4/5 stars

I thought this book was great, I always loved reading books about authors. Out of all the characters I thought Dash was the best one, he was a great multidimensional character and I really liked his story line about working with ceramics. I definitely need to get my hands on a copy of the first book so I can appreciate Nina's character a bit more and have some more background information. The chemistry between Dash and Sophie was definitely present, but there were times when it felt a little weaker. Hoping there will be a book about Poppy (fingers crossed).

It was fast and cute, and I can see a bunch of people liking this one, but personally I enjoyed the first one more. It felt like the author just kind of threw a bunch of really common, really good tropes into the story and then didn't do too much with it other than have the characters experience them. They're good tropes because, when written to fit into the story, they elevate the plot and the tension between characters. This one, however, felt like they were added just so you could list this book as "one-bed, grump x sunshine, etc."

I'm also not entirely sure why but I was flagging 50/60% of the way in. I did force myself to finish, because otherwise it was giving me vibes that I would set it down and never pick it up.

There's definitely a demographic that will enjoy this read, it just wasn't for me. Plus, I'm not a bit Tiktok user, nor do I tend to appreciate whenever the plotline of a book is integrated with that and lots of other social media references. And I missed Nina - Sophie was a decent part of Nina's book, which makes sense because they're sisters, but Nina didn't have that same presence in Sophie's.

thank you Netgalley for the free copy

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Plot Twist! This is the first novel I have read with a pansexual MC (how I identify) and I really loved how she felt so comfortable and confident in her own skin. I absolutely loved everything, from start to finish. It's hard to give an accurate review of this book without giving away major key points but what I will say, is that if you are looking for a fun, fresh, and exciting romantic comedy, Erin La Rosa is a new favorite for me!!

A cute romcom about a romance author struggling with writer's block and a former child star struggling with sobriety.

I found that this book struggled with its tone at times - there are great lighthearted moments between the characters, like a feud over the squirrel in their shared backyard and a Ghost re-enactment over a pottery wheel, but then there are quite dark moments while Dash is struggling with his sobriety and Sophie is re-visiting exes who didn't treat her well. I'm not saying that those things can't co-exist in the same novel, but something about the writing here made it feel disjointed. The spice was also a bit uneven - the Ghost scene was great, Sophie learning how to ask for what she wants was great, and then some of it felt awkward to read.

Overall, this is sweet and the characters are lovable. But there's an overall uneveness that might keep it out of your faves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

3.5 stars

Thank you, Netgalley, Erin LA Rosa, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

I knew this was the book for me when chapter two had Dash describing how he jerked off in the shower to the thought of going down on a girl with heavy eye contact. That being said, let's jump right in!

Sophie has a bad case of writers block and is worried she's a one hit wonder. Her next book is due in 6 weeks, and she's just gone viral on Tiktok for drunkenly announcing that she's never been in love, even though she's a romance author. Sophie decides to contact all of her exes to find out where things went wrong. Dash is her landlord, neighbor, and her best friends brother. He's also a teen heartthrob and recovering from his complicated relationship with alcohol that his family doesn't know about. He offers to help Sophie with her social media account since he's an expert. As tension builds, Sophie suggest they enter a friends with benefits situation.

• friends with benefits
• brothers best friend
• One bed
LGBTQ+

The family dynamic behind Sophie and Dash made the story come to life even more. Sophie felt left out of her sister's life because she didn't share important things with her, and Dash felt like the disappointment of the family gave them something to come together over.

I admired Sophie's courage and wanted to figure out why she's never been in love before. I would rather jump in front of a bus than visit all of my exes and ask them why we broke up or if they would date me again. Sophie takes their criticism in stride and really tries to dig deep for why she's the way she is.

Dash is doing all of the right things to stay sober except going to the meetings that he's lying to his sponsor about going to. He is determined to stay sober, but also, hiding it from his family is causing extra stress in his life.

One of the things that bothered me was the drama around the 75% mark and through the end of the book. Sophie doesn't tell her best friend that she's sleeping with her brother, and that makes her friend upset because they were hiding things from her. Then Sophie gets mad at Dash for not telling her about his secret tiktok account and Cindy, which felt hypocritical. Dash told Sophie that he had a secret tiktok and that he filmed pottery videos on it. Like, girl all the information was there for you. Why are you mad? The ending felt a little rushed with tying up all of the loose ends but overall it was a fun read. I loved the first half but the second half left me wishing things were a little different.

This story was sooooo cute! I really enjoyed the plot, and it had just the right amount of spice. I’d definitely read this again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc.

I am such a sucker for a good romcom.
This book is an easy read that has a great flow. I laughed, I cried and I got angry. Iykyk.
I wouldn’t consider this a 5 star read for a few reasons. First of all, I feel like there wasn’t really much closure with Cindy, which felt odd.
Secondly, I didn’t particularly enjoy the whole TikTok aspect of the story. I know it’s a more new age story, so I get it. But it was just a bit much.

Overall, it was a delightful read and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Just My Feelings* Rating: 3.5/5


Empowered Romance** Rating: 🆗 - This isn't the type of book to redefine your worldview. That being said, it didn't promote toxic or unhealthy ideals. So ultimately, it gets the green light.


The "Did this book make me stay up until 4 am reading even though my kids wake up at 6:00 am" Test - Not really.



Just My Feelings Rating Breakdown:
I enjoyed this book and liked the characters. I did feel like something was a little off about the pacing and that the character development could have been stronger. I would've loved more interaction between the FMC and her BFF. I didn't really feel the depth of their connection.

