"Shut up and eat another cookie," she says playfully. "Sugar makes you happier than protein."
^^^Fully agree. 😆

What a timely read to kick off spring! This is my first read (but third book) of the multi-author whimsical series of Only Magic in the Building, and what a fun way to dive into it. I really enjoyed Sophie and Peter’s tender love story. I’m a goner for romance with magical realism (it’s basically my catnip), and PETALS AND PLOT TWISTS does it beautifully. You’ve got best friends to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first, and a magical flower.

Thanks to Jenny Proctor for the gifted ARC!

"Love is never a guarantee, but I'm not sure it's supposed to be. It's an action."

This third book in the Only Magic in the Building series can be read as a standalone, and it's such a sweet romance! Sophie and Peter have been besties since high school, and while Peter is aware of his feelings for Sophie, she still needs to realize what's right in front of her. Instead, she discovers a magical flower on the rooftop garden that seems to only bloom in the presence of a couple in love... and sets up dates with a bunch of other guys to see if any are meant for her.

Sophie and Peter were really sweet together, and I loved the addition of magical realism in the building to bring them together. The character growth in both of them was great, and I love where they ended up by the end of the book. My favorite line was "Shut up and eat another cookie. Sugar makes you happier than protein." Bahahahaha. (Typed as I eat an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie...) I love Jenny's books, and I'll be back for more from the other authors in this series, too!

Petals and Plot Twists is a charming friends-to-lovers romantic comedy set in The Serendipity, a historic apartment building known for its matchmaking magic. Sophie, a botanist caring for the building’s rooftop gardens, and Peter, her longtime best friend and a reserved data analyst, have a deep bond. Though Peter has secretly loved Sophie for years, her distrust of men keeps her from seeing him as more than a friend.

When Sophie discovers a mysterious “Love flower” that only blooms in the presence of true love, she enlists Peter’s help to find her soulmate—unaware that it might have already been him all along. Their slow realization, combined with the magic of The Serendipity, makes for a heartwarming, well-written romance. With authentic emotions, endearing characters, and a fresh take on the friends-to-lovers trope, this clean, whimsical romance is a must-read for fans of sweet, magical love stories.

Petals and Plot Twists is the third story in the Only Magic in the Building series, a connected series of stand-alone closed-door whimsical romances by various authors. Each story takes place in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. Each Wednesday in March and April, 2025, an author will release their book.

The Serendipity is a historic apartment building in a small Massachusetts town, and it underwent new ownership one month ago. The new owner, Archer, found love with one of its residents, Willa, in The Serendipity. Now Willa’s best friend, Sophie Stewart, finds her true love in Petals and Plot Twists. Sophie is a botanist/landscape designer who works from her apartment and takes care of the extensive rooftop gardens. She has been best friends with Peter, also a resident of The Serendipity, since she moved to town at the beginning of her sophomore year in high school. Sophie has an unconscious distrust of men, stemming from her father abandoning her and her mother when she was six years old, and then her stepfather running off with her college fund.

Peter was the smartest student in their high school, and now ius employed as a data analyst. He is very close to his family and Sophie but otherwise doesn’t care about interacting with other people. He has been romantically interested in Sophie for years but has hidden his feelings for fear of scaring her off. He has watched Sophie date the wrong type of guys, knowing that things won’t work out. He had a serious girlfriend in graduate school but realized that he didn’t care about her as much as he did for Sophie.

When Sophie discovers a stunning new flower in her rooftop garden, one that an elderly couple identify as the Love flower, Sophie begins researching it. She learns that this flower only blooms in the presence of true love. Slowly she becomes aware of Peter as a potential love interest but is also nervous about disrupting their friendship. She convinces Peter to help her use the flower to find her soulmate, and eventually they experience the magic from their shared kiss.

Petals and Plot Twists is a superb friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, with the most engaging, realistic characters. While both Peter and Sophie are scientists, the author did not write them as caricature nerds. Their emotions and actions are authentic, and their love story is so incredibly sweet. While the friends-to-lovers trope tends to have a predictable storyline, Petals and Plot Twists seems fresh. Peter’s sister, Allison, is set up for a story of her own; I hope this author includes It in another series.

