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.

Rom-Com ARC read from NetGalley
Tropes in this book: next-door-neighbor, best-friend’s brother, grumpy-to-sunshine, one bed, friends-with-benefits, millionaire, celebrity male MC.

This is such a good story about two MCs that each have their own struggles and must overcome those in order to be better for the other. I’m not. A big fan of the self-deprecating male MC “she deserves better than me” but maybe that’s just because most people I know are a little selfish 🤷🏻‍♀️. I like that these two had a lot of chemistry and had a great sense of humor.

Sophie is a hot mess and is trying to write a romance novel, but has never really been in love. She has writers block and isn’t sure how to write the grand romantic ending she is hoping for. After a drunken night out and a viral video, she decides to explore that issue. She wants to revisit her past relationships and see what went wrong.

Dash is grew up in the limelight and was a child actor. He has quit acting because it lead him down a dark path. His mom is still trying to pressure him into the film industry. He is unsure of what he wants in life and his hot mess neighbor/tenant is tempting him with things he knows he shouldn’t indulge in.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars Okay so this book is one that gets better as the reader progresses. The first third was difficult to get through with its focus on TikTok and the characters seeking the approval of others. The remaining 2/3 of the story was very good. The two main characters, Sophie and Dash, run into a slew of issues – how famous families and paps/public scrutiny go and in hand, (not) living up to parental expectations, commitment phobias, alcoholism, and trying to conceive issues. The characters are very realistic and well thought out. The banter is amusing and there are some steamy scenes which are well written. All in all, I would recommend the book as long as the reader has some patience to stick with it. The story is very well done, and I applaud the author for tackling so many true to life issues.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, the author Erin La Rosa and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and authentic opinion.

Hi! Hey! Hello! I adored this book.

A romance author, struggling with writer’s block, who happens to be renting a guest house from her best friend’s brother, who happens to be a former child star who has stepped back from—or is at least trying to step back from—the spotlight and who happens to be her teenage crush, decides to visit her exes to determine what went wrong in their relationships and why she has never been able to say, “I love you,” in a romantic way.

Whew. This premise has so many delicious things in it that I may have to break down the tropes from my— essentially—run-on sentence for you.

Here it goes:
- Landlord-renter / neighbors
- Best friend’s brother
- Celebrity
- Teenage crush
- But wait, there’s more: it’s a grumpy-sunshine pairing, too. (Stop a moment to squeal.)
- And there’s an only one bed situation.

As Sophie, the romance author, and Dash, the reluctant celebrity, begin to spend more time together, they realize they have chemistry sparking between them. “Let’s get this out of our systems,” they think. They don’t want to upset things with his sister, and due to some additional complications in his own life, Dash and Sophie decide to go the no-strings-fling / friends-with-benefits route instead.

And oh those benefits.

We’re talking dirty talk. And “book research” in the form of a massage with an—ahem—happy ending. And taking things outside—gotta love some enthusiastic al fresco activities. And a Ghost—as in the movie—moment. And more. (I have to leave some things for you to discover on your own, right?)

And—oh my goodness—between the banter and the sparks and the full-on heat, there was so much smirking going on while I was reading this book, and I mean that in the best way.

There are emotional journeys, too, of course, and not just tied to their burgeoning relationship. He has a whole slew of issues stemming from his family and from being a child celebrity and also is currently in recovery.

In addition to her work issues, she has family things to work through and a need to figure out what has been missing in the connection piece from past relationships.

She wants to find love, and he is not ready for it.

That’s a long-winded and somewhat rambling review, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And Dash is a delicious book boyfriend. I loved watching him inadvertently drop his secrets and unintentionally open up to Sophie. And I loved watching Sophie learn to be herself. I think you’ll fall in love with them both.

I received an advance copy of the book from Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This one started out grabbing my attention immediately, and it was a quick/fun read until about 60% through. Then, it was actually a little tough for me to finish. The characters seemed so immature for their supposed ages of mid 30's, and their relationship didn't have much depth. Their argument seemed forced, and I just felt like the book seemed forced. It was an entertaining read, but just didn't quite do it for me or provoke any real emotion to make the story seem believable.

This wasn’t my favorite favorite, but it was still a fun read. Enjoyed the characters and the romance.

I really struggled to get through this book. I was into it at the beginning but quickly lost interest. I appreciated Dash’s story of the struggle he faced with fame.

I realllly loved this book. The writing shows the depth and layers of the characters. There’s a few of the tropes, one bed, best friends older brother, but they’re done so well. I feel like so many books are coming out right now that many authors throw them in just to get the plot going but this author includes the tropes in such a way that it seems natural and right for the story. Additionally, without giving away spoilers there’s mention of someone going through recovery for alcohol and it is explored in a much better, more realistic way than many other books I’ve read. I feel like many books with this topic mention it, this say they went to rehab and okay yay all better. When that’s not how it is in real life and this author explains the inner turmoil of a real person going through recovery in a way that feels very authentic.

Also the LGBTQ plot points are thrown in the story very naturally not as if it’s some showboating way to be up to date with current trends. I really liked how authentic the characters seemed and the way they reflected on their feelings seemed very realistic. Will be going to find other books by this author now ❤️