I love an Irish setting in a book - the idea of the small, close-knit village community and gorgeous countryside gets me every time, although I would have loved to get a better sense of the setting for this novel, outside of the cottage, and more of the villagers as well. It felt like being in a bubble with our main characters and key side characters, detached from the outside world. That being said, there was a lot going on with our characters and with the plot twists, uncertainty, grief and family drama, they don’t have much time to bask in the Irish setting.

Riley is warm and kind, welcoming Becca to his home with gifts and good humour. His daughter Ivy is a great addition to the book, with her enthusiasm, charm, and abundance of questions, she’s a girl I’d like to hang out with! Unfortunately, Riley and Becca have a lot of baggage and it’s difficult for them to get on the same page. I didn’t find we really saw much of their romantic relationship developing, rather more a tentative friendship with a little lust, so it would have been great to build their romance more and I think with so much going on in the story, it struggled to really develop any one plot point. I also found the few and irregular chapters set in the past jarring and superfluous. While some of the information was valuable, it perhaps could have been woven into the present-day narrative instead. Overall, I think this book tried to do too much and spread itself too thin but with a bit more focus in the plot it could be a great read.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I just thought this was lovely and thoroughly enjoyable. Even though I love romantic comedies and I don’t always laugh and this was really funny in places but touching in others. I also really liked the dialogue - none of it was toe curling which is actually rare for this genre. Well thought through and without some of the over the top stereotyping we have come to out up with. I feel this was just really well played.

This book is almost a direct half-half split between Last Night with the almost immediately dead best friend of the main character, but also Beach Read with both main characters being writers and setting tasks to help keep them on track.

The story is gonna tug at your heart strings, I'll tell you that right now. It starts with main character Becca being in a doctor's surgery having a routine smear test in what almost seems to be then forgotten for a lot of the story. Because basically the next thing that happens, after a conversation Becca has with writer friend Riley online, is that we find out that Becca's best friend Rae is dead.

We don't get to shy away from the grief that comes from this, and it's made even sadder because Becca doesn't really have many people to reach out to. Or she feels she doesn't, once she realises that Rae was about to become engaged to her ex Drew, and was waiting on telling her for the catch up she was driving to on the night she died.

All of this leads Becca to take leave from work and then take up an invite from Riley who suggests a writer's retreat where they live.

The big issue is: Becca believes Riley to be a single woman with a daughter. Riley is actually a single man with a daughter. And, upon finding this, Becca's basically close enough to the end of her rope that she considers leaving right then and there.

But the friendship they've formed online does shine through. What also shines through is the beginning of an attraction between them. But Riley isn't without his own dramas, which take the form of the mother that his daughter's been missing coming back into both of their lives without warning.

As is almost necessity for good romances, there is a couple of gorgeous side characters, being Riley's sister and Bridget and her lovely partner Ellie, both of them trying to adopt a child.

Becca's life has fallen apart when her best friend dies. She's in contact with Riley a fellow writer that she correspond with. Riley invites her to Ireland. Loved it

We meet our narrator running late for a smear test and pissing off a rather scary receptionist - before finding not only did her best friend die, but was engaged to her ex. And that rollercoaster of emotions is just the first chapter - setting the tone for what is a chaotic, a little angry but beautiful journey for Becca.

We follow Becca now and ten years before, when she was young and still in love with Drew before he ruined everything and getting to see more of her and Rae’s friendship from their younger years. As she meets Riley, (who by the way is a swoon-worthy romcom lead - handsome, funny and feminine) it’s clear something could bloom, but how and when? Their friendship was beautiful, the way they supported each other was lovely to watch and I cracked up as Riley explained romance novel tropes as part of their writing days together - very meta and hilarious. Add in a fabulous supporting cast, beautiful surroundings and a sweet, slow-burn storybook romance and you’ve got all the ingredients for a fun, indulgent read with your favourite romcom flavours; even if you know some of them will frustrate you to no end and want to scream “just listen!” at the pages.

A feel-good fun second-chance romance with so much warmth and heart. And of course, a fabulous plot twist.

I loved this book from the first to the last page. Becca and Riley both captured my heart as did Riley’s daughter. Plot Twist is such an apt title for this book, which kept you guessing about what would happen next and the characters negotiate the twists and turns of their lives. I will definitely be looking out for future books from this author.

This book had a lot going on and sometimes was a little hard to follow, but it had enough going for it that I kept reading to find out how it ended. I loved the idea of a romance writer living out and acknowledging so many tropes. The characters were likable and there were many humorous moments but the love story was all build up and not enough spice!

Thank you for the advance reader copy.

Things could not get any worse for Becca. Her best friend Rae has just died in an accident, and she’s found out that Rae was seeing Becca’s ex and they were building a future together. Mix in job woes and a writer’s block and you’ve got a mess.

Luckily, fellow writer Riley comes to the rescue and offers Becca a place to stay for the summer so that they can help each other finish their respective projects.

Plot twist though, Becca assumed Riley was a woman throughout their correspondence. Nope, he’s all man and has an adorable daughter to boot.

