The Last Page

Author: Katie Holt Title: The Last Page Publisher: Alcove Press Date Published: 05/12/2026

Read Dates: 04/05/2026- 04/06/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

The Last Page is a dual POV rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance. Ella has spent half her life among the shelves of The Last Page bookstore, training under the guidance of the stores owner to take over one day. But when Leo passes away, Ella is shocked to discover that the store was left to his estranged grandson, Henry. Henry is reluctant to leave his quiet life in Tennessee to return to New York, but figures he owes it to his grandfather to check out the store and make sure it’s running smoothly before returning home to run it remotely. He was t expecting Ella, a store full of odd and opinionated booksellers, or to find a reason to stay!

This is my second Katie Holt book and I am officially a fan! I loved this one as much as her debut, and even enjoyed a little cameo from Rosie and Aiden. Ella’s passion for the store and her love of books was wonderful (I’m almost envious of a fictional character for how she could find so much joy at work!) I understood Henry’s reluctance to give up his quiet life and loved seeing how he grew to love New York. I thought that the topics of grief and depression were both well done, and enjoyed all the side characters too.

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated.

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them.