This was my first book by this author, and it won’t be my last 💞 A former teen movie star and a romance writer who’s never been in love??? She used to have a crush on him AND they live next door to each other??? *screams*

This book has:
• Grumpy x sunshine: Dash is a grumpy hero with a heart of gold, and Sophie is the sunshine heroine that he can’t stop thinking about
• Best friends brother trope: This trope added in a forbidden element, and all the pining was ✨ chefs kiss ✨
• Close proximity (Dash is her landlord)
• Friends with benefits: There’s nothing I love more than seeing characters fail to stick to their friends with benefits rules 😌

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and these two leads SO much. I rooted for Dash and Sophie since their first interaction and the grand gesture at the end was so heartwarming 💞

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

DNF 2%
It’s me. Not you. Third person perspective isn’t for me in this type of book. I could tell from the first page it wasn’t the writing style for me.

Book Thoughts
Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa
Pub Date: November 14, 2023
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5/5

What I Liked
~LGBTQIA+ representation
~Dash and his crafting and his sensitive soul…sigh
~This book touches on dysfunctional families, anxiety, and addiction which I wasn’t expecting in a romance but it was done nicely.
~The journey that both our MCs are going through are different but the way the support each other felt a little bit like real life.
~An overall quick read and cute story that has some serious topics.
~A little spice

What I Didn’t Like
~It doesn’t feel like a story I’ll remember.
~The TikTok emphasis.
~The Hollywood connection…I just don’t particularly like reading about movie stars.
~There were a lot of tropes in this…
~The stalker felt really unnecessary.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trading Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is not something that would normally grab my attention at the bookstore or on Amazon but I like that it isn't overwhelming. I had a hard time with the beginning of the book and felt like while the characters experience with the night before was common, I don't feel like making it such a focal point in anything is very appealing for me personally. I'm sure this will change once the book is nearing release but I didn't love that there was no index to switch back and forth more easily. I loved that it switched perspectives but it felt a little slow and the beginning was sort of awkward, I do not feel like this is something I personally would grab from a bookstore.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Plot twist was an... interesting contemporary romance book that started out seeming to be a sweet and cute rom-com. We follow love interests Dash ( A former child-actor who is a closet ceramic artist focusing on maintaining his sobriety post rehab) and Sophie (a romance author suffering from writers block and struggling to identify why she has never been able to fall in love). Dash's struggles with sobriety seem to be mindfully represented along with his strained and dysfunctional relationship with his family who also are involved in Hollywood. His motivations to maintain a closeted closed off life and the emotionally abusive relationship with his family make sense for his character arc and how he is the way he is, the grumpy to Sophie's sunshine. It was also nice to see the LGBTQ+ representation in Sophie as a pansexual female who has had relationships with women, men and trans people whom we see her interact with in the story itself.

This book started out with a lot of promise, it had all the tropes that I enjoy in romance books. Grumpy/Sunshine, relatively forced proximity, best friends brother. But it feels as if the book relied heavily on the tropes it wanted to present rather than let the story flow organically. I enjoyed the introduction to the book, the build up where we are learning the characters and the obstacles that are standing in their way, but it slowly started to get repetitive and the relationships never seemed to fully grow and evolve. I understood the use of TikTok and social media as a driver, it's huge in modern society and would seem strange for a contemporary setting, particularly in LA to not include it. But it felt disingenuous?

I understood the premise of Sophie's journey, she was stuck on not being able to give her book with a big deadline the HEA that is known for the romance genre because she herself has never experienced love, that gave us the timeframe of the storyline as well. It was an interesting idea having her return to her ex's and find out why their relationship died. However, these encounters never really held any weight to the story, Sophie learned more about her trust issues from her interactions with her sister and her best friend than she did with any of these unnecessarily written interactions with her ex's.

My interest started to fall off around the 50% mark of the book when things seemed to fall into a stall pattern with just repetitive interactions. I didn't understand the constant reminder of her elongated canine, it was a weird choice for "adorable flaw" and got frustrating seeing it repeated. Also while I know this story is about Dash and Sophie and their romance, it felt like their interactions was heavily overshadowed by their messy lives that their budding love fell flat and it didn't really feel like they interacted much and just never made much sense. I would classify it more as falling into lust or like rather than love.

The lacking of emotional maturity, even with perceived trust issues, was also a hard struggle. From my understanding up until the epilogue the timeline spans 6 weeks, and so far with them both keeping their distance and rarely interacting for extensive periods of time I couldn't get behind the anger, hurt and sudden distrust over "lying" by having personal boundaries with not wanting to divulge life stories within a newly forming relationship that has yet to even be classified as such? Sophie had so much potential and the plot of her learning to overcome her trust issues (which is briefly explained near the end of the book in a singular sentence) and finding her way to her first love while coming back to writing was so fun! but she just seemed to fall flat and never actually grow.

