3.5 Things Changed Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
It is a fact that when we are young, green, and starting out in the world of careers and dreams, mistakes or misunderstandings can happen easily. And the fact people are young and easy to jump to conclusions rather than talking things out at the moment...Assumptions happen and bad feelings are created and last a very long time.

The Last Word by Katy Birchall uses this premise and runs with it. The main characters were both interns at a magazine years ago and did what young people do...had a quick relationship, fought to be recognized and promoted, and ended up having a bad taste in their mouths as to what happened back in those days.

There is quick, snappy dialogue, an easier feel for the guy vs the gal, and, in the end, a good end.

Harper is one of London’s top celebrity journalists. Currently stationed at newspaper insert Narrative, she has garnered respect from agencies, actors, and musicians through her compassionate reporting style–although her boss Cosmo thinks she’s a complete joke. When new features editor, Ryan, joins the office, she must fight harder to justify her place. Why? At the start of their journalism careers ten years ago, the two were rival interns at a newspaper, where Harper left scorned.

Was this Beach Read and The Hating Game? No, but it was an overall fun read. While it started rockily, handing the reader exposition within the first few pages, only to rescind it immediately, the pacing evened out midway as the stakes were raised, and the story got into its romcom groove. The characters were fun and well fleshed out, especially Harper’s coworkers and her uptight boss, Cosmo. Harper was a fierce character who rightfully stood up for herself, but at times she came in so unreasonably hot, it was hard to root for her.

Again, this was fun overall for anyone who is looking for a fast-paced, breezy, giggle-inducing romcom.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

*3.5/5* I had a fun time reading this! The characters were enjoyable and I loved their slow burn romance. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys rom-com reads!

Any time a marketing plan includes "For fans of The Hating Game...", you must go in leery. This book was ok overall. I loved some of the escapism (yes, travel journalism is my dream profession!) but getting over harpy Harper is a challenge.

So often, authors try to work out a character's growth and it always saddens/irritates/bums me out that it needs to veer into annoying immaturity to get to an end apology for the hero's journey.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥

As someone who works in the journalism world, this book had some high expectations from me, and it delivered.

Harper has an uncanny ability to draw out the deepest secrets and juiciest gossip from Hollywood's A-list celebrities. Her talent has secured her place as Celebrity Editor for her newspaper, and she is living her best life. That is, until her boss hires a blast from her past.

Ryan is the new Features Editor and her boss, and he was once Harper's co-worker..and lover. A betrayal broke them apart, and Harper has been harboring a grudge ever since. Now they are co-workers once again, and it is a war in the newsroom. Harper fights him over every decision, and she drives him mad. While they keep locking horns, the dynamic between them starts to shift. Will they finally drop their guard to let a friendship -- and perhaps something more -- bloom?

This book was definitely entertaining. I love the bickering and banter between Harper and Ryan. It establishes and builds and builds the tension that has me turning the pages to see when we will get the payoff. While I prefer more spice, the natural development of their relationship was quite rewarding. I also really liked the slow progression to revealing the true story behind their feud from their previous job.

Both characters are lovable. Harper is a bit of a mess, but she is still adorable. I envy her talent for easily connecting with the people she is interviewing, allowing them to feel at ease and disclose their secrets or indiscretions. Ryan is equally charming in his own quiet way, and despite Harper's big personality, he holds his own in their moments together.

This standalone read made me laugh with their childish antics, and while they had some growing up to do, it did not distract from their character and relationship development.

If you love a good office enemies-to-lovers with lots of banter and laughs, this is definitely a great pick for your TBR.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Katy Birchall, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

Fun romance set in a magazine world with a splash of 2nd chance romance and great chemistry. As with other Katy B books, this was an enjoyable read with some genuine laugh out moments.

Our main leads Harper and Ryan could really be more different (externally). Harper is a chaos monster who never turns anywhere on time (honestly, same) but whose work ethic can’t be questioned in the slightest. She gets the work done very well in fact, and her bubbly personality makes her great at putting people at ease when she interviews them. We then have Ryan her new work neighbor, a neat, by-the-books guy and obviously clashes were set to happen. What makes it more annoying is that these 2 have a secret romantic history …

Without giving much away, as said earlier, I had fun with this book. I enjoyed the setting a lot, and the secondary characters really shined. I loved Harper’s friends and Ryan’s parents were awesome. I also enjoyed the car scene that witnessed Ryan no 2 😊

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

This book was pretty cute. I always love a good enemies to lovers book and this one was great. It's a quick and easy read with interesting characters and a fun storyline as well. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters and I thought their relationship developed really naturally. Looking forward to more books by this author!

