"Plot Twist" delivers a delightful and captivating tale that seamlessly blends humor, vulnerability, and a splash of unexpected romance. Sophie Lyon, a successful romance author who has never experienced love herself, finds her own life entangled in a plot straight out of her novels. The story is an intricate dance of self-discovery, second chances, and the unpredictable twists that only real life can offer.

The author skillfully navigates Sophie's journey from a seemingly picture-perfect façade to the raw reality beneath. Her decision to reconnect with her exes in pursuit of inspiration for her writing provides the backdrop for an engaging exploration of love's multifaceted nature. As Sophie confronts her own past, readers are treated to a mosaic of emotions, from heartache to laughter, and ultimately to empowerment.

Dash Montrose adds a layer of complexity to the narrative as he comes with his own closet of secrets. His unlikely partnership with Sophie, fueled by a simmering attraction, keeps the pages turning. The chemistry between them feels genuine, and their evolving dynamic is a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves readers rooting for their happiness.

The backdrop of Dash's hidden life as an online crafter battling his own demons provides a refreshing angle, touching on themes of vulnerability, addiction, and personal growth. The book's ability to interlace serious issues with lighthearted moments is a testament to the author's narrative dexterity.

What truly sets "Plot Twist" apart is its portrayal of relationships in all their forms. The exploration of friendships, love, and the blurry lines in between is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The proposition of a friends-with-benefits arrangement, which sounds like a simple solution, evolves into a profound exploration of commitment and emotional availability.

In a world where love stories often follow a predictable formula, "Plot Twist" takes a bold step off the beaten path. It's a charming reminder that love doesn't always adhere to the scripts we create, and that sometimes, the most beautiful stories are the ones we live for ourselves. With a cast of characters that feel like old friends and a narrative that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and poignant,"Plot Twist" is a must-read for anyone seeking a romance that defies convention and leaves a lasting impression.

Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa
Wow. This will be my first 5-star read in a very long time.
Plot Twist is a steamy best friend's brother romance that follows the characters Sophie and Dash as they try to navigate their relationship through the challenges of addiction and self re-discovery.
Sophie is a struggling romance author who has never been in love. Her next project is due in 5 weeks, and she will lose her publishing contract if she doesn’t hand in a completed manuscript by that deadline. Her writer's block comes when she tries to figure out the happy-ever-after ending for her characters but realizes that she can’t conjure up a good enough conclusion to a story for a feeling she has never experienced. This realization lands her in a viral TikTok video where she drunkenly declares to the world that she has never been in love. This is also the same situation that causes her to get sick all over her landlord, who happens to be her best friend’s brother… *cue the wedding bells*.
Dash is an actor with a secret. For eighteen months, he has been in recovery from alcoholism, and nobody knows. Due to his family's competitive and sometimes cold nature, he has closed off this part of himself from everyone and deals with the constant battle of addiction practically on his own. In his solitude, he has taken on the art of pottery and has a TikTok account where he uploads all his projects anonymously.
When he has to deliver a message from his sister Poppy to the woman living in the house in his backyard, he accidentally offers a solution to Sophie about what she can do about her viral drunk video. In response to the video, Sophie created her own account and started uploading videos in which she met up with her exes off-camera to try and understand why their relationship failed and why she hadn’t fallen in love.
While trying to find her second chance romance, Sophie and Dash begin to feel mutual feelings of attraction towards one another. They agree to try a friends-with-benefits relationship, but after spending more time together, things start to get a little more complicated than that. As Dash opens up more about his struggles and Sophie begins to understand herself and why her relationships ended the way they did, the bond between them becomes undeniable.
What is so special about these characters is how they grow with each other. Sophie shows Dash that he is never alone and that he doesn’t have to carry the weight of his addiction all on his own. She gives him a safe space he can turn to whenever he feels out of control. As for Dash, he shows her what true love is. It is patience, acceptance, honesty, and trust. Throughout the book, we see these two grow into those things and find those qualities in each other. It took time, but they fought for the love they deserved, which is powerful. I believe this book couple would have a happily ever after in real life.
Something that I also want to mention is the spice… damn. That massage scene was something else… Read the book on November 14th to see what I mean ;)

This is a cute story about a romance author with writer's block and a troubled relationship history finding love where she least expects it with her neighbor who has a history of his own to overcome. I like how the author approached the subjects of dysfunctional family relationships and alcoholism among others. The characters felt real with real problems. Sometimes a bit cliché but overall a good story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sadly, I had to DNF this one. I couldn’t find enjoyment in the writing or either of the characters, and the references to Tik Tok we’re driving me crazy lol.

How do you find love, and what do you do if you find it but feel you aren’t ready for it? These are the questions the main characters grapple with in Plot Twist. Sophie is a romance author who has never been in love and is struggling to find a happy ending for her next book. Dash is a recovering alcoholic and is trying to find anything else to do with his life other than continue acting, as his Hollywood royalty family wants him to do. Circumstances have brought these two together and they have a clear connection, but is the timing right for either of them?

