Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Love Interest

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore

5 reviews

vj_thompson's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Yep, this book wrecked me. The ending was when so many tears were shed. Casey as a character is SO relatable because I was in her shoes believing I wasn’t worthy or enough. Like I was placed in an inescapable box. It only takes an Alex or a Miriam or anyone to support you and show what you aren’t seeing. Now onto my request. Clare, please write Freddy’s story. I am OBSESSED with him. Thanks for writing an amazing, beautiful, and emotional book ❤️

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katiemack's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a solid workplace romance with a slow burn yet palpable chemistry between Casey and Alex. Clare Gilmore fully explores both of these characters and their positive attributes, faults, and traumas in a layered way that made me feel like I knew them well. There's some questionable communication issues--mostly ones triggered by the relationship between Alex and his father--but otherwise the story feels sweet and genuine.

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megs1328's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love Interest gave me all the 90s romcom vibes and I was here for it. When Alex gets the job Casey applied for internally at the publishing company she is a financial analyst for, she still has to work with him but hating him gets harder as she gets to know him better. Alex is not the outgoing nepo-baby he projects to the world, and while his father was on board, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes that Casey is trying to get to the bottom of to save the company and help launch this new brand with Alex. They really are perfect for each other and help fill all the insecurities and holes in each others lives. While there is a third act conflict, it fit right into the plot and resolved beautifully.

I kept putting this ARC off because it wasn’t fitting the autumn vibes I was going for, but I added it in as a fluffy romance between heavy fantasy and am so glad I did. I laughed, I swooned, I sad cried, I happy cried. I am blown away that this was a debut novel, it was perfectly written and flowed so well I didn’t want to put it down. I fully related to Casey enjoying her job but also feeling like she should be wanting more. The side characters were so rich and well-developed, I loved them all and want to see a Miriam-Brijesh story next.

All the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two peppers spicy🌶️🌶️

NYC Office Romance

Slow Burn

You’re my home

LGBTQ+ Rep

BIPOC Rep

Self-discovery

Hidden Secrets

Office politics

I immediately preordered the paperback of Love Interest because it deserves a spot on my shelf. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing this eARC for my honest opinion.

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bookedinsideout's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The writing was great and I really liked how well-rounded the side characters were with their own stories, but this didn’t feel like the typical romance to me — which isn’t a good or bad thing, just a little different than I was expecting.

I think there are people who will love that change of pace and I did appreciate that romantic love wasn’t the be-all-end-all for Casey, that she was invested in her job and in following her dreams to live in another continent, but for me it also had a bit too much personal angst for something marketed as a rom com.

The secret she felt she had to keep from Alex; starting a relationship with an end date; leaving her friends, her home, moving even further away from her family who she seems close with but also hadn’t seen in 2 years to move to London (which seemed to be great for her, just stressful/sad for me!).

There were some great “twists” (not hairpin curves, just things that make you realize things aren’t always what they seem), lines and call-backs, and the relationship between Casey and Alex was really warm and lovely. I think it just comes down to feeling a bit anxious throughout the whole book because it felt like—even knowing that there had to be a HEA—something bad was coming/she was keeping something from someone she was developing an emotional connection with, which makes it kind of hard to develop intimacy. (It all turned out okay of course, but I usually like a bit more stability.)

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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katrinaward's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

This book was so good—the characters were completely endearing and it was so well-written it’s hard to believe it’s a debut. The story focuses on a young woman who’s going up for a different job at her company to try and be more adventurous. We (very quickly) learn that she didn’t get the job, and she clashes with the person who did over a number of things. Along the way their fighting turns to banter, and he’s clearly in love with her from the start. Her friend group is well fleshed-out (I’m very excited for the next book that has to follow two of them) and supportive, and all their relationships are realistic and soft. Highly recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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