I received this book via NetGalley for my honest review. As I often say in reviews, I rate and review based on what a book it is, not how it stands up to other books or categories.

Casey has a goal and a passion; she wants to move to London and she loves numbers. When the perfect stepping job comes up at work, she crosses her fingers. Unfortunately for her, she loses the role to someone with more experience and even more unfortunately he's the chairman's son. When they're forced to work together on a project, sparks will fly.

I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I LOVED THIS BOOK. It captured my attention from the acknowledgement and never let go. The main characters were multi-faceted, had depth and they had major chemistry. I power read this in a day because I loved the build up of their story and the pacing of it. I saw some reviews that mentioned it was too slow, but I disagree vehemently. I prefer to see legitimate build in a relationship rather than a rush straight to physicality. This romance has a little bit of spice, but nothing I would call graphic so if that's what you're looking for THIS AIN'T IT.

I will say that while the primary characters were explored a lot and we were able to see their vulnerabilities and characters well, the side characters did not get the same treatment and I found myself curious for more of their details. Perhaps there will be spin off novels or follow ups (Brijesh & Miriam PLEASE). Additionally, there was a character introduced early in the book that had a major impact on falling action events, so getting a bit more development in that relationship/interaction would have made that final scene land more strongly.

Now for the bad news. This is Claire Gilmore's first novel, so if you wanted to RUN to read all her anthology, you're going to have to wait patiently. I will be following, liking and watching her journey in hopes of additional books and you should too! I highly recommend this book for a warm, romantic, enemies to lovers read!

The Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s amazing debut!! She did such an amazing job and I fell in love with the characters…especially Alex!!

Casey Maitland loves math and numbers because they don’t lie. Now a twenty-four-year-old she works as a financial analyst for Little Cooper Publications in Manhattan, New York. She is up for the open project manager position at her company and thinks it is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. Until that is, she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son.

Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves Alex he is so outgoing and friendly. Alex starts a new project that they end up working very closely together on. Casey finds out some information on the company and the project that she has to keep a secret. It could change everything for her job and her relationship with Alex.

I absolutely loved this book!! This book had me laughing out loud the dynamics between Casey and Alex was perfect. They both went through so much growing up that was so different, he chased acceptance, and she was trying to find where she belonged, but together they felt home. All of the characters were so much fun and I wish they all got their own stories. I cannot recommend this book enough I give it 4.5 stars!!

I had high hopes for this one, especially after the flirty elevator meet-cute between Casey and Alex. But so often this story struggled to hold my attention.

Centered around the inner workings of Little Cooper Publications, Casey is a financial analyst who initially has dagger-eyes for Alex, the board chairman’s son who is given the project manager position she interviewed for.

Even though the enemies aspect is short lived, the romance was cute overall. Alex was so sweet and supportive—and he went above and beyond for Casey’s allergies, which made me swoon with delight.

But there were SO MANY details about the workplace. The dialogue felt realistic to the environment, but I repeatedly became lost within the information about each department and its employees. It was a tedious read for me, unfortunately.

I loved the plot of this book, I knew this enemies to lovers trope was going to be a great one, especially when it comes to getting that promotion that Casey has been striving for. When she finds out that the CEO’s son gets it and not her I wanted more fire from her, I wanted her to make him PAY! But nope, Alex with his charm, just changed everything. I adored Casey and Alex, how they just flowed together so seamlessly straight into a work friendship, then a regular friendship and then into a romance, it was so easy to love them. I also loved how even with their insecurities about everything they are each others support, it was a heartfelt read. The work drama fell short for me and I felt we didn’t need that when it came to the book, it was perfect without that added bonus other than that I was here for their HEA.

This was an intriguing premise and I liked the characters overall. I think the end felt a bit less cohesive than the start. More rushed than the rest of the book.

Alex is a great MC and I liked Casey too. I had a bit of an issue with the pacing. At times it felt slow and more telling than showing. and other times felt rushed.

I could see the twist coming, not that that's a bad thing necessarily.

There were some typos and grammar issues that distracted me.

Overall entertaining.A nice debut. I wish I loved it more but the issues mentioned were a distraction. I think it could have used a bit more editing.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

This was an office romance/hate to love trope that had me swooning! We meet Casey, a super smart, finance girl who just had her promotion snubbed from her by Alex, the bosses son. He knows there is some tension between them, but doesn't know the reason why. Watching these two go from hate to love was such a fun ride! We watch Casey grow and figure out who she is, there is a lot of personal growth for both characters. This one will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel all warm and fuzzy. I definitely look forward to reading more from Clare Gilmore!

