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lololovesthings's review
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
4.25 stars!
I thoroughly enjoyed "Love Interest," which is Clare Gilmore's debut book. This is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance with a hefty side of corporate goings-on. I will admit that it was a little difficult to get into this book, but as soon as the initial elevator scene happened, I was all in on the main characters Casey and Alex. I don't think I've read a book like this, mainly because of Casey's penchant for finance. I just adored her, and I saw a lot of myself in her character. I also loved Alex, whose tragic backstory slowly unfolds to paint a picture I didn't expect at the start of the book. There is fantastic character development for both her and Alex, and even better development where their love story is concerned. The pining, the longing, the adoration from afar, the unease, the unsureness... I was bewitched by their coupling. They have spectacular banter, great inside jokes, and enough sizzling will-they-won't-they to last me through the season. I also appreciated all of the secondary characters. I loved learning about Casey's parents, her coworkers, and her long-time friends. Unfortunately, I feel like this book ends much too quickly. I enjoyed the ending, but it felt like it wrapped up way too fast compared to the rest of the book. Still, I will be thinking about Tide Free and Gentle for a long, long time to come. Read this book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Gilmore, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Love Interest," which is Clare Gilmore's debut book. This is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance with a hefty side of corporate goings-on. I will admit that it was a little difficult to get into this book, but as soon as the initial elevator scene happened, I was all in on the main characters Casey and Alex. I don't think I've read a book like this, mainly because of Casey's penchant for finance. I just adored her, and I saw a lot of myself in her character. I also loved Alex, whose tragic backstory slowly unfolds to paint a picture I didn't expect at the start of the book. There is fantastic character development for both her and Alex, and even better development where their love story is concerned. The pining, the longing, the adoration from afar, the unease, the unsureness... I was bewitched by their coupling. They have spectacular banter, great inside jokes, and enough sizzling will-they-won't-they to last me through the season. I also appreciated all of the secondary characters. I loved learning about Casey's parents, her coworkers, and her long-time friends. Unfortunately, I feel like this book ends much too quickly. I enjoyed the ending, but it felt like it wrapped up way too fast compared to the rest of the book. Still, I will be thinking about Tide Free and Gentle for a long, long time to come. Read this book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Gilmore, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
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 ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, Abandonment, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness
elfit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This, as they say these days, just hit right in the feels. It was cozy, warm, and very squishy in that comforting sense of wanting to decide for yourself but also not wanting to leave anyone behind.
I connected very strongly to the emotions and the feelings Casey was going through, the first person perspective worked really well in the story, getting into Casey head and reading as she worked through her conflicts and struggles made her joy and happiness that much sweeter. Her engagement with Alex, the banter that started with annoyance and animosity and bloomed into flirtation and comradery was just the right amount of silly and gooey.
I teared up at the introspection, sighed in contentment with the declarations, and enjoyed Casey's thought process as she romanticized and struggled through her days. It also renewed an urge to travel.
I enjoyed this debut book, and look forward to more from Clare Gilmore
I connected very strongly to the emotions and the feelings Casey was going through, the first person perspective worked really well in the story, getting into Casey head and reading as she worked through her conflicts and struggles made her joy and happiness that much sweeter. Her engagement with Alex, the banter that started with annoyance and animosity and bloomed into flirtation and comradery was just the right amount of silly and gooey.
I teared up at the introspection, sighed in contentment with the declarations, and enjoyed Casey's thought process as she romanticized and struggled through her days. It also renewed an urge to travel.
I enjoyed this debut book, and look forward to more from Clare Gilmore
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
katiemack's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Abandonment
hanlov's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Thank you to Goodreads, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for allowing me to win this ARC via a Goodreads giveaway!!
—
YALL. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. As a workplace romance stan, a corporate analyst girly, and a sucker for good banter and business jokes, I am obsessed with Love Interest and Clare Gilmore!!! I saw so much of myself in our FMC Casey and MMC Alex is such a dream. Casey gets passed over for a new job in favor of the board chairman’s son, Alex, (ew nepotism we hate him!!), but when they have to start working on the same project together, she starts to wonder if she judged him too harshly. They are both desperate to succeed and prove they have what it takes for what comes next and to leave their legacy. The relationships and drama are so exciting as you watch the two of them fall for one another and figure each other out. The banter and friendships in this book are so real and sweet and heartwarming, this has me giggling, crying, and kicking my feet the whole time.
Bonus points for my university getting mentioned not once, but TWICE (war eagle) and the author also being my degree twin (supply chain management x english!). I adore Casey as a character and how seen she made me feel as a girl who loves analytics and wants to make an impact on those around her, but is always stuck in her head.
Love Interest is out October 10 and you literally need to grab it immediately!!! I cannot wait to see what Clare writes next, and if you loved books like The Hating Game, The Spanish Love Deception, or love Emily Henry, you will love this!
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent
megs1328's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Toxic relationship and Infidelity
rachelshubin's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I didn’t expect to love this book. I didn’t expect to give it five stars. I didn’t expect to leave for dinner plans with only 20% of the book left and not be able to stop thinking about how it was going to end.
This book is about a dozen Taylor Swift songs in one but if I had to pick three, I’d pick: Sweet Nothings, Death by A Thousand Cuts & New Years Day.
While I didn’t totally connect with the story or characters at first, I became really enamored and invested in it about 30% and then I could NOT PUT IT DOWN. Alex was just so soft baby boy who wants love and Casey was so I put walls up because nothing lasts. And I just loved them and everything they were when together.
NYC was the perfect backdrop to the story and it was a very visual book. I loved all the months we passed through for the book, it was such a fall/winter book.
Truly impressed by Gilmore’s debut novel and cannot wait to read more by her! I smiled and laughed out loud while reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is about a dozen Taylor Swift songs in one but if I had to pick three, I’d pick: Sweet Nothings, Death by A Thousand Cuts & New Years Day.
While I didn’t totally connect with the story or characters at first, I became really enamored and invested in it about 30% and then I could NOT PUT IT DOWN. Alex was just so soft baby boy who wants love and Casey was so I put walls up because nothing lasts. And I just loved them and everything they were when together.
NYC was the perfect backdrop to the story and it was a very visual book. I loved all the months we passed through for the book, it was such a fall/winter book.
Truly impressed by Gilmore’s debut novel and cannot wait to read more by her! I smiled and laughed out loud while reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent
bookedinsideout's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
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