I was so in love with this cover and the entire book concept but I just didn't like it at all. Based on the illustrated happy cover, I thought it would be cute and light but it was more Debbie Downer and total rudeness by the main character. Lauren was just awful and I couldn't stand her. She was just too mean for no reason. Like she's angry at him and then suddenly they have instant chemistry? I don't think so. There was no real basis for her to hate him. Like, at all. The other characters in the book were okay but someone forgot to tell the 2 main characters that this was a romance. Again, the disagreements were so pointless and weird.

Like Cats and Dogs
Rating: 2 stars (1.5)
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Like Cats and Dogs has one of the cutest covers, but sadly that is about one of things that I liked about it. I had high hopes going in because I liked that it was going to be an enemy to lovers trope. Sadly, very early on in the book I disliked Lauren. I'm sorry but I didn't like her attitude. It seemed a little too immature and the whole thing about telling Caleb how to treat the cat got on my nerves. I did like when he told her that he had gone to 5 years of vet school and 5 years of practice, yet she still felt offended by his attitude. They then avoid each other, though they feel attracted to each other, until she needs his help carrying some cat food from his clinic to her cafe. Again the attitude...therefore I just had to stop reading. I just don't think I can get to like her when she annoyed me very early on in the story.

Sadly the romance in this story fell flat for me. There wasn't a good connection and the characters alone were enjoyable but their passion was lacking. Thank you for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to love this book so much. I'd been looking forward to reading it because pets AND romantic-comedy? Yes, please. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. The characters felt flat and most of the time downright annoying. I considered not finishing this right when Lauren, owner of the cat café, gets angry at Caleb, the actual VET, because she thinks she knows better than he does. Right. That's so ridiculous. There is also zero chemistry between the two. Lauren calling him names and saying he's awful because he does his job right?? I'm sorry but that makes no sense.
There is so much repetition in this novel; in many ways this reads like a first draft rather than the finished product. There's potential in the story and the characters but it never quite gets through. I don't know how often I read "but this was not the relationship" they had. Come on!!! Rom-coms should be frustrating but not in THAT way. That brings me to the language of the book. Definitely not my style. It's one thing to have the characters say things like "sort of", "kinda" and "like" all the time - it shouldn't be in the narration.
All that aside, the relationship just doesn't work for me. They meet, they have a ridiculous fight and then they're having sex and it's just lacking EVERYTHING. I couldn't connect with the characters, the love story or really anything. The best thing were the animals, but they were not enough to make me like the book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, NetGalley and Edelweiss for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was unfortunately a DNF at 33%. With a cute premise and cover I just could not get into it. It wasn't really enemies to lovers more like antagonize each other for no reason. I wasn't really sure why they were fighting. It wasn't banter and then all of a sudden they were attracted to each other and having sex. While I'm fine with insta attraction and even hate sex, I found a lot of the dialogue awkward and just could not get into the steam.

This one was a lot of tell vs. show. A light read, it was just not the book for me.

I had a love-hate experience while reading this. I love dogs. I like cats. I enjoy most animals. I was also aware that this has an enemies-to-lovers happening between the MCs. So, naturally, it felt like a book that would speak to me directly. Sadly, it could not. It tried very hard and I would give one star for just trying but it failed short of my expectations.

But having said that, I do not hate this book or anything. I think the idea of having 'enemies-with-benefits' kinda scene was new considering how quickly these two got on with the -let's get all over each other phase. The characters were fun and witty but also quite immature and dumb.

The best thing about the book were the animals! So many of them here and there! Bring it on!!

I think this book had a lot of potentials but it wasn't well written nor well edited!

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I was first intrigued by this book because it had pet lovers and a promising steamy, enemies to lovers romance and as I’m a cat mom myself, I really enjoyed all the scenes involving Lauren and her cats.

The angsty enemies to lovers, “casual dating turned serious relationship” romance between Lauren, cat cafe owner, and Caleb the new vet next door was such a delight to read! I loved the constant frustration and heartbreak I felt seeing their relationship progress. It’s like watching a car crash happen in slow motion for most of the book 🙈 It’s not secret just how opposite they were with Lauren being a dreamer and a dedicated cat person and Caleb the realist and strictly a dogs-only kind of person so it’s not surprise that their arguments and constant disagreements led to some very fiery, passionate sex 🙈 I thoroughly enjoyed reading the smut! It was steamier than I expected which was a welcome surprise 😌 The closet sex had to be my favorite 🤪

🚨 MINOR SPOILERS 🚨

Though my only issue would be how predictable it was knowing how casual relationships kept secret always end up and in how it had the typical storyline of wherein the girl ends the relationship because she wanted more and the guy didn’t then the guys realizes his mistake so he makes up for it with a grand romantic gesture but I was too invested with Lauren and Caleb’s chemistry that it didn’t bother me as much. Though towards the end, the conflict felt fleeting so the way they resolve things didn’t feel as satisfying but more of insta-lovey. The writing felt cheesy at times as well.

