Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.




Description

On February 4th, 2003, Olivia Ross is enjoying a cup of coffee in a small coffee shop. She meets a struggling actor who helps her ditch a pushy guy trying to get her attention, and they streak a conversation about their jobs. Olivia tells the actor that she wants to be a screenwriter but she has not finished her first screenplay. After a lovely conversation and the actor having to run for an audition, he makes a deal with Olivia. In ten years, they will meet again on the same couch in the same coffee shop. In the next 10 years, Olivia has to write a screenplay for the actor, and they will make a film together. Olivia accepts the deal but forgets to ask the actor his name.

Olivia forgets about the deal until the following year when she goes back to the coffee shop with her boyfriend Liam by chance. Every year after that on February 4th, Olivia experiences something that reminds her of the deal, and as the years pass, she becomes more convinced that she has to write the screenplay she promised to the actor. In fact, she has come to find that the struggling actor might be rising film star Hamish MacDougal, and he might be her chance to make all of her dreams come true and finally leave her job as a greeting card writer. With the help of her best friend Fiona and her ex-boyfriend Liam, Olivia spends the next ten years writing the perfect screenplay without realizing she's truly living a rom-com storyline in her real life.

Review

I truly adored this book and was fascinating by the storyline from the beginning.

Very few books make me stay up the whole night until I finish it, but this one did the trick.

This book is very different from other books I've read in this genre, and that made it such a great story from the start.

While the first chapter introduces Olivia and the struggling actor, the story is only focused on Olivia and her life. The first 10 chapters are focused on February 4th of each year starting with the day Olivia meets the actor. Every year something happens that convinces Olivia that maybe she should hold up her side of the deal. One year she goes back to the same coffee shop by chance and the next one she goes to the movies with Fiona and realizes the main actor in the film is the man she had met a few years prior. As the story develops, Olivia becomes more convinced that these coincidences shouldn't be ignored, and as she experiences good and bad moments in her life, she also becomes motivated to work on the screenplay she promised the actor. And as every year passes, Olivia gives small updates about her screenplay and her life, including her breakup with her ex-boyfriend Liam, the year she moved to Italy, and the time she and Fiona got into a bight fight. 

As far as women's fiction and romance books go, this one was very unique. I loved that the romance was not front and center, but it was such an important part of the plot. The romance elements were sprinkled enough to root for Olivia's happy ending but it didn't take away from the main storyline. I also enjoyed reading about Olivia's ups and downs, and everything she goes through in the ten years writing her screenplay. I thought that the title of the book was hilarious once the plot twist in the story was revealed because I truly did not see it coming.

The characters were also great, and I adored them so much. Liam was such a good friend from the beginning, and I loved how supportive he was even after Olivia broke up with him. Fiona was such a fun character, and I truly loved her and Olivia's friendship. I thought it was a true representation of the unpredictable turns that friendships can take, and how even people who love each other as much as they did can still disagree as they find themselves in different stages in life.

Overall, I'd say that this book delivers a perfect story with a great ending. I was surprised with the final twist but thought it was the best way to end the 10-year storyline, and every other storyline is nicely tied together. Definitely recommend this book for a fun and easy read.

A fun read!! I was definitely entertained in the beginning half of the novel, and the end was sweet. I do have to say that the middle felt a bit slow, and I wish there was an extra chapter to see where everyone went!!! 3/5 stars!!!!!

Plot Twist was in many ways a book that I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed--- and yet I couldn't put it down.

So here's the thing: Olivia wasn't a very likable character throughout many instances in this story spanning a course of ten years. She started out quite immature... and if we're being honest, she didn't mature all that much in that time span.... which may have been fine had she started out at 20 and not 30, and yet that wasn't the case in this story. She wasn't always a good girlfriend, friend and she came across a bit whiney too, if we're being totally honest. She did grow throughout the story, but like I said... it could have been more. There were many reasons not to like her and not to want her to get her happily ever after. And yet, somewhere along the way, I started rooting for her and wanting to find out what was going to happen February 4, 2013. Bethany Turner has such a talent for romantic comedies that even when I felt like I shouldn't like the character(s), I still couldn't quite help but to be drawn into the drama of it all. And so I couldn't put it down, and despite my frustrations, I somehow enjoyed every single minute of it... right down to the thinly veiled Hallmark references.

