This little romance was so pleasant! My first Clare Gilmore, and I will have to check out her back list. A budding second chance romance between two high school acquaintances (hello, brother's best friend) between Josie and Will. Josie, a CEO of a fashion company, lives and breathes it. She encounters Will and we see how their lives intertwine to change for the better or the worst? This novel is definitely for individuals who feel imposter syndrome and never feel just quite good enough which I think resonates with many. Let me tell you how much I loved Will. He was the constant in the novel and Josie's biggest supporter. Truly a disservice to have this only in one POV because I would have ATE up his POV. My one gripe was the Gen-Z references that could have been done without since it made the dialogue more cheesier.

Read if you like;
· second chance romance
· work place romance
· take care of me when I'm sick trope
· healthy communication!!!!!
· slow-burn
· a bit of spice

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. This was my first book by Clare Gilmore and I really enjoyed it!! At its core, this was a contemporary romance with a second chance trope (my favorite!) but I liked how it tackled other topics such as work-life balance/burnout and doing what really makes you happy in life, t. The main character really grew as a person throughout the book and it was enjoyable to see her growth.

Josie is the owner of a wildly popular clothing brand and on the brink of burnout. She hasn't dated in years and her entire life is her company. When she has a chance encounter with Will, the twin brother of her former high school best friend, the course of her life completely shifts. He helps get to realize what matters to her and to focus on things in life beyond work. The love story is a second chance and involves a fun trip across the world. The events and details of their relationship felt real and their banter was also well done. Highly recommend this one!! It comes out on October 29, 2024!

This was fun! The stakes were low, which kept it a nice, breezy read, yet the plot stayed interesting enough to keep me reading. I enjoyed the romance - I particularly enjoy this brand of MMC. I love an emotionally available, honest, and open MMC.

Some of the writing and story telling was clumsy at times. Despite directly poking fun at the concept the FMC was giving "girlboss". I can tell the author did try to put a more gen z friendly spin on it but even that came off clunky and shoe horned in. [[minor spoiler alert]] I also don't love these books where the women have to give up their career aspirations to find happiness (looking at you Happy Place). Like the only two options in the world are not just "girlboss" or soft living, I think we can find something in the middle here ladies. Idk I felt like maybe the author was trying to make some societal commentary, but it was under developed (which is fine! this is a romance!) and missed the mark for me. However I'd say the core of the book was solid and I enjoyed being along for the journey

I love the characters!!! Such a fun story. Depth but still a quick story. Will reread agsin just to visit the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! I LOVED this book. It had everything — from banter to an examination of self-worth to friendships at different stages. Will was the perfect book boyfriend, and Josie was so likeable. I loved their chemistry, but I also loved the maturity of their second time around (and no real third act breakup, hallelujah!). I was really pleasantly surprised by this book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

3.5/5

I have very mixed feelings about this book. There were some moments in this story that I absolutely loved and was so excited to see what they lead to, but then there would be moments that dragged so much and left me so uninterested. The pacing and character dynamics were weirdly inconsistent at times. But I still very much enjoyed this book - it was a fun, easy, and quick read!

I think this premise was so fun but I couldn't connect to the characters. You start the story by being thrown right into the action, but I can find that a bit disorienting. But an amazing rarity in this book: there is no third act breakup! So if you're a hater of those, you're gonna be so happy with this.

These characters felt a bit too cookie-cutter for me, they were such put-together people and almost formulaic in some of their choices. I think that is my biggest "problem" with this book. I do know plenty of people that love that, so I can see this book being so successful.

I would definitely recommend this to someone who wanted a cute and fun read. I mean, the owner of a fashion brand paired up with her ex best friend's brother - now, that's fun!

Thanks to NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book! My review on Goodreads is already posted and my review on TikTok will be uploaded at the end of May/very beginning of June with my May reading wrap-up.

I read Love Interest last summer, and it was fantastic so I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of Clare Gilmore's new book.

I did enjoy this book but not as much as Love Interest. I liked Josephine and Will, but I didn't think their chemistry was as strong as Alex and Casey's.

I still liked the book and absolutely will read Clare Gilmore's next novel.

Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore was a nearly perfect read.

I had enjoyed Gilmore’s first romance release, Love Interest, and I was excited to receive an eARC of Perfect Fit. Josie was a relatable character, and Will was most certainly swoon-worthy. I also appreciated Josie’s friendships with Camila and Zoe.

Read if you like:
🩵 Second chance romance
🩵 Workplace romance
🩵 Best friend’s brother

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC of Perfect Fit. Anything Gilmore writes, I’ll continue to read!

Meh. I wasn’t a fan. I found the main characters not likable. I thought Josephine was playing victim and pretty whiny throughout the whole book. I don’t know what to think of Will. He was a fixer who thought he broke everything? Huh? Additionally, the “incident” that changed the course of Jo’s life was a kiss on spring break. That was it? How was she slut-shamed when her and Zoe were social outcasts without friends? I don’t think anyone would have cared what they did. Things just didn’t add up for me. Lastly, the spice scenes were ridiculous. He touched her stomach and boom! Orgasm! Sounds like a light breeze would have set her off. At best, this is a library rental.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a good read where you really feel like the couple earned it when things work out! So glad to see this wasn’t a miss from this hot author!

I really enjoyed so much about this book. Both Josie & Will were sympathetic characters that were portrayed as flawed, but genuine. As the story progressed, their relationship built in a way that drew me in and had me rooting for their success, individually & together. I don’t know that there’s a lot of comedy, but the story is definitely timely and endearing with plenty of swoon-worthy scenes. The last doorstep convo was pretty spectacular. This book is one I’d purchase to re-visit Austin with Will & Josie. And I’ll definitely pick up anything from this author.
Thank you #NetGalley for the arc e-book.

This was a cute and light second chance romance! I think the emotional connection was really well developed here, and usually I find myself saying this the other way around, but I actually needed a little bit more in terms of the physical connection and chemistry. I would classify this as door ajar (?) in terms of spice, and these few scenes felt a little rushed/underdeveloped for me.

That aside, I really loved Will and his devotion, I mean this quote alone, hehe.

“I am happiest when I am giving you what you want.”

3.75 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC.

This is a cute romance about two high school acquaintances who reconnect a decade later. It’s told only from the female POV, which is a little unfortunate, because the MMC is definitely the more likable of the two characters.

The storyline isn’t overly predictable, but I still found my mind wandering at times and realized the story wasn’t holding my attention all that well. I think the reason why is because it’s written like a book, not like people actually think and talk. I can’t imagine people in real life ever saying a word of the dialogue in this book. So if you’re in it for the banter, like I am, this might not capture your attention.

If you’re in it for the story, though, this one’s pretty good. It’s definitely more romance than rom-com. There are some heavier topics, and the tone is fairly introspective. I didn’t really have any guesses of where the story was going, so it kept me reading to see how things would play out.

I will say that the ending…left something to be desired. I almost knocked off a whole star because of the last sentence, so that’s a bit of a downer. 🫠

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Perfect Fit was a cute story but ultimately felt a little formulaic to me. Josie is an impressive character, with her own clothing brand she built from the ground up and a diverse friend group. She struggles with imposter syndrome, which I felt was well done - especially for a character who outwardly projects such success, but who I can understand, in real life, may still struggle with her fast rise and wondering if she’s truly deserving of what she has.

Will was where things fell a little flat for me, he felt a little too perfect and pushed the plot into a standard girl has met boy, issues in past, reintroduction of the two, revisit of feelings, happily ever after. It just didn’t have enough believability to take it out of an almost script format.

This is well written, cute, and fun and I can see many enjoying this immensely. I just wished we had spent more time in what made the story really interesting, the moments with friends, Josie’s feelings, and the development of Will to be a real person on the other side of that.

I couldn’t wait to dive into this as soon as I got it and pushed other books to further back on my TBR to skip to this! It did not disappoint. Dare I say this was a pretty long slow burn and I was aching for Josie and Will to get together and man was it worth it! Will was TO DIE FOR and I highlighted so many of the things he said to Josie that made me swoon! One of the things I loved most was the side plots about friendship and work/life balance that i thought were really interesting and added another layer to the plot that I ate up. All in all I loved this and can’t wait for more from Clare!

This one is for the insecure overachievers, the ones who work hard and get far and still suffer from imposter syndrome. So relatable and so vulnerable. Josie was a character I rooted for!! I also loved the strangers-to-friends-to-lovers story. The romance between Josie and Will was patient, caring, and thoughtful.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this book. It really surpassed the authors first book for me. I loved the use of imposter syndrome and the supporting characters. In particular I loved how much the lead female character LOVED her business. She was such a rich and believable character. I also fully believed the relationship and I’m glad the conflict wasn’t him being her former best friends brother (and in fact that was dealt with beautifully) but her own insecurities. Will read again.

This book was EVERYTHING. I can easily claim it as one of my favorite books now. I don’t even know where to start. The characters were intriguing, the plot was easy and exciting to follow, I was emotional as the climax hit and I felt like the epilogue was perfect. It is my first read from the author but I believe I would read more of her work.

