I love a good workplace romance - and one that doesn't have icky power dynamics with it. THE LAST WORD was so fun: second chance romance; workplace romance; career-driven FMC; celebrity gossip; and a dysfunctional family. Overall, I think it was well-paced; the mix of timelines was easy to follow and I was equally invested in each timeline.

My big sticking point was I felt it should have been over at 60% - I could feel the climax coming and then it was dragged out with a new storyline. Well the rest of the book was still well-written and I was drawn it, it almost didn't feel necessary.

Overall, still a huge Katy Birchall fan!

I LOVE Katy's books but unfortunately this was my least favorite to date. So much of it just felt like unnecessary fluff and I would've loved more plot or character development because it felt a little like reading cute/charming but mindless television if that makes sense.

Harper and Ryan.... Oh God this enemies to lovers of super competitive annoying couple in the same workspace...I just couldn't get into it. Set it down for more than a month and tried to pick it back up and ugh. I made it 35% of the way through before hating the characters enough to declare it a DNF.

I am a fan of Katy Birchall's writing, and I was happy to receive a copy of The Last Word. I am always down for an enemies-to-lovers office romance in the same vein as The Hating Game, and this book delivers along those lines.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

The Last Word employs a few favorite romance tropes - enemies- to-lovers, coworkers, second chance romance - and a dynamic workplace setting in celebrity journalism to good effect. I enjoyed Katy Birchall’s novel and will be keeping an eye out for her future books! Thank you to St. Martin’s and Net Galley for the advance copy.

Big thanks to Netgalley and SMP for this book. I love Katy Birchall, her books are always a good time. I liked this one, didn't love it! I didn't really like the main character Harper and because of that I found it hard to really root for them all the time, or her even.

I just could not get into this book. I felt the story line was kind of lacking and I ended up having to put the book down and move to another book.

It was DNF for me unfortunately.

I honestly didn't have any expectations going into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised once I start reading. I ended up really adoring this book! It had similar vibes to The Hating Game, but there was so much more heart in this book. Don't get me wrong, I loved The Hating Game, but there was something about this book that just really got me in the feels.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Harper is a badass at her job and you just want all the best things for her, even if she can be immature at times. She also has an irrational dislike for Ryan. Or at least it seems irrational until the pieces of their history are shared throughout the book. Ryan is a good guy and it's easy to fall in love with him. Even if he may do some shitty things on occasion. It was so easy to root for these two to get together!

I'm a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers plot and the pacing of this one was done really well. It didn't feel rushed or too slow. And I also really enjoyed the career elements to the story. It felt so relatable to how women are treated by male leadership in certain industries. I honestly wanted to punch Harper's boss so many times. But the character development in this book was perfect and seeing how Harper becomes such a stronger person throughout the book was so inspiring.

I will absolutely read anything else Katy Birchall writes! This is a definite must-read!

Rating: 4 / 5

Somehow I have missed reviewing this one on my feed here. Probably because it was just fine and nothing major to write home about. Cute little rom-com that was, honestly, highly forgettable. 🙃 ⭐️⭐️💫

Work place, enemy to lovers romance + women's fiction. Katy never does this wrong. I'm impressed when a romance can be so much more and every time I read her books, I fill so whole!

Just devoured "The Last Word" – a riveting tale of love, betrayal, and second chances in the world of journalism. Harper Jenkins, a powerhouse Celebrity Editor, finds herself at odds with the talented but troublesome Ryan. Past romance, present clashes, and a looming threat of layoffs make for a compelling read. Will they find common ground, or will someone get "The Last Word"? Intriguing from start to finish!

Enemies to lovers... in London... SIGN ME UP! This was a fun read but I found the beginning to be a little too slow for my liking. I really enjoyed how Birchall was very realistic with her approach to journalism and the way Harper interviewed people seemed very real. Ryan was the true star of the show for me.

⭐⭐⭐/5

• workplace romance
• enemies to lovers
• lol moments

This is a cute rom-com! Miscommunication is always a little frustrating for me but overall it was an enjoyable read.

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

Second chance romance, enemies to lovers and workplace romance? Sign me up!Three of my favorite tropes and this didn’t disappoint!
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Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Cute book. All the classic tropes you would expect in a common day romance. I enjoyed it overall. 4 stars

Like all of Katy Birchall's books, THE LAST WORD is full of great characters and plenty of great banter! It also included many of my favorite tropes - enemies-to-lovers, second chance, forced proximity. Overall, an enjoyable British romcom!

Slow start for me. Really liked it once it got going. Very funny at times. I enjoyed the sister aspect at the end and not taking over the entire story. I thought Harper really grew as a person as the story went on and I loved her with Ryan.

I find myself reading less and less traditional rom coms these days and this book kind of validated my decision. It wasn't a bad book by any means, I think it just wasn't my cup of tea and is better suited for someone looking for a rom com with a lighter tone.

I also unfortunately struggled to connect with our main character Harper, I was continuously frustrated with her decisions and actions. I felt bad for Ryan as he was very quick to take the blame for things that shouldn't have fallen on his shoulders in my opinion.

Overall this was a cute rom com, the story just wasn't for me personally. I would still recommend it to those looking for a cute enemies to lovers romance.

SYNSOPSIS: Ryan and Harper were once interns together at the same publicity firm, and things carried on... well beyond the office if you know what I mean. The sparks were flying, until Ryan betrayed Harper. Now, fast forward a decade later, they are both at the top of their game and when their companies merge... the office becomes a warzone. They are constantly bickering, at odds, and making the office a nightmare for everyone. The chemistry is still sparking, but the loathing is strong between these two.

YOU MIGHT LOVE THIS ONE, IF YOU LIKE:
- The Hating Game
- Enemies to Lovers
- Workplace Romance
- Forced Proximity

MY FEELS:
This book was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed their witty banter and the chemistry between the love interests. Dare I say, I enjoyed this one more than The Hating Game? I enjoyed all of the bickering, and can never deny my love when it comes to workplace romances.

4/5 Stars

[Gifted by St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.]

I normally love enemies to lovers but this one missed the mark for me. I think it was because the main character was was tough to like. I couldn't connect with her or really get into the story.