This was a nice quick read with solid romantic tension, plenty of introspection from both characters, and lots of high Hollywood drama. A bit too much of the last one for my taste, but it wasn’t so distracting as to ruin the book for me. I could’ve done without Sophie’s whole plan to revisit her past exes - it felt gimmicky and forced. In part because of that, I found myself enjoying Dash’s chapters a lot more, although I wish there had been a bit more depth to his relationships with each of his family members. The best part of the book for me was how much Sophie and Dash supported each other through their challenges - they really felt like a couple that were good for each other.

All in all, a solid romance with a bit of spice, and I’d recommend picking it up!

This book was somewhere between okay and good. It was steamy and dealt with some harder hitting topics (like dysfunctional families and alcohol addiction), but it felt juvenile at other times. The characters have instant attraction, which is something I'm not a *huge* fan of, and their relationship developed a bit too fast. I also think that the gimmick of the book (i.e. reconnecting with exes) was a bit underdeveloped. Overall, okay book that's worth a read if you want a romance book that's a bit light and a bit serious.

*I would like to thank NetGalley for kindly offering me a copy of this book to review - all thoughts and opinions are my own*

I really thought I would love this book...but I didn't. I really enjoyed the writing, and the pacing was perfect. The MMC was endearing, and I found his issues to be very well communicated and expressed. However, our FMC was very chaotic- which I can relate to and appreciate (LOL), but it was just too much. She can be a whole person and not be in love, she's in her 30s and acting like a desperate 16-year-old girl, which I found very difficult to read.

The main thing that got under my skin was the Tik Tok references. I deleted the app to try to get away from it. But alas, even when I am trying to disconnect from social media it's thrown right back into my face.

First off, I want to say thank you to Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the e-arc in exchanged for an honest review.

Off the bat, this gave me rom-com storyline from similar movies I have seen (not a bad thing because I am a sucker for movies/books like this). This book was kind of predictable from start to finish and a very fast read (at least to me it was). The story follows former heartthrob, Dash and Romance writer, Sophie trying to help each other out with personal issues both characters have. He helps her finish her second book and she helps him write a speech for him to present at an upcoming event for his father that he has been dreading to do. Of course, there are obstacles they have to overcome throughout the story, but this is something I don't want to spoil as I really want this book to be read.

A swoon-worthy romance! Sophie is best friends with Poppy who has a famous family. Poppy helps Sophie rent a house from her brother, former movie star and recovering alcoholic, Dash. Dash has a crush on Sophie but can't make a move because he is anxious over his fragile sobriety. Sophie lusts after Dash but has been unlucky in love and is scarred she will screw things up. She doesn't want it to make things weird with her friend Poppy either. So neither does anything, until......
Sophie has writer's block and her publisher wants their money back if she doesn't submit her next romance book within six weeks. Sophie drowns her sorrows in alcohol at karaoke and makes a drunken public spectacle of herself that goes viral. She decides to find out why she have never been fully committed to her past relationships. Interviewing her past boyfriends and girlfriends of more than three months seems like a good idea, right.
Dash is being forced to write a speech for a father he hardly knows and he turns to Sophie for help. Sophie agrees thinking it will be a good exercise to get writing again. This throws two people in vulnerable places together talking about things they have kept close to their hearts. As I said swoon-worthy!

3.5 stars
I was so looking forward to this book. I liked this author’s previous book. This cover was so cute. It was a good book, not great. This book had too many tropes, the topics were just a little too heavy for me. I read romcoms for the fun, light reads. But all in all it was a good book. Spicy and funny at times which lifted it up for me. I liked Sophie and Dash…a cute likeable couple.

Thank you for Netgalley for the ARC.

Loved the character development in this story and the mentions of TikTok were cracking me up. Thank you for the opportunity to read your ARC!!

A very quick beach read for a younger romance lover reader. Despite being a millennial, I was not a fan of the TikTok plot line, or the setting of famous people and La La Land. It was very hard to relate to and feel invested in the characters when they didn't seem like people I'd ever meet IRL.

A lot happens in this book with various characters, so take most of it with a grain of salt and suspend belief while reading, as you probably won't be thrilled with how certain plotlines are tied up. I'd try another of La Rosa's books, as a refresher between my larger reads in fantasy or historical fiction.

Tropes:
-best friends sibling
- one bed trope
- fwb

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

I am in complete awe of the author and her many many talents. I love the way she writes the story and immerses you in the story. I have loved and enjoyed all her books. So gooood!!!

I’d recommend it to anyone.


Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I received this ARC from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this! I loved that the author touched on controversial subject matter realistically and tastefully. I enjoyed reading about the dynamic main characters, and I especially loved that our FMC is pansexual.

I expected insta-love - this was not that! I loved the development of the main relationship in the story, and the MMC wasn’t healed by love. The characters felt true to life, and the fact that it was sexy as hell was the cherry on top.

I did find it funny that the MMC’s brother’s name is Rhys Montrose because all I could picture was the character from You.

I appreciate the ARC from Netgalley, and I’m excited to read future books by this author!