**I received a copy of Love Interest from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book. I think that the way the relationship evolved was enduring, and I definitely enjoyed the character. Also, I liked the individual journeys that the MCs were on and their growth separately. Their chemistry was believable and I was definitely rooting for them. The only thing that I wish was that we got more time with the couple at the end. That felt a little rushed. And It felt like we were just waiting for the inevitable to happen when it came to the issues that came up but it wasn't annoying. I had an awesome time reading this book!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THIS WAS SO DARN SWEET.

Casey and Alex.

A workplace romance / enemies to friends to lovers / he falls first and harder / she takes her time but falls equally hard.

This book reminded me a little of "The Hating Game" with a smidge of "A Spanish Love Deception" - a little slow burn that got hot at the halfway mark (although not explicit sex scenes, more about the feelings during the act - but not closed door). I loved that Casey and Alex "saw" the other person - really saw who they were to their core, and not only saw it but accepted it.

"Love Interest" gave me the feels. Was it perfect? No -- there were some things that might have been edited a little better, but the overall FEELING I got reading this book was HAPPINESS. I was cheering them on. I usually love dual POV in these types of stories, but I think this one works best with just Casey's POV.

Bravo Clare Gilmore on your debut novel! This was really lovely and I can't wait to read your next book.

ps. Can we get Mariam and Brijesh's story? Even if it's just a short story.

4 stars and recommended.

5 star romance 4 star writing. For a debut I am really impressed and will definetly read more by the author.

Casey Maitland is an expert in the finance world, always preferring numbers to people,but when Alex Harrison walks into her life that starts to change. Alex Harrison is the illegitimate son of the company’s CEO and an ambitious guy. When these two totally different people become friends, will it stay friendship or turn into something more?

I enjoyed this book from the very beginning, the characters of Casey and Alex really pulled me in and I became quickly invested. The whole cast of friends in this book were fun and really helped support Alex and Casey’s characters. I always love office romances and I enjoyed seeing how this author visualized this one. This was the perfect book for me right now and I am so glad I got to read this adorable romance. It had some heat, but it also had the emotions that tied the two together and I found this to be the perfect combination for Alex and Casey. If you are a fan of romance, make this your next read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s debut - it was a great effort, but you can certainly tell she hasn’t been at it for a long time yet… I give this one a 3.5-stars for effort (rounded up to 4). It was entertaining and enjoyable enough but didn’t hold or keep my interest to sit and read for any stretch of time.

Alex and Casey were pretty flat, not overly interesting or super likeable (not unlikeable, just not developed enough to care much), and I didn’t find myself getting too invested in their relationship or their overall storyline. I read over 50 books in the same month and this one was the only one that left me wanting. I had stronger opinions about the characters and storylines of everything else, whether I liked or disliked it, and this one left me neutral. I really wanted to enjoy it but I ended without really having much of an opinion either way…

I suppose if you enjoy an office rivalry storyline that turns around quickly, then this would be a great pick for you. I might need to read it again when I don’t have 50 books in line and spend more time with it to appreciate it more. I still stand with the 3.5-star rating and don’t think that will change. Alex and Casey just didn’t have enough personality combined to win me over!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and this is my honest opinion.

“It all comes down to what you leave behind.”

Casey wrestles with this little piece of wisdom from her mom who died when she was just six years old. Is she doing enough in her life to make her parents proud? Is she doing what makes her happy? This prompts Casey to apply for a promotion within her company but finds out she is bested by the handsome stranger she meets in the elevator.

So starts the working relationship of Casey Maitland and Alex Harrison. Casey tries desperately to find a reason to dislike Alex but comes up short as she startlingly finds herself attracted to the man that “stole” her job.

As Casey and Alex work together on the same project, a fondness grows between them. They share the somber parts of their pasts, their dreams and their hopes for the future. And even though the like each other very much, they both want different things out of life…or do they?

Casey learns to let go of her insecurities and shed the images of who she thinks she should be. Alex learns that not all people leave…and he is deserving of love and stability. I enjoyed the journey of these two characters. They both went through a beautiful learning process that allowed each character important growth. This was a romantic, charming and heartfelt story with humor, steam and very likable characters. A fantastic debut novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a cute and fun debut romcom novel.

Read this book if you like:
-enemies to lovers
-workplace romance
- NYC Setting
-Millennial vibes
- An emotional journey
- Amazing group of friends

I loved this book! So much chemistry, plenty of spice, and the plot was intriguing. Alex and Casey were so cute and I loved reading these two different out their relationship.

*ARC courtesy of the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to the valued author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a copy.*

It was just okay. I was hoping to love it more but it felt slow and then rushed, if that makes sense. The story wasn't bad but there were SO. MANY. REFERENCES. to brands and things and places, especially places in Nashville that it took me out of the story often.

I think this might be a debut romance. The book was well done and was a cute and a bit swoony. Definitely would recommend fans of workplace romances.

This is a great debut!!

