Okay, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I've loved Katy's other books and this one didn't disappoint.

Harper Jenkins, a very talented journalist, finds out her boss hired her ex-lover Ryan and is very, very upset. Of course they get into fights, work starts to suffer and they have to figure out how to work together before they both lose their jobs.

This book was witty, fun, and had a lot of parts I physically cackled out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Besides being a cute, easy romcom, this book also included storylines focusing on the workplace and family, which I enjoyed. In fact, we don't properly meet the love interest until about 1/4th of the way in, so I would say if you're interested solely in romance, you may be less of a fan of this. I liked the magazine setting, and Harper's job as a a celebrity editor.

The banter between Harper and Ryan was fun, and there were several cute moments between them. This is both a rivals-to-lovers and second chance romance, and we have flashbacks to 11 years ago where we learn what happened between them the first time to make Harper hate Ryan so much. The conflict in both timelines could have just been resolved if they had communicated, which was a little f frustrating, especially if you hate the miscommunication trope, but overall I really enjoyed this and would recommend if you're looking for a nice and easy summer read.

Okay I loved this! Definite The Hating Game vibes. I really enjoyed the FMC she was a chaotic ball of energy. At times the rushing to anger so quickly annoyed me but it made perfect sense with her past. The writing style was so fun and made the book really hard to put down.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

This book was slow, and left a lot to be desired. If I'm going to read a romance book, I'd rather not read a closed door. But overall, it was sweet.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers troupe. This reminds me in a way like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and if you enjoyed that movie, you'll most likely enjoy reading. Katy Birchall's new book "The Last Word". Plenty of competition, mix in some incorrect judgements, and you have the recipe for a great romantic comedy. Let's be honest, competition definitely gets sparks flying.

I enjoyed the characters and the shenanigan's most of all.

When her nemesis shows up (for the second time!) at her job, Harper Jenkins has had enough! She's doing well as a celebrity editor with numerous contacts, but when Cosmo, her horrendous boss, hires the one and only Ryan as the new features editor, working together (again) causes a whole new set of drama.

Many moons ago, the two were interns just starting out in the field. After a brief romance, and Ryan beat out Harper for the permanent spot at the publication, things were 100% over. How will they manage to work together again?

In this opposites attract romance, set in the busy newsroom, what will happen to the lovers turned enemies? Will they battle it out again or be enemies forever?

This was a well written romance novel, that I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I enjoyed this! I really liked The Wedding Season so I was excited for this! While I didn't like this one as much I still enjoyed it! Overall, I liked both main characters, though got a little frustrated with Harper's immaturity at the beginning. I really liked how the story came full circle and look forward to Katy's next book!

Harper is a celebrity editor for a magazine. Her nemesis, Ryan, has just been given the job of Features editor, working right next to her. Their constant bickering is definitely noticed, but there’s a fine line between hate and love.

I loved The Hating Game, so when I read the summary of this one and saw it was compared to that, I knew I’d give it a try! I loved the competition between Harper and Ryan, their history in the past, and the development they both go through. Their banter, their stark differences in everything they do, and the friends around them all make for a really enjoyable, quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book

I am not normally one to rave about a workplace romance, but I loved this book! After a slow start, this book pulled me in and didn't let go until I devoured it. The banter between Harper and Ryan had me absolutely giggling. This is a wonderful, wholesome read that will have you reaching for the next Katy Birchall book you can get your hands on. Did I mention Birchall is the queen of writing side characters? How does she consistently write such lovable secondary characters? I don't know, but I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

This was so well written. I was engrossed from the first page and it ticked all the boxes of my expectations. The character development was excellent. I would definitely recommend to others, a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Last Word by Katy Birchall.

Harper Jenkins knows better than anyone that work and love do not mix. Fresh out of university, Harper secured an internship to write at a local newspaper. Unbeknownst to her, she is not the only one. Enter Ryan, fellow intern and Harper’s direct competition for securing a job.

After being assigned the task of co-writing an article, Harper and Ryan discover their tumultuous work environment stemmed from their undeniable attraction and chemistry. The two begin dating, but their relationship is cut short when Harper is passed over and the job is awarded to Ryan.

Fast forward eleven years and Harper is now writing for a new newspaper. While her job has its ups and downs, she is happy covering entertainment and working alongside coworkers she considers friends. That is until, Ryan turns up again. Will history repeat itself, or will Harper and Ryan get a do over?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last year I was introduced to Katy Birchall’s writing and quickly fell in love with it. It was a bit shocking to learn that until very recently, Birchall only wrote YA fiction. While The Last Word is only the third book Birchall has written (since segueing into adult fiction), you would think she has been doing it for decades.

I highly recommend picking up a copy, as it is the perfect summer book. Readers are guaranteed to enjoy this enemies-to-lovers, he falls first, second chance romance. It is a fast-paced, fun read that can be easily consumed during any vacation, beach day, or long weekend.


* I had the pleasure of both reading and listening to this book and thoroughly enjoyed both. Being from the US, getting to hear the narrator’s accent made the story come to life!

Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, Macmillian Audio, and Katy Birchall for allowing me to read and listen to this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a 3 star read for me. I struggled with the pacing, at almost 40% in it felt like the story hadn’t gone anywhere yet had gone everywhere. We knew side characters, got to see Harper do well in interviews, but the story is supposed to be about her being thrown together with Ryan and I guess I was expecting it to happen sooner and more succinctly. Heading Harper complain about him at every turn for several chapters was very annoying. Her character was best when she was focused on herself.

When I read that this book was being compared to "The Hating Game", I knew it had big shoes to fill. Those reviewers were right. This book was the perfect "enemies to lovers book". The workplace banter was on point and the chemistry between Harper and Ryan was entertaining. The journalism workplace was a fresh take that I hadn't read before and also enjoyed the banter/dealings between Harper and her contacts/agents. I will be recommending this book to all my fellow romance readers.

I was a little iffy when this one started but I ended up liking it! My iffy-ness is I don’t usually love London based books but I’m glad I gave this a shot! I was actually team Ryan for most of this and it was endearing to see his side. This is a big case of opposites attract for these two and I also love a workplace romance. Lots of my favorite tropes mixed in this one! Cute and quick read!

I’m a journalist, I know too much about pop culture, I’m chronically online, I’m a bit of a creative mess, and I always have to have the last word. Wait, is this book about me?

This is the second Katy Birchall book I’ve read and she’s batting 1.000 because I find her style engaging, and her characters always have great banter. Her books are predictably fun, and sometimes that’s all you can ask for. In this book she gives readers a wonderful second chance, enemies to lovers, workplace romcom.

Harper Jenkins is a celebrity journalist who is well-regarded in the pop culture world but isn’t taken seriously by her company’s big boss, Cosmo. No matter, she has a wonderful group of other editors who back her. But when one of those editors leaves and Cosmo hires the über-serious Ryan Jenkins to run the features department, Harper knows things are about to go bad. Oh, and Ryan just so happens to be the man who broke her heart 10 years earlier and made her hardened to the idea of love; “Love won’t get the better of me again,” she says. Gasp!

Neither Harper nor Ryan are perfect, and this book is all the better for their flaws because they’re allowed the chance to be real and not just 2D individuals. Harper is unabashedly messy, and her disorganization and all-over-the-place-ness made me want to tear my hair out. But she’s remarkably good at her job and respects everyone in her industry. She’s kind and fair, and she’s trusted by the celebrities she writes about (and their PR people), as a result. Ryan is quiet and serious and can come across as uncaring and spiteful., but he’s thoughtful and kind and wants to be a champion for others — he’s just a little shy. (And he has it SO bad for Harper, even after all these years.) They’re total opposites except for one very, very important thing: They’re both incredibly stubborn. Which makes for some very entertaining conversations and quasi-arguments. Both characters grow individually, helped along by a wonderful case of supporting characters, and together, making for a fulfilling romance.

(Side note: As a journalist, I found Birchall’s treatment of the newsroom pleasing. Harper is good at developing sources and breaking news, and Ryan is shown to have stellar news judgement. You can tell Birchall has spent some time in a newsroom herself. Hallelujah!)

So no, I may not be Harper Jenkins (’m way too organized — disorganization gives me hives!!! — but in an alternate universe, I definitely could be), but I don’t think that would be such a bad thing. Especially if I get this kind of career growth and a dreamy man to boot.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first book that I have read by Katy Birchall and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love her writing style, her character development and all of the banter!

While I thought Harper was a strong, successful FMC, I felt that she was a little immature and her grudge holding was a little annoying at times. Her chaos and constant tardiness drove me crazy. I love how she not only stood up to her sexist boss, she held her ground with her family too! It was so nice to see the developing relationship that she and her sister started to have after the family blow-up.

Ryan was my favorite of the two. He was super sweet, kind and thoughtful but so reserved. I did feel that he should have learned his lesson with the miscommunication the first time around and should have gone right to Harper when the whole job situation went down but I do understand that he was put in a tough position with the boss. It was so heartwarming when his true feelings for Harper were revealed after all of the years.

I loved seeing the inner workings of the journalism field - at one time I wanted to be a journalist too so it was eye opening to me. Harper was such a natural with the people she interviewed. It was refreshing to see that she wasn’t only out to get a story and make a buck.

I did enjoy the dual timeline so that we could get a better grasp of their history. I would have loved for this book to be a dual POV. I really enjoyed the side characters in this book. I loved how their close group accepted Ryan into the group.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Workplace Romance
Slow Burn
Found Family

I will most definitely be going back and reading more of Katy’s work!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martins Press & Katy Birchall for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Harper is the celebrity editor of a newspaper's monthly magazine. She's great at getting celebs to open up and talk to her, and she loves her job. Nothing is more important to her. When one of her best friends leaves for a better position, Ryan replaces her. Harper and Ryan have history that no one at the magazine knows about, and they snipe at each other daily due to Harper's decade-old grudge over Ryan's betrayal...

I enjoyed this one. I read Birchall's previous book, and it was SO good, so I had no doubts about this one, and she delivered.

This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers story and is so good. The build up of finding what happened 11 years ago during their internship together is well done, and the flashbacks aren't choppy or jarring. The love story is sweet, though a bit heartbreaking at times, when you discover all that went down. There's a few things telegraphed if you pay attention, and I'm not shocked by their biggest fight, but the resolution is great. Another win for Ms. Birchall!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!