Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Crazy Stupid Bromance

I don't know why Alexis seems like a different person in this book and also she says at some point that what she goes through in this book is the most awful thing she has gone through...she is a s.a. survivor and lost her mother to cancer...at the same time. It feels very out-of-touch

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yvo_about_books's review against another edition

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2.5

Finished reading: June 25th 2023

"People screw up. A lot. The key to a lasting relationship is the ability to forgive over and over again."

Right... I wasn't expecting this to be honest. I really enjoyed the first two Bromance Book Club books, and I fully expected Crazy Stupid Bromance to be a new favorite of the series. I liked Noah and Alexis in the previous book, and I've been looking forward to get to know them better. Add the fact that it's a friends-to-lovers romance and that it has a cat cafe angle, and it sounded like a perfect match. Sadly, the real focus seem to be elsewhere in this sequel, and this family drama and live-donor/long-lost-family angle truly put a damper on things for me. I'm never a fan of family drama in stories in the first place, and the whole long lost family showing up suddenly because they need a kidney donor made me SO angry. Especially with the horrible way the whole family (yes, including Candi) treats Alexis, how they basically see her as a walking organ bank and then the story STILL taking the direction it took. I was left wanting to throw my kindle against the wall, and it sure didn't make me think better of Alexis as a character (doormat syndrome, anyone?). It's such a shame, because I was hoping for lots of cat cafe scenes with adorable cats and all. Sure, we get Beefcake, who is hilarious, but still... The friends-to-lovers romance I had mixed thoughts about as well, because the transition was a bit too abrupt (and the consequent sexy time WAY too long and steamy). Sure, I did like the chemistry between Alexis and Noah, but I wish we could have had more focus on the friendship part of their relationship and a slower build up to the transition. The bromance book club members were hilarious as always, but they weren't exactly as present in Crazy Stupid Bromance either. And what is with all the unnecessary side stories to create extra drama (Karen, Mack)?! You would think the whole long-lost-family-wants-a-kidney plot would be enough drama for one story... I was expecting a fun contemporary romance read, but this sequel was mainly just sad and extremely frustrating instead.

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what_karla_reads's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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agiecummings's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adore this book in this series. And on a re-read, I found myself falling more in love with Noah than the first time and relating more and more to the people that Noah and Alexis are. They feel slightly more “real” than some of the other couples in this series - they are 30 and are dealing with real feelings and life events.

I absolutely gobbled up their love story and always appreciate a well done friends-to-lovers that doesn’t waste my time waiting until the very end for them to get together.

But yeah, this is just a beautiful story of trust and how safety in a friendship can lead to the basis of an absolutely beautiful relationship.

Side note: this is about the series in general but I think I like this series so much because though they are romance books, they acknowledge that pain and “fights,” etc. are part of a relationship. So even with a “3rd act breakup” it is always part of serving their overall story, rather than just what seