Well that's the first time I've read a book with a plot twist like that!

When Becca's best friend suddenly dies she finds herself accepting help from her online book friend and romance writer, Riley. Becca agrees to visit her in Ireland and help to look after her young daughter to give Riley time to write over the summer. But Riley turns out to be a man. And not just any man but a drop dead gorgeous one, of course.

I really enjoyed their initial meeting and the hilarity of the mix up! Ivy, Riley's daughter stole the show! I like how Riley has such golden retriever energy and him and Becca seem to compliment each other well. The story running parallel with is sister and her wife was nice to see. This book is slow burn! It probably fits more into book club or women's fiction category than straight romance as it deals with some heavy topics like grief. It'll have you laughing and crying!

I found the first few chapters had me close to calling it quits. Only because I highly doubt that as childhood besties this woman would just land for the funeral and leave over a man. It felt a tad rushed in order to get to the meet cute. I hated Becca's ex! I felt that some of the flashbacks could have been skipped out entirely.

I'll be looking out for more from this author! 💚

For me, Plot Twist got off to a rough start. The first few chapters were hard to get into, largely because the main character, Becca, isn’t easy to like at first. When her best friend Rae unexpectedly dies, Becca’s behavior towards Rae’s brother and her ex is insensitive and immature, especially given that Becca is in her thirties and they’re all at Rae’s funeral.

Luckily, the book gets better when Becca arranges to meet an online writer friend, Riley, in real life for the first time. Becca will stay with her in Northern Ireland for the summer to work on their respective books. But Becca is shocked to learn that Riley is actually a man, not a woman. He’s a single dad and, yes, a romance author who truly believes in happily ever afters. Becca feels weird about staying with a man all summer, but agrees. They’re friends, and they could both use the support to make progress on their books.

Plot Twist is mainly meant to be a romance, but while there is an underlying love story slowly unfolding between Becca and Riley, the novel overall feels more women’s fiction. There is a lot going on here. In some ways, it enriches the story well; in others, it just bogs everything down. I liked the themes of grieving a loss (though it wasn’t tackled well in those first few chapters), navigating single parenthood, managing career issues, and coming to terms with an ex-boyfriend secretly dating your late best friend. However, the health scare towards the end, the imagined love triangle, and even the numerous flashbacks could have been pared down or eliminated and the novel would have been stronger for it. There should have more focus on developing Riley and Becca’s relationship, rather than so many distractions from it.

However, I also loved a lot here. I enjoyed Becca and Riley’s discussions around writing. Becca is clueless about writing styles (plotter vs. pantser) and romance tropes (like the second chance romance that comes up throughout this book), but Riley clues her in, and they bond over their writing sprints and goals met at the end of each day. Riley’s four-year-old daughter Ivy is also a standout character here; she’s so cute! I love Riley’s sister and sister-in-law, as well as their own arcs around starting a business and trying to adopt.

Plot Twist is engaging and has great voice. I enjoyed the settings of Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland, and I found the characters mostly likable (except when Becca interacts with her ex!). It is a bit overcrowded with plot points and themes, but is otherwise an easy, thoughtful, and immersive read. It’s a strong debut and promises more goodness to come in future books from Breea Keenan.

Becca and Riley captured my heart with their story! Becca's life is a bit of a mess and Riley is a hopeless romantic as well as a romance author. When Becca books a trip to Ireland to stay with Riley one drunken evening it all gets a bit interesting!

A lot of the story hung around them trying to be friends and not wanting to cross over into more for longer than it needed! I loved them as a couple and I wish there was more of it. I felt the plot with Drew was good context but it all felt rather pointless with the whole Rae and Drew area as it felt that Becca got over it quite quickly - just felt rather rushed!

It was a fun story and I loved all the characters but it felt that the stories were not really delved into but more just touched on - maybe too many stories happening to really have more detail. I would have loved more about Bridget and Ellie - they were a hoot. There were some aspects though, seeing more realistic portrayals of relationships as adults, how everyone kind of sucks sometimes, people keep secrets, we get jealous and stalk-that-one-girl-at-his-work-that's-way-cooler-than-me, was well done and so relatable.

I think there were parts that were 5 stars for me but just felt a bit incomplete so this was a 3 star one for me.

This overall story was an easy cute and fluffy read, which is something that I always love. I enjoyed the hysterical first face-to-face interaction between Becca and Riley along with their banter and evolving love story throughout the book.
However, I thought the structure of the book as a whole was lagging. It almost felt like there were multiple things introduced out of nowhere in a very unorganized fashion and even though everything was wrapped up nicely, I think it made for a more confusing and choppy reading experience. I also do not enjoy the miscommunication trope at all because it just makes me super frustrated. While this was not a main trope, it was definitely prominent in the story, which brought my experience down a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed the story as a whole, but didn’t always enjoy the pieces that made up the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for a #gifted eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First off this was super cute. I love the concept of becoming online best friends with someone and they turn out to be the hottest and nicest man, that is the dream. I did really love Riley. I thought he was the sweetest guy and was very likable. I loved that he was a romance writer too, since that can be viewed as a more feminine genre and I love that he wasn’t ashamed to be apart of that and to love romance. The main character Becca was also pretty relatable. I understand the struggles she was going through and the emotions she was trying to figure out. The grief she feels and how she doesn’t really know how to handle it was very real.