Overall, it was a fun read.

Empowered Romance Rating Breakdown

⭐️ Authentic Sexual Health 🆗

⭐️ Awareness of Social Issue 🆗

⭐️ Book Boyfriend + Main Character 🆗

⭐️ Representative Storytelling ❌

⭐️ Smash the Patriarchy 🆗 - I'd say this was mostly neutral while definitely written for the female gaze.




*100% based on how I felt while reading this book.

**A 5-point criteria rating based on how much this book empowers readers to better know themselves and live with more pleasure, passion, and connection in their lives. This is written from my feminist, sex educator point of view.


I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I struggled to finish Plot Twist. I am glad that the author chose to cover real issues, but I found the female MC of this book to be very annoying. She was so annoying, I almost DNFed this one, and I really, really hate doing that.

I would give this book a 3.5/5, but I have to round it up to 4.
Sophie is a writer on a deadline, with 6 weeks left to hand in her draft of her second books. Her problem? Besides having total writers block, she's never been in love and has drunkenly announced it to the world via a clip someone posted to tiktok.
Now with the help of Dash, her grumpy landlord/neighbor, who just so happens to be her childhood actor crush, she is on a mission to ask all of her exes why it didn't work out and why they think she's never been able to say those three little words.
Dash is on his own mission as well, to continue his sobriety and navigate his growing feeling for Sophie, the first kind of feelings like this he's had since getting clean 18 months ago. But she's his sister's best friend, so it could never happen...right?
This book has a lot of potential and I wanted to like it so much, but something about it just didn't hit the mark for me. I honestly liked Dash a lot more than I liked Sophie. Her character had an air about her that was kind of annoying. A "I do no wrong, but everyone wrongs me" vibe. At times I liked her and other times I almost DNFed. There was so much that could have been solved if they were just honest with each other, but I get that their personalities weren't like that.
I love how Dash's addiction was covered. I think it was done so well and his journey was my favorite part of the book. Honestly any time Sophie was the main part I found myself skipping paragraphs. I love a book that involves tropes and romance books and things like that, but sometimes they get thrown in your face too much. This may have been that time.

Read this book if you like:
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Best friend's brother
*Childhood actor crush
*Pansexual representation
*Addiction/recovery
*disability representation (kind of?)
*one bed
*romance book author

Enjoyed this romance about two likable/not perfect characters! Liked that they are a bit older than many romance main characters.

I walked into this expecting a cliche rom-com and I was very excited to read it. I was even more excited to realize that this was so much better than I was expecting it to be.
The books plot was really well executed and had a really easy to follow timeline. The characters had great development throughout the novel as well. I loved seeing how the characters helped and supported each other in their hardest times.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an eARC of this book.

Super cute story about an author in the rut and her gorgeous landlord who happened to be her childhood crush and best friends boyfriend. I enjoyed the banter, homemade doll, pottery and Richard the squirrel.

Sophie has a rough night and a video got posted of her that puts her career five steps backwards. She has never been in love? Sophie is already having a difficult time getting words onto the pages and now this happens. She tries to make the situation better by posting a new video confessing her thoughts. She is helped by her landlord, Dash, who is trying hard to keep his sobriety. As Sophie and Dash continue their friendship, she seems to want more, but Dash isn't ready for this with his new ways to stay sober. Will a casual fling wreck their friendship?
Great story!

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't do it for me. There were parts of it that were well written and funny but in the end. The plot was disjointed and the characters weren't well developed.

This is a fun contemporary romance. The characters are loveable and the plot fun. Overall an excellent reading experience.

A good book about finding yourself. Our main characters are carrying baggage from family and previous relationships. She doesn't understand why she can't say those three little words. He is desperately clinging to his sobriety. They each take a journey both good and bad and find each other at the end.

Thank you NetGalley, Erin La Rosa, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC copy of Plot Twist in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This was a wonderful follow up to Erin's previous book: For Butter or Worse. This time around we follow along the FMC's sister: Sophie's love story with former Hollywood heart throb: Dash. I love the more modern elements of involving TikTok and social media influences with romances. These two find themselves benefiting each other in more than one way as this hilarious and charming story unfolds.

Read if you love:
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Landlord/Tenant
-Friends with Benefits
-Best Friend's Brother
-Celebrity Romance
-Mental Health/Addiction
-Situationships

I loved the tension in this book right from the start! Absolutely a must have on your summer reading list.

Dash, being Sophie’s best friends brother and her landlord, has always been off limits. But when Sophie and Dash exchange her writing skills for his TikTok ones, they end up spending more time together than expected. They also get to know each other outside of the boundaries of their regular passing acquaintance status and start learning things about each other no one else knows. Soon, the physical connection they initially feel grows into something deeper and they challenge each other to face their demons and be their best selves.

Really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next Erin La Rosa book!
#indigoemployee

This is a really sweet, swoony romance book for anyone who loves:

- grumpy / sunshine
- neighbors
- celebrity (or ex-celeb) MMC
- best friends brother
- forced proximity (he is her landlord)
- friends with benefits situationship

It definitely had laugh out loud moments and lovable characters, however I felt that I really had to push through this book. I wasn't connecting with the plot at first and then I felt like it picked up steam but overall I thought the tension in their relationship could have been a little higher? Really I just felt like the plot was dragging a bit.