An enormous thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and of course, Claire Gilmore for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh I absolutely adored this book. I think I read it in maybe 3 or 4 sittings and it would've been less if I weren't currently sick in bed. I adored Casey and Alex and loved watching them both grow so much over the course of this book. I loved their story so much.

The side characters were wonderful too and definitely more fleshed out than so many other romance books. This was a beautiful story and I loved every moment of it.

Overall this was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters (mostly) and liked that it focused around a woman in finance and her mathematical talents. Alex was great - he had so much more depth than I initially anticipated. The chemistry between Casey and Alex was strong. What I was missing was a bit more around the story in the workplace. It felt a little cobbled together to create tension but I found myself wanting more from that storyline as well.

I absolutely loved this debut book by Clare Gilmore! I rounded up from 4.5 stars because the FMC is from TN and a graduate of UT (just like me)! I loved the main characters and the other characters as well. The love story seemed more real and relatable and they actually grow together and separately. It had a touch of “enemies to lovers” feel but maybe more along the line of misunderstandings to friendship then love.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this electronic ARC!

Loved the banter and I would love to have the friend group from the birthday party. I don't love stories that start with deceit, and there was a lot of finance talk for me, but this was a great debut and I will definitely check out her books in the future.

3.5/5

Really cute story.
I felt that at times the story got slow and it was hard to keep going. I’m glad I finished the book because overall it was really cute and I did enjoy it. Casey is a good main character and it’s great to watch her dreams come true. Alex is like an onion with a lot of layers you get to read about.

This was a solid debut for Clare Gilmore!! I love myself a workplace romance and this definitely delivered, the relationship was definitely adorable and sweet!! It did take me a little to get into and the pacing was a little off for me, I think it was just her writing style that I didn’t particularly love but that’s 100% subjective and people may love it!!! Overall I enjoyed Love Interest and I would recommend it!!

A sweet, witty, and feel good read. All the things a romance should be. Alex and Casey's chemistry literally gave me all the feels. I think the thing I loved most about this book was it didn't have the typical miscommunication trope that sends almost every romance book couple back into a junior high style fight where it could have all been avoided if they just adulted and talked to each other. That was very refreshing.

I loved this book. It was such a great romance. It had little to no miscommunication, characters called each other out, there were compelling side characters and so much more. I loved the way the characters were able to grow separately and together. I found the romance compelling and I was rooting for the main characters even throughout their initial closed-mindedness which is rare for me. All in all, this is definitely a romance book that is worth picking up if you love a little office romance and rivals to lovers which corporate politics.

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

Casey Maitland has always loved the reliability of numbers, despite both her parents being artistic people. Now 24 and working in Manhattan, Casey applies for a project manager opening at her company. Unfortunately, the job ends up going to Alex Harrison. He's smart and everyone loves him, but he only got the job because he's the board chairman's son! As the two work together on the same project, they both have something to prove. Their late nights at work end up with them being drawn to each other.

OMG. I loved this. The writing is beautiful, the characters are so well written. I love how Alex falls first, and hard! Tons of laughter, wonderfully quirky secondary characters, wonderful evolution of Casey and Alex's relationship. I love workplace romances. This is one of the best I've read in a long time! ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

"Love Interest" by Clare Gilmore is a heartfelt novel that delves into the complexities of love, relationships, and the paths we choose. The story follows the intertwining lives of the characters as they navigate the intricate web of emotions and decisions.

The characters in the novel are relatable and well-developed, each facing their own dilemmas and challenges in matters of the heart. Gilmore's portrayal of their thoughts and feelings adds authenticity to their experiences, making their journeys engaging and emotionally resonant.

The narrative touches upon themes of timing, fate, and the impact of choices on our lives. The exploration of different types of love and the connections between characters bring depth to the story, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships and experiences.

Gilmore's writing style is evocative and immersive, drawing readers into the emotions and conflicts of the characters. The pacing of the novel allows for moments of introspection and moments of tension, creating a well-balanced reading experience.

While "Love Interest" is successful in capturing the intricacies of human emotions, there were instances where the plot could have delved deeper into certain character dynamics. However, these moments did not detract significantly from the overall impact of the story.

In summary, "Love Interest" is a touching novel that skillfully navigates the terrain of love, choices, and the connections that shape our lives. If you're looking for a thoughtful and emotionally charged read that resonates long after the final page, this book offers a compelling exploration of the human heart.

