A charming romance set in the world of professional baseball, this story features a workplace rivalry that transforms into an unexpected love story. It has a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a touch of intrigue reminiscent of "You've Got Mail." The plot revolves around Emmy Jameson, a brilliant data analyst for a Major League Baseball team, who excels at her job despite the many challenges of being a woman in a predominantly male industry. When a promotion puts her in direct competition with Gabe Olson, another talented analyst, sparks begin to fly—but not just in the way you'd expect.
Emmy is intensely private and keeps her personal life strictly separate from work. She’s also sworn off dating, but everything changes when she receives a mysterious text from an unknown number saying, “Last night was fun.” As it turns out, a stranger at a bar handed out a fake number—Emmy’s number—and what starts as an awkward mix-up soon turns into a series of engaging text exchanges. Over the next few weeks, the anonymous texter becomes someone Emmy can confide in, and she starts to feel a growing connection, even considering inviting him to her sister’s wedding in Cancun.
Here’s the twist (and don’t worry, it’s not really a spoiler—it’s hinted at early on): the mystery man is, of course, Gabe. The gradual build-up to this revelation is filled with clever banter and genuine emotion, making it all the more satisfying. Emmy’s nickname for the anonymous texter, “Axe Murderer,” adds a comedic touch, while the deepening connection between the two characters highlights the vulnerability and trust involved in falling for someone who truly sees you.
The book also delves into the challenges women face in male-dominated fields, portraying Emmy’s workplace struggles with authenticity and frustration. It’s a reminder of the resilience and effort required to thrive in such environments.
With its blend of sports, sharp dialogue, and a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic, this story is an excellent choice for fans of romantic comedies. Perfect for a summer getaway, it’s equal parts entertaining and heartfelt.
Special thanks to netgalley and avonbooks for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The rating I gave this book was a 4.5/5 rounded up. Last Night Was Fun is classic enemies to lovers with a playful twist of the unexpected. The book is such a cute romcom. I would have to say the few spicy scenes in the book did not feel as intrusive as I would have expected and I love that. It felt more intimate. My only complaint about the book was the fact it was written in 3rd person point of view. I want to feel like I am experiencing Emmy's emotions first hand not just her outside world but I have to admit I did feel I knew what was happening inside her head but I think first person point of view would make it more personal to the reader. But overall this cute romcom is a must read.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a good work place romance, I could not put it down. I loved the MMC and thought it was so sweet when he went fishing with the MFC's dad. I definitely want a physical copy for my bookshelf and will be rereading and recommending this book.

Cute enough to make me want to read some of the author's other books at some point. I always love the women in men's fields storyline and baseball is my favorite sport so that hooked me right away. Not the most original of stories, but enjoyable enough.

This book really is a combination of You’ve Got Mail & The Hating Game. It was so cute and sweet. The text messages were funny and hooked you from that first one. Gabe is adorable and romantic. Emmy is strong but stubborn. The moments at the wedding were my favorite. I loved that they got to work out personal issues they were struggling with and it helped them grow as characters. You won’t be disappointed in this one. Swoon-worthy moments!

Last Night Was Fun: A Novel by Holly Michelle is a fun, flirty romance with a sports twist! Emmy Jameson is a sharp, driven data analyst vying for a promotion against her arrogant coworker, Gabe Olson, but her world gets flipped when she starts texting a mystery man, only to discover it’s Gabe. The flirty text exchanges, sizzling romance, and forced proximity at her sister’s wedding had me hooked from start to finish. I loved the witty banter, the tension between Emmy and Gabe, and how the story balances romance with Emmy's journey of proving herself in a male-dominated field. If you love slow-burn romance and lots of laughs, this one’s a home run!

This was such an adorable romcom! I read it all in one night because I couldn't put it down.

It's a rivals to lovers "You've got mail" trope between two colleagues that work as baseball data analysts. The MMC accidentally texts her when he's given a wrong number on a night out and they build a connection from there. It had the perfect mixture of banter, heart, and spice. I didn't love the somewhat predictable third act conflict, but it felt like a classic 90's romcom in that way.

Can't wait to read what's next for this author.

This was described as you’ve got mail meets the hating game — two of my favorite movies/books and I was very intrigued with the crossover! Emmy and Gabe’s hatred for each other made their relationship even more steamy. I couldn’t put this down! Thank you so much for the chance to read this gem!

Loved it, 4.5 stars. I love baseball and this book was a perfect combination of a romance novel with just enough baseball theme without being too much. Thank you for the opportunity to read early!

