Love Interest

A Novel

By: Clare Gilmore

Narrated by: Hayden Bishop

Love Interest is Clare Gilmore's sparkling debut, a co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.

Casey Maitland has always preferred the reliability of numbers. Now a twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, she wonders if the open project manager position at her company—magazine powerhouse LC Publications—is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. That is, until she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son.

Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves him—except for Casey. But when the two are thrown on the same project, what they discover about their company might change everything—including the dreams each of them is chasing and their mutual love interest.

“Love Interest is Nora Ephron for Gen Z.”—ASHLEY WINSTEAD, author of The Boyfriend Candidate

©2023 Clare Gilmore. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"You might think that mentions of spreadsheets and the SEC can't be sexy but I'm here to tell you that you are very wrong! Clare Gilmore's Love Interest delivers such a flirty, fun workplace rivals-to-lovers story featuring all that and more. By the end, I was rooting for Casey and Alex to solve all their problems—in both work and love—and figure out that the missing variable in their lives was each other."–Alicia Thompson, author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

“I can’t gush enough about Love Interest, an enemies-to-lovers gem that has quickly taken its place among my favorite romances. Clare Gilmore has managed to write a love story that feels both utterly of the moment—laugh-out-loud funny and irreverently edgy—and like an instant classic, delivering the heart and depth that make some romances stand the test of time. And have I mentioned how sexy it is? Love Interest is Nora Ephron for Gen Z, complete with the swoony NYC setting. Prepare to add Gilmore to your auto-buy list.”–Ashley Winstead, author of The Boyfriend Candidate

"Clare Gilmore strikes the perfect balance between intense/angsty and lighthearted fun in her debut contemporary romance Love Interest. With sexy vibes, sharp dialogue, and astute observations of life and love in New York City, the author brings an authentic and seemingly effortless understanding of how early twenty-somethings navigate independence, work, and romance. This was an absolute delight to read."–Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen On Tv

Kept me wanting more!

I loved this book so much and I Cannot wait for the next release very soon!

Great!

Great plot and story and excellent narration. I enjoyed the mix of finance and romance.

Romance and corporate intrigue

Fantastic debit by Clare Gilmore - Casey and Alex are funny, quirky and surrounded by an entertaining cast of characters! The audio performance is pitch perfect across a range of voices.

Work Romance!

The book was a delight to read. If you really enjoy a work romance, this one is for you!

🩵 It was a cute workplace romance.🩵

✨Finance expert, Casey Maitland, had her sights set on a fresh start, hoping to secure a new position in her company. However, charming Alex Harrison swooped in and snatched it right from under her nose, unknowingly becoming her enemy.

✨I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Casey was the type of person who didn't care much for others' opinions. On the other hand, Alex aimed to please and win everyone over, creating a great balance between them.

✨Although the story had its charm, the pace felt a bit slower for my taste. Adapting to the single point of view, through Casey's eyes, was a challenge in establishing a connection with Alex. However, as the story unfolded, the friendship dynamics between the two protagonists grew on me, presenting a cute bond. I appreciated how the author respectfully portrayed Alex's ADHD, treating it with care.

🎧Narrated by Hayden Bishop, the audiobook's performance was great, seamlessly transitioning between characters. The male voice did take some getting used to.

🩵Overall, if you're a fan of workplace romances with a single point of view, this book might just be the perfect fit for you.

Wasn’t Invested

I really wanted to like this book, but it fell flat for me. I just didn’t care much about the characters or the plot. The female narrator’s male voice for the lead was cringy. The romance and relationship between the leads was cheesy at best, and completely lacking at worst. I finished the book only because I spent a credit on it.

Could Not Put It Down!

I could have lived without the unnecessary spice and all the cussing. but the heart of the story, FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!

This book is a millennial’s wet dream

I was so excited to read this, I mean just look at the cover, but I was so very disappointed. It was sweet, sure, but I couldn't get over the cringey humor. I wasn't invested in the plot whatsoever and kept zoning out and dozing off as I was reading it. I can definitely see why people like this book, but it just wasn't for me.

I'm not going to say anything else because it would just be rude and not helpful at all.

Thank you, NetGalley and Griffin for the advanced copy.