Casey Maitland is a successful financial analyst at a world renowned magazine publishing company, but growing up with creative, artistic parents has left her feeling like she isn’t measuring up. She decides to push herself out of her comfort zone and applies to a project manager role for a new digital brand, but ultimately ends up being passed over for the son of the chairman of the board, Alex Harrison. Absolutely infuriated, Casey swears to hate Alex and it works for awhile…until they’re partnered together on launching the new brand and sparks start to fly!

Love Interest was such a delightful read that sucked me in from the first page; I honestly can’t believe this is a debut! Casey was quirky and funny, and was the perfect foil to Alex’s happy go lucky personality. I absolutely loved how much diversity was in this book too, it felt very representative of New York City. Overall this was a really solid romcom with a bit of a different spin on the workplace enemies to lovers trope.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review.
Super cute workplace romance! But it did feel like some parts of it dragged on a little bit. Love the Georgia State reference though.

Wow this is a debut!? I am so impressed, such a funny, smart and deeply romantic romance. This may be the best romance I’ve read this year!

This debut was a beautiful and refreshing read. The wit & banter in Clare’s writing was consistent, and the characters were gorgeous. I loved the setting - as someone who experienced the corporate world in my early 20s, the culture/office politics really hit home.

I related so much to Casey. She was whip-smart, working her way up through the ranks. I love that she was a woman in finance and was viewed as the rising star by her superiors. There were elements of the male toxicity that still exists in that world (hi, older male executive creepily touching her without asking), but I also loved that this wasn’t the main focus of the story. Casey was closed off to love, guarded in her ability to open up - she felt like she constantly needed to prove herself. The tension between her & Alex when they started working together and she realized he had taken her promotion was real & handled beautifully.

Alex - my sweet sweet Alex. This man was patient, kind, ALSO whip-smart, & so supportive of Casey. He was a perfect depiction of having to come to terms with your upbringing & succeeding despite it all. He was so into Casey from the start (the “Simba” nickname!), and wanted to hard to prove her wrong - be worthy of her love. Their dynamic developed beautifully, and Alex’s growth to accepting who he was & that Casey’s love wasn’t conditional made my heart hurt in the best way.

This book made me laugh, cry, and gave me this weird longing for that time in your life when you’re discovering yourself and finding your people. I loved every minute.

This book was so adorable. It has workplace romance, enemies to lovers, & a little bit of fake dating. I usually don’t like workplace romances, but I loved this one. The tension is perfectly drawn out and the romance is so cute. The characters are so well-developed and I related to Casey so much. She isn’t like a lot of other characters in how they would usually be pressured to be smart instead of creative, but she almost felt bad for having a 9 to 5, mathematical job. Alex is the perfect love interest. He doesn’t want Casey to change or pressure her to be more social or creative, but he loves her for who she is. He digs deep and wants her to believe that she is inspiring and creative. He has a damaged backstory, but it’s revealed in perfect little fragments and he never tries to use his history for pity or an excuse.
All things aside, this was a wonderful little romance and I read it so fast. I was page turning waiting for Alex and Casey to get together and they’re so easy to root for.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Will you like this book? You might if you like:

Workplace romances
Complicated family relationships
Spreadsheets
Corporate intrigue
Grumpy (her)/Sunshine (him)

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Gilmore’s book comes out in October and I am sure it is going to be a big hit. This is an adorable rom-com about two people finding out exactly who they are and what they want in life.

Casey and Alex both work for Little Cooper, a magazine publisher with a number of different imprints (think Conde Nast) and they have both gone for the same job. Alex, who it turns out is the son of the Chairman of Little Cooper’s Board, ends up getting the position, but when Casey and Alex meet in the elevator at Little Cooper, they don’t yet know this and there is an instant attraction. Which, once Casey finds out Alex got the job she wanted, sours a bit. But Casey can’t stop thinking about Alex, who it seems is actually a really likable guy.

This book has everything I want in a romance: humor, chemistry, strong friendships, complicated but fairly realistic familial relationships, and obstacles that I can’t wait to see how the author resolves. Gilmore does a wonderful job fleshing out our MEs and making you cheer for them. I was impressed at how she resolved the major roadblock.

