This was a miss for me. At first I was interested and I enjoyed the friendship between Allie and Martin. I liked them helping each other with their writing. The rest of this was so slow. I didn't find her relationship with Will to be interesting.

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer is a winning read if you're in the mood for something lighthearted, clever, and emotionally resonant. The charm lies not only in the romance but in the exploration of creative struggles, meaningful connections, and the solace found in storytelling—and sometimes, in collaboration

Thank you HarperCollins - One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to review The Plot Twist in exchange for a fair and honest review. I liked the premise of The Plot Twist but had to DNF at 55%. Unfortunately the past was too slow and I lost interest in the characters involved in this romance. I hope others will enjoy this book more than me.

I won't be sharing this review further than goodreads out of fairness to the author as I have not finished the book and don't believe in posting reviews to amazon or waterstones unless I have completely read the book.

The book is a little light on the actual romance between Allie and Will. Allie and Will’s romantic relationship took a backseat to Allie and Martin’s writing relationship. While I would have liked to have seen more of Will, the core of the story is centred on Allie writing a book, so I didn’t mind the heavy emphasis on writing.

As for the rest of the supporting characters, I loved Jess, Allie’s best friend, and Verity, Allie’s editor.

The story also provided an inside look into the publishing industry and gave a glimpse into how books are published. I really enjoyed that aspect.

Overall, if you’re looking for a sweet romance that also features an unconventional friendship, check this one out!

Beach read type of novel about the authoress who finds herself with a writer´s block and mean publishing house director behind her back. Older mystery novel writer Martin is in the same situation. The resolution? They will swap plots! Allie will help Martin with his marital crisis while using the material for her new rom-com, while she will supply Martin with ideas for the banker-murdering new novel. There is also a manly waiter (?) Will, whom Allie is attracted to. There is also a chance to put down the mean guy. What could go wrong?

Well...IF the mean guy WAS Mr. Darcy, there could be an even more attractive plot, let me put you straight. But Ms Goymer is no Jane Austen and her cards are more simple.
I liked some parts of the novel, like Martin (who is a sweet guy, not the outdated simpleton, really!) and his wife and also the idea swap plot (which truly is smart). Unfortunately, Allie is a cow in my opinion, full of herself and her prejudices - I could forgive her for being clumsy communicator, but I can not forgive her her judgmental ways. She is in her 30s, not fifteen, so she should be a less immature. Also, all the *me too* and *naming and shaming* ideas truly feel outdated, the public opinion should not stand in for the proper independent procedures.
Also, main sexy guy Will lacks depth in my opinion, he is just a lust prop with sweet sentences. Luckily, there is best friend Jess with her refreshing honesty.
All in all, not a bad read, but it could be a more deep read.

Was definitely excited to read this one. I am new to this author’s books so I was excited to try out this one as my first novel. The cover is lovey and the description looked so fascinating! I was obviously hooked! However, I found myself DNF-ING this one. I think it was just a little too slow. I started skipping pages until eventually I stopped reading all together.. I do like the premise of the plot so I may return to this book as an audiobook later on! Thank you for the arc!

The Plot Twist is a charming and witty story about creativity, unexpected friendship, and the messy beauty of falling in love. When romcom writer Allie teams up with grumpy crime novelist Martin to beat their writer’s block, they discover more than just new plots. Eleanor Goymer blends humor and heart with ease, delivering a feel-good tale filled with quirky characters, authentic emotion, and a sweet slow-burn romance. Perfect for fans of smart romantic comedies with a touch of soul.

every time i picked up this book, i just couldn’t continue it for some reason. i felt nothing toward the characters and the plot didn’t catch my attention as much.

while i enjoyed the premise of the book, the story felt very long and boring. characters felt too mirroring to each other and also not that fitting, i didn’t feel that chemistry and tension i usually want from a romance,

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer is a refreshingly clever and emotionally honest story that lives up to its title in more ways than one. At first glance, it may seem like a classic love story wrapped in charm and wit—but Goymer skillfully unravels something much deeper beneath the surface.

What makes this book stand out is its thoughtful exploration of timing, vulnerability, and the delicate dance between reality and the stories we tell ourselves. The characters are nuanced and relatable, each wrestling with personal truths that ultimately reshape their paths. Just when you think you know where things are headed, Goymer introduces twists—not just in the plot, but in emotional perception—that feel earned and incredibly human.

This isn’t just a story about love. It’s about choices, regrets, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own narrative. With its blend of humor, heartache, and surprise, The Plot Twist leaves you reflecting on the unexpected turns in your own story—and how they might lead you exactly where you need to be.

I absolutely ended up loving this one!! It took me a little while to get into it but once I was, I was absolutely hooked!!

Not spicy, male female, 3rd person single point of view, contemporary fiction with a bit of romance. The premise was good, the writing was fine, but the characters and events didn't work for me.

This book had the potential to be the right book for me but I DNF after a few chapters. I felt something off with the FMC and the insta-lust (I didn't get if she was still in a relationship at the beginning or not?). Well, I guess I'll never know.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and HarperCollins for the ebook!

This was a disappointment for the following reasons:

Allie's "character arc." I appreciated the main character's inner conflict, especially that she overcame not only a mistake she made in the story, but a mistake she had in her overall mindset! Even so, her redemption wasn't as big or dramatic as it needed to be; instead, the characters she had done dirty understood her actions and easily excused her.

