🩵💜 Love Interest ARC Review 💜🩵

Thank you so much to Clare Gilmore, St Martin’s Press and netGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

Love Interest is a contemporary standalone romance. Casey loves numbers and has a successful career in finance for a magazine. When she loses out on a job she really wants, she can’t help but feel resentment towards the man who got the job. But as she gets to know him, she realizes there might be more to Alex than she first realized

This was a wonderful romantic read. I loved the mental health rep (ADHD) and how it was positively depicted - it wasn’t the entire character’s personality…just a part of who they are. Casey was a fun character, but I felt like she was stuck on what her “plan” was and it took her a while to figure things out. Alex was a wonderful character that just needs all the love. I enjoyed their relationship together and how they evolved from rivals to friends to lovers in this story

Overall this was a solid 4 star read for me. An enjoyable read but I found myself wanting chapters from Alex’s PoV throughout the story. This book did have a few spicy scenes throughout but they weren’t super detailed so three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of rivals to friends to lovers, workplace romance, and all the New York City vibes, then definitely pick this one up!

Please note: review will be posted on Amazon upon publication

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore is a fun rom com that uses the enemies to lovers trope. This trope happens to be a favorite of mine. This book is quirky, fun, and unexpected at times. It literally made me laugh out loud at times, and that rarely happens. This book is an absolute delight and I highly recommend it to readers of this genre. It is so much fun! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This book ended up being pretty cute, but it did take me a while to get into it. I think the ages/maturity level of the main characters was a slight barrier for me.

Casey, a financial analyst living and working in Manhattan, has goals for her life. She is attempting to move up the ladder in her magazine publishing industry, but when the boss's son gets the job she wants, she has to rethink her plans. Alex, the aforementioned boss's son, is creative and fun, and he also has big dreams. Casey and Alex clash at work, but when a project throws them together they find that they might both be more than meets the eye.

This book went in waves for me. The beginning had tension and a fun enemy/coworker vibe, but they too quickly got past it. By 35% these two were basically together and it left the rest of the book with tons of external issues instead of the romance turmoil that I was expecting. As stated above, I did end up liking this book a lot. It was heartwarming to see these two grow up and be confident with their life choices. The friend group was great and added depth to the story. I would definitely read more from the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

An enormous thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and of course, Claire Gilmore for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh I absolutely adored this book. I think I read it in maybe 3 or 4 sittings and it would've been less if I weren't currently sick in bed. I adored Casey and Alex and loved watching them both grow so much over the course of this book. I loved their story so much.

The side characters were wonderful too and definitely more fleshed out than so many other romance books. This was a beautiful story and I loved every moment of it.

Overall this was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters (mostly) and liked that it focused around a woman in finance and her mathematical talents. Alex was great - he had so much more depth than I initially anticipated. The chemistry between Casey and Alex was strong. What I was missing was a bit more around the story in the workplace. It felt a little cobbled together to create tension but I found myself wanting more from that storyline as well.

I absolutely loved this debut book by Clare Gilmore! I rounded up from 4.5 stars because the FMC is from TN and a graduate of UT (just like me)! I loved the main characters and the other characters as well. The love story seemed more real and relatable and they actually grow together and separately. It had a touch of “enemies to lovers” feel but maybe more along the line of misunderstandings to friendship then love.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this electronic ARC!

Loved the banter and I would love to have the friend group from the birthday party. I don't love stories that start with deceit, and there was a lot of finance talk for me, but this was a great debut and I will definitely check out her books in the future.

3.5/5

Really cute story.
I felt that at times the story got slow and it was hard to keep going. I’m glad I finished the book because overall it was really cute and I did enjoy it. Casey is a good main character and it’s great to watch her dreams come true. Alex is like an onion with a lot of layers you get to read about.

This was a solid debut for Clare Gilmore!! I love myself a workplace romance and this definitely delivered, the relationship was definitely adorable and sweet!! It did take me a little to get into and the pacing was a little off for me, I think it was just her writing style that I didn’t particularly love but that’s 100% subjective and people may love it!!! Overall I enjoyed Love Interest and I would recommend it!!

