DNF at 40%

First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to listening an advance copy of this audiobook. I greatly appreciate your generosity in sharing this work with me. I have carefully listening the first 40% of the book and, although I have found some elements that I have enjoyed, I regret to inform you that I have not been able to connect with the story as I expected. However, I want to emphasize that I recognize the talent and dedication you, the author and narrators have invested in creating this work. The writing is fluid and the setting is well-achieved. I am sure that this audiobook will find an audience that will enjoy it and value your work.

I enjoyed plot twist. I felt like screaming at the main character at some points because she was just jumping to conclusions or not actually talking through her feelings.

Becca Taylor is having a bad summer.
Her best friend is dead. Her ex is back in her life in an unexpected way. And her career is in freefall. So, she accepts an invitation from fellow writer Riley O’Connell for an Irish countryside getaway. But turns out, Riley is not the sensitive female romance novelist Becca had assumed. No, he is a hot, six-foot tall, Irish man.

First of all, I loved the audiobook narration of this! The accent and the performance made me fly through the book because I just couldn’t stop listening.

For the majority of the book, this had the perfect balance of sadness and sweetness for me. There was a plot point that didn’t sit well with me towards the end involving Riley, but luckily it was super brief and I was happy again. I could do without it though!

All in all, a bittersweet story with lots of heart (and a pretty cover!) that could be enjoyed in one sitting.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I did enjoy it and was invested in the story, but part of me wonders if I’d have liked it more if I’d read the actual book. Becca, reeling from the loss of her best friend and the subsequent revelation that she had been engaged to her ex boyfriend, takes time away to stay with her fellow author pen pal in Ireland. The plot twist comes when she arrives and realises that Riley is a man - their whole relationship she has assumed he was a woman. I like to go into a book cold without reading a blurb or anything so this genuinely took me by surprise and I loved the set up!

The whole premise was great, but the plot of Riley being a handsome man who she is now staying with and falling for, with his own family drama, would have been enough of a story for me! Instead there is grief, betrayal, potential illness, etc. which I think did overwhelm the story a bit. It was still an enjoyable listen though!

What to expect:

- single dad
- forced proximity
- friends to lovers
- closed door romance

I listened to the audiobook version of this and really enjoyed it. I felt the narrator pulled off both the Scottish and Irish accents which can't be easy.
A fun story with a good cast of characters.

A little late to the party but just spent a lazy Sunday listening to Joy McAvoy's beautiful narration of Plot Twist.

It was a very easy read and felt like a holiday after a few heavier reads, however it just didn't quite hit where I expected. I had hoped for a Emily Henry-esk story (the similar styled cover planted that seed), and I just felt this fell a little flat.

I didn't feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC and found the story predictable; even the part where the MMC is revealed. I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters, none were particularly fleshed out very well and I didn't feel invested in any of the relationships.

Overall it was a very easy, pleasant read and one that once this book becomes more readily available I'd recommend to our book club.

Thank you to netgalley, Breea Keenan and Hatchette UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The 2nd half was much more interesting and connective than the beginning. Worth slogging through until the flashbacks start.

Oh my goodness this was such a cute audiobook! I loved the narrator and it had me hooked from the very beginning!

Thank you Netgalley and Headline Accent for the Audiobook Arc.
I found Plot Twist to be an overwhelmingly frustrating romance novel. It starts out very solid. However, the jealousy and insecurity that the main character has towards any other female characters gets annoying. I don't think that there is a single female friendship that isn't filled with tension over some guy besides the lesbian aunts and the little daughter. The tensions the main character has with others do get "resolved" at the end of the novel but kind of through telling us that it's all good now. No character development and set up just: "we're friends now".
The main character suffers from Bella-Swan-Symptom, she’s sooo plain and yet every male character wants her.
I found the curveball at the end unnecessary and cruel. It led to me believing the main couple shouldn't have ended up together. Which...I thought they worked well up until then. I liked the romance and their chemistry just fine. Nothing world shifting but good and enjoyable and then wham bam suddenly there’s another conflict (abandonment) and that also doesn’t really feel resolved in the end. Just telling and no showing
Another interesting aspect was her relationship with her dead best friend. Which kind of interlocks with the first criticism I had (no true female connection) but I'm not going to pretend that when she finally resolves her conflicting feelings and the dam breaks, I cried. The emotions were there. However, the best friend relationship ties into the “every guy wants me” aspects. Additionally, I oftentimes found the very detailed flashback scenes annoying and tedious.