Also, the side plot involving the real estate and those developers trying to buy out the building and prove whatever laws the cat cafe may be violating annoyed me to no end and made me tear up at one point bc I felt the frustration of just wanting a safe place for the cats but all in all, it felt unnecessary.

🚨 END OF MINOR SPOILERS 🚨

Moreover, I loved the side characters so much especially Lauren’s friends, Diane and Caleb’s co-workers. Do the animals count as side characters? Because I very much loved them as well! Hank, Sunday, Sadie, Molly and Giant were sosososo adorable 😭

Overall, this book had my heart! It perfectly captured the heartwarming feeling of living with pets and dedicating a life in caring for them as well as the harsh reality of dating and relationships! A must read for pet lovers and romance enthusiasts alike if you like a light, fast-paced read!

A steamy romance with a divorcee vet who works next to the cat café. He thinks it's silly but the owner is cute. They fight, they argue, and then they are kissing. A classic enemies to lovers romance. We have Lauren and Caleb. Honestly I think many people will like this. I did have some issues. First the term foxy was used so much that it did not feel ironic in a funny way. Do people say foxy in everyday conversation? The relationship between Caleb and Lauren did not make sense to me really. It was first hey they are hot I wanna bang them. Next when Caleb the VET told her what was wrong with a cat, she was upset for some reason? They instantly hate each other. Next they hate each other but lets sleep together. It just did not have that sexy hate but really love. It was way too hot then cold. I did not like Lauren after she kept thinking she knew better than the, you know, certified VET!!! They had this enemies with benefits and Lauren was okay with that then suddenly she wasn't , but she still stuck around, then she wasn't okay again. It just did not make sense. The flow was not there for me. I just wanted that tension more than they are are fighting, like actually fighting then having sex in a closet. Lastly the people around the couple. Nosy as all get out and not in a cute way to me. When Lauren's friend was saying how she can't be happy without someone felt ridiculous. What was Lauren so upset an ex was getting married? Caleb's ex was upset because he was upset about the divorce. I just felt some things did not work. I think many people will like it for a light fun read, those little details may not matter so if that's for you then of course grab it!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Like Cats and Dogs caught my attention because of the cute cover and premise. But while it had the right idea, the romance wasn’t well executed.

I really loved the general animal loving vibe. One of the major settings is a cat cafe, something I’ve only heard about in other places around the world, and I really liked that vibe. And the fact that Lauren and the others who work there are dedicated to saving abandoned kittens is really sweet, and in a different type of story, I’d probably have been able to appreciate it all more. As this is the first in a series about the cafe, I’m not against continuing if the other books are more interesting.

But ultimately, the relationship between Lauren and Caleb ruined the reading experience for me. They both like animals, and I appreciate Caleb’s attempts to be open-minded to cats…even if he does overstep in trying to educate Lauren about cat care. But it was like they argued, but then they had sexual tension. If you don’t even like each other, but you’re willing to have sex with them, how can I believe you at the end when you say, “it wasn’t just about sex?”

Judging by some other early reviews, I’m glad to see I’m not alone in disliking this book. It might appeal to someone who loves enemies-to-lovers more, as there are some for whom this has worked.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for letting me read an eARC of Like Cats and Dogs early! As a dog person (I'm ridiculously allergic to cats- my throat starts closing up if I'm around them for too long), I was immediately drawn to the dog side of the cover, but the idea of a cat cafe has always been interesting and I love when kitten videos pop up on Instagram, so I was super excited about reading this one and while it wasn't my favorite book, it was definitely ok!

Like Cats and Dogs 3/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Can you fight like cats and dogs, and still be perfect for each other?
Things are getting ruff in this Brooklyn neighborhood when new veterinarian Caleb Fitch moves in next door to the Whitman Street Cat Cafe and gets on the wrong side of cafe owner Lauren Harlow. Lauren has a few things to teach the new vet on the block, and rescuing kittens is only the start...
Lauren can't ignore the fact that she is instantly attracted to Caleb, but he gets her even more riled up when he argues with her about how best to treat the cats in her care. Determined to smooth things over, Caleb comes to the rescue when a new litter of abandoned kittens is left on Lauren's doorstep, and they confront the fiery attraction that's been building between them from the start. But saving the baby kittens is only the first challenge Lauren and Caleb have to face, and when a real estate developer comes sniffing around their block, they'll have to work together, or risk losing everything...

