This was a total must-read. it had a lot working for it. I really enjoyed the story and all that it was about. Good story and will read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book! Alex and Casey were so cute and you could tell how much they cared about each other through the whole story. This book managed to be fun and cute with complex characters facing real issues. I identified with their struggles with being enough to be loved and finding yourself. Casey and I both are fond of spreadsheets and have a tendency to stay in and take the easier path. I was inspired by her ability to step outside of her comfort zone.

My only complaint was that the beginning felt less developed than the ending. There was a point where I thought I missed a chapter because it moved so quickly. Casey went from meeting Alex and finding him interesting, to being mildly irked that he got the job, to hating him. This could have been developed more.

Overall I am glad I got the opportunity to read it early and would likely recommend it to friends.

I loved the enemies to lovers theme of this book. Casey and Alex are fun and complicated and I was rooting for them the entire time. If you enjoy watching Condé Nast YouTube videos, this is a great book for you.

I’m here for the office romance. The Hating Game started that love for me. This book continued it for me. I adore the main characters Casey and Alex. I love their banter and their relationship. The only thing that fell a bit flat for me was any plot in the book that didn’t revolve around the main characters. It was just plain and boring and could have done without it.

2.5/5
Arc in exchange for honest review.

I am pretty disappointed by this read. Enemies to lovers is one of my most cherished tropes and this book just did not do it for me. The banter was so-so-it did not leave me smiling and squeeing like I was expecting. This book also did way too much telling and not enough showing. I like a detailed story, but the sheer amount of describing every little thing took me out of it too much. For the plot, the corporate aspect is important, yes, but it was a little over my head with how much it was focused on and the jargon used. I think there was great potential with the story and the bones were laid out, but fleshing in everything fell flat for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title!

'Love Interest' by Clare Gilmore takes place in a world that is so completely different than mine yet I was instantly intrigued. There were so many crises and problems that I was grateful to only be reading about them and knowing I'd never have to experience them. I guess this is the joy of a book, to be taken to another place and perhaps to learn. The importance of love turned out to be a key feature in my learning process, and I celebrate that in this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a cute, fast read with a diverse cast. Lots of great relationships in here - friends, family, etc. I occasionally got a little confused by the vast number of workplace friends, but other than that, very enjoyable read.

I couldn't get into the book and I'm a retired financial analyst! But, it was probably just me - nothing about the story or characters grabbed me.

I have a bit of mixed feelings on this one, as I expected more and felt it dragged in some areas. The enemies to lovers trope felt more like miscommunication than anything, and I guess I expected more banter and for them to be “enemies” longer than they were since that was the main trope. Overall, I did enjoy it and would read more from this author in the future.

ARC provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off a bit slow for me, but as soon as Alex tells a Lion King joke I was sold. Casey, being upset that she didn’t get the job she applied for, and introvert that she is doesn’t seek out Alex for conversation when they first meet, especially when she realizes that he’s the one that took the job she wanted. When she’s assigned to help his team out with the numbers for his upcoming project, and a awkward run in with her ex and his friends, she starts to realize that he’s not as bad as she initially thought.

A workplace romance, damaged heroes finding their way and their worth, the banter between the two was amazing and kept me hooked after the first chapter

Thank you Clare Gilmore, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC

I read this book in one day, and I loved it! This is an amazing example of a workplace romance. The majority of the story takes place in and around the office, and this was a huge strength of the book. Casey and Alex are enemies from the moment that the meet in the elevator at their office (well, at least on her end!). Alex gets the job that Casey was up for, and she doesn't like that he is the one that got that job. At work, they work together on a project, and they start to see that they have some things in common.

I loved the jobs that Casey and Alex had. Casey is a financial analyst, and Alex is more of a creative type. Casey's career made sense because she was looking for stability in numbers and math. Alex added a lot to the story because of his drive and his desire to excel at his job. I think that they worked well together, and their dynamic was so sweet!

There was a little bit of spice, but overall, the vibes between Casey and Alex were swoonworthy. I loved the setting- an NYC workplace romance is just what I needed! The setting added to the fast paced nature of the story, and I was swept up in all of the behind the scenes drama/conflict at work.

Read this book if you like:
-enemies to lovers
-workplace romance
- NYC Setting
-Millennial vibes
- An emotional journey
- Amazing group of friends

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of 'Love Interest'.

