Clare Gilmore books are severely underrated!!! She’s so good at perfecting everyone’s favorite tropes and making them feel fresh and exciting!! Highly recommend!!

🎧📖 Audiobook Review: Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore 📖🎧

A massive thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ebook and RB Books via NetGalley for granting me access to the audiobook! I am head over heels for Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Josephine Davis is the kind of overworked CEO we all root for, but watching her navigate the chaos of love, life, and work-life balance is what truly makes this story shine. Enter Will Grant, the moody, brooding consultant who also happens to be the twin brother of Josie’s ex-best friend (and the guy she once kissed on a whim back in high school). Their chemistry is undeniable, their banter is top-tier, and the slow-burn romance is chef’s kiss.

Through Josie and Will’s journey, Clare Gilmore masterfully explores themes of ambition, vulnerability, and the importance of slowing down to appreciate what really matters. The audiobook’s narration was exceptional, bringing Josie’s determination and Will’s quiet intensity to life in a way that had me hooked from start to finish.

This story has everything: a steamy romance, witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the person you least expect can be your perfect fit. If you’re a fan of workplace romances or second-chance love stories, you need this book in your life!

This book so incredibly cozy, and wholesome!

The mmc in this book is more than just swoon worthy! If you like thoughtful guys who go out of their way to make sure you know you're cared for... you're gonna LOVE Will Grant, I know I did!

Josephine's journey, personal and romantic, made this book! I absolutely loved her layers, her love and her determination, and most of all her growth!

I love second chance romance. I'm not a huge fan of best friend's brother but it was perfect in Perfect Fit. Will is so sweet and I really felt for Josie. Both of their problems are very relatable to any young professional today. Yet it has that spark of hope that makes romance books so special. Clare Gilmore's writing improves with each book. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

This was a cute rom com, enjoyable read, but also fairly forgettable. The beginning of the book captivated me and had some laugh out loud moments but then it started to drag a bit.

"The Perfect Fit" by Claire Gilmore is such a fun rom-com.

Josie is a CEO of a fashion brand that she worked hard to create in college. In order to elevate her brand, the company wants to work with consultants. In walks, Will, her former best friend's brother.

The connection to the past reignites a flame that will have readers rooting for these two to get together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for selecting me for this ARC. I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to move books from Claire Gilmore in the future.

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

This was such a sweet and positive romance read, a perfect example of what a relationship with good communication can look like and it just left me feeling hopeful. This book provided what I feel is a very realistic look at what being an entrepreneur looks like and how easy it is to get pulled in to the grind. Following along with Josephine's trials and tribulations as she navigates the ups and down of owning your own business felt very realistic. The connection between Josephine and Will was just so good. The fact that they knew each other when they were in high school and the way they reconnect was a fun twist. They show up for each other and really brought what the other needed to the table...the perfect balance! This book just left me feeling hopeful and good and I love that!

“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!