The "plot twist" in The Plot Twist. It was so obvious that I wonder if it was supposed to be a surprise at all. Maybe the author intended it to be dramatic irony?

Preaching. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for bringing down Jake Matthews! But with women grumbling about the patriarchy and men's advantages, it came across as forced and flat. If not for their preaching, the subplot would have been more powerful. Actions speak louder than words.

Poor exposition. Show, don't tell! Descriptions of an outfit, how and when people met, this bar and what it means, etc. interrupted the story and could have been shortened with bits of dialogue (or removed altogether).

Chunky paragraphs. If this was written 100+ years ago and about a main character spiraling into madness or pondering life, I'd get it--but it wasn't. I appreciate that the author thought out everyone's backstories and every setting, but we didn't need to hear about all of them, much less every detail.

Alcohol. Granted, I should have expected this, seeing the champagne glasses on the front cover. But if not for Will, Allie's love would have been wine, gin, beer, and every other form alcohol comes in. Don't get me wrong; I believe in free choice, so Allie can drink all she wants. However, I have first-handedly seen alcohol destroy people's lives, it leading to abandoned children, slow minds, and homelessness. Hence, to see it normalized and indirectly encouraged was discouraging.

Lust. Yes, most of the time, romance begins with attraction. Chances are, you don't notice his character or sense of humor; you notice his sparkling eyes, thick hair, or broad chest. But you shouldn't moon over his muscles for forever, thinking that maybe after a few weeks it can go deeper--you quickly get to know him and start liking him for who he is on the inside, not outside.

Jess. Cliche, annoying, and flat, she was the token long-time best friend character to give pep talks and to whom Allie could pour out her heart. Without her, the exposition would have been even worse--i.e., instead of Allie explaining everything to Jess, the author would have explained even more to the reader--but Jess didn't have a part of her own in the story.

Dirty content. As hinted by the mentions of lust and alcohol, the book was not clean. Although infrequent, there jokes about sex, crude jokes, and explicit words. At least it was closed door (i.e., no descriptions of sex).

I am not saying the novel was a complete disaster. As mentioned, I appreciated Allie's inner conflict; as a writer, I could relate to her at times; and the cover was cute. All the same, I would not recommend it.

2.5 stars - I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received a review copy of The Plot Twist from the author, and Harper Collins UK! 🫶

The Plot Twist unfortunately was not my cup of tea. It's a cute rom-com book and I do think that a lot of people would enjoy it. However, I had struggles connecting with the FMC and the miscommunication trope in particular bothered me while I was reading. I did enjoy the writing style and I did enjoy other characters in the story however!

If you love fake dating, rom-coms, small town romance, an adorable golden retriever, grumpy meets sunshine, and a book that will make you smile then this is the book for you! 🫶

2.5 stars - I read this whilst on holiday, it was definitely a good holiday choice as I was able to read it quickly and I liked Goymer’s writing style. I struggled to connect with the FMC and the miscommunication trope was strongly featured and sadly, I find this trope frustrating so I couldn’t get invested in the romance. I enjoyed reading about an author and the writing process, it felt like there were several sub plots taking place which could have benefited from more development.

I think this was definitely more a ‘me’ problem rather than the book, as it includes tropes I typically don’t enjoy, so I wouldn’t not recommend because as mentioned above, it was a quick one to read with low stakes, perfect for the summer in my opinion!

A huge thank you to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a cute, fun read. Rom-Com vibes! I loved the relationship between Allie and Martin. Definitely recommend. Really enjoyed this book!

In this enjoyable and funny new romance novel, readers follow romance author Allie Edwards and crime writer Martin Clark in their respective writing slumps -- writer’s block, zero words written for overdue manuscripts, and unhappy editors. Deciding to switch plots and tell the other’s story, Allie and Martin develop a father-daughter bond, and Allie even meets events caterer Will, who might be the person to help her solve her relationship and writing blocks. However, no one knows about Allie and Martin’s writing swap, and that might just cause some issues for their careers and Allie and Will’s relationship. Charming, entertaining, and heartwarming, this novel about writers and the bonds forged among the characters is a fun read. Allie and Martin’s relationship is particularly relatable and heartwarming, and the growing relationship between Allie and Will hits the right romance notes, obstacles, and tropes that readers are looking for. The characters are well-written and have developed personalities, and the added bits of drama and tension really add necessary excitement and challenges to Allie’s life in this fun and charming new romance novel. An easy and lighthearted read perfect for romance fans, this great new novel has fantastic characters and excellent relationships that readers will love.

The plot twist is a really fun Rom-Com story filled with a really good plot and twists you won’t guess from the beginning. I love all the humor and flirting between Allie and Martin. This story falls under contemporary romance so If you’re into that genre , definitely check it out. This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style so much.

2.5⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I found this story was incredibly slow at times, and repetitive, and sadly did put me in a bit of a slump. There was such a mixture of 4 plot lines, it was hard to just follow one and as a result caused all the plots to be on a superficial level.

I really would have enjoyed more time being dedicated to Will and Allie’s adventures, in addition to there being less repetition about the fact Allie was having such a hard time to find inspiration to write. At times, I also found there was repeated information a page apart or references which were either not known or didn’t give weight to the point being discussed.

Although these points sadly did make the book a bit unenjoyable at times. I did strongly enjoy the ending, and fell in love with Will’s grand gesture.

I made it to 56% and just can’t anymore. I’m bored, the main character is annoying and I don’t care what happens. Moving on! ⁣
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⁣Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.