Thanks to Netgalley for this e-book. I loved the chemistry between Casey and Alex. I also enjoyed all the friends portrayed as well. I loved the relationship between then and how it grew and how they were there for each other.

Every once in a while, I come across a debut that reads like it was written by someone who has been writing for publication for years, and that’s precisely what I experienced with Love Interest. It’s a bright, charming, and amazingly authentic enemies-to-lovers workplace rom-com that is slightly spicy and full of maturity and heart.

My favorite thing about the story is that the characters find it essential to consider their own professional needs while also determining their feelings for each other. It’s refreshingly mature and, I’m sure, something many young professionals have to deal with today. Gone are the days when a woman would drop years of hard work for a man.

Casey, the main character, tells the story with all its fun twists and turns as first she can’t stand Alex Harrison for beating her out for a position in a company she’s worked hard for since graduating from college (2 years) and then gives in to the attraction that made her not like him even a bit more at first. Their romance felt utterly authentic and contemporary.

I adored this romantic comedy for its fresh take on a modern romance between 20-somethings who must consider their career in all critical life decisions. It’s funny and heartwarming, even at times a little heartbreaking, and I adored every minute of it.

If you're looking for a cute and fun romcom to finish off your week, this is the book for you. Although I did struggle with my engagement with this book, I likes Clare Gilmore's writing and the pace of the book. I think I would have liked a bit more chemistry. The characters definitely had a spark, but I felt like to could have been explored a little more to allow for better relationship development. I loved the banter but things sort of fizzled out a bit once the MCs got together.

Either way, I still enjoyed this and look forward to reading more by Clare Gilmore.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s debut novel, a workplace enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy set in New York City. The characters in the story are very diverse, so all readers will find someone they can identify with.

24-year-old Casey Maitland is a Financial Analyst at Little Cooper Publications, a magazine conglomerate in Manhattan. She is a whiz with numbers but has a porcupine personality. She is thrilled to be considered for the Project Manager position for a new digital media platform spin-off called Bite the Hand. Then she learns that they have hired the board chairman’s son instead. HR throws her a bone by offering her a possible transfer to their London office next year if she can make the Bite the Hand launch successful. This means that she will have to work closely with the guy who got “her job”.

Alex Harrison is a handsome, suave, Harvard-educated, Korean-American who has tried to earn his way on his own merit. He likes Casey and doesn’t understand why she dislikes him. Others around them can sense their chemistry so they are assigned to appear in some videos together to promote Bite the Hand. As they work together, Casey realizes that her assumptions about Alex were wrong.

There is some corporate sabotage going on, and Casey is tasked by the Chief Financial Officer to do some undercover investigative work. Casey’s loyalties are tested between her growing attraction to Alex and the CFO. Little Cooper Publications as a whole is struggling because most of their publications are still in print format.

Love Interest is an amazing debut novel. Fans of The Hating Game will enjoy it, as well as anyone who enjoys a good story. There is literally something for everyone in this tale. I really like the main characters, especially Casey! She’s a native of Nashville, Tennessee and there’s many references to her hometown. Her college roommate, Sasha, is a black professional basketball player, and her current roommate, Miriam, is a nurse. Her friend Brijesh works at Food Baby magazine, and it’s fun to read about his culinary adventures. The references to all of the different Little Cooper magazines are fun and add to the humor of the story. The author has created such a great world at Little Cooper that I hope she writes more books featuring these characters and this setting.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Featuring a couple you can't help but root for, unmistakable chemistry (sometimes with a plethora of millennial/gen-z pop culture references), and Alex Harrison establishing himself as one of the best book boyfriends ever, this book hits every mark. In addition, that laundry detergent moment made me experience what I'm pretty sure was a swoon-- there is nothing more attractive than being considerate of someone's allergies/sensitivities!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the amazing opportunity to read this ARC.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore was such a delightful and charming read.
I am so happy that I loved this book so much!
Casey is such a refreshing character and I found myself absolutely loving her.
Alex is handsome and so adorable it was so hard not to fall for his charming self!
The characters are well-written, the plot is perfectly paced. It's just another great story!
A wonderful debut, with a co-worker romance, enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.
I think this was a great introduction to the writer's style and I look forward to more from Clare!

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Casey is living her best life in New York working in finance at a prominent magazine company. When she doesn’t get the project manager position she is hoping for she runs into Alex by chance in the elevator. Immediately determined to dislike Alex who beat her out for the position Casey’s animosity grows after finding out he is the illegitimate son of their CEO. After being forced to work on a new project together for one of the magazines, Casey starts to realize there may be more to Alex than she realizes. They are each other’s opposites but they balance each other out and work well together. But things get complicated when Casey’s boss asks her to gather intel on Alex and his dad amid an impending buyout. Casey does not want to manipulate and keep secrets from Alex, but she wants to save her company. Can their project save the company? Or will Alex find out Casey was withholding information from him, jeopardizing their relationship?