“I’m the reason you were quoted such a high rate when you approached Ellis about working together.”
His words make me immediately nauseous.
“Why?” I bite out.

At this moment, I knew I was going to adore this book. It wasn’t just that he was groveling, but the way he went about it. Normally in groveling tropes, men throw money at the FMC to fix issues. Whether it’s gifts or something of the sort, that eventually wears the FMC down because of the gestures. In this case, Will takes up any and all additional time he has to research all he can about Josephine and how can be of use to her. He helped her at any given moment he was able to and I adored him each time he pulled through for her. When she was battling inner issues, he was the greenest flag I have ever witnessed. He was able to explain things rationally to her, in a way that he was sure she would understand.

The COMMUNICATION between these two was amazing! That was my favorite part between these two, and honestly, I think it sent a message to the reader throughout the book. Lack of proper communication was the leading issue through the book. Starting were her friendship in high school, when the two MC’s had a slight misunderstanding, and then the news that was happening between the FMC and her current r friends; this book was testing to show you how one TINY little issue could ruin an entire relationship. If the characters would have been able to simply talk to each other, these issues wouldn’t have been there. So, for the FMC to show her growth and push past any uncomfortable feelings to make sure she effectively communicating whenever it needed to happen was amazing. Yes, she still had moments where she clearly did NOT show her growth, but no one is perfect haha.

“Hi,” she says, her voice sending me all the way back to that study hall when I asked if I could read her short story and she said, Oh my gosh, you’re secretly weird too!
I gulp. “H-hi,” I manage.
In the next breath, we’re hugging. Instantly, I feel like an emotionally charged teenager again, clutching my first best friend close as tears prick at my eyes, dance across my cheeks, and land on her shoulders. She sob-laughs against my collarbone and I choke out a laugh of my own.
When I pull back to look at her, she beams a thousand-watt smile at me.

This part had me SOBBING. I had to put my book down. I don’t think I’ll properly be able to explain the emotions that were coursing through me at that moment. Josephine has a bunch of issues with her self esteem; some which dealt with her relationships, some where it messed with her obsession regarding others views of her. It was a small issue that popped up every now and then throughout the book, but it was enough that it made it significant enough. I felt myself blending with the character, moments where she was so anxious because of one small detail - something that the other characters didn’t understand - but I found myself pointing at my screen agreeing with her, understanding with her, because I’ve also lived it. It made me feel really connected with the character throughout the story, and I found myself attached to her.

“Josie,” Will murmurs, his hands on my neck, in my hair, lips on my collarbone. “
love you. I am head over heels in love with you.” “I love you, too,” I say back, just before he kisses me. We’re helpless.
It came out so simply. His call, my response. I love you.

These two were perfect honestly. I was rooting for them from the very beginning, and yes, we knew that they were going to get together, but the build up was immaculate. They are hands down going to be one of my favorite book couples forever. I know I talked them up above, but their romance really was a staple for me. I felt like a befriend listening to a love story, a beautiful written love story where fate takes over.

During an emotionally intense discussion between our two dear main characters, Josie and Will, there is a moment when one of them says something to the effect of "let's have a mature talk and at the end of it, we'll still want to be with each other." I swooned.

Clare Gilmore's writing is filled with that kind of earnest dialogue and tender vulnerability, and it's truly a refreshing oasis of maturity in a sea romance novels that often rely on miscommunication and other similar conflict tropes. Josie and Will's chemistry and pull towards each other is undeniable, but there are realistic hurdles between them and in their careers, and I really appreciated that nothing about it was artificial, manufactured drama. Ambition for herself, fear of succumbing to the burn-out, his desire to be near family, but to avoid sliding backwards, the anxiety of repairing old friendships - these are all relatable. (The only un-relatable aspect is how financially comfortable they both were.)

I thought it would be hard to beat the compatibility of Casey and Alex (from Love Interest), but Josie and Will are also so well matched and also achingly kind and attentive towards each other. I still think about Alex's Target laundry detergent phone call, but now it's joined by Will's determined thoughtfulness in Nashville. Casey pulling up the old articles written by Alex's mom; Josie soothing Will's insecurities as he lists his "worst" traits. I loved that their chemistry towards each other was built on communication, and because of this writing choice, there are so many morsels of romantic declarations sprinkled throughout to keep you kicking your feet in the air.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I am very excited for Gilmore, and can't wait to see what she writes next!

This book was great. It was very relatable and I loved the setting. The romance was so cute and I really enjoyed the plot.