This is only the second book of J L berg I have read, and I must say I am in love with her writing. It captivated me from the very start. I will definitely be reading more from this author, and would highly recommend for others too as well.

Twist of Fate had all the makings of a story I should have fallen in love with. The premise is quietly romantic: a woman, still grieving the loss of her mother, returns to Ireland—the very place where her heart was first broken—to start over. A past love reappears. Old feelings surface. And beneath it all, the question lingers: is this fate giving her a second chance, or simply reopening wounds that never truly healed?

There’s a gentle elegance to the writing. The Irish landscape is rendered with care and atmosphere—it’s almost cinematic in the way it backdrops Aisling’s emotional journey. The grief she carries is palpable in moments, and Finn, for all his brooding and restraint, feels like someone who’s also been quietly haunted. Their dynamic simmers with unresolved tension, and I appreciated the restraint in the way their history unfolded—not overly dramatic, just the quiet ache of what was left behind.

But while I admired much about this book, I didn’t feel much of it in the way I hoped to. The characters were believable, but not unforgettable. Their story moved, but didn’t move me. I was engaged, even entertained, but never completely immersed—and that’s ultimately why I couldn’t rate it higher.

It’s not that Twist of Fate isn’t good. It’s just that, for me, it lacked that emotional punch—that depth that makes you pause, reread a line, and feel like someone just described a feeling you didn’t know you had. I finished it with appreciation, but not attachment. And while I enjoyed the read, I also know it won’t stay with me for long.

So yes—three stars. A solid, well-crafted novel with sincerity and heart, but one that, despite its promise, left me mostly untouched.

Twist of Fate by J.L. Berg is a beautifully written second-chance romance that will make you believe in the power of fate—and leave your heart swooning. The story follows Aisling Farrell, who, after a whirlwind romance with Finn Larkin two years ago, is unexpectedly thrust back into his world when she takes a job at O’Connell Tours in Ireland. But Finn isn’t just the charming tour guide she once fell for—he’s now the acting CEO of the company, and the spark between them is undeniable.

Aisling’s journey to Ireland is driven by the heart-wrenching loss of her mother, and she comes to honor her mother’s final wish. What she doesn’t expect is to walk into a new chapter of her life and find Finn still there, as magnetic and intense as ever. Their chemistry is undeniable, but so is the weight of their past. Their relationship fizzled out when reality hit, and neither of them has truly gotten over it.

The emotional depth of Twist of Fate is where the book really shines. Aisling’s grief and longing for closure are so palpable that you can’t help but feel for her as she navigates this second chance at love. Finn, too, is a complex character—he carries his own baggage from their past, and his feelings for Aisling are raw and unresolved. The tension between them is so thick you can almost feel it crackling in the air. But the real magic of this book lies in how their connection evolves over time. What begins as a slow-burn romance, filled with awkward silences and unspoken words, gradually builds into something breathtaking and real.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Ireland, the landscape itself becomes a character in the story, adding to the beauty and poignancy of their journey. J.L. Berg does a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of being in such a romantic, timeless place, while also highlighting the emotional complexity of starting over and reconciling with the past.

There’s something incredibly swoon-worthy about a love story where fate steps in, offering a second chance at happiness, even after heartbreak. The pacing of this romance is just right—it doesn’t rush the emotional growth of the characters but instead allows their relationship to unfold gradually, giving the readers a chance to savor every moment.

Twist of Fate is perfect for fans of second-chance romance, slow-burn chemistry, and characters who are genuinely struggling to find their way back to each other. The depth of emotion, the stunning setting, and the breathtaking chemistry between Aisling and Finn will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romances and dreamy Irish backdrops, Twist of Fate is one to add to your list. With a past/present dual timeline that’s done well, this one hooked me from chapter one and had me flipping pages like I was racing to Ireland itself.