Let's start with the things in the book I did like- I enjoyed some of the characters for sure. I really liked Evan, Rachel, Monique, Diane, and Olivia- like we had a really great cast of supporting characters in this book and heck, even the two characters who were supposed to be our villains, the real estate developer and his assistant were funny. I also liked the idea of having a cat cafe and a vet clinic as neighbors and them giving each other business and using each other for promotion. I also loved how of Brooklyn and New York in general we got in the book- as someone who has always wanted to live in the city and who always loved visiting it, I really enjoyed that. Now, the biggest thing I didn't like about the book were our two main characters. I really didn't like anything about Lauren or Caleb! They both annoyed me and they both seemed so selfish and whiney and childish- like they didn't seem like they were adults nor did they seem like they knew how to act like adults in the workplace at all- and I know some of it was drama to move the story along, but come on! Also, as a vet, how could Caleb leave a lab mix like Hank alone for so long all the time??? I know he had a dog walker, but at the same time, lab mixes need so much stimulation or they go nuts! And how could Lauren keep taking in kittens from the feral cat guy (Mitch, I think) if she didn't know whether or not she could actually take care of them or if they had room for them in the cafe or not. Ugh and their "relationship" with each other annoyed me because if you go into something knowing it's casual and it's not going to turn into a relationship, then that's an agreement you've made with someone and you can renege on that! You just have to leave leave! The ending was cute, but by the time we had gotten there, I was very annoyed with Lauren and Caleb, so I wasn't even that happy haha I do really want to read more about the rest of the characters in the book though, so I'll be on the lookout for more books by Kate McMurray, because I really did enjoy her writing style! If you like books that are about casual relationships where one person ends up wanting more and the people in the casual relationship aren't telling people they're sleeping with each other with a great cast of side characters and some fun animals, I'd say check out Like Cats and Dogs for sure! This book comes out on May 4th, so look for it then.

So I started reading this book because after reading the synopsis, I couldn't wait to dive into it. A cafe full of cats, wow. I so wanna visit one someday. I want a cat as my pet too. But meh! my parents are against it. Anyway, the book started out really good. I was grinning like a fool. Lauren and Caleb met. But then one of Lauren's cat fell sick and when Caleb came to the cafe, Lauren asked him to check the cat out to identify what happened. Then Lauren practically insulted Caleb's profession as well as questioned his ability because what? She owns a cat cafe and that made her think she was a vet without a degree? Ugh! If I was there and I was the vet, I would've slapped her. Okay, so the cat's name was Sunday. I'm gonna address it as a she. 'Kay? And she kept saying that the cat would be uncomfortable if they run tests. Really? She's already uncomfortable. Fuck! I knew I couldn't continue reading the book. It'll only sour my mood. I mean they just argued without any apparent reason. WTF? I didn't sign up for meaningless argument. I was hoping for a rom-com with cute bantering between the MCs. And the cover was pretty too.

I received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This one was hard to get through. I found myself having to force myself to read it. The romance wasn’t very good, and I couldn’t not connect to the characters. I usually love the trope of enemies to lovers (which is why I was excited to read this one), but it just wasn’t done well in this book. I found the plot dragged for me. The writing style was nice, but overall this book was not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. From the beginning, the writing felt lackluster and abrupt to me. Not long after meeting our main character, the love interest was introduced to her and it was sparks flying. I could tell instantly that it was an insta-lust and I Wasn’t Here For It. Within a short time frame of them meeting, we had an attempt to make them “enemies” which seemed to be pulling at straws for me.. And then their steamy get-together way too soon in the book was also... an attempt. It failed to keep my attention and get me to actually care about the characters. The writing and prose just felt like a teen’s fan fiction, in my opinion.

Such a shame because it had a good premise.

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is about Lauren, a cat cafe manager, and Caleb, a vet that works next door. They immediately get off on the wrong foot and have an instant dislike for one another. Caleb is a jerk who is set in his ways and Lauren is a women whose been burned and has decided to put herself first. Yet, somehow, they end up in a relationship that was just supposed to be physical only.
I liked the premise of this book, the cute cover, and I do love a good enemies to lovers trope. That being said, this book was difficult to get into, finish, and invest in the characters. The two main characters, Lauren and Caleb, were unrelatable. The supporting characters were cute and had some funny lines. Overall, this book was just ok.

