Rival journalists (and exes) Harper & Ryan find themselves thrown together at work when Ryan takes a job directly adjacent to Harper. Try as she might, Harper can’t deny that she feels things for Ryan even a decade after their short lived, ill fated love affair. They manage to get under each others skin all day with crackling chemistry that everyone but them can see. As their work undergoes massive changes Harper and Ryan have to decide if they can work together and trust each other before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed this one! You will too if you enjoy:
🥈second chance romance
🏙️ fast paced London entertainment world setting
⚡️rivals to lovers to enemies to lovers
📰 workplace romance
🚪 open door non-explicit romance
💨fast paced witty repartee
🧔🏼‍♂️👩🏻 opposites attract (he’s neat, she’s chaos. He’s quiet and introspective, she’s the life of the party and everyone loves her)

This was just ok? Not bad but also ugh.

This is a hard review for me to get out. The Wedding Season was possibly my favorite romance book of last year and so I had very high hopes for this new book by the same author. However, this feels like the author did a full 360 and honestly it didn't feel like the same authors writing. But let's forget about the writing for a minute and talk about the story.

This book suffers from the well known and often hated trope of miscommunication. Our heroine literally did not talk to this guy for like 11 years based off something that he had no control over honestly. I don't want to spoil for those who are interested in picking this up and I encourage you all to because it's actually an ok romance and an even better friendship story.

The friendship plotlines were my absolute favorite part of the entire book. We follow two journalists who work for a major company and honestly following this woman around listening to her day of work was so cool. She meets and becomes friends with so many agents of celebrities and such because she's just that good at her job and more power to her! She rocked at her job. Her bffs all work with her or around her and they were all literal a1 friends. So supportive and caring.

Anyways, this is a good book if you go into expecting more of a women's fiction than a rom com even tho there is a romance eventually.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was such a charming, emotional, and funny book. I resonated a lot with the Katy Birchall’s obvious respect for features writers and the power of the written word. It’s a testament to how good her own writing is that I knew exactly how the ending would play out, and yet she still managed to tug on my heartstrings and throw in a small surprise or two.

The Last Word is a workplace, enemies to lovers romance. This story is about Harper and Ryan. Harper is at the top of her game working a talented journalist, she writes the stories of celebrities, while being respectful and caring. She loves everything about her job, until Ryan, her nemesis starts as the features editor. As they are forced to spend time together Harper remembers the time they worked together and feels the spark growing between them. Harper has to decide if she can trust and give her heart to him.

The banter and chemistry between Harper and Ryan is top notch! Even when they are hating each other, the sparks are flying. I did find Harper to be a bit immature when they were fighting as if she was just continuing to fight, for the actual fight. Even up to the third act break-up/conflict she was still struggling to listen. She did seem to grow after that, and come to a better headspace where she could forgive and move forward.

I did really enjoy this book though. It was a slow burn, and we really got to know the characters both separate and together. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pitched really well, and it was so close to meeting my expectations. I’ve never read another of this author’s work, but the hating game meets beach read was an enticing pitch.
I feel the biggest problem was i couldn’t really sympathize with harper, the main character, which led to me being less invested after the 80% mark. I did. enjoy the relationship dynamic between harper and ryan, but i wish i could’ve felt more for them each as individuals.
There was a bit of pacing problems, but not enough to distract from the quickness of the story. At the end of the day, it was a fun and easy read that did leave me smiling for a little while after.

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is a romcom book following Harper, a successful celebrity journalist who is constantly looking for the latest scoop and inside access to what is going on in the entertainment world. She has a cute boyfriend and besides her annoying boss, her life is looking pretty perfect. Until a nemesis from her past starts working with her. No one in the office knows about Harper’s history with Ryan and she intends to keep it that way. But close quarters cause sparks to fly.

I will admit-it is rare for me to pick up a traditionally published romance from an author I haven’t read from these days. But seeing this one compared to The Hating Game and Beach Read had me intrigued. I don’t see Beach Read in here that much but I definitely get The Hating Game! Just make it British and add some more comedy. This was the exact book I needed when I picked it up. It read like a romantic comedy. I don’t think it is really a groundbreaking book but it was a fun time!

Harper is passionate about her job while being considerate to the people she is working with. She is also a mess who has to set five alarms to get out the door in the morning. Ryan is very neat and orderly and my favorite kind of cinnamon role hero. The side characters complement the story well; all the way from Mimi, Harper’s best friend and key instigator to Cosmo, who will infuriate anyone who has ever had a bad boss.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is just looking for a cute fun time with mild drama. This is also a fade to black romance which I know people are always looking for in the time of romances trying to be super spicy. I would definitely read other books by this author!

If you like enemies to lovers or workplace romances - The Last Word would be a perfect fun read for you. Harper is a strong heroine - she has made a name for herself as a celebrity journalist and is well-respected by celebs and agents and other writers. She may not fit into her parent's view of success or be the most organized in any aspect of her life (leading to some humorous situations) - but she excels at connecting with people, allowing people to trust her and show their true selves. The Last Word is funny, sad, romantic, inspiring, and heartwarming, This was the first novel I'd read by Katy Birchall but I'm looking forward to checking out her backlist titles now. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

When I read the description and it said Beach Read meets The Hating Game I was instantly drawn to the book, and I enjoyed both of this. I was definitely let down. I found the main characters so annoying, that I didn’t even want to finish it. I honestly was not a fan of this book…at all.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was the perfect weekend read! The relationship between Harper and Ryan unfolded at just the right pace, intermixing present day with flashbacks. I enjoyed seeing Ryan's personality develop throughout the story. You quickly see that his attitude is a front for his insecurity/uncertainty. All of the side characters including Ryan's parents added to the plot as well. I hope for a sequel to keep in touch with these characters I have grown to love!

