It was a little tough to get into in the beginning; but it definitely picked up for me. Stick with it- this story is great!

Super cute fun read! It was hard for me to get Into at first but I am glad I stuck with it. I look forward to reading more from the author.

Love interest is adorable and I’m so glad I picked it up. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was a bit weary of the story from the synopsis, which by the way did not do the book justice! The synopsis gave the impression of enemies to lovers and I expected it to be like The Hating Game and all the books that have tried to emulate it since. But this has a completely unique voice, creative and intriguing plot and the best dialogue. I loved the characters and their development.

My only issue was that it was a little longer than I thought it needed to be. This is a special book and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

I liked this book, but I went in with high expectations that it just didn't meet (and that is totally my fault). It was well written, good characters, nothing actually wrong with the book...the problem must be me. I felt it had so much more potential and didn't quite meet that mark. If you are looking for a quick read to escape your reality it will do. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

4/5 - A delightful, thoughtful, feeling forward story with relatable and interesting main characters who I really rooted for!

This one did take me a bit to get into but I’m certain it was because the world was falling apart and my ability to focus suffered. I do sometimes struggle with “younger than me” MCs (these MCs are in their mid-twenties) BUT all that being said I really fell into a groove around 35% of the way through and then could not put it down!

Gilmore is a beautiful writer and really sets the scene with her lovely language. This story is set in present day NYC in the magazine publishing world - a space I dabbled in for a hot minute - but the FMC is a financial girlie and the MMC is a project manager creative type. It’s a fresh take on quasi enemies-to-lovers / workplace romance with a lot of heartfelt exploration into who the MCs are, how they’ve been shaped by their pasts and what makes them tick in the present. Love Interest is realistic and heartfelt with smart banter, A+ dialogue, great chemistry, and a lovable cast of characters. Family, legacy and growth are huge themes, too!

A charming read - I can’t wait to read more from Clare Gilmore! Thank you to @netgalley, @smpromance and the talented @momentofclarety for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. OUT NOW!

I give this 4 stars because of the chemistry between Alex and Casey. Their story and journey throughout the book was very relatable and also plausible, and I feel like this could happen to many people today. Their communication with each other was also mature and like proper professional adults, unlike some romantic contemparary books where the conversation is like immature college students.

Definitely recommended. I will defnitely read more from Claire Gilmore if her books continue to be as good as this one.

Thanks to Netgalley, Claire Gilmore and St Martins Press Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

This BOOK! It is refreshing, modern, joyous, and fun. Enemies to lovers in a workplace setting is such a fun trope, but Gilmore really emphasizes less on the ‘competition’ between two coworkers but rather plays up the angle of ‘hey, we’re both competent at our jobs and we do actually really like each other.” There wasn’t immature sabotage that other workplace romances include which I appreciated. The two mains had some SERIOUS chemistry and every scene where they were together was just so fun to read. There is some great open door steam scenes, a fun NYC setting, and a great cast of secondary characters. I enjoyed this romance from page 1 until the end! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my e-arc! I loved it!

This romance was sweet, smart, and modern. You will fall in love with Casey and Alex so quickly, along with a full and well drawn cast of friends and coworkers. There are several moving parts to the story, lots of relationships to explore, and even some business intrigue. I thought it was quite well written and definitely kept me interested. Some open door steam. Definitely a recommended read!

An enemies to lovers work place romance. Alex and Casey both want the same job so will there be any room for romance? A fun read

Love Interest by @momentofclarety is a story of emotionally intelligent, attractive Gen Z’ers living life in NYC- working corporate jobs, living in tiny apartments, figuring their shit out, having amazing sex, falling in love. None of these people have therapists, but they are all very in touch with their feelings which seems outrageous since I (of the X generation) didn’t even acknowledge I had emotions until like 2-3 years ago. I mean- they actually speak their feelings. Out loud. To each other.

Casey is an introverted finance girl at a large magazine corporation. She is bested for a new job by hunky extrovert Alex. Casey immediately despises Alex. And just when you are asking yourself “is this just a carbon copy of Hating Game” the answer is a resounding NO! Unlike the HG characters, these characters are well-adjusted and mature and act like normal humans so it doesn’t become a ridiculous workplace enemies to lovers romp- bc this book is so much more of that. This book captures the essence of being in your mid 20s: when you are figuring out who you are and when your youth allows you the bravery and energy to chase your dreams. There is so much possibility at age and Gilmore nails that flawlessly. She also nails the electric chemistry of Casey and Alex and the deep, vibrating joy that comes with discovering young love. I loved every minute that they were on page together they were just so f’ing into each other.