Aisling and Finn shared a six-day whirlwind romance two years ago, and now they’re reunited in the lush hills of Ireland, both carrying the weight of grief, personal growth, and what-ifs. Their chemistry? Instant and electric, but what really shines is the emotional depth. They’re not just falling back into each other, they’re learning who they are now.

The banter is top-tier, the side characters (especially Rian and Aisling’s mum) bring warmth and laughs, and the setting? Absolutely stunning. I could feel the Irish rain, smell the sea, and see every landmark they visited. 🌧️🍀

While the constant timeline switches made the pacing feel a bit uneven in spots, the story stuck the landing with heart, growth, and a big dose of destiny.

✨ Slow-burn romance
✨ Travel, healing & do-overs
✨ Chronic illness rep
✨ Banter, grief, and emotional payoffs

📚 I need a physical copy—this one’s a keeper.

"I found her. Not once, but twice. What are the chances of that happening? Every minute I spend with her, I'm wishing for another. I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to this girl."

Thank you J.L. Berg and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I really had a fun time reading this book. I enjoyed reading about the various locations in Ireland in the past timeline, and exploring various aspects of the culture from Aisling's point of view. I think the author did an amazing job balancing the past/present timelines while also writing from both Aisling and Finn's point of views, which is vital in a second chance romance. The romance was engaging and at times reminded me of the movie Serendipity.

However, there were a few things missing for me. I think a couple more interactions with Aisling's co-workers early on in the book would have helped better distinguish their personalities and establish the group dynamic. I wish there was an extra chapter of Aisling spending time with her family. Additionally, Aisling has a specific challenge that I think could have been shown more often—I felt like it was only mentioned a few times and rarely depicted which would have made more of an impact if further expanded on.

Overall, this book was really enjoyable and did an amazing job transporting me to Ireland. Both timelines were engaging, especially Aisling and Finn's relationship.

Twist of Fate transported me right back to the joys of traveling Ireland!

An alternating timeline love story of two people who found themselves in their own transitional moments in life. This second chance romance pulled at all the heart strings while still being a fun and positive read!

I loved every second of this story and felt taken back to the streets of Dublin and Galway. My only wish was that we had gotten a bit more of the family members on the page!

Overall, a lovely summer read!

I am a little torn about how I felt with this one. On one hand the chemistry between Aisling and Finn was amazing and I loved seeing the emotional connection between the two. The travel romance with the forbidden element of the tour guide and one of his guests added zing to the longing that the two felt.

However, this story doesn’t just follow the two on the one-week tour of the Irish countryside. After Finn ghosts Ash due to family complications after the tour, they run into each other years later with Finn as Aisling’s boss. They then try to sort through the fall out of their initial meeting and the latent feelings.

The problem with this story was the dual timelines. I found it very difficult to follow at times and felt it took away from the general character building. Perhaps it would have worked better as a two part story?

Thank you to NetGalley and J.L. Berg for an ARC copy of this story.

Twist of Fate by J.L. Berg is a story about love, timing, and how destiny sometimes offers us a do-over.

Set against the lush backdrop of Ireland, the vivid and immersive scenic descriptions truly bring the setting to life. The romance is slow burn, with a lot of time spent exploring both the characters’ shared and individual pasts. At times, this made the pacing feel a bit uneven, especially with the frequent switches between past and present. However, when the reason for the main characters’ original breakup is revealed, I found myself genuinely rooting for them. The emotional depth, character growth, and representation of chronic illness are all handled with care.

Overall, this was a fun and heartfelt read — perfect for anyone who enjoys second-chance romances, beautiful settings, and stories about finding love again.

Thank you to J.L. Berg, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

So swoony and good!

I absolutely loved this book. The character's have depth. They have heart. They are everything you want in your romantic characters.

I enjoy spicy in my romance books, and while this doesn't have a ton. It was enough to satisfy me.

I'm definitely going to be checking out more of J.L. Berg's books!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, I’m a sucker for an Irish love story!

This story takes you back and forth between Aisling and Finn’s story, when they first met to when they’re surprised to be working together two years later.

