I've read all of Kate Clayborn's books within the past 30 days. In every one, in addition to being entertained, I've learned a little something. In this one, I didn't figure out what it was till close to the end, when Will makes a confession that broke my heart. I learned something from that. I guess you'll have to read the book to find out.

Will and Nora are opposites - he's avoiding his past, she can't break from hers. Somehow, they find each other and figure out how the pieces fit together, until they don't.

There's a sort of sadness to this book through most of it. There's also a few laugh out loud moments. One of my favorite characters ended up being Wil'l's boss, Gerald. Did not see that one coming.

Cute and sweet and overall happy. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this preview in return for an honest review. If Kate Clayborn keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them!

I don't usually read these types of books, and I had never heard of Kate Clayborn. I now want to read her other book "Love Lettering" because this one was so good, and I really enjoyed it! I didn't realize it, but I truly needed this type of reading, and it was comforting, like binge watching beloved episodes of Friends. You really fall in love with all the characters and especially the neighbors with all their quirks.The author really knows how to capture your heart, and it was a feel-good book to read. It had me grinning and chuckling throughout. I even cried, which I wasn't expecting because I don't usually cry easily. People talk about hugging their kindles during this book, and they're not lying--it really will happen! I highly recommend this book if you want to read a sweet, uplifting, funny, romantic, feel-good story!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this amazing eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My first Kate Clayborn book (can't believe I didn't read love lettering ) . This book tells the story of Will and Nora who met when they were teenagers but didn't really see each other's face only to meet 16 years later at the same building . Instead of being lovey dovey and let's get into it they are bickering . It goes from an almost relationship to a frenemies kinda situation and eventually becomes a friendship . After a stressful week this book was calming and much needed. Highly recommend it

I hate doing this.
DNFed at 50%

(ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher as an exchange for my honest review)

I really wished I enjoyed this book more so I didn't have to DNF it. I usually DNF books at around the 30% mark but since this is an ARC, I tried my best to like it more. I pushed myself to read more even if I'm slowly losing interest. To try harder just because I owe it to the publisher and the author. But, there's just no point torturing myself reading a book I have no time for anymore.

What are my issues with this book?

1. The premise was good, the book started out well! but what wasn't there were the characters' chemistry. Dont get me wrong, I found moments in the beginning where I felt it but, it's just pretty inconsistent to me. That was the first thing I noticed.
2. I couldn't connect with Nora. Her character's flat and boring that I sometimes find myself pretty annoyed with her. She's repetitive as heck 😭 like for example, always tells us readers about apartment loyalty! THE VELVET WALLPAPER? and her Nonna every single chapter, how she loves her grandma and how she is everything like, I GET IT, Nora! You said that already 10 chapters ago! (It's exhausting)
3. When the Enemies to Lovers/Feud trope was introduced, it didn't made things easier for me. You'd think it should have made things better because you'd be like, YES, FINALLY! SOMETHING IS HAPPENING! CHEMISTRY ABOUND! Well, it's the opposite. It made it all worse. How? Nora. She wants to pick a fight with hot dreamy doctor Will Sterling so bad she went on a ONE-SIDED FIGHT with him just to stop him and his plans. 😭 And the sad part here is, Will never once pushed back, which was frustrating! Though I gotta hand it to him for staying nice and being the bigger person here, but you see, he didn't start this. He did tried to approach them in a polite manner but Nora, oh Nora, you reacted like a child, you're a 30 year old adult. Act like it! Look at Will!
4. When I reached the 40% mark, that's when it started to feel that the romance here is now being shoved forcefully down my throat. Now that's bad because I practically read a hundred pages of this book, and still no chemistry on sight? Yep, that bad 😬
5. DENSE PARAGRAPHS. For me, simple thoughts need not be repeated by using more words conveying the same meaning. Chores need not to be told in a super descriptive manner to add more words in an already convoluted paragraph. When I noticed this style for the last time, that's when I knew it's time to pack it up.

Now that's out of the way, here are some of the things I liked with this book:

• How the side characters relationships interact and how fully fleshed out they were.
• The significance of the girl in the balcony later on in the story (FATE! *hearts eyes*)
• And the concept of family that these neighbors have formed with each other.


I am sad that this book wasn't for me. But if you like stories about found-family, meaningful story with poignant undertones and fated lovers then this book is for you! Give it a try and see for yourself who knows you might enjoy this more a lot than I did.

‘Love at First’ reads like…a story written in fanfiction style—albeit well-written fanfic, so this is in no way a slight—from start to finish. I couldn’t put my finger on it and puzzled about Kate Clayborn’s writing style for the longest time until it hit me that there’s so much there that takes up your concentration just to get into the story. It’s ultra-descriptive, very introspective when it comes to the protagonists’ brooding thoughts and in many ways, filled with understated charm that I can see appealing to many fans who go for this type of contemporary romance.

