This book is a super cute workplace romance and I loved it! The main character Casey finds out she was passed over for a job opportunity because of the chairman's son Alex. I think I would have liked it more if it was dual pov but it was still a great book and I enjoyed reading it. Enemies to loves is one of my favorite tropes and with the added forced proximity it made for a great debut novel.

Enjoyable read. The characters were relatable and realistic and liked that the story didn’t play out to be overly cliched. Rather predictable but the setting and issues were very well developed.

Very cute workplace romance! Casey and Alex had a lot of chemistry together. Their progression from enemies to lovers was handled well, and there are some really cute moments between the two of them sprinkled throughout the book. There's also quite a bit of workplace politics shown which you don't see that often in a rom-com.

Give it a read if you're looking for something sweet and fast!

Tropes:
-Women in STEM!
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-He falls first
-Single POV
-Some spice!
-Only one bed

Casey loves finance and numbers, but is hoping an opening project managing a new vertical at her magazine publishing company is the leap her career needs. Of course, pass her over, they give the job to the board chairman’s son. Alex is infuriating, but also infuriatingly hot, and charming, and unfortunately for Casey’s rage, really good at the job. As the two are forced to work together on the launch, they uncover not only their mutual attraction, but secrets that have the potential to derail not just their careers, but their entire company.

This was a steamy enemies-to-FWB-to lovers workplace romance with reasonably high stakes and a believable conflict. Casey’s personal and professional growth trajectory might not lead through the project management job, but it does require her to choose herself over her friends and family, Alex, and most importantly, her fears. Alex, meanwhile, has been badly hurt (though not in the way romance MCs often are). When Casey doubted if Alex could be feeling more than friendly, temporary feelings, I too wondered if he was able and ready to have a more serious relationship. And I don’t mean that as a criticism of characterization or plotting – so often a romance MC has doubts that just don’t seem to be all that based in the reality of what the love interest is showing. By the time everyone’s feelings were out in the open, I felt like I’d been on the journey of understanding along with Casey, not many steps ahead of her.

I didn’t totally get what was going on in the corporate espionage plot, though that’s more a me problem than necessarily an issue with the writing - like Alex, my eyes pretty much glaze over whenever the topic of finance comes up.

[b:The Love Interest|65213935] by [a:Clare Gilmore|22309814]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫 4.5 stars rounded up
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ It’s a shame promises to share just one bed like grownups always backfires 😈
🌺🌼 BRB looking for a chocolate cosmos to add to my urban jungle
🧴Alex’s fragrance-free detergent buying mission might be my favorite romantic gesture in a while
🤳 Don’t they know journalism’s pivot to video has been a disaster??

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Love Interest, is a witty, charming, well written romance that will have you rooting for Casey and Alex from their first elevator meet cute. Their workplace, enemies to lovers romance will have you laughing, swooning, and holding your breath as you wait for the secrets they're holding to inevitably be revealed.

Casey and Alex are relatable main characters with well executed growth arcs. The side characters not only hold their own, but are fleshed out and intricate to the story. The corporate drama is woven so effortlessly throughout the story of Casey and Alex's relationship, gently nudging them along but never overshadowing their (at times spicy) romance.

If you like:
Witty Banter
Enemies to Lovers
Only one Bed
Workplace Romance
He Falls First
Forced Proximity

You will not want to miss out on this book. Cannot wait to see what's next for Clare Gilmore.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

First let me say that I love a book where the female lead has a STEM career. It’s happening more often lately and I am here for it. Hooray for all the girls who rock at math and science! I, too, love math and work in a financial field.

I really enjoyed getting to know Casey and Alex, watching them both open up and bring out the best in each other. Their story was fun and funny and also dealt with some serious issues in a sensitive way.

I have two critiques.

One is that Casey has a nut allergy that is mentioned again and again, but she’s so casual about eating out and not really worried about cross-contamination with other dishes cooked in the same kitchen. It’s a small thing, but is so unrealistic compared to the experience of those I know with serious nut allergies.

The other is that this book is just a little bit too long. The story could have been a little tighter.

Otherwise I genuinely enjoyed reading it. 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5.

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of Love Interest in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Love Interest is a cute rom com about Casey, a financial wiz, and Alex, the man who got hired instead of her.
This is a cute and quick read and I enjoyed the chatter development and banter at the beginning. I always a HEA.

Love Interest
Clare Gilmore
Pub Date: October 10, 2023

Love Interest was absolutely perfect! I am a sucker for a good workplace romance and this book totally met my expectations. If you are looking for an easy breezy rom-com that will leave you with a smile on your face, this is your book!

Casey is a young professional working in the finance department at Little Cooper Publications. After applying for a job completely out of her comfort zone, she finds out she didn’t get it. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was that the super cute guy she had a meet cute with in the elevator, who happens to be the son of the board chairman, is the one who got the gig. Everyone loves Alex, except Casey. When the two are tasked with working on a project together, everything changes.

What I loved most about this book was the relationship between Casey and Alex. They had such great banter but they also had such great communication and I felt they were two mature characters, which I appreciated. I also really enjoyed how family history played such a big role in the storyline for both Alex and Casey.

Read Love Interest if you love:
💜Workplace Romance
💜Enemies to Lovers
💜He Falls First
💜Only One Bed
💜Quirky and Lovable Characters

‼️New Book Boyfriend ALERT! When I started this book, I was NOT expecting to find a new book boyfriend! Alex was so sweet and I just adored him! I guarantee Alex will steal your heart, too!

