It was a solid read with a great, strong main character, as usual. However, this time, I had a feeling it's dragging on and I found myself skipping some of the passages in the end, as they didn't keep my attention anymore. Also, the situation with Harper's parents and sister was not one that I understood - where did it come from? What was the trigger? Why did they behave that way?

However, it was light - hearted and I adored the setting within the world of magazines and the sort of journalist Harper was. I also liked her character - she really knew what she wanted and her being so chaotic is something that I can really well relate to. It was great to see her growing up, maturing, standing up for herself.

Even though I am not too bothered for this whole enemies - to - lovers things, I think this story was really well written and the characters were believable. Sure, Harper sometimes came across a bit bratty and childish, but who wasn't like this in the same situation? Ryan seemed a bit too perfect for my liking, but I still liked him very much. There was some great banter and one - liners and the scenes that were not connected to the magazine, like Mimi's birthday, were adorable.

So altogether, it was an enjoyable read, but I prefered other Birchall's books to this one. Nevertheless, it is for sure worth reading, with the author'S great writing style and story - telling and overall good - vibes feeling.

A witty and thoroughly enjoyable romcom that’s perfect for fans of smart, character-driven stories. *The Last Word* follows Harper, a fiercely independent journalist, as she navigates a chaotic reunion with her former boss (and ex) Ryan, leading to plenty of laughs, banter, and heartfelt moments.

Katy Birchall’s sharp writing and humour shine throughout, and the chemistry between Harper and Ryan crackles on the page. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is brilliantly done, with just the right balance of tension and vulnerability. Harper’s journey of self-discovery is as compelling as the romance itself, making her a truly relatable and engaging protagonist.

While the pacing was slightly uneven at times, the strong character development and genuinely funny moments more than made up for it. A sparkling read with heart and humour—definitely worth picking up!

This was a solid read for me. It offered a blend of workplace drama (my fave!) and a cute romance. I also loved seeing the publishing world from a magazine standpoint rather than books!

I felt that the main characters had great chemistry, and I adored their witty banter and work-place dynamic. The tension between their past and present was chef kiss and added a depth to their arcs.

It was is a fun and light read, particularly for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope and second-chance romances. While it didn't blow me away, Birchall's sharp writing and the engaging central relationship make it worth a read

I would say this was a solid 3.5 book, one I enjoyed which has bits of humour and bits that made you smile as it was so sweet but ultimately it was a little bit slow for me and I wanted more chemistry and a bit more pizzazz! It was easy to read but just a lot slower speed than I would’ve preferred!

I love enemies to lovers so I knew that I would love this and I did. A quick, easy and hilarious read that made me laugh out loud

I loved this. I devoured this in a day! I loved Harper and Ryan. I loved their friendship group too. This kept me turning the pages needing to know what happened next. Definitely will recommended to all I know.

This is a cute enemies to lovers, second chance romance. Harper and Ryan have history that ended badly, and she’s furious when he comes into her newsroom as a new editor. They clash over everything, Harper is messy and Ryan is neat, he gets the articles she wants to write and on and on.

When their editor puts them on a story together Harper is angry, but as they spend time together they remember the reasons they liked in each in the past.

I didn’t love Harper’s snarky attitude, it got old for me. Otherwise a fun read, 3.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Definitely not my favourite read. On one hand, I enjoyed the sizzling chemistry between Harper and Ryan (swoon) but on the other hand, Harper behaves so badly at times. Ryan didn't deserve how she treated him and it made it quite difficult to like her. The Last Word is a fun, easy, romantic read but not the most memorable book I've read.

Laugh out loud romantic comedy gold. The Last Word follows Harper and Ryan on this second chance romance. Throughout the course of the book, we find out why they're estranged and what really happened between them eleven years ago. The chemistry is undeniable, but is Harper too stubborn to let herself fall for the same man again? Harper's difficult relationship with her parents was a much needed insight into her motivations, which only added to her appeal. Perfect for fans of the Hating Game, workplace rivals to lovers with tonnes of silly banter. Likeable characters sure to make you smile.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

Thought this book would be a great read from the synopsis on the back cover, however this was such a slow read and I didn’t enjoy it.

It took a while for this book to get going and it’s closed door. Some of the chemistry is written really well, but it leaves just a little to be desired. I downloaded it because it was likened to The Hating Game. It’s a sweet love story, but the FMC is touted as this amazingly sweet person and I didn’t find that to be true. She’s likable, but also incredibly close minded in some instances, which was frustrating. So, overall, it was fine, but I’m not jumping to download another book from the author.