I love Petals and Plot Twists and believe that it’s the best story by this author to date. All of her books are well-written with great plots and wonderful characters, but Peter and Sophie really captured my heart. This story is a must-read for clean romance fans; set aside a few uninterrupted hours because you will not be able to put it down!

All of the authors in this series write closed-door romantic comedies, so no profanity or romantic descriptions past kissing. The magic in these stories is similar to Freaky Friday, no occult elements or anything scary. The building has a mind of its own and is like a human character. I can’t wait to start reading the next story in the series by Savannah Scott!

After I purchased a paperback copy of the book from Amazon, I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from NetGalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

5 Stars for this wonderful whimsical romance!

"I'm already a hundred percent certain that if Sophie lets me, I'll love her forever."

"What if this is it? What if it's finally my turn? My main character moment. The love flower in my garden is going to help me find my soulmate. I just have to figure out how to use it."

Petals and Plot Twists is full of heart, humor, whimsy, and completely loveable characters (including the building itself).

The friendship between Peter and Sophie is so sweet and in spite of their reluctance and fear, it develops into more so naturally.

I love the fun little nudge Sophie gets from discovering the secrets of the flower and her determination to not waste it for the gift she believes it to be. Peter on the other hand doesn't want his potential for love to be left up to the whims of a flower. Watching all the ways he avoids the flower had me laughing out loud (especially when Archer steps in to provide an excuse).

It was so much fun seeing more of Archer and Willa in this book. Archer's cameos were especially delightful!

As with the other books in this series, I admire the author's ability to weave in a little bit of magical whimsy, but ultimately allow the characters to make their own decisions separate from the magic.

Each of the books in this series is overflowing with lighthearted joy. I have loved each book so far and I can't wait to devour the next book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jenny Proctor's latest book is another hit. When it comes to romcom, she and Emma St Clair are two of my favorite authors to read. "Petals and Plot Twists" did not disappoint.

Peter and Sophie's story was on I have been looking forward to since beginning the series. Sophie is a gardener who is best friends with Willa from book one. She was a quirky character I thought would be fun to read more about.

The center plot of Sophie's story revolves around her looking for the man of her dreams. Yet little does she know, he's been right beside her the entire time. Her best friend Peter has held a crush on her since high school. It's your classic slow burn, friends to lovers story.

I enjoyed becoming a part of their journey, but at times, I found myself frustrated that it took so long for both Sophie and Peter to realize they had feelings for one another. There were quite a few near miss moments. Nevertheless, this is still a solid 4/5 star book.

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

If you enjoy the friends to lovers, forced proximity, and small town tropes, this book is for you.
"Petals and Plot Twists" is the third book in the Only Magic in the Building series, but can be read as a stand alone novel.

Thank you to Victory Editing Co-Op and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

All opinions are my own.

Thanks to @jennyproctorbooks and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book.

3.5/5⭐️

"Here's the thing, though. You're my home."

Summary: This is part of the series Only Magic in the Building, in which the historical building The Serendipity plays matchmaker for its residents. The book is a closed-door romance where best friends turn into lovers with the help of flashing lights and a love flower.

"I've been wishing for this on every birthday cake since the tenth grade."

My Thoughts: It was fun to be back at The Serendipity with Peter and Sophie this time. I loved the magic of the love flower and how it would bloom in a couple's presence if they were (or could be) in love. It was such a unique concept, even though I think at times, Sophie relied too much on that flower to lead her to her great love, despite Peter being right in front of her for years! Peter was so sweet and showed Sophie in many different ways his feelings, my favorite was when he made her cookies. I was so glad to see more from Willa and especially Archer throughout this book!! Overall this was such a cute friends-to-lovers story....

Read if you love:
✨Magical Realism
💖Best Friends to Lovers
🤩He Falls First
🔥Forced Proximity

When I started reading Jenny Proctor’s newest book: Petals and Plot Twists I knew it was part of a series that would be a collaborative series with other well known romance authors. But for some reason I thought it was the first book in the series. Well it’s not. It’s the third book. Did they mean I had trouble following the story? Nope, not in the least. As with the Appies series from a couple years back, the various books in this series (Only Magic in the Building series) can be read and enjoyed as standalone books. That being said, there are definitely references to the characters and storylines of the other books and I have no doubt having knowledge of the previous stories will only enhance my enjoyment of future books. (As such I’ll be picking up books 1 & 2 this weekend.)

Petal and Plot Twists (and the entire Only Magic in the Building series) as the name suggests actually focuses a particular building and the budding romances of a number of residents. Also, again as the series title would lead you to believe, there is magic! And in this volume the magic is centered around…(come on you see the book title, right? Hint hint..petals…say it with me)…a magical flower! A flower that blooms when in the presence of love…or even potential love. Sophie Stewart is an open/outgoing woman…who just can’t seem to find the right guy. She tends the rooftop garden and stumbles upon the a mysterious flower. After investigating it she determines it has magical properties and decides she’ll try to use the flower to advantage to find Mr. Right. Of course little does she realize that Mr. Right has been with her all along in the form of her slightly nerdy best friend, who happens to be crazy about her but just can’t seem to find the courage to tell her. Likable characters and a fun little hook kept me thoroughly entertained. Not only do I look forward to catching up on the previous books I’ve missed but the upcoming future volumes in the series as well. Now if only I could rent an apartment at The Serendipity! I’d like to thank Jenny Proctor Creative and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Petals and Plot Twists.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/petals-and-plot-twists-jenny-proctor/1147156015?ean=9781967500000&bvnotificationId=5da8a369-05a9-11f0-8c38-0e1071bc37f5&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/340672745

Petals and Plot Twists by Jenny Proctor

After the first two in the series were enemies to lovers, I was happy to see a friends to lovers trope. I adore seeing two best friends get together.

The main character Peter is a data scientist. I was excited because my husband is a data analyst but he informed me that these are not the same thing. TOTALLY different, he says.

What it's about: Sophie dates a lot, but her picker is broken. That problem is solved by a magical flower she found in her garden that blooms for true love. She just needs to bring all of her tinder dates there to choose her happily ever after. Her best friend Peter is too logical for his own good and refuses to let her flower choose him. He wants her to choose him!

Things I loved about this story:
Introvert x extrovert main characters
Best friends to neighbors to roommates to more
Friendships - we got to see Willa and Archer again!
Magical realism with a magical plant
Gardening girly
Data scientist with glasses
No spice or cussing
Meddling, magical building
First two paragraphs were amazing
He feeds her
He falls first

I loved the characters so much. Peter was relatable in his overthinking headspace, which caused problems for him. Sophie was a cool FMC and I loved how close they were as friends. They had great banter and he took care of her so well. They could truly be themselves around each other and I love that!

The plot wasn't my favorite with the miscommunication and the love flower, but I still enjoyed my time reading this book. They could have been together so many times if they would have had a 30 second conversation. If you don't like miscommunication in a book, move along now. This one will probably feel annoying in the middle.

The serendipity is still pushing people together but is less "in your face" than the other two books. I would like to see more of this magical building!

Peter’s been in love with Sophie since high school and, to be honest, I think Sophie was just too wrapped up in Sophie to realize she’s loved him just as long. I could be wrong, but girl was waxing poetic about him from the first page (I loved it).

I absolutely loved this book! I’m not normally a friends-to-lovers kind of gal, but Jenny had me with this one. I loved watching Sophie realize that she is indeed in love with her best friend. But some of her choices seriously got on my nerves. Her obsession with the flower, though I understand where it comes from, made me want to throw things. Watching her parents get a divorce and then her mother’s dating life really did a number on her.

