I like enemies to lovers but I am picky! I find it hard to justify any immature adult behavior with this trope and I wasn't quite a fan of how the main character was acting. I think it got better in the end (as did the silly behavior) but it wasn't enough for me to be a big fan of this novel.

This was definitely a slow burner for me. There are a bunch of reviews that I had seen for this book that were DNF, which I think is a mistake here. The beginning may have been a bit clunky and there was a very slow build up here, but I really did find myself starting to enjoy the story more and getting into the characters here. The balance between work and personal life can always be tricky, especially with workplace relationships, but I thought that this was a very honest approach to that dynamic and it was an interesting read for me. If you get this book, I suggest hanging in there and seeing how the story progresses because the build up definitely made the payoff even better here.

It may have taken me a while to get around to it... but many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alright, buckle up, audiobook enthusiasts! I recently dove into "The Last Word" by Katy Birchall, beautifully narrated by Karen Cass. Let me tell you, it's like a cozy chat with your funniest friend – entertaining, heartwarming, and an absolute delight.

Let's start with Karen Cass – a maestro of voice acting. Her narration brought life to the characters in a way that felt like they were in the room with me. Cass's delivery is spot-on, capturing the humour, the drama, and the overall vibe of Birchall's storytelling.

Now, about the story – Birchall weaves a charming tale of friendship, family, and finding your voice. Protagonist Emily is relatable, navigating the rollercoaster of life with humour and a touch of awkwardness. The supporting cast adds layers of hilarity and heart to the mix.

"The Last Word" has a magnetic quality that keeps you hooked. It's not just a story; it's a journey through the ups and downs of teenagehood with a generous dose of wit. Birchall's writing is fresh, engaging, and full of unexpected moments that make you snort-laugh.

The pacing is like a well-choreographed dance – neither rushed nor slow. It lets you savour the story without feeling like sprinting toward the finish line. And the humor! Oh boy, it's the kind that catches you off guard, making you burst into laughter at the most unexpected moments.

Now, the setting – Birchall paints a vivid picture of Emily's world, making you feel like you're part of the shenanigans. From the quirky characters to the charming locales, it's a world you won't want to leave.

Second chance romance. But enemies to lovers? I love how the tagline “for lovers of the hating game” is PERFECT!

I did struggle a bit with how frustrating the main character was at times. But the banter once it gets going? Fun!

This was cute. Not anything I would write home about but a cute book.
I thought it was alittle slow at times.

This book is a pretty standard office romance combined with second-chance romance. When journalist Harper's magazine hires her ex of ten years, Ryan, they're forced to work together despite the fact that he broke her heart all those years ago. They're definitely an opposites attract couple, with Harper consistently portrayed as loud and outgoing while Ryan was more reserved - a combination I eat up every time. Very enjoyable, simple read!

I truly enjoyed the main female lead and found her to be quite interesting. On the other side of that though I found the male character to be immature and he just irked me. For the type of story this is, which seemed to lean more toward women's fiction than outright romance, it was slower than it could have been. Overall it was solid read!

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is an enemies to lovers workplace romance novel. First off, I loved all of the tropes and the dual timelines. The chemistry between the characters was absolutely sizzling at times. Initially, I was weary of Harper because of her mannerisms and attitude but eventually I saw where she was coming from. Would I read it again? No. Anyways, 4/5 stars.

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

The Last Word by Katy Birchall was a fun rom com that took a while to really take off, but ultimately was a layered read. It has the worst miscommunication / repeat break up scenario at the end that made me so frustrated but it did wrap up in an okay manner, although I would have kicked the hero to the curb.

This is set in the UK which added a fun dynamic as far as setting and place but will not be one of my top romances this year due to the MMC's ridiculous sabotage to himself and the relationship.

i definitely enjoy an enemies to lovers trope! Fans of Beach Read and The Hating Game will flock to this one!

Thank you to St. Martin's and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers and office romance tropes so when I read the description for this title, I knew I had to have it and it did not disappoint. The banter and chemistry between Ryan and Harper practically leapt off the page and I couldn't turn to the next one fast enough.

The story was a little slow to start but once it picked up, it felt like riding a bike downhill and I was sad when the story was over. Will probably have to give it a reread!

I love me some enemies to lovers!! The connection bewtween Harper and Ryan was so so so so palpable! While this was on the predictable side it was still a fun little read. I love sweet little feel good romances and this one hit the spot!

I loved the development of the main character - she was so interesting! I found Ryan to be immature and just annoying. I found parts of this to be slow (and would say this is more women's fiction than romance) but it was a good weekend read. Thank you for the ARC!

This book is totally up my alley! I love a sensible enemies to lovers storyline, especially one set in the workplace. Power dynamics and the struggle to keep up appearances abound here, so if you're like me and love a generally predictable (in a good way!) romp of a book, this is for you!

Ohhh yeah! One of.my absolute favorite tropes, and executed in such a fun and addictive way. This is my first read by this Author and definitely won't be my last!

This was a fun enemies to lovers office romantic comedy. I love the banter between Harper and Ryan, but also felt the chemistry almost immediately. I really enjoy Katy Birchall's writing style.

Slow to begin with. Not too much character fun to draw you into them

So overly detailed
And honestly harper (love the name) is such a whiny flake. She’s kind of unlikeable in the beginning. She upbeat but also selfish.

20% into this I felt very bored. It took too long for the story to progress to keep my attention.

I loved The Secret Bridesmaid and maybe I had more high hopes for that funny charm to jump off the page.

Loved the setting though and Katy writing and will definitely read more from this author.

My first DNF of 2024 :(

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, but after getting half way into it I just didn't feel anything. I wasn't connecting to the characters and didn't feel motivated to keep reading. On top of that, I found the main character to be very immature and irritating at times. I also felt stressed out by her? She was so chaotic and disorganized that I had second hand embarrassment and was just itching to organize her desk because it bothered me SO much that she was constantly a mess.

I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this one, but I hope that somewhere out there it finds the readers who will love it <3

This book was a great office romance with enemies to lovers! It is great for anyone who loves an office romance and two people who hate each other being forced to work together. The forced proximity trope never gets old!

I tried to give this book a chance. I wasn't able to connect to the characters. I know this book will be enjoyed by other readers.