In general, I feel like I wanted more from the story. I didn’t always feel the connection between Becca and Riley as much as we’re told they have a connection. It also felt like there was a lot going on in the book, like a lot of subplots that didn’t always need as much attention on them. There was quite a lot crammed in and it felt like at times it suffocated the actual emotion of the story or just didn’t feel necessary to drive the story and emotion forward.

A very small thing, but I also always love a book that describes the female lead as wearing makeup! And here it was done in a great way where Becca was often described as putting on her foundation but there was never any discussion of her not needing to wear makeup or that she looks better without it. It was just a part of her routine and who she is and clearly made her feel more confident and I love that for her. So many books describe our main ladies as never wearing makeup except once a little mascara or lipgloss and I love seeing that you can be a leading lady and wear makeup!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a gorgeous and fun read, despite the devastating beginning. I absolutely loved the premise and the plot twist that came with Becca escaping to visit her online friend and author, Riley O'Connell. Becca and Riley's relationship was incredibly sweet and heart-warming. I loved seeing something so beautiful come out of such painful circumstances and although there was some difficult obstacles to face, the two of them were destined to be together and created something magical. I absolutely loved being whisked away to Ireland, meeting some fabulous characters that really took away the weight of why Becca found herself there in the first place. This is a really fun romance with great banter, loveable characters and a stunning location to create the perfect escapism for all readers.

If you can't financially afford to travel to Europe this summer to spend a few weeks wasting away in Ireland before ultimately discovering yourself, and perhaps the love of your life then do not read this book. From the moment Becca impulsively booked a boat to Ireland from her home of Scotland, I was obsessed with her spontaneity and wanted to follow in her footsteps.

Plot Twist follows Becca, who is grieving the death of her best friend, to the Irish coast for a writer's retreat with an online friend and author, Riley. From the moment she meets Riley, Becca keeps having one curveball after another thrown at her, resulting in an adventure-packed trip.

This book definitely had me on my toes from the beginning with a variety of characters and entangled motivations. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, true to the title, a different plot twist completely upended my ideas.

This plot structure definitely added to the realism in the story, it felt like even Becca's own ideas and motivations were fluid and changed as the story progressed as she experienced new things and learned more about herself. I loved how organically the story developed, contrary to the formulaic feel of a lot of other popular books.

Overall, I enjoyed the whirlwind of the drama and following Becca on her journey of grief and self-discovery. After finishing this story, I definitely felt the urge to book a next-day trip to Ireland and forget about all of my obligations. Sadly, that will have to wait for another day.

Five out of five stars!

This book had an interesting premise, but for me it just fell flat. It covered a lot of heavy and serious topics, but I feel that sometimes it was trying to juggle too much while also staying a light rom com, creating some really interesting and slightly unsettling tone choices.

I also didn't really like the main character all that much - I thought she was very self-centered and very dismissive of other people's problems. Just because you're struggling and grieving doesn't mean you're the only one! She was absolutely horrible to her friend's brother in my opinion. I also found that she was overly mean to other women, especially the one she thought was flirting with Riley. Like, come on, it's 2024 and we're still hating on other women just because they're interested in the same man as you? That type of conflict is so tired.

Overall, I think that the banter was fine but the point of view and third act drama kind of ruined this book for me.

2.5 stars rounded down.

such a unique read i haven’t read anything like this before. dealt with the themes grief, betrayal and forgiveness so well. i also love it when books are written about authors i think it gives such a unique twist. i also loved how it was set in the UK as i feel like i don’t read many books set here. would definitely recommend!

Becca Taylor is having a bad summer. Her best friend is dead. Her good-for-nothing ex is back in her life. And her career is in freefall.
So, when fellow writer Riley O'Connell invites Becca to the charming Irish countryside, she can't pack her bags fast enough, even though they have never met. But happily-ever-after isn't quite so simple. And Riley is not a sensitive female romance novelist like Becca assumed. No, he is definitely a man. A hot, six-foot tall, Irish man. But with their complicated pasts getting in the way, Becca and Riley just can't get on the same page.

I enjoyed this but felt as though it fell a little flat in the middle. It was felt quite rushed and I did not really feel the romance aspect that strongly. The two main characters definitely had chemistry but I don't think it was portrayed as well as it could have been. It was not happening and then all of a sudden it was. However, I really enjoyed the writing aspect and the found family aspect too.

I rated this 3 stars!

