I have mixed feelings about this book because while there were parts I loved there were also parts that dragged along and I didn’t enjoy. It felt too unbelievable at times like Will leaving a city he loved and uprooting his life. Or Josie leaving her company.

I liked both Josie and Will’s characters, but overall the book fell flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Clare Gilmore has quickly become a romance author whose next book I really anticipate. I loved her previous novel, and loved this one just as much. She shakes up the workplace romance with interesting settings, and I was especially interested in Josie's job in the fashion world. I absolutely loved Will and Josie; both watching them fall in love and learning their backstory. I have been highly recommending this one.

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and this book was no exception - I loved Josie and Will so so much!

❤️ I am absolutely in love with this book! It is heartwarming, charming and built around the sweetest romance ever. I love how well Josephine and Will fit together from the beginning to the end. They are so completely different - Josie is a workaholic who struggles with so many anxieties. However, I was swooning Will and how he managed to understand her so well. There is some spice built into the book, which I feel it is just the right amount especially for these two characters. It all works simply due to balancing one another out. Absolute must read!! ❤️

This rom-com was a complete breath of fresh air!! It literally starts with one MC on a bike running into the other MC (driving her car) and denting her bumper. The chemistry is immediate and palpable. Their friendship-turned attraction was hot and unmistakeable. Solid read that I didn’t put down once!

I thought this book was cute. I enjoyed the characters and their banter. I thought that the fact that they knew each other as kids, but grew up and met again was fun. I loved that she was a strong young business woman chasing her dreams - and that he only wanted her to continue to thrive. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and change. I liked all the side characters too. I found myself smiling and laughing many times. I found that the romance dragged on a little too long, that Josie was too indecisive about what she wanted through most of the book. But overall, a fun and enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

I really liked this one! I loved the chemistry between Josie and Will and the commitment to each other even though they lived across the country from each other. The garlic fest was such a fun cute addition! I love little unique things in books like this. My only thing is I wish they had more scenes with Josie and the best friend (Wills sister.) It felt like the conflict resolution was very “he said this, she said this.” Overall though, I loved this!! I’m 2/2 with this author!

I have been awake for days because I couldn’t put this book down. So excuse me while I give a sleep-deprived review of this book…that I loved!

What didn’t work for me

One POV: This was my same critique with Love Interest and it really is just being nit-picky, but I would have loved to have gotten a bit more of Will’s POV to understand why he was saying the things he was saying and why he was coming on a little strong. I feel like we would have got more Zoe and more of his family too, which would have been enjoyable.

What I liked

Everything else: I say everything else because I liked it so much. The characters are nicely developed and believable and have realistic problems and fights. I loved her best friend and chef fiancé, her cycling friends and even the parts of the business that we were exposed to seemed real. Will is swoon-worthy (seriously, I gushed at a few of the things he said), and Josie seemed mature and grounded, which is something that is usually not the case for rom-com FMCs. Whether you’re into fashion or not truly doesn’t matter. This book is all about relationships—and it’s a good one!

4.5 STARS

??! why? just finished reading and i found that ending very frustrating (the last line that is - not the overall ending).

so, the second chance aspect of this didn’t entirely work for me, i feel like all that miscommunication could have been really easily resolved. and because josie and will didn’t actually have a relationship in the past it just didn’t feel like a second chance thing anyway, it all felt new. apart from that, i liked the characters in this book! the friendships were strong and i enjoyed josie and will’s romance - i’m a sucker for the hurt/comfort trope.

Clare Gilmore books are severely underrated!!! She’s so good at perfecting everyone’s favorite tropes and making them feel fresh and exciting!! Highly recommend!!

🎧📖 Audiobook Review: Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore 📖🎧

A massive thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ebook and RB Books via NetGalley for granting me access to the audiobook! I am head over heels for Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Josephine Davis is the kind of overworked CEO we all root for, but watching her navigate the chaos of love, life, and work-life balance is what truly makes this story shine. Enter Will Grant, the moody, brooding consultant who also happens to be the twin brother of Josie’s ex-best friend (and the guy she once kissed on a whim back in high school). Their chemistry is undeniable, their banter is top-tier, and the slow-burn romance is chef’s kiss.

