Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter Publishing for the advanced copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this one and love a good story within a story.
Allie is a romance author who has come down with a bad case of the writer's block. Her life is dismantling in front of her eyes, and she is grasping at straws to save it.

The author creates two relationships that become instrumental in Allie getting her groove back. The first, an older best-selling author who finds himself in the same boat as Allie as they team up to help each other with their novels. The second, a hot waiter named Will who she continues to run into at work events. What better way to write a romance then to find someone sweet and sexy to take notes from?

Allie finds herself inadvertently lying by omission and using both men to further her career. Getting to the part where the threads unravel was the best part of the novel and hits around the 50% mark.
I really wanted more of Will's character. The author skims the surface of his character, but we never really get to know him. Their relationship wasn't ever clearly defined and needed more substance to make the buildup of the ending more meaningful.

I

This might just be the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. Like really-want-to-smack-the-main-character-upside-the-head frustrating. In a nutshell, this book is entirely comprised of the miscommunication trope–or, more accurately, the lack of communication trope–so if that’s not your thing, I’d suggest staying away from this book. Because once Allie realizes that the guy she’s falling for (despite having no chemistry with him) is none other than the son of her newfound writing partner (whose marriage she’s using as inspiration for her next novel), does she immediately confess to both of them her very accidental and unintentional mistake? No. Of course not. Instead, she complains over and over to her best friend about how the universe is out to get her and how everyone will be mad at her when they find out she’s been lying to them even though, in the end, nobody really cares all that much. And you know why? Because it’s really not that big of a deal. Add in a random plot about a sort of nefarious publisher, and this book felt like it didn’t have any stakes, any urgency. It was just the same repetitive, self-deprecating monologue. At least it has a very nice cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review!

CUTE.

i don't love the third person story telling but this book was very good.

The writing was very good. And the story felt heartfelt.

Want to read more

Eleanor Goymer’s The Plot Twist is a delightful romantic comedy that intertwines the creative struggles of two authors with an unexpected love story. Romcom writer Allie Edwards and seasoned crime novelist Martin Clark both face crippling writer’s block and looming deadlines. In a desperate bid to overcome their creative hurdles, they decide to swap genres and write each other’s stories. This unconventional partnership not only rejuvenates their writing but also fosters a heartwarming mentor-mentee relationship. Amidst this literary experiment, Allie encounters Will, a charming events caterer who becomes the muse she didn’t know she needed. Goymer masterfully balances humor, romance, and the intricacies of the writing process, delivering a story that’s both engaging and endearing. The Plot Twist is a testament to the unexpected turns life can take and the beauty of finding inspiration in unlikely places.

I really enjoyed this book! I’d guessed some of the main plot twists quite early on but I can imagine it being quite difficult to manage to make them subtle enough without being too obscure/unlikely.

The only real negative experience I had while reading was the massive jump from chapter 19 to chapter 20. It felt very jarring to read and the way the conversation starts between Will and Allie seems to come out of no where and doesn’t seem very natural.

Otherwise I loved all of the characters and the way Eleanor has written all of their different relationships is lovely and everything felt very intentional and well done.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Overall, it was okay, and that's okay! It was written well, and the story flowed nicely, however I didn't connect with the characters. The book was fun and a creative story that many people will enjoy, it just wasn't for me.

I really wanted to love this book and there were some thing I did love, but overall it was pretty meh. Allie was extremely childish, felt more like an early 20s woman than 35 (said as a 35 year old). Also, her relationship with Will was basically nonexistent. They met, met again, went on 1 date, slept together once (I think, it was off page and jumped from end of a chapter where he wasn't involved into her waking up in his bed), and then he was gone most of the book but she still fell in love with him?

Allie had a far stronger relationship with Martin, which I loved, and Verity (her editor), which was charming. I honestly feel like I'd rather have read a book with her as a side character and Martin/Angie being the leads.

There were a ton of plots floating around and while they all got resolved, none felt fully formed. It was a fine book, but not for me.

DNF at 14%

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The premise of the book seems very fun, two authors with a writers block helping each other out and then Allie falling in love with the son of the author. The writing itself also showed a great promise, however I could just not get into the story.

The first chapter was so long, it could have been cut into multiple ones and would have been better for it. If i need to believe the table of contents on my ereader this is only an issue for the first chapter though. However, the Harry Potter reference, not for me in this time and age. Also the fact that one the old rich white guy was like “Or am i not allowed to say things like this these days”, I hope this was supposed to be ironic, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, the book was simply not for me.

I liked the concept of this story, but the introduction felt very lengthy. The romance itself doesn’t really take off until close to the halfway point.

Despite having seven successful romances to her name, Allie finds herself in a major writing slump with a looming deadline. She teams up with Martin Clark, a renowned crime writer from the '90s who is battling his own writer’s block. Together, they form an unexpected partnership to break through their creative blocks!

While Martin’s fatherly bond with Allie was incredibly sweet, it often felt more central to the story than the romance with Will, a caterer she meets at an event. I liked how everything tied together, but the interactions with Will were just too limited, and Allie’s self-sabotage made it difficult to fully connect with their relationship.

I think there were just too many subplots—writer’s block, Allie and Will’s romance, Martin’s marriage, and an editor takedown. With so much happening, some storylines didn't get the spotlight I hoped for.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this!
I loved the premise: a romance author in bad writers block meets a grumpy crime novelist and a super swoony caterer. Martin and Allie agree to help each other out by writing their opposing genres. It sounds great on paper.
But I struggled with this a ton. I thought the romance was lacking some real tension and chemistry to make it believable. Allie was a bit difficult to relate to and made some weird decisions. But mostly I thought this tried really hard to touch so many plot points and never really delivered on any of them? It felt messy and a bit disjointed.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter & NetGalley for providing this ARC! ✨

The Plot Twist is the ultimate feel-good book! The characters are lovable, and the story revolves around something every book lover enjoys—writing books! 📖✨ It has that cozy, heartwarming vibe that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea and just escape for a while. The premise is fun, and there are definitely moments that made me smile.

