Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy hammock-sex Batman! Like Lovers Do was an absolutely fabulous friends-to-lovers, fake relationship romance with some sexy sexy times. (Re: Hammock. Sex!) It’s not very often you come across a friends-to-lovers romance that feel as genuine as Nic and Ben’s relationship does. You just feel it in your bones. Their love and affection for each other are so strong, long before either of them realizes they’re in love. They also have fun together! Which you would think would be a prerequisite for all friends-to-lovers but…that isn’t always the case.

Dr. Nic Allen knows exactly what she wants for her future: 1. Finish her orthopedic surgery residency 2. Complete her fellowship in sports medicine 3. Get hired by a professional sports team and make a shit ton of money (and help support her mom). You know what that absolutely does not include? Falling in love with one of her best friends while pretending to be his girlfriend for a friends’ trip to Martha’s Vineyard to dissuade his ex who’s decided she wants him back. Whew.

Ben doesn’t hate doctors…but he doesn’t NOT hate doctors either. After having grown up in the shadow of his parents’ medical careers, Ben knows exactly what he wants for his future too: 1. Help people thrive as an independent financial adviser 2. Get married and have a family 3. Definitely do not fall in love with his best friend who happens to be a career-focused doctor who has no plans to ever compromise when it comes to her career. There is a reason why Ben has never pursued Nic. Even if he didn’t value her friendship too much, she’s exactly the opposite of what he wants in a partner…at least, that what he always thought. But a week at the Vineyard can change a lot of things.

If you love friends-to-lovers and fake relationships, this is going to be your id. If you’re like ‘eh, they’re okay,’ read it anyway because it’s amaze-balls. (But also, who doesn’t love fake relationship??)

A quick note: Once again, In Like Lovers Do Tracey doesn’t shy away from the “casual” racism and discrimination Black people experience on a daily basis, whether in the form of snarky jokes or deliberately being made to feel other. There are repeated racist gibes from the “villain” (the aforementioned ex) of the story.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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