The Plot Twist was good. I liked the pacing and plot. La Rosa made believable characters that didn’t become annoying (as some rom coms tend to do). The book is only good because I read a lot of romance and I can say that most of the more general points of the book have already been forgotten, replaced by what I dub “the formula”. There are unique things from this book I will remember like seeing the main couple together for the first time and then Sophie projectile vomits on Dash, meeting exes for tik tok clout and then being sad when she gets recognized bc it’s only for tik tok clout, Dash being sober and relapsing, and Richard Gere. Other than these plot points, the book is just a romcom that you cuddle up with for a little while.
The way Dash’s sobriety and relapse was handled was well done. She didn’t exactly pull punches when describing what Dash was going through, but she also didn’t really shy away from it.

3.75 ⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Great light RomCom read with a touch of spice.

I loved Sophie in her cheeky confident times!

I much appreciated that at least Dash was a little bit older, and had lived his life some. I read plenty of books that the main characters are early twenties, and am always looking for characters a bit older and more relatable.

I do wish it was set over a longer span of time. I felt like the Richard part was fluff and could have been spent developing back story or even current story of the characters. It felt very rushed and a quick timeline but was a slow read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is fun and easy to read. The characters immediately draw you in and hold your attention throughout the story. Great job!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie is a Romance author who went viral on TikTok for being drunk in a karaoke bar and yelling that she’s never been in love and love isn’t real.
Dash is Sophie’s landlord/ best friends brother/ childhood crush. His family is Hollywood royalty and he was in a few movies years ago. He is a recovering alcoholic who his family is toxic.
Dash gives Sophie the idea to “stitch” the TikTok and she goes on a journey to create videos visiting her exes and finding out why it didn’t work out for them.
Sophie helps Dash write a speech at his dads Hollywood walk of fame that he doesn’t want to do.
This book is a quick read and a romcom. I did enjoy it but it is FULL OF TROPES. I like tropes but it seems to just be to much.
Friends with benefits, one bed, childhood crush, best friends brother, friends to lovers, forced proximity is just a few of them. It can be overwhelming. Things also happened very fast but it was also a slow book…. The characters went from not speaking to being friends with benefits quick to me..
I would still recommend this to people who love a book full of tropes and wants a light romcom read!

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
TW: Addiction/Alcoholism, This Book has Spice

I absolutely adored this book. Plot Twist is a 2 person perspective book. I love those, I love getting a glimpse behind the thoughts of two main characters. In my opinion it really helps us get to know characters so much better and they become more dimensional.

Sophie is a romance writer who is approaching the deadline for her second romance novel that she just cannot seem to finish and she comes to realize it's because she has never been in love. Not really anyways. That information gets aired out to the world of tik tok when she blurted it out while heavily intoxicated on a karaoke night with her best friend. Her best friends brother tells her that she should get ahead of it and share her truth by stitching the original posters video.

Sophie decides that she is going to meet up with her exes to find out what went wrong in all her relationships and why she has never been in love with encouragement from Dash.

Dash meanwhile is doing his best to maintain his sobriety but the dread of writing a speech for his father and his family pushing him to go back to acting is threatening that.

The love story was so good, it wasn't one of those forced ones it was very sexual tension that turned into real feelings. As a good novel is not without problems they definitely face their fair share. The novel is very light-hearted and an easy read with a few tense chapters within. There is a lot of tropes in this book such as Forced Proximity, Best Friend's Brother, Found Family, Afraid to Commit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love rom-coms but what I always appreciate even more is when difficult issues are handled in a respectful way. That being said, I loved the way Dash's struggles both with his own issues and with his family were dealt with. I feel like Dash's motivations were realistic and his reactions and actions genuine. Plus, his love of crafting really sealed the deal for me! I really liked Sophie. Her kindness and unrelenting support of Dash really made this book for me, but as far as I'm concerned Dash was definitely the star of the show.

I struggled with some of the side characters. I really liked Poppy, she seemed like a fun friend to have and was a good support to Sophie and Dash. I didn't like Nina and the way she would treat Sophie. I just found that every time the scene involved her I got really annoyed. She was unnecessarily mean in my opinion.

Ultimately, I felt like the book was easy to read, the pacing of the writing made sense and I honestly couldn't put it down. I stayed up way too late to finish this book. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a sweet romance, but do check your triggers.

I am so happy I got the opportunity to read this book!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5
🌶 🌶️ 🌶️ /5

I received this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I was all set for an amazing love story about a romance writer who had never fallen in love, and her best friend’s brother. What I got was a book that seemed to crawl by until maybe the last 10% when I finally got interested enough. I wasn’t really a fan of Sophie or Dash’s until later in the book. Events towards the end finally made me invested in what was happening with them though, and I overall enjoyed the ending. Dash’s mom is a horrible person though, I was not expecting that twist at the end.

This was really cute! It’s exactly what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. I very much expected an easy-to-read, lighthearted romcom and that’s what I got! It was funny and romantic and I loved the chemistry between the main characters.

I hadn’t read a book by this author before, but I thought the cover was cute and wanted to check it out.

The book is a dual POV romance between Sophie and Dash. Sophie is a novelist who hasn’t been able to find love or inspiration for her next book. Luckily, it strikes in the form of Dash, her landlord/bff’s brother/teen crush. His father is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and Dash has been recruited to give a speech, which isn’t his strong suit. They decide to help each other out and slowly fall in love in the process.

It wasn’t a perfect book, but I enjoyed it and it was a fun, quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read it in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy romances that are very self-aware and full of tropes, then look no further!

The "Plot Twist" follows a romance author named Sophie who suffers from writer's block. Not only does she have writer's block, but she's facing a looming deadline for her current novel. If she can't finish this book in time, she will have to pay back her advance and her dreams of being an author are over. One drunken night, Sophie makes a TikTok where she confesses that she's never been in love. When she watches her video the next day, she wonders if this is the reason why she can't write a happy ending. How can you write what you don't know? Sophie devises a plan where she reconnects with her old flames, document it for TikTok, and finally discovers the reasons why her relationships crash and burn?

Luckily, her sexy (former) teen heartthrob landlord offers to help her as she films her TikToks. Dash is no stranger to the limelight and he knows a thing or two about trying to salvage an image. Will Sophie be able to finish her book in time, or will she be distracted by Dash and forget the whole thing?


There is a lot going on in this book. This book is full of tropes but what makes it funny is that our protagonist, sees the world through the eyes of a romance writer. Seeing the world through the lens of a writer is what keeps me coming back to reading books about writers. This book has LGBTQIA+ rep, as Sophie has boyfriends and girlfriends to reconnect with from her dating past. Dash, the male protagonist is currently battling his addiction to alcohol. He approaches sobriety like it is his only job, which is very healthy and admirable.

Let's talk about the spice. It is spicy. I mean, it is pages and pages of sex scenes in excruciating detail. I've never hand second-hand embarrassment until reading this. The dirty talk was so cringy, I almost put the book down on more than one occasion. The dialogue in general felt very forced and unnatural, which is amplified times a million in the bedroom.

Other things you should know: Dash's family (his mom in particular) is very toxic. This toxicity is what drove him to drinking in the first place. Sophie's mom died earlier in her life, and Sophie carries this fear that she will let her mom down. This book also covers the topic of infertility as well.

I say this all the time when I am reviewing books. Just pick one thing and write about it! This book could have been about an author with writer's block who takes up with the hot neighbor. It could be a book about a girl who wants to find out why she can't have a lasting relationship so she reconnects with the flames of her past and documents it for social media. It could be about a new relationship trying to survive the hardships of sobriety. Instead, we have a spaghetti against the wall approach where none of it really sticks. The TikTok thing is present but not a huge part, the exs are present but not a huge part, hooking up the neighbor...you get the idea. There was just too much happening that at times it felt chaotic.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one was very tropey and there was a few parts that were a bit cringey. Even i the first chapter the heroine was making me cringe with her actions and I had some second hand embarrassment.

This was a fun read. Really liked Richard the squirrel. The silliness that the characters found and brought out in each other was lovely.

I really wanted to love this book, but ultimately it was just ok for me. It had a good premise, but the execution felt disjointed, rushed in parts and too slow in others

What worked for me:
-Dash’s character and his sobriety journey. It felt authentic and meaningful, not like it was thrown in to be used as a plot device.
-Sophie’s character and her pansexuality. It was never presented as something she needed to explain to or excuse for anyone. It was a natural part of who she was, and in a time where inclusion can sometimes read like it’s simply a box being checked, that was really nice.

What didn’t work for me:
-The TikTok of it all. It always takes me out of the story I’m reading when any form of social media becomes a major part of it. Even the ‘viral’ video that was meant to be Sophie’s whole catalyst didn’t really matter, because there was no backlash from it. No one aside from her really cared much.
-The meetups with the exes. They all felt rushed and like they didn’t accomplish anything genuine for Sophie, with the exception of maybe Carla, though that whole attempt a reconciliation felt awkward as well.
-The romance between Dash and Sophie. I honestly believed they’d work better as friends. The romantic relationship felt very chaotic, whiplash-inducing, and as if they were each slotting the other in as a substitute for something else in their lives. It did feel strong at the end, but I didn’t feel a connection to any of it before that.

I really enjoyed For Butter or Worse, but sadly this follow-up didn’t work as well for me. It was a quick read, with some things I did enjoy, but I won’t be rushing to reread anytime soon.

title: Plot Twist

author: Erin La Rosa

publisher: Canary Street Press

publication date: November 14, 2023

pages: 336

peppers: 3 on this scale

warnings: alcoholism, vomit

summary: Sophie is a romance author who hasn't ever been in love and is stuck trying to figure out a happy ending for her second novel. Her landlord and best friend's brother Dash is a recovering alcoholic and secret potter who helps her TikTok her way through confrontations with her exes to figure out why she hasn't fallen in love.

tropes:

best friend's brother
grumpy-sunshine
author with writer's block
romance author
teen idol
famous family
what I liked:

both interesting characters
funny scenes
struggles both seemed real
fun use of social media
spicy peppers
what I didn’t like:

sister seemed clichéd
overall rating: 4 (leaning to 5 of 5 stars)

I really enjoyed Plot Twist! I love books about authors & writing and this one didn’t disappoint!

Sophie & Dash are just the best. I loved how these two MCs really leaned on each other and confided in each other when they felt like they didn’t have anyone to turn too. While this is a fun, quick rom com read, it did also touch on some pretty deep emotional/personal issues that each of the characters felt.

I was worried that the references to Tiktok & tropes pretty consistently would annoy me, but it actually didn’t and I enjoyed the new video updates Sophie did.

The character development was pretty astounding for both of our MCs well. The flow of the writing was top tier and made the reading enjoyable as welll.

The Tattoo. 😬 That was super cringy for me. Not gonna lie.

It’s Giving:
-Forced Proximity
-Tenant/Landlord
-One Bed
-Best Friend’s Brother
-Author / Writing Block
-Pansexual Representation
-Alcoholism

Definitely check TW before diving into this book, but i overall really enjoyed it!

I really like Dash. He came across as really genuine and was really good-natured, even with what he was recovering from. Sophie, I found to be a little less likable, even though I really wanted to like her! The romance grew really naturally, which I enjoyed. Sex scenes were descriptive, which, I've come to realize that that's not for me anymore. I did enjoy that Sophie was pan-sexual.
The story itself had some really great parts but for me it just didn't have any OOMPH!
I absolutely don't think the book was bad, and I can see a lot of people loving it. It just didn't wow me!

Eh, I didn’t love this book. There was not nearly enough build up between Sophie and Dash before they developed feelings for each other. The spicy scenes also had some cringe lines that ruined the scene.

What a cute read! I really enjoyed this book. Also great use of inclusive language! I loved the Hollywood / LA vibes. I also enjoyed the split perspectives. Dash’s perspective did a great job at showing his vulnerabilities. I think the incorporation of TikTok worked well, but I wasn’t a fan of the stalker aspect. I was expecting more to come from it but nothing really happened. Loved the romance and it had the perfect amount of spice. Fun read overall and I would definitely recommend it to others.

I'm supposing Mercury was in Gatorade when I read this because absolutely nothing worked for me. It did not feel like this was the same author who wrote For Butter or Worse. This was a direct one-way flight to Cringe City and I felt very uncomfortable. There were so many elements that totally bombed and it felt like the author was floundering. There is a certain trend rearing its ugly head and I hope with all my heart it doesn't gain popularity, and it's TikTok-centric plotlines. Bringing social media into books is always a dicey move and it doesn't always pay off. I can understand the desire to garner younger readers, but it dates the book and makes it apparent that you're involving a popular app for clout. This unfortunately wasn't even the first TikTok plotline I've read this year and I hope it is the last.

Despite my fondness for freckles, I didn't like anything about the heroine. She came off as a dumpy Bridget Jones with her life careening directly into a wall. It was evident that none of her relationships flourished because of how erratically she lived her life. She was a "messy bench" and left her hunky landlord to pick up the pieces of her life. The novelty underwear, cringy dialogue, and long list of failed relationships all culminated into a human version of toilet paper sticking to your pants. I also thought the hero's tattoos were dumb and there was too much emphasis on the side characters. I don't know if I took a bite of a sour apple before reading this book, but this was a disaster.

The heroine went on a mission to confront her past relationships to determine what went wrong, but didn't consider that she was the common denominator? I haven't experienced such a strong negative reaction to a book in a hot minute, but this book wins the prize. I hate to be so sour about a new release, but I try to keep my reviews honest. I did like the coy reference to her previous book, but she laid it on too thick when she praised the author's writing knowing she was really tooting her own horn. Real subtle... I received this as Plot Twist, but it seems that it's been retitled as Exes and Prose? Even with a title change, it still didn't rise to the occasion. Perhaps with an elimination of the cringe dialogue, social media spotlight, and recasting of the heroine, we could twist the plot enough for me to like it.

I really enjoyed reading Plot Twist! Every now and then I need a palate cleanser from all the smut and this was a perfect balance. The book was trope heavy, but honestly I loved it! I would absolutely love to know more about Dash and everything that led him to where we meet him and I do wish we had a little more depth to the Dash/Cindy drama.

I know a lot of people may not like the inclusion of TikTok in the book, but I thought it was super relatable and made Sophie more endearing!

I honestly teared up a little bit near the end and it felt like a good conclusion for Dash and Sophie.