One Last Word by Suzanne Park is a lovely story about a woman who works in the tech industry who has struggled to speak up for herself. She has designed an app that will send one last email to anyone you choose upon your death. Whether this includes saying goodbye to your loved ones or telling off your former boss. As she works to get the app development funded, there is an issue one night where her messages are actually sent to the recipients.

In addition to the clever premise, this book has all that one would expect from Suzanne Park including a plot driven by changing family dynamics and an emotional journey for all the major characters that balances well with the light and fun situational comedy and dialogue.

Suzanne Park has become a favorite of mine over the years and this book is a great reminder of why. Thanks to Suzanne Park, Avon Books, and NetGalley for this Advanced Copy.

I’ve read Suzanne Park’s previous book Loathe at First Sight, and really enjoyed it. When I got the opportunity to read this one prior to its release, I jumped at the chance. For all that I enjoyed her previous work, this one might be my favorite yet. As someone who works in the tech field, not quite the same kind as Sara, but close enough, it was great to read a book with this setting told from a woman’s perspective. Additionally, I envied Sara for her ability to stand up for herself in the face of all types of micro-aggressions and blatant biases. I don’t have that type of confidence and loved reading it.

I know this is also a romance book, but honestly, the romance between Sara and Henry took a back seat for me. Not saying I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but more that I found Sara’s friends, family, and journey the parts of the book that I was really vibing with. I do have to say, the awkward flirting between the two was fun to read.

Sara Chae's idea for an app is turned down by her bosses, so she decides to go out on her own to get it funded. Through some drunken message mishaps, she reconnects with her high school crush who happens to be a venture capitalist. I had a hard time getting excited to keep reading this one. There was a bit too much business. I also work in tech so I think I know too much about how app development really works. I do love the women in tech representation here!

Sara is stuck in middle management and is clearly under appreciated at her majority tech bro job. After a contemptuous pitch meeting, Sara decides that she’s had enough and takes her app, One Last Word, with her. Determined to get her app and new company off the ground, Sara applies for a mentorship program with the hope to secure funding. After celebrating hitting submit on her application, she and her sister drunkenly write letters to some of the most important people in her life in the app. How does the app work? Say what you need to get off your chest to get the last word and the app will send out the letters once you die. But of course, the app glitches and sends the letters over night. Now she has to clean up the mess her letters created while completing the mentoring program.

The premise of this book hooked me immediately, I mean, who doesn’t have a couple of people they’d like to get the last word with? Watching Sara, a reserved, heads down, corporate grinder, navigate not only her new career but reconcile the relationships she let get away was pretty entertaining. Sara comes to realize she may be a bit more at fault for the way her relationships have turned out. From her ex-best friend, to her unrequited crush she puts on a pedestal, and her complicated relationship with her parents she gets a much needed wake up call.

I liked that Sara’s faults were not only acknowledged but lovingly confronted with the help of her support system; her sister and best friend Casey. There were times where the pacing moved a bit slower and it seemed like it was stuck in a never ending lecture about the patriarchy and rampant sexism in the tech industry.

Overall, it was a good quick read about self-discovery, confidence, and a hint of romance.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
One Last Word by Suzanne Park
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 288 / Genre: Fiction

Done with being undervalued and overworked, Sara Chae quits her job and takes her app idea with her. Her app allows you to send people in your life one last message upon your death. So you can let them know how you really feel once and for all. On a drunken night with her sister, Sara writes up her final messages to her high school crush, her BFF who ghosted her, and her overbearing parents just as a cathartic release. But when she wakes up, she finds that all her messages were actually sent. This triggers interactions that never would have happened if the messages weren’t sent out. And there’s also a competition to earn funding for her app, glass ceilings to break, and growth opportunities—both professionally and personally.

I really enjoyed this book and liked Sara a lot. She’s headstrong and sticks up for what she wants and how she wants to be treated, but not so stubborn that she can’t see when she’s wrong or empathize with how others feel. It was exciting to watch her stick it to the man and fight for what she deserves.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @AvonBooks, @HarperVoyagerUS, and @SuzannePark for my advanced copy.