Sadly, this book was a total miss for me. I didn't feel this was a romance or a love story. I can't get enough of Enemies-To-Lovers romances, but this one felt devoid of emotional connection and only focused on sexual chemistry. In the end I want the emotional to lead to the physical. But it just wasn't there for me in this book.

I received a gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!* Apt that my cat’s bed is in this photo. Honestly? I was into this! It was a cute story, steamy scenes, and I particularly liked the convos between Lauren and her friends. If you like pups and cats and cute Brooklyn love stories, I think this is a good read! The story felt a little redundant at times, and that slowed my reading down, but it was overall a fast read so not a big deal for me.

⭐️7/10 would probs recommend!⭐️

FINALLY! A book that low-key touches on the war of what makes a better pet? A dog or a cat? Definitely also loved the concept of a cat cafe, where people go in not just for coffee and pastries, but also to seek comfort with cats! And, we all love a hot veterinarian! Instead of a boy-next-door, we got a vet-next-clinic? Same vibe though, haha. Loved Caleb's character development, where he realizes that he needs to open up again, instead of engulfing in his messy divorce and expecting all relationships to end up the same way. The way he learns to love again, and Lauren slowly breaks down is walls, was absolutely heartwarming to read about. Definitely a must-read!

I love the cover of this book. It’s really cute and what drew me to read it in the first place.
I loved that the animals played a big part in this book and I really loved the fact that Caleb is a veterinarian and that Lauren owns a Cat Café.
I liked the authors writing style and that all the characters, secondary and main, were likable.
I didn’t hate anything about this book but what I didn’t like is that I couldn’t connect with the main characters or feel any chemistry between them. I just couldn’t see them together. Lauren and Caleb’s arguments didn’t make any sense to me. They were constantly arguing over ridiculous things.
And my biggest problem with this book is that it couldn’t keep my attention. I kept losing interest in it.

This wasn’t a bad book, and I think that other people will enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me.


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review✨

I really wanted to love this book and while it had moments that I absolutely adored, on the whole it left me a little frustrated. The premise was so interesting and I’m a fan of books set at coffee shops or bars and this one featured a cat cafe, which was an added bonus. And honestly the cafe, the supporting characters and all the animals were my favourite parts of this book. There was just so much more that could have happened that didn’t and I feel that’s where it fell flat.

Lauren and Caleb are complete opposites. The two things that connect them are their love and appreciation for animals and the fact that they both just walked out of relationships that left them heartbroken. Lauren manages the cat cafe and Caleb works at the vet clinic next door. Their first meeting is cute (I wouldn’t call it a meet-cute, per se), but then things start to change.

While it’s got the whole enemies to lovers vibe, I think the enemies part is of their own making. Or at least of Lauren’s own making. She’s a great character, when she’s not around Caleb. It felt a lot like kids in a playground annoying each other because they have a crush. I felt like Lauren went into this possible friendship with Caleb with great intentions, but she kept snapping at him and obviously he kept snapping back and it started to get out of hand pretty early on.

I did truly enjoy their “enemies with benefits” relationship, but the rest of it? A little messy. They both don’t want relationships, but they want each other. And when they’re in bed, they’re perfectly fine, but otherwise they’re just sniping at each other all the time. And so much of the time, their arguments are a little childish and ridiculous. Even though they were having sex, I did not feel any attraction at all between the characters. I didn’t connect with them and their drama. I feel like a lot of their issues could have been resolved if Lauren wasn’t assuming things and if Caleb wasn’t snapping back at her when she started assuming the worst. There was such a big gap of communication and it did annoy me quite a bit.

It took me a while to get through this book because I couldn't connect with the characters. But there were a lot of great parts like learning about the animals, being in the cat cafe, the other characters and all of the animals. Seriously, the animals in this book were so comforting, I appreciated their existence. But this book was not for me.

I don't want to say that this was painfully bad, but... if the shoe fits. I knew that I wasn't going to be a fan of the writing style from the first page, but the cover is adorable and the blurb sounded right up my alley, so I continued on. I probably shouldn't have. This isn't an enemies to lovers rom com like I expected it to be, it's a strangers to lovers, "it's just sex" story that heats up very quickly. These two only had a couple of interactions before they were hitting the bedroom, and I... just didn't care. I didn't care about any of it, and the writing is honestly pretty cringeworthy. Unfortunately, this was a complete miss for me. I appreciated receiving an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review, but this didn't work for me on any level.