“You are the end of everything for me.”

TLDR: This was such a fun read. I loved the writing, the Austin vibes, and the deeper topics. I’m grabbing a copy of my own and some tabs because a reread is in my future.

I loved Clare’s debut book LOVE INTEREST so I knew that her newest release would be a must read. From the moment Josie and Will had their re-meet cute (well, it’s more of a disaster) I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how their story would unfold. I love how Clare writes her characters in a way that has you falling in love with them, flaws and all. You can’t help but root for them. Will, my man, what can I say? He’s in the running for book boyfriend of the year. I just loved him. I loved them for each other.

I wish I read a romance like this years ago. It might have helped me see things with a different perspective. The hustle culture is real and the burnout that can follow is very real. The struggle to find yourself when you’ve misplaced your self-worth isn’t an easy one to overcome. Discovering the kind of friend you want to be (and have) especially when life gets heavy and messy can lead to some tough lessons. Sometimes we don’t get it right even when we think we are. Other times we’re exactly the friend we need to be even when we feel anything but. This book handles all these complex and relatable challenges so well.

It also made me want to do fun things. Like dust off the old sewing machine and make something even though I’m still a little traumatized by those boxers I botched in home ec. Go for a bike ride along our greenway and grab brunch with friends. Make friends with some chefs and have a Garlic Fest of my own because, so fun and yum!

Tropes + things
second chance
ex-best friend’s brother
forced proximity
care taking
single POV/ 1st person

Thank you for making Perfect Fit available on the “Read Now” section of NetGalley. I was excited to give it a try based on its premise. Unfortunately, I’ve decided not to finish the book. While I appreciate the effort and creativity behind the story, I found the main character’s behavior overly childish and I could not gel with her. In particular, I was frustrated by the FMC’s inability to understand that people grow and evolve after high school, which made it challenging to engage with her perspective. I also was uncomfortable with the portrayal of the Latina character, which I found to be stereotypical and not reflective of the diversity and richness of Latinx culture. This is, of course, a personal opinion, and I’m sure the book will resonate with other readers. I wish you success with this title. I appreciate the opportunity to review the book and thank you for your understanding.
DNF at 44% *

Perfect FIt does a great job of capturing all the anxiety of our modern era of social media scrutiny and turning it into a compelling struggle for the protagonist.

This is my second book by Clare Gilmore, and as long as she keeps writing them, it won’t be my last. Elevated romance is how I’d best describe it. I was impressed by how developed the characters were and how much of their backstory we got. I felt like Josie was a good friend and I was so invested in her life and her growth. I stayed interested the whole time and really just didn’t want it to end.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect Fit
Author: Clare Gilmore
Romance

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins for this ARC! It was a cute read that I really enjoyed! Josie owns a fashion brand, and her investor wants her to hire a consultant. Somehow, this consultant ends up being her ex best friend’s brother from nine years ago. So many things should be wrong about this, but they end up being drawn to each other and something sparks between the two. I loved Josie, and really appreciated being able to see her struggles as a business owner, and how she is overcoming each issue. Loved the fashion aspect as well, I felt it was unique since I haven’t read many like this before. Overall great romance read!

I was such a fan of Clare's after reading her first book Love Interest, so I am very thankful to have the opportunity to review Perfect Fit. Clare has a talent for bringing to life flawed characters in such a way that you fall in love with all their flaws, and desperately root for that HEA! Josie cherished the times spent with her Oma learning to sew, and after her death turned that passion into a thriving, trendy, and prestigious clothing company. But being the workaholic girl-boss CEO has had its costs. Will was the boy she knew as a teen, and twin of her childhood best friend. When he hits her car on his bike, they have a chance to revisit the past. I loved everything about this and couldn't put it down. There are so many great take aways from the story about overcoming loss, learning to love yourself, letting others help you, as well as life in moderation and taking a moment to breathe - definitely things that everyone can relate to in their own lives. I appreciate that there was no 3rd act breakup - thank you, Clare!! Definitely don't miss this one!! Thank you so much to Clare Gilmore, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

A high school mistake coming back to haunt a successful CEO of a fashion company, a forbidden love interest, and all the drama, laughs and tears expected of a modern romcom. This book is funny, earnest, and all too familiar to anyone who has ever suffered from self induced burnout due to pressure they manufactured. Will Josie find work life balance, a healthy love life, and success for her company? You’ll have to read to find out!