3 stars. I really, really wanted to like this more. In fact, until the third act conflict, this would have been 4+ stars. I love You’ve Got Mail, I love The Hating Game, I love the romance of baseball as a sport. The book was cute; it was fun! And then, in the third act, my least favorite type of conflict happened, which spoiled it for me — the FMC overhears part of a conversation, jumps to the worst possible conclusion, completely forgets everything she’s learned about the MMC, and refuses to talk to him about it. Yes, this is a common conflict in romance, but it makes me so angry every time. The FMC does grovel pretty spectacularly, but I feel like that grand gesture could have found its way into the book without pissing me off first.

Thanks so much to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved this cute rom com that reminded me a lot of the hating game but just different enough. The epilogue made me so happy. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I absolutely devoured this book! I was sucked in by the first chapter and so invested in what would happen. I loved the hating game and the blurb of this book intrigued me. The vibes are definitely similar but this book stands alone as good in its own right!

This book was fun. :) Emmy and Gabe are rival data analysts at a professional baseball team competing for a promotion. Unbeknownst to them, outside work they're SMS besties after a Gabe is given a Emmy’s number by a would-be date who gave her a fake one.

'Last Night Was Fun' was everything I love in a book rom com. It has You've Got Mail vibes but executed in a fresh way with its well-paced plot development and crisp writing. I devoured this, wondering when they were going to work out who each other were (and I really appreciate that they both found out at the same time. Usually one discovers who the other is first then ghosts the other which irritates me!). Gabe and Emmy were perfect for each other as they slowly opened up to each other, revealing their vulnerabilities. I adored their SMS and workplace banter, I laughed so many times. Woven seamlessly was the relatable way women are treated in the workplace by the boys club, or as Emmy calls it, Boys Town. From talking over you to say the exact same thing which is then praised by other men, to the weekend golf trips where they discuss workplace gossip for their own benefit.

I'm calling this early, it's going to my top rom com for 2025.

Thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC.

Last Night Was Fun starts off with an unbelievably fun premise—two people accidentally building a relationship through texting after a woman gives the man a fake number. Most of us have received wrong-number calls and texts, but this book builds a hilarious love story off of it.

Emmy and Gabe are workplace rivals since Emmy’s a woman in the male-dominated field of baseball (and the also-male-dominated field of data analytics). This story follow the two as they hit it off over an unexpected text exchange, but in their texting personas they only call each other Bird Girl and Axe Murderer. Although the sheer number of clues that the people they’re falling for over text messages are actually Emmy and Gabe from work is kind of ridiculous, it’s still deliciously thrilling when they eventually realize who they’ve been pouring out their hearts to.

If you love workplace rivalries, enemies to lovers, fake wedding date, only-one-bed tropes with an incredible number of bird band puns, you’ll love Last Night Was Fun as much as I did! Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC of this book.

Cute, semi cozy. But very predictable, so predictable that I knew what was up after Gabe threw his almond milk coffee in the trash.

This one was so cute! I started it because I love romances with a pen-pal/texting trope and this one did not disappoint. i loved the secret identity and then enemies to lovers storyline. andddd the forced proximity… perfection. Gabe and Emmy were so cute together but they were just too stubborn to see it. 4 stars only because Emmy made some questionable choices in the attempt to guard her heart but definitely would recommend!

4.25

Emmy receives a text from a guy who received a fake number. They continue texting and even though she has sworn off dating she starts to fall for him.
She spends all of her time focused on her career. She is currently up for a promotion. The only other candidate is her mortal enemy, Gabe. Things take a turn when the stranger she is texting with ends up being Gabe.

Troupes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity

I requested this ARC immediately when they mentioned The Hating Game. This lives up to that hype! I love the text flirting that happens between bird girl and axe murdered. I was even more excited when I found out that it is centered around baseball. This is a fun, clever, sexy romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon or Harper Voyager for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a "You've Got Mail" style, colleague rivals to lovers story, set in the underbelly of a ball park.
I love the idea of people showing different pieces of themselves to different parts of their lives. This feels so true, especially in a work environment you feel less represented in. The coincidence (wrong number) was pretty extreme, but worked for me. The character growth was beautiful and the third act struggle was a doozy (I'm not sure I could have reconciled...). I loved the banter and the humor. I loved the side characters. I loved the setting. I loved the spice! This was a good, well-written love story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and especially Holly Michelle for this eARC.

This book was adorable! The banter between Emmy and Gabe was great and I loved how their relationship grew throughout the book. It was a super cute story.

It's a straightforward story that you can get lost in. The banter between the couple is written very well. I enjoyed the similarities to the movie You've Got Mail. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.