Clare Gilmore's LOVE INTEREST is purported to be a love story between the woman who lost a plum position at work to nepotism in the person of an exceptionally attractive and qualified man who happens to be the son of the chairman of the board. There is much to attract interest in the story, from the work environment and view into the world of publications, but the writing style, dialogue, and long veers into backstory and internal agonizing dragged it to a non-finish status. Interesting premise, wonderful cover, but? Failed to work for me. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

A pleasant enough workplace romance. I enjoyed the first half that brings Casey and Alex together, and liked how Alex was similar to an onion, with many layers for Casey to discover as she slowly got to know him beyond the horrible first impression he made on her; his concern and consideration for her many allergies in particular is incredibly romantic. However, the second half is a bit laden by the plot concerning the future of the company, with too much shoptalk that occasionally made my eyes glaze over. There is also an abundance secondary and tertiary characters, and while having all of these people flitting in and out of the picture helped to capture the feeling of living and working within a big city, many of these individuals added little of value. Ultimately I didn't love this, but there is a lot to like about the story and Gilmore's writing.

This was such a fun read! The strength of this book, for me, lied within the main characters. They were both so likeable, they chemistry and banter were top-notch, and they both had satisfying character arcs. This was an extremely good debut that felt very modern and like a breath of fresh air. Will definitely be excited to read this author's work in the future!

it takes a lot to make me literally laugh out loud while reading and this one did just that. I loved it.

I thought this was hysterical, realistic and oh so charming.

Casey Maitland is a finance analyst trying to get a project manager job to prove she can do more than just numbers. However, she learns that she is not getting the job. Instead, they are giving it to the board chairman’s son. Casey, livid by the obvious nepotism, vows to hate Alex Harrison for a long time. This vow is put to the test when everyone loves Alex, and the two are put together on the same project. This project could mean big things for both Alex and Casey. For Alex, its proof that he belongs. For Casey, its being promoted to London.

As the two spend more and more time together, the chance for something more increases. However, neither can anticipate the corporate world and its politic mess. Will the job destroy any potential the two have, personally and professionally?

This is a workplace romance where the workplace is pretty much more important than the romance at times. The plot revolves around finance and workplace politics, but the author manages to make the dialogues and interactions feel witty and fluid and real. I actually felt like I was back in the Accounts Receivable department of the hospital. I read a few reviews that say this is an enemies-to-lovers trope, but it really doesn’t feel like that. It was more a one-sided grudge that was gone after 3 or 4 chapters.

I related to Casey, because I have quite a bit of anxiety. I also love numbers. I agree that numbers don’t let you down like art can. I didn’t feel as much for Alex because there wasn’t much in his POV. Which bothered me because quite a bit of the workplace politics involves him and his father. I did feel all of the things Casey did, in the order she felt them, because of the different conflict points.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

This was such a cute workplace romance. I’m such a sucker for “he falls first plot lines” and this one did not disappoint. I think the characters were really what made this story shine!

This rom-com truly shines with its character-driven charm. Casey's elevator encounter with Alex kickstarts their rollercoaster journey, fueled by her initial resentment as he nabs her job. However, working side by side reveals Alex's complexity and prompts a reconsideration of her snap judgment.

Warm and heartwarming, the book offers a delightful blend of sweetness. Casey and Alex's chemistry is irresistible, particularly during their playful squabbles in the "enemies" phase. Casey's relatable role as a 24-year-old financial analyst adds a relatable dimension, and their evolving relationship is handled with mature finesse.

Deepening their backgrounds adds layers to their growth, and their romance, while endearing, carries a subtle spark. The supporting characters, along with their close-knit group of friends, shine brightly. Although the mid-book workplace conflict didn't hold my interest as strongly, the overall experience was solid and engaging.

In its debut, the author crafts a promising narrative, deftly weaving workplace dynamics, relatable characters, and a heartwarming romance. For fans of rom-coms and workplace intrigue, this one's a definite recommendation.