This book is exactly everything I want in a romance plus things I didn’t know I needed. Love Interest follows Casey & Alex as they go from elevator enemies to in it for the long haul lovers. Throughout the book, you get a dose of quirky best friends, same-sex parents, neurodivergence and several interracial couples. Casey & Alex’s love is completely believable and the spice is 👌🏼. Whether you’re looking for a beach read or a rainy day tea drinking book, Love Interest should definitely be on your list! 4.5 stars from me!

though a bit cheesy for my taste, still an overall enjoyable novel! reminded me of the hating game and the spanish love deception all in one, but still with it's own added charm. honestly, one of my favorite parts of this was the corporate setting. As a corporate nyc girly myself, it was so interesting to read about an environment and location I was already familiar with. though some parts were draggy, and a bit cringey, alex and casey were a couple I could really root for. They were relatable and flawed, but I also appreciated their mature and realistic perspectives that didn't cause problems to be blown out of proportion.

this is a sweet debut that captures really well the hopefulness, recklessness, and audacity of being at your first job in new york! the workplace is a hilarious and reasonably accurate sendup of conde nast and/or buzzfeed!! he falls first and she is the math genius!!! there is metacommentary around only one bed!!!! there is Rocky Top and handwaving about a SPAC go vawls

thank you once again to st martins and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for this completely honest review

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book, but there were also things I didn't like.

The two main characters were well fleshed out and I liked them individually and together. I could understand why they were together and see the chemistry. I just wish that there was a little more tension in the beginning of the book.

There were parts of the book that really dragged and/or felt like an info-dump. I did found myself starting to skim read in a few parts due to some repetitive inner monologue with Casey. That's probably the biggest reason that I couldn't give more than 3 stars to this one.

Do I think this book will be loved by many? Absolutely! There are a lot of tropes that people love in here and the characters are really well done! I think this book was just wasn't completely for me, but I would be interested in reading more works by Claire Gilmore in the future!

Thank you Netgally and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is definitely a workplace romance where the majority of the plot takes place at the workplace. There is some workplace politics and job duties etc. The FMC was well developed but I felt like the MMC could've been a little more developed, he fell a little flat for me. The plot outside of the character's romance was a little lacking.

3.5/5 stars

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

I read this all in one day! I loved this love story. The characters were endearing and sweet. Alex was a golden retriever embodied, which just made me root for him the entire time! I loved the supporting characters as well. And, the relationship had all my favorite tropes. It was engaging and endearing. I couldn't put it down! This is the perfect summer, beach read.

4.95/5 ⭐️

"'I knew you'd be worth it. Every email. Every glare.'
'How do you know I wasn't working you up?'
'Don't think I'd have minded.'"

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Workplace Romance
Forced Proximity
I Have A Secret
Asian Hero <3


Short Story:
Love Interest is a near-perfect rom-com that made me laugh, cry, and fall in love (as a good rom-com does). Not only did it give me exactly what I wanted in a romance story, but it also gave me the empowering "women in business" vibe that I love so much.

Long Story:
(Minimal to No Spoilers)
I picked up this book because ever since The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas I've been craving a good enemies-to-lovers workplace romance and I'm so grateful that Clare Gilmore did not disappoint me. Throughout the entire novel (but most especially when they are enemies) Alex and Casey had such perfect banter that I was internally screaming.

Casey is an extremely motivated heroine who has her own ambitions, dreams, complex relationships, fears, etc. She's just generally everything I love in a protagonist. She's not a perfect person, but she does know what she values and the scathing business commentary that comes with that fuels my love for the book all the more.

And Alex! He's just as perfectly damaged as Casey is and an Asian hero to boot (as an Asian-American woman I'm always in love. Now might also be a good time to discuss the general and overall diversity of the book which I was so happy to see.) He's also just generally a kind and caring male protagonist and I easily found myself falling in love with him as a character.

The romance between these two extraordinary characters does not disappoint. Between the already-discussed banter, the cute inside jokes (absolutely essential IMO for any good rom-com), and the pet names they were already great. Add in working through their issues in an intelligent way and I was in love with their relationship.


I received an advanced review copy of this book from Net Galley for free and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

What's really great here is that - you know how there's that point at which someone hides something or misrepresents themselves in a way that's clearly planted to create tension in the plot at some later point? Okay, well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but it actually makes sense this time. Like, that's totally the way a reasonable person would behave. The main characters in this story are inherently honest, and flawed, and human, and sweet, and deeply, deeply endearing. So.

What a fun read! This was such a fun, engaging, and delightful story! I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and I felt like their relationship was honest and full of growth. As a teacher with a LOT of students reading romance, this will be one that I recommend, because it had the fun of an enemies to lovers with the growth of two people figuring out just how to take a misunderstanding and turn it into a true relationship.