Okay, this might be one of the sweetest books I’ve ever read.

I don’t really use the word swoon, but that’s exactly what this book made me do.

I was happy, I was sad, I was smiling ear to ear. I wanted to cry. I felt all the emotions.

Nora and Will are the cutest and WOW the last chapter and the epilogue! I think I actually died from how cute and perfect it was!

This is an enemies to lovers, dual POV story and in addition to the MC’s, this book had a fabulous cast of side characters.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the hilariously awkward relationship Will had with his boss Dr. Abraham. Their interactions were so awkward I couldn’t help but to cackle every time.

This is an open door romance although it is not a particularly steamy read, but that’s okay because it’s such a sweet story, so please give it a read!

Also side note, does Kate clayborn only write the most beautiful love stories? That’s rhetorical, because duh of course she does. And if you haven’t already read her book, Love Lettering then you definitely need to check it out!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sixteen years ago while visiting an uncle he never knew existed, Will Sterling - waiting outside while his mother and uncle fought inside - was captivated by the voice of a girl his age. It was a perfect moment that's stayed with Will throughout many more imperfect ones that came after in his life.

Unexpectedly brought back to the apartment complex after his uncle leaves it to him in his will, Will is caught again by that same voice. Only this time, he also has a name: Nora Clarke. But Will has no plans to live in the apartment, instead he wants to fix it up and sublet it out.

Nora has such fond memories of the apartment complex. She used to visit her grandmother there every summer and it was the one constant in a life often full of surprising unknowns. The apartment and the other people who live in the complex are her family. While she's immediately drawn to Will Sterling, she can not get behind his ideas for changing or sprucing up the place.

What ensues is a back-and-forth game to get the other person to admit defeat. Ultimately what happens is Will and Nora are drawn closer and closer to each other to the point that they'll each have to decide if they can let go of the past enough to find true happiness.

I was really drawn into this story by the premise. Of those often simple and sometimes seemingly insignificant moments in your life the just stay with you. I think we all have them. As far as meet cutes go I think this is a really sweet one.

The idea of Will and Nora being instantly drawn to one another, yet finding out they don't see eye to eye in regards to the apartment complex, just brings to the forefront their own insecurities. So as they challenge one another - Nora trying to keep Will from changing the complex, seeing the beauty in what is already there and Will showing Nora that change doesn't have to be a bad thing - do you begin to see where the other needs to get in order for them to move forward with a relationship. I like how neither character is right or wrong in their overall assumptions, they just have to personally take the leap for themselves. It's very internal processing on their parts I feel, but the plus side is getting to be with someone who truly understands where you come from. Seeing Will and Nora get to that point, or seeing IF they can get to that point is worth the entire read of the book.

I kind of like the ambiguity of the conflict between Nora and Will. If you really sit and think about it, the conflict is silly to say the least. From the outside it's silly. But that's when you think about people's feelings on the inside and how you trace these feelings back to their source that you find the true conflict of it all.

Will grew up with parents who were more focused on each other than they were on raising Will. Nora, too, grew up with parents who were more work focused than they were in raising their daughter. Whereas Will learned to become self-sufficient, Nora did have her grandmother's love to fall into, and losing that makes her want to cling to the things she familiar with, not to let that change happen. Whereas Will wants nothing that he can associate with the past. He's always trying to look forward but in doing so he can miss the things that are right in front of him.

The other families in the apartment complex are like a secondary character treasure trove. I love the camaraderie that they all have with one another, and I like that they are all so close. It almost feels like a bygone era. It's been quite a while since I've lived in an apartment myself, but I was never super close with my neighbors. I knew who they were of course, would give a nice hello in the hall, but that was it. I love how these people have all become extended family. And I like good family, they love to be up in everyone's business :)

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. I loved the ease in which I could slip into the story. I haven't read all of Kate Clayborn's previous books, but I'm thinking I need to fix that soon!

Love at First is a sweet, not too steamy romance that will make you feel lots of the feels. I loved the story, the main characters, and the amazing friend group. The story was a little slow for me at times, but that is most likely a me problem. Will and Nora have a swoony type of romance, with their backgrounds the only obstacle to overcome. I would recommend this read.

I’ll admit, I was in a bit of a reading slump when I started Love at First. Because of this, I didn’t do my usual read-in-one-sitting read of this book but rather, stretched it over a few days. This actually gave me more time to enjoy the book and revel in the beauty of Kate Clayborn’s writing. I honestly don’t have words to describe how skilled her writing style is. You really used need to pick up one of her books and experience it for yourself.