That being said, a few things didn’t quite work for me. Some sentences were unnecessarily long and didn’t add much to the story, making the book feel slower than expected. The relationships between the characters weren’t always believable, and the romance itself lacked chemistry—it just didn’t spark the way I’d hoped. Plus, by the halfway mark, it was pretty obvious how everything would unfold, which took away the excitement of finishing the book.

Overall, it’s a decent romcom with a sweet concept, but not one that completely swept me off my feet. If you love lighthearted, bookish stories, you might still enjoy it, but I wouldn’t call it a must-read. 😊

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book to read it early. The story was cute and fun to learn more about the characters along the way. The supporting characters were fun and the main characters are what made the book. I found Allie to be self centered and arrogant at times but her witty banter helped balance that. Martin is a gem and should always be protected.

A fun back and forth of will they won’t they with enough characters to keep you guessing. This book was light hearted and offered lots of giggles along the way. Would totally recommend.

I really tried to get into this one but I couldn’t do it. Allie is a best selling romance author with writers block who comes across a thriller author named Martin. The romance for me just fell flat and I was well… bored. 2/5 ⭐️ thank you Eleanor Goymer, Netgalley, and one more chapter for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allie Edwards is a romance author. After writing seven romance novels she struggles to get started on her eighth novel. Her relationship with Dominic has ended and for months Allie has struggled with writer’s block. To make things worse, there is a new Sales Director who expects Allie to produce her eighth novel on time, while her editor Verity is gently trying to encourage Allie to finish on time.

Everything is a disaster. Allie meets another author who is also struggling with writer’s block, and they start helping each other.

This was a fun romance with lots of twists and turns. I loved the description of the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher One More Chapter for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

After debating between a three and two I’ve picked 2. This is a romance book and I didn’t feel any romance.

This book felt really repetitive and which I think is due to not being clever either set ups. The main girl has two friends but she has to tell the friend everything separately which leads to several repeat conversation. Not sure why they couldn’t have had one met up.

I kept going back to double check the summary thinking this book was about her and Martin… there was more romance there than with Will.

When I talk about not like the miscommunication trope this book is how I define that trope. If I am getting annoyed that you can’t have a conversation but can talk to your two friends about it and it wasn’t a big thing you made it into you cause you can tell someone something…

I’m not sure who would enjoy reading this but if you do I would love to know what you enjoyed about it. I think I got so frustrated with the lack of communication that anything enjoyable I missed.

Ok rant over.

Every aspect of this story (the characterization and character development, the romance, the underlying plot) drags. The first 30% or so of the book is full of exhausting, unnecessary exposition, attempting to set up a plot that could have been established by the first chapter. The lack of show over tell is exasperating. It takes too long to get to the romance, which should have felt stronger given how long we wait for it. All of the reveals are obvious to everyone except the main character, which makes her difficult to connect or empathize with. The use of miscommunication and self-destruction only makes her more frustrating. A disappointment, especially right before Valentine's Day.

The Plot Twist is a delightful romcom that centers around Allie Edwards, a romcom author struggling with writer’s block, and Martin Clark, a bestselling crime novelist who feels like a publishing relic in the modern world. Both are facing the pressure of looming deadlines and nothing to show for it. When they meet at a party, they decide to switch plots in an attempt to break free from their creative ruts.

Allie and Martin's collaboration is full of humor and heart. As Allie navigates her way through the challenge of writing Martin’s crime novel, she also finds herself caught up in her own personal life, where she meets Will, a charming events caterer who quickly becomes the answer to her romantic and "spicy material" needs. While her growing feelings for Will complicate things, Allie must balance her career and her personal life with deadlines bearing down.

As someone who loved this book, I have to say it lived up to its name — The Plot Twist was exactly that. I managed to guess the twist before it was revealed, but I still couldn't help but cheer a little when I was proven right. There's something satisfying about predicting a twist and seeing it play out, especially in such an engaging story.

The chemistry between Allie and Will was spot on, and the relationship she developed with Martin added an unexpected but welcome layer to the narrative. It wasn't just a romcom; it had heart, humor, and the perfect balance of career challenges and romance.

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! My favorite parts were the storyline between Allie and Martin- almost like a father/ daughter duo helping each other and inspiring each other in their books. Martin falling in love with his wife again was simply precious. What a privilege for Allie to play a small role in that!

I loved Allie & Will together but I wish we could have seen more of their romance (dates, conversations) on the page. You get to see both characters become transparent and vulnerable with each other which was so lovely to see. I did see the twist coming but still loved it, regardless!

The ending was so sweet!

She's a romance author who's got writers block but finds herself being inspired by a bestselling crime novelist... and falling for his very gorgeous son. Allie Edwards is a rom com writer who has had writer's block and with an overdue manuscript... and feeling out of love, she's stuck... that is until she meets Martin Clark at a party and they both discover they're in the same predicament. While Allie writes rom coms, Martin writes crime novels... and they both decide to switch plots and tell each other's stories... yet Allie begins falling for the gorgeous event caterer who happens to be Martin's son... and while she's writing about him and his father... will he break up with her when he finds out the truth? This is a closed door contemporary romance that just feels so extremely boring. The story itself felt like it was lacking in romance, in character depth, and just in having an actual interesting plot. I came so close to dnf'ing it multiple times but dragged myself to the end to just see what would happen. The book felt so slow and the FMC wasn't likable at all.I unfortunately found myself clocking out while reading this and not caring at all what was happening. Sadly this one just didn't work for me.

Release Date: February 26, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*