⚠️ TW: misogyny, sexual harassment, infidelity, abandonment, death of parent

Enemies to lovers, work place romance, where he falls first…I mean what else do I have to say to convince you to read this? The banter and tension between Alex and Casey is well developed and swoony.

One Bed, Spicy, Single POV, Forced Proximity

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this spectacular debut by Clare Gilmore! This workplace romance grew on me and consumed my thoughts long after I finished it.

This workplace romance has an endearingly awkward meet-cute, and one bed, he falls first, rivals-to-lovers trope.

I related with Casey in feeling like a sort of outcast in her own family, but wanting desperately to make her parents proud and wishing she could carry out their legacy. But she hopes to do them proud by getting a job in London, where her mom was from, convinced that THERE is where she'll find herself. But things become a little less clear when she runs into Alex.

I loved the way Alex and Casey's relationship slowly built. Alex is perfect book boyfriend material -- patient, sweet, and knows the right thing to say. And Gilmore delivers on quite a bit of spice, which is deepened by the tender emotional relationship between Alex and Casey. I just want to squeal about his book because it's such a gem.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore @momentofclarety gave me all the 90s romcom vibes and I was here for it. When Alex gets the job Casey applied for internally at the publishing company she is a financial analyst for, she still has to work with him but hating him gets harder as she gets to know him better. Alex is not the outgoing nepo-baby he projects to the world, and while his father was on board, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes that Casey is trying to get to the bottom of to save the company and help launch this new brand with Alex. They really are perfect for each other and help fill all the insecurities and holes in each others lives. While there is a third act conflict, it fit right into the plot and resolved beautifully.

I kept putting this ARC off because it wasn’t fitting the autumn vibes I was going for, but I added it in as a fluffy romance between heavy fantasy and am so glad I did. I laughed, I swooned, I sad cried, I happy cried. I am blown away that this was a debut novel, it was perfectly written and flowed so well I didn’t want to put it down. I fully related to Casey enjoying her job but also feeling like she should be wanting more. The side characters were so rich and well-developed, I loved them all and want to see a Miriam-Brijesh story next.

All the stars! Two peppers spicy. I immediately preordered the paperback of Love Interest because it deserves a spot on my shelf. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing this eARC for my honest opinion.

A compelling love story that started as a work environment romance. Entertaining.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was really good! I was pulled in from the very beginning. I couldn't put this down. I love the development of the story and characters. I have been reading a lot of fantasy recently, and getting into another romance really brought me back and reminded me why I love them. I fell in love with this one too! If you enjoy romance, definitely grab this one!

3.5 stars- This was a really fun opposites attract romance. I enjoyed both of the main characters and their chemistry together. Their characters both felt very real and fleshed out. I appreciate that the fmc works in the finance department, and even though women in STEM is becoming more commonplace, it’s still refreshing to read. There were quite a few bits towards the end- declarations of love, the main characters’ dad’s song, etc. that were very touching. I didn’t really care for the focus on New York and “big city” aspect, but that’s really just personal preference. I also was a bit confused by the times the main character mentions how she tends to make bad first impressions and takes time for people to like her, but I didn’t really see any examples of that in the story, which is honestly okay with. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely check out more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

2.5 stars

This book wasn't my favorite, but it also wasn't horrible! It was really hard for me to get into until maybe the 40 percent mark! One of my biggest critiques is that there was a HUGE time jump from where they first met, and I really would have liked to see how their relationship developed more. There was also way too much inner dialogue in my opinion, which made it at times very boring. The love story was very cute though, and I did like Alex, but I did not like the main girl at all. I was just never able to personally connect to her.

As the author's debut, this is a very good book, but I don't know if I would really recommend reading it. I think there are a lot of better romances out there, this isn't to say you would not like it though!

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the arc!