The writing itself was fine. Like previously stated the book appears to rely heavily on popular romance tropes to move the story along. There is spice in this book, they were fine, the last sexual encounter read a little awkwardly written but that could also be my waning interest. This book has some cringey dialogue and I feel like could've been developed a little more. It wasn't my favorite romance, it was ok, fairly easy to get through quickly and had some entertaining elements. I do also appreciate the compassion the writer took in writing about addiction and emotional abuse within a family dynamic.

I would recommend this for romance readers who don't mind cringey dialogue, enjoy a moderate level of spice and want a quick, easy, trope heavy contemporary read.

Plot Twist is a cute rom com that shows perhaps the most important part of life and a relationship is asking for what you want.

I found the primary story to be that of the MMC, Dash, rather than the FMC, Sophie and I absolutely loved this. Dash’s journey with sobriety is very powerful and his insights to his the stigmas of social drinking culture and how hard it is to refuse a drink were excellent observations of our society. Similarly, I liked that the book touched on fertility struggles, IVF and egg freezing. I loved the unique elements of pottery and crafting woven into the story as well, and the amount of detail that went with many of the character hobbies. I feel like Dash carried this story, and if he been less dynamic, I think I would have rated this story much lower.

The book felt very Inception-y at times because ultimately La Rosa’s For Butter or Worse is Sophie’s first book, and the line between author and character was difficult to define at times. I found this both refreshing and frustrating. Additionally, although a central theme of the story, I did not enjoy the heavy social media influence of TikTok and “going viral” and think the story could have been executed just as well without it. Social media is difficult in books because although it is relevant, it’s so trend-heavy: by the time you’re jumping on it, the world is onto something else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this title.

A romance about being there for one another even when you need to try again. I love that the story give a realistic view of hollywood and that it's not all you see on screen. I love that both main characters Sophie and Dash become fast friends and stick by each other even though they are both experience trust issues and yet they both encourage each other to do their best. There are situations in the story that keep testing Sophie and Dash and make them doubt they will be able to have a relationship. However as they go along with the relationship, their love life becomes more involved and somehow they decide that their relationship is worth it.

I want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this great summer read.

I really love the beautiful cover and was so excited to read this one! The synopsis of the story is right up my alley, and I love books where the lead is a celebrity.

However, I had a really difficult time getting invested in the book and had trouble connecting with the characters. The plot at time felt very rushed and the ending was not totally believable. I want to root for the characters of every book I read, but in this one I found myself not caring very much.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press/Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think it's important for those who rely on trigger warnings to really take caution with this story, especially when it comes to themes of addiction and relapse!!

I was completely drawn in by the adorable cover and synopsis of this story and was even further intrigued by the opening scene. We meet the handsome, ex-indie film star, Dash, and the quirky, hot mess of an author, Sophie, through a very embarrassing encounter. I was intrigued and immediately wanted to know more about Dash's reclusive tendencies.

From the first scene alone, we gather that Dash has zero interest in being in the public eye or around anyone outside of his family. Privacy is his top priority, as is staying sober. He's serious about this, folks!!

Sophie, on the other hand, is a train wreck. Not only is she getting dangerously close to missing her book's draft deadline, but to make matters worse, she went viral on Tiktok. Why? Because she's never been in love. However, she is determined to work through her issues and focus on discovering the truth within herself that's preventing her from loving.

Yet, the promises the leading characters make to themselves that they are not ready for romance are almost immediately thrown out the window (as well as the"slow burn" that's hinted at) as they have a spontaneous hookup that happens within the first 80 or so pages? Give or take? This continues to be a theme throughout the story, the scenes happening at times that seem inappropriate or in contradiction to what the story is supposed to accomplish. A lot of back and forth, I got whiplash!

The supporting cast was interesting, but I felt that this story heavily relied on the spontaneous/ill-timed spice and tiktok drama to keep the story moving. It got a bit old, especially when it felt the pacing was off and the story didn't follow a clearly defined rhythm. (why are we flip-flopping between conflict and resolution constantly throughout the 30-85% marks? there isn't enough time to adequately address all the issues or come to a believable conclusion)

3.5 stars
This book was cute I enjoyed the characters and the growth and the depth to them. It was really good. Thank You NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved the cover and got pulled in immediately to the story. I enjoyed the characters and their banter a lot and it was obvious they had a lot of chemistry. The sex was a little too descriptive for my tastes, but I liked the journey the characters went on. This world is fun and I would love to see more stories from it.

For Butter or Worse was a 5 star read for me last year and Plot Twist definitely lived up to its predecessor! If you're just in it for the sexual tension and steamy scenes, this book won't disappoint - but the story is sooo good. I laughed, I cried, I related SO HARD. I feel like everyone has that phase where they just want to be loved and Sophie's story begins in that phase. But not just that, she also feels like she's failing at her dream job and ultimately failing at life to make matters worse and this made her such a relatable character! Dash is utterly charming but he's got his own issues and they are handled so well in the book. Everything about this book was SWOOOON! We also get some Nina and Leo cameos as well as new characters including cute critters. I loved this romance and I think so many others will too :)

wow. wow. wow. This was my first glimpse into the brain of Erin La Rosa and it most certainly won't be my last, I fully intend to dive into all of her books!

This book covers so much, glimpses into family issues, addiction, mental health (I am a HUGE advocate and love when it is represented in books.). It is giving sexy and swoon worthy. We love Sophie and we are loving Dash, their relationship makes me so happy! I loved that it took on modern day (ie tiktok/tiktokfame/ect) I know it irks some people but it is so common now that it might as well be represented in a book. I think this is most definitely taking a dive into once it is released!


Thanks to NetGalley and Erin La Rosa for an ARC!

This book had so much going on TikTok videos, lots of exes, a stalker, alcohol addiction, fame, and the writing block of a romance author.

I was amazed with how well the Author manipulated all these different puzzle pieces. Sophie Lyon and her struggle feels real. I felt so connected with the characters and the journey they were on. I’m honestly surprised I haven’t seen more on this one in my book communities.

I really loved reading her previous title For Butter or Worse. When I seen her newest title I instantly got excited about reading it.
I adore stories about books, authors and romance and this was just the story I needed to devour.
Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa was stellar, sweet and smart!
I truly enjoyed this book and could not put it down.
I loved both characters and the whitty lines between them.
Dash and Sophie are both very relatable and likable.
The author did a great job at still giving these character chemistry.
The plot pacing was nicely done, and it was refreshing.
I had a fun time reading this book.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Canary Street Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was absolutely adorable. I loved “For Butter or Worse” and “Plot Twist” was such a great addition to the series! In this installment we follow Sophie and Dash. Sophie is a romance author (with writer’s block) who has never been in love. On her quest to meet her publishers deadline she embarks on a mission of self reflection to find out why her past relationships failed and why love has never happened for her. Dash is a former teen heartthrob, landlord and the brother of Sophie’s best friend. Both at a crossroads in their careers, overcoming personal obstacles, dealing with family drama and seeking friendship - they may just be what the other is looking for.
Full of romance, comedy, vulnerability, cameos from some of your favorite characters and a very angry squirrel - Plot Twist was a joy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley &
Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a super cute, mildly unpredictable and was difficult to not finish in a sitting book. It was quirky, full of fun, and a very nice beach read of a romance novel. The only issue I had was the culture references. They were definitely what is not going to be recognized in 5 years, unless its in a compilation or something. But, otherwise, a fun read and cute.

I wanted to like this book so much, but I felt like we didn't know anything about the characters until the end of the book. I also was a little frustrated with the main character. She needed to write a book, but she barely spent any time working on the book. I wish that we would have had more of her writing, because she talked about it for most of the book. I also like the love interest, but feel like we didn't get to know him that well. He had issues, but we didn't really get to know about them. I would still recommend this to anyone who wanted an easy and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Sophie Lyons is a writer. Or, at least she thought she was. She's knee-deep in writer's block and can't finish her second romance novel. Why? Maybe it's because she's never been in love. After a disastrous night of drunken karaoke, she admits this on social media. Her landlord, Dash Montrose, offers to help her with her social media problem. But Dash has secrets too, and he isn't ready to share them. He is ready to leave his heartthrob actor days behind him, but can he with his overbearing family? And as these two get closer, will they find a way to make it all work?

This was just a fun romp of a book. The characters were so real and relatable that they felt like people I could know. I found myself quickly absorbed into the book and needing to know what happened next. If you're looking for a cute little romance, this is a fun one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥/5

Thank you Netgally for this eARC!

Our story takes place in Hollywood, California, and centers around Sophie, a writer struggling with writers block, who goes viral after a drunken night of karaoke where she declares she has never been in love!

Dash, her teenage crush/best friends brother/ landlord, suggests she use her new fame to get some inspiration for her book that has a rapidly approaching deadline.

Thus begins Sophie's adventure of reconnecting with all her exes to see what what went wrong and maybe just maybe figure out the reason why she has never fallen in love.

Dash comes along for the ride while hiding quite the load of secrets, including his growing feelings for Sophie, his secret crafting tiktok, and his struggles with his sobriety.

Sophie & Dash are adorable, and I loved reading about how they dealt with each plot twist thrown their way! The side characters of Sophie's sister Nina, Dash's sister / Sophie's best friend Poppy, and Dash's best friend Chris were also great additions to the story!

As a content warning, Plot Twist does deal with the topic of addiction, substance abuse, and sobriety.

Plot Twist releases November 19th! In the meantime, though, you can read book one, For Butter of Worse, about Sophie's sister Nina!