If you enjoy a good RomCom, leave your expectations at the door and be sure to check this one out for yourself.

** I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

"It was hard to decide on a number for the star rating for Mabel Gets the Ax. The story is well-written without any obvious plot holes. And there is some cute humor and clever lines. The author cleverly told the story only from Mabel's perspective which provided doubt over whether John, the PI who appears to like Mabel and is trying to solve the case, is just using her. And the mysteries are executed well (sorry for the gallows humor here!)

I wasn't a huge fan of Mabel, however. It could be that the author over-emphasized Mabel's insecurities and her ""humanness"". She was overweight and the house she lived in was a mess from her grandmother's hoarding. This gave an overall picture of someone who was a bit of a slob. Mabel's self-deprecation was strong enough that I had a hard time picturing why John would have been attracted to her. I would have loved to have had his take on what she was like…

Overall, Mabel Gets the Ax is a good story that I can recommend to those who enjoy cozy mysteries.


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."

This book is a clean, adorable rom-com. There’s some very funny, snappy dialogue in this one, and it has echoes of the romantic movies that we’ve grown to love over the years. (Sleepless in Seattle, anyone?) The storyline covers ten years in the life of Olivia Ross and her search for both true love and fulfillment in a career. We meet with Olivia very year from 2003-2013 on February 4, a date on which major things seem to happen in Olivia’s life. Bethany Turner knows how to tell a story that holds my interest, and there’s a “plot twist” in this one that made me smile and sigh as I finished up the book. Although I felt sorry for Olivia during much of this story—-she didn’t always think things through very well and missed out on so much. I did care about what was happening in her life and hoped that she would discover what her heart had been searching for through the years.

The one thing that puzzled me about this book is that it’s published by a Christian publisher, but it did not focus on God or faith anywhere in the story. I kept waiting for it. I thought there were some perfect opportunities to introduce an element of faith to the story, but it never happened. Don’t get me wrong, It’s still a good story with no foul language or inappropriate loves scenes. This story fits more into the general fiction category than Christian fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Plot Twist by Bethany Turner tells the story of Olivia Ross and her adventures that began her journal on February 4 for the past ten years. On a day that started like any other, Olivia goes for coffee, and someone tries to get her number, but unlike the others, a guy steps in and rescues her from the person. Olivia and this stranger that in ten years to meet up again with him becoming a great actor and she is completing a screenplay staring him as the central character.
Meanwhile, Olivia has a very predictable boyfriend and a roommate who likes to strive high for her goals and is willing to live dangerously to get them. Can her boyfriend change, or will her roommate get Olivia to be adventurous and change? Does Olivia have what it takes even to finish a screenplay? And who was the guy? Has the guy already made a name for himself, and Olivia finds out later?
What will it take for Olivia to find true love? Is February 4 really a day to be celebrated each year? What happens to the dates each year for it to be so rememberable? Get your copy today of a Plot Twist by Bethany Turner to find out.

Turner knows her lane and she navigates it well: rom-coms with plenty of pop culture references, flawed characters, and a ton of heart. But this rom-com comes with a twist, and not just the plot twist that the title implies. Each chapter takes place on the same day each year. Readers don’t follow the main characters throughout the year. We just meet up, like old friends, on February 4th and find out through context what the last year brought to the table.

I actually enjoyed this. It felt a little like streamlining the story, so I didn’t have to know the unnecessary fillers that so often fill the pages. I could just get to the goods and find out what my wackadoo friends were up to this year.

And I use the term “friends” very loosely because as much as I loved these characters, I also low-key wanted to punch them. It’s a complicated love/hate situation, where the scale tips more towards the love side, but frustration was almost a constant companion during my read.

So between wanting to pull my hair out because WHAT ARE Y’ALL THINKING and clutching my chest because UGH, THE ANGST, I felt the full realm of human emotion while reading this book. But I came out of it completely in love. Mostly with Liam, but you know. That’s what book boyfriends are for.

