This book had a promising premise and I really wanted to enjoy it but, unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It felt like it was trying to do way too much and there were so many subplots that it detracted from the actual story.

I did enjoy the dynamic between Allie and Martin - this was definitely my favourite part of the story. It was interesting to see them come up with their ideas for their books and I enjoyed most of the scenes between them.

The romance, unfortunately, was not great in my opinion. This book is very insta-love but we rarely see Allie and Will together so it feels like there is no basis for the romance or chemistry between them. Most of what we know about their relationship we learn from Allie's internal monologue or conversations with her friends as the actual interactions between them mostly occur off page. This made it quite jarring and I didn't care for the relationship at all.

Then there was the plot with the publisher and taking down Jake. This could have been interesting but with everything else going on, it just felt like too much and another thing to try and keep track of.

I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I feel like it tried to do too much and suffered because of it.

I loved the idea of two authors struggling with writers block coming together to help each other through it and I really enjoyed the interactions between Allie and Martin. I really think that part was done well.

The romance seemed very flat. We learn more about the interactions between the couple from Allie discussing things with her friends than we do from actually seeing them together and it made it really hard to feel any kind of chemistry between them.

Then there was the sub-plot about taking down the new editor who is an all around awful person. I really didn't think this added anything to the story and would rather have seen more of a focus on developing the relationships instead.

That being said I think this book would have been 3 stars for me if it weren't for the really weird internal monolog in chapter 13 when Allie is surprised to find out another character is a fan of her books because this character is smart and sophisticated, not just a random romance fan and that most romance readers probably don't have PhDs and sing jazz and look good in silk jumpsuits... it really took me out of the story and I probably would have quit reading there had this not been an ARC.

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer is a charming, feel-good romance that blends humor, heart, and the struggles of creative life in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The premise alone is irresistible—two writers, stuck in the depths of writer’s block, swapping genres in a last-ditch effort to meet their deadlines.

Allie Edwards, a romcom author, and Martin Clark, a seasoned crime novelist, couldn’t be more different, yet their unlikely friendship is one of the novel’s biggest strengths. Martin becomes a heartwarming father figure to Allie, providing not just writing advice but life wisdom, while Allie’s journey takes an even more exciting turn with the introduction of Will, a charming caterer who might just be her real-life leading man.

Goymer’s writing is packed with wit, warmth, and plenty of meta humor about the struggles of writing and the romance genre itself. The love story is swoon-worthy, but the book also beautifully explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and the balance between career and relationships.

If you love romcoms with clever banter, endearing characters, and just the right amount of spice, The Plot Twist is a must-read! 🌟📖💖

Allie has it all… she’s a bestselling author, she lives in her dream apartment, and she’s in a committed relationship. Sure, the spark has never been there for her and Dominic, but that happens to everyone…right? And that eighth novel? Every author gets writers block. Allie is sure she just needs some time off….

Then the time off ends and the deadline approaches. And passes. And extensions are made, but no words have been written. Allie is truly in a rut. She goes to a party to tell her editor just how bad her block is, but instead meets fellow novelist Martin whom also needs help writing. And she also meets Will….

While Allie’s journey of writing book eight takes on many different forms, her friendship with Martin help heal her heart after losing her father at such a young age. And Will.. he help Allie realize that the spark she’s always chasing for her characters does exist in her life as well.

Although I guessed the “plot twist” early in the book, it was still an enjoyable read. I didn’t feel like the main disagreement between the characters was that big of a deal that they needed to keep it all a secret. That all fell a little flat for me.


Thank you Eleanor Goymer, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this romance novel- out February 26th!

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer was definitely a plot twist of a story. However, I found this book hard to read. The beginning was very slow and the ending felt rushed. Allie and Will were consistently off and on until the last few pages. I just didn’t find this read as enjoyable as I would have liked.

I really didn’t like this, I couldn’t even finish it. I hit the 70% mark and I couldn’t do it anymore, I won’t leave a review on my socials because I hate giving bad reviews.
The characters felt shallow, the writing lacked engagement and emotion

This was a fun, lighthearted read. A great mix of two of my favourite things; romance and books about books/writing.
I personally love that Allie has great relationships and friendships with other characters that feel fully fledged and real. It made the characters feel more real and likable rather than her only relationship is with the mmc.
I found the story to be a good lighthearted mix that I enjoyed all the way through. I didn't find the twists surprising but that didn't detract from my overal enjoyment.

I recieved this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute, but not as fulfilling as I'd hoped for - maybe the dynamics were a bit awkward, but I found myself hoping for more development and less obvious "that happens because it needs to be referenced soon" kinds of setups.

This was a good book with an interesting storyline and sweet, closed-door romance. Allie, the FMC, was well developed and the author spent a lot of time on her thoughts, and also discussions she had with her friends and those relationships. I could easily sympathize with the FMC, her internal dialogue, and the issues she was dealing with, but sometimes it seemed the story was slow-moving, and I would have liked a bit more focus on the romance aspect of it.

Overall, I would recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to read and review this book.