A sweet, witty, and feel good read. All the things a romance should be. Alex and Casey's chemistry literally gave me all the feels. I think the thing I loved most about this book was it didn't have the typical miscommunication trope that sends almost every romance book couple back into a junior high style fight where it could have all been avoided if they just adulted and talked to each other. That was very refreshing.

I loved this book. It was such a great romance. It had little to no miscommunication, characters called each other out, there were compelling side characters and so much more. I loved the way the characters were able to grow separately and together. I found the romance compelling and I was rooting for the main characters even throughout their initial closed-mindedness which is rare for me. All in all, this is definitely a romance book that is worth picking up if you love a little office romance and rivals to lovers which corporate politics.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Casey Maitland has always loved the reliability of numbers, despite both her parents being artistic people. Now 24 and working in Manhattan, Casey applies for a project manager opening at her company. Unfortunately, the job ends up going to Alex Harrison. He's smart and everyone loves him, but he only got the job because he's the board chairman's son! As the two work together on the same project, they both have something to prove. Their late nights at work end up with them being drawn to each other.

OMG. I loved this. The writing is beautiful, the characters are so well written. I love how Alex falls first, and hard! Tons of laughter, wonderfully quirky secondary characters, wonderful evolution of Casey and Alex's relationship. I love workplace romances. This is one of the best I've read in a long time! ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

"Love Interest" by Clare Gilmore is a heartfelt novel that delves into the complexities of love, relationships, and the paths we choose. The story follows the intertwining lives of the characters as they navigate the intricate web of emotions and decisions.

The characters in the novel are relatable and well-developed, each facing their own dilemmas and challenges in matters of the heart. Gilmore's portrayal of their thoughts and feelings adds authenticity to their experiences, making their journeys engaging and emotionally resonant.

The narrative touches upon themes of timing, fate, and the impact of choices on our lives. The exploration of different types of love and the connections between characters bring depth to the story, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships and experiences.

Gilmore's writing style is evocative and immersive, drawing readers into the emotions and conflicts of the characters. The pacing of the novel allows for moments of introspection and moments of tension, creating a well-balanced reading experience.

While "Love Interest" is successful in capturing the intricacies of human emotions, there were instances where the plot could have delved deeper into certain character dynamics. However, these moments did not detract significantly from the overall impact of the story.

In summary, "Love Interest" is a touching novel that skillfully navigates the terrain of love, choices, and the connections that shape our lives. If you're looking for a thoughtful and emotionally charged read that resonates long after the final page, this book offers a compelling exploration of the human heart.

Casey Maitland is a successful financial analyst at a world renowned magazine publishing company, but growing up with creative, artistic parents has left her feeling like she isn’t measuring up. She decides to push herself out of her comfort zone and applies to a project manager role for a new digital brand, but ultimately ends up being passed over for the son of the chairman of the board, Alex Harrison. Absolutely infuriated, Casey swears to hate Alex and it works for awhile…until they’re partnered together on launching the new brand and sparks start to fly!

Love Interest was such a delightful read that sucked me in from the first page; I honestly can’t believe this is a debut! Casey was quirky and funny, and was the perfect foil to Alex’s happy go lucky personality. I absolutely loved how much diversity was in this book too, it felt very representative of New York City. Overall this was a really solid romcom with a bit of a different spin on the workplace enemies to lovers trope.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review.
Super cute workplace romance! But it did feel like some parts of it dragged on a little bit. Love the Georgia State reference though.

Wow this is a debut!? I am so impressed, such a funny, smart and deeply romantic romance. This may be the best romance I’ve read this year!

This debut was a beautiful and refreshing read. The wit & banter in Clare’s writing was consistent, and the characters were gorgeous. I loved the setting - as someone who experienced the corporate world in my early 20s, the culture/office politics really hit home.