I really enjoyed this workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance. It may be slow-paced for some but their professional role as journalists have taken the stage.

What I liked about the novel

•The humor, that’s why it turned out to be a light read for me. I had so much fun when they were arguing about silly things


•Second chance trope, I don’t usually read this kind of trope but still it was good to see how Ryan and Harper again falls for each other despite their tragic past.


•Workplace setting


•It’s cute cover. Although it has two covers, I prefer the cover with pink and blue colors.


The only thing I didn’t like is the later half of the book. Because in my opinion it went straight from enemies to lovers trope to miscommunication trope which I hate the most.


The Last Word is already out now. So grab your copies if you like rom comedy.

Knew Birchall was a veteran author so was excited to give her latest one a go, but unfortunately I just found this very slow-paced.

I have adored all Katy Birchall’s novels (she is one of my autobuy author, after all), but I think that The Last Word is my favorite so far. I fell in love with the story and the characters, and I stayed up late to finish reading it.

The protagonist of the novel is Harper Jenkins. A celebrity journalist, she is not only good with the written word. She can convince celebrities to open up to her like no other journalists can’t so that her articles are always exclusive. On the personal side, she’s never committed to anyone, not ever since she got her heart broken by the only guy she ever trusted. The problem is that now that same guy sits next to her at work as the new Features Editor, but she hasn’t forgotten his betrayal. Their arguments become the entertainment of the office as they fight for who has the last word, but what happens when the two of them spend more and more time together?

I loved the character of Harper. She is a workaholic with a strained relationship with her very dysfunctional family. She is messy and chaotic, and she is also genuine, loyal, and relatable. Her approach to celebrities as humans, making them feel comfortable and at ease (and, in one case, helping them give birth in the back seat of a car), makes her successful in a job she loves, but for which she must fight tooth and nail. Her relationship with Ryan is not only the very essence of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but also the opposite-attracts trope. Where Harper is loud and the dictionary definition of disorganized, Ryan is neat and tidy, quiet and reserved. He is adorable and kind and it is clear neither of them has moved on from what happened ten years earlier.

The Last Word is a witty, entertaining, sparkling, and addictive novel and I didn’t want it to end. I can’t recommend it enough as I wait for whatever the author writes next!

Thank you for this advanced reader copy.

This book is a great romcom with similar themes to the hating game. The will they won't they flirting was enteraining and kept you rooting for the couple to get together.

The Last word is a wonderful enemies-to-lovers story set in an amazing and vibrant London setting.

Harper loves her Celebrity Editor job at a newspapers glossy weekend magazine but then her boss hires the very talented reporter Ryan as the new Features Editor and then all the fun really begins…

I do love an office romance trope and then throw in an enemies-to-lovers trope as well and you have the most perfect story.

I loved both Ryan and Harper and their wonderful banter was hilarious too…….

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love the concept and the cover. Very cute.

I loved the heroine in this one; she was so entertaining to me but at the same time relatable. Their romance was swoon worthy and and a little slow but was so fierce and definitely worth the wit especially with that ending! Overall, it was one fun and loving read for me!

Three and a half stars.

Harper Jenkins loves her job as Celebrity Editor for a magazine called Narrative working with her two best friends, even though the Editor-in-Chief Cosmo is a bit of a hater. The only fly in the ointment is that Ryan Jansson is on the features team for the magazine's sister newspaper The Correspondence. The two of them have history, dating back to when they were both newspaper interns eleven years ago, and are enemies. When Ryan joined the newspaper they made an unspoken pact to pretend they didn't know each other.

Then Harper's friend Rakhee the Features Editor accepts a new job and Cosmo promotes Ryan to Features Editor in her place, now Harper has to sit next to neta-freak Ryan and his condescending attitude every day. Despite being the best in the business, someone who relates to celebrities on a personal level and gets them to share fascinating facts about their lives, Cosmo continually tries to undermine Harper, promoting boring businessmen for the front cover rather than world-famous celebrities, and giving her interviews to Ryan for spurious reasons.

This enemies-to-love, second-chance, opposites-attract, romance started off well, gradually revealing the history between Ryan and Harper but for me it gradually went off the boil. I think it was that Ryan didn't really feel like a rounded character, more just a foil to contrast with Harper. Also, it felt a bit lazy to have such a mirroring of events from the past with the present (and something I've read before), it would have worked better for me if maybe the power dynamic had reversed (trying hard not to be spoilery).

Overall, pleasant enough but didn't end as well as it started (for me) and not as good as The Secret Bridesmaid.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.