What Lovers Do by Jewel E. Ann: Dr. Sophie Ryan just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to men, having a less 
than great track record of dating deadbeat users Sophie finds herself once again in a pickle, this time with her latest boyfriend not wanting to accept that she has broken up with him or wanting to move out of her house! With an annoyingly dense squatter holed up in her house and a baby on the way the very last thing Sophie should be doing is flirting up a storm with the cute pet store guy, but there is just something about Shep that keeps pulling Sophie back. Maybe a bit of time in Shep World will do Sophie some good but when her real world and her happy place collide will Sophie be able too fine a way out of all the drama she has created?
“Sometimes you meet someone, and everything just clicks.”
What Lovers Do was just perfect, I absolutely loved this cute friends to lovers romcom. Ann has done a brilliant job in creating this quirky cute romcom which made it incredibly easy to fall in love with Shep and Sophie as they navigated their odd situation. I really liked that this book was told from dual points of view which helped give us that much needed inside look into what both main characters were going through.
“It’s as if you’re recognising something from another life – a familiarity you can’t see or remember – but you feel it. People say it all the time to make sense of feeling such an instant connection with another human.”
Good gosh Sophie had to have the worst luck when it came to men, this girl just couldn’t catch a break. Regardless of her less than stellar dating history, she was actually a really cool chick. I mean girl if I were in your shoes there is absolutely no way that I would be so chilled out about having Jimmy squatting at my house! Sophie was generally a really nice person and a selfless one at that, I found the entire situation with her sister extremely heartwarming. But I will say there were a few moment that she had me want to give her a good shake, like I felt that she kind of jerked Shep around a bit but I liked that he called her out on this.
“My heart scrambles to understand this new rhythm it’s found in the presence of Shep.”
As for our charming pooch loving hero, well simply put Shep was just gold. I loved his easy going playful nature and that he just knew how to keep things light and fun. As fun and easy going as Shep came across he too had been going through a though spot and I think the two of them together helped heal each other in a way. The more we got to know Shep the more I liked this guy which made my heart break all the more for him when things unfold with his ex wife and then when he learns about Sophie’s untruths.
“Shep World, a perfect slice of happiness. The greatest destination on Earth.”
I just adored these two and their awkwardly hilarious meet cute, I’m talking about so cringe that you will be embarrassed for Sophie! I just loved the way Shep played up the entire encounter and made it super chill for Sophie, this had me totally sold on him already! Their banter and phone dates were just too cute. Getting to see them fall in love and become best friends was just the sweetest. I just loved their bond over golf and how their friendly rivalry played out in the book right to the epilogue.
I just loved all the fur babies in the book, I do wish we got a bit more time with Cersei the poodle and Shep’s two greyhounds Julia Roberts and George Clooney. As for our other major character Jimmy, well to be fair for the majority of the book I could not stand him, I mean he was pretty annoying and pathetic. Also he had some pretty extra behaviour with all these roadblocks he put up. However he kind of redeemed himself towards the end of the book.
What Lovers Do is a definite must read, this book was the perfect combination of meet cute silliness, heart melting swoony second chance love and some steamy banter that tied everything together.
Book Info:
Publication: March 24, 2022 | Pub: Jewel E. Ann |
Shep’s found the female version of himself … and he thinks she’s perfect—perfectly unavailable.
Everyone loves Shep, the charismatic employee at Scottsdale’s newest pet store. He has shared custody of his two dogs with his annoying ex-wife and a smile that can disarm most women.
Except … Dr. Sophie Ryan.
What starts out as a disastrous first meeting, involving a coffee catastrophe and mistaken flirting, turns into an unconventional friendship.
Fake phone sex.
Dog park dates.
And eighteen holes of golf.
The problem? Sophie’s taken herself out of the dating pool for a mysterious reason, imprisoning Shep in the friend zone for eternity.
As their competitive personalities hit a boiling point, the gloves come off and so do their clothes. When Sophie’s “real” life threatens their relationship, can Shep let go of his past to chase the one that might get away?
