Lyssa Kay Adams hits a home run ... The setup may seem farfetched, but it’s too charming to resist ... Readers who enjoy a heartfelt second-chance romance, especially between a married couple, should get their hands on this book immediately ... Adams creates a cringe-worthy look at modern romance with Gavin being too busy and Thea being too exhausted to do more than just go through the motions. It feels a little too real in the best way possible ... truly a novel for dedicated romance fans. Readers will be delighted at all of the meta winks and nudges to the genre we love so much. I can’t wait to see what the Bromance Book Club will read next and how it’ll help shape their next happily ever after.
There’s plenty of humor in Adams’ modern take on Cyrano de Bergerac, though both Gavin and Thea have to acknowledge their past mistakes and make changes before they can move forward. The supporting cast is as interesting as the struggling couple, including their precocious daughters, Thea’s sister, and Gavin’s clever friends. Readers will look forward to more books in the Bromance Book Club series after this promising start.
... great fun – a sweet, easy read spiced with some hilarious scene ... one of the funniest books I’ve read this year. Turns out it’s pretty hilarious reading about alpha men reading (and studying) romance novels, and the author does a wonderful job writing the scenes with the book club members. Ms. Adams deftly interweaves chapters from Courting the Countess into the story so we get to see Gavin’s reactions to a regency romance and his attempts to mimic some of the hero’s moves. It’s funny stuff ... The book is not without some flaws. For one, the twins can only be about two-and-a-half and yet, their speech is much more like that of four- or five-year-olds. I was also disappointed that Thea never took responsibility for her part in her and Gavin’s bedroom issues. It’s 2019 and she should have spoken up right away and done some coaching of her own ... Flaws and all, it was still a fun, clever story that I’m delighted to recommend. There are more stories to come from The Bromance Book Club series and I’ll be picking those books up too!
I enjoyed how romance novel tropes were thrown around by the guys in this book. (The parts which felt a just little forced were when they were talking feminism and patriarchy. Even so, I went with it) ... it seemed to me the narrative suggested that any one romance novel would do as well as another. Perhaps a bit more nuance here would have been useful ... Another thing which had me confused is the age of the twins ... The story is told in an engaging way, with some turns of phrase which struck me as very evocative ... I think the book could have benefited from another 20 or so pages to round out some of the things which felt underdeveloped but, when viewed from the lens of 'lighthearted rom-com' it works well and, I certainly did laugh.
... equal parts hilarious and intelligent, feminist and romantic. Combining deservedly popular tropes with a fresh premise and some purely delightful characters, [Adams] invites a whole new world of readers to swoon with one of the most beautiful romances of 2019 ... not just a hilarious comedy; Adams digs deep into the problems that many couples face and puts her characters to work to use books to examine their own lives and relationships ... This is one of those rare books that is just as funny as it is heartwarming, and just as romantic as it is intelligent. Adams does an outstanding job of unpacking toxic masculinity --- and not just the myriad ways it affects women. She also explores the dangers for men, and how they can stand against it for themselves and the women around them. At the same time, she champions the romance genre and reminds us that, as a branch of literature written by and for women, it's a place where female desires, experiences and emotions are given center stage. And it’s a heck of a good time ... one of the most heartwarming romances I’ve read in some time. Additionally, the members of Gavin’s book club add tons of terrific commentary and sarcastic jabs ... Written with brilliance, humor and a true love of the romance genre, The Bromance Book Club is perfect for readers of all ages, backgrounds and genders.
Do the book club members resemble caricatures at times? Yes. Did I laugh and not really care anyway? Also yes. The genre discussions are meta, and most romance readers would giggle and nod excitedly at the references ... straddles the line between meta, funny, affirming, ridiculous, and idealistic. It is impossible not to enjoy these moments between Gavin and his fellow book club members. The humor is infectious and I laughed constantly ... I adore Thea...Her rage is cathartic to the nth degree. She’s earned that fury, but how often do we get to see women cling to their well-deserved anger for an entire novel? ... not once do Gavin or Thea ever bring up the possibility of marriage counseling ... I’m regretful at all the things The Bromance Book Club could’ve been but isn’t ... The writing is polished, the grovel is so satisfying, and Thea has my permission to rule the world for eternity. Adams’s voice is magnetic; my eyes were glued on the page because the dialogue flowed seamlessly. Time stood still, and I was shocked to discover that four hours had whirled past after setting it down. If the book club and marriage-in-trouble storyline sound intriguing, then give The Bromance Book Club a chance. Just be aware that the orgasm storyline isn’t without frustrating elements.
Adams creates a refreshingly open group of male friends who talk about emotional labor, toxic masculinity, and how pumpkin spice lattes and romance novels are mocked because women like them. They’re also, however, hilariously and believably crude ... Alternating between Gavin's and Thea’s points of view, Adams never paints either character as the villain, instead pointing out how both spouses' lack of communication led to their current predicament ... Gavin and Thea’s story begins at such a low point that it’s hard to imagine how they’ll ever fall back in love, but their reconciliation is built so slowly and realistically that readers will be rooting for their happily-ever-after ... A fun, sexy, and heartfelt love story that’s equal parts romance and bromance.
... heartfelt ... Adams weaves in humor, complex emotions, and excerpts from the motivational story itself to create a satisfying courtship. A strong supporting cast, including Gavin’s book clubmates and his tiny, adorable twin daughters, helps flesh out the Legends community. This earnest charmer is sure to win Adams new fans.