Favorite Quotes:

“Maybe our life together won’t ever be steady or sure-footed. But I will always come back to you. You are my North Star, my safe harbor, and I love you so much I could die.”

“It doesn’t feel like a tether, it feels like a choice, because the stars in your eyes are fucking why I fell in love with you.”

Posted on Instagram on July 4, 2023 (Currently Reading): http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
Posted on Goodreads on July 8, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram (full review) on October 10, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Instagram (mini review) August or September 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on October 10, 2023
**-will post on designated date

Obsessed. Absolutely adorable. After the first 15-20%, I wasn’t quite sold yet. But I am so glad I stuck with it. The banter, the chemistry, the growth. I love them.

I always enjoy a good office romance. The majority of the story takes place in and around the office. Casey and Alex are enemies from the moment that the meet in the elevator at their office. Alex gets the job that Casey was up for. It reminded me of The Hating Game which was a similar genre book. Highly recommend.

a cute and charming enemies to lovers romance that was delightful.

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

While I haven’t read a traditional rom-com in some time, this book put a smile on my face. Pacing was excellent and kept me flipping pages. Loved the character arc. Will definitely be suggesting to friends and carrying in store.

This was such a cute read. I'm not the biggest fan of workplace romance. Maybe it's cause I tend feel like they all follow the same formula. Alex and Casey, however, made added more to the story that made it enjoyable. I like that plot points didn't linger and there were twists that I didn't even seen coming. Definitely gonna keep Clare Gilmore on my watch list for whatever comes next!

Clare Gilmore delivers a satisfying rom-com debut with LOVE INTEREST, the story of an initial antagonism between two job-competing colleagues that blossoms into something more.

I would have given this a higher rating, if it wasn’t for the rather misleading description — this does not have an enemies-to-lovers trope, but more of a somewhat one-sided distrust that quickly evolves into attraction. And while I really liked the characters — Alex was dreamy and Casey is easy to relate to — I could’ve done without the YouTube storyline. (That plot device felt a bit forced.)

All in all, LOVE INTEREST is a solid summer read. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but that’s okay — it doesn’t have to.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC.*

I love a good enemies to lovers trope and this was a delightful read. I enjoyed Casey, Alex and the evolution of their relationship. They live in a world I don't have a strong frame of reference for, but I enjoyed learning more about financial world. Overall, this was a really well written romantic read. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun, enjoyable read. It would be a good beach or vacation read. It is nothing that will stick with me for a long time, but I don't regret picking it up. It had good representation and tropes, and was worth a read.

GIVE ME ALL THE ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND WORKPLACE ROMANCE FEELS PLEASE AND THANK YOU! With a dash of "he fell first," this book was just perfection from start to finish! Extra special thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for offering me this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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

This book had no right to be as good as it was. 4.5 rounded up because I can't find any reason to NOT round up.
When I started this I imagined it was going to be another enemies to lovers, work place romance, and it was in a way but it also wasn't.

The character growth, the relationships, the settings. It was all so lovely.

I would also like to say, as someone currently living in Nashville, who works for a media conglomerate, this felt pretty accurate. A lot of times you read books about certain professions or places and you can tell that the author has not only never experienced them, but also did a poor job researching them. But with this book, you could tell me Clare Gilmore works for a publisher, and also grew up in Nashville or New York and I would believe you.

Also, big shout out because I went to see what other books she has written, and learned this was her DEBUT?? Well done. This was a delightful read. There was spice but it wasn't gross. There was banter but not too much that it felt like one big joke. There was communication. There were relationships that felt REAL. Absolutely enjoyable.

4stars
My Thoughts
Twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, Casey Maitland, took a leap when she moved to the big city after college.

Growing up the only child of people whose artistic talents passed her over, much to her chagrin as both a child and as an adult.

Numbers became her friend when Casey discovered a love of solving problems that others found pretty much outside their abilities that she heretofore had not experienced.

Moving from Nashville to The Big Apple with her best friend Miriam was the first step towards choosing the life she wanted.

A job she applies for within Little Cooper Publications for a different, as well as more intimidating, position has Casey once again outside her comfort zone so when someone new named Alex Harrison gets said position instead there is immediate tension between the two.

As Casey navigates this new reality her coworker Brijesh, best friend and roommate Miriam, her only other friend in New York Sasha Nicholson stay in her corner and indeed the four have each others best interests at heart for the entire book.

Despite the initial use of many acronyms and other inside jokes as the story builds very slowly it brings the reader more insight into both Casey and Alex than we would probably not have gotten at a faster pace.

I did read a few reviewers that applauded this entire setup from start to finish and a few that were not even able to get past its initial beginning chapters so they gave up quickly.

I feel like that is a personal choice and understand their honesty for not continuing what turned out to be a very well thought out for me romance pairing between two people who truly find themselves to be exactly right for each other once Casey and Alex explored not only the physical aspects but the mental ones as well.

Their companies’ drama certainly took center stage at times but it worked well as a vehicle for both characters to hone their respective talents and learn new ones along the way as well.

[EArc from Netgalley]

When Casey doesn't get the job she thinks she wants, she ends up meeting the right person for her. This novel has a well-written enemy to love storyline with well-developed characters who bring out the best in each other. I started reading this book for the romance, but also found myself relating to and thoroughly enjoying the perfectly captured corporate working life.