I loved this workplace romance on so many levels. Not only were the characters tangible, but the layers to them just made the book that much stronger. Both characters dealt with the death of a parent as well as trying to live up to their expectations. I connected with Casey so much with having to push myself out of my comfort zone and take risks as well as being resistant to change. I love how Alex is the opposite of her-well traveled, social and charismatic. They just support each other and blend so well together. Casey’s small group of friends are the absolute best and I want to meet them! And to top it off the Mew York setting and food scene just make this book so darn perfect!

Rate : 3.5/5

This was such a cute read! I laughed out loud many times, a great debut novel!

It Induded some of my favorite tropes like enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, and one bed.I liked the overall plot and writing. It included the topic of growing up and not being a copy or your parents, making your own path but still loving where and who you came from.

I do feel that the story moved a bit slow for my liking and we were fed information that wasn't necessarily needed, which took away trom the story, in my opinion.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an E-arc in exchange for an horest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Love Interest!!

4.5 stars rounded up!

This book follows the enemies/coworkers to lovers story of Casey and Alex. After Alex is chosen for job over Casey, she immediately decides he is enemy number one despite knowing nothing about him. As they work together on a shared new media venture for their magazine publishing company, they start to see a new side to each other and sparks begin to fly. Both characters open up to each other about the loss of their mothers (TW), relationships with their fathers, career worries, and so much more. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the workplace/personal dramas that both characters had to navigate. This story has some truly laugh out loud moments and some very sweet ones as well.

As a former resident of Nashville and New York City, this book was right up my alley as most of the story is set in NYC, but Casey (FMC) grew up in Nashville. I appreciated this story's side characters as well for their humorous scenes and care for the main characters. I was not able to put it down and can't believe it was the author's debut novel. I am already anxiously awaiting more from Clare Gilmore. Overall, highly recommend this debut to any romance fan or someone who wants to leave a book feeling happy.

Love Interest is a quick romcom read. Two enemies that end up falling for each other at work. The secondary characters were likeable and memorable as well.

This was a cute, debut novel that included some great and very popular tropes. Including: enemies-to-lovers, one bed, and workplace romance.

While I thought the plot and writing was great, it sometimes felt a bit slow and there was an overwhelming amount of information given to the reader. I think there could have been less side characters so we could really dig into the main ones. I would have liked more interaction with Alex’s dad so that we could also understand their relationship and Casey’s dislike for him.

I do think for a debut novel it was well written and I would definitely pick up another Clare Gilmore book in the future. She has amazing potential!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We love a good workplace romance with enemies to lover vibes! The sparks fly between Alex and Casey from the first moment they lock eyes in the elevator. It comes crashing down for Casey when she realizes Alex is the one who got the position she applied for. Also, add in the fact that Alex is the CEO's son, so in her mind there is no way he is more qualified than she is. Enter petty tension and shenanigans between the two. Despite the tension, there is no way to avoid the lingering feelings and tension between the two. I also loved the Alex and Casey's friends sprinkled throughout, and the role they played in their romance developing.

Congratulations to Clare Gilmore on her first published novel!

Love Interest

Published 10/10/23 by Claire Gilmore.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This Manhattan based romantic comedy between co-workers and enemies to lovers featuring main characters Casey Maitland and Alex Harrison. Casey is 24, works at Little Cooper Publication (LCP) as a finance expert. She applied for a promotion to project manager, which goes to Alex, the board chairman's son. Casey hates him on principle for nepotism, but things are not what they seem. Alex is 25, a Harvard graduate with a double major in entrepreneurship and digital media. He lived in Seoul and moved to NY for this project.

Casey has dreams of living in London like her mother Sadie who was a concert and fashion photographer from the UK. Her father Marty Maitland is a semi famous singer/musician married to Jerry, a florist. Alex's mother Charlotte Yoon died when he was child, and he went to boarding school. He was raised by his aunt Jane and cousins. Alex's father Robert Harrison didn't know Alex left Seoul and took the job at LCP. Alex wants his father's approval even though he wasn't in his life. I think his need to be liked / loved is why Alex is so enigmatic to everyone except Casey.

As Casey and Alex work together and hang out, Casey realizes Alex deserved the job and he's a pretty decent guy. They get caught up in work politics with Alex's father, Casey's mentor Tracy Garcia, and the CEO Douglas Dawson. Robert Harrison and Dougie had a lot of personal issues from the past, and unfortunately Alex and Casey; become their pawns.


Casey's friend group is pretty eclectic. Sasha was her roommate at University of TN. Brijesh is a recipe editor @ Food Baby- he's bisexual and has a "friend's w/ benefits" relationship w/ Miriam-Casey's BFF. I could have done without the YouTube stuff and filming w/ Casey and Alex. It didn't add much to the story.