This book had fun banter and some great side moments—Allie and Martin’s “stuck writers” group was definitely a highlight. But the story was predictable, and every conflict could’ve been avoided if Allie just communicated. For a writer, she’s terrible at it!

The first chapter dragged at 12% of the book, though pacing improved after. Also, the cover didn’t match the characters, which was distracting for me

Despite forced conflicts and chemistry that was more “told” than “shown,” so overall it’s a light, easy read if you don’t mind predictability.

This book was a quick and easy read with some very lovable character. I did find this book to be a little predictable, but it was still super good. if you’re looking for a short fun romance this is a great pick!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

The book was written well and it's very easygoing. I found it difficult to keep continuing while reading it. The FMC is not my favorite and I found it difficult to like her. The plot was slow but I enjoyed the writer's block aspect of her journey with her friendship with another author. The story itself was not overly engaging and I probably would not choose to pick this up if I was looking for a traditional contemporary romance.

I wanted a lot more from this book. I think unfortunately the main character was a little insufferable and hard to like which made it hard to read this one.

"The Plot Twist" by Eleanor Goymer offers a pleasant and relaxing read with a unique angle—a focus on an older side-character couple rekindling their love after decades of marriage. While heartwarming and wholesome, the story fell short of my expectations as a romance novel. The central relationship between Allie and Will lacked the depth and chemistry needed to make their love story compelling. Will, unfortunately, felt underdeveloped as a character, with limited scenes that didn’t fully establish who he was beyond being “hot” and having a forearm tattoo. Their romance unfolded too quickly and off-page, which made it hard to invest in their connection.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Allie and Martin’s writing partnership and appreciated their organic banter. Their dynamic was a highlight of the book and brought a refreshing touch. However, the story became bogged down by side plots, including unnecessary conflicts with Allie’s editor and a publishing rival. These detracted from the time that could have been spent building the romantic tension between Allie and Will.

Allie’s journey as a romance writer facing writer’s block was relatable, but her passive approach to problems and reliance on others to solve them grew frustrating. The slow pacing and reliance on the miscommunication trope, a personal pet peeve, also dulled my enjoyment.

This book isn’t a traditional romance but falls more into contemporary or chick-lit. If you enjoy light reads with zero spice and creative subplots, it might work for you, but it’s not one I’d strongly recommend.

I didn’t love this book all that much, I found it to be predictable throughout and knew what was coming.

I didn’t gel with the characters, I constantly found myself getting annoyed by the fmc and the characters lacked depth for me.

The actual writing was okay, it may have been better with some spice though.

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer is Publishing February 26, 2025 with HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

I loved the dynamic between Allie and Martin the characters are intriguing and entertaining. Will is a serious yet fun man. Angie is so sweet. The plot and varying story lines with the main and other characters was really well done. It was a fun, happy, tear inducing, sweet read. By the time I reached the half way point I knew I'd give it five stars. This is one of very few books I would re-read. If you get it I think you will very much be please with the story and the characters alike.

Thank you so much Net Gallery and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this story.
Mostly thank you to Eleanor for sharing this story with us all.

This was an engaging and delightful story. This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I don't think it will be the last. This was a single-point-of-view story, so it was fun to be in Allie's head, although I am nosy and would have loved to know what Will was thinking as well. I did have a couple of quibbles. A lot was going on in this story, and there were so many different plot points I didn't want to give anything away. Some of these plots could have either been narrowed down or eliminated, and the story would have been the same. Second, I would have loved to have far more interaction between Allie and Will; their banter when on the page was fabulous. Those aside, even because of those quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would read it again. Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Eleanor Goymer's The Plot Twist is a clever and engaging story that keeps readers on their toes. Goymer's sharp wit and inventive storytelling make for a delightful reading experience. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, and the plot is full of surprises that keep the pages turning. This novel is a testament to the joy of unexpected discoveries and the beauty of life's unpredictability.

This book had its ups and downs, but let’s start with what I enjoyed. The humor and banter between the characters were genuinely fun, and the playful, teasy dynamic kept me engaged in several scenes and honestly it was what made me finish the book. There’s definitely charm in some relationships and some fun side moments between Ali and Martin and their “ focus group for stuck writers” that i really enjoyed

That said, the story was very predictable. The conflicts, felt unnecessary most of the time as ALL of the issues could have been solved with a simple conversation started by Allie. Overall Allie being a writer and such bad communivator made it so she was her own worst enemy and the book would have been 100 pages of she’d just speak up when needed…

The structure was also a bit suprising as the first chapter was incredibly long—12% of the book!—and while the rest of the chapters were a more manageable length, that opener was a tough start. Besides that, the cover felt misleading since the main male character doesn’t have blonde hair, and the female lead’s hair should have been longer according to the story. It’s a small thing, but it took away from the immersion for me

Overall, while the chemistry between the characters was more “told” than “shown” and the conflict didn’t always feel natural, there were still enjoyable moments of humor and connection. If you’re looking for a light read and don’t mind a predictable plot, this could work for you.

I really enjoyed this book! Loved Allie - the female protagonist, and her relationship with Martin, an aging writer, as they worked to overcome some "obstacles" they each were facing. Then adding in Will to the mix - was very fun! I couldn't help but root for the two of them!