I really loved this and it shows because this is the least snarky review I’ve written in a long time! My only note was that I didn’t always follow the corporate restructuring/takeover/scandal subplot of the book, but it definitely didn’t take away from the overall plot or my enjoyment of reading it. Def recommend this one.

Smut- 2.72 stars
Romance- 4.87 stars
Story- 4.76 stars
Being 25- 12.45 stars

This is a rom-com book that I liked from beginning to end. Alex and Casey had chemistry from the first page but rather than letting them fight their interest the whole time, it was more about them fighting their instincts and giving into their feelings. We all deserve an Alex or a Casey, as a friend and/or a romantic partner. This is a great debut novel and I would happily read another book by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

This debut romcom was delightful. I was pleasantly surprised. Who doesn’t love a workplace enemies to lovers?
Casey is up for a promotion , but when the hot elevator guy ends up getting the job she can’t help but hate him. Casey’s passion is numbers. She works in finance and most of her life has been about routine and what can be proven.
Then, Casey and Alex are forced to work together on a project. This project could be the bump she needs to get to move to London. It’s the ultimate challenge that she has been looking for. While Casey is trying to prove to herself that she can push herself Alex is trying to prove his worth to his father. How can these two make this work?

4.5 stars

If you are looking for a workplace-sorta enemies-to-lovers-romance, then this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this story – it felt fresh and new.

Casey works in finance but feels like she should be something artistic, that’ll leave an impact, based upon her parents and what their career paths were (singer/songwriter and photographer). But numbers are a constant and very grounding for Casey. Pushing herself to interview for a new job within her company has her meeting the guy who is getting the job, in an elevator. She didn’t know it at the time, and she subsequently finds out that he (Alex) is the former CEO’s son.

This puts them at odds, as Casey becomes their finance lead for their new and upcoming venture, Bite the Hand. But the more time they spend together, the more Casey realizes she’s had it all wrong about Alex. I loved watching these two opposites who actually have a lot in common form a relationship. They both grow individually, Casey becomes more strong and secure in herself and that she is doing what she loves. And Alex learns that not everyone he loves will leave him. So what happens? You will definitely want to one-click to find out.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is not real! I LOVED everything! Beginning to end I was in a trance reading. Alex and Casey began in the elevator with a Lion King icebreaker from Alex. The deadpan jokes sneak up on you and they are very welcomed. The writing is very fun, light and casual. One of the best romances I've read this year.

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Casey sees Alex as a workplace rival from their first meeting. But they also need to work together to launch a new online magazine successfully for the sake of both their careers. This is such a fun workplace, rivals-to-lovers romance.

I loved the writing style. The book was told in first person from Casey's perspective and often felt like talking to a friend. Of course, I wondered what Alex was thinking and whether he made good hero material. But I really appreciated the single POV for this book. It can be tough to show character depth for the other main character in a single POV, but I loved Alex. I found him extremely well rounded and nuanced. And I just wanted to give him a hug.

I related so strongly to Casey as the girl who loves numbers and feels they make more sense than creative pursuits. The secondary characters were equally fantastic. And the antics around recording a typical day at work made me laugh out loud. This was sweet, fun, and sexy. It's a great rom-com with a lovely relationship at its center.

4.5 stars rounded up

Casey loves numbers so naturally she works as a finance expert in Manhattan. She wanted to branch out a bit so she decided to apply to the new project manager position. We learn immediately that she didn’t get the job. Instead, the job went to the chairman’s son Alex.

Now they both Alex and Casey have to work closely together to prove themselves. Casey wants to succeed so her company can transfer her to the LA office. Alex wants to succeed in this project to impress his father.

I really enjoyed the back-and-forth banter between the characters. There were some funny moments were I could not help but smile. I loved both main characters and seeing them both fall for one another. You will get instantly invested!

This is a perfect workplace, forced proximity romance with some great pop culture references that made me smile.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really cute workplace romance. I adored Casey and how smart and dedicated she was. The chemistry between her and Alex was so good, and I really liked the focus on the workplace. A romantic, slightly steamy read that kept me entertained the whole way through. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Love Interest is a medium to fast-paced book. While the pacing suited the book, the author could have slowed it down. I had to go back and read some significant parts of the book. There is a lag in Love Interest. The lag didn’t affect how I liked the book.

Trigger/Content Warning: Surprisingly, there are no trigger or content warnings in Love Interest. After reading many books with triggers, it was refreshing to read one that didn’t.

Sexual Content: There are sexual scenes in Love Interest. Seeing that this is a modern-day romance, I wasn’t too surprised that there was. The sex scenes are explicit enough to be hot but didn’t cross the line into TMI.