Alex and Casey wouldn't define their relationship, but they fall in love anyway. I'm glad Casey followed her dreams even though she is brokenhearted over their 3rd act breakup, but there is a HEA.

Tropes you'll find: interracial relationship, office romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, LBGTQ+ rep.

Beware: death of a parent, corruption in the workplace

October 8, 2023
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The only way to describe my feelings for this book is
via my favorite quote:
“The truth is I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart, and I never really got it back”

I gave my heart to this book on the first page and I was so afraid of it getting broken. I even reached out to the author but she reassured me I would survive.
I binged it in one afternoon.

Clare and Alex’s story was sweet and slow moving and so romantic. I thoroughly enjoyed their witty banter and work place outings.

It’s the little things that show someone you care; kissing you when your ex shows up, asking about laundry detergent, looking for magazine articles and crying when you read them.

Did my heartbreak while reading chapter 33?
Of course. Did I cry at the grand gesture? Also yes.
Maybe I am just an old softie but this book will stay with me forever.

Perfect if you enjoy
Slow build
Workplace romance
Witty banter

This was a perfectly fine book, but a little too far on the sweet side, not enough tension. It got a little angsty at the end, which I would have preferred throughout. It’s a fine. Not a yes, more of a maybe…

Casey is an extremely hard-working, intelligent finance analyst for a big magazine company. She really wants to move forward in her career so she applies for a higher position. Encouraged to do so by management. She does not get this position. It goes instead to Alex who is the son of the board chairman. So obviously she is very upset about this.

Casey is then forced to work with Alex. And like any good romance the more time they spend together. The more KC sees that. Alex might have gotten the job for more than just nepotism.

Alex, on the other hand is in fact a very smart, intelligent, Harvard graduate. And he likes Casey from the start. And he has no idea why she doesn't like him.

This book was full of so much wit and banter heart and humor. I loved every second of it. From the moment I started reading this book I could not put it down. I read it in a matter of hours because I was so hooked and kept turning the pages.

And it was really great to see in a romance book we're two people actually communicate like mature adults. Sometimes I feel like it gets a little childlike in an enemies to lover's book. But this one was just beautiful to read.

I absolutely adore The Hating Game and this book gave me so many throwbacks to that book that this very well could rival it for my favorite workplace romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.

As a book editor in today’s cluttered romance landscape, it’s very rare that any book truly blows me away, let alone a debut. But I’m so glad St. Martin’s sent me “Love Interest,” and so glad I said yes to it. New authors like Clare Gilmore give me hope that there is still true wit and soul and literary talent yet to be discovered. This enemies-to-friends workplace romance is so much more than those tropes. I won’t write more than that, because I can’t do it justice. I hope this book finds all the success it deserves. This is one of my favorite reads of the year. Ten stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing a free copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Casey Maitland is a rising star in the Finance department at a magazine publishing company in Manhattan and aspires to move into another role. Unfortunately, she doesn't get the job and finds out the person who does: a charismatic, beautiful Harvard grad named Alex Harrison. He seems to be friends with everyone except Casey.

Casey and Alex are slated to work on a project together and the stakes couldn't be higher for both of them. Casey further aspires to transfer to the company's London office while Alex wants his estranged father, involved in the company, to be impressed by his efforts to build a new segment of the business. Casey begins to understand why everyone likes Alex so much and is drawn to him but has many secrets concerning the company that could hurt both of them. Walls begin to crumble with a secretive Alex, and Casey wants to open herself up without hurting him in the process.

The first 15% of this book was a little tough to get through and I wasn't sure if I would like it. However, the remaining 85% of it was great. I loved seeing where Casey and Alex's relationship would or could go. The author built the tension enough to keep the reader interested throughout the entire book. I loved the side characters' involvement in the story as well.

I also loved how the author wrote about Casey's career aspirations. I rooted for Casey, and while I know this is a contemporary romance novel, I would have been perfectly fine if Casey and Alex didn't end up together. I really liked Casey's character development and newfound confidence to not only take risks but also listen to her gut.

This relatable, humorous, and frankly adorable romance is sure to be a great cozy read in these upcoming fall and winter months.

What an incredible book!!

Claire Gilmore’s debut is a treasure and she’s a truly wonderful addition to the romance community! I loved Love Interest from start to finish. It’s filled with lovable characters that you’ll find impossible not to adore them from the start!

I’m so excited to read more of Claire’s!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love Interest is a fun and light enemies to lovers story. Casey meets Alex in the elevator on the way to what she assumes is a job offer for a new position…spoiler, he gets the job! Alex has a complicated life and is trying/seeking approval from his father. Casey is put in a tough position between helping the CFO, her mentor with providing personal intel from Alex and being honest to the man she’s falling in love with. I enjoyed the storyline and characters. Overall, it was a good read.