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…

This romance was solid. But not my favorite Livesay book. I didn't feel the connection between the two characters as much as I should for two long time friends

I love the Girls Trip Series by Tracey Livesay! And Like Lovers Do did not disappoint! The romance between Nicole and Benjamin was perfect. I look forward to more from this author!

Really liked the characters and the story. Well written and a great overall read, especially if you like the friends to lovers and fake relationship tropes.

Holy hammock hotness. This book was great. Loved being back with the four BFFs and see what's changed since the first book. Nic is finishing up her internship and after a run in with a douche canoe, ends up with some time off. Enter fake dating with her best friend/landlord/roommate that leads to one of the hottest sex scenes I've had the pleasure (no pun intended) of reading in quite some time. I loved Nic so much. She wasn't afraid to be herself and her love for her friends and family is beautiful. Cannot wait to read more of the series.

This was a quick, fun read. I thought the author handled the romance from friends to lovers really well and who doesn’t love a fake relationship? I especially loved seeing a strong, successful heroine with a close knit group of supportive friends. I also really liked the first book in the series and can’t wait to see what this author does next.

This book was so real -- the characters, the situations, everything about it. I loved how strong Nic was, not willing to compromise her dream for her future. And Ben is such a lovely cinnamon roll! And hammock sex! Can't wait for the next book in the series.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

I was nervous going into LIKE LOVERS DO by Tracey Livesay. Friends to lovers is a hard trope to pull off in a romance novel. Readers want to see the chemistry between the characters, and I’ve found some friends to lovers books lack that spark. Well, let me assure you, Dr. Nicole Allen and Benjamin Reed Van Mont have chemistry in SPADES. Whew, I am sweating just thinking about all the fire between Nicole and Ben. Thank you for that, Ms. Livesay!

In addition to friends to lovers, this book explores fake dating and forced proximity. YES. Give me all the tropes. Nicole, and extremely driven and gifted doctor, is about to start her orthopedics fellowship when a mishap at work puts her career in jeopardy. Her best friend and landlord, Ben, agrees to talk to his influential doctor parents for her, and in exchange, she offers to be his plus one for a trip to Martha’s Vineyard, where his annoying ex is planning on ambushing him.

I love that Livesay doesn’t shy away from serious topics in her romance novels. Wealth disparity, privilege, race, and many other weighty issues are woven throughout a beautifully crafted romance. Ben was such a dream boyfriend. He’s kind, thoughtful, and driven and loves Nicole to pieces by the end of the book. Nicole was just as wonderful, if a bit prickly, but I loved that she was willing to stand up for herself – always. She is such an inspirational character! I thought the conflict between them, and why they friend-zoned each other, felt realistic and thoughtfully resolved by the end of the book.

The book did start a little slow, it took me a little while to warm up to Nicole and understand Ben’s depths, but it was worth the wait! I also got a bit uncomfortable with all the other woman drama, but even that wasn’t enough to impact my enjoyment too much.

Overall, I am a big fan of this series! Livesay has a great series base with these strong and independent friends who prioritize their unique careers and life and each other. Plus, her love scenes are SO HOT. Whew. I’m sweating. Hammock sex, anyone??

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

My DIK review of this book was posted at All About Romance on August 28, 2020. Here is the link:
https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/like-lovers-do-by-tracey-livesay/

I also posted this review to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3519979490?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This is the second book in the Girls Trip series but I thought it worked well as a stand-alone.

Dr Nicole Allen is a hard-working orthopedic surgeon, her friend (and housemate) Benjamin Reed Van Mont runs his own financial management business. They agree on a trade of sorts. Nic will pretend to be Ben’s girlfriend for a week on Martha’s Vineyard to ward off his ex-girlfriend, and in return he’ll help make sure she doesn’t lose a fellowship that hangs in the balance.

Ben’s parents are work-a-holic doctors and after a lifetime of pressure from them he’s determined never to end up with a doctor himself. In fact, he wants a really sweet woman to call his own. Ambitious, tell-it-like-it-is Nic is not often called ‘sweet’—so clearly there’s no danger.

They’re friends, how hard can it be to pretend for a week? Apparently really hard….like, really h.a.r.d. if you get my drift. ;) Sorry, I couldn’t help myself, these characters have some serious chemistry, and this book is steamy in all the best ways! But they’re also smart, sweet, vulnerable, and real. I loved the amazing banter in this book, Nic’s girlfriends, and the emphasis on friendship and communication. It was wonderful to watch the ways in which both Nic and Ben grew during the book and discovered more about themselves as well as each other.

Basically, these two characters made me cheer them on for the happy ending they both so obviously deserved, and is there anything better than a good friends-to-lovers combined with fake dating story?! I was 100% here for it! Plus…Martha’s Vineyard y’all. I’ve only been there twice, but I love the place and enjoyed living vicariously through these two.

This was my first Tracey Livesay book and I will definitely be reading more. Lucky for me she has quite the impressive backlist of books!

This was my first time reading a book from this author and it won’t be my last. There’s so much to love: Nic and Ben’s friendship, Nic’s friendships, her relationship with her mother, and a strong female character with confidence. Such a cozy, comforting read! I’m eager to read more.

Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay is the first book I have read by this author, but it will not be the last (have actually already purchased the first in this series). The main characters are strong and the story is realistic. There were several times I just laughed out loud and then shook my head. This was a fun read and I look forward to more by this author. I love romance books, especially when they have a good strong story like this one.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book to give an honest opinion.

5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

Like Lovers Do has everything I want in a fake dating romance. A dirty talking strong-willed main male character and an independent goal-driven female character. Nicole and Ben have been living together as friends, but when one of them has too much to drink, pictures are shared, and feelings are revealed. Right around the same time, one of them needs a buffer during a vacation trip, and our fake dating situation is born. Some social issues arise, and I enjoyed how Tracey Livesay handles the discussion between all of the characters involved. I cannot wait to read the first book of this series as well as future books.

Video review available in Week 43: Oct 18 – Oct 24 weekly book reviews and the Week of Netgalley Vlog, Episode 6 (coming soon).

For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

I really love Tracey's writing. This book had the tropes that I love fake dating and friends to lovers.

I did an IGTV with the author to promote this book.

This is the first book of Tracy Livesay's Girls Trip series that I have read and I will definitely go back and read the first one. It worked well as a stand-alone but there were characters and events referred to throughout that I could tell were call-back to an earlier book. I really enjoyed this! It was fun and sexy and had unique and interesting characters. I was really rooting for Ben and Nic from the very beginning and that is absolutely necessary for me in a contemporary romance. This is a friends-to-lovers romance story and it is really well written and believable. If you've read and enjoyed the first book in this series then you should definitely pick this one up. If you are looking for a new contemporary romance series to dive into I think this one has great potential. The first book Sweet Talkin' Lover is next up on my TBR because I enjoyed this one so much.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This as my first book from this author. I absolutely adored this book! Great character growth from beginning to end. It was cute and held my attention all the way through. Tracey Livesay has a brand new reader.

4.5 Stars

How does Tracey make me love a trope I'm not a huge fan of? I love how this Girls Trip series is delivering on a strong friend group finding love, supporting each other through it all and growing closer.

I really loved Nic and Ben's story so much. I laughed i got teary eyed. It really was a total blast.

Honestly if you haven't checked these out yet I can't recommend them enough.

This is my first book by this author. The blurb and the cover caught my eye. What a beautiful, romantic
beach scene. I love a friends to lovers story. There's a great set up. I really could feel Nic and Ben as close friends. Nic (Nicole) is renting the garden apartment from Ben, while Nic finishes up her Orthopedic Surgery residency at Johns Hopkins. In a few weeks, Nic will be moving to North Carolina for a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Duke University. Nic is a Chief Resident. She works long hours at the hospital. In her down time, she spends a lot of time with Ben. Nic doesn't go out except with her friends, Ava, Lacey and Caila.
I loved how close and supportive the girlfriends are to each other. They are all successful and know each other's strengths. They know who to call on in a time of need.
Ben is from a very wealthy family. both parents are very successful physicians. Ben has some resentment from his childhood- being left with the household staff while they were working.
Ben vowed never to get involved with a Dr, due to the long hours. Ben feels comfortable with Nic. They've been friends/house mates for the last 3 years.
Nic reprimands a young intern for not following triage guidelines. The intern has influential parents who threaten to go to Nic's bos and to the Duke Med Ctr Fellowship program. Nic is devastated. She's work
. She's worked so hard! Nic cannot let her Fellowship get rescinded.
She mentions this to Ben. He has a solution. Come with him on a trip to Martha's Vineyard where his friend are having a going away get together. Ben's ex will be there. Ben needs a shield to keep his ex away.
Ben's friends are great, but his ex Tinsley will not take NO for an answer-even with Nic and Ben acting as a couple. I could not figure out why any of them were friends with her. Tinsley's ex, really does constantly insult NIc and almost begs Ben to take her back. (Tinsley broke up with him 5 years before)
Ben and Nic start to acknowledge romantic feelings for each other.while on the island.
I was thinking of some songs that would fit in a sound track for this book.
#1 is "Everything Has Changed" by Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1oM3kQpXRo&ab_channel=TaylorSwiftVEVO

#2 is "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette (especially toward the end)
Once Nic and Ben get back from their beach trip, they have to face their feelings for each other. Ben
is more open than Nic. I do love the supporting characters- including her 3 girlfriends and Nic's mother.
Nic is very close to her mother who raised her alone while working 2 jobs.
The ending was a little abrupt & there was no epilogue. I want to read the next book. I hope that it's Ava, she's the fiesty one.

Friends to lovers is one of my FAVORITE tropes and I think I don’t read enough of it. Livesays’ book has strong themes of female friendship, which I want more of in all romance novels. Nicole and Ben are good friends and then she agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend for a weekend trip. It’s too complicated to explain but if you like fake relationships and “there’s just one bed” so ahead and pick this up if you haven't already.

At the core of the love story is a man who sees a woman for who she is and isn’t interested in changing her, he just wants to be by her side and compliment her as she compliments him.

This is part of a series but can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

I really enjoyed it. And Tracey’s note at the end brought me to tears.