"'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.

4.5 stars!

Clare Gilmore has quickly become a new favorite author of mine! Thank you to St. Martin's Press / St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of this book! These are my honest thoughts.

Clare Gilmore writes female leads that have so much heart. Casey is a finance nerd who wants more from her life, but is passed over for a promotion because of what she assumes is nepotism. Alex Harrison joins the staff instead, in a company where his father is on the board. At first, Casey SERIOUSLY dislikes him. She hates that he got the opportunity she wanted. But, they have chemistry. Everyone can see it. And they're asked to film a little youtube segment for one of their company's channels, and they can't deny their chemistry when they're forced to spend time together.

Things I really loved about this story:
- Casey's found family/friend group
- Alex's ability to be super friendly with lots of people, but close with few (i.e. Casey)
- Casey's love of taking care of things - plants, people, problems
- The raw honesty and vulnerability between our two main characters
- The relationship growth throughout the story, from work enemies (at least according to Casey) to friendly colleagues to friends to more.
- The workplace drama was... real. It caused a moral dilemma for Casey. It made her question her actions and her loyalties. It made her work HARD for what she thought was right. I really enjoyed that!
- The romance was so special. This relationship blossomed that was just, quietly magical.

4.5 stars... and need to note that the audio was amazing as well, so if you like to listen to books, this is a good one! :)

*Love Interest* by Clare Gilmore is a playful and heartwarming romantic comedy that explores themes of love, identity, and self-discovery. The story follows a young woman, Alex, who finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance while grappling with her personal insecurities and desire for acceptance. Gilmore’s writing is witty and accessible, with a great balance of humor and heartfelt moments. The chemistry between Alex and her love interest is sweet, and the story highlights the importance of finding love in unexpected places, including within oneself. While the plot is light and occasionally predictable, *Love Interest* offers an enjoyable, feel-good read.

"Love Interest" by Claire Gilmore is a cutesy, workplace romance.

Casey is a hard-working woman gunning for a promotion at work before the position is given to Alex, in a display of nepotism. Cue the enemies-to-lovers storyline.

This was a quick read and interesting for a debut romance. I am excited to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's for gifting me this ARC.

4 stars! ⭐️

I was really impressed with Clare Gilmore’s debut novel, Love Interest. Casey and Alex were both such charming and well-developed characters, and their dynamic was so sweet —their banter had me kicking my feet.

This is a must-read if you enjoy:
- Workplace romance
- Rivals-to-lovers tropes
- He falls first
- Only one bed

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

As this novel begins, Casey is a 24 year old working in finance at a magazine publisher, and is called in to HR only to find out she didn’t get the new position she had applied for, and instead it went to the cute guy she met in the elevator on the way there, and boy is she mad. But of course their workplace adversarial relationship starts to turn into something more.

It’s not quite an enemies to lovers stories because they’re not really enemies for long, but a very cute story. Also a great cast of supporting characters of their friends, coworkers, and family, and good stuff about both Casey and Alex also trying to figure out who they are and what they want out of life and relationship. At the start I had a moment of thinking I am getting too old for books about young 20somethings, but the book soon won me over and was just the kind of light and diverting read I needed this week.

I was really looking forward to this because I enjoy the enemies to lovers trope. This was really fun!!

First of all, it was hard to believe that this was Clare Gilmore’s debut novel. It came across like a novel from a seasoned author, truly. I thoroughly enjoyed Love Interest. It had so many elements that I adore in a romance novel, and as I mentioned, the writing was spot on.

Casey Maitland was such a good character. I loved her brilliant, number-loving mind. She was quirky, enjoyed time to herself, and was quietly confident. It was pretty difficult not to like her. When she applies for a new job within the company and loses out to the board chairman’s son, well, you know that there is bound to be a few hard feelings there.

How can you hold too much against Alex Harrison, though? Sure, he got the job that Casey wanted, but he is so friendly and charming. From their initial introduction to all of their interactions, they were absolutely golden. Their banter and chemistry were fabulous.

What I really liked about this novel was that the characters were well developed. They each had a story, they had their own issues, and I felt as though I got to know them. There was more to the novel than the romance, but I’m not going to lie, I was all in for the romance, too!