The title of Love at First and the description made me think this was going to be a lovers reunited story. But really, it was a story about discovering what love is and what it means to you. There are examples of unhealthy love, platonic love, love in friendships, love in found families. This is honestly just a love story. Will and Nora are such expertly crafted characters with hidden depths and as they find their way to each other and develop their own love story, it’s just everything. In addition to Will and Nora, there is a whole cast of intriguing side characters who help bring this story to life. Love at First is a beautiful story and one that really hits home with a reader who’s life is going through changes.

This is the second book of Clayborn's that I've read - and I really enjoyed it! Set in Chicago, the two main characters (and perspectives), Will and Nora, come together in a classic Chicago apartment building. Will unexpectedly inherits a unit from his estranged uncle. An emergency room doctor, he doesn't have the desire or inclination to actually fulfill the clause stipulating that he reside there for 12 months before selling. Nora, meanwhile, has moved into her grandmother's beloved apartment - and loves everything about the building and the family that her fellow residents have always been to her since she used to spend summers there as a child. But Will threatens to upend all of that security.

It's not quite an enemies-to-lovers, but close enough to make it fun and fresh. Plus, I love a good Chicago setting - and all of the characters, major and minor, really come to life. It's an entertaining - and pretty romantic - read. There are some steamy scenes but nothing crass or overly explicit (though I am not sure that I would want to listen to an audio version). I am definitely going to continue keeping my eye out for more from Clayborn!

Goodness gracious. This book is so sweet and beautiful. I adored Clayborn's Love Lettering and was so excited to be able to read an arc of Love at First.

After the passing of his uncle Donny, Will inherits his apartment in a building full of quirky and primarily elderly neighbors. Will doesn't have the time or desire to live in the apartment and can't sell it for 1 year so he decides to open it up as a short term rental, much to the chagrin of his neighbors especially Nora. As Nora and Will battle over his apartment, they begin to become friends and attraction builds.

Nora and Will are both so sad and complex: Will hides his sadness behind rigidity and Nora doesn't let anything around her change as a shrine to an apartment building full of people who were her home as a child. They both hold deep wells of grief that they haven't grappled with and as a reader your just waiting for the other shoe to drop. This book also holds a significant amount of love and joy: seeing Nora and Will interact with the amazingly funny and unique neighbors, seeing Nora experience the beach, seeing Will build a friendship he didn't know he needed. And obviously, Nora and Will's relationship is the sweetest (and a super steamy) part.

This is a must read!

This is the first time that I am reading a book from Kate Claybourne. I found Love At First a very cute contemporary second chance romance. If you enjoy reading books from Lucy Score you will really enjoy this book. It hits all the feels with great character building with the main characters. It really seemed like the complex was its own little world that only a select few go to inhabit. I felt like I could connect with all the characters in this book and really enjoyed learning about each ones quarks. I was delighted in the detail of the apartment complex and its inhabitants. I feel like some authors gloss over a few details and some just go into way too much detail that I want to just skim over the intricate details. I love how you are introduced to the younger main characters in the prologue and learn a little about Will’s life before he is reintroduced into the present.

Eleanora Clarke is the quirky resident of her late Nonna’s apartment and loves living there. I felt for her because she hung on to everything that was the past with sentimental items and trying to make the other residents happy. I loved how the complex was her family and they all helped and there for each other. I enjoyed how they would stand up for each other and defend what they thought was how things should be exactly like it was in the past nothing ever changing.

Will Sterling was the new resident of his late uncles unit and just wanted to move on from being willed this place. He had a complicated childhood and just wanted to focus on the present. My heart felt for him being put thru so much as a kid and teenager. He is now an adult and has a career and his life already planned out. Then he gets a unit and just wants to rent it out for his own personal reasons. I thought the little disruptions that the other tenants gave Will while trying to clean out the unit were too funny. They were trying to show him how the complex was a “sorta” family.

I especially enjoyed reading when the two main characters interacted it was instant attraction between them both. Her trying to convince him to not rent out his place and causing little distractions but finding something between them neither could fight. Both characters were perfect for each other with learning of what to let go of and what to hang on to. I absolutely loved reading this book and look forward to looking into more books from this author.

~ Brooke

SWOON.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.

Kate Clayborn's writing works for me in such a major way. She suffuses all these tiny details into her books, down to the sentence level (with judicious yet delicious use of parens to include little asides!). More than once, it felt like she writes how I think.

