I loved workplace romance 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 but unfortunately this new book by the same author was only a like. The romance itself was lacking for me in this case, with very little chemistry felt between the two main characters. It was marketed as a second chance romance but I actually didn't feel like it qualifies, as their first chance romance, was just a high school kiss. The falling out from the sister best friend from said kiss + some miscommunication was also a small part of the plot I didn't like. I did enjoy the "girl boss" aspect of FMC Josie.

Overall, it was a light and fun enough romance. Would I recommend it? Yes. Do I think you absolutely must read it? No.

I really enjoyed this. I didn’t feel like it was overly fraught or wrung out. It was a nice story, where good people actually get (and keep!) good things. The relationships felt real and relatable.

This book was everything I love in a romance—sharp banter, sizzling tension, and characters who feel so real you want to call them up for coffee.

Josephine Davis is the kind of heroine I adore—driven, ambitious, and a little too stubborn for her own good. She’s built her fashion brand from the ground up, so when her investor insists on bringing in a consultant, it feels like a personal slight. Enter Will Grant. Broody, perceptive, and—oh yeah—the twin brother of Josie’s former best friend. Their history is complicated (one accidental kiss nearly a decade ago), but their chemistry? Off. The. Charts.

What I loved most about this book was how natural their relationship felt. The push and pull between Josie and Will wasn’t just about attraction; it was about learning to see each other differently. Josie isn’t shallow, and Will isn’t just the grumpy guy in the corner. Their relationship develops with so much care, and I was completely invested in every stolen glance and late-night conversation.

The tension with Will’s sister added another layer of emotional depth, and Josie’s struggles as a CEO felt incredibly authentic. Burnout, ambition, and the fear of slowing down for love—it all resonated so deeply. The romance was swoon-worthy, but the personal growth? Chef’s kiss.

Josephine (Josie) is the young CEO of her own clothing company called Revenant. She's currently trying to handle the company, it's/her future, and her best friend's bachelorette. When she decides to hire a business consultant, she finds Will Grant. The same Will Grant that is her former best friends twin brother. The same Will Grant that she made out with at a highschool party. Hence the reason his sister is her EX best friend.

As the two begin to work closely with one another, old feelings resurface and they realize that they are attracted to each other, but Josie feels like she's too busy with her company and decisions about the future to attempt any kind of relationship. But Will helps her realize that she is very near burnout and needs to balance her demanding career with some kind of downtime.

I really loved the friendship that Will and Josie had. His quiet but steady support and encouragement was everything. Her desire to not succumb to the demands of social media and to prove that she can be a girl boss and still maintain everything else was relateable. I loved that they communicated so clearly and effortlessly. There are also a bunch of pop culture references, which I liked but some may not. I recommend this quick and fun read for anyone who loves a second chance at friendship and romance.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved this book and think you will too. Pick it up for the strong character development, A+ pop culture references, sharp writing, and sizzling romance.

3.5 stars, rounded up because the topics are important

Things I loved:
- the friendships
- the realistic look at girl-boss/hustle culture and burnout
- Will Grant

So why didn't I rate this higher?

The story mostly felt discordant. The topics (girl-boss/hustle culture, burnout, the viciousness of social media) are serious and heavy but the approach felt light. The female friendships within this world of toxic capitalism and appearance-ism weren't given the room to breathe I thought they deserved. They're very well done, don't get me wrong! But I wanted to see more of them <b>because</b> they're so well done.

This book is marketed as a romance but the romantic relationship felt weak and easy. It's definitely the secondary storyline. Will is a classic man-written-by-a-woman and he's such a great book boyfriend. But he was almost too good and it bordered on caricaturish for me.

We need more stories that address these topics. I'll definitely recommend this to friends but with the caveat that it's not romance-forward, no matter how it seems.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was a cute little romance book. It kept me interested, but it was also very predictable. Much of the character relationships were based on miscommunication from years before. Overall though, it was a cute story.

fun and light hearted read! i loveee how the author added some pop culture references into it. as a fashion girlie who’s love language is acts of service i DEVOURED this

Perfect Fit by Claire Gilmore is a delightful rom-com that balances humour, emotional depth, and chemistry in all the right ways. Josie is the kind of protagonist you root for—ambitious, flawed, and just vulnerable enough to feel real. Her journey from burnout-driven CEO to someone who’s willing to reconsider what “success” really looks like is relatable and refreshing.

The dynamic between Josie and Will is filled with tension, especially given their complicated history and mutual misjudgments. Their banter is smart and funny, but it’s the emotional layers that sneak up on you—particularly as they navigate the messy intersections of family, forgiveness, and timing.

I especially appreciated how Gilmore tackles themes like burnout, ambition, and the pressure to “have it all” without sacrificing the rom-com charm. The story is modern but grounded, with just enough emotional grit to give it staying power.

