I liked this romance, I did not love it. It was quirky, full of banter and I liked the supporting cast. What I did not like was that for the life of me I could not connect with either main character. Since there was no connection I would get a bit frustrated with the story, therefore it took me a while to get through. It really did read like a romcom and that’s what kept me going.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eArc of Love Interest. While this one wasn’t for me I’m sure it will be a great read for others. I am excited for the author’s 2nd book.


Read if you like:
•Workplace romance
•Light spice
•Witty banter
•NYC setting

Love Interest | Clare Gilmore
Job-stealing, kiss me so my ex sees, loml on a time limit

Alexander Harrison stole her job. He may have the inherent charm that captures everyone’s attention, but she’s the one who has all his attention. Casey Maitland is not your typical finance-girly – she is organized and color-coded but ready to find the spark of adventure she’s usually too afraid to grasp. She thought nepotism stole her chance, but what if the route to London just shifted (with a quick stopover to finding the one without letting him get away)?

I’ll often put myself in the shoes of characters that unapologetically demonstrate the traits that I don’t possess. This is the joy of reading – living all the lives that could never be true on my current course of reality. This is the case with Alex for me. I love his embraced acknowledgement of his nomadic preference and capturing the moment for what it is. He doesn’t try to craft the world around him into his personal utopia, even when it means loosening his grip on the one person he wants to keep forever. The meant-to-be vibes are so strong, but Alex is secure in his identity to the point that this security oozes out of him. It is not a blind optimism that everything will work out, and it is not a dismissal of the severity of his feelings for Casey. He simply stands firmly in the present moment and absorbs all the good he can find. I haven’t seen a character like this on the page and I love him 

This was not a portrayal of two flawed characters who changed in drastic ways to find their HEA – these are two people who get to have it all by the last page, even if it means moving thousands of miles away from each other, and primarily by acknowledging who they are and what they want most. I loved their story and their crew of friends (Brijesh might be my favorite) and I wish there was a whole series for each of their stories! Clare, if you could get right on that, it would be much appreciated.

4.5/5 stars!
Big thanks to publisher, NetGalley and Clare Gilmore for the ARC for review!

This was cute! The first half started offP fell off towards the end however, I still enjoyed myself and feel like it would be a good read for someone that wants a quick quirky Romance

This was so fun, I loved the banter, I eat up a work place romance everytime trust. It got a bit weird at times but we ignore I just cringe at everything

I love Clare Gilmore. One of my favorite authors and this book was so good and blew me a may. It was so funny. One of the best Romcoms I have read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Love Interest by Clare Gilmore in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is a really cute story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Who doesn't love a fun romance story to let you escape life every now and then. You will really enjoy this one so I encourage you to read it the first chance you get.

A fun and laugh out loud story, I had a great time reading this. The tropes were wielded with expert precision to execute a really well crafted narrative.

This book sadly feel into the hole than so many good books go to die... too much background information. I loved Casey and Alex so much but I do NOT love learning about a job and position at that job that don't exist. I was still able to finish the book, and overall loved the writing style and characters, I just wish that the workplace was scaled down. I do love the ADHD representation and how many pop culture references there were. It defiantly had me giggling.

Alex and Casey are everything! And Clare Gilmore is a new favorite author of mine

Alex and Casey have a bit of a meet-cute before it turns not as cute when Casey learns she didn’t get hired for a job that Alex now has. These two are work adversaries for a bit but honestly also can’t stay away from each other. The more they spend time together, the more they realize they can’t help but like each other.

I really loved seeing these two trust each other and open up. There are some twists and conflicts within their work that threaten to keep them apart, but by the end there’s no question these two are IT for each other! I don’t think you can help but root for them both to get the love they deserve!

This book has been on my Netgalley shelf for years and I haven’t picked it up. No shade to the author or the book, I think my taste has just changed and I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

I attempted to get through this one multiple times however the utilization of modern terms such as “so aesthetic” and “girlboss” took me out of the believability of the story. While people may talk like that online, it made the characters not realistic. Along with the pace of the relationship being difficult to buy into.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title and thank the publisher for providing me with an eARC, however as so much time has passed since this works publication date and my lack of urgency with this piece, I am unfortunately going to move on. I hope to one day read this work at a later time and if I do, I will adjust my review. Thank you again for the opportunity.

"'I knew you'd be worth it. Every email. Every glare.'
'How do you know I wasn't working you up?'
'Don't think I'd have minded.'"

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Workplace Romance
Forced Proximity
I Have A Secret
Asian Hero <3


Short Story:
Love Interest is a near-perfect rom-com that made me laugh, cry, and fall in love (as a good rom-com does). Not only did it give me exactly what I wanted in a romance story, but it also gave me the empowering "women in business" vibe that I love so much.

Long Story:
(Minimal to No Spoilers)
I picked up this book because ever since The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas I've been craving a good enemies-to-lovers workplace romance and I'm so grateful that Clare Gilmore did not disappoint me. Throughout the entire novel (but most especially when they are enemies) Alex and Casey had such perfect banter that I was internally screaming.

