Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for my #gifted ALC.

Powerhouse CEO Josephine Davis is all about hustle – until fate (and her investor) forces her to team up with Will Grant, the last guy she wants around. Will is her ex-bestie’s brother and the guy she awkwardly kissed nine years ago.

Will convinces her he’ll work harder for her company than anyone else and proves to her repeatedly that he’s the best one for the job! But sparks begin flying and love isn’t easy to navigate with distance and an unbalanced work-life.

I was immediately endeared to Will, especially as he began making suggestions for her company and seamlessly solving some of Josie’s dilemmas. He is a man of action and proved his loyalty to her early on. He carried deep regret over things from the past and as we got to know him, we came to understand why he did what he did.

To say that Josie threw herself into her work is an understatement. She hyper-focused on her work, pushing out any chance for a meaningful romantic relationship. Everything she did was to benefit other people and to find worth in the world. Will slowly broke down her defenses and took the time to understand the “why” of what she did.

The relationship was a slow-burn with several pauses along the way. I loved how Will encouraged her to learn for herself what was most important.

I felt the story was just as much about learning to trust and how to heal as it was a romance.

The audio narrator was entertaining! She brought the story to life and I listened to it in one sitting.

Romance Content: 2 open-door scenes that are easy to skip. Some explicit language.

This was a new to me author and narrator! This was so cute and I was so happy to listen early I love finding new stories and authors I love supporting them and definitely I’ll be watching for more!

5 out of 5 stars!

My love for this story, the characters and everything in between for ‘Perfect Fit’ is indescribably big! I cannot tell you guys how much I love, adore and relate to this book!

The audiobook was cherry on top for the book!

Clare Gilmore’s writing sparkles as she crafts an emotionally engaging and swoon-worthy romance that blends humour with heartfelt moments. I found myself completely enamoured with Will and Josie; one chapter made me blush, while the next brought a tear to my eye. Their chemistry is electric, but it's Will's acts of service that truly enhance the romance. From securing the ideal table for Josie’s best friend’s bachelorette party to caring for her when she's feeling under the weather, Will sets a new benchmark for being a book boyfriend.

This narrative doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of burnout and the struggle to reconnect with passions we once cherished. Gilmore thoughtfully delves into how life's challenges can dim our enthusiasm while reminding us that it’s never too late to discover new interests or reignite old ones. Josie’s journey resonated deeply, offering a hopeful reminder of how resilience can reshape our perspectives.

The friendship between Josie and Camilla was another standout element. Their connection felt genuine and heartfelt, serving as a grounding force that enriched the story. Witnessing two strong women uplift each other through life's highs and lows was both refreshing and inspiring.

Perfect Fit strikes the ideal balance of romance, friendship, and personal growth, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a slow-burn, heartwarming love story without the typical third-act heartbreak. Clare Gilmore beautifully captures both the cozy and complex aspects of love and friendship, making it easy to fall in love with these characters and their journey. I highly recommend it!

Many thanks to Claire Gilmore, RBmedia | Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of "Perfect Fit." The book is available for purchase now.

Josephine David is a brilliant, successful, caring and humble female CEO who worked tirelessly all through college and then another six years afterwards building her own clothing line, Revenant. Revenant has a successful online store but now Josie is trying to expand and launch her first physical store front. Her biggest investor has advised her to take a CEO course and hire a consultant. Her best friend and Chief Branding Officer has named her the Maid of Honor. Josie feels overwhelmed with everything but determined not to let anyone down.

On her way to give her pitch to potential consultants to help her get Revenant B Corp certified, she has a collision with a very attractive guy. The guy is none other than her former best friend’s twin brother who she once shared a kiss that ended her friendship with her best friend.

The accidental collision reminds Will who Josie is deep down. He surprises Josie at her pitch, begs her to hire him and promises to work extra hard for her. Josie is hesitant but since Will works for the better consulting firm, she agrees.

Will is everything he promises and more. He helps Josie with Revenant but also with balancing her personal life and giving her what she is missing.

"I know your fever's about to hit. I can wrap you up in my arms. Get under the covers with you. Keep you warm. Make you feel not alone. I can let your head rest against my chest and that way, you'll feel another person's heartbeat, in sync with yours. That's the kind of help I can be. Even though I can't take away your physical pain, I can make you feel good in a different way." (Transcribed from audiobook, please excuse typos.)

All her life she just wants to be accepted and her compounded loss in high school really hurt her. As a result, she puts her sole focus on her business. There is no room for anything else, no romantic relationships. But Will somehow is starting to feel like her rock…

“And if you fall apart again, you’ll put yourself back together again because you’re strong. The only difference is from now on I’ll be there if you want me to, to hold your broken pieces.”(Transcribed from audiobook, please excuse typos.)