The plot of Love at First is a bit slower than my average romance read, but I'm glad I was along for the ride: This one gets swoon-y! The conflict between the two main characters (Nora and Will) isn't MAJOR, which I actually liked - it made them feel more like adults. Or at least, it made them feel true to life/my romantic experiences (sometimes conflict and tension are quiet things).

And I'd be remiss not to mention the cast. Will recently inherited an apartment in Nora's building - she considers all those living there to be family aaand he wants to unload his unit asap. I really enjoyed scenes with the neighbors, as well as Will and Nora's friends.

Mostly this one just gave me warm fuzzies so I'm happy to recommend it!

Kate Clayborn’s Love at First is one of those books that you immediately feel has wrapped you up in a warm hug, and in which the characters and their story creep gradually and unobtrusively under your skin and wind around your heartstrings. Ms. Clayborn is one of my few go-to contemporary romance authors, and this book demonstrates yet again exactly why that is; this is a beautifully understated but gloriously romantic love story full of poignancy and tenderness featuring fully-rounded, supremely relatable characters with ordinary, everyday lives and ordinary, everyday problems.

We first meet Will Sterling when he’s around fifteen, and his mother has taken him to meet the uncle he never knew existed. He has no idea why they’re there, and while he’s waiting outside the apartment block for his mother, he hears a girl’s laughter coming from somewhere above him. He looks up to the balcony and even though he can’t see her clearly (he’s short sighted and needs glasses) Will is immediately captivated. Something about her – the swishing of her sleek ponytail, her animated gestures, the sound of her voice – calls to him and he stands watching while he can hear his mother and uncle arguing in the background.

Sixteen years later, Will is a dedicated and hard-working ER doctor when he discovers that his uncle Donny has died and left him his apartment. Will doesn’t want it – thinking about the things he’d learned that day so many years ago, or about his long-deceased parents stirs up too many painful, unresolved emotions – but under the terms of the bequest, he can’t sell the place for a year, so he decides instead to fit it out for short-term lets until he can legally dispose of it.

Unlike Will, Eleanora – Nora – Clarke has very fond memories of the apartment building where she spent so much of her childhood, and regards the other (mostly elderly) inhabitants as family. The only child of two archaeologists who spent most of their time away on one dig or another, Nora lived with her grandmother during the summers and has, following Nonna’s recent death, come back to Chicago to live. Moving from San Diego, adjusting to remote working and struggling to cope with grief over her Nonna’s death has led to bouts of interrupted sleep, and now, a few months later, the hour between four and five in the morning has become her ‘Golden Hour’, a time for coffee and quiet reflection before confronting the day. She knows the habits of her neighbours well, so when, on one particular morning, she wakes to hear someone else moving around on one of the balconies, she knows it must be someone new. She ventures outside, and looking down, sees a man standing quietly, his handsome face cast in light and shadow from the glow coming from inside… and feels suddenly that this is someone she should meet.

Will and Nora engage in a short conversation, but they don’t see each other again until a few weeks later, during the meeting of the residents Nora convenes after learning of Will’s plan to let out Donny’s – Will’s – apartment to short term renters. She’s outraged – and the other tenants are worried – at the prospect of a steady stream of strangers coming and going, hating the idea of breaking up their close-knit community – and determines to come up with ways to get Will to change his mind. She thinks if she can get him to see the unique qualities of the building and the people in it, he will fall in love with it (and them) too, and abandon his plan.

For the first part of the book, Nora and Will are at odds, he spending a couple of weeks clearing out and renovating his apartment, she trying to slow him down, put him off and generally make things difficult for him. It’s a bit childish, sure, but for Nora, this is the family unit she’s never really had, and losing that on top of losing her Nonna is just too much to face. And for Will, it’s the place where his life changed forever and he all he wants to do is leave behind the memories of the hurt and disappointment he associates with it.

But even though they want completely different things, neither of them can deny the strong pull of attraction they feel towards one another. The chemistry between them is intense yet understated, and their interactions are awkward and lovely, a mixture of unutterable tenderness and raw vulnerability as they begin to learn about and love each other, slowly helping one another to let go of the things that hurt them and are holding them back. I loved the way the author slowly reveals their truths – to the reader and to each other – showing not only how their pasts have shaped them but also their dawning awareness that those pasts don’t define them and that they can choose another path.

Nora’s neighbours are quirky and wonderfully drawn, as is Will’s uptight but insightful boss, and I loved the found family aspect of the story, the idea that we can choose who to love and surround ourselves with by sharing our hearts and our truest selves.

