The sexism was a bit too much, especially in the beginning. It seemed to overtake the story and I started to lose interest for the first ⅓ of this book. Going into this, I was expecting a romance and when workplace toxicities seemed to take over the story I almost didn’t finish it. But I’m so glad this book didn’t solely focus on that as the main subject because this author writes one hell of a romance book. Once the book started focusing on Harper and Ryan I completely fell in love with this book.

I really enjoyed the narrator for this book. She matched the tone for this book and she provided unique voices for every character.

I was hardcore crushing on Ryan from the moment I met him. I’m such a sucker for a pseudo enemies-to-more workplace romance, especially when it’s clearly obvious the guy falls first. He brought a sweetness to this story that made this romance book stand out from the rest. Though it was a rough beginning, when the story picked up I couldn’t help but devour this book. Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this ALC

The Last Word by Katy Birchall
Pub Date: May 2, 2023 🗓️

I absolutely LOVED this book! This was my first book by Birchall and will not be my last! I felt such a strong connection to the main character, Harper, and just want to meet someone like her in real life, because I feel like she would be my best friend. The character development was so strong and I cannot recommend this book enough!

The description of this book compares it to The Hating Game and I feel like this is SPOT ON! I loved The Hating Game and I love The Last Word! I felt like I flew through this book because I could not stop reading it. Harper, the main character, is a journalist, who is well liked by all, except her boss. She does her job well, despite being messy and usually late. What I love about her character is that despite her flaws, she gets her work done and does it WELL. When she finds herself working at the same publication as Ryan, a co-worker/love interest from her past, she has to decide if she can trust him again after their past working relationships turned sour. I loved Ryan almost as much as I loved Harper.

I also loved the background related to Harper’s parents/sister. I felt like this added so much dimension to the story and felt it added so much!

The narrator, Karen Cass was just perfect for this role and I felt like she really was the perfect voice for Harper. I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook just as much as I loved reading the physical book!

Read The Last Word if you like:
💙Enemies to lovers
💙Second chance romance
💙Amazing character banter
💙Perfect supporting characters
💙A perfectly imperfect main character

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Katy Birchall, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Last Word audiobook!

Posted on Instagram on April 28, 2023 (Currently Reading): http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
Posted on Goodreads on April 10, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram (full review) on May 2, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Instagram (mini review) in April 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 2, 2023
**-will post on designated date

3.75 stars

Harper and Ryan are serving enemies to lovers, and while that's not my most sought-after scenario, I enjoy this author so much that I thought I'd go for it anyway. The gamble paid off for me, even with that incoming barrier, and I am certain that folks who enjoy this trope and/or this author will also leave this read feeling satisfied, particularly if they, too, go with the audio version.

One of Birchall's greatest qualities in writing romance is that this is never ALL that's going on with her characters - even the women! LOL. Harper is fun to read not because of what's happening in her love-hate-love life but because she's skilled, driven, and round. The romance is intriguing, but the best parts of the book, at least for this reader, are the insights into Harper's family relationships and the connections she sees between her work and who she is at a fundamental level. These elements will be extremely relatable to many readers and perhaps even more impactful - or at least a pleasant surprise - to many readers.

This is my third Birchall novel (for grown folks), and I continue to enjoy these works. I'm looking forward to whatever she produces next.

I devoured The Secret Bridesmaid and The Wedding Season and this book wasn't quite that for me. This book was a lot more relationship based than other other books and I think that might be where the disconnect was for me. The Secret Bridesmaid felt more friendship based and The Wedding Season was more about finding out who she wanted to be after this relationship that spanned her entire adult life fizzled out.

This book was centered more on the relationship but she did heavily invest her time and self into her career. She was a dang good, trustworthy journalist and put people at ease quickly and did good work. Her relationships with her subjects were lovely to see and I liked seeing them pop back up as the story went along.

