I got this as an ARC from netgalley, all in exchange for an honest review of my thoughts. Honestly, I’m kind of disappointed. I feel like the book began at such a weird point, no explanation given whatsoever on who the characters were. And in regards to one of the main characters, Harper, she irritated me a bit. I liked the second chance romance aspect, the flashbacks, and the plot of the story has potential. I just wish it was a little better because I think it fell flat.

3.5/5 ☆

If you're going into this expecting a full on romance, I would steer clear. While Harper does reunite with her crush after 10 years, I was more interested in Harper's career than her love life. A British journalist who covers celebrities and is well respected in the industry? I was immediately drawn to her personality and can see why those who Harper interview chose her over other journalists. This also touches on Harper's problems with her parents and sister and working through that while trying to pursue her career.

Much of the back and forth between Harper and Ryan was just immature bickering and fighting to get the last word in. Once they do get together, they were adorable. Ryan is very sweet to Harper and adores her. Soft MMCs are rare to come by!

I enjoy Katy Birchall's writing. Some parts were slow, but overall, a solid read! I'd categorize this more women's fiction than romance.

His blue eyes bore into mine, and he adds quietly, “I remember everything.”

-second chance romance, enemies to lovers workplace romance
-“out of control” chemistry and the back and forth between them was sooo good 😮‍💨
-generally don’t prefer flashback scenes but these were done really well
-the way Ryan knew Harper soooo well, crinkle and all, made me swoon 💞
-thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC 🙌🏻

4.2⭐️

Definitely worth the read if you're in the market for a slowburn workplace enemies to lovers with a smooth writing style and fairly well developed characters.

Personally though I found the FMC a teensy bit insufferable and the MMC blander than saltines crackers. I didn't feel any chemistry between them, but I'm unsure if that's because I also just didn't like the characters individually very much.

Despite the fact that I didn't like the MCs this was still a decent read and would recommend it if I knew someone was itching to read a book like this.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an unbiased honest review!

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is sweet and funny, half second chance romance, half enemies-to-lovers.

Harper and Ryan first met ten years ago, when they were both interns up for the same job at The Daily Bulletin. Sparks flew, but their romance was short lived when Ryan betrayed Harper and they went their separate ways.

A decade later, they’re thrown back in each other’s orbits when Ryan is hired as the features editor at the Narrative, where Harper is the celebrity editor.

The story proceeds as you’d expect, but the writing is sharp and Harper’s excellence in reporting adds a layer that isn’t always present in romances like this. I was occasionally frustrated with Harper and Ryan for not just talking to each other, but there’s a maturity here that elevates the tropes.

Four stars. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC.

I loved this book. I mean, really loved it. It's got everything: enemies-to-lovers; he falls first; workplace romance; London; journalism … it was so fun and helped me out of a slight book slump.

Harper and Ryan were interns years ago at a newspaper. One was picked to continue employment there, one wasn't. A decade later they find themselves in a very similar work situation.

I loved the competitive journalists storyline. Journalism is dying and newsrooms are near extinct now, so this was such a fun glimpse into newspapers/magazines. sad face.

Harper and Ryan's chemistry was ssssiiizzzllliiinggg, and their back and forth banter was fiiirrrreeee. It was sweet to see him try so hard to win her over and control his emotions - emotions of STEAMING LOVE.

I look forward to reading anything and everything Katy Birchall has written in the past and future.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of THE LAST WORD to review.

I rate THE LAST WORD five out of five stars.

2.5 stars. Harper, the main character was very, very annoying. At first her defensiveness was mildly amusing but, by the time I was about a third into this story, my main feeling was exasperation. Ryan was slightly less annoying but I became more and more exasperated with his behavior as well. I liked the premise of the overall story line and there were a couple of funny, satisfying, or sweet moments that reminded me why I love Katy Birchall's writing so much but... but... but...

So, my advice to you dear reader, is to read Birchall's prior two books: "The Secret Bridesmaid" and "The Wedding Season". I loved them both so much that I've already read them several times as well as getting the audiobook versions too! Their laugh out loud funny, heartwarming, sweet, and very satisfying.

Loved the premise and characters. Really enjoyed Ryan and Harpers banter. Not usually a fan of flashback chapters but these were quick and enjoyable.

I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope. Add in second chance and I am sold. I loved the banter in this one - and the humour as well. The story is an example of opposites attract - and how we adjust to the ones we love. This was the perfect weekend red and it left me smiling.

I adore this book. Enemies to lovers at its finest! The characters were well written and developed. This was one of those special books that you never want to put down because it’s so addicting. Katy Birchall is a fantastic writer and this book is no exception!

