The Last to Know: Don’t miss the all-new spicy, Sapphic, enemies-to-lovers rom com from the queen of the meet cute

by Laura Jane Williams

Ash has met her perfect match.

So has CJ.

Unfortunately for them, it’s the same man.

Mid-thirties and feeling the pressure, they’re ready to fight for him. Even if it means sabotaging each other.

As Ash and CJ turn up on each other’s dates, ruin one another’s chances, and accidentally end up spending an awful lot of time together, their friends begin to wonder. Are they fighting over the same guy? Or are they fighting their feelings for each other ... ?
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PRAISE FOR LAURA JANE WILLIAMS. . .

'I'm a big fan of Laura Jane Williams - she writes such fresh, smart, funny romances.' Beth O'Leary

'An absolute delight!... romantic, relaxing, inspiring... I love it!' Emily Henry

'The perfect romcom' Lucy Vine

'Smart, delightful and heaps of fun' Fiona Gibson

'Laura Jane Williams writes such warm and yet realistic love stories - they're not escapism, but rather hope-ism.' Holly Bourne

'Joyful, romantic and life-affirming.' Red

'Guaranteed to make you smile.' Closer

'Hilarious, heart-warming and truly authentic - your modern rom com must-read!' Hello!

'Tender, energetic and authentic.' Daisy Buchanan

'Pure escapist fiction!' Stacey Halls

'Smart and funny. The perfect escape.' Sarah Morgan

'Full of fun and charm... an utterly feel-good love story.' Holly Miller

'So funny and wonderful and life affirming' Lorna Cook

'This is the laugh-out-loud love story you need to read this summer.' Glamour

'Smart, sisterly storytelling... You can practically feel modern romance evolving as you're reading it' Emma Jane Unsworth, Observer

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 11, 2026

About the author

Laura Jane Williams (she/her) is known as the queen of the meet-cute. She is the author of six rom-coms, as well as the forthcoming Lovestruck (June 2023). She is also the author of three works of non-fiction.

The rights to Laura's international bestseller Our Stop have been sold for television, and her books have been translated into languages all over the world. She loves romance, being a parent, and lifting very heavy weights.

Find out more about Laura on www.laurajaneauthor.com

Reviews

[Karunnya Menon · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg! I read this on my flight back after a holiday! and I literally sobbed!!! maybe it wasn't supposed to be so emotional and it was just my holiday brain... But Ash and CJ are the cutest!!! But the truth is, Luis has my whole heart ❤️

these characters, the descriptions Lisbon. It's the perfect holiday read 😭

thank you Netgalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pack your bags and grab the sunscreen - things are hotting up in Lisbon this summer.

CJ keeps her cards close to her chest, Ash wears her heart on her sleeve and Luis gives his cards and heart away freely; but really, they’re all looking for the same thing - someone to love them, choose them and put them first.

Ash has come to Lisbon as a way to refresh her life, deciding to start by staying in the same co living/working space that CJ and Luis work at. She instantly hits it off with Luis, but hits into the iceberg that is CJ. With CJ unwilling to commit to Luis but also unwilling to say goodbye to their friends with benefits situation, she sees Ash as competition, and it’s one she thinks she wants to win. But let us remember, LJW is a feminist, and fighting over a man for a full book is not how this story goes.

I feel like this is LJW’s spicest book yet! And further proof I think she’d be the best agony aunt. Along with the spice, you can also expect a lot of character development, a fantastic cohort of side characters and the heart warming urge to put yourself first!

Thank you NetGalley and Cornerstone for the ARC.

[Rebecca Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ash finds herself in Lisbon, ready to throw caution to the wind and live her best life for 12 weeks. Cue a frosty reception from the manager, a lust at first sight with the manager's lover and an unlikely friendship.

The first few pages had me wondering what I had signed myself up for as I have never read anything by Laura Jane Williams and it turns out she is not shy about a bit spice and that is exactly how this book begins.

I wasn't sure at first and I didn’t warm to any of the characters to begin with - this almost had me DNF but I'm pleased I ploughed on as I did find it an enjoyable read.

At times it was cheesy but the characters grew on me and I loved reading about Lisbon. It is now on my list of places to visit so thank you to LJW for writing such a beautiful setting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of friendships, family and love.

Pretty certain this is the first book I’ve read by LJW and I’m not 100% certain on some of the ‘spice’ in it! Don’t know if I’m getting old or if it just didn’t land right with me!

That aside, it’s a good story, really easy to read and whilst predictable still a journey to go on. There’s some lessons in there that really resonated with me and I’m not sure if that’s meant to be a sign somehow as I certainly didn’t expect them when reading the blurb!

Either way, it was exactly what I needed after the last few reads I’ve had and I’d seek out more books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC

[Sara Oxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fair four-star read. I have loved this author works before so went into this with high hopes and it was good, but I did feel that I knew what was happening before it did at times, and that let it down for me. It has some amazing characters and the development of them was sublime, If I was rating it on characters, it would get a five every time. I may try it on audiobook when it comes out as I do find that sometimes I have enjoyed listening to this type or story more than reading it and I had such high hopes I will give it another go, as it could have just been me reading this at the wrong time.

[WhatFrizRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ash is in Lisbon trying to live and CJ is there living life exactly as she wants it, or at least how she thinks she wants it until she meets Ash.


This book was a little off the mark for me; I didn't enjoy the characters as much as in others of Williams' books and it wasn't as compelling a read. The story was quite predictable, very racey and a little different to her usual witty stuff in my opinion.