This book was fantastic! Harper is an awesome celebrity reporter who is thrown when Ryan is suddenly hired at her magazine. They have history and can’t seem to get along now.

Harper’s character is written as a strong, independent woman who goes after what she wants and is respected in her field. Ryan sees her for who she is and really respects her talent. Ryan’s character was so honest in how he felt about Harper. His methods sometimes need med some work, but I was really rooting for these two.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

I actually really enjoyed this story! It was perfect for my commutes and I can see it as being a great book to read at the beach!

I felt a connection to the characters and the storyline and found myself being drawn into the story!

The Last Word features Harper, a celebrity editor for a magazine, who is now forced to work with her former fling-turned-enemy Ryan. I absolutely loved this! I typically find the work lives of romance characters boring but OMG! I was hooked on her work life and I am now oh-so-interested to read these fake celebrity memoirs she was going to press events for.
Harper was a bit ridiculous in her stubbornness at times, but as a reader, I could tell she truly believed in what she said. She was super well-rounded and is such a detailed character for a romance story where characters often lack depth. Ryan was delightful. I loved his relationship with his family, found him so sincere, and I always love a "I've wanted you the first time I saw you" moment. Birchall wrote a few moments like that which had me getting butterflies along with Harper. To top it off, we got lots of him telling the people around him how much he admires and values her. The reader (and Harper) of course don't find this out until the end, but it makes the romance even more sweet.
Overall, I loved The Last Word! It was an incredible mix of contemporary and romance. Harper's storyline was so strong and interesting, it made the romance even more enjoyable.
I received my advanced reader copy from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

Katy Birchall's "The Last Word" is a delightful enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance that will have readers laughing and rooting for the characters. When Harper Jenkins' new boss promotes her former love and arc-nemesis, Ryan, to be Features Editor, Harper is pushed to the brink. The book combines witty banter with clever storytelling, reminiscent of Sophie Kinsella. The inclusion of a wonderful cast of supporting characters strikes a perfect balance between the romance and the importance of deep and meaningful friendships. The book's London setting adds an extra layer of fun to the story. Birchall manages to bring together classic romance tropes, such as enemies-to-lovers and second chances, in a fresh and entertaining way. Fans of forced proximity and dual timelines will also enjoy this book. "The Last Word" is a fun and entertaining read that I highly recommend.

👜BOOK REVIEW 👜

The Last Word by @katybirchallauthor

I absolutely loved The Wedding Season by this author and was excited this book dropped on my Kindle!

Thank you to @netgalley
@stmartinspress and the author for the early copy!

This story follows Harper Jenkins as she navigates the journalist world through Hollywood and celebrity lifestyles. And she is good, real good! Of course let's add a ridiculous boss and his disastrous decision to hire on Ryan, a fantastic featured editor, her nemesis and former flame.

Love this line from Goodreads...
"All is fair in love and magazines."

This is a women's fiction/contemporary romance with rivals to lovers, workplace/office romance and second chance. Loved the character development and growth of the FMC. Harper is one hardworking, talented career woman, which I'm always here for! And she can be for sure intense and feisty when she wants to be...somebody always has to have the LAST WORD. I did get frustrated with this character often...because HELLO GIRL... It's RYAN!😍 What a dreamboat!

As usual, great dialogue and witty banter. A well-rounded story with all the character growth and fun relatable details. This author is a fantastic writer and I can't wait to read her next books!

The Last Word released last week! And just look at this cover!!😍

*Romance - fade to black
* TW- some language, family issues

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥 (fade to black and one mildly descriptive open door scene)
Trigger Warning: cheating (side character), brief mention of death of a loved one

Eleven years ago Harper Jenkins and Ryan Jansson met as interns and, after declaring their growing feelings for one another, had an incident that ruined everything. Now Harper and Ryan are working together as journalists at the same magazine, and Harper refuses to let Ryan get the best of her. As they argue and tease each other, it's obvious that their supposed dislike of one another might be a cover for their true feelings. And when they're forced to work on an article together, Harper realizes she might have made a mistake letting Ryan go the first time. Can these two put the past behind them and get it right the second time around?