I think the book had so much potential. The bickering and angst between ryan and harper really had me invested, I also liked the past viewpoints too but then it fell flat. I feel like the reason for their long separation was not good and it happened way too soon and by the time they resolved things, I just didn't find myself caring anymore. I also found the bickering to be really annoying after a while. I feel like people who do like slowburns and enemies to lovers would like this, I think the writing style just wasnt for me really. Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book! The numerous tropes of enemies to lovers, he fell first, and slow burn second chance romance came together so beautifully that I could not stop reading this. Harper was such a relatable character that it made it easy to relate and to put yourself into the plot, making it that much more addictive. The character development throughout the book for both Harper and Ryan was almost as incredible as the banter. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance books!

Harper is a brilliant journalist and loves her job. Her awful boss hires report Ryan to be the new features editor and she can't stand him because of their history together... of course they rekindle their feelings....

Love enemies to loves rom-com and this one is particularly fun. Love their snappy dialogue with each other. Really enjoy how they get together eventually overcoming all their troubles. A fun light-hearted romance.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I love a good enemies to lovers trope. This one also included opposites attract and office romance. The book started a little slow, but began to pick up once Ryan was introduced.

Harper is a celebrity journalist working for a magazine. Her boss Cosmo is cringeworthy. All is going well until Ryan shows up at the office.
Harper and Ryan worked together ten years ago and things did not end well. Initially he seems like a big jerk, but when the story goes back to their past we learn he is a genuine sweetheart. I also love how Harper matures and finds herself by the end of this story.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When a celebrity editor/journalist runs into her past fling who broke her heart 10 years ago things are about to get chaotic, especially when old feelings start to rise and her job might be at risk. Harper Jenkins is doing great at her job, she’s the best at what she does... however her boss hires the talented reporter Ryan to be the new Features editor and that just infuriates harper... especially because they have met each other 10 years ago as interns in the same company when they had a whirlwind romance... and then Ryan betrayed her and she lost the job they were competing for. Now he’s back in her life and they can’t agree on anything, are constantly bickering, and forced to spend more and more time together. The more time they spend together the more Harper realizes she might have misjudged Ryan this entire time. Harper has a boyfriend but her feelings for Ryan are beginning to grow again and she’ll have to figure out if she’s willing to let herself trust him again and if she’s willing to risk her heart on him again. Things only get more complicated when news that layoffs are imminent across the department and Harper might just be on the chopping block. Can their love survive this time or will history repeat itself again? Unfortunately for me, I did not have a good time with this one. I found myself getting irritated by both the main characters and not at all invested in their so called romance. Ryan claims to have been in love with her this entire time and it really doesn’t feel like it, it doesn’t feel like they had any chemistry whatsoever and Ryan barely felt like he had any depth as a character. This story wasn’t really memorable and I found myself getting bored and losing interest by the end unfortunately. While this one didn’t work for me if you are a fan of second chance romances with a bit of enemies to lovers in the workplace maybe this one is for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

THE LAST WORD is a fun, sweet rom-com that is a fast reading. It was very entertaining to see how the main character Harper handles having to work when a former lover from eleven years ago is now sitting next to her desk at work everyday. The clean, organized and punctual Ryan is just person to complement the messy, and almost always late Harper.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Hating Game meets London! Cute, fun rom-com- I happily flew through it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a fun slow burn! I really enjoyed it. I loved getting to know both characters and seeing them fall for each other.

The Last Word is a fluffy, breezy rom-com that combines both the second chance and enemies to lovers tropes. It definitely serves its purpose as a rom-com but the main characters annoyed the heck out of me. The so-called banter was just plain old immature bickering and they spent entirely too much time not communicating. Harper just grated on my nerves with her constant huffiness and sense of being offended or wronged at every turn. Why was she storming off and ranting all the time??? If I didn’t know better, I would have thought she was 14. I also don’t know how anyone as consistently late to literally every work meeting keeps a job but that’s not particularly relevant to the storyline. And finally, I just strongly dislike these epilogues that happen a year later and sum up every character’s past year in one paragraph each.

It was successful as a light rom-com but it wasn’t my favorite.

Katy Birchall is quickly becoming a favorite author. I’ve enjoyed her previous books, but this one is probably my favorite of her.

This is a rivals to friends to lovers to enemies to friends to lovers. Still with me? Basically, there’s a lot of up and downs, and will they won’t they’s, but it’s so well done that you aren’t left feeling worn out. The banter in this is impeccable but their friendship times are so sweet too. Ryan is an absolute sweetheart and Harper is a boss babe with a sunny disposition. I swooned at times, laughed at loud, and almost teared up at one scene (taxi cab chaos, IYKYK). Overall, highly recommend!