Super fun debut! I enjoyed reading a book with a career focused, number minded leading lady! Casey and Alex's enemies to lovers to friends with benefits trope was plagued with the common LACK OF COMMUNICATION problem. After awhile, I did find it frustrating that these two just could not hash it out. But, overall, it was an enjoyable read and an author I would like to try again in the future! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book when I wasn't expecting to - so I count that as a win for the author having never read any of Clare Gilmore's books. This book is your classic workplace enemies-to-lovers (which aren't always well done). This one was different because it was relatable, funny and had a diverse cast of characters. I especially liked the supporting characters (may have liked them more than the leads!). Casey and Alex are relatable, and the development of their relationship felt natural with the "enemy" phase not lasting very long in the book (which made sense as they didn't really know each other. at the start of the book). They challenged and understood each other and seemed to really bring the best out in each other. I would definitely recommend this one to those that like reading workplace romances.

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Spice: 2/5

Themes: Workplace Romance

Love Interest is about a finance wiz trying to find out who she is and her rival who is trying to earn his fathers approval. I really love the characters! Casy is someone I could really relate to and Alex is always pushing her to believe in herself. The author did a good job of creating a story that drew me in and it was hard for me to put down. The romance was a little heavy on the insta love and I would have liked a stronger enemies to lovers feel. I would recommend this to anyone who loves an office romance setting.

I received an arc and am leaving an honest review.

Love Interest started off well (the meet cute was adorable) but then it got bogged down for me with just too much of nothing really. The story tried too hard which took me out of it too often. I started skimming then completely gave up. This book just wasn't for me.

The author can write so I'd probably check out another book.

This had everything that made me fall in love with romance books. A swoony, but slightly wounded MMC? A generally enjoyable FMC? A fantastic cast of side characters that you need to know more about? A FULLY FLESHED OUT PLOT? A fabulous debut with a sweet book boyfriend for fall.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I was thinking that I might go back to it after a few days, but I haven't thought about it even once so just not a book for me. At one point the book jumped ahead in time....and I couldn't tell. This is when the book lost me - I was like where are we and what is happening??

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.

READ THIS BOOK!!! I loved the workplace romcom vibes although I could have done with a little less of the workplace stuff. I’m shocked that this was a debut novel from Clare Gilmore & I’m excited to see what else she comes up with.

Cute fun romance. I enjoyed the characters and thought it was a well developed story. A 3.5 star read. Made for a lovely and relaxing afternoon.

I ADORED the romance in this book. Probably one of my favorites in recent history. I got a little lost in the finance bits, but that didn’t really matter. These characters were complex, but with limited drama. I often find myself frustrated with couples in romance novels, but not so much in this one. Most of the drama comes from the outside, which I really like. The only reason it’s losing a star is because it took me quite a while to get into. Once I did, I was absolutely hooked, but it wasn’t from the very start.

Love Interest is clever, witty and romantic. I wouldn’t call it an enemies to lovers but more of an opposites attract story. It also has complex family backgrounds but what I loved the most was how the both healed each other and encouraged each other. I also loved how Alex didn’t hold her back.

I received this book via NetGalley for my honest review. As I often say in reviews, I rate and review based on what a book it is, not how it stands up to other books or categories.

Casey has a goal and a passion; she wants to move to London and she loves numbers. When the perfect stepping job comes up at work, she crosses her fingers. Unfortunately for her, she loses the role to someone with more experience and even more unfortunately he's the chairman's son. When they're forced to work together on a project, sparks will fly.

I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I LOVED THIS BOOK. It captured my attention from the acknowledgement and never let go. The main characters were multi-faceted, had depth and they had major chemistry. I power read this in a day because I loved the build up of their story and the pacing of it. I saw some reviews that mentioned it was too slow, but I disagree vehemently. I prefer to see legitimate build in a relationship rather than a rush straight to physicality. This romance has a little bit of spice, but nothing I would call graphic so if that's what you're looking for THIS AIN'T IT.

I will say that while the primary characters were explored a lot and we were able to see their vulnerabilities and characters well, the side characters did not get the same treatment and I found myself curious for more of their details. Perhaps there will be spin off novels or follow ups (Brijesh & Miriam PLEASE). Additionally, there was a character introduced early in the book that had a major impact on falling action events, so getting a bit more development in that relationship/interaction would have made that final scene land more strongly.

Now for the bad news. This is Claire Gilmore's first novel, so if you wanted to RUN to read all her anthology, you're going to have to wait patiently. I will be following, liking and watching her journey in hopes of additional books and you should too! I highly recommend this book for a warm, romantic, enemies to lovers read!

The Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s amazing debut!! She did such an amazing job and I fell in love with the characters…especially Alex!!

Casey Maitland loves math and numbers because they don’t lie. Now a twenty-four-year-old she works as a financial analyst for Little Cooper Publications in Manhattan, New York. She is up for the open project manager position at her company and thinks it is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. Until that is, she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son.

Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves Alex he is so outgoing and friendly. Alex starts a new project that they end up working very closely together on. Casey finds out some information on the company and the project that she has to keep a secret. It could change everything for her job and her relationship with Alex.

I absolutely loved this book!! This book had me laughing out loud the dynamics between Casey and Alex was perfect. They both went through so much growing up that was so different, he chased acceptance, and she was trying to find where she belonged, but together they felt home. All of the characters were so much fun and I wish they all got their own stories. I cannot recommend this book enough I give it 4.5 stars!!

I had high hopes for this one, especially after the flirty elevator meet-cute between Casey and Alex. But so often this story struggled to hold my attention.

Centered around the inner workings of Little Cooper Publications, Casey is a financial analyst who initially has dagger-eyes for Alex, the board chairman’s son who is given the project manager position she interviewed for.

Even though the enemies aspect is short lived, the romance was cute overall. Alex was so sweet and supportive—and he went above and beyond for Casey’s allergies, which made me swoon with delight.

But there were SO MANY details about the workplace. The dialogue felt realistic to the environment, but I repeatedly became lost within the information about each department and its employees. It was a tedious read for me, unfortunately.

I loved the plot of this book, I knew this enemies to lovers trope was going to be a great one, especially when it comes to getting that promotion that Casey has been striving for. When she finds out that the CEO’s son gets it and not her I wanted more fire from her, I wanted her to make him PAY! But nope, Alex with his charm, just changed everything. I adored Casey and Alex, how they just flowed together so seamlessly straight into a work friendship, then a regular friendship and then into a romance, it was so easy to love them. I also loved how even with their insecurities about everything they are each others support, it was a heartfelt read. The work drama fell short for me and I felt we didn’t need that when it came to the book, it was perfect without that added bonus other than that I was here for their HEA.

This was an intriguing premise and I liked the characters overall. I think the end felt a bit less cohesive than the start. More rushed than the rest of the book.

Alex is a great MC and I liked Casey too. I had a bit of an issue with the pacing. At times it felt slow and more telling than showing. and other times felt rushed.

I could see the twist coming, not that that's a bad thing necessarily.

There were some typos and grammar issues that distracted me.

Overall entertaining.A nice debut. I wish I loved it more but the issues mentioned were a distraction. I think it could have used a bit more editing.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

This was an office romance/hate to love trope that had me swooning! We meet Casey, a super smart, finance girl who just had her promotion snubbed from her by Alex, the bosses son. He knows there is some tension between them, but doesn't know the reason why. Watching these two go from hate to love was such a fun ride! We watch Casey grow and figure out who she is, there is a lot of personal growth for both characters. This one will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel all warm and fuzzy. I definitely look forward to reading more from Clare Gilmore!

**I received a copy of Love Interest from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book. I think that the way the relationship evolved was enduring, and I definitely enjoyed the character. Also, I liked the individual journeys that the MCs were on and their growth separately. Their chemistry was believable and I was definitely rooting for them. The only thing that I wish was that we got more time with the couple at the end. That felt a little rushed. And It felt like we were just waiting for the inevitable to happen when it came to the issues that came up but it wasn't annoying. I had an awesome time reading this book!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THIS WAS SO DARN SWEET.

Casey and Alex.

A workplace romance / enemies to friends to lovers / he falls first and harder / she takes her time but falls equally hard.

This book reminded me a little of "The Hating Game" with a smidge of "A Spanish Love Deception" - a little slow burn that got hot at the halfway mark (although not explicit sex scenes, more about the feelings during the act - but not closed door). I loved that Casey and Alex "saw" the other person - really saw who they were to their core, and not only saw it but accepted it.

"Love Interest" gave me the feels. Was it perfect? No -- there were some things that might have been edited a little better, but the overall FEELING I got reading this book was HAPPINESS. I was cheering them on. I usually love dual POV in these types of stories, but I think this one works best with just Casey's POV.

Bravo Clare Gilmore on your debut novel! This was really lovely and I can't wait to read your next book.

ps. Can we get Mariam and Brijesh's story? Even if it's just a short story.

4 stars and recommended.

5 star romance 4 star writing. For a debut I am really impressed and will definetly read more by the author.

Casey Maitland is an expert in the finance world, always preferring numbers to people,but when Alex Harrison walks into her life that starts to change. Alex Harrison is the illegitimate son of the company’s CEO and an ambitious guy. When these two totally different people become friends, will it stay friendship or turn into something more?

I enjoyed this book from the very beginning, the characters of Casey and Alex really pulled me in and I became quickly invested. The whole cast of friends in this book were fun and really helped support Alex and Casey’s characters. I always love office romances and I enjoyed seeing how this author visualized this one. This was the perfect book for me right now and I am so glad I got to read this adorable romance. It had some heat, but it also had the emotions that tied the two together and I found this to be the perfect combination for Alex and Casey. If you are a fan of romance, make this your next read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!