn't really find anything about this book that held my interest.

"Plot Twist" by Erin La Rose is like a breath of fresh air in the world of romance novels. Sophie Lyon, our quirky romance author, finds herself in a hilarious predicament—she's never been in love, and her reputation is on the line. To solve the mystery of her own heart, she decides to reunite with her exes, including the one who might have been 'the one,' Carla. And guess who's there to add more spice to the mix? Dash Montrose, her reclusive landlord and former teen heartthrob, whose life isn't as straightforward as it seems,

Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa is a rollercoaster of emotions and a delightful mix of charm and heart. If you're up for a romantic adventure that keeps you grinning and guessing, this one's a must-read. The book lives up to its name, delivering unexpected and delightful turns. It's a love story that keeps you on your toes, blending heartwarming moments with just the right touch of unpredictability. The narrative weaves entertaining moments, emotion, and surprises that linger in your thoughts even after you've closed the book.

Romance author Sophie Lyon has a secret, she has never been in love.
Actor Dash Montrose has a secret, he is in recovery and wants to quit acting.
The two neighbors share more than a yard, Sophie's best friend is Dash's sister and when their relationship turns into more it's a secret they keep together from her.

There were a lot of secrets, a lot of building and breaking trust, and a lot of fun in this book. I enjoyed Sophie and Dash and can't wait to read more of them.

A lovely romantic comedy that is not afraid to hit on hard topics.

Sophie is a new author who successfully published her first novel, but has hit writer’s block hard on finishing book 2. Her writing career hangs in the balance when a video clip of her having a meltdown at a karaoke bar goes viral. Now she has a new platform to promote herself and hopefully a fun new challenge that will help her find love and an ending for her book before her deadline. What she didn’t expect was to find answers just across her lawn in the form of Dash Montrose- Teen actor crush, land lord, and her best friend’s brother.

Dash is more than Hollywood royalty. He wants to change his life and career. His complex family dynamics and personal trials lead to an emotionally complex tale and the birth of a beautiful friendship with Sophie that blossoms to more as they both try to help one another navigate some uncharted territory for themselves z They work on moving on and forward from their past, but not without a few bumps along the way.

This is an open door romance with some good spice🌶️ and some good humor and 🌈 +. 💕

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Plot Twist is definitely one of those books that appeals to the booktok community. If you're looking for a fun little rom com with some heart behind it, this is it. It has some just generally sunshiny moments but I appreciated that it tackles some serious topics as well.

Sophie is a sunshine FMC writer with a major block in writing her next book. She also happens to live across the yard to broody Dash, part of the famous Montrose family, actor, and brother to her best friend Poppy. Dash was THE guy when Sophie was younger but now she barely registered him, especially since he was forbidden (you know, best friends brothers are a no no). When she has a viral moment that exposes that she's never been in love (as a romance writer- what?!), he suggests she leans in to the issue and start exploring why she's never been in love. Enter the parade of exes (via TikTok confessional type videos) who she revisits in an effort to learn why she's struggling so much not just with her personal life but with the ending to her new HEA. In the midst of all this, we learn that Dash is a recovering alcoholic who is working hard at his sobriety while pursuing other creative endeavors under an anonymous TikTok handle. When Sophie and Dash realize they have undeniable chemistry, things get very interesting.

This has some classic tropes in it: best friends brother, a little grumpy sunshine, one bed so its sure to have something for every romance fan. Will Sophie and Dash go the distance? You're going to have to read it to find out!

This books was not for me. The characters just never captured me, and I found myself not really caring about the plot. I wonder if it's because I'm not on TikTok, nor do I frequent the app. I was definitely not the books target audience.

"Plot Twist" is an absolutely wonderful and sweet romance novel that captivates readers from the first page. The characters are so well-developed that I found myself genuinely invested in their lives, and their stories lingered in my thoughts long after I put the book down. The title, "Plot Twist," couldn't be more fitting as the narrative takes unexpected and delightful turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The novel skillfully balances heartwarming moments with a touch of unpredictability, making it a truly engaging and enjoyable read. It's a love story that lives up to its name, offering a perfect blend of charm, emotion, and surprises that will leave readers eager for more.

I loved that the FMC is pansexual in this book. There aren’t enough pan characters in books. I thought the MC could have more chemistry. I thought that the “forbidden” trope of best friend’s brother didn’t work as well as the author wanted it to.

I was not a fan of all the TikTok references. Ok, we get that they do social media but why is it talked about all the time? Unfortunately, this book seemed to be written around tropes and not necessarily a plot. This one just wants for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this eARC. Plot Twist is out now.

♥︎ Cinnamon roll MMC
♥︎ Best friends brother
♥︎ Close proximity
♥︎ Friends with benefits
♥︎Social media elements

Oh man Dash. That cute man. He had such a rough past. I loved the way he confronted his family and moved past it all. He is such a sweet soul and always there for Sophie.

Sophie. No dang way could I have confronted all my exes from the past. But good for her.. she was trying to work out what's always gone wrong with her relationships.

Loved their banter and chemistry. A fee heavier topics were mixed in. Made for a great read.

Thank you @netgalley Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, @erinlarosalit for allowing me to read and review.

Super fun read! I was hesitant with the current media references, but they're done in a way that isn't what I would consider cringey. The story itself was actually really cute, and the self-discovery Sophie has along the way is great. Her relationship progresses with Dash in just the right way for the story. Definitely enjoyed this read!

An rom com with tropes and lots a trigger warnings. Please check prior to picking this up. Overall, we follow a struggling writer and a recovering addict and how their relationship grows from there.

This book meh at best for me.

I really cannot with the woe is me celeb kids my life is so hard etc.

It was hard to get into and even harder to stick with. I had high hopes but it just didn’t pan out for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

From the premise to the characters to the challenges they faced, this story was authentic and genuine. There’s so much to love about these two people trying to figure out their love lives and personal challenges.

If you’re looking for Hollywood drama, realistic portrayals of recovery, romance authors and tongue in cheek mentions of tropes, this is your book!

I’m hoping we get Poppy’s story next!!

This book was such a fun read while also dealing with certain issues! Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Erin did it so well!

Despite being super excited about this book, I unfortunately don't think its for me. That being said, I don't think it was a bad book and I can understand how people would like it, I just found the pacing quite slow, and the "everybody is rich and famous" to be uncompelling. Perhaps it is a book I could come back to later and try again.
I do like that it touched on real life issues though instead of just meaningless drama.

3.75 stars, maybe?

I liked this book and enjoyed, among other things, the representation of some different identities through the various characters. That being said, I did find my attention wandering at a couple points, so I know I wasn’t totally captivated by the story at all times. Either way, I’d still like to see what the writer comes out with next.

This was really wholesome, cute, and spicy. Aka a marvelous combo. Sophie is a writer but she’s got major writer’s block. It’s tough to be a romance writer when you’ve never been in love. She’s a tenant of former teen heartthrob, Dash Montrose, who inspires a TikTok journey she goes on, talking to old flames about why they ended things in hopes that it will help her break through her writer’s block. Along the way, her and Dash grow closer but Dash has some demons of his own. Not believing he is good enough for her because of his need for sobriety (and therefore it requiring all of his focus), he keeps her at arms length. I loved how they both brought something to the table for each other, and helped each other be the best version of themselves. They needed to better themselves first, but each other is an added bonus.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the early copy!