Empowering and laugh-out-loud funny, One Last Word is a remarkably relatable story about a woman in tech who learns to speak up and fight for what she wants in life and love.
Park blends real issues and feelings with some really funny moments.
I found Sara Chae to be an endearing main character -- wanting her to win in the end.
Her characters are strong and diverse and the experiences which they go through feel so very real.

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Happy Pub Day to One Last Word! A funny, smart, and fun read - everything you could want from a Suzanne Park book. If you're looking for a book with a strong female lead and the dynamics of women in tech, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC!

If I look back at my life, I can point to pivotal moments where I didn't say the right thing. We all have them. We wish we could go back and fix it or at least apologize.

In One Last Word, Sara Chae has developed an app that lets you send a message to anyone you want after you pass. Imagine being able to get everything off your chest, every grudge, every feeling you ever felt bad or good, and send it to specific people in your life.

I know what you are thinking. Where do I sign up?

I can pinpoint specific people who I would love to apologize to and tell them how I felt about them. But, in Sara Chae's case, it wasn't so easy. After a night filled with drinks, emails that were SUPPOSED to be drafts, became reality when a different Sara Chae passes away.

Ouch.

And not just to random people. Her parents. An ex-best friend. And an old crush. Just thinking about it hurts my heart.

What happens next is a story filled with belly laughs, redemption, empowerment, and a whole lotta heart.

This book is hilarious. I do not recommend reading this while drinking coffee or anything. This book made me choke on whatever I was drinking at the time because the jokes come fast and rapid. If you want a quick, feel-good read that will pull at your heart strings. This is the one for you. I could not put this one down! I cannot wait for Suzanne Park's next book!

4.6 stars out of 5!

What a fun story that Suzanne Park has crafted! One Last Word features another fierce woman main character that allows the difficulties that women often face in the STEM workplace.
A few areas seemed overwritten, while other issues concluded too quickly . Regardless, it was an easy read, that also focused on family and friendship. Her writing always includes great banter!

Venturing into a writing retreat at a haunted Scottish castle, where spectral beings wander the corridors, might give some writers pause, but for me, it was an exhilarating prospect!

The tale of two literary rivals, Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm, thrust together after a fiery clash at a book convention, immediately ensnared my attention from the very first chapter. The melding of gothic horror elements, clever banter, and smoldering romantic tension between these adversaries, each grappling with their own writer’s block, coupled with the irresistible enemies-to-lovers trope, spun a mesmerizing yarn. I found myself inexorably drawn deeper into their story with each page turned.

The depiction of indigenous authors and their struggles within the publishing realm, mirroring the challenges encountered by BIPOC writers, resonated with poignant authenticity. While the clashes and disagreements between Pen and Neil occasionally felt juvenile, their shared professional hurdles and earnest endeavors to amplify their voices and authentically represent their community struck a profound chord.

The supporting cast, including the enigmatic Laszlo and the mischievous Daniela, served to further enrich the narrative, infusing it with charisma and intrigue.

In essence, this paranormal romance, with its haunting ambiance and sizzling chemistry between the leads, offers a captivating reading experience that I wholeheartedly endorse.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for graciously providing me with a digital review copy of this captivating romcom in exchange for my candid evaluation.

For more insights into literature, cinema, streaming series, and astrology, delve into my articles on Medium.com! "ONE LAST WORD" delves into the trials of being a woman in the tech industry and the uphill battle for equal opportunities. At its core, the novel follows protagonist Sara's journey as she learns to advocate for herself in both her professional and personal life, particularly when her app mistakenly sends messages meant for after her death. Confronting her overbearing parents, former friend Naomi, and old crush Harry, Sara navigates the complexities of her newfound situation. Despite setbacks, readers will cheer for Sara as she regains her confidence and steps boldly into the world.

This was so-so for me. I liked the female representation in Tech start up/VC culture. Appreciate the cultural challenges faced by Sara and the components implemented throughout the story.

I received this ARC to review. Thank you Avon Books for gifting me an ARC.