I related so much to Casey. She was whip-smart, working her way up through the ranks. I love that she was a woman in finance and was viewed as the rising star by her superiors. There were elements of the male toxicity that still exists in that world (hi, older male executive creepily touching her without asking), but I also loved that this wasn’t the main focus of the story. Casey was closed off to love, guarded in her ability to open up - she felt like she constantly needed to prove herself. The tension between her & Alex when they started working together and she realized he had taken her promotion was real & handled beautifully.

Alex - my sweet sweet Alex. This man was patient, kind, ALSO whip-smart, & so supportive of Casey. He was a perfect depiction of having to come to terms with your upbringing & succeeding despite it all. He was so into Casey from the start (the “Simba” nickname!), and wanted to hard to prove her wrong - be worthy of her love. Their dynamic developed beautifully, and Alex’s growth to accepting who he was & that Casey’s love wasn’t conditional made my heart hurt in the best way.

This book made me laugh, cry, and gave me this weird longing for that time in your life when you’re discovering yourself and finding your people. I loved every minute.

This book was so adorable. It has workplace romance, enemies to lovers, & a little bit of fake dating. I usually don’t like workplace romances, but I loved this one. The tension is perfectly drawn out and the romance is so cute. The characters are so well-developed and I related to Casey so much. She isn’t like a lot of other characters in how they would usually be pressured to be smart instead of creative, but she almost felt bad for having a 9 to 5, mathematical job. Alex is the perfect love interest. He doesn’t want Casey to change or pressure her to be more social or creative, but he loves her for who she is. He digs deep and wants her to believe that she is inspiring and creative. He has a damaged backstory, but it’s revealed in perfect little fragments and he never tries to use his history for pity or an excuse.
All things aside, this was a wonderful little romance and I read it so fast. I was page turning waiting for Alex and Casey to get together and they’re so easy to root for.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Will you like this book? You might if you like:

Workplace romances
Complicated family relationships
Spreadsheets
Corporate intrigue
Grumpy (her)/Sunshine (him)

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Gilmore’s book comes out in October and I am sure it is going to be a big hit. This is an adorable rom-com about two people finding out exactly who they are and what they want in life.

Casey and Alex both work for Little Cooper, a magazine publisher with a number of different imprints (think Conde Nast) and they have both gone for the same job. Alex, who it turns out is the son of the Chairman of Little Cooper’s Board, ends up getting the position, but when Casey and Alex meet in the elevator at Little Cooper, they don’t yet know this and there is an instant attraction. Which, once Casey finds out Alex got the job she wanted, sours a bit. But Casey can’t stop thinking about Alex, who it seems is actually a really likable guy.

This book has everything I want in a romance: humor, chemistry, strong friendships, complicated but fairly realistic familial relationships, and obstacles that I can’t wait to see how the author resolves. Gilmore does a wonderful job fleshing out our MEs and making you cheer for them. I was impressed at how she resolved the major roadblock.

This is Gilmore’s debut novel and I was impressed, I will definitely look forward to reading what she comes out with next.

What a sweet, sweet story this was! This is an excellent example of a well-done office romance that includes a touch of enemies-to-lovers... I say touch because let's face it, it's clear from around 20% that they're not going to be resisting each other for very long.

I won't even lie, the corporate jargon went completely over my head, but the story had enough substance for me to follow how it related to the MCs.

Casey is a strong FMC, independent in her own right and very well-written. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.

What I loved about this story is how the MMC, Alex, is the proverbial damsel in distress. While he seems put together, he's the one who believes that he's not worthy of love, albeit for a very valid reason.

Their relationship should in theory be spicy and clever, and while it certainly is, it's also incredibly sweet. The way that they look out for each other and have each other's back is so refreshing.

If I have anything negative to say, it's about the first few chapters. I honestly got tired of meeting all of the side characters. I lost track of them by the time the third was introduced. It would've been a lot smoother of a transition had some of them been introduced a little later in the story.

TL; DR: Robert sucks. Alex deserved better.

4 ⭐️