"Plot Twist" by Breea Keenan, narrated by Joy McAvoy, is a heartfelt and emotional story that explores themes of grief, love, and unexpected twists in life. The book follows Becca Taylor, a schoolteacher from Glasgow who is grappling with the loss of her best friend and the discovery of a big secret she kept. Seeking solace, she embarks on an impromptu trip to Ireland to visit Riley O'Connell, a fellow writer she has befriended online.
The narrative delves into the complexities of Becca and Riley's relationship, as they navigate their grief, pasts, and newfound feelings for each other. The friends-to-lovers, single-parent storyline is well-written, with poignant moments that tug at the heartstrings. I appreciated the exploration of deeper topics such as grief and single parenthood against the backdrop of a cozy setting and engaging characters.
While I found the book to be emotional and engaging, I felt that the romantic tension between Becca and Riley was somewhat lacking. The emphasis on reasons why they shouldn't be together overshadowed the development of their relationship and chemistry. Despite this, the story was sweet and had moments that evoked genuine emotion.
The narration by Joy McAvoy was a highlight of the audiobook experience. McAvoy captured Becca's spirit and humour brilliantly, bringing the character to life with her engaging performance. The audiobook format added depth to the story, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Overall, "Plot Twist" is a satisfying and heartwarming rom-com with a lot of heart. While the romance aspect may have fallen slightly flat, the book shines in its exploration of grief, friendship, and healing. I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance looking for a more wholesome and emotionally resonant read.

Thank you to Breea Keenan, Headline Audio, and NetGalley for an eARC of Plot Twist in exchange for my honest opinion.

Spoiler Alert - right away!

I'm going to start off by saying I was enjoying this book up until the end. I thought the story was cute and the premise was really funny. A great opportunity for a meet cute. Becca and Riley's antics were really cute and I loved how supportive they were with one another.

As the book continued, I got a bit turned off. I H-A-T-E a miscommunication trope. I know it happens all the time in life, but I cannot tolerate it in books. So the fact that Riley's ex returns and he doesn't talk to Becca about where they stand truly bothered me. Then Becca has this serious procedure done and Riley shows up like a knight in shining armor (knowing full well what he got himself into, mind you) but that night decides it is too much and abandons Becca again with simply a text message?

I'm sorry - no. Becca should absolutely not have forgiven Riley so quickly.

As much as I enjoyed the beginning of Plot Twist, the end pretty much ruined the fun for me. 2/5 stars

The slow burn romance between the two main characters was a highlight for me. It unfolded gradually, allowing for genuine emotional depth and connection to develop between them. Their relationship felt authentic and relatable, making their journey all the more captivating.

One aspect of the book that particularly resonated with me was the portrayal of grief and loss. The raw emotions portrayed when dealing with the loss of a friend were palpable and poignant. It added a layer of realism to the narrative, making the characters' experiences feel raw and authentic.

Plot Twist – 5 stars
Author: Breea Keenan
Narrated by Joy McAvoy
Publisher: Headline Audio | Headline Accent
Duration 8h 51min

This is one of those books that you can’t put down till you finish it. I was hooked from beginning to the end. A brilliant mixture of Scottish and Irish love story – it’s all what you need to make a very good story.
On the beginning we meet Bekka. She is a teacher and struggling writer. She found out about her friend’s dead and that her ex was in love with that friend. Bekka is heartbroken. Then we meet Raily. He is a romance writer who is struggling with his new book, and he is a romantic and heartbroken on his own way.
Two of them met online and became friends who share a lot. When Raily found out that Bekky is struggling with writing and she wants to escape the ‘knowledge’ of the truth about her friend and ex, he invited Bekka to visit him, so she could try to find her inner peace again. What possible could go wrong with that?
This story has a quiet few plot twists and I don’t want any spoilers so I leave it up to readers. The characters are perfection and the description of the nature around is amazing. It really makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
If you are looking for to read heart warming stories, then this one is exactly what you need!

I enjoyed every second of this audiobook! Thank you to the narrator Joy McAvoy for getting me through this love story!

Thank you NetGalley for providing the audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#PlotTwist #NetGalley

This was a charming romance, well narrated, and with believable characters. I really enjoyed the slow burn of the romance between the two main characters, and the raw emotions someone goes through when losing a friend made the whole thing believable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot Twist by Breea Keenan was light and fresh! It's about the loss and new opportunities! It's about giving that chance to be brave and take a risk! It's about overcoming grief. It's fun! It's confusing. It's twisty!

