[Review] Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray
In this opposites attract romance, the first in McMurray's Whitman Street series, it's cats versus dogs as Lauren, the manager of the Whitman Street Cat Café, butts heads with Caleb, the new veterinarian next door. As they continue to get under each others' skin, they both realize how much they'd like to be under each others' clothes instead. But their passions turn complicated as Caleb wants to keep their not-relationship a secret. And Caleb isn't Lauren's only problem: a developer has his sights on their building and could force the Whitman Street Cat Café off of Whitman Street and out of Brooklyn altogether if they aren't careful. To save their jobs, their sanity, and their happiness, Caleb and Lauren are just going to have to learn how to stop fighting like cats and dogs.
Goodness. I really loved this book. Almost from the beginning, I was pulled in by Lauren's snark and Caleb's sarcasm and how well they played off of each other. You can tell just from their first interactions that Lauren and Caleb were going to be pure fire once they gave into their passion, and McMurray did not disappoint. Like Cats and Dogs is dual perspective, and I enjoyed reading both sides; both Lauren and Caleb were dynamic, three-dimensional characters with wonderfully fleshed-out backstories. Lauren just found out that her ex - the one she thought was going to be her forever - has officially moved on, and now her friends and coworkers want to see her set up and happy. Similarly, Caleb is fresh off a devastating divorce from his college sweetheart, and getting into another relationship - even with someone who feels as right as Lauren - is the last thing he's willing to do. Caleb and Lauren had some fabulous enemies-to-lovers moments, and I found myself literally smiling over some of their interactions. Lauren and Caleb's personalities were fun on their own and in their own way, but they had such an undeniable spark when they were together, whether they were bickering or kissing.
Besides fantastic main characters, and some equally wonderfully secondary characters, I loved the overall plot of Like Cats and Dogs. There was such a great relationship between the cat café and the vet clinic, and I hope to see more of this relationship in future Whitman Street books. I don't think there are any characters in Like Cats and Dogs that I wouldn't want to see in their own story. McMurray created a fantastic world within this block in Brooklyn; the characters were all realistic and fun and lovable and they played out their relationships and growth and trials in and around the envious Whitman Street Cat Café.
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Release date: 7/6/21
Format: paperback
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