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.

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.

I liked the characters Casey and Alex, their love story and their family and friends.

I wasn’t as enamored with all the corporate intrigue.

All in all a good debut novel from Clare Gilmore.

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

DNF at 25%, as much as I wanted to love this read I just couldn't get into it. The writing for me personally get a little scattered and I found it hard to get through.

This debut book by Clare Gilmore was so fun to read!

I think the enemies to lovers was done pretty well and though it didn’t start off great it did progress and get more to my likings throughout the middle to end of the book.

I really enjoyed the characters in the books but did ultimately feel like there was something missing!

Overall this was an enjoyable book and I would recommend this to anyone who likes a light enemies to lovers romance!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley, Clare Gilmore and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! It is much appreciated!

*Spoilers Ahead*
Love Interest is a fantastic debut! This enemies to lovers romance has a weak start, but is absolutely absorbing by the end. It is a fast-paced read. There is a lot going on in this novel, including several subplots that I with could have been better detailed. (These include a widowed father who is suddenly gay?, a series of social media recordings that go nowhere, an ex that is introduced as significant but weirdly not detailed, etc. )

The protagonist is… plucky. I love that she makes tough decisions and does things that scare her. She has a cast of supporting characters that make the storyline rich. And she does some introspection and self-evaluation that lead to growth over the novel.

Overall, this is a solid 3 star read for me, and I will recommend it! Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Publishing Group, and the author for this e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

I think this book is good but not particularly great and didn’t bowl me over. It’s hard to put my finger on why that is though. I liked the setting of a magazine publisher and I really liked the love interest, Alex, but I was underwhelmed by Casey, the main character.

I’m not sure she felt very distinctive or interesting to me. I also think I expected something more like The Hating Game where it was a true enemies to lover sistuation. This was more of a one sided short term enemy sistuation so it felt like there was a lack of dramatic tension.

Having said that, it was a fast read and somewhat enjoyable, but I think overall I’d expected more.

I really liked this workplace romance. Casey was a great female lead. I loved that she embraced her quirkiness and her love of numbers (I loved the question about her favorite Excel formula!) I also really liked that she never changed her goal throughout.

On the male lead side, Alex's development was well written. I wanted to shout at him at times. You could tell something was going on and just wanted to point it out to him. But overall, a great lead. I really enjoyed his and Casey's relationship. The banter was great and it all felt very well done.

All in all, really enjoyed this cute, fun, number filled read.

Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an ARC!

The blurb from the publisher of Love Interest by Clare Gilmore describes the novel as “sparkling” and that is not hyperbole. I was engaged at the first page when we meet Casey, a financial analyst at a large publishing company. She has applied for a job within her company and finds out she did not get it. The man who does will eventually become the love interest but not before she hates him for the perceived nepotism of his hiring.

Why I loved this book: sizzling and entertaining banter, but not overly cute.
Descriptions of the workplace that are interesting. The large publishing house has a variety of magazines, so we see restaurant reviews and food discussion, but even the financial work that Casey is involved in is made to be entertaining, often because of her very realistic but entertaining colleagues. Descriptions of places such as Nashville, New York, London, and Seoul are seamlessly integrated into the story. And, finally, the main characters have their own personal growth journeys throughout the book beyond their romance. Self-acceptance and seeing others as they are without hero worship are also themes.

This is the first published novel by Gilmore, but the writing is so good and polished that I would never have guessed. I look forward to future novels by this author.

Oh man did this book give me a rollercoaster of emotions but I enjoyed every single minute of them. I would love this as a movie to watch over and over. I loved the dynamics between all the characters and really enjoyed the dialogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early ARC. As I am my own person, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a great book by a debut author! Unique story with interesting characters. Very well written, I would definitely read another book by this author!

Absolutely loved following this love story as the two main characters grow into their own. They both face some challenging situations that they learn to deal with together.
Ideal for anyone who enjoys office romance or enemies to lovers