After adoring The Wedding Season last year, I was so excited to get an ARC for Katy Birchall's newest book. While her previous books were more women's fiction, this one focused on the romance between Harper and Ryan. I loved the bickering and tension between these two in the beginning and liked the flashbacks that showed how they first met and then parted ways. I definitely think people will have mixed feelings about Harper and her reaction to the original conflict with Ryan, but I can understand some of her hurt and frustration. They both had to learn from their mistakes and heal. And while the two conflicts in this book were a little frustrating, I still really loved their story. I thought Ryan did some really sweet things and made it clear that he never got over Harper. I also liked seeing Harper find success in the end and stand up to her harsh parents. There were several memorable moments throughout this book, and it's proof that Katy Birchall continues to be an author I can count on for a good read!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Word was a fun little romcom about a woman whose former arch nemesis was hired at the newsroom where she works. Enemies to lovers? Yes please. A little too much brooding and miscommunication but that was outweighed by some fluffy, frothy fun to read during a stressful week. The boss made me laugh and I liked seeing Harper mature, stand up for herself and not let her past weigh her down.

This romance story checked all of my favorite tropes: workplace, enemies to lovers and second chance. It was made up of a wonderful cast, plenty of banter, laugh out loud humor and a perfectly drawn out slow burn.

I loved these characters. Harper is a Celebrity Journalist for a magazine. She has this uncanny way of gaining the trust of Hollywood stars and musicians by easing them into a relaxed interview. These moments were entertaining to watch, especially when she helped deliver a starlet’s baby in the most unlikely spot. Not only was her character funny, smart and relatable, but she had plenty of depth too. She dealt with a chauvinistic boss, a boyfriend who was using her and parents who didn’t support her career choice.

I adored Ryan. Not only does he have the cutest parents, but he has this perfectly grumpy disposition that constantly pushed Harper’s buttons creating a lot of entertaining banter and competitiveness. These two had excellent chemistry and built up sexual tension that just left you grinning at the pages like fool waiting for one of them to finally act on their feelings. To add to the storyline, you start getting flashbacks and soon realize that these two actually have a past! It quickly added a depth and explanation of their hesitancy. I enjoyed watching them work through their feelings.

I can easily admit that I’m a fan of Birchall and her writing style.

Book 7 of my Spring Reading Bonanza was a return to the workplace romance. I'm always leery of books in the journalism world as they are usually out of touch with reality but given this gossip mag setting I was able to put that aside and enjoy the office plotting.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

Harper is a journalist living in London and loves her job. She's dating Liam, a guy who shares her ambition and focus on career, making them seem like a good fit. However, things take a turn when Ryan, her former intern, becomes the new feature editor at the magazine she's working at. Harper had a bad experience interning with him, and she's unhappy that he's now her colleague. She decides to keep her distance and pretend not to know him, but their desks are located next to each other, leading to fights.

Although it took a while for me to connect with the characters, the bickering between Harper and Ryan added humor to the story. Alongside the light tone, the book also covers serious topics, giving readers a glimpse into Harper's backstory.

Overall, "The Last Word" is a cute romcom that I would rate 3.5 stars. It's a fun read that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a book to take on a trip or read by the pool.

The story of Harper and Ryan, a second chance, enemies to lovers romance. A great read, fast paced and keeps you interested.

Super cute enemies to lovers/second chance/office entaglement romantic comedy! Harper Jenkins is a successful celebrity journalist but her life is turned upside down and inside out when Ryan Janson is hired as the new editor. Ryan and Harper had a pretty serious fling about 11 years prior that didn’t end well. Their boss unwittingly continues to pair them in the same assignments causing all kinds of fireworks. But sparks really fly when they are sent on a romantic press trip overseas. This is my first read with this author and I’m excited to read more of her British romcoms. I think this book would be a great vacation or beach read! Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now!

•The Last Word 🗞️•

📚Genre: rom-com
🤔Rating: 🍺🍺🍺.5(3.5/5)
#️⃣ of pages: 386
👯‍♀️ read if you like: office romances, spastic main characters & enemies to lovers
📢Publishing Date: May 2, 2023 (a little late reading this one)

👍🏼:
•love an enemies to lovers trope!
•I loved Harper’s job and her approach to it! Gave an interesting perspective on that realm of journalism
•who doesn’t love a happy ending!

👎🏼:
•pushing 400 pages is a lottt for a rom-com IMO
•it was slow for me at first and pretty predictable

Overall…
This was a cute read! Harper and Ryan are the definition of “opposites attract” and I enjoyed watching their story play out. I loved the banter and witty dialogue. I wish there had been a little more of the romance earlier on; I think that’s why it felt so slow to me. All in all though, enjoyable and easy read!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review!

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