I had just two minor quibbles, which account for the A- rather than a full-on A. Firstly, I didn’t care for the way Nora treats Will near the end; okay, so it’s a very stressful time but it still felt cold. Also, I’m not a fan of romances where friends or family have to provide a very big nudge to get the protagonists to see what is under their respective noses; I much prefer them to work it out for themselves.

Apart from that though, Love at First is, quite simply, a delightful love story. It’s not flashy or drama-filled; it’s a quiet, heartfelt and deeply emotional tale in which the romance builds slowly and organically, the character development is incredible yet subtle, and the regard and respect the two leads have for one another – even when they’re on opposite sides – infuse every page. I’m sure Kate Clayborn’s many fans will need no urging to pick up this latest release, but if you’ve never read one of her books, Love at First would be a wonderful place to start. Strongly recommended.

Grade: 4.5 stars / A-

Disclaimer! I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley. That has in no way influenced my review.

Sixteen years ago, Will Stirling first cast eyes on Nora Clarke and was instantly smitten. He was standing under a shaded tree, listening with a sinking heart to his mother pleading with the uncle he hadn't even realised existed, while she was up high on a balcony, throwing little tomatoes at thieving squirrels.

Cut to the present day, when Will is an overworked doctor and has inherited his uncle's apartment. With the exception of seeing his intriguing mystery girl in the garden, he has nothing but bad memories associated with the place and he doesn't like the run-down building or location. The terms of his late uncle's will states that he can't sell the place for the first year, but he's planning on having it modernised and put up for short-term rentals, so he can go on with his life.

Nora Clarke and the other residents of the building where Will has inherited are appalled when they realise that Will wants nothing to do with the place, and is going to use his unit as a rental. Nora is still grieving for her grandmother, whose apartment she inherited and now lives in, having barely changed a thing since her dear Nonna was alive. Having always had a safe haven in the building, and feeling a strong sense of kinship with the other long-time residents, Nora can't understand why Will wouldn't want to be enveloped by their quirky community. She and the other owners decide to try to sabotage Will's efforts as much as they can.

As it turns out, of course, Nora and Will have a lot in common. Both grew up with distant and preoccupied parents, the difference was that Nora had a loving grandmother and the other residents in her Chicago apartment building. Will had no one else and was completely orphaned in his late teens. He's used to having to fend for himself, putting himself through college and medical school through hard work and dedication. He's never had any long-term relationships and seems frankly baffled by the many slightly off-beat traditions that the residents of his uncle's apartment building seem attached to. He's very attracted to Nora, though, even more so after he discovers that she is, in fact, the same person he saw on that balcony all those years ago.

The blurb for this romance describes it as a second chance story, but it's not like Nora and Will have this complicated past and just need to find back to one another. Their past encounter consists of one single encounter, where they didn't even speak or even see each other - Will is the only one who is aware of it having taken place. So it's more of a love at first sight story, as having seen the vivacious teenage Nora all those years ago seems to have made Will uninterested in all other women.

I liked a lot of things about this book, but unfortunately, the actual romance between Will and Nora is probably third or fourth down on that list. Will and Nora on their own are both interesting and complex characters, both with a lot of emotional baggage they need to work through before being able to commit to a romantic relationship and finding a happy ending. The various supporting characters in the book are all awesome and made the book really come alive. They include Nora's best friend and colleague Deepa (who I will happily read a book about) and Will's starchy superior who's trying to reconnect with his ex-wife. There are the various individuals who live in the apartment building, all of whom are great and act as Nora's extended family and support network. I loved reading about all of them - I didn't really feel swept away by the actual central romance.

Kate Clayborn is a good writer and seems very skilled at writing memorable characters. I still clearly remember and think about several of the protagonists in her Chance of a Lifetime trilogy. There was a lot to like about this story as well, but the romance that should have been front and centre kind of came second to the found family narrative that I found most compelling. It was still a lovely read, and I'll keep my eyes open in case Clayborn decides she wants to give Deepa a book next.

Judging a book by its cover: It's become quite clear that cute, animated covers for romance novels are the popular thing right now, and this is a really nice example. I may be biased because purple is my favourite colour and just look at that rich plummy colour, lightening towards the bottom. Gorgeous. It may be that I also prefer the covers not to have actual little cartoon people on them.

Huge thanks to @kensingtonbooks for the early copy. I had very high expectation of this one since I loved 'Love Lettering', but it turned out to be very different. In a good way. Though it took me a bit to actually get into the story, I ultimately ended up enjoying it. Will and Nora's love story is sweet and the side characters add up to its charm. But on the downside, the book itself didn't make much of an impact. Did I like it? Yes. Will I read it again? May be. If you are looking for a cute romantic read then 'Love at First' is a good choice.