I loved Clare Gilmore’s debut and was thrilled to have an arc of her sophomore novel, The Perfect Fit.

I am conflicted on how to rate this one. I think the author is a good writer in that her story flows well but I found this book a real drag. The chemistry between the leads fell flat and the plot was hard to connect with. I found it pretty unbelievable that the MC would suffer so much from one tiny mistake in high school or that it would affect her as much as it did.

The male MC was just way too perfect. I like a flawed character and it felt a bit like a damsel in distress book even though the female MC was 28 and a CEO. I found myself finding things really cheesy and over the top.

2.5 rounded down because I just didn’t enjoy this story. I will read her next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

*Perfect Fit* by Clare Gilmore is easily one of my favorite reads of the year—a contemporary romance that’s both heartfelt and emotionally rich. It beautifully balances rom-com charm with genuine character depth, making it a standout. Josie, a humble yet powerful female CEO, is a refreshing main character—ambitious, kind, and determined to make a positive impact while navigating the challenges of burnout and stress. Will, her love interest, is an absolute gem—supportive, funny, and never intimidated by Josie’s strength, embracing her independence with acts of service that are as swoon-worthy as they are sincere. Their chemistry is electric from the start, full of natural banter and honest communication, and I loved how they supported each other both professionally and personally. The story felt reminiscent of *The Intern* with its warm, vibrant setting and focus on workplace passion, while also diving deep into emotional territory, making me connect with the characters' flaws and growth. This is the kind of romance that’s not just about love but about finding peace, and I couldn’t get enough of it. It's easily a top 5 contemporary romance for me, and I highly recommend it to fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a good read about having it all, but realizing what is really important and what you want. Josephine is a successful clothing designer who is at the top of her game but overly focused on her company. Will is a guy from her past that now is working with her as a consultant. They begging n to work out what has happened in the past as they grow closer and become a couple. Things happen and they figure out what it is they really want.

If you're looking for a perfect blend of humor, heart, and swoon-worthy romance, Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore is the book you need in your life!

Meet Josie Davis, a driven CEO of a successful fashion brand, who is suddenly forced to work with Will Grant – the brooding twin brother of her ex-best friend. Their complicated history includes a mistake of a kiss during senior spring break, and the last thing Josie expects is to find herself drawn to him again. But sometimes the heart has its own plans, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.

What I absolutely loved about this book is how relatable Josie is. As a driven, overworked young woman navigating the ups and downs of running her own business, I couldn’t help but see a bit of myself in her. Growing up, I always dreamed of having my own fashion line, and I loved to draw — so Josie’s passion for design and building something from the ground up really hit home for me. Her ambition and determination are inspiring, but the way she also faces the reality of burnout made her feel even more real and relatable. It’s refreshing to see her juggle her career dreams with the unexpected (and sometimes messy) feelings she develops for Will. Speaking of Will... he’s basically a walking dream. Picture young Henry Cavill, and you’re on the right track. He’s kind, swoon-worthy, and just the right mix of charming and supportive. 😍

The romance between Will and Josie is so satisfying — slow-burn, full of tension, and impossible not to root for. But it’s not just about the romance; Perfect Fit also explores the very real challenges of balancing work, love, rekindling old friendships and mental health. Josie’s journey of figuring out how to slow down and make space for love in the midst of her chaotic life is something I think a lot of us will resonate with.

If you love a book that’s funny, heartfelt, and utterly swoon-worthy, you need to read this one. Highly recommend it for a cozy weekend read or whenever you're in the mood for a romance that feels real. 💕

I absolutely adored this one! As a Texan myself, I enjoyed the story being set in Austin, and it felt very true to the spirit of the city without being too cheesy. I really appreciated that, though the focus was the romance between Josie and Will, there were also wonderful lessons about friendship and learning from your past mistakes. This was just a fantastic read and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you, St Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Perfect Fit.