Peter is amazing. He’s kind, gentle, and masculine. He’s a great character and he’s absolutely perfect for Sophie, just like she’s perfect for him. Who else would make a cake to ask a girl to prom? I loved the dynamic between these two and how they navigate life together. They’re best friends first, which I think is so important because it let them be completely honest with each other once they were ready.

A super sweet friends to lovers, romcom. I devoured this book in less then 24 hours and loved every sappy second of it!

Sophie and Peter have been best friends for years! Neither one can imagine life without the other, but Sophie is adamant they are “just friends.” When she discovers a new flower in the rooftop garden that supposedly only blooms in the presence of love she makes Peter help her use it as a dating experiment. He, being madly in love with her agrees to assist her.

This was a fun journey of friendship, and learning that love is not guaranteed ahead of time. You have to be willing to take risks and put in some work. Sophie and Peter were such fun! I am loving this series so far, can’t wait for the rest of the books.

You know those books that as soon as you read chapter 1 you just know?
You know that this is going to be the most absolutely amazing book🙌🏼
You know that you are going to love the characters so much!
You know that this story…this story is going to be amazing!
You know that this book is going to become a favorite!
Well that’s how this book was for me🥹🥰
I felt an instant connection to this story!
I immediately fell in love with Sophie from chapter 1. I felt like I could resonate with her character so so much! I loved her quirky, bubbly, friendly personality.
And then there is Peter🥰 I am so so so happy that we got to see his POV throughout the whole book🥹 I love Peter!
This whole book is just too cute, full of swoony, cheesy(but in the best possible way), funny moments and a splash of magic😘
This is an amazing addition to this series🙌🏼 and I really loved seeing character from previous books here as well🫶🏼

🌺Best Friends to Lovers
🩵He Falls First
🌺Opposites Attract
🩵Forced Proximity
🌺Whimsical Magic
🩵Cute Nerdy MMC

I don’t think I can put into words the way I truly loved this book but I’ve done my best😂

After many bad dates and relationships, Sophie has no faith in her ability to judge men's characters, So when she discovers that the mysterious plant in the garden she looks after at the top of The Serendipity blooms only when true love is present or has the potential to develop, she decides to use it to vet potential dates in the hope of finding a good match. Peter, her best friend, missed his chance to ask her to prom years ago because he left it too late, and he's been stuck in the friend zone ever since. But this flower is an unexpected threat. Sophie is dating more than ever, and he daren't go on the roof with her lest the flower fail to bloom and she reject any future thought of romance with him. The building might have to get more creative, but between them can they overcome their fears and take a chance on love?

Another delightful addition to this fun series. Again, very light magic and some very amusing situations, but also plenty of depth at times as they get to know more about themselves and each other to overcome the obstacles between them. The final step of getting them together is particularly beautifully done - because who wants to be chosen solely because a flower said so? I did find her mother rather odd - but I think she did too, so that works! :-) As for his family, it was delightfully welcoming, though I don't think lying to give someone peace of mind is a sensible move. It was also nice to see a bit more of Willa and Archer from the first book (though you don't need to have read that to enjoy this). All in all, a charming read with interesting characters, some quirky situations and a beautiful friendship and its growth to 'more'.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

When I received this arc, I did not realize that this was one of a whole series. Interestingly enough, each book in this series takes places on the same place- but the books are written by different authors, yet some characters are intertwined. So cool! I will need to go back and read more on this series.

This book revolves around Sophie and Peter. They are best friends and have been for 10 years. Sophie discovers a ‘love flower’ and is determined to find her soulmate using the flower as Peter helps her. Unbeknownst to Sophie, Peter is in love with her.

I found this to be a cute rom com. It was definitely a quick read. I liked Sophie and Peter together. This is not a spicy book (which isn’t a bad thing) just throwing that out there.

I ADORED this one! Jenny Proctor + childhood friends to lovers is the best combination. I loved the main characters, their friendship, the sweet development of their relationship... it was all wonderfully done. I really enjoyed the magical flower aspect of this one, it was unusual yet believable!

This was my favourite of the series so far, I can't wait to continue this series!

I love a sweet romance series!