Love Interest is perfect for lovers of workplace and enemies to lovers romance. Alex & Casey are both adorable and likable characters. Something about Casey just felt normal and kind. Alex made me melt a little with every easy thing he said to Casey.

I'll admit that I wasn't as interested in the work conflict even though it was important to the overall story line. But Gilmore's writing kept me reading, and Alex kept showing up and reading Casey like a book! I loved the way he called her out on her thoughts/feelings, and his calm & cool confidence without being cocky. I also loved him more each time he called her Simba.

Favorite part: their argument near the end followed by Casey’s heartfelt declaration of how and why she loves him. I loved their 3rd act break-up. I never thought I’d say that, but it's true. The last quarter of the book was perfect.

debut author workplace romance rivals to lovers NYC text messages friend group

Thank you NETGALLEY, ST MARTINS PRESS, and Claire Gilmore for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
😤 Enemies to Lovers
🏡 Forced Proximity
💋 He Falls First
🥵 Tension and Banter
👯‍♀️ Great Side Characters

Oh my gosh!!! This book is so freaking swoon worthy!!! It truly encapsulates everything I love in a romance and it’s a freaking debut to boot!?

I loved the idea for the plot of a career focused woman taking a step back to examine and decide what she wants in life and when she goes out for a promotion for more creativity in her work and it goes to a board member’s kid, it’s an instant recipe for enemies to lovers in the workplace!

The communication between the two was top tier and just truly loved the dialogue and the relationship building!

Thank you so much SPM for my arc of this one! It truly was such an amazing debut!

This was so cute! I always love a good enemies to friends to lovers. Casey was so relatable (for me) in so many ways. She’s a financial analyst (not many of us girls in finance) who is trying to find out where she fits in life. When she gets turned down for a promotion, she has to sit back and pick up the pieces. What does she truly want? I think this a question a lot of us ask ourselves in our twenties. Meeting Alex, the man who was better suited for the job, puts Casey at odds. Finding their way as friends, they discover who the other person truly is. And along the way they find love too.

💜Summary💜
Casey loves numbers. They are reliable and steady. When she gets passed over for a promotion and the recipient is the chairman's son, she is determined to follow through on HR's recommendation that she help get the new digital platform off the ground so she can get transferred to London. But working that closely with Alex, who got the job, is more difficult than she expected. He is friendly and engaging to her aloof and guarded. But when working together, Casey realizes Alex may not be who she was expecting and that there are things going on in the company behind the scenes that could change everything.

💜Review💜
This story made me smile. I loved it being a bit of a reverse grumpy x sunshine. While Casey wasn't necessarily grumpy, she is a little bit less of a people person and Alex is the one everyone loves and gravitates towards. They had great banter. I thought it would be more enemies in the beginning but it didn’t last long. Both characters were likeable and mature and communicated with each other. It’s a fun contemporary romance and I highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Casey initially feels scorned when she loses out on a huge job opportunity to the CEO’s son, but then she meets him for the first time and can’t stay mad at him for long.

From their first interaction through their fairytale ending, Casey and Alex’s story might be the best romance I have read so far this year. The dialogue didn’t come across as cheesy, like a lot of other romance novels, just like two people genuinely in love. I loved that both characters stayed true to themselves and their ambitions without feeling a need to change themselves for another person.

The themes of identity, family, and true friendship carried throughout the book in beautiful ways that depicted both the great joy and tragedy of being human. The backdrop of NYC and a corporate office made for a fun setting for two young adults to fall in love. As a project manager myself, I have a lot of respect for the ambition and hard work the characters portrayed!

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what Clare Gilmore writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the eBook!

I thought this was overall a very cute, but standard rom-com. The pacing felt off and I struggled to really feel the evolution of the FMC and MMC due to the time jumps. I also felt there was a lot of asides trying to be witty just threw me. Overall I can see people really loving this, it just felt like it was trying to be Emily Henry for younger, twenty-something readers and lacked a fresh voice.