This is Gilmore’s debut novel and I was impressed, I will definitely look forward to reading what she comes out with next.

What a sweet, sweet story this was! This is an excellent example of a well-done office romance that includes a touch of enemies-to-lovers... I say touch because let's face it, it's clear from around 20% that they're not going to be resisting each other for very long.

I won't even lie, the corporate jargon went completely over my head, but the story had enough substance for me to follow how it related to the MCs.

Casey is a strong FMC, independent in her own right and very well-written. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.

What I loved about this story is how the MMC, Alex, is the proverbial damsel in distress. While he seems put together, he's the one who believes that he's not worthy of love, albeit for a very valid reason.

Their relationship should in theory be spicy and clever, and while it certainly is, it's also incredibly sweet. The way that they look out for each other and have each other's back is so refreshing.

If I have anything negative to say, it's about the first few chapters. I honestly got tired of meeting all of the side characters. I lost track of them by the time the third was introduced. It would've been a lot smoother of a transition had some of them been introduced a little later in the story.

TL; DR: Robert sucks. Alex deserved better.

4 ⭐️

Casey Maitland has always found comfort in the reliability of numbers, hence her job in Finance at a huge media conglomerate in NYC even though both of her parents were artists. When Casey is thrown on a major project with Alex Harrison, son of the chairman of the board of her company, she instantly dislikes him. Not only is he in the job she fancied for herself, he’s strikingly handsome, charming, and deftly capable. As they work more closely together, Casey realizes that her first impressions aren’t always right and there may be more about Alex that is worth knowing.

I loved this so much. The banter between Casey and Alex right from their initial elevator meeting was on point. The way that Alex and Casey drew out each others tender spots as they earned each others trust was beautiful. Reading their romance felt a lot like falling in love. It started with small glimpses of something more and slowly morphed into everything.

The connection that Casey finds to Alex’s mother when she relocates to London had me in full on sobbing tears. It was such a beautiful moment for Casey, and it also allowed her to feel more connected to her own mother as well. I love how the loss of their mothers allowed for Casey and Alex to forge a deeper bond with each other than either of them had ever experienced before.

That ending!! I was simply stunned by how beautifully the story concluded. The way that Alex and Casey professed their love for one another and built an imperfect yet beautiful home in each other was so well done.

Bravo to Claire Gilmore on a gorgeous debut novel! I loved this so much and am truly feeling so blessed to have read so many amazing debuts this year! Recommended to all romance readers and especially those that love: 📈coworker forced proximity🛗 bad first impressions 😠enemies to lovers 💋 kissing for cover 🛌 only one bed 🏙️ corporate intrigue 👯‍♀️ found family friendships 🥰 epically swoon-worthy declarations of love 🏡 finding home in each other

This debut romance was a fantastic read, and I’ll look forward to reading more from the author in the future!

Casey has always loved numbers for their consistency and order. She works in finance, but longs to break out and leave a legacy the way her artistic parents have. She applies to a project managing job at her firm, hoping to branch out a bit, but is passed over for Alex Harrison, the handsome son of the board chairman’s son. As they work together, they start as adversaries but slowly open up to share the tender parts they hide away from others.

This book was beautifully written, with so many moments and lines that I loved reading. The progression of Casey and Alex’s relationship from adversaries to friends to lovers went at the perfect pace, and their conflicts felt realistic and not contrived. They shared things in their past that helped bond them, and the care that they showed for each other was heartwarming.

I enjoyed the setting at a media conglomerate that was launching a digital page. The behind the scenes look at filming videos, planning the agenda, and working the financials was an interesting addition, I also loved that the story took place through the fall and winter, giving small touchstones over all the holidays.

The secondary characters are fantastic. I loved Casey’s two dads, her best friend, and her co-workers. They added levity and humor, and Casey’s bond with her bestie was beautiful. The story touches on who we tether ourselves to in our lives, and whether those ties feel restrictive or like safety, and I loved this entire idea.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I’d give this one 4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book! The relationship between the two leads developed well and I think they were both really cute together. The plot of the story was interesting as well. The side characters make this novel a lot of fun too and I think it would be fun to get spinoff stories about them. This story definitely had some finance related terminology that I was a little confused about but it was easy enough to just infer what everything meant. I think this was a really solid debut and I can't wait for more books from this author!