I enjoyed this book, and it was a fast read. The only part I didn’t like was the cancer scare towards the end as that is a bit of a trigger for me.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Spoilers ahead! I probably should have taken the title of "Plot Twist" more literally, because, whew, there were quite a few of them. It took me a little bit to get into the story and honestly, it was a bit jarring to go from the loss of Becca's best friend to something like a more typical romance narrative of people falling in love; I just found myself at times thinking "but what about her GRIEF? why are we not talking about that??" I also didn't really enjoy the flashbacks, it didn't feel like they added that much. But I loved the setting and the characters were fun and funny with sharp dialogue. By the end, when the plot twists were at full speed, I was immersed. I enjoyed how things got wrapped up, especially as we returned to Becca's grief and challenges as she finally started to process those things. It was emotional and true to life.

(I also, for a moment there, thought that Becca and Riley wouldn't end up together, a la "My Best Friend's Wedding," and would have LOVED that ending if this were a regular novel and not a romance one. Rae is the love of her life! Becca already felt similar to Dolly Alderton to me, so a conclusion along those lines would have been satisfying.)

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for an ARC copy of “Plot Twist” in exchange for an honest review.

This book was exactly what I needed it to be, a cheesy easy to read romance that you know has 99% chance of having a happy ending. That being said, it probably isn't one of the best romances that I have read, and therefore I wouldn't recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley, The publisher and the Author for the ARC of Plot Twist in exchange for my honest review!

Plot Twist was such an enjoyable read that I absolutely devoured! I could not put this book down! I really liked Riley, the main male character! And in ways I could really relate to Becca so much!

There were so many moments in this book where I was giggling to myself — but also plenty where I felt sad and emotional for the characters for various reasons. It gave me all the feels! My only negative was that I felt there could have been a teeny bit more romance between the two main characters throughout the book.

Definitely recommend this one if you’re after a fast paced friends to lovers romance set in a small town 💘

TW: Death, Addiction, Cancer

I was reluctant when I saw this novel advertised as perfect for Emily Henry fans, but the comparison is apt! If you've recently finished "Book Lovers" and desperately need more Charlie and Nora romance and banter, then this book soothes the ache. Riley O'Connell is no Charlie Lastra, but he's pretty darn close! Riley is the perfect combination of Charlie Lastra, Heathcliff, and Darcy: the brooding, mysterious Irish writer who is Becca's love interest in this story. While this book depends on the cliché miscommunication trope, the pining and flirting is so sweet that you can't help but put up with all the miscommunications between the characters. This novel gave off the same vibes as the comforting early 2000s American romcoms and I loved every minute of reading this book.

I was really curious about this book and the premise sounded intriguing! THE plot twist actually got me and that was probably my highlight in the book (aside from the very cute kid).
The flashbacks felt a bit unnecessary, really their only point was to explain a previous relationship, but didn't contribute much to the story.
There were a ton of side characters, some I really liked and some that were there just for the drama (which I didn't appreciate, esp. the women who are after men just because they're hot...).
The third act drama felt a little bit forced and I didn't get way a character did what they did. There was no reason for it and it felt very sudden and out of character!
All in all, it was a cute story but nothing special.

I requested this book because of the Book Lovers vibes, and for the first few chapters I thought it was going to be a knockout - it had some good twists, and I was into the narrative voice (although it reminded me more of Beth O’Leary than Em Hen). But after the 20% mark it sort of slipped into a much straighter, more predictable rom-com - perfectly pleasant but nothing special. I wasn’t into the MMC (just me ofc, I could see why others might be) and some side plot around the main love story felt like a bit of a distraction, but saying that I read it quickly over Christmas. I’d describe it as a nice cosy reading experience and would recommend if you’re looking for an easy romantic read.

I read this book in a day, actually I devoured it as I couldn't put it down' I laughed, cried, guffawed and even sobbed at Breda Newman's apt description of grief.
I delightful rom-.com that I didn't want to end.

I really enjoyed this fun and easy to read romcom.
Yes it is fun and a romcom and yes her best friend dies and she is grieving which is heartbreakingly emotional and pulls at your heart strings but ultimately Becca’s story is a happy one and although my only niggle was the back and forth from Riley towards the end but the almost non issue of it for them when the HEA came about, it is worth reading and I think you’ll struggle to put it down- I did!

I received this book as an ARC and have provided an honest review.

A cute, easy to read story following Becca, who needs an escape and goes to new, online, friend Riley's house.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of Plot Twist in return for my honest review. Becca visits a friend in Ireland from Scotland after the passing of her best friend. When she discovers that Riley, her months long writing workshop girlfriend, is a man she is surprised but decides to stay with him to workshop their writing and heal her heart.

This is a debut novel from Brea Keenan that doesn't feel like one. The story is told in some flashbacks to 10 years earlier which unveils the heartbreak and secrets in the relationship with Becca and her best friend Rae. Becca is a loving and flawed character and her healing arc is beautiful. Nothing too contrived in this romance, where the romance is secondary to the characters' own personal journey. Secondary characters are well drawn and add to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to more books from Keenan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.

I debated a lower rating but it wasn't that awful so I'll stick with 3 lukewarm stars.

I couldn't connect whatsoever with the main character of Becca. I liked Riley a lot, and Bridget and Ellie, and of course Ivy "That's what I said" who stole the show as only a four-year-old can. I wish there had been more of a background story for Becca and Riley. And I ended up skipping the "past" chapters once I realized they brought nothing to the narrative. I think this author has potential but this one fell flat.

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.