The introduction to Nora and Will was odd, to say the least, involving the vanity of a 15-year-old boy refusing to wear glasses, the briefest of a (blind) meeting involving shouting and tomatoes and some family issues that faded to black before moving to the events of the present day. But the start of the book went rough for me—from the intricacies of their lives to the storm in the teacup spat over the unit and its lease—and I found myself skimming, impatient to just see the whole point of the story (even though it’s got kittens!), only to realise I was thumbing through what was really supposed to be the story.

It definitely got better though the further I went on. There was a lingering cosiness that Clayborn attempted to build here: the idea of a block-apartment family, the relationships they had, the disagreement between Nora and Will, the secondary cast of characters that surrounded them as they journeyed towards their HEA. Clayborn also worked towards a resolution between Nora and Will in a mature way (no shenanigans here) which I could appreciate, ending up with a picture-perfect tableau that at times felt like a side-skip of the heavier issues that Nora/Will faced in favour of a lighter, more warm-hearted conclusion.

It’s a rare thing to find a book that keeps a big smile on my face through out every page. Love at First is so much more than a love story. It’s about found family. It’s about being a little bit reckless instead of playing it safe. It’s about going after what you want. It’s about learning that love isn’t the same for every person in your life, and that love doesn’t have to be the love that you were first taught. Love at First is an extradorinaiy story that will warm your heart.

I love Kate Claiborne's writing and "Love Lettering" was one of my favorite romance novels that I read in the last year, so I was excited to read her new one. I'm happy to report it is a solid follow-up. In a world (and a dating landscape) that is particularly unkind, her characters are all relatively good to each other, even in conflict. Her writing is gentle with the characters' quirks and emotions and somehow allows the plot and the love story to unfurl slowly while never being tedious. My best comparison points are a modern Jane Austen or adult Jenny Han.

What a delightful slow burn romance! Everything about Love at First was charming. I loved the enemies vibe it gave off from the beginning. I could feel the spark Will and Nora had through the tension from the moment they met. All the ways Nora tried to fight Will's determination to rent out his apartment were clever and entertaining. I loved seeing how their attraction turned to more despite their difference of opinion on the apartment. Once it grew from enemies to more, I fell even more in love with the story. Will and Nora were so good together!

I also loved all the side characters. Nora's "family" was hilarious. Each apartment owner had such a distinct personality that added so much to the story. Same with Will's doctor friend and his ex-wife. I loved how well they all fit into the story and made Nora and Will stronger characters. 

There wasn't anything I didn't love about this book. Kate Clayton is one of my new-to-me favorite authors of 2020. I instantly fell in love with her writing in Love Lettering and it became even stronger with Love at First. I would highly recommend this book to romance fans.

I really love this author and her newest book only reinforced that! This story gave me all the tender feelings. It made me feel like I was walking through nature, quiet and profound. The main characters, Will and Nora, are growing throughout the book, both learning to let go of the past and embrace what comes next. This story includes a delightful cast of side characters, as I would expect from any Kate Clayborn book, and vivid descriptions of the apartment building they call home. I especially loved the depiction of male friendship between Will and his boss. Both men benefited from the connection and it was really lovely to watch unfold. As an extra bonus, the title of the book comes around in a very poignant and unexpected way at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review. Love At First was such a good read, I fell in love with Nora and Will a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read

Happy Reading
Lisa

‘Love at First’ is a tender, clever, beautifully crafted story written by the inimitable Kate Clayborn.

When Will Sterling was a teen, he found the girl of his dreams standing above him on an apartment balcony. Sixteen years later, Will has inherited a unit in that very same building, and finds himself enamored by one of the tenants, Nora Clarke, who he’s almost positive is the same girl from his childhood. Though their initial meeting is pleasant, they soon find themselves at cross purposes. And so they become friendly(ish) rivals, each set upon achieving their own goals… though neither can seem to fight the connection they share with each other.

Told in dual perspective third person, this story brilliantly follows both Will and Nora through their respective interconnected stories. Clayborn’s writing style is both humorous and poignant as she presents us with two protagonists who are learning how to move through the world amid loss and change. Both Nora and Will have a wonderful narrative arc where growth and healing happen in the most satisfying of ways.

I also enjoyed how Clayborn incorporates the idea of fate into this novel. It never feels gimmicky or overwrought; rather, it feels visceral, real, and perhaps a little bit magical. The chemistry and connection between Nora and Will is a joy to read… first as they face off against each other as rivals, and then as they soften toward each other and become lovers. They’re both flawed, but are willing to work on themselves to become better people. And I have to say that Will is one of my favorites heroes that I’ve read in romance. Of all time. So there’s that, too.