I’ve had this one on my NetGalley TBR for a bit and totally regret not getting to it sooner! The story takes off with Becca’s life being a bit of a mess. Her best friend passed away unexpectedly, her boss is a nightmare and her ex-boyfriend is now back in her life. She’s also been attempting to write a book, but writers block is hindering the progress. Luckily she has her online friend Riley who is a successful romance author. Riley invites Becca to come to Ireland so that they can have a writers retreat together, while also hanging out with Riley’s daughter Ivy. Becca desperately needs a friend and a break from her life in Scotland, so she packs her bags and heads to Ireland. To Becca’s embarrassment, Riley, who she assumed was a single mom and romance author turns out to be Riley the hot Irish single dad and romance author.

This was a super cute slow burn story with some good chemistry. Riley is definitely another worthy book-boyfriend with the cutest supportive family. Becca was relatable with her messy life and her witty personality. Although I loved Riley and Becca’s story, I found myself loving Ivy and her cute interactions even more! Definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a cute heartwarming single dad, small town romance!

Plot Twist by Breea Keenan

Becca's life is going from bad to worse so she accepts an invitation from her friend and fellow writer, Riley, to go to Ireland and work on their books together. But she hasn't met Riley in real life before and she's in for a whole load of surprises!

I absolutely loved this book! I raced through it and loved everything about it - the main characters, the story, the setting, the other characters, the flashbacks... absolutely everything! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

When fellow writer Riley O'Connell invites Becca to the charming Irish countryside, she can’t wait to start a new chapter to her life. With the death of her best friend and her personal life in chaos, Becca is determined to enjoy life. What she doesn’t realise, is that Riley is not the female romance novelist that she imagines but an extremely handsome 6-foot tall, Irish man.
Whilst not the light-hearted romance that I expected, this was a heartwarming romance. The relationship between Riley and Becca is one of friends to lovers and their banter well delivered particularly when Becca is unaware of who Riley really is. At times, the storyline did jump around but otherwise, a good read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Becca’s summer takes a turn for the worse when her best friend dies, her ex reappears, and her career plummets. Needing a change, she accepts an invitation from fellow writer Riley to visit the picturesque Irish countryside. But Riley isn’t the female novelist Becca expected, but rather a tall, attractive single dad. With their complex histories, can Becca and Riley find common ground?

I love Becca and Riley! This fun rom-com has depth to it. It’s engaging and poignant with a strong plot and relatable characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, or the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5

Scottish lass who is perfectly imperfect? Check!

Gorgeous Irishman with sparkling green eyes? Check!

Adorable four year-old who is smarter than her years but loves some good princess sparkle? Check!

Idyllic Irish village that sends you online looking up rural properties on the Emerald Isle? Check!

Tears? Triple check! I may be a crier, but if you don’t shed a single tear while reading this book, you’re basically dead inside.

Plot twist? At least a couple before you even know what’s what!

Disappointments?

START SEMI SPOILER

<spoiler>
The author probably can’t be blamed for my biggest disappointment, which was also the biggest missed opportunity ever!

With his first book being such an amazing love story, it’s unlikely that he would come up with something equally as riveting while under so much pressure. While I was trying to think of what could make a fitting follow-up, I realized that I was enjoying this romance and it’s unusual premise like that.

That’s when I realized that his should have been a book within a book. At the end, we suddenly realize that “Plot Twist” is Riley’s (or rather a similar character with a different name’s) much-anticipated second novel and we are now thrown into another reality where Not Becca has just finished reading and then gushes over the novel that Not Riley just finished and is waiting impatiently for her to finish. She could make some quip about some creative license that he took rewriting history by claiming credit or mentioning his abs a few thousand times. While he tells her that it was Becca, not him who brought it up, while Not Becca puts her hand in her swollen belly and Not Ivy runs into the house having just taught her young cousins how to do something she doesn’t realize she totally shouldn’t have. Not that I’ve thought it through or anything.

The false-start gesture at the end (you’ll know when you get there) of the actual book “Plot Twist” was a bit of a let down too though and did tarnish my overall glowing impression right before the final pages.

</spoiler>
END SEMI SPOILER

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This is such a cute romcom book that dealth with some issues including grief and betrayal(?). I thought it's just gonna be lovey-dovey flowery romance but it end up makes me cried. The writing is so fun and simple, i enjoyed it a lot than i thought I would.

This wasn’t for me - the number of f-bombs and distasteful, crude jokes just in the first chapter was so off-putting. It should be an intro to the characters and what’s happening, a nice base to lay the plot on but it was just???? All filler???

Such a wonderful witty read full of brilliant characters set in Dublin. I loved the literary theme of both Becca and Riley being authors. A fantastic book about love friendship and loss. I could not put this book down.

This'd probably be a great summer read for many people, but it was sadly a case of "it's not you, it's me" when it came to my experience reading it, as I couldn't fully invest myself in the main character's voice.

If you love romcoms you will love this! Becca and Riley have the BEST banter! I absolutely couldn't put this down once I started it. This has me laughing, kicking my feet, and crying. I felt like the characters were really relatable. They felt like real people with real problems. Man I wish I could read this again for the first time.

Thank you @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the arc