If you walk into this book expecting a massive amount of spiritual content because of the publisher, you’re going to be disappointed. Though it is clean, it isn’t overtly Christian. But if you take this book for what it claims to be--a romantic comedy--it perfectly fits the bill. I ended up loving it!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

On February 4th 2003, Olivia meets a random stranger who changes her life. They are both trying to make their dream careers work and an idea is born. They both agree to meet back in the coffee shop ten years later when Olivia will be a successful screenwriter and the mysterious man will be a worldwide famous actor. However, Olivia doesn't ask for his name. All she knows is his face and the date February 4th 2013.

The next ten years around February 4th are filled with ironies, drama and coincidences. The men in Olivia's life are changing but she can't help but remember the stranger in the coffee shop. Is she too focused on a fantasy that she isn't living in reality?

I really wanted to like the book as the plot sounded great but struggled throughout to keep reading.
I hate writing bad reviews but there was honestly no redeeming quality to this book. Olivia was an awful main character who spent 10 years pinning for her ex-boyfriend when she was the one who dumped him and the poor sucker kept declaring his love for her. I felt for Liam and could not understand what he saw in Olivia. Her life is a mess and it takes her ten years to finally sort it out, and during which it took her eight years to write her script. I could not connect to Olivia as a main character, she was weak and based her entire happiness on men. She let Liam go based on a fantasy and then continued to make poor life choices for ten years.

Her best-friend Fiona came across as erratic and she jumped from one glamorous career to another which just seemed really unrealistic considering her lack of experience. Everything just miraculously seemed to work out for Fiona and was an unlikeable secondary character.

I also struggled with how the book was laid out. Each chapter was a different year and it all fell around February 4th. You would get pieces of a puzzle but you never got to experience the full journey of the book and the chapters felt very disjointed to me. This is one of the first books where I didn't care how the story ended, I just wanted it to end and I feel the story had so much potential. The secondary characters are introduced and then removed just to fill a whole in the story, and you don't get much depth from the book. Plot Twist was in my opinion a superficial book that doesn't delve properly into the character's story or emotions. So sadly, this book was not a good read for me.

Plot Twist is a rom-com stand-alone novel. by Bethany Turner. Olivia Ross writes greeting cards for a living and wishes to be a screenwriter. On February 4, 2003, a chance encounter at a coffee shop with an aspiring actor results in a pact to return in 10 years to the same coffee shop and embark on making a film together if both have made it in Hollywood. In Olivia's mind, this aspiring actor is the man of her dreams, and over the next ten years, Olivia continues her search for love. Will Olivia find love, or is the mysterious actor the man of her dreams? This book was not my favorite as Bethany Turner's earlier books were more humorous and stronger. Nevertheless, it was a great rom-com and a twist on Sleepless in Seattle and An Affair to Remember.

Not What I Expected

I have read several of Bethany Turner’s books and looked forward to reading PLOT TWIST. The plot is based on the life of Olivia Ross, a greeting card writer whose dream is to write a screenplay starring some dreamy actor. I did read all of this book and my conclusion is that it is Not What I Expected.

Turner’s lead character, Olivia Ross, starts out as a likable character. She is a young woman with a dream, a goal, and a plan to make it happen. On Feb. 4, 2003, Olivia has a chance encounter with a dreamy actor. They make small talk and she tells him of her dream to write the screenplay and have it published. He tells her of his acting dreams. To add an extra measure of focus for both of them, the actor proposes the idea that they meet on the same date in TEN years and partner up to make Olivia’s film together. There is just one little problem. Olivia did not get the dreamy actor’s name!

What happens next is a LONG, winding road covering the next TEN years of Olivia’s life. Except that every year, something significant always happens on Feb. 4. She always thinks it could be a sign, except she still has not even begun to start writing her screenplay. At this point, the plot drags on and on and on. All the while, Olivia is oblivious to the man who is madly in love with her and who would love to make all her dreams come true! He is her on-again, off-again, best friend/boyfriend. She is so hot and cold with him that he finally moves far away from her because he just cannot take it anymore. On the 10th Anniversary, Olivia’s best friend forces her to show up & see if the dreamy actor is there. Well, the joke I on Olivia! She has written the screenplay and it will be made into a movie, but boy did she get the dreamy actor wrong! She finally realizes what was standing right before her eyes all the time. My problem with this book is it felt like it took ten years to read it! This story is so convoluted that it is exhausting to read. It is just not my favorite oak by this author.

I as provided a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

This book had potential. It could've been good.
The MC came off a bit annoying. Her vast inner monologue was a bit too much. It got taxing after a bit.
The whole relationship didn't feel real to me.