From the story itself to the great cast of characters, Love Interest was a wonderful read. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more novels by Clare Gilmore in the future.

*5 Stars

The relationship development was way too fast in this one, I didn't feel that it was believable and the fact that the characters lacked chemistry didn't help. I also found it difficult to connect to the characters as individuals; they felt very one dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was able to read this book in an entire day - it is an easy read but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It is an enemies-to-lovers office-based romance with a HEA/HFN that is cute but still has its serious moments. It is Clare Gilmore's debut book, and it was a great foot to start on. I will probably read this again soon!

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore is a charming and modern romance that brings together career ambition and unexpected love. The novel centers on a high-powered woman in the corporate world, navigating workplace pressures while finding herself drawn to an equally ambitious colleague. Gilmore crafts a story that balances the thrill of professional success with the vulnerability of opening up to new relationships, creating a dynamic where both love and career are central to the characters’ journeys.

What makes Love Interest particularly engaging is its sharp, witty dialogue and well-drawn characters. The romance feels fresh and genuine, with chemistry that builds slowly and believably. Gilmore skillfully explores the challenges of balancing love with personal ambition, making this novel not just a delightful romance, but a thoughtful look at the complexities of modern relationships. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a mix of workplace dynamics and heartfelt emotion, Love Interest is both fun and satisfying.

A beautifully written romance that captures the magic of falling in love. The main characters have great chemistry, and their witty banter keeps the story light and fun. The plot is engaging, with just the right mix of drama and humor. This book is a warm hug for the heart—perfect for a cozy afternoon read!

Love Interest is a heartwarming workplace romance that will have you falling in love with these realistic characters.

Twenty-four year old Casey Maitland is still trying to figure out who she is. Raised by artistic parents, Casey has always felt like an outsider with her love of finance and numbers. When a new job opens up at her company, she knows it's the perfect opportunity to branch out in her career. Things don't go as planned though when the company gives the job to the board chairman's son, Alex Harrison. Casey is determined to hate Alex but the more time they spend together, the harder it is for Casey to hate him.

I really enjoyed this book! I don't know why it took me so long to pick this book up but I wish I would've read it earlier! Casey was such a realistic character. I really related with her with a lot of what she was going through. Your twenties are difficult years and I think this book did a great job depicting the inner conflict so many go through. I absolutely loved Alex. Even with all of his daddy issues, he was the perfect book boyfriend. He was so supportive of Casey and just wanted her to see herself how he did. Some of his stories about his childhood were so heartbreaking I just wanted to hug him.

I liked the side characters a lot! I would love a book with Miriam and Brijesh. Overall, I thought this book was great! If you're looking for a workplace romance with some of the most relatable characters definitely pick this up! This book was so well written I found myself forgetting it was Clare Gilmore's debut novel.

Love Interest is a debut that I liked and would read more of by the author but didn't fully love. I found the workplace, enemies to friends to lovers trope to be convincing however; I wanted more conflict. The miscommunication bothered me, especially because Casey was somewhat lying to Alex about what was happening with the company. There were parts I loved, especially the overall diverse representation, and definitely would read something else from the author soon.

Very cute book! Fun characters and story. Some fun tropes too!

Thank you NetGalley and Clare Gilmore!

This was ok. I enjoyed the story but the turn from enemy to lover felt pretty quick without a lot of cause. It was an enjoyable read but not memorable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Okay okay okay I ate this up! This was SO fun! The writing is fantastic.
Enemies to lovers
Office Romance

I wouldn’t call this a romcom but I did laugh a few times.
Highly recommend!!!

Thank you for the advance copy, St Martins Press.

I tried on multiple occasions to dive into this book but I just cannot get into it. Unfortunately it is a DNF for me.

I DNFed this book at 32%.

There was nothing wrong with the book, so much as it was very much so not written for most anyone outside of Gen Z.

There were cultural references which are very much only for the now, the character and writing were great, it was just not written for the millennial generation so it was missing for me.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore is a cute rom com set in New York city. The relationship between Casey and Alex was perfection. I loved their characters and how their relationship happened. This is definitely a fun read and keeps the reader wanting more. I look forward to more from this author.