I just got my first-ever review for The Alvarez Girls on Book Sprout, and let me tell you, I am living for this comment:

Mind-blowing. This did not end at all how I thought it would. I’m still kind of stumped at the whole story.

LOL. LOL. YES. That’s exactly what I wanted! When I write, I don’t aim for predictability—I want my stories to grip the reader, pull them in, and leave them stunned by the final pages. So, hearing that my plot twist genuinely surprised someone? That’s the kind of validation that makes all the blood, sweat, and re-re-re-rewrites worth it.

For those who don’t know, I started using Book Sprout to get more reviews and push ARCs out to early readers. I also use Book Funnel (because what’s the point of putting stories out there if no one reads them?). And this review? It hit in all the right ways.

Of course, the reviewer also mentioned that they felt like they missed something and that some parts in Spanish confused them. And you know what? I’m okay with that. Looking back, The Alvarez Girls is a fast-paced novella. If I ever rewrite it in the future, I could unthread a few things to make it feel more complete. But what matters to me is that the reader still enjoyed it.

I also appreciate that, even though this reader doesn’t speak Spanish, they acknowledged that those parts were harder for them to comprehend. I totally get that. I don’t typically translate Spanish in my books because I want the language to feel natural, not like a footnote. That said, I am always exploring ways to make translations feel organic so that the flow isn’t interrupted.

And yet, despite any confusion, this reader embraced it all—the parts they didn’t fully grasp, the moments that stumped them, and still walked away enjoying this bilingual, culturally rich story. That gives me so much hope and motivation.

But let’s go back to that ending. The fact that it surprised the reviewer as much as it did me? That’s where the magic is. Here’s the thing—I discovery write. Which means I don’t outline ahead of time (or if I do, I inevitably ignore it). Instead, I write my way into the story, let it unfold organically, and—yeah—rewrite it from scratch. Sometimes upwards of seven times. Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring? That one had ten rewrites.

It gets on my nerves sometimes, no lie. But moments like this? They remind me why I do it. If the story can surprise me, then it can absolutely surprise the reader.

And that? That’s worth every single rewrite.

Have you ever read a book that completely took you by surprise? Drop your recommendations in the comments!