Member Review
Review by
Susie G, Reviewer
Plot Twist is a light and breezy falling for your best friend’s brother tale on the surface, but packs a solid emotional punch too – perfect for fans of Ava Wilder and Abby Jimenez.
When we meet Romance writer Sophie Lyon, she’s death’s door-level hungover, the host of a debilitating writer’s block party, and confessed to the world that she’s never been in love. Then she throws up on her hot landlord’s shoes. Said landlord, Dash, also happens to be her best friend’s hot brother, former actor, and the child of very famous jerks.
From the start, we know Sophie and Dash are both unenthusiastic riders on the struggle bus. Sophie decides to go on a High Fidelity-style trip down Confront Your Ex Lane to fix her inability to write a happily ever after. Dash is white-knuckling through sobriety by working on his crafting projects and being a recluse.
As expected from well-formed characters, what they *think* is going to solve their problems won’t get them to a happy ending. Anyone who’s fought imposter syndrome and people-pleasing tendencies will feel a kinship with Sophie, as she finds her voice and the confidence to fall in love authentically.
Dash will likely resonate with anyone who has struggled with addiction or loves someone who does. While his relationship with alcohol is an essential plot point, La Rosa handles this potential mine field with a lot of grace. He too needed to find his voice and Sophie serves as a point of inspiration without becoming his reward for sobriety. Dash may fear a new relationship is his biggest danger point, but it was his existing relationships which required new coping strategies.
The inner conflict of both Sophie and Dash is significant. However, the tender hearts of both characters keep the narrative from dragging into maudlin. There’s plenty of humor and spicy times to balance the rough stuff.
In Erin La Rosa’s first fiction offering, For Butter or Worse, we were introduced to the Lyon sisters, and specifically Nina, a celebrity chef on the rise. While Plot Twist is a natural second book in a series about Nina’s little sister, Sophie and Dash’s story can be treated as a standalone.
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Tropes: Best Friend’s Brother, Celebrity Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, Cinnamon Roll hero
Spice Level: 2/5, open door
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Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Nov 14th, 2023.
When we meet Romance writer Sophie Lyon, she’s death’s door-level hungover, the host of a debilitating writer’s block party, and confessed to the world that she’s never been in love. Then she throws up on her hot landlord’s shoes. Said landlord, Dash, also happens to be her best friend’s hot brother, former actor, and the child of very famous jerks.
From the start, we know Sophie and Dash are both unenthusiastic riders on the struggle bus. Sophie decides to go on a High Fidelity-style trip down Confront Your Ex Lane to fix her inability to write a happily ever after. Dash is white-knuckling through sobriety by working on his crafting projects and being a recluse.
As expected from well-formed characters, what they *think* is going to solve their problems won’t get them to a happy ending. Anyone who’s fought imposter syndrome and people-pleasing tendencies will feel a kinship with Sophie, as she finds her voice and the confidence to fall in love authentically.
Dash will likely resonate with anyone who has struggled with addiction or loves someone who does. While his relationship with alcohol is an essential plot point, La Rosa handles this potential mine field with a lot of grace. He too needed to find his voice and Sophie serves as a point of inspiration without becoming his reward for sobriety. Dash may fear a new relationship is his biggest danger point, but it was his existing relationships which required new coping strategies.
The inner conflict of both Sophie and Dash is significant. However, the tender hearts of both characters keep the narrative from dragging into maudlin. There’s plenty of humor and spicy times to balance the rough stuff.
In Erin La Rosa’s first fiction offering, For Butter or Worse, we were introduced to the Lyon sisters, and specifically Nina, a celebrity chef on the rise. While Plot Twist is a natural second book in a series about Nina’s little sister, Sophie and Dash’s story can be treated as a standalone.
_________________
Tropes: Best Friend’s Brother, Celebrity Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, Cinnamon Roll hero
Spice Level: 2/5, open door
__________
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Nov 14th, 2023.
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