This was a really fun read. It gave me some To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before vibes but a more grown up version. Instead of love letters this story focuses on Sara Chae an aspiring tech entrepreneur who creates an app that sends messages to loved ones after you pass away. When another Sara Chae passes away it triggers the app to send out messages the messages she had drunkenly drafted to her parents, her estranged best friend, and her unrequited high school love interest.

I thought the story had a great balance of romance, self discovery, touching heartwarming moments and women in STEM rep. I really enjoyed Sara’s character. We see a ton of character growth and as an AAPI reader and a fellow woman in a STEM field I really appreciated and related to the story. Sara often faces misogyny, racism and discrimination in her field. I loved seeing her stand up for herself not only at work but with her family too. This isn’t just a romance it focuses on family relationships and mending broken friendships. The love interest Harry is also a wonderful character. He’s sweet and also dealing with his own insecurities related to his identity and with romance. It was so great seeing he and Sara reconnect and bring out the best in each other.

Overall I think this is a super fun read that will be perfect for summertime! It has a bit of everything, romance, AAPI rep, women in STEM, funny and sweet moments.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the fourth book I’ve read by the author, and I really enjoy her writing style. I have yet to read Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous, but I checked a copy out from my school library to read over spring break.
One Last Word is a lighthearted romance which also takes a critical look at the treatment of women and people of color in the tech industry. Sara is an aspiring tech entrepreneur who feels she isn’t able to fully apply her skills in her current role in a tech company in LA. After a conflict with the bro-y founders, Sara quits in an epic Sharpie-on-whiteboard message and leaves to build the app the bros had not wanted to put money or resources into.
Sara moves in with her younger sister and works to apply for a venture capital mentorship, to help fund her idea. Her app allows a user to send messages to loved ones upon the user’s death, giving the opportunity for one last word. Before Sara can perfect the app, some test messages are accidentally sent to her parents, her former best friend, and her high school crush. And when Sara is accepted into the mentorship program, her high school crush is her mentor, reinvigorating her crush 15 years later.
Sara as a FMC is relatable, as is, sadly, the way she is underestimated by the founders of the company she worked for. I felt the ending was wrapped up quite quickly, and I don’t think the conflict around the MMC’s ability to commit to anything besides his job was given adequate resolution. However, I really enjoyed reading this, and I will recommend it to others. I should say I will continue to recommend it to others, as I was reading it during my school’s “We Need Diverse Books” reading group, and after telling my small group about it, many of the students were interested in reading it, along with the author’s other books. The book will be available on Tuesday if you’re interested in reading it!

I adored the FMC. She’s a workaholic who forgot what living was outside of work which made her very relatable for many. The story was cute and fun to read. I did feel that Sarah’s infatuation with Henry was a bit over done and halfway through I quit rooting for him. This book focused on relationships in all areas of life!

Overall, this was a pretty quick, fun read, a bit reminiscent of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. However, I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit about the whole concept of "One Last Word" as a business. Some of the drama concerning the "bug" also seemed a bit overblown because during development and testing, it's expected that there will be bugs, even serious ones, and anyone involved in the process, from investors to developers, should understand this.

The third-act conflict concerning Sara's relationship with Harry soured me a bit on their relationship because that was just something that was unacceptable in my opinion and resolved way too quickly. But similar to the Do-Over, I enjoyed the other aspects of the story much more than the romance.

But overall, I enjoyed this, and I think fans of Shark Tank will especially enjoy this.

The idea was good, but I think the execution fell short. A second-chance romance can be done well when there was a past romance to begin with. This is more of a "I liked him and he is by fate back in my life" kind of love story. There were many times that the thoughts of Sara, our FMC, made me laugh and had me nodding at how relatable they wer, but I ended up really disliking her attitude. Yes, she was standing up for herself, but there were instances where she was completely disrespectful to get her point across. I also come from an Asian family and my heart hurt at how she viewed her parents. Asian families can be rough and the one displayed is very common, but I also believe it was unfair to try and hold American standards on immigrant parents. If there was the guidance and compromising way to build a healthy, trying relationship then I would completely understand, but in all honesty, I was hurt for them.