I like a good fluffy romantic comedy from time to time, but this one left me lacking a little something. I was more interested in the quirky community of neighbors than I was in the two main protagonists Will and Nora. I did think their characters had interesting back stories and histories but this wasn’t fleshed out a whole lot. That being said there was a cute meet (two if you count the almost meet they had which was arguably the better of the two). And the plot was enjoyable even if it was completely predictable. The writing was good and there was a nice thread of humor through the whole story. Teenage Will’s mother brings him to his uncle’s house to ask for help and he even though he desperately needs glasses he is denying he spots the blurry image of her on the balcony and he feels an instant connection. Years later his uncle leaves him that apartment and he is taken aback to hear the same voice call to him from the balcony. Of course they’re opposites so in between their arguments they can’t help the sparks from flying.

I so enjoyed this sweet romance. Dr. Will Sterling was a dreamy male lead and Nora was relatable. Their romance of course has some challenges and bumps in the road but I felt like they were believable and not just misunderstandings for the sake of drama. I loved the cast of supporting characters. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of romance.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burn enemies to lovers... sign me up.

I am a sucker for a good enemies to lovers story, and if you can pull of the slow burn it makes the book so much more enjoyable. This is my second book by Kate Clayborn, and she has hit it out of the park. I fully enjoyed both main characters, Nora and Will and their well developed characters, but the real win for me was all the fun characters within the apartment complex. The characters add to the deep world building, which is somewhat becoming rarer and rarer in books these days. I want a book that makes me laugh and smile, but it's just all fluff.

This is going to be a perfect spring break or summer read.

This is a slow read, but one that is so good. If you have the patience and the time, you'll be rewarded with a quiet romance filled with quirky side characters--Dr. Gerald Abraham was my absolute favorite. The story alternates between Will and Nora so you know exactly how they feel about one another, how each struggles with their feelings, and why the problem isn't necessarily one contributed to just a lack of communication. They're both still processing grief in their own ways. Nora is protective of her found family but also resistant to change. Will hides his wounds and is hesitant to start a relationship despite his strong attraction to Nora. There are things each has to work through before they can decide what the next step is. Clayborn's beautiful prose provides us a snapshot into their lives and I am so glad I got to read it. The book left a lasting impression, one filled with a long sigh of contentment.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Love at First by Kate Clayborn was such a delight to read. On the day Will Sterlings childhood ended he heard Nora Clarke speak and instantly fell in love and he heard his uncle describe him as rash, reckless and selfish and vowed that he would not be that person. When to his great surprise he inherits his uncles apartment, his first thought is to sell it because it will forever be tied in his mind to that day and those words, however by the terms of his uncle’s will he cannot sell the apartment for a year. Nora Clarke grew up spending summers with her Nona as her parents spent the summers on archeological digs and had no time for her. When her Nona became ill she returned to look after her and her found family in the apartment building. The news that Will intends to turn his apartment into a short term rental unit has the other tenants up in arms and Nora is delegated to resolve the situation. If you are looking for a story with a heartwarming romance, strong supporting characters, cute kittens, and clandestine bathroom renovations, that will make you laugh out loud and utter a sigh when Will puts his glasses on then this is your book. Highly Recommend. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: February 23, 2021. #LoveAtFirst #KateClayborn #KensingtonBooks #ContemporaryRomance #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookstagramer

I really enjoyed Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, so I was thrilled to see she had a new release! I think my expectations might have been a bit too unrealistic, but I found Love at First to be a charming-ish read overall.

Will and Nora "meet" (without seeing each other) as teens and then meet again when they are older. It was very much a slow-burn romance. The side characters were probably my favorite part; endlessly entertaining!

Rounding up to 4 stars. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

This was my first book by Kate Clayborn, and I was very impressed by this author. I will definitely read more from this author.

This book had all of the things I love in a good romance. You have a little enemies to lovers, a great set of secondary characters, a few steamy times and a happy ending.

The plot of this story was original while still following the typical romance style. The characters were fun and well developed, and I felt I connected to our main characters. The writing style was pleasant and I felt the book had nice pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy for review.

A solid modern romance. While it was somewhat predictable (what romance isn't) it had it's cute moments. My favorite character was the apartment complex. It was a rich, homey character that gave depth to the storyline! Another great Clayborn book!

It was a little predictable and I never truly believed the tension between the main characters. While I like knowing I'm in store for a happy ending, I was never actually invested in these characters' "will they, won't they".