"I want to be there while you test each one and pick your favorites. I want to carry you around in my arms and then put you down and let you stand on your own two feet while you build something out loud that used to live inside your head. I want to stand on the sidelines and clap for you and then take you somewhere private and f*ck you. But mostly, Josie, I want to be a good person with you. Because you make me feel better about myself, just by being you."(Transcribed from audiobook, please excuse typos.)

I really like the characters, Josie, Will, Zoey, Camila, Derrick (please excuse typos in the names)… This is a warm fuzzy romance and something women with careers can relate to. Clare’s depiction of the struggles women face in the workplace is real regardless of the industry. I like that she shows a woman can be successful on her own. I am ambivalent about her needing a man but it is a romance after all.

As a woman, I was a bit disappointed by the ended. It was realistic. There is a HEA, some course correction, some image correction but I kinda wanted Josie to have it all, if you know what I mean.

Katharine Leonard did an excellent job narrating this audiobook. Her voice is clear. She uses different voices for each character. Will’s voice was sufficiently masculine to be believable.

Lastly, thank you Clare Gilmore and RBMedia for the ALC. My opinions are my own and provided freely.

TROPES/ THEMES: second chance, best friend’s brother, MMC taking care of sick MFC, supportive MMC, successful female CEO

Short synopsis: Josie needs a business consultant for her clothing company and ends up hiring her Ex-Best friends twin brother Will.

My thoughts: This was cutie of a rom-com. I think the initial meet cute was fun, luckily no one was seriously injured in the car/bike accident. Not going to lie, I binged this hard. As I read it in one day while my kids were at school.

Josie was such a work-a-holic, it’s no wonder she became so successful overnight. I liked watching her let go of herself and rely a bit more on others around her. Will was so sweet and caring, I loved how their communication was so open from the get-go, and they really were so willing to work hard for each other.

I listened to this book in one day. The narrator really helped captivate the personality of these characters and really drew me in to their stories. Very well done.

Read if you love:
- Workplace romance
- Best friends brother
- Second chance romance
- Girl boss/business owner
- Fashion industry

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore was really stinking cute!! It was kind of sort of second chance romance, which generally is not my favorite trope, but I did love it here! I loved the imposter syndrome rep- it sure felt a lot like looking in the mirror in a lot of ways. The relationship between Josie and Will was really sweet and I liked the way it grew over a reasonable amount of time. I didn’t find myself rolling my eyes at this one- I was just along for the ride and having a great time!
4.25⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book!! It had me hooked from page one! I couldn’t put this down. I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a first for me by this author but it will not be my last!!

2.5 Stars

Josie, our Heroine, is the CEO of beloved e-commerce clothing company Revenant and she has put her heart, soul, and entire personality into driving her business to success. This woman’s life is her business and very little else. But when her company engages a consultant for growing the business, who earns the job but Josie’s one time spring fling (and her ex-best friend's brother), Will Grant.

I did enjoy the set-up for this book, and I loved the meet-cute for Josie and Will. It’s right at the beginning of the book and really nails Josie’s personality down for the reader. But from pretty early on, I could tell that Will was not a Hero of my taste. He’s the kind of man Written By A Woman with no flaws, no personal needs, and somehow has a secret culinary school degree. Oh, he’ll also upend his whole life from a city he loves to be close to Josie.

For an easy-breezy Romance, I have no problem with that kind of Hero. But <i>Perfect Fit</i> is more of Womens’ Fiction with the focus on Josie’s personal growth than the Romance and I never understand what made Will tick other than make Josie happy. I also felt that this book went on a bit too long with the Revenant workplace drama that pulled me as a reader from the romance.

Lastly, since I listened to this via audio, I didn’t feel that the narrator distinguished between the characters enough with her voice-acting.

Thank you to Recorded Books Media and NetGalley for the audio-ARC.

Starts with a re-meet cute, ends with a HEA. I like the main character a lot, so much depth to our star Josie as well as her friends and love interest. Great narrator. FMC is the best version of a struggling entrepreneur who is truly a good person with major anxiety and imposter syndrome. MMC is an ACTUALLY GOOD GUY who SHOWS UP. Friend trauma is a trigger for me. Wow. This is a really good book. There are some complex things happening and lots of layers, realistic scenarios, and a beautiful story of how friendship is different at different stages of life.

4.5 stars
I’d heard good things about Claire Gilmore so decided to request her newest release. The audiobook was great! The story itself was a refreshing change from the usual contemporary romance formula. I kept bracing myself for miscommunication, drama & the third act breakup. Instead, our main characters liked each other & used their words to talk about obstacles. I loved it!
*thanks to net galley & RB for the advance copy

I went into this one without knowing that it was a second chance romance and what a pleasant surprise it was. I was very entertained by the story and felt like it just worked. I loved both of these characters, their friends, and their story so much. It was funny and cute while also being a story with depth. I loved it so much

This book/audio sounded so cute but it was not a "perfect fit " for me. The book read young in my opinion. The story just did not hold my attention either and there was too much info on the fashion business for me. Overall the the book was not what I thought it would be sadly. I give it 2.5 stars.