I'm just going to go ahead and say that I don't think what Ryan did was wrong. I think he took her anger and heartbreak on because he loves her and that wasn't fair. I feel like she needed to do some serious groveling and we never really got to see it. Since the groveling was minimal, the epilogue felt abrupt.

The narrator did a great job.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
This is such a fun, entertaining, witty and funny book. I laughed out loud at some of the things that where going on in this story and felt tugs on my heart at others. Ryan and Harper are such interesting, engaging and relatable characters. This story had my attention from the start and held it until the last word of the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many of the secondary characters were interesting and added to the fabric of the story. I love that we got an epilogue that shows the main characters months later. The more I read Birchall the more she captivates me and brings me into the world that she’s created.

I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the experience. The narrator did a good job and was easy to follow and understand.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was my first book by Birchall so I didn’t know what to expect for writing style. I think the description of “The Hating Game meets Beach Read” actually hindered my experience. It set the bar high for romance and this one didn’t really meet that for me. The book was kind of slow, the FMC wasn’t all that likable and I didn’t feel the romance/connection. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was very excited to read this book when I first read the back and what the book was compared to. I was overly annoyed with all the characters, and this always causes the book to tank for me.

Not my jam.

Harper is the Celebrity Editor and absolutely loves her job...that is until Ryan is hired as the new Features Editor. Not everyone in the office knows this, but Harper and Ryan worked together as interns and even had a fling until he betrayed her. Now that they are having to work together again, they are forced to spend more time with each other and even have desks next to each other. The fight and argue all the time and to make it worse, Cosmo, Harper's boss starts giving more of Harper's work to Ryan. They both end up on a press trip and reconnect, but when they go back to the real world, Harper feels betrayed again and is not sure she will ever be able to trust him again.

The chemistry, even while arguing, between Harper and Ryan was so hot. It was like the Hating Game, but with history. I loved getting to see the past and how Ryan still cared for Harper even when she acted like she hated him. Their work friends being involved in getting them back together was so cute and I loved how it showed that actors can trust good journalists. The story of delivering the baby was hysterical. The narration was great!

This one has several classic tropes—second chance romance, enemies to lovers, opposites attract and office romance. It is written well and the arguing between the two main characters is really fun! Definitely gave me Hating Game vibes!

A pair of interns hook up and find themselves working together 11 years later. Both have not forgotten the time they spent together and are trying to be successful at the magazine that they work for. The editor is a nasty man that continues to put them at odds with each other. Will they be able to put the past behind them or will those unresolved feelings surface ?

This is a straightforward romance that is predictable but enjoyable all the same. I enjoyed The Secret Bridesmaid and The Wedding Season a little more just because they were more unique. I do enjoy Birchall’s writing style and characters and look forward to reading more by her.

The audiobook was narrated really well!!
3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #TheLastWord #KatyBirchall

I love Katy Birchalls writing so I was beyond excited to get this one! This one was a cute story but it didn’t seem overly original or unique. Journalist & nemesis competing has been common lately. The writing is great though and the characters are likeable!!! Can’t wait for more books by Katy!

Thank you NetGalley for alc in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the copy of this book.

I've loved Katy Birchall's last two books and was very excited to read this book based on "The Hating Game" x "Beach Read" vibes... but I think that what I didn't have in mind and what I forgot to adjust my expectations to is that Katy Birchall writes contemporary fiction with a side of romance, meaning there's not going to be as much interaction with the couple and as much tension and love in her books. That being said, I think the comparisons put in the description hurt my experience of this book, because I was bored and wanting more from the characters together.

I did love the narration by Karen Cass!

I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance, workplace rivals British romance set in the world of dwindling print journalism. Harper is used to being discredited by co-workers and her parents but she enjoys entertainment reporting. When her former flame and rival, Ryan returns and they start competing again, the sparks fly but there's only room for one of them. Perfect for fans of Falon Ballard's Just my type and great on audio narrated by Karen Cass. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!