I loved this novel! What a great romance! If you need help to get you out of a slump, look no further!! We have a strong, independent female lead and a man who would do anything to make her life easier. He knows she doesn't need him, but he is going to make her want him. Name the trope, and it's probably in this book: second-chance romance, workplace romance, enemies to friends to lovers, best friend's brother, he falls first. I loved this one! Pick it up today, and you will not be disappointed!! I am forever a Clare Gilmore fan!

Josephine Davis is a dynamo in the field of fashion. She has built an amazing brand, Revenant, headquartered in Austin. When tasked to hire a consultant, she has to settle for second best, because the dream team came with an astronomical price tag. Rushed to get to the consultant meeting to hear the B-team's pitch, she runs into (or he runs into her, get the book, great meet-cute) Will Grant, twin brother of her ex-best friend. Turns out Will is the reason for the A-team's astronomical price tag. After convincing Josephine to hire him as her consultant, the forced proximity (oooh, another trope!) has the two old pals falling back into easy step with one another. As a busy CEO on the verge of burnout, Josephine has to decide what she wants and what is best for her with work, friendships, and love. Hopefully, Will is a convincing enough consultant who can show Josephine that everything she wants is within reach if she's willing to make the difficult choices needed.

My first Clare Gilmore book and it didn't disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to read more from her. The pace was a bit too slow for my personal taste but overall I really liked the plot and character development.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Perfect Fit premise was enjoyable, but I just couldn't envision this romance. Overall a fun, light read.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. clare gilmore may be one of my new favorite authors! i thought the plot was perfectly planned out with 2 mature characters trying to figure out each other and themselves. i did think that josie was a workaholic who didn't know how to relax and that was my only gripe about it even if the man was able to get her to live and appreciate life outside of building her company

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC and RBmedia for the ALC. These are my honest thoughts.

Clare Gilmore does it again. What a sweet story of second chances, adventure, reconnection, and taking care of yourself. This story follows Will and Josie as they reconnect when Will literally runs into the back of Josie's car with his bicycle.

Their stories are intertwined in multiple ways, from past to present. Josie and Will's twin used to be BFFs, until she caught Will and Josie kissing once. They never reconnected. Josie's company inquired about using Will's company as a consulting firm, but Will declined because of a conflict of interest... but when Will finds out who is going to get the bid, he steps in and takes on the job to protect Josie.

As they begin working together, feelings come back to the surface. Try as they might, old feelings come roaring back to life. As Will and Josie spend more time together, going on bike rides, attending dinner parties, traveling the globe, they're both inspired to make some different choices for their lives... which leads to the possibility of more. More time, more dream chasing, more reconnecting, more forgiveness, more trust in oneself... it was so real and real life, I can't help but to love it.

Read if you love:
- Second chance
- Ex best friend's brother
- Workplace/forced proximity
- He's always had a crush
- Adventures with food
- Austin, TX + globetrotting
- Work burnout
- Slow burn
- Professional and personal re-alignment of dreams

The audio was amazing! I loved Katharine Leonard as the narrator. I think is my first book from her, but she really brought Josie to life for me!

This book gets a very solid 4-star rating for me!

This was really cute! I liked how this was more than just a typical rom-com, it included struggles that many people could have and made the book more realistic.

Perfect Fit is a sort of second chance, "we have history" romance and I loved every bit. Josie & Will know each other from high school, have history, and run back into each other 10 years later. This story managed to stay lighthearted while also dealing with topics like burnout, worrying what people think about you, friendships, and never feeling good enough no matter what you do.
Josie never feels good enough and is scared to let someone in be she feels like she always has to be on her A game at work. I loved how Will was there for her, doing everything he could (my acts of service king), while also still respecting Josie's boundaries. Add him to my list of favorite mmcs bc this man was a man in LOVE willing to do whatever he could for Josie.

Austin, Texas has grown tremendously in recent years, but it still has a small town feel at times. When Josephine Davis and Will Grant run into each other (literally) after ten years, they are shocked to realize that Will is the consultant that refused to work with Josephine at the company she built and is now serving as CEO. Sparks fly as they remember their brief encounter their Senior year of high school and the disastrous results. Clare Gilmore's second romance is another hit for me. This is not quite the slow burn of her previous book, but is still a great ride as they two find their way to each other. Looking forward to her next book coming out in the Spring.