I fell in love with this author while reading her previous hockey romances and was so excited to start a new book by her.

- Friends to lovers.

- They are both scared to make the first move.

- The story line takes place in an apartment with a flare for magic.

It’s a will they, won’t they clean romance. Can’t wait to read the complete series! So far I’ve read two.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a fun and easy read that will slightly tug at your heart strings. Peter and Sophie have been friends for a lifetime but the promise of something more Is lingering and the presence of a certain flower intrigues Sophie with it's possible magical powers. Will what the flower represents push Peter and Sophie away from each other or closer together?

This is a lighthearted book with some humor mixed in and of course it has a HEA ending. Love Jenny Proctor and her books. Definitely someone I will continue reading.

What would you do if you found a mysterious item that may be able to lead you to or away from life altering decisions? Would you believe that item or would you choose to make your own destiny?

That's where our main character, Sophie, finds herself. Sophie is a meticulous person who finds comfort in the familiar. She's surrounded by those she loves, she has a career in a field she has wanted to work in, but she's anxious to take leaps without knowing where she'll land. Relatable.

Peter, our other main character, had such a great back story and character arc. He's easy to empathize with, and its effortless to root for him. I wish we had seen more of his home life as I really enjoyed the dynamic.

It was easy to read this story, and put yourself in the shoes of either character. I found myself, unexpectedly, unable to put this book down. There isn't necessarily "banter," but I loved the conversations between the two main characters. Sophie's and Peter's relationship with Willa and Archer was also top notch.

This is my first book of Proctor's, and I look forward to reading more. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, and for helping me discover a new author.

The Serendipity is the place where love finds you. Ever since meeting Sophie Stewart in the first book of the ONLY MAGIC IN THE BUILDING series, I hoped we would get to read her story. Who better to write it than Jenny Proctor, an author who never misses for me?

Sophie tends the rooftop garden at The Serendipity. A gifted botanist, she’s been unable to identify one of the plants growing in the garden oasis. She noticed it blooming for the first time in the presence of her friends, Willa and Asher. When it blooms a second time for a long married couple, she learns that it’s known as the love flower and believes it can identify true love. She enlists her best friend, Peter, to help her find the soulmate that will get the flower to bloom for her.

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance that checked all the boxes for me - endearing characters, a bit of magic, and the possibility of finding love where you least expect it. I was thrilled to revisit old friends from the first two books in the series and catch up with Willa and Asher and Iris and Matteo. Though each book can be read as a standalone, the presence of characters from earlier books makes it preferable (for me) to read the series in order.

PETALS AND PLOT TWISTS has me more excited than ever to pay another visit to The Serendipity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️ I knew I’d love this one. This is everything I can expect from @jennyproctorbooks. Banter, cute moments, depth, and so much more. When I’ve felt like I’m on autopilot reading, Jenny’s books always rejuvenate me. They are always so wonderfully sweet and swoony. Peter’s smirks were my absolute favorite. I almost said, “Get your girl!”, in public. Sophie is adorable and sweet. Friends to lovers with forced proximity! I couldn’t ask for more.

Synopsis:
Unlucky in love Sophie Stewart might need a miracle to find her one true love…or maybe just a little bit of magic. Sophie Stewart knows a lot about plants. The rooftop garden she tends and beautifies is ample evidence of that. What she doesn’t know is anything about love, not with her long track record of always picking the wrong guy. But then a mystery flower pops up in her garden—a flower that only blooms in the presence of true love. Never one to shy away from a little magic, Sophie convinces her best friend, Peter, to help her use the flower to find her soulmate. But after an unexpected kiss with the one man she never thought she’d fall for, Sophie starts to wonder if she’s looking for love in all the wrong places. The flower has a plan, but only Sophie can decide if she wants to trust it or take fate into her own hands. Best friends turn to lovers in this heartwarming romantic comedy about love and choice and making your own destiny.

Thank you so much to @jennyproctorbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic book. #petalsandplottwists #jennyproctor #onlymagicinthebuildingseries #netgalley #arcreview #releaseday