An enemies to lovers office romance is a major hit or miss for you. Katy Birchall really did a great job with this. The characters were messy but thats what made them more real and human. They both had good character development.

Even though the book started a little slow for my taste, but as soon as the extremely entertaining banters started, I was hooked. Along with picking up the pace, hooking me up with introduction of Ryan. The conclusion was also great. The opposites attract- office love- enemies to lovers tropes blended perfectly into story!

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is an enemies to lovers, second chance romance between Harper Jenkins and Ryan, her former beau and current rival at the newspaper they both work at. We follow the two as they navigate their relationship as they are forced to spend time with one another and confront feelings that they thought were buried a long time ago.

I enjoyed the banter between the two leads, though at times Harper seemed a bit immature during their fights. The chemistry between the two was undeniable and I enjoyed watching them grow closer as they were forced to spend time working together.

I didn't enjoy the book quite as much as I did The Wedding Season, but it was still very good and worth a read. This book is very immersive and while it leaned a bit more towards a characters emotional journey rather than straight romance, it was great and I would definitely read it again. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers of women's fiction.

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

I really enjoyed this book about two magazine editors with a past. Harper and Ryan keep getting thrown together in the workplace, however, there never seems to be enough work for both of them. As a celebrity editor, Harper's value to the magazine is often underestimated. Their relationship ended in the past because of Ryan's betrayal. Can he avoid making the same mistake again? This was a fun, breezy read, and I would love to read something else by Katy Birchall.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my ARC!

Ahh, a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, with a workplace thrown in! This is one of my most favorite romance novel tropes, so I was so excited to read this one.

Harper is a determined celebrity journalist who is well-respected and liked by everyone, except for her boss who cannot see the importance of what she does (as a part of a weekly (?) magazine). When her good friend and co-worker leaves for another magazine, she is shocked when Ryan, a blast from her past, is hired. Harper and Ryan do not get along and their arguments were pretty amusing to me. The simmering tension underneath every argument was palpable.

I knocked this down a star because of Harper and Ryan's backstory - it was just not a good enough reason for them to break up, in my opinion, and it also was not the second time it happened.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Having read Katy Birchall's work previously, I was excited to see that she has a new book out! "The Last Word" centers around Harper and Ryan, who are both journalists who compete against each other at work. What others don't know, however, is that they have a romantic history and were the other's "one that got away." While I typically enjoy the "enemies to lovers" trope, this one just didn't seem to work as well as I would hope. The obstacle that caused them to break up originally happens again, and Ryan mishandles it the exact same way. It feels a little absurd to think that he didn't learn the first time around.

Again, I really like the idea of this story line, but something about it just didn't work for me. I did find Harper and Ryan to be likable and make you want to root for them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Marketed as The Hating Game meets Beach Read, I settled in for some enemies to lovers with a side of too notch banter and a dash of spice.

…not so much. Listen, I enjoyed this (even if Harper’s “quirks” did grate my nerves a bit) but I think it’s less romcom and more women’s fiction. The true main character here isn’t romance, but a successful woman being confident in her career - and there’s nothing wrong with that, so let’s just come out and say that next time.

Harper is in her element as the celebrity editor for a newspaper’s weekend magazine. She’s well known and loved by interviewees and her workmates for the articles she writes. When her nemesis, Ryan, is hired in her department, work is no longer her happy place. Everyone else seems to like this quiet, cookie-baking writer but he pushes all the wrong buttons and makes her crazy!

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, second chance romance by Katy Birchall. I love a feisty MC and Harper and Ryan’s dialog had me in stitches. Harper’s work friends were just as funny, and the HEA was lovely.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC.

My favorite of Katy Birchall's books yet! Sizzling chemistry, fizzy dialogue, a great backstory between the main characters, real stakes, a very fun happy ending that includes some comeuppance, what's not to love? It also has one of my favorite features: a setting that the author clearly knows a lot about and is interested in representing accurately alongside the story and romance. You would be surprised how uncommon this is! Harper and Ryan are both journalists, good ones, and their jobs are depicted with both the glamour (celebrity profiles! Access!) and drudgery (budget cuts! Terrible bosses!) of the real thing.

Over ten years ago, Harper and Ryan were interns at the same paper. Something happened...something that devastated Harper to the point that the mere sight of Ryan sends her blood pressure sky rocketing. Of course this means that he gets a job at the paper she's currently working at AND in a position that requires them to work closely together.

To make matters worse, he ::GASP:: is well-liked by their colleagues for being professional and bringing in delicious, home-cooked treats! THE HORROR!

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is a sweet (and sometimes spicy) slow burn romance that allows you to watch the romance unfold while taking you back in time to when Harper and Ryan first met. I'm glad that the author didn't give their entire history at one time. Weaving flashbacks into the present made their relationship seem more three-dimensional and really punched you in the gut with the rawness of the characters' emotions.

I love a story where the male character is ready to confess his feelings first, and The Last Word certainly checks that box! Ryan was earnest and kind without being a pushover. His lack of confidence wasn't overly used as a plot point and instead rounded out his character perfectly.

I recommend this book for fans of enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romances!

I was given an e-ARC of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity!

Harper is a journalist living her best life ... If you ignore the fact that her new colleague is the same man who betrayed her 10 years ago , they're total opposites in every way, and she hates him.

The Last Word is a magnificent enemies to lovers romantic comedy with some real laughs and a main character that I couldn't help but root for!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed The Last Word by Katy Birchall. The characters were spunky and a bit different than your typical rom com, especially the two leading roles Harper and Ryan. They really were total opposites, but that just made their relationship that much more fiery and quirky. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the past mixed in with the present, which really helped build the characters and their relationship, so you know they have history and it isn’t just a love at first sight kind of story.