Language: There is foul language used in Love Interest.

Setting: Love Interest is set entirely in New York City.

Representation: There is queer and BIPOC representation in Love Interest. Casey is white and straight, but she has friends who are BIPOC and queer (which is fantastic). Alex is half Korean and straight. His friends are Casey’s friends.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance

Age Range to read Love Interest: 21 and over

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Casey is a financial advisor for a magazine who wonders if she can insert a little pizzazz into her life. So, when a position for project manager becomes available in her company, she applies. Casey is mad when she is passed over for the job for the chairman’s son, Alex. She is furious when assigned to the project that Alex is heading. But her fury wanes as she gets to know Alex, and she starts to catch glimpses of the real him. A friendship evolves that soon turns into a not-so-hidden workplace romance. But, as rumors swirl about the fate of the magazine and the project Casey is on becomes Alex’s chance to show his father what he can do, can their romance survive?

Main Characters

Casey Maitland: I will be the odd one out here, but I didn’t initially like Casey. Her attitude towards Alex was awful. Yes, I get that it was fueled by disappointment and anger, but it made her seem like a teenager instead of the adult she was. But, by the middle of the book (when she and Alex started dating), I liked her. This was an infrequent case of a character redeeming herself. She became a supportive girlfriend who wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was. But she also kept her sense of self. She had plans, and those plans were going to happen, if Alex was in her life or not.

Alex Harrison: I initially liked him, but he had Daddy issues. His sense of self was wrapped up in getting approval from a distant and cold father. But I liked that he didn’t use nepotism to get the job at the magazine (but I am sure that’s what got him the job if it makes sense). I liked how he handled Casey at the beginning of the book. But he did change a little towards the middle of the book. He had stated at the beginning of the book (shortly before Casey and he started hooking up) that he didn’t believe or want relationships because he didn’t want to be tethered. Yet, by the middle of the book, he was only with Casey. I liked that the author did have Alex come to terms with his father by himself.

Secondary characters: I know this paragraph is the same in every review, but in this case, the secondary characters did make the book. Each character added extra depth, nuance, and flair to the storyline. If the book weren’t about Alex and Casey, I would have been happy to read about the secondary characters. That is how much oomph they brought to this book.

My review:

Love Interest was an interesting and good read. I got involved with the main characters and was rooting for them to overcome their obstacles. I also loved the secondary characters and the vibrance they brought to the book.

The main storyline of Love Interest focuses on Casey and Alex as they navigate their romance and project together. I liked that the author made this storyline relatable and believable. I wanted them both to succeed at what they were doing and their romance. I was caught up in this storyline and was very happy with the ending and the epilogue.

I liked the romance angle of Love Interest. I liked that Casey and Alex’s romance happened organically (as organic as a romance novel can get). It wasn’t Instalove by a long shot.

The end of Love Interest was sweet. I loved how the author ended all the storylines and tied them into Casey and Alex’s storyline. I also loved the epilogue. After reading that, I went to sleep with a massive smile.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Clare Gilmore for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Love Interest. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

I loved this book so much! It's packed with stuff that's balm to my soul which I didn't know I needed. More than just a breezy read though, coz it's got so much good rep, themes, and goes kinda deep too. But that doesn't take away from how it's a great page-turner.

If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know that I love family dynamics and emphasis on non-romantic relationships, and Gilmore did it all so well!! The FMC Casey's mother passed away when she was a kid, and her father later remarried a man. It's really interesting to see the parenting in this unique perspective, with Casey actually very adoring of her stepfather. Alex has a distant relationship with his father which we see as the story progresses and I loved seeing both MCs expose their secrets and be vulnerable with each other.

There are so many good tropes in this book like forced proximity, workplace romance, rivals to lovers, guy falls first, Asian rep, diverse families, LGBT, and maybe some more. The side characters have a strong presence in the story which i enjoyed reading. I think a separate book for some of them would be really cool too.

It's quite fascinating to see the characters blossom and evolve with each other (emphasis on MCs of course), and they've got some witty banter, insightful conversations, and amazing connection (chemistry feels too basic a word) As I'm writing this, I realized that this is Clare's debut novel, and that's such a surprise. Reading this masterpiece, I'd think it's by a veteran :)

So obviously, I do recommend you read this 10/10. If you find it a little slow in the beginning, try to keep at it coz I think it was worth it.

Many MANY thanks to St Martin's and NetGalley for this complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We love a workplace romance, and Love Interest is a good one. Casey and Alex are easy to root for, interesting characters. If this is Clare Gilmore's debut, I'm looking forward to what she puts out next!