While I loved the writing and the characters, especially Casey, what stops me from rating this higher is that the author kind of throws a lot of different characters and information at you in the first thirty pages or so and it's just so confusing. I had no idea who was who or why some things were important because it was just way too much, and some bits seemed unecessary to mention.

This is however a great debut from Clare Gilmore and I would love to read what she puts out in the future!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! It has been on my radar for awhile so I was very excited to get the opportunity to read and review it. The premise was sooo good and I really had so much fun watching it play out. I thought the back story and depth that Alex had was so well done. The ending was PERFECT.

Very entertaining and engaging enemies to lovers romance. Multitude of romance tropes come together very nicely as these two characters get to know one another and all the intricacies of their work environment unfolds within their business and pleasure relationship. Some surprises, a bit of steam, heartfelt love and happy for now despite the work spectacle which drives the plot, romance is secondary but satisfying.

This was my first book by Clare Gilmore and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the workplace conflict and family subplots because it helps the reader understand the main characters better and their growth throughout the book. The banter, the romance, and the understanding tied Casey's and Alex's whole relationship together perfectly.

dnf @ 40%

really tried to give this debut(?) a chance but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me

Anyone who talks to me knows how much I love enemies to lovers so I was super excited about this book!

I really liked Casey and Alex. They’re both so realistic and I LOVED their first meeting. I could see that first scene of them in my head like a rom-com movie. While there was definitely some tension between them, I’m not sure if they were ever really enemies. I wasn’t bothered by this, but it could’ve been helped by showing some of the stuff that Casey briefly mentions from the beginning of them working together. I think it could’ve been fun to read. That being said, I did really like the banter that we did get to see. I think Casey was the right choice to have the main POV from, but I would’ve liked just a bit more insight on Alex’s thoughts. He has complexity that I would’ve loved to see from his side and I just really adored him as a character. I also thought that the side characters added just enough to the story and were super likable.

The pacing of this was pretty good. There were a couple times that the miscommunication between Casey and Alex got to me, but it definitely didn’t ruin anything and I get that it was there to aid the conflict. Their maturity and communication later in the book also made up for it. What I really loved about this couple and their story is how their relationship built up in subtle ways. Their more vulnerable conversations when they “hated” each other were my favorite. This story had a way of focusing on both characters and their growth without shoving it in your face. The progression of their relationship was very natural and realistic without getting boring and the way they understood each other was beautiful.

Overall, this was really just a great debut and I’m looking forward to more from this author! I can only imagine how amazing future works will be with this as a start.

MINI PLAYLIST 🩵💼✈️
The Archer - Taylor Swift
Through the Dark - One Direction
Heaven - Niall Horan

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! :)

Book : Love Interest
Author : Clare Gilmore
Release Date : 10 October 2023

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was my first workplace romance book and it was such a fun little debut enemies to lovers office rom-com with some of the cutest characters — Casey and Alex, trying to navigate their lives and their relationship. The slow burn in this book is perfect, not too much to put you off, just enough.

I sat down to read this book and read it from first page to final. I gave this book 4 stars. I will definitely recommend this book to friends who would love a cute little romcom read.

I loved this story! I loved how the relationship between Alex & Cassie really hits the ground running, their relationship truly being the focal point throughout the whole story. the instant spark between these two is amazing, especially in the beginning as they banter & navigate each other. Casey was a firecracker, a certified genius in my mind, as someone who is so anti-finance I hold people like Casey on a pedestal for choosing that finance life. & Alex is just a sweetheart who I loved from the start & that love only grew as he goes on such an emotionally developing journey throughout the story. I would have loved to see more of the story outside Casey & Alex, but overall a very fun, sweet read :)
thank you for the ARC!!!

will post review on instagram and twitter closer to the publication date (and will update here with exact date later); posting review to goodreads immediately

This book was the PG version of The Hating Game and the Spanish Love Deception. I loved the book and have nothing bad to say. Casey and Alex were both amazing characters who played off each other and the author really made the enemies to lovers trope work. This book has potential to be the beach read of the summer.

Claire Gilmore's debut novel, "Love Interest", follows the story of Casey and Alex. The story starts as a work place, one sided enemy to eventually lover story. Alex has managed to get the job Casey was vying for. She initially resents him for it. As they work together and get to know each other, their relationship develops into more. The character development is great, and Casey's inner dialog is relatable.
I especially enjoy the playful dry banter between Casey and Alex. Add a pinch of work drama and a few daddy issues, and we're all set for a fantastic, fun read.
There is a good cast of supporting characters, though none were over developed, allowing the focus to stay on Alex and Casey (which is what I prefer). All in all, I will rate this book 3.75/5. I would like to sincerely thank NetGallery and the publisher for this ARC.

I adored this book! I can be a sucker for a workplace romance, but many of them feel rushed and a bit ingenuine to me. Love Interest was the exact opposite — I loved how Alex and Casey formed a fun friendship before diving into romance. They felt like such an organic couple and I loved meeting all of their friends! Side characters are such a great addition to a story, and I love when I can tell the author put a lot of thought into them. I was fully immersed in the Bite the Hand drama. I would 100% read a sequel of these two in London!!

