The Last Page

I loved Katie Holt’s debut novel, Not in My Book, and I’ve been looking forward to her next book. It’s out this week: The Last Page, about a NYC bookstore that must carry on after the beloved owner has passed away. Ella has been a manager there for years, and Leo had told her he’d leave the store to her. But he ultimately left it to his estranged grandson, Henry, who has just arrived from Tennessee to assume his role as store owner before managing from afar. Ella and Henry butt heads at first, but when they discover that The Last Page is actually severely in debt and at risk of closing forever, they agree to work together to save the store. In the process, they may find something more with each other, too.

What I Liked:

• A love for books. Ella alludes to her job being viewed by others as living out their Belle-in-the-library dreams, and while she says it’s not quite like that, it’s still the imagery that comes to my mind. I love how much Leo, Ella, and everyone at The Last Page live and breathe books. They read constantly, across genres, and can recommend the right book to anyone. This whole novel felt like a love letter to books. I also really enjoyed the staff recommendations at the start of each chapter!
• Peruvian culture. Ella’s parents immigrated from Peru before she was born, but their life is still infused with Peruvian culture: the food, the customs, and the language. My husband is Peruvian and we’re currently in Lima, so I really enjoyed seeing these sides of Ella’s heritage come through. It feels authentic, but is also combined with the fact that Ella herself was born and raised in New York City.
• NYC love. Speaking of New York, another element I enjoyed here is how it highlights life in the big city. Ella is a born-and-raised New Yorker, and she loves her city almost as much as she loves her bookstore. Henry is a Southerner at heart, and he misses the wide open spaces of Tennessee. Ella is on a mission to make him fall in love with New York City… just like he’s falling in love with the store and with her. I enjoyed seeing her version of New York, not just the major tourist attractions.
• Quirky booksellers. I loved Ella and Henry, of course, but I also enjoyed getting to know the whole gang at The Last Page. Leo was a charming and beloved owner, and even though he’s already passed when the book begins, we get to know who he was and the impact he had on everyone. It’s also fun to spend time with everyone still working at the store, from the resident grump to the old woman who’s still rocking and partying.

Audiobook:

The Last Page is told through dual POV, and fittingly, the audiobook gets two narrators: Elena Rey as Ella and Dan John Miller as Henry. Both do an excellent job of capturing their respective characters’ personalities as well as those of the wider cast. Henry has a suitably Tennessee accent; Ella occasionally speaks in Spanish with her Peruvian parents. The various booksellers at The Last Page each come with their own unique vocal style, making all the characters jump off the page. I really enjoyed the production of this audiobook.

Final Thoughts

The Last Page is a charming novel for anyone who loves bookstores and the magic of a bookish community. It’s a sweet and spicy romance about two kind people uniting over a common goal, duty to family, and a desire to keep a beloved piece of local culture alive.

Special thanks to Alcove Press, RBmedia, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy The Last Page here – it’s available as a hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The Last Page by Katie Holt
Audiobook Narrator	Elena Rey and Dan John Miller
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	NYC
Number of Pages	336
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	May 12, 2026
Publisher	Alcove Press

Official Summary

A bookseller with a dream of running her beloved bookstore vs. the owner’s out-of-touch grandson who inherits everything. Game on.

From the author of Not in My Book comes another irresistible, bookish contemporary romance.

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. 

Fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood will adore this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers bookish romance!