Something unique about this book was that it really highlighted Harper’s career and talent as a writer and journalist, which actually felt more the focus of the book than the love story. I didn’t hate that part, but I do wish we could’ve gotten a bit more of an in depth look at who Ryan was, because honestly you really get to know Harper but Ryan is still a bit of a mystery at the end of the story.

All in all I felt the book was cute and enjoyable and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves romance.

I received a copy of The Last Word for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A sweet new romantic comedy that packs the wit and charm that the author has come to be known for. Perfect for fans of THE HATING GAME, this is the perfect addition to your summer reads list.

This is the first book that I have read from Katy Birchall, and I want to read more books by this author especially The Wedding Season which I have heard good things about. I was not sure how to rate this book because I enjoyed reading it, but I did not absolutely love it and I did not hate it at all. It is a slow-burn romance which is not always my favorite to read. I felt like the romance in the book was lacking and that the book was more about Harper's job as a journalist she is really good at her job and can put the people she is interviewing at ease even if they have had a bad experience with journalists in the past. I did enjoy reading about Harper's job and the romance between her and Ryan.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Katy Birchall, and St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*ARC Review*

The Last Word by Katy Birchall was lovely! An enemies to lovers book that is full of angst and tension before turning into a swoony romance. The book is set at a magazine where we get to see Harper, the celebrity editor, excel at her job. She can make even the surliest superstar open up to her. All is well until her arch enemy from a past job, Ryan, is the new Features Editor. Drama ensues but eventually they start to fall for each other. They have a past history, and it seems history is repeating itself here. Will the pair make it through?

Beyond the romance I really enjoyed the familial themes. Harper's parents have never respected the work she does and make that very clear. Throughout the book on top of all the other drama, Harper processes her relationship with her family and chose the path that was best for her. I enjoyed the outcome of this plot line.

The supporting cast is just as entertaining as our two main characters. The work friends are fun, the celebrities are eclectic, and Liam the boyfriend is just TERRIBLE.

If you like the Hating Game you really will like this one! Read it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Katy Birchall for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading Katy Birchall's previous novels so I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Last Word! I was a huge fan of the plot and I liked Harper's character. As the story progressed, I enjoyed seeing how Harper and Ryan complemented one another. There were elements in the story that made it truly unique. I can't wait to see what Katy comes up with next!

I loved reading this book. From the character's banter to the plot, I was taken by the author's writing. If there was a world I could live in for a day, I would choose this one. Readers are going to love this too, I just know it. This is one of my favorite genres to read so I knew right away that I would love this.

A second chance at the one is a particular favorite trope for me and I jumped into this. Kinda enemies to lovers, this was a more realistic slow burn, which I enjoyed. I really appreciated Harper as a character (her multiple alarms, her kindness) even though I found her immaturity during the back and forth between her and Ryan annoying. And, Ryan (sigh). However, for a romance novel, I found the romance here lacking.

I mostly enjoyed this one - it was an easy read, but the story didn't stay with me as it felt similar to others that I've read.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC.

Harper Jenkins is absolutely killing it at her job as the Celebrity Editor for the magazine she works at. She is known for her unique approach to interviewing celebrities and is able to get an interview with just about anyone. Everything is going great, except for her boss who clearly dislikes her and the fact that her kinda ex-boyfriend, Ryan Jansson, has been promoted to the Features Editor and is now her desk mate at work. Frustrated with the reappearance of Ryan in her life, Harper just can’t stop herself from bickering with Ryan about their job and their assigned tasks. However, Harper and Ryan keep being forced to work together, and as they spend more time with one another, the old feelings they once had start to resurface.

The things I liked:
-Workplace Romance
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-Second Chance Romance
-Flashbacks
-Fun and witty banter between Harper and Ryan
-Believable chemistry
-A sweet MMC who is absolutely head-over-heels for the FMC
-The author making Harper great at her job. I feel like workplace romance books usually have the woman make some type of mistake where her jerk of a boss gets to gloat about being right in their dislike of the FMC.

Things I didn’t like:
-I feel like Ryan is such a reserved, quiet character. I wish we could have had some chapters from his POV.
-The third act break-up. I feel like the characters growth was thrown out the window with the lack of communication. This just felt like history repeating itself.

This was a cute, quick read! I really enjoyed this book and will be picking up other books by Katy Birchall. Fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Shipped by Angie Hockman or Just My Type by Falon Ballard will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars!

This was super sweet! Ryan is such a great guy and I liked how shy and sort of golden retriever he was. I thought the act three breakup was pretty expected and that she really overreacted, and overall felt she handled things quite immaturely while Ryan was endlessly patient dealing with her.

I thought the pacing of the past storyline could have been better woven in - it felt a bit odd for them to be pretending not to know each other after everything that happened between them and as a second chance the past storyline was only a minor inclusion.

It also felt pretty similar to a lot of other books (the Hating Game comes to mind as having a bit of better enemies vibe and office romance). Still I did enjoy this and thought the celebrity aspect was fun! I liked the sister apologizing in the end as well.

Thank you to netgalley and St Martins press for the ARC!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a romance book that is an easy and funny read then I would definitely recommend this book. The main thing I loved about this book was Harper's job; what she has to do for articles, the relationships she forms with the celebrities and agents and the stories she gets.

I only have two issues with the book though. The first is the reason for the break up (the usual one towards the end of the book) just seemed a little over dramatic and could have been solved once she calmed down and came to her senses. My other is that I feel like Ryan never really got a true personality other than quiet and reserved but not with Harper. But he still did have the fun banter that you look for in these types of books.

I've wanted to read a few other books by this author and after reading this one I will definitely be giving her other books a chance.