I requested to read and review for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. I loved this book! This book can be read anywhere and anytime. This story has drama, romance and mystery! What else can you want?! You will meet many great characters in this book. The two main one is Harper and Ryan. Can past mistakes with time and maturity lead to forgiveness or is something unforgivable. Can love or possible love conquer anything? Is honesty the best at all times?

This has quickly become one of my favorite authors! The characters are authentic and delightful. The writing is fresh and witty, yet full of heart. The Last Word had interesting characters with undeniable chemistry! Their banter was fun and genuine. I hated to see this book end, I was fully engaged with it. I can't wait to read more from this author!

4.5 stars. Katy Birchall can do no wrong in the romcom genre! I love that her books are sweet but not saccharine, and always have a fierce set of memorable characters. The will-they-won't-they, enemies-to-lovers, and workplace romance troupes all blended nicely into a satisfying story. I can't wait to see what is next for Katy Birchall!

When I saw the description for this book compared it to Beach Read, as a huge Emily Henry fan, I knew I needed to read The Last Word. However, I'm not sure how these two relate. While they're both slow burn, work based romances, I think The Last Word lacks the emotional punch of Beach Read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. To me, it feels like The Last Word is more Bridget Jones' Diary than Beach Read: a fun, slow burn enemies-to-lover with hilarious banter and great chemistry. This book was a quick and easy read with well rounded characters, both main and side. If you enjoyed Bridget Jones' Diary, The Hating Game, or any of Katy Birchall's other novels, you need to pick this one up!

3.5/5

Pub date: 5/2/23
Genre: romcom (enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance)
Quick summary: Celebrity news editor Harper is at the top of her game - until old flame and fellow journalist Ryan is hired by her boss, forcing them to work together.

I really enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories, and THE SECRET BRIDESMAID is a personal favorite. This book was a fine read, but unfortunately it didn't live up to Birchall's other books for me. Harper was an interesting MC, and I admired her hustle, but I wanted to see hew grow more over the course of the novel. She held onto so much resentment of Ryan and allowed it to cloud her judgment and prevent her from being happy! I wish we could have seen her going to therapy or having more honest discussions with Ryan and others in their lives. This is a 384 page book, and it made me sad that the character development was left for the very end.

The comparison to THE HATING GAME feels accurate, and I think fans of that book will enjoy this one more than I did! If you dislike the miscommunication trope, I don't think this is the book for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's not that this book was bad. A second chance romance, Harper is a disorganized, extroverted celebrity reporter. Her previous ... fling? love? heartbreak, Ryan, is the methodical, introverted features reporter. They've got a bad boss who keeps pairing them together on things. Whatever will happen?

So again, it's not that the book was bad. Birchall does a good job of revealing Harper and Ryan and their respective challenges and frustrations. The secondary characters are interesting and add to the story. Birchall is a strong writer and I felt for Harper. My biggest issue with the book is how little of it sat with me just a week after reading. I went back and reread several chapters for writing this review, and only then could I remember the basic plot. It felt familiar throughout because I've read books that feel like this so often before. It's not bad, it's just not novel and it's forgettable.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed Katy Birchall’s previous works, so I was super stoked to get an arc of TLW. I went into it not knowing much, but it was a very easy read. However, it’s so hard not to compare authors previous works to each other and I think when it came down to it - I adored Birchall’s prior MCs but I just didn’t love TLW’s heroine Harper (particularly in the third act) and the miscommunication was painful for me to read about and not in an angsty or tension way. I did like Ryan and Harpers tension at the beginning but it lasted way too long imo. I also liked following the intricacies of Harper’s job in journalism and how good at it she was. That definitely came across and we do support a bad ass career lady that knows how to get shit done. I think those who are big fans of second chance romances will want to pick this up.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of an enemies-to-lovers, office romance (similar to the Hating Game) won't want to miss this adorable romcom from Katy Birchall! I love her books so much. Each and every one has been an absolute winner for me (this one included).