The ending of the book just threw me off. She faced and waited ten years only to be alone in the end? That just didn't sit well with me.

If you are looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy than this is the book for you! I enjoyed Olivia's 10 year journey to find out her fate every year on the "fateful" day of February 4th. She makes many mistakes throughout her journey and keeps her feelings to herself when I wished she would just let people know how she really feels but she is a very likeable and relatable character that I was rooting for from beginning to end. The supporting characters are wonderful and the plot twist comes in when you least expect it! This book is not just a romance, it's also full of friendship, searching what you love to do and accepting yourself as you are.
I highly recommend this emotional journey through 10 years of Olivia's life. I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

4.5 stars --

The reviews almost kept me from reading this book (I'm picky!), but that would have been a shame, because I really, really enjoyed this story. It's one I will buy in hardcopy and re-read again and again.

I loved the structure -- how one character grows, changes, and experiences her world on the same day each year for ten years. This was unique for me as a reader, and one I really enjoyed, as I felt like I really went on a journey with Liv.

And like, maybe it was just PMS or something, but his book really PUT ME THROUGH THE WRINGER emotionally!! I was feeling ~everything~ and was so invested in the ultimate end for Liz. I knew what I *wanted* to happen, but Bethany really kept me on edge with heart-twisting angst and hoping until the very end. I cried, I yearned, I swooned; overall, a really satisfying and gripping emotional arc. Plus, I loved the punchy, funny writing, and the respect for female friendships. A winning read for me!!

A big thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the e-book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

The timeline of ten years really kind of bugs me when I think of it and all the lost time she had with all of her relationship hang-ups, but I can look past that, and I really enjoyed the book. It was cute and fun.

While this was a slow burn romance, it did keep me turning the pages. The ending holds true to the title but it doesn't take away from the romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a feel good, enjoyable read. After struggling through the first chapter, I was captivated and flew through the rest of the book in one afternoon. I enjoyed reading about Olivia over the ten year span and seeing how she had changed and where she was in her life. A very delightful rom com.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Plot Twist by Bethany Turner was a modern day Sleepless in Seattle. A play on a Wel loved rom com, except in this book, the leading lady has no idea she is the star.

One chance encounter on February 4, 2003, and a quickly made promise for a meet up again in 10 years set the trajectory for Olivia Ross. She had no idea who the man was, but she promised him she would write her a screen play, so she was determined to do just that.

But through the years Olivia, never believing she was the star in her own life, missed several chances to experience other things ... love, friendship, new experiences. She always thought of herself as the side kick, the best friend. Then adding in every year the series of coincidences that would occur on February 4th, always made her question her decisions.

When the final date comes, Olivia has to decide if she will show up to face the man she met briefly all those years ago, or if she will move on once and for all.

This book was very cute. Filled with all the rom com references, missed chances, and miss understandings that make for a great meet cute. I loved how everything came together in the end ... even though I hoped Olivia and Liam’s story would have begun sooner.

I’m going to be honest, when I started this book I thought it was going to be nothing but fluff. Boy was I wrong! It was fun, inspiring and breathtaking! I loved every quirky line, every February 4th and the phenomenal ending. A joy to read! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Plot Twist had an interesting premise. An up and coming screenwriter meets and actor in a café, he saves her from an awkward situation, they have a wonderful moment and decide to meet up in 10 years to see where they are. Sadly, the book didn't live up to the premise. I was frustrated by the pacing, the main character's glacially slow personal development, the lack of actual romance. Often, I was frustrated with the characters behaviors. A good, honest conversation would have resolved issues much faster than 10 years. In the end the story felt slow and was hard to finish. Turner's writing was decent even if the story was less than engaging for me. I purchased a copy of this for my collection and feel sure it will meet the needs of readers looking for women's fiction with slow to launch characters.

A rom com with all the missed moments of a Harry Meets Sally story, I enjoyed this book. Olivia writes greeting cards but is working on a screenplay. Her best friend Fiona always seems to be the leading lady, attracting people to her as well as interesting jobs for someone who majored in Undecided. When Olivia meets Liam, sparks fly but not until complications cause them have 10 years of missed opportunities. I recommend this book for those who appreciate humor and fate. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.