Josie never expected to be the CEO of her own company in her mid-twenties. When she started designing and selling clothes from her dorm room, she never imagined her life would end up here. She is determined to be perfect. A misunderstanding in high school ruined her reputation and she doesn't want to taint her company. So she runs things quietly and avoids being the face of the brand.
Her largest investor is trying to make her the best she can be- having her take classes and hire a consultant. The consultant ends up being Will Grant, the guy she kissed in high school and caused her whole world to fall apart. The attraction is still there, but can they get past their past?

For the most part, I really enjoyed this. I liked both Josie and Will as characters and their dynamics. Josie's issues did get tedious and annoying as the book went on. I wanted to scream for her to get over it. I also really, REALLY hate the ending. I almost knocked it down a star because of the very end, but I didn't feel that it was fair since I did enjoy it so much.

Katharine Leonard narrates the audiobook and does a good job. It works well as an audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading a book that blew me away (Promise me Sunshine by Cara Bastone) ,I knew that
it would be a tough act to follow and most books would dull in comparison . So perhaps If I read this at a different time - or just physically read it- I might have enjoyed Perfect Fit more .

The protagonist , Josie was relatable and multifaceted and I liked how the author touched on the hurdles faced by CEO’s who are women as well as burnout. Josie's friendship with her best friend was sweet and the main dude was caring but I just didn’t have any strong feelings toward this at all.

Audiobook Review

Thank you Recorded Books for the audiobook!

The narrator, Katherine Leonard, was new to me, and Perfect Fit appears to be her only audiobook title under this name. So naturally, I did a quick Google search and found out she’s an actress who was on the TV show Bones and other projects.

As for the narration itself, it was incredibly mediocre . It’s listenable , but there was no oomph or charisma, which, I think, contributed to my apathy towards Josie and Will, even though they had cute scenes. This isn’t a must-listen audiobook (in my opinion) because there was nothing particularly interesting or unique about her interpretation of the characters via audio.

Perfect Fit is a second chance romance following career driven Josie and her ex-best friend's brother. I enjoyed parts of this book, but I felt disconnected from the romance for some reason.

I received an ALC from RBmedia | Recorded Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much NetGalley & RBmedia | Recorded Books for allowing me access to this ALC in exchange of my honest opinion.
Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore has been released on Oct 29th, this is a contemporary romance. Josephine Davis, CEO of her own fashion brand, is forced to work with Will Grant, the twin brother of her estranged best friend. Despite their rocky past and differing personalities, they find themselves unable to ignore a growing attraction. With Josie’s demanding career and unresolved issues with Will’s sister, she’s torn between keeping her ambitious pace and opening up to love. At first I was really into this audiobook but the voice of the narrator was a bit too suave and flirty when it was not necessary which dragged me out of the book.
Read this one if you like slow burn and workplace romance! It was not for me but this book has some amazing reviews!

This was such a fantastic read! I went in thinking I was going to get a second chance romance I came out with a beautiful story about self love, the emotional toll of breaking up with a friend, how to be a good friend, setting social media boundaries, listening to your heart and a good look into owning a business as a woman.

This felt more women's fiction to me with a subplot of romance, and the writing was so vulnerable and beautiful. Another one of those books that will find you when you need it most that truly shows love from every friendship, co-workers, partners to parenting.

Well this book was simply the sweetest book ever! At first listening to the audio I didn’t think I would enjoy it. But it was more so the narrator than the content.

Let me start with Josie. I love a bad ass boss babe! She reminded me so much of myself and everything that I go through with my own business. Every year it’s a constant struggle.

But the real winner of this story is Will. Omg. The nicest most thoughtful human ever! My newest book boyfriend!! Can I have him? Ugh he melted my heart every step of the way.

Love that there is no 3rd act break up but come on. The cliffhanger lol?!

So cute. Def recommend. Thank you so much NetGalley and RB Medja for the audio book for an honest review!

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this book in exchange for my review.

Sadly, this wasn't the book for me. And I didn't feel like it was the book from the description. I know this is a new title, but it feels like a very outdated story somehow. I get that books like these contemporary romance are a bit unbelievable, but this was is really, really unbelievable, to the point it wasn't enjoyable. While I did finish the book, it was a trial to get to the end. The print book is about 350 pages and the audio is over 10 hours, so maybe it's just overly long and needs a huge edit.

Or, I'm the wrong age &/or audience. Someone much younger or interested in fashion might really love this one - and I hope they do. From ratings so far, it is a popular book with lots of 4 & 5 star ratings. But for me, this will be a 2 star, for 'it was ok'. I can't think of anyone I would directly suggest it to, but I might try the author again.