I truly adored this book. Normally, with regular romance, I don’t find five star reads very often. They may get close, but there is always something that makes it miss the mark for me.
Love Interest was basically perfect. I was never bored, I devoted it in a day. I loved the ADHD and anxiety rep. These two made me swoon with just how perfect they were together. Enough so, that even though the smut wasn’t really smutty, it was so lovely and loving it made me happy. The tropes were perfectly done, the third act breakup was understandable because of their insecurities, not with each other, but within themselves.
I usually have something that bothered me in a book, but I’ve truly got nothing.
I can’t wait to read more Clare Gilmore, I see her becoming a favorite of mine.
This book was perfection for me.

When Casey is passed over for a promotion at work in favor of Alex, she is annoyed that she has to work with him. Add in that he is the son of the former CEO and she can be downright mean. In this enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance, things start to change as they work on a project together.

This was a strong debut romance. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope and Casey's love of numbers. The majority of this book takes place at work and I would have liked to see more of the couple connecting and building their relationship outside of that setting but overall a fun read.

This was a cute story! I enjoyed the banter between Casey and Alex and loved the workplace romance aspect- I just got a little bored the more I read. The characters were relatable, their chemistry was good, and I loved the side characters so overall it was still an enjoyable read!

I wanted to love this book! It's a lighthearted story about Casey and Alex, who have to work together on a big project at their magazine. Alex is a big idea guy and Casey is all about the numbers. They just cannot see eye to eye. It's a sweet and funny story, but it felt like it was too long. Some chapters just needed to be edited. I didn't get caught up in this story the way that I love. That said, I read it! I cared about the characters!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my feedback.

This workplace romance was cute and their banter was great. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed the ride. 3.5 stars rounded up

Three and a half stars (rounded up to four because I’m a sucker for workplace romance done mostly right).

This debut has all the rom-com essentials: rivals-to-lovers, high-pressure job setting, flirty banter, and just enough emotional depth to keep it from being all fluff. Casey and Alex have great chemistry, and their slow-burn office romance has that perfect blend of tension and vulnerability.

That said, some of the corporate plot points dragged a bit, and the stakes never felt super high. The writing is solid, the characters are likable, but it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. Still, it’s polished, charming, and hits the spot if you’re in the mood for something smart but easy.

A promising debut, and one I’d recommend to fans of The Hating Game or Beach Read who want a little ambition with their affection.

Love Interest is like Rory Gilmore fell for a rival policy nerd in D.C. This book is smart, flirty, and full of tension. The banter crackles, the chemistry builds slow and sweet, and the whole thing feels like a romcom with brains. Perfect for fans of ambition, angst, and a well-timed kiss.

I love anything Clare Gilmore writes and I will read it all!

This is an adorably cute and sweet office romance that I could not get enough of! It's full of quirky banter and had me laughing out loud!

Do yourself a favor and read this, and everything else Clare Gilmore has written!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is just something about a work place, enemies-to-lovers romance. I really enjoyed this story and will look for more from this author.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to pick this book back up, but I’m so glad I did.

Casey is quite happy with her job as a financial analyst at a magazine publisher, but when the opportunity arises for a promotion, she decides she’s the woman for the job. Unfortunately, nepotism rears its ugly head and Casey loses the job to Alex, the son of the company’s chairman. When the pair are tasked with working on a project together, the lines between hatred and love soon become blurred.

I really had a lot of fun reading this book and it did remind me a bit of The Hating Game. Both main characters were likeable and that made it really easy to root for their romance.

Read if you like:
*Enemies/rivals to lovers
*Workplace romance
*He falls first
*NYC setting
*Great banter

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a review copy.

"Love Interest" by Clare Gilmore is a charming and insightful contemporary romance that explores the complexities of attraction, identity, and the quest for self-discovery. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the ups and downs of a budding relationship, filled with both heartwarming moments and challenges. Gilmore's writing is witty and relatable, capturing the nuances of modern love and the impact of social expectations. The characters are well-developed, and their chemistry is palpable, making readers root for their connection. Overall, "Love Interest" is a delightful read that balances humor and emotion, perfect for those who enjoy heartfelt romantic tales.

I usually adore the enemies to lovers trope, but this book did not fully develop that trope. It needed last longer to create more tension between the two main characters. Instead, the lack of development created for a slightly boring story that lacks chemistry.

Workplace romance with a hint of enemies to lovers.

What I liked:
NYC setting
Career focused and driven female main character.
Casey’s friend group

What didn’t work:
I felt like I already read this plot (The Hating Game) although I liked this book better.
Slow at parts with some miscommunication that made me roll my eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute! Exactly what kind of book I needed to read! This story is about two coworkers who go from being enemies to lovers. The back and forth, the realization of love, and the light story line, made for a quick and easy read. This one will definitely pull at your heart strings!

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. I really wanted to like this book but I found myself unable to relate to the characters. I did not love their chemistry and I found this book hard to pick up after putting it down.

LOVE INEREST is a cute, enemy to lovers and workplace romance. I enjoyed the competition for the same job and the gradual growing closer when forced into close proximity! A perfect blend of witty banter and realistic characters. Highly recommend this debut rom-com.

I liked this romance, I did not love it. It was quirky, full of banter and I liked the supporting cast. What I did not like was that for the life of me I could not connect with either main character. Since there was no connection I would get a bit frustrated with the story, therefore it took me a while to get through. It really did read like a romcom and that’s what kept me going.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eArc of Love Interest. While this one wasn’t for me I’m sure it will be a great read for others. I am excited for the author’s 2nd book.


Read if you like:
•Workplace romance
•Light spice
•Witty banter
•NYC setting

Love Interest | Clare Gilmore
Job-stealing, kiss me so my ex sees, loml on a time limit

Alexander Harrison stole her job. He may have the inherent charm that captures everyone’s attention, but she’s the one who has all his attention. Casey Maitland is not your typical finance-girly – she is organized and color-coded but ready to find the spark of adventure she’s usually too afraid to grasp. She thought nepotism stole her chance, but what if the route to London just shifted (with a quick stopover to finding the one without letting him get away)?

I’ll often put myself in the shoes of characters that unapologetically demonstrate the traits that I don’t possess. This is the joy of reading – living all the lives that could never be true on my current course of reality. This is the case with Alex for me. I love his embraced acknowledgement of his nomadic preference and capturing the moment for what it is. He doesn’t try to craft the world around him into his personal utopia, even when it means loosening his grip on the one person he wants to keep forever. The meant-to-be vibes are so strong, but Alex is secure in his identity to the point that this security oozes out of him. It is not a blind optimism that everything will work out, and it is not a dismissal of the severity of his feelings for Casey. He simply stands firmly in the present moment and absorbs all the good he can find. I haven’t seen a character like this on the page and I love him 

This was not a portrayal of two flawed characters who changed in drastic ways to find their HEA – these are two people who get to have it all by the last page, even if it means moving thousands of miles away from each other, and primarily by acknowledging who they are and what they want most. I loved their story and their crew of friends (Brijesh might be my favorite) and I wish there was a whole series for each of their stories! Clare, if you could get right on that, it would be much appreciated.

4.5/5 stars!
Big thanks to publisher, NetGalley and Clare Gilmore for the ARC for review!

This was cute! The first half started offP fell off towards the end however, I still enjoyed myself and feel like it would be a good read for someone that wants a quick quirky Romance

This was so fun, I loved the banter, I eat up a work place romance everytime trust. It got a bit weird at times but we ignore I just cringe at everything