Like Lovers Do A Girls Trip Novel

Tracey Livesay — 2020

Tracey Livesay continues her fun-filled Girls Trip series with this romance that will tug at your heartstrings. Sometimes faking it can lead to the real thing... Driven and focused, Dr. Nicole Allen is an accomplished surgeon. With a tough past, Nic's gone above and beyond everyone's expectations. But when she disciplines an intern--a powerful donor's son--a prestigious fellowship she's awaiting is placed in jeopardy. Coming from a successful family who runs a medical business empire, Benjamin Reed Van Mont is the black sheep, having chosen to start his own business instead. Though he's not ready to settle down, he knows when the time comes it definitely won't be with a workaholic doctor like his friend Nic--even if she's had him re-examining his edict...more than once. When Ben's status-climbing ex-girlfriend finds her way back into his orbit, Nic proposes a swap of services. She'll spend the week with Ben on Martha's Vineyard, pretending to be his girlfriend--but only if he'll have his family intervene on her behalf so she won't lose her fellowship. How hard can the charade be? But as they're about to discover, they've sorely underestimated their true feelings for each other...

Reviews

celene@recluseperformer

Jan 23, 2023

2.7

b.andherbooks@bandherbooks

Oct 9, 2021

A simply masterful blend of friends-to-lovers + fake dating, I devoured LIKE LOVERS DO in one fell swoop, both breaking a terrible slump and making me smile so hard. I don't typically enjoy friends-to-lovers, it is a trope I personally struggle with, but this take made me a believer! I absolutely adored how Nicole is so driven and hyper-focused on her career, but also has her team of friends she always makes time for, and a mom who she both loves and adores, in her corner. She's a doctor, but she isn't wealthy (yet). She has to manage her budget and her time. Ben is a total babe and he's always been attracted to Nicole but absolutely has not acted on it since she one, is tenant/roommate and two, has become his best friend and hasn't ever give him the indication she might also be into him. Until she is. The way consent/power is handled in this story is both sexy and powerful, showing again Livesay's writing prowess. And oh, please take me to Martha's Vineyard for a vacation, and boot the awful Karen character out of the house please. She was awful, but it was a good see how Ben, a white man, is not immediately aware of the microaggressions his ex-fiancee is using to hurt Nicole (a Black woman), but believes her pain and figures out where the harm is coming from and confronts it head on. ALSO wow, the sexual tension and that hammock scene! Who knew! Livesay knew! Highly recommend. *I received an ARC from the publisher and also purchased a print copy from Fountain Bookstore. Dr. Nicole Allen Benjamin Reed Van Mont

Lacey@laceybooklovers

Aug 26, 2021

FRIENDS TO LOVERS. FAKE RELATIONSHIP. How could I not enjoy this!? Like Lovers Do was my first Tracey Livesay book but it definitely won’t be my last. Nic and Ben’s romance is steamy and full of chemistry. I admired Nic so much - she’s one of the few Black women working towards becoming an orthopedic surgeon. She’s prioritized work her whole life but it’s hard to resist falling in love with a guy like Ben, one of her closest friends. And it’s even harder when the two pretend to be in a loving relationship to save Nic’s career and get Ben’s ex off his back. If you love nice guy heroes, you don’t get any more sweet and wholesome than Ben. I also love this group of girl friends the series is centered around and can’t wait to read about the rest of them!