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deannamullican's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I also love a celebrity romance so that helped.
Colton Wheeler is a country music megastar. Gretchen Winthrop comes from an Uber-wealthy family who think she’s a screw up. The toxic family is an interesting plot. It adds the depth and drama to their story.
I’ve read them all on audiobook, Andrew Eiden is very good. I hope there are more.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Bullying, and Alcohol
daniellesharp's review against another edition
5.0
I love the Bromance Book Club series. This one was just as great as the others.
Not dual POV.
second chance romance; reverse grumpy/sunshine
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Bullying
yvo_about_books's review
4.0
"I think you should always consider opportunities when they come your way."
I know that I usually only read Christmas themed stories in December, but I decided to make an exception and join Christmas In July in spirit just so that I could read the fifth and final (for now?) Bromance Book Club book while memories of the previous books were still fresh. I confess that Colton didn't really stand out that much as a character for me in the previous books, but I was still curious about his story (and Gretchen as well). It did take me a bit longer to fully warm up to the story and A Very Merry Bromance wasn't my favorite of the series, but I can't deny that it was still a solid read. I think part of the issue might have been that the other bromance book club members aren't really all that visible especially in the first half? And somehow Colton and Gretchen initially didn't fully convince me... Although that improved considerably once Colton 'forces' Gretchen to go on dates with him. The second half of the story was considerably stronger, and as a result the book ended on a high note for me (although I could have done without the 'twist') . I was happy to see the book within a book feature appear again, although I would have liked to have more chapters incorporated... A little warning is also in place for more serious topics including toxic families, abuse and deportation. That said, A Very Merry Bromance also offers plenty of banter and lighter moments, all wrapped with a big red Christmas bow. Fingers crossed there will be news about a possible book six soon!
Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Sexual content, Alcohol, Abandonment, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
meghanm404's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Deportation, and Injury/Injury detail
creativelifeofliz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Deportation, and Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse
Minor: Infidelity
jackiepreston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Deportation, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
prettylightsandcitynights's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Deportation, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Gaslighting
The majority if the content warnings apply to background information about the main female protagonist's childhood and her interactions with her family in present day. Avoid this book if familial neglect/abuse/gaslighting is triggering.a_ab's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
This series has a great fun premise, and I naively keep hoping that it will start living up to it, but so far - no luck.
There is a lot of lip service to progressive ideas in each book, but the characters' actions (even those of the protagonists and sympathetically portrayed characters) are full of internalized misogyny, toxic masculinity, patriarchal BS and rich entitled elitism.
I wish this idea landed in the hands of a better author or that this one would make some self improvement efforts, but I should accept that this wish is not going to be granted. Not even at Christmas.
This book has another relationship which survives entirely on the power of "magical" sex, because outside of it there is nothing that could possibly keep these characters even interested in each other. They are not a good match, they do not treat each other with respect or understanding, they keep making wrong decisions for and on behalf of the other, and they never really learn from their mistakes - they just plaster it all over with more intense supposedly passionate sex.
There was a detail in this book which made me incandescent with rage - the main female character is supposed to be competent and a lawyer, yet all effective decisions in her life are made for her by different men around her - aside from making a coffee house order, nothing she does by herself or of her own free will sticks - not a single thing throughout the whole book! What. The. Hell?!?!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Child abuse, Bullying, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
krisalexcole's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Cursing
Minor: Violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
1990sjc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Bullying