Honestly this book just didn’t capture my attention like I was hoping it would, while I really enjoyed the first book by this author this one just wasn’t for me. It took me awhile to get into it and while I enjoyed it enough not to dnf it I almost did. Just missed the mark for me. 😬



Thanks to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honesty review.

✨ best friends sibling
✨ one bed trope
✨ get it out of our system
✨ hookup to lovers
✨ fwb

⭐️ 5/5


I thought I loved For Butter or Worse, but it holds nothing to Plot Twist!

Sophie and Dash hold a level of chemistry that had me hooked from the very beginning. Sophie is working on her romance book while trying to deal with the fact that she has never actually fallen in love. Dash is a former actor in a family of performers and social beings trying to work through himself and the stress that comes with being a recovering alcoholic. When the two agree to help each other, sparks fly ✨

Watching Sophie work through her past relationships on the journey to learn more about herself and analyze why she’s never been able to say “I love you” was delightful. She did some deep looking inside herself, but it also didn’t feel obnoxious or preachy the way she was addressing her faults. Rather, it was just a character realizing that maybe things weren’t as perfect as she had thought and sometimes the relationship ending was her fault, sometimes it was theirs. I would have liked more discussion about her relationship with her longest ex, as I felt that reconnection ended sort of aggressively (throwing salad bowls is not okay!)

Dash and Sophie’s relationship was a very cute progression of friendship then tension/sexual romance then feelings that made for the perfect fwb turning into lovers situation. This book was also a good representation in that Sophie’s pansexuality isn’t questioned or evaluated as she’s with Dash or any of her exes. It’s just there and she’s proud of who she is. It never put a strain on their relationship or seemed to be up for discussion in any of her relationships.

Something cute to note, this book makes reference to tiktok users as well as popular newly opened romance bookstores. Clearly the author is involved in booktok and included it in her story without it seeming shoved in your face.

Overall, very cute book and a strong recommendation if you’re looking for fwb to lovers that has a hero and heroine with traumas.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I am leaving this review of my own free will.

I just need y’all to stop what you’re doing and read this book. It is so cute and lighthearted. I sped through this from beginning to end and found that I wanted more when it was over. The storyline is so cute and I love that it’s called plot twist, because hello I didn’t see any of it coming. I’m definitely recommending this to my friends to read.

ty NetGalley + Canary Street Press for the ARC!

Erin La Rosa's romcoms are VERY sweet. This was kind of a friends-to-lovers but not quite, friend's brother, past celeb crush mash-up. The protagonist is also a romance author, so there's a lot of nods to the romance genre and its conventions.

Even though this story wasn't quite my cup of tea, I gave it four stars. It's well written and readers who like warm, fuzzy romcoms may like this! I just couldn't quite get into this couple. I felt like they fell in love really past for no apparent reason - they kissed once, and that was it. If that's your thing, then this is it!

I am here praying though - PRAYING - that Rhys gets a book of his own w/ his mean assistant.

There is a lot going on in this book! Plot Twist follows romance author, Sophie, in her ex-quest to learn why she’s never fallen in love and, Dash, in his sobriety and family drama.

This book deals with heavy topics, including alcoholism, anxiety, and intense family issues. I thought Dash’s alcoholism was handled really well and I found his story so heartbreaking. I think his character was very well written and developed throughout the book.

I love books about books or authors so an FMC romance author with writer's block brings me so much joy. I didn’t quite understand the ex-quest about why she didn’t fall in love with any of her exes. I think that’s more of a personal journey and speaking to exes to understand why feelings weren’t there seems kind of silly and unnecessary to me. I think Dash could have helped her with something else in exchange for her help writing his father’s speech. I didn’t feel the “love”, if you will, between the two main characters. The spice was great, for sure, however, I don’t think I would say that by the end of the book, the main characters were in love, more so a place where they can start a mature relationship.

I did find so many scenes funny in this book, usually all of the Richard Gere mentions. Excellent!

I also loved that there were pop culture references and Tik Tok algorithm discussions included. I think these were placed well and not obvious or cliche.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of Plot Twist.

I was excited to read this book because I enjoyed the author’s first one, but unfortunately this one really fell flat for me. The storyline was basically a mash up of every single romance trope you can think of, but most of them were unnecessary and didn’t really drive the plot or create tension/drama/excitement/you name it. It truly felt like the story was starting to go somewhere and then another trope was thrown in for no reason. I was also not a fan of the female main character Sophie’s storyline if visiting all of her exes because it is the exact same plot as Exes and O’s by Amy Lea. The exes were all underdeveloped characters as well and didn’t feel realistic. The point of her revisiting her old relationships was to figure out why she’d never been in love, however not a single ex provided any insight into this problem and the whole plot seemed to be a sideline that led nowhere. I also felt that Sophie and Dash hardly knew each other and basically fell in love within a few weeks in which they took exactly one road trip and did little else. All in all it just felt a little bit like a mess and I think it needed to be edited down to have more of an impact.
That being said, I’m sure many people will enjoy this book. The writing is well done and there are a few funny scenes that made me laugh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!