I really enjoyed The Last Word! I’m a huge fan of enemies to lovers romances, and this was no exception. The author’s style is very descriptive, so you feel like you are really there. It was a bit slow for me to start but once I got into the story I couldn’t put it down! This isn’t as formulaic as a lot of romances are where there’s a random fight 85% in. There are twists and turns through the whole story. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s press for providing me with an advanced reader copy!

If you like enemies to lovers workplace romance then this book is for you!

Harper is a strong, independent woman and a very talented journalist who is excelling in her career. It’s her number one passion and she’s kind of put her love life on the back burner to advance in her career. When her boss announces Ryan as the new co worker on the team she can hardly believe her eyes! They have quite the history, and I loved how the author gives little flashbacks here and there to reveal how they met and what went wrong. I loved all the tension and flirty banter between them as they adjust to working together again. The book heavily focuses on Harper’s career and day to day activities, but you of course get some romance as well! This was a cute story and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early gifted copy!

Sexy, cute, and fun! New author for me and was happily surprised with how much I liked this genre! Would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press - Griffin for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I really enjoyed reading Katy Birchall’s “Wedding Season” last year so I was excited to be offered this book. One of the things I like about her books is that the heroine always rescues herself, and while there is romance, there’s also a lot of self growth in her book. Harper Jenkins and Ryan Jameson are such relatable and likeable characters that you’re totally willing to overlook the fact that they communicate horribly, which was my only negative about this book.

The plot is your standard enemies-to-lovers trope. There’s no groundbreaking twist or plot line but Birchall knows how to weave a good story and you could easily devour this in a day if you have the time. There is some intimacy in the book but it’s pretty tame, more like a fade out situation so it’s a safe option for those that don’t like the steamier options out there.

Solid 4 stars. A safe bet when looking for a nice romance to cozy up with.

second chance romance with enemies to lovers type deal. and i really liked it. i think the office type romance is fun too, though i hated the miscommunication trope. harper is lovely and i was rooting for her the entire time, so happy at the end with the career choice. the romance was also cute too.

Harper Jenkins is at the top of her game. She has connections and an uncanny ability to connect with people, making her an excellent celebrity journalist. She’s frequently frustrated by her decidedly less-than-stellar boss but is otherwise content at her job, sitting nestled between two friends in the office. She’s content, that is, until one of her friends takes a position at another publication. And Ryan, a fellow journalist and former love interest, takes that friend’s place. As the Features Editor. At the desk right next to Harper’s.

This one gave me The Hating Games vibes from the looks Ryan gives Harper (that she misinterprets) to the way they react to each other’s desks to the one-upmanship style of their bickering—both wanting to have the last word. It has the workplace, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract scenario like The Hating Game but with a second chance romance twist added in.

I adored their chemistry (emotional and otherwise), the sweetness of their whirlwind romance backstory (until things fell apart for them, of course), and Harper’s drive and relatability. I adored Ryan (full stop).

I received an advance copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Enemies to lovers is my favorite writing tripe. This book is perfect and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to read what’s next from the author.

Harper Jenkins is a messy, chaotic, and brilliant Celebrity story editor whose family finds her lacking compared to their careers in law. She has amazing connections which land her multiple exclusives due to her caring nature and non-malicious articles that her boss Cosmo has no respect for and lacks understanding of the importance and difference between her pieces and gossip.

She has a boyfriend, some great friends, and her dream job until her boss hires Ryan to be the new Features Editor. Cue the constant bickering, shameless competing, and the spark of rekindled feelings?! Yup, that's right! They met 10 years ago when they were interning together and what started in nearly the same manner led to a whirlwind romance that ended when Harper was betrayed.

Now 10 years later those feelings which seemed long and buried are resurfacing and she is realizing she may have judged Ryan incorrectly. Just as they are growing closer and revealing their feelings layoff rumors begin to surface and she can't help but feel like history may be repeating itself...

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed this book! All the stars Harper gets to interview are so cool and I love how personable she gets with them! I wasn’t the biggest fan of how Harper treated Ryan. I understand she was still angry with him but the way she fought with him on everything seemed childish to me. I also felt like she was angry with him for so long over something that didn’t seem that crazy to me at first, but when the twist happened I really understood where she was coming from. I enjoyed the back and forth between Harper and Ryan and was so happy to see them finally get their happy ending! I was really proud of Harper when she stood up for herself and branched out I felt like she had changed in the best way.

This was a fantastic book! I loved that there was not only the love story between Harper and Ryan, but there was the love story between friends and the family resolution story within. I didn't feel that entire book was fluff like some romantic comedies. The build of Harper as an amazing journalist who is quirky and always late, but can get people to love her instantly makes you want to root for her the whole way through. Tying in Ryan and Harper's history as Harper though up the memories was such a creative way to tell the story without having to do so chronologically. It felt so natural. The way Ryan didn't like Liam and how that made the reader begin to see that Liam may not be this great guy Harper assumes him to be was genius, The podcast idea coming from Juliet and as the reader takes in what Juliet says, it forms the idea of the podcast at the same time as Harper. Katy never let Harper back down from who she was and what she wanted. That is what the reading world needs. Characters who aren't afraid to be themselves, even though others around them disapprove. It is relatable. It's funny, it's sad, it's happy, it's romantic, and it's inspiring. I found myself very invested in Harper and where she was going next and wanting so much for her, as if she is a real person, a real friend in my life. While not living in London made it harder to picture the places and the language was a bit different from what I am used to, it did not in any way limit my love for the story. The Last Word is going to be a big hit! Very well done.

I am such a sucker for enemies to lovers AND workplace romance. This book was so much fun and I really enjoyed reading. It felt a bit slow at times, but overall I loved.