One star off only because a few plot threads—like the unresolved tension with Will’s sister—could’ve used a bit more depth. But overall, this is a smart, feel-good love story.

Two words: Will Grant. LOVED this book. Clare Gilmore can do no wrong! Not only does it have work place romance but I loved that it also included female friendships, moving forward and growing!

I received this ARC, and liked this second sort or missed change romance. "You are the end of everything for me." ... Two lovely characters run into each other literally years after a 'previous life'. He somehow convinces her to hire a consultant, and Will slowly gets back into Josephine's good graces.
"Don't think you could ever know how badly I ache for you. The way you feel to me is like as inevitable rightness."
4 stars

This book was so good! I read this authors first book and I liked it, but seeing her grow as a writer was fun! I am definitely going to be a reading anything she writes from now on.

(3.5, rounded up to 4)

Claire Gilmore's "Perfect Fit" is a delightful exploration of love, ambition, and second chances, set against the backdrop of the fast-paced fashion industry. The novel shines through its well-drawn characters, particularly Josephine Davis, a driven CEO navigating the challenges of running her own brand while grappling with burnout. Opposite her is Will Grant, a thoughtful and grounded consultant with a shared history that adds depth to their dynamic. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their gradual connection feels authentic and rewarding.

The plot balances romance and personal growth, weaving in themes of work-life balance and the courage to prioritize happiness over hustle. While the story leans on familiar tropes, such as second-chance romance and opposites attracting, Gilmore’s execution breathes fresh life into these elements. The professional tension between Josie and Will adds a layer of complexity, and the inclusion of Josie’s past friendships and unresolved conflicts enriches the narrative.

In terms of enjoyment, Perfect Fit delivers a heartwarming and engaging read. The humor and emotional moments are well-paced, making it easy to root for the protagonists as they navigate their personal and professional lives. While the story could benefit from a bit more unpredictability, it remains a satisfying and charming romance that leaves readers with a smile. A solid read for fans of contemporary romance with a touch of depth.

What an absolutely pleasant surprise (I’m pretty sure I said the same about Love Interest). I loved Perfect Fit - Will Grant is what book boyfriends are made of.
I laughed and cried throughout this entire book - mostly lighthearted but definitely some serious moments too.

This was a fun and light hearted read, I really enjoyed. It was refreshing to see some of today's culture mixed into the story. This was an easy, fun read!

After really enjoying Love Interest by Clare Gilmore, I absolutely loved this book! The author’s snarky and sarcastic style made for a very enjoyable read. I was invested from the very first page.

Josie and Will have such a warm and fuzzy love story. Despite their past and reasons they shouldn't be together, I love that they got their HEA. The slow burn and pining had me flipping pages so fast! I love a good book with self development and growth so this book hit that nail on the head too. Will is the perfect cinnamon roll MMC and Josie is interesting and passionate about the things in her life. This is one I will definitely be recommending to romance book lovers!

I didn't love this quite as much as Love Interest, but i'm excited to see what Clare Gilmore writes next! I love her characters and Perfect Fit is a fun read. Will Grant, oh my.

Relatable characters, a fun story, humor , and romance- for me, Perfect Fit was a perfect fit. Loved this one!

Thank you Clare Gilmore, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Josie has spent her twenties building her own fashion brand, Revenant, but when her biggest investor orders her to hire a consultant, she never imagines she’ll be reunited with her ex-best friend’s brother. Will and Josie shared one ill-advised kiss during senior year spring break, but they’ve never been friends. She thought he was moody, he thought she was shallow. In Will’s new role though, he’s going above and beyond to be there for Josie. While they both quickly realize they can’t stop thinking about each other, they’ll have 1700 miles, Will’s sister, and Josie’s company to contend with. Can a CEO really slow down enough to fall in love? This one started off really strong for me and fell off a bit somewhere around halfway!

The good: I LOOOVED the Austin setting, really liked the female CEO aspect and seeing her internal struggle with putting so much of herself into her business and how that could affect other areas of her life (felt very genuine), and also really loved the friendships in this book! Oh and her intern was a very important side character for me personally.

The less good: the chemistry was a bit weak to me? Like at the beginning the author was so nailing the banter between Josie and Will and I was so here for the enemies to lovers but it so quickly flipped to Will wanting to do everything to prove himself to her that it felt insta-lovey to me. The push-pull at the end of the book felt a little bit like we were forcing conflict when there wasn’t any.

Still overall enjoyed!

3.5⭐️

Every once in awhile you encounter a book that’s just so beautifully crafted, where you feel like the characters are long lost friends of yours and it’s a privilege to see your friends grow from afar. Josephine and Will were THAT couple, they had such a strong relationship that I was constantly rooting for, and every side character had a purpose and felt integral to the story/growth of the two of them. I loved seeing how Josephine grew in her friendships, her business, herself! Clare Gilmore just did the dang thing with this one.