Cover Image: Love Interest

Love Interest

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

am literally about to build a shrine to this book.
I read it in the beginning of November, and have thought about it MULTIPLE times a day since finishing it. I could gush about why I loved it so much for the length of an entire book, but I'll spare you. Casey has always preferred the reliability of numbers after growing up with two artistic parents. Despite this, she feels a pang for more, and decides to purse a project management job at the magazine publisher where she works. The issue?
She's in competition with Alex, the handsome son of the company board's chairman. After Alex wins the role, Casey is prepared to hate him, until they're forced to collaborate on the same project, where they find they might just be the perfect match. HOLY. SHIT. This book is everything I've ever wanted in a rom-com. It made me laugh la lot! Gilmore is very funny!), it made me cry (I was blinking back tears for the final 15% of the book), and it made me fall in love with the romance genre all over again. This book made me feel the way Emily Henry's romances do, which is honestly some of the highest praise I can bestow on a rom-com.
I saw so much of myself in Casey, and as someone who works in media, I adored the workplace setting.
Truly a hall of fame, five star romance for me. This is me begging you to read this book!

Was this review helpful?

What a cute story! I was so excited to read Love Interest after seeing so many great reviews for it. Featuring Casey and Alex, which are enemies from the start, which add to the tension and later all the spice.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-enemies to lovers
-workplace romance
-tight knit friend group
-NYC setting

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Was this review helpful?

This book has so many of the themes I love: set in nyc, workplace rivals and close proximity! Filled with tons of great banter, tension and angst and an amazing cast of characters this book easily became a favorite of mine. Looking forward to more from Clare in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore was super cute and just what I needed after reading an emotionally devastating book at the weekend. Alex and Casey had some truly hilarious banter but also had meaningful convos while getting to know each other, so the relationship and HEA felt earned. A truly delightful and diverse supporting cast of characters who I hope show up in another book in the future.

Love Interest was an impulsive add-on to my April @‌aardvarkbookclub box, but I also noticed I received an ARC eons ago while dusting off my Netgalley account last week. Whoops. Thank you to @‌stmartinspress and @‌netgalley for the advanced reader copy I am woefully delinquent in providing an honest review for.

Was this review helpful?

just finished the first few chapters of this book excerpt and it was very interesting! i enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the Manhattan setting! The first few chapters felt very all over and chaotic but in a good way. Overall it was cute. 💜

Was this review helpful?

"I'm not antisocial. I just hate small talk."

"It's polite."

"It's pointless."

Casey and I are one and the same. Plus, we both work in accounting.

"Love Interest" is such a binge worthy read with fantastic main characters and a great supporting cast. This is well written work place romance (gave me "The Hating Game" vibes with a bit less hate). What I love is the lack of 3rd act break-up … although it's touch and go for a bit. Bonus points for Alex liking/loving Casey from the start. These kind of stories are always my favorite rom-coms.

Was this review helpful?

This was cute, but I think it struggled with balancing show vs tell writing. We were told a lot of what’s happening vs getting to experience it with the character and see how things naturally unfold. I will say I did enjoy the characters however and would recommend this to my contemporary romance loving friends

Was this review helpful?

The only bad thing about this book is how long it took me to finally read it. I had received a copy from Netgalley last summer… when I was 8 months pregnant. And then babe arrived and he had no interest in letting me read. So then I had to wait for it to come to the library, which had been closed so when it reopened, I – no exaggeration – had 24 physical books, plus e-books. So two days ago I figured I’d give it a try, and then I fell in love.

Casey has been working as a financial analyst at a magazine publisher, quite happily, but feels like she’s meant to be doing something more creative. Her boss recommends her for a job as project manager at their new digital start-up, Bite the Hand, described as a mix between Buzzfeed, The Cut, and whatever is trending on Tik-Tok. Unfortunately, Casey doesn’t get the job, but a good old case of nepotism means that it has gone to the son of the chairman, Alex. Recognizing her value, Casey is instead offered a different option; work on making BTH profitable, and she is all but guaranteed her dream job in London. But Alex isn’t quite what she expected, and even though she didn’t get the job, she just might get something even better.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good work romance/rivals to lovers and this one did not disappoint. i love their story and i was surprised to learn this was a new author. would definitely read her books again.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins press for early access! I truly enjoyed this book I thought it was fun and cute. I really enjoyed the enemies ti lovers trope and thought that it was well executed as Casey and Alex started out rough as they worked through their problems as Alex had to figure out why Casey was against him as he continued to pursue her, I love that we got to watch their relationship develop as we headed towards a sweet ending. I really adore this book!
I think if you enjoyed the Hating Game this would be right up your alley or if you need something fun to help you get out of a reading slump.

Was this review helpful?

DNF after 50%

There was something about the FMC that I didn’t like and I couldn’t connect with her. This made me loose interest quickly and I couldn’t bring myself to finish the book.

Was this review helpful?

This was cute! I love a banter-filled workplace romance so much. I find books that use pop culture references and modern social media a little tough sometimes, but this was fun. It does give off very gen-z energy, but that isn't a bad thing. For me, it feels relatable to my own work experience! Thank you for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

thank you to netgalley (@netgalley) and the publisher (@stmartinspress) for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review

love interest was a really cute read. once i started i couldn’t put it down. i love me a good office romanc, especially one that is enemies to lovers 😏

highly recommend reading

5★stars

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. I too fell in love in the same progression of the books’s love interests. With the backdrops of NYC(lived there), Nashville(I want to go there), working in skyrise buildings(WTC pre-911), I related in so many ways with the characters. The slow but well- developed relationship was a fun read and throw in the assortment of friends and family created an entertaining dynamic to the characters. I don’t like to pull in a synopsis of the book or excerpts in my reviews but suffice it to say I liked this book and kind of annoyed with myself for delaying starting it and finishing it.

Was this review helpful?

It's been a minute since I read a workplace romance that I actually liked so this one was a delightful little treat! Casey and Alex were vying for the same job so there is a hint of enemies to lovers at the beginning but they quickly lean into their chemistry both at work and outside of the office. I definitely appreciated the quickness which the enemies portion of the story was resolved.

As the relationship gets more serious Casey has to keep some big secrets, because of her job on the finance team, which causes a rift between the two. The drama at the end felt a little bit rushed to me and I wanted even more to that part of the story but overall I thought this one had everything you want in a contemporary romance: NYC, fun but meddling friends, cute banter and swoony elevator kisses.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed reading this book, I read it over a few days, and couldn't wait to get back to reading it.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked Love Interest. It was a cute, quick read. The banter between the main characters was cute and it was nice watching them both grow. My only issue is that it was kind of forgettable. I had to look back through the book to remember what happened.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Love Interest was cute, fun and definitely witty. This was a quick read and the pace kept things moving along. I may be biased to workplace romances having met my boyfriend at work as well, but these types of stories just seem so much more relatable to me. The banter here was funny and you could definitely understand the chemistry.

The only reason I am giving this 3 stars instead of 4 is just because I don't think that was a very memorable read. It was fun and I am glad I read it, but I don't think it will be one that stays with me for very long.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

a classic enemies to lovers, workplace romance! i loved the characters and the banter between the two love interests and the tension was perfect!

Was this review helpful?

A feel good love story.....I enjoyed seeing the relationship of Casey and Alex develop within the work world....Casey didn't let the relationship define her and still pursued what she wanted.....

Was this review helpful?