Casey is an extremely motivated heroine who has her own ambitions, dreams, complex relationships, fears, etc. She's just generally everything I love in a protagonist. She's not a perfect person, but she does know what she values and the scathing business commentary that comes with that fuels my love for the book all the more.

And Alex! He's just as perfectly damaged as Casey is and an Asian hero to boot (as an Asian-American woman I'm always in love. Now might also be a good time to discuss the general and overall diversity of the book which I was so happy to see.) He's also just generally a kind and caring male protagonist and I easily found myself falling in love with him as a character.

The romance between these two extraordinary characters does not disappoint. Between the already-discussed banter, the cute inside jokes (absolutely essential IMO for any good rom-com), and the pet names they were already great. Add in working through their issues in an intelligent way and I was in love with their relationship.


I received an advanced review copy of this book from Net Galley for free and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

4.5 stars!

Clare Gilmore has quickly become a new favorite author of mine! Thank you to St. Martin's Press / St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of this book! These are my honest thoughts.

Clare Gilmore writes female leads that have so much heart. Casey is a finance nerd who wants more from her life, but is passed over for a promotion because of what she assumes is nepotism. Alex Harrison joins the staff instead, in a company where his father is on the board. At first, Casey SERIOUSLY dislikes him. She hates that he got the opportunity she wanted. But, they have chemistry. Everyone can see it. And they're asked to film a little youtube segment for one of their company's channels, and they can't deny their chemistry when they're forced to spend time together.

Things I really loved about this story:
- Casey's found family/friend group
- Alex's ability to be super friendly with lots of people, but close with few (i.e. Casey)
- Casey's love of taking care of things - plants, people, problems
- The raw honesty and vulnerability between our two main characters
- The relationship growth throughout the story, from work enemies (at least according to Casey) to friendly colleagues to friends to more.
- The workplace drama was... real. It caused a moral dilemma for Casey. It made her question her actions and her loyalties. It made her work HARD for what she thought was right. I really enjoyed that!
- The romance was so special. This relationship blossomed that was just, quietly magical.

4.5 stars... and need to note that the audio was amazing as well, so if you like to listen to books, this is a good one! :)

*Love Interest* by Clare Gilmore is a playful and heartwarming romantic comedy that explores themes of love, identity, and self-discovery. The story follows a young woman, Alex, who finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance while grappling with her personal insecurities and desire for acceptance. Gilmore’s writing is witty and accessible, with a great balance of humor and heartfelt moments. The chemistry between Alex and her love interest is sweet, and the story highlights the importance of finding love in unexpected places, including within oneself. While the plot is light and occasionally predictable, *Love Interest* offers an enjoyable, feel-good read.

"Love Interest" by Claire Gilmore is a cutesy, workplace romance.

Casey is a hard-working woman gunning for a promotion at work before the position is given to Alex, in a display of nepotism. Cue the enemies-to-lovers storyline.

This was a quick read and interesting for a debut romance. I am excited to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's for gifting me this ARC.

4 stars! ⭐️

I was really impressed with Clare Gilmore’s debut novel, Love Interest. Casey and Alex were both such charming and well-developed characters, and their dynamic was so sweet —their banter had me kicking my feet.

This is a must-read if you enjoy:
- Workplace romance
- Rivals-to-lovers tropes
- He falls first
- Only one bed

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

As this novel begins, Casey is a 24 year old working in finance at a magazine publisher, and is called in to HR only to find out she didn’t get the new position she had applied for, and instead it went to the cute guy she met in the elevator on the way there, and boy is she mad. But of course their workplace adversarial relationship starts to turn into something more.

It’s not quite an enemies to lovers stories because they’re not really enemies for long, but a very cute story. Also a great cast of supporting characters of their friends, coworkers, and family, and good stuff about both Casey and Alex also trying to figure out who they are and what they want out of life and relationship. At the start I had a moment of thinking I am getting too old for books about young 20somethings, but the book soon won me over and was just the kind of light and diverting read I needed this week.

I was really looking forward to this because I enjoy the enemies to lovers trope. This was really fun!!

First of all, it was hard to believe that this was Clare Gilmore’s debut novel. It came across like a novel from a seasoned author, truly. I thoroughly enjoyed Love Interest. It had so many elements that I adore in a romance novel, and as I mentioned, the writing was spot on.

Casey Maitland was such a good character. I loved her brilliant, number-loving mind. She was quirky, enjoyed time to herself, and was quietly confident. It was pretty difficult not to like her. When she applies for a new job within the company and loses out to the board chairman’s son, well, you know that there is bound to be a few hard feelings there.

How can you hold too much against Alex Harrison, though? Sure, he got the job that Casey wanted, but he is so friendly and charming. From their initial introduction to all of their interactions, they were absolutely golden. Their banter and chemistry were fabulous.

What I really liked about this novel was that the characters were well developed. They each had a story, they had their own issues, and I felt as though I got to know them. There was more to the novel than the romance, but I’m not going to lie, I was all in for the romance, too!

From the story itself to the great cast of characters, Love Interest was a wonderful read. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more novels by Clare Gilmore in the future.

*5 Stars