Through Josie and Will’s journey, Clare Gilmore masterfully explores themes of ambition, vulnerability, and the importance of slowing down to appreciate what really matters. The audiobook’s narration was exceptional, bringing Josie’s determination and Will’s quiet intensity to life in a way that had me hooked from start to finish.

This story has everything: a steamy romance, witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the person you least expect can be your perfect fit. If you’re a fan of workplace romances or second-chance love stories, you need this book in your life!

This book so incredibly cozy, and wholesome!

The mmc in this book is more than just swoon worthy! If you like thoughtful guys who go out of their way to make sure you know you're cared for... you're gonna LOVE Will Grant, I know I did!

Josephine's journey, personal and romantic, made this book! I absolutely loved her layers, her love and her determination, and most of all her growth!

I love second chance romance. I'm not a huge fan of best friend's brother but it was perfect in Perfect Fit. Will is so sweet and I really felt for Josie. Both of their problems are very relatable to any young professional today. Yet it has that spark of hope that makes romance books so special. Clare Gilmore's writing improves with each book. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

This was a cute rom com, enjoyable read, but also fairly forgettable. The beginning of the book captivated me and had some laugh out loud moments but then it started to drag a bit.

"The Perfect Fit" by Claire Gilmore is such a fun rom-com.

Josie is a CEO of a fashion brand that she worked hard to create in college. In order to elevate her brand, the company wants to work with consultants. In walks, Will, her former best friend's brother.

The connection to the past reignites a flame that will have readers rooting for these two to get together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for selecting me for this ARC. I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to move books from Claire Gilmore in the future.

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

This was such a sweet and positive romance read, a perfect example of what a relationship with good communication can look like and it just left me feeling hopeful. This book provided what I feel is a very realistic look at what being an entrepreneur looks like and how easy it is to get pulled in to the grind. Following along with Josephine's trials and tribulations as she navigates the ups and down of owning your own business felt very realistic. The connection between Josephine and Will was just so good. The fact that they knew each other when they were in high school and the way they reconnect was a fun twist. They show up for each other and really brought what the other needed to the table...the perfect balance! This book just left me feeling hopeful and good and I love that!

“You are the end of everything for me.”

TLDR: This was such a fun read. I loved the writing, the Austin vibes, and the deeper topics. I’m grabbing a copy of my own and some tabs because a reread is in my future.

I loved Clare’s debut book LOVE INTEREST so I knew that her newest release would be a must read. From the moment Josie and Will had their re-meet cute (well, it’s more of a disaster) I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how their story would unfold. I love how Clare writes her characters in a way that has you falling in love with them, flaws and all. You can’t help but root for them. Will, my man, what can I say? He’s in the running for book boyfriend of the year. I just loved him. I loved them for each other.

I wish I read a romance like this years ago. It might have helped me see things with a different perspective. The hustle culture is real and the burnout that can follow is very real. The struggle to find yourself when you’ve misplaced your self-worth isn’t an easy one to overcome. Discovering the kind of friend you want to be (and have) especially when life gets heavy and messy can lead to some tough lessons. Sometimes we don’t get it right even when we think we are. Other times we’re exactly the friend we need to be even when we feel anything but. This book handles all these complex and relatable challenges so well.

It also made me want to do fun things. Like dust off the old sewing machine and make something even though I’m still a little traumatized by those boxers I botched in home ec. Go for a bike ride along our greenway and grab brunch with friends. Make friends with some chefs and have a Garlic Fest of my own because, so fun and yum!

Tropes + things
second chance
ex-best friend’s brother
forced proximity
care taking
single POV/ 1st person

Thank you for making Perfect Fit available on the “Read Now” section of NetGalley. I was excited to give it a try based on its premise. Unfortunately, I’ve decided not to finish the book. While I appreciate the effort and creativity behind the story, I found the main character’s behavior overly childish and I could not gel with her. In particular, I was frustrated by the FMC’s inability to understand that people grow and evolve after high school, which made it challenging to engage with her perspective. I also was uncomfortable with the portrayal of the Latina character, which I found to be stereotypical and not reflective of the diversity and richness of Latinx culture. This is, of course, a personal opinion, and I’m sure the book will resonate with other readers. I wish you success with this title. I appreciate the opportunity to review the book and thank you for your understanding.
DNF at 44% *

Perfect FIt does a great job of capturing all the anxiety of our modern era of social media scrutiny and turning it into a compelling struggle for the protagonist.