I love a workplace romance, and this hit all the parts about it that I love. Great for anyone who loves a rom-com.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore

I adored this book. It was so well done and swoon-worthy.

This workplace romance revolves around the characters Casey and Alex.
Casey is a Finance expert who has just applied for a project manager position at her company, LC Publications. She expects this to be an opportunity to show her boss that she is capable of more… this is until she is passed over for the job in favor of the chairman's son.
Alex is a charming and charismatic guy who wins over everyone he meets except his father, the one man he is desperate to impress. All he’s ever wanted is to gain his approval and respect, and he believes this new position is the way to do it.
The two meet, and once Casey realizes his relation to the chairman, she instantly forgets her initial attraction to him and replaces it with resentment. Alex, on the other hand, wants her to give him a chance and to trust that he is right for the job.
During a segment on one of the magazine's video channels, Bite the Hand, Alex and Casey show chemistry that has fans begging for more. As a result, they are paired for another video where they talk about work-life over food. After getting to know him a little more, Casey’s feelings toward Alex begin to change…

I found these characters to be very relatable, as most of us have some desire to please our parents or to make them proud. All Alex wants is to have that father-son connection despite only ever being neglected by him. It makes his desire to gain his father's love heartbreaking and humanizing. Casey doesn’t have the same situation, but experiences that deeply rooted need to please both her fathers and mother. She wants to be the artistic child they never had, even though they love her and are proud no matter the career choice she follows. Her fear of being a disappointment is the driving force behind her insecurities around relationships. She’s afraid that they won’t like what they see once she lets someone in.
When it comes to Casey and Alex as a couple, they are perfect. They see and understand each other in a way that is so rare but incredibly beautiful when it happens. The way Alex is so patient and kind to Casey, as well as how Casey proves time and time again how she truly sees him and loves every part, warmed me to my core. And when Alex calls her “Jagi,”… I simply melted.
I thought this book was perfect.
I wish I could give Alex and Casey a hug. They brought me so much comfort <3

I rated this book 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you gain joy from:

Reminiscing about the heyday of the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen
“The Hating Game”
Mastering the art of the color-coded Excel Pivot Table

Thank you @StMartinsPress for the #gifted ARC - out 10 October!

Clare Gilmore’s debut novel is a workplace romance dream, complete with BA test kitchen after hours vibes and daddy issues galore <3

Casey is a finance guru, keeping budgets and spreadsheets for her creative-minded colleagues. When the CEO’s son scores her dream job, she’s out for blood. Too bad she can’t seem to stay mad at Alex, and when they start appearing in corporate content videos together, the world seems to conspire to turn these frenemies into LOVEERRRS,

Truly a fun, frothy read. Enemies-to-lovers with an emphasis on the lovers and a lower heat volume than similar books, so a great one to recommend to people whose taste you might not be totally sure of. The required third act road bump was just the right level of conflict, and there are enough foodie references here to make anyone’s mouth water.

The only part that didn’t work for me was the way that characters were introduced. Gilmore is very VERY committed to readers attributing the correct race to her characters (which, yay, diversity in romance!) but to the point where the initial identifying trait is always race. Ex. “So and So, Black, is…” Just an aspect of character background that I think will come more naturally to her as she continues in her very promising career!

Thank you so much to Clare Gilmore, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn't heard much about this book going into reading it, but I thought the cover and title were intriguing. I always love being introduced to a new author because their writing style gets to be a surprise. I did end up really enjoying this story. I think the background of Casey really drew me in because I myself work in the finance industry and could relate to the story that was being told. The industry can truly have its ups and downs, but there are opportunities among those. I would without a doubt pick up another book by Clare Gilmore.

Casey is a twenty-four year old living in Manhattan and working in the finance department of LC Publications. A new job opening at the company intrigues her enough to apply to see if she can try her hand at being a project manager. She has a great reputation within the company and a real shot at getting it until Alex Harrison comes on the scene and steals it away. Alex is a young Harvard graduate who seemingly has everything going for him. Everyone at LC Publications took to him right away, except Casey. Not only did she not get the job she'd applied for and wanted, but everything he does just rubs her the wrong way. The relationship between these two will all change when they are assigned to work on the same project. Forced to work with Alex, Casey finds that he's not actually that bad and that there might actually be something brewing beneath the surface. Putting everything they have into making this project a success is their priority. Alex would like to finally get noticed for his accomplishments by his uninvolved father, and Casey wants to fulfill her dream of having a job in London with the opportunity to travel.

As the story develops and the project progresses, Casey and Alex will find themselves spending nights and sometimes days together. Is it love and a relationship, or just something temporary? You'll just have to read to find out. But amongst the seemingly positive progress, opportunities arise, and some things are kept secret due to company policy. In the end, Casey and Alex will both have to decide what they want. The opportunity to try a life together or to please family members and colleagues.