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BOOKWORM REVIEW: The Last Word by Katy Birchall

 

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. **

ABOUT THE BOOK

A young journalist puts her career––and her heart––on the line when her former work nemesis is hired in her newsroom, for fans of The Hating Game and Beach Read .

Harper Jenkins is at the top of her game. A brilliant, determined journalist with a well-known knack for getting tight-lipped Hollywood stars to open up to her, Harper loves her job as Celebrity Editor at a newspaper’s glossy weekend magazine and has the best contacts in the business.

But when her awful boss hires talented reporter Ryan to be the new Features Editor, Harper is furious. Because the two have met a decade ago, they were interns at the same publication, where they fell into a whirlwind romance…until Ryan betrayed Harper, and they never spoke again.

Thrown together in a busy newsroom, their dynamic is a disaster from the start. They can’t agree on anything and bicker constantly―Ryan can’t bear how chaotic and messy Harper is; Harper finds Ryan’s condescending nature infuriating. They clash over who’s writing what article, and fight over who’s going to which event.

Yet as they’re forced to spend more and more time together, Harper realizes she may have misjudged Ryan and can’t help but feel a spark growing between them. Long buried feelings start to resurface and, when they’re thrown together on a romantic press trip abroad, their chemistry comes to a head.

But all is fair in love and magazines, and with the news that layoffs across the department are imminent, Harper is left to who will get the last word?


MEET KATY BIRCHALL

Katy is the author of several young adult novels including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch with Alesha Dixon, and the Find the Girl teen series with YouTube stars Lucy and Lydia Connell. Katy was proud to be the author of a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma for the Awesomely Austen series, a collection of Austen’s novels retold for younger readers. She has also written a non-fiction book, How to be a Princess: Real-Life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines.

Katy lives in London with her partner, Ben, and her rescue dog, Bono.

Connect with Katy
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