I also had some issues with pacing. Most of Sara and Harry's relationship feels built on memories and two major events. When I was thinking when their relationship could have grown, I had nothing. Sometimes it felt rushed and others it felt slow. In the end, I was left with a ton of confusion,e specially on Harry's end. We see many times where Sara is told that she was too good for him and had only one perception of who he was, but in all honesty, that is Harry. He only has ever seen her one way and kind of just rolls with it. To me, this doesn't show much of a healthy base for a relationship.

Then I get to 90% of the book. So much is happening all at once and I think I had whiplash. We have a VC discussion, insecurity of gender within the start-up world, her relationship with her former friend, her sister, her parents, and Harry. I'm glad there was no third-act breakup but it felt like the book was trying to tie all strings by killing multiple birds with one stone. It felt kind of forced and left me feeling multiple layers of cringe for the characters.

In the end, the book had some funny points and showcased starting in tech at a good perspective. It even brings about a hard case of the Asian tiger-parenting. I just wish it had better pacing and organziation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyage for the early copy of this book.
The premise of the book is an Asian woman, Sara, who develops an app called One Last Word. Essentially, people have the opportunity to write final letters to the people around them when they pass. The letters will be emailed out when the participant has perished.
In the testing stages, letters that Sara had written on a drunken night were accidentally sent. Jokes on her, because she is 1. still alive. 2. She is mortified that her parents, her previous boss, and her high school crush all have received letters telling them exactly how Sara feels.

I thought this book had such a unique concept and made me question what happens when we tell the people around us how we feel? Why wait until we are dead to get everything off of our chest? With more people planning their own funerals in advance, I can see the purpose of tying up all loose ends and feeling the weight of past vendettas, grudges, and distress fall off our shoulders with the simple sending of a letter.

Sara learns that she has to confront things head on and that having tough conversations can lead to breakthroughs personally and professionally.

I really enjoyed the shy and timid chemistry between Sara and Harry. The characters have to navigate a past crush with a current professional relationship and the burdening feelings that develop. There is even a bit of fake dating which I loved.

I appreciated the authors take on women in the world of tech and just how women in any professional setting are often at a disadvantage in comparison to their male counterparts. I laughed out loud several times when Sara was dealing with her parents.

I would 100% recommend this read for a fast and light read.

What a quirky and fun premise!!

But I felt like there was a lot of tech-realted stuff, which made me lose interest.


Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really uneven reading experience for me. I liked the premise - a woman striking out on her own in the tech world, developing an app and striving to get venture capital, while at the same time working through unresolved issues in her personal life that are brought to a head by a little unintentional honesty (due to a bug in the aforementioned app). I thought the app idea itself was pretty silly, but I figured I could overlook it - until the opener of the book rested on the main character, Sara, pitching the silly idea to her bosses and, when they declined to fund further development, throwing a pretty major tantrum and quitting her job on the spot. Sara then moved into her younger sister's apartment and, with the help of a colleague, began developing the app and applying for venture capital funding. I had a lot of technical questions about how these two people, a product manager and a user experience professional, were writing an app valued at several million dollars, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief. Unfortunately, there was also the larger frustration of Sarah's personality. All the components were there - a professional life where she struggled to find meaning and recognition, parents who expected too much, neglect of her social life - and I really wanted to care about Sara's journey. But on the page I found her very immature and demanding. She's furious that, at 34, she's "only" a "mid-level manager", she assumes anytime someone doesn't like her ideas it's due to sexism or racism (which, admittedly, the book has some egregious examples of - but that only made me more annoyed at the story because in the real world unfair prejudice is usually confusingly mixed with valid criticism). She views her parents with the unconsidered rage of a teenager. Her high school crush and high school best friend are still, half a lifetime later, the center of her social universe, and even when she reunites them again she only barely reconsiders these relationships and what they mean for her.

So... yeah. This book was not a win for me. I did like the premise and the writing was good, but the things that actually happened were so frustrating.

I loved the concept of this book, well the app behind it at least! An app that sends out messages you’ve written after you die? I would have so much fun with that. I loved the main character and had fun reading it, but I think I just need to take a break from the friends to lovers romance it just doesn’t make me feel the feels lately. 3.5 rounded up.