What I loved was the build up, the tension and banter, good spice and ultimately finding a way to be together (HEA, of course). And who doesn’t want to travel to Ireland and find your soulmate on a bus tour?!

A sweet and genuine second-chance romance, I absolutely adored these two characters and the story watching them reconnect with one another.

The story is set in Ireland and follows two main protagonists, Aisling and Finn. It’s a slow-burn romance, which I really enjoyed. While the nonlinear narrative was a bit confusing at times, the overall plot was charming, and the concept itself is absolutely adorable.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of traditional romance. Once I read more, I started to really enjoy both romantic suspense, and romantic comedies. As this was an author that I had not heard of before, I have to admit I was a bit nervous, as I didn’t know what to expected. I need not have worried.

I really liked the way that this book switched perspectives. I also like how we got to see both the past and the present. One of the things that bothered me a bit (slight spoiler), is that at first, I couldn’t tell how much time had passed between the two timelines. The actual time jump was a whole lot shorter than I initially guessed.

Ultimately, I absolutely loved this book. I wanted both the characters to “win” and I didn’t want to see either character have to compromise too much. This book accomplished that in a way that made sense. Also, I’m a sucker for a really satisfying epilogue, and it definitely delivers. Although I don’t see that this is a series, there are definitely two side characters who I would love to read their stories.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read and review this book.A sweet second chance, slow burn romance set in Ireland.The characters are lovable and have a decent amount of growth by the end. The romance is sweet and builds over time making it seem more realistic. The chemistry between the leads is good.

Twist of Fate is a story of second chances, chance meetings and, as made apparent in the title, fate.
Aisling’s journey to find healing in Ireland with her mom after a broken engagement proves to be more life changing than she’d anticipated when she runs into Finn. Finn who just happens to be the guide of the bus tour she and her mother are embarking on for the next week. This story looks at both the past and present to piece together Aisling and Finn’s love story. It’s sexy, sweet, romantic and had me wanting to book a trip to Ireland, purely to experience the culture and history.
As a history major, as well as someone who also lives with chronic pain, I adored how Aisling was written. It’s a small thing, but I never see history mentioned as a major for female main characters and this was really cool representation. Being in my final year of university and also dealing with chronic pain flare ups, I felt so incredibly seen.
Finn? Amazing. No notes (other than his fatal flaw which I won’t mention as to not spoil the story). I loved how both characters were written and I especially loved their messy love story.
For anyone who loves travel, culture and romance, this book is for you.
Now I need to go to Ireland.

This was a nice slow burn read. It was great to see Finn and Aisling reconnect. It took a bit to get to their HEA but it was worth the wait.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twist of Fate had so much promise but ultimately it was no more than an OK read for me. I enjoyed the Irish setting and it brought back memories of my own visit to Blarney Castle but I found myself getting confused when the plot kept switching back and forth between Then and Now. I’d just be getting to know Aisling and Finn and then the time period would change again. I didn’t get enough from Then to justify why they still had so many feelings for each other when they met up again. I didn’t fully understand the justification for why Finn went MIA on Aisling the first time.

I really liked the relationship between Aisling and her Mum and would’ve been happy to read more about their travels. Aisling’s ex, Theo was so irritating though and every time he appeared, I wanted to stop reading.

Thank you to J.L. Berg and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was such a feel-good read for me. I loved the relationship between Finn & Ash. The side characters like Ash’s mother and their friends were funny and enjoyable. The writing and plot made me feel all the emotions for the two MCs. It was a slow burn but once the spice got going, phew! I would definitely recommend this book and suddenly feel the urge to book a trip to Ireland...

You would enjoy this book if you enjoy:
-Slow burns
-Dual POV
-Stories set in Ireland
-Forced proximity
-Second chance romance
-Contemporary romance
-Shared grief
-Chronic disease rep

This look grabbed me the second I picked it up! This book is perfect for anyone who loves second chance romances and stories where love, loss, and destiny intertwine. I also loved the romance between Ash and Finn!