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like all of Katy Birchall's books, this is another fun, easy to read novel. The main characters are instantly likeable and have undeniable chemistry.
The plot is packed full of events and extras and it's important to remember who's who in the narrative, but Birchall makes it simple.
The office dynamics were interesting to read about, and it feels like there are the same employees (and bosses) everywhere. Harper and the situation with her family was executed well, and I was happy about what happened in the end with her profession.
At times Ryan and Harper argued a bit too much, but I guess that's part of the story.
4.5 stars

Another great book from Katy Birchall. This one doesn’t have a wedding setting. Instead, our narrator Harper is the celebrity editor at a print magazine who is known for her empathetic and insightful interviews. Unfortunately Harper’s boss, Cosmo, fails to see the value in her work. When Cosmo hires Ryan to be the new features editor and begins assigning Harper’s stories to Ryan, she is dismayed. Especially since Harper and Ryan knew each other a decade ago, and she cannot stand him. This is a second chance romance with enemies to lovers trope. The comparison to the Hating Game is accurate although I liked this book more. If you enjoy contemporary romantic fiction this is a great pick. I would also recommend Birchall’s earlier book The Wedding Season.

The sexism was a bit too much, especially in the beginning. It seemed to overtake the story and I started to lose interest for the first ⅓ of this book. Going into this, I was expecting a romance and when workplace toxicities seemed to take over the story I almost didn’t finish it. But I’m so glad this book didn’t solely focus on that as the main subject because this author writes one hell of a romance book. Once the book started focusing on Harper and Ryan I completely fell in love with this book.

I was hardcore crushing on Ryan from the moment I met him. I’m such a sucker for a pseudo enemies-to-more workplace romance, especially when it’s clearly obvious the guy falls first. He brought a sweetness to this story that made this romance book stand out from the rest. Though it was a rough beginning, when the story picked up I couldn’t help but devour this book. Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin
And NetGalley for this ARC

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Harper loves her job as a journalist who dishes about celebrities. When the company she works for hires a man she hopes she would never lay eyes on again, she tries to plow ahead. They both disagree about everything. I enjoyed the characters in this book.

I enjoyed the plot of this but I am realizing that I do not particularly enjoy present tense books. The enemies to lovers trope was sublime in this one! Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I was honestly really impressed with this book, especially the writing style. I was a fan of the characters and they overall storyline. Great read!

Katy Birchall has done it again! Another contemporary second chance, enemies to lovers, workplace romances from the Katy Birchall.

Absolutely loved this one! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorites, however I don’t think Harper and Ryan were ever true enemies. Everything from the realistic view on journalism to the witty office banter held my attention to the very end.

Harper is a journalism genius and always manages to write the most amazing articles despite incredible pushback from her boss. When her closest ally leaves the office and an old nemesis returns, she thinks she’ll be at a loss for sure. However, Ryan is just what she needed. With the whole office aware of the flame between them, Harper and Ryan continue to fight til the last word. Until maybe the last word is one that means the world to both of them.

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin, Katy Birchall, and Netgalley for gifting the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review. This was beautifully written and a pleasure to read!

This was very confusing to me, especially the beginning. However I was intrigued by the backstory of the character being interviewed and the whole incident. Without giving much away, I don't think that I would honestly read this book again. Which is a shame because I really loved The Secret Bridesmaid.

I have loved Katy Birchall's books for a while now and I am so thrilled that this new romantic comedy lived up to my expectations. Witty banter, a good dose of enemies, a sweeping second chance romance that spans over a decade, and a wonderful dip into the world of celebrity journalism makes this one a lot of fun!

*One open door scene, some strong language

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Disclosure: I received an ARC of THE LAST WORD in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its May 2023 release!

I thought this was a this fun, standout take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, no small feat given the saturated romcom market! Sparks fly when Harper, a Celebrity Editor, must share a newsroom with her longtime nemesis (and old flame) Ryan. Their fun, sexy banter was my favorite part of the book, evoking genre greats like Emily Henry and Talia Hibbert.

This was a definitive foray into the romance genre for Birchall, whose last title skewed more Women's Fiction. I did find her prose to be slightly dense at times, and the first quarter of the book might have benefited from tighter pacing. However, once the book gets going, it doesn't stop! You'll be rooting for Harper and Ryan all the way to the end.

4/5 stars for THE LAST WORD

I absolutely loved the secret bridesmaid by Birchall and everything since had fallen flat. Unfortunately I was really bored with this and just pushed through in order to finish. I think lots will love it but I needed more plot twists or something