Becca and Riley are on their low so it's just logical that they get together to support each other. Small nuance - they never met each other before, but that can't stop Becca from going to Ireland. I must say a massive shock will meet Becca when she realizes that Riley is not actually a woman but a very handsome man!

As you can guess things from there will go just ups and downs! I definitely recommend it to all romance readers or if you need to take a break in between heavy thrillers!

Thank you Net Galley for the copy!

Unfortunitelly somehow I missed the deadline and didn't download an audiobook so I needed to buy a e-book but I believe that audiobook was still fantastic!

Plot Twist is a book about grief and love. Becka has lost her best friend and discovered she kept a big secret from her. To deal with all of the emotions, she decides to take a leave of absence to visit her writer friend Riley for an impromptu writer's retreat. But the nice single mom she has been texting for months turns out to be an attractive single dad.

The book is quite emotional in parts, more heavy than the bright cover suggests. The friends-to-lovers, single dad plotline is well written. I was surprised by the more melancholic undertones.
It is a nice read along the lines of Book Lovers. Would recommend!

I whizzed through this book, I absolutely loved the narration!

Becca, a Glaswegian school teacher who dreams of writing children’s books, takes an impromptu trip to Ireland to spend time with Riley, a romance writer that Becca has become fast-friends with online, after the sudden death of Becca’s best friend.

It felt cozy and wholesome and yet there was plenty of drama keeping me engaged. I enjoyed exploring the deeper topics of this story including grief and single parenthood juxtaposed with a cozy setting and host of characters.

While the romance was sweet and it certainly had me routing for the couple I felt the romantic tension was lacking slightly.

I would recommend this quick and easy book to contemporary romance lovers who are not looking for spice. Please check trigger warnings before reading!

I would read more work from both the author and narrator!

My main gripe with this book was where was the plot twist?!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. Plot Twist is so much fun, laugh out loud hilarious, witty, Becca and Riley are great. I loved their family and friends, except for Ivy’s mother and Becca’s terrible ex. It is brilliantly narrated, the only thing that I found tricky was the changes from present to past, but, otherwise, it’s a great read.

Plot Twist was a satisfyingly sweet rom-com with a lot of heart. I found myself tearing up multiple times, however, the romance element fell a little flat for me. I was more invested in Becca's friendships and her healing process as she came to terms with the death of her best friend rather than her relationship with Riley.

I feel like too much emphasis was put on all the reasons why they shouldn't be together rather than spending time building their connection and giving them a legitimate reason to fight for. Apart from their initial (and hilarious) meeting and a bit of flirty banter sprinkled throughout, there didn't appear to be any spark or sexual chemistry between the two. I also wish that the small-town Irish community element was explored a bit more rather than just having one brief trip down to the local pub.

This book is pretty wholesome (even with the odd expletive thrown in) and I adored wee Ivy and her two aunts. Also, who wouldn't want to live at Bellinder Cottage? This was the first ever audiobook that I've listened to and I really enjoyed the format. The narrator really captured Becca's spirit and sarcastic humour

Breea Keenan really knows how to write an engaging story that flows seamlessly and is extremely easy to read. The first 20–30% of this book felt like it was going to be a 5-star read. It was so touching and full of emotion, and I teared up several times. You have the main character, Becca, who is struggling with grief over the passing of her best friend. One of her other friends, Riley, who she assumes is a woman, invites her to a writing retreat as a getaway and to help each other out with writing their books. It turns out Riley is actually a man, and their romance story ensues. 

Overall, this was a nice story that delves into deeper topics like grief and betrayal, and I read it very quickly, but I did feel like it was lacking in some aspects. For a story marketed as a romance, the romance did not feel very developed.  There were so many other things going on in the story, including countless flashbacks from 10 years ago that focused on another relationship that detracted from Riley and Becca's story. Riley and Becca lacked chemistry, which didn't make a lot of sense because they were supposedly friends for years before meeting each other in person, and there was a lot of miscommunication that just ended up feeling a little frustrating. 

I know this book is called "Plot Twist," so it would be safe to assume there will be some twists, but there were several plot twists towards the end of the book that felt unnecessary.  For a minute, it seemed like the book was not going in the direction I originally thought (avoiding spoilers here) and I was actually excited about that because books in this genre don't often take risks like that, and it could have been a rather poetic ending.  Even though the ending was satisfying, it could have been executed a little better in my opinion.

I really did love this author's writing style, and I think this book was a great debut novel and showed a lot of promise. I will be looking forward to future books from this author! I listened to this story via audiobook and the narrator was FANTASTIC!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review*