A good debut novel featuring a semi-enemies to lovers, workplace romance.

Gilmore does well creating chemistry between two likeable characters and brings NYC to life with the scene developement.

Will certainly look forward to reading more from Clare Gilmore.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two sittings! I enjoyed the romance between Alex and Casey. It didn't feel too rushed or insta-lovey. I also really loved the great cast of friends! I got a little bogged down in keeping all of the side workplace characters straight and remembering what role each had at the company. Overall, this was a great debut and I can't wait to see what comes next from this author!

Nice debut novel. I'm sure Gilmore will hone her craft with the next one. I'll definitely read it!

Fun to read a rom com with an authentic Nashville connection!

I couldn’t get into this book. The author had an extreme about of “telling” instead of showing - so many nitty-gritty details that the story was actually lost in them. In the first 10%, the reader meets no less than 25 people who are described in detail but have no substance to them.

There isn’t much hate between these “enemies” and I didn’t want to keep reading.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The perfect workplace / enemies-to-lovers rom-com to kick off the summer, ‘Love Interest’ will have you falling in love with the characters as they discover each other, and even themselves, along the way. With a ton of banter and heartfelt moments, the book reeled me in from the very start and left me wanting more.

After losing a job promotion to a newcomer, Casey Maitland goes from disappointed to out-right furious when she discovers the newcomer is none other than the CEO’s son, Alex Harrison. Despite their meet-cute in the elevator only moments before, Casey mind has been made and she decides to take a (one-sided) stance against Alex…but not for long. After a series of fortunate (and unfortunate) events, the two realize the importance of self-discovery, second chances, and love above all.

The characters are so well developed that you feel almost as if you’re friends with Casey and Alex and can't help but cheer them on every step of the way. Overall, 'Love Interest' was a beautiful read that I would definitely recommend.

Although I know next to nothing about financial management (so I probably missed a few excellent jokes that will land better with those well-versed in the language), I had such a good time reading this. Gilmore blends snappy banter and corporate shenanigans with big, huge, on-the-page Feels, brilliantly balancing the analytical narrative voice of her heroine with the in-the-moment flutters and sparks of excitement that come with falling in love, as well as the anxieties of wondering if one's partner feels the same in those early days when anything is possible and nothing is certain. The workplace drama builds throughout the story, with several leak-able secrets that could dismantle everything the two leads have been working toward, adding tension outside the romance, and grounding the love story in other aspects of the characters' lives. I loved that while the attraction was instant, the relationship developed through shared time that included some really lovely acts of care and attention and support, bolstering a quick and intense physical connection with an enduring emotional one. I also loved following along with the heroine's central life question about when to take risks, and when to play it safe, and how that did or didn't tie into the idea of leaving a legacy, something I think a lot of readers will relate to. The NYC setting fully celebrates the city--its restaurant scene, its smells, its hustle and bustle--while the workplace setting is equally well fleshed out, with a full cast of characters who hold a variety of interesting jobs. A fantastic debut, with a sharp central voice, big feels, and two characters who so clearly love each other with their whole hearts, the inevitable happy ending will leave you cheering. And looking forward to Gilmore's next release.

While I love a good workplace romance this one didn’t do it for me. I found Casey irritating. The initial “deception” was forgivable but it went on too long and I don’t fault Alex for his initial response at all. The story itself was very fleshed out and full of meat and bones however. It was well thought out, detailed and interesting. The characters were interesting, diverse and unique. Spice was very low, if you’re looking for the hot stuff this isn’t the book.

Loved it! Such a fun, more in-depth version of the familiar enemies to lovers trope. Both main characters had haunting secrets, but so much more in common because of it. I also adored the fact that for a change, it was the male main character off his footing. Very smart and sharp book.

I loved this book! This is a great story of two young professionals finding their way in love and life. Casey and Alex meet in the elevator at work. Casey is on edge as she is waiting to hear about a position she desperately wants. Alex makes a joke to break the tension and it works. The good vibes don't last as Casey learns Alex got the position she interviewed for and he is the son of the board chairman. Casey learns Alex is certainly qualified for his new position and his father had nothing to do with his being hired.
This story covers so many issues. Casey and her friends are their own family unit, still choosing to be more than acquaintances after years of knowing each other. Casey's allergies, her unique family history, and her talent for number crunching are such great plot devices. Alex is also well drawn out with his family dynamic. He wants to impress a father who was not actually a dad. Alex is such a great friend and people love to be around him. You wonder if he learned to be a glass-half-full person to avoid feeling less than due to the disappointments he faced when he was younger. He still seems to want approval from his father. This comes into play, but Alex manages to stand on his own.
This is a great book filled with workplace romance, family relationships, and great friends. This was a fun read, and also a bit intense reading about the younger days of the two main characters. I did enjoy the story overall, and look forward to other books by this author.

I received an e-arc from NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an unbiased review.