If you love a well-earned love story with wit, humor, poignance, and character growth, ‘Love at First’ is the perfect book for you. I already know that this will be one of my top reads released in 2021, hands down.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

4.5/5 stars! When a teenaged Will Sterling and his mom visited his uncle, he heard a girl laugh and fell in love. But fate has other ideas and it took sixteen years for Will and the girl, Nora Clarke, to meet again. The same building but almost in opposite sides. It takes the residents of the whole building and other characters befriending Will, for him and Nora to get that second chance. I adore this book. I liked Will, Nora, their friends, and the residents of the building that the majority of the story takes place at. My personal preference requires some more details about certain characters to satisfy my curiosity, but I loved the "family" concept that is important to the story. Like Ms. Clayborn's previous book, I highly recommend this book. **Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**

Love at First seems, at first, a simple story when boy meets girl - but it’s not. Will and Nora’s story is about two people who have a lot to discover about themselves that helps them to open up to each other. As their story unfolds, you get a glimpse of the people that live in the apartment building and how special their bond is to one another. The back stories of Will and Nora will make you happy and sad and yet these stories help to show us who Will and Nora really are. I loved the heartfelt relationships and the love of these two characters. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - Kate Clayborn’s stories are wonderful!

While the premise and trope of choice for this one (hate to love, rivalry) really appealed to me, I think in the end this just wasn't the romance novel for me. I struggled a bit with feeling attached to the characters - one of our MC's narrative focuses heavily on her memories of her grandmother, but I felt that I was just hearing about her affection for her, not feeling it. There were also some times where the insta-love felt a bit strong and adolescent for me. The writing read quite quickly and smoothly in the opening chapters, but then during the first incidental meeting of the love interests and narrators, Will and Nora, Nora cannot stop focusing on the fact that she didn't have a bra on, and how inappropriate that was. While I would have been fine if the narrative had focused on Nora's discomfort with being in her pj's braless, the emphasis on the "inappropriate" nature of a woman being braless on her own balcony talking to someone in the dark felt a bit outdated and bothersome to me, and really took me out of feeling connected to her as a narrator. Overall, I don't think this was the book for me, but I will say that it had its cute moments, and read fast.

This book will have you smiling ear-to-ear, it's an un-put-downable, quick read and feel-good love story!

I loved watching these two main characters grow, develop together, and of course, fall in love! The enemy-to-lovers trope is so well done, especially because they are only mild enemies it is super realistic and yet still makes you swoon.

This was my first read from Kate Clayborn and I really enjoyed it, I can't wait to start reading more from her! I seriously loved that you get to hear from the perspective of both main characters, hearing both their perspectives really made this book for me!

So I will forever read anything by Kate. Her writing is sublime and I can never get enough of her stories. This one is cozy and sweet and steamy. All the stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ARC of this book.

I stumbled upon, and adored, LOVE LETTERING earlier this year and was thrilled to snag an early copy of Clayborn's upcoming release (2.23.21) LOVE AT FIRST. It was wonderful.

I’d describe this as “Romance Adjacent” with a sweet and mild enemies to lovers story. But at its core it's really a story about community, family (first and found), grief, belonging, love and second chances. I loved that the book wasn't just about the main couple, but also a cast of secondary characters that were fun, loud, supportive and loyal. This book was a delight from the "missed meet cute' beginning to the swooning, sublime ending.

Will finds himself at his dead estranged-uncle's apartment... the same apartment he was at as a teenager when he saw a teenage girl who caught his eye. Well, that girl is back and living in her grandmother's apartment. All of the apartment dwellers in the building attempt to get to know Will and determine what his intentions are as he cleans out the apartment. Will memories that Will has kept all of these years help a relationship bloom with Nora?

This book fell pretty flat with me. I anticipate a chick-lit book, and that is what it is, but there wasn't much pulling the book along or helping the characters develop.

Poignant, romantic, funny -- Love at First is a must read.

In Nora Clarke's small building, you don't just have neighbors, they're a family. So when Dr. Will Sterling inherits his uncle's apartment and makes no bones about the fact that he intends to turn it into a short term rental, these two are instantly at odds. And there's only one thing for Nora to do, either make him fall in love with building or sabotage him.

But Kate Clayton doesn't just deliver a prank-fest. She weaves a story around these two that gives their dance real depth and emotion. Will and Nora's parents set very different examples for them about how love looks and works and it bears out in nearly every interaction they have with each other. If only people in real life were this cognizant and emotionally intelligent.

If you love a story with rich characters and emotionally satisfying romance, run, don't walk for Love at First.

Finally, I have to mention that Clayborn does this awesomely effective thing with word /phrase repetition. It got me in Love Lettering, and it shows up in Love at First, too. So good.

If you read this book in the early morning or late at night, it feels like part of a dream (although much better plotting than any dreams I've ever had).

The large cast of characters is a lot of fun, and there are plot threads that felt new and unique. There was some conversation about remote work vs. working in person, and I'd be very curious to see what those conversations at that company are like in this new reality.

I highly recommend Love at First.

Note: Both characters are dealing with grief/loss in some way, so if now is not a good time for you to read about that, maybe save this one for later.