this was a super cute read! I enjoyed it so much Emmy and Gabe are perfect. Both perfectly imperfect and realizing they are meant for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed “Last Night Was Fun.” It was appropriately named, because this book was fun. The chemistry between the leads was great and I loved seeing how it went from text to in person.

The pacing was great and I didn’t feel like there were any slower parts where my attention waned. Seeing how their relationship progressed was a joy and I spent a ton of times saying “How can you not realize it’s him???” to my ereader. I loved seeing the connections between texts and what was happening in the story.

The one thing I didn’t love was the third act breakup, but I enjoyed the ending. It was definitely a swoonworthy gesture.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for this early copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Talk about a super fun book! Loved the You’ve Got Mail Vibes! Such a fun concept how she took that anonymous chatting and put her own spin on it! Two of my favorite tropes are featured: one bed, enemies to lovers. I couldn’t put this down! Thanks for the ARC Holly Michelle and Avon and Harper Voyager.

Last Night Was Fun is the kind of book that feels like it was written for people who love sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and that delicious slow-burn tension where you’re internally screaming for the characters to finally get a clue.

Emmy is a badass — a woman thriving in a male-dominated field (data analytics for a pro baseball team) and sticking to her rules: no dating, no over-sharing, and baseball always first. Gabe is her charming, infuriating work rival who’s just as competitive and stubborn. The twist? They unknowingly start texting each other after a wrong number moment, and what kicks off as harmless banter turns into genuine emotional connection — all while they’re battling for the same promotion at work.

The setup is very You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game with a sports world backdrop, and it works because the writing keeps it fun, emotional, and fast-paced. Even though readers will clock early on who the mystery texter is, watching Emmy and Gabe figure it out (and wrestle with it) is pure entertainment.

What really sold me wasn’t just the texting or the classic enemies-to-lovers beats — it was how the author handled the emotional core. Emmy and Gabe aren’t just snarking at each other for fun; they both carry real insecurities, past losses, and the pressure of proving themselves. Their rivalry isn’t petty — it’s layered, and when they start letting their guards down, it feels earned. Also, the “only one bed” trope at the wedding? Nailed it.

Is there a third-act breakup? Yes, and honestly, I’m usually over that move, but here it was short, believable, and didn’t drag the ending down. The resolution felt mature and satisfying — no overwrought drama just for the sake of it.

This book is the perfect pick if you want a romance that’s smart, funny, emotional, and filled with characters who feel real — messy, competitive, vulnerable, and all heart underneath the snark. A strong debut for me from Holly Michelle, and I’ll definitely be checking out whatever she writes next.

4.5 stars — highly recommend if you’re a sucker for rivals-to-lovers with real tension, emotional depth, and texting that’ll make you grin like an idiot.

You’ve Got Mail + The Hating Game? Say no more.

I loved this one from the very from text message and while it was so clear who was texting Emmie, I loved watching it play out. Enemies to lovers & one bed trope? Delicious. Only thing that would’ve made it better was a forced kiss that made them realize they were magically attracted to each other ❤️

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for sharing this one with me!

Emmy and Gabe begin flirty texts due to Gabe getting "fake numbered". Little do they know that, in reality, they were rivals at work. Since they were going against each other for the same promotion they had to decide if they wanted to sacrifice their promotion or their relationship. I love that the story was based around baseball and, although it was a quick read, it did address deeper topics. Overall, it was a cute, easy read that I'd recommend as a beach read.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emmy is a data analyst for a baseball team, focused on her career and avoiding romance with coworkers. However, things start going awry. An unexpected anonymous correspondence makes her heart race. Emmy is shocked to discover that the mysterious man is Gabe, her colleague and rival. Together, they attend her sister's wedding, trying to figure out whether their feelings for each other are real or just a coincidence.

It was funny, sweet, and made me tear up a bit.

I really enjoyed the first 60%, but then it got a bit boring for me, which is a personal thing. The characters were cute and likable, although by the end, they were being frustrating and I wanted to slap them (sorry)...

This is the first book I've read with a baseball theme, and I liked that there was enough of it here!

I pictured it like a movie; it was vivid, and I think it could be filmed.

Idea: 3
Plot: 3.5
Characters: 4
Emotions: 4

3.5/5 rounded up to 4

• workplace romance
• sports romance
• data analytics nerds
• rivals to lovers
• slow burn
• only one bed
• witty banter
• woman in STEM
• loss of a loved one in the past
• 1 POV

I'm a sucker for a good epistolary romance, especially one with mistaken (or unknown) identities. Add in an enemies-to-lovers trope--especially in the workplace--and I'm hooked.

Nearly everything about this book worked for me. I thought the relationship between Emmy and Gabe was adorable when they were texting. As coworkers, they had a good deal of heat. And there was a minimal amount of internal turmoil once they figured out who they'd been texting. Up until the final 10%, they communicated well and approached the relationship maturely. I can't even fault the unnecessarily dramatic turn near the end, because it led to a scene with echoes of one of my favorite 90s rom-coms.

I really enjoyed this one, and like Emmy, I ended up with major heart eyes for Gabe.

4.5 stars! Love love loved this book! It reminded me of a Christina Lauren book. Loved both main characters and I thought the fake text meeting was so cute and original! I just can't say enough nice things about how much I enjoyed it-it was just so so cute. This was my first book by this author and it will most definitely not be my last! Can't wait to read more!

Last Night Was Fun is my first experience reading Holly Michelle's work and I was thoroughly surprised and happy that I took the chance. Gabe and Emmy's story is told through Emmy's POV only but the excellent writing allows the reader to really get into Gabe's mind and thoughts even without reading his POV. I loved how one unexpected text started the whole story -- in fact, it was that moment that I knew this was going to be a winner in my mind. The secondary characters are well developed and well written too which added to this surprisingly thought-provoking read. I was thinking it was going to be a light, easy, baseball-oriented story which it is, but it's much more than that. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful journey of Gabe and Emmy's relationship and look forward to reading more from this author. I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyage for the opportunity to read this ARC.

One of my favorite tropes is the "You've Got Mail", secret penpals (or texting buddies in this case) trope and "Last Night Was Fun" is the perfect example of this trope done right. As the reader, you are in on the identity of the unknown number even though the main characters have no idea who they are conversing with. The excitement in the plot comes from seeing how the characters will handle the reveal.

I hard a hard time putting this book down and stayed up way later than I should have trying to finish it. Holly Michelle is a new author for me, which is great because she has written several books that I now get to add to my TBR!

This book felt like a STEM/Sports version of a Nora Ephron movie. The banter was so cute between the main characters, both in texting and in real life. A few of the parts of the story felt unrealistic, which is why it was only 4 stars, but the vibes were great. I love seeing a female in a male dominated field being represented in a story and done well. This is a great spring read to get you excited about baseball season!

An unexpected text, from an unknown number, leads Emmy to a witty, flirty stranger. Little does she know (although, as they point out, it really should have been obvious to them) it’s her work rival Gabe. Even after learning that she agrees to go to her sister’s wedding, in Mexico, with her (ahem - hotel js booked, so one room and one bed).

It’s super cute. Great summer beach read. Would have been a full four stars if not for a couple cringe lines and the third-act miscommunication break up. They especially annoy me in the rivals/lovers books. (Authors - you just got them to admit they like each other! Let’s just stay with that.

3.75 stars ✨ rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Avalon and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. Pub date 6/10/25.

This book was such a cute and heartfelt ride and takes workplace rivalry and blends it beautifully with a slow-burn, anonymous texting romance with a side of STEM and sports thrown in for extra flavor.

Emmy and Gabe had me hooked from the start. I loved that they fell for each other through text first, completely unaware they were actually rivals in real life. The fact that they were unknowingly confiding in and supporting each other made their connection feel so genuine. And the moment they realized they’d been talking to each other the whole time? Adorable and so satisfying.

Even after the reveal, I loved that they stayed a bit at odds at first and it kept the tension fun and made their eventual shift into something more feel really earned. And let’s not forget one of the best moments: Gabe dropping everything to be Emmy’s plus one to a wedding in Mexico so she wouldn’t have to go alone? Swoon. He really showed up for her when it mattered. And that really brought together the whole slow burn, sitting at the edge of my seat waiting for THAT moment to happen.

This was such a super cute, emotional, and feel-good read. Holly Michelle absolutely nailed the balance between flirty banter, heartfelt moments, and a storyline that keeps you smiling.

Thank you Avon Books, Netgallery and Holly Michelle for this adorable arc!

When a wrong number message turns into a flirtatious text exchange, Emmy thinks she may have finally found a man she could fall for. But then they meet and Mr. Right turns out to be co-worker and rival Gabe. As their paths cross again and again, Emmy starts to wonder if maybe she can trust him after all.

This is a low spice, sweet enemies to lovers romance, that focuses on miscommunication and misunderstandings as the core of the tension, rather than cruelty or petty behavior. Both have past griefs and traumas that color their perceptions, and work to overcome those. There is a classic 3rd act misunderstanding trope towards the very end. But it is short, believable, and the resolution has both admitting their fault.

This was a fun, quick read. I really enjoy the texting trope set up, and the rival coworker was a nice addition. There wasn't anything very noteworthy in this for it to stand out to me, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone I think would enjoy it.
3.5 rounded up.

I felt so much joy reading this book! Emmy gets a wrong number text, and strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, not knowing he's the guy she's competing against for a promotion at work.

As a baseball lover, I loved Emmy and Gabe's jobs working on data analysis for a baseball team. Emmy has pushed aside relationships to prioritize her career in a male-dominated field, until she finds herself flirting with a stranger over text messages.

I loved their text exchanges and the quick rapport they built — Emmy and Gabe had great banter, chemistry, and tension both on their screens and in the office. I enjoyed watching them open up to each other about their own struggles and insecurities while remaining competitive. I kept waiting for one to run off scared, but they had great communication and candor throughout.

The story was so heartwarming and was the perfect comfort read. I'd recommend picking it up this summer!

Thanks Avon Books for the gifted copy.

Emmy is a data analyst for a professional baseball team, and romance—especially with coworkers—is not on her agenda. As the only woman in her department, she’s determined to outshine her charming rival, Gabe Olson, and land a coveted promotion. But everything changes when she accidentally strikes up an anonymous text exchange with someone who makes her heart race. Emmy is stunned to discover that her mystery man is none other than Gabe. Now, the two are heading to her sister’s wedding together—trying to figure out whether the spark between them is real or just a fluke.

A wonderful blend of humor and the rivals-to-lovers trope.

The characters in this book are incredibly sweet and cozy—it was so heartwarming to watch them slowly open up to each other. I especially loved their text conversations and all the adorable moments when Emmy wrote to the mystery texter. It reminded me of some real-life moments—felt like I was watching myself from the outside 🤣 Total nerdy vibes 💘

Tropes:
— workplace romance
— sports romance
— data analytics nerds
— rivals to lovers
— slow burn
— only one bed
— witty banter
— woman in STEM
— single POV

This book gives off You’ve Got Mail, The Hating Game, and The Spanish Love Deception vibes. It also reminded me a bit of Running Point. So if you’re a fan of any of those, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute and well written take on several of my favorite tropes. Rival co-workers, mistaken identity, secret exchanges(texts), fake wedding date, and up for the same promotion just to name a few.

I also like how this book deals with women working in a predominantly male environment. It deals with some of the misogyny that goes along with this.

I loved the witty banter between Gabe and Emmy.

If you love a “You’ve Got Mail” premise then this book is for you!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyage & NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Last Night Was Fun is a twist on a workplace sports romance with major You've Got Mail vibes. Gabe and Emmy are both data analysts for a San Diego professional baseball team. They are constantly competing and trying to one up each other at work. They are also up against each other for a promotion.

One morning, Emmy gets a text from an unknown number that says "last night was fun". She starts to talk to the person on the other end of the phone more often and really likes him. She also spends more time with Gabe on accident and enjoys spending time with him. She meets the mystery person and she will have to decide if his identity makes or breaks them.

This was a story with a fun premise. I appreciate both Emmy and Gabe as characters and the tragedies that shaped them as people. While I liked both characters, I felt like this started of kind of slow. Once I got farther along in the book, I really enjoyed it! I love an FMC who is smart and driven and Emmy definitely checks those boxes. I also loved that Gabe and Emmy challenged each other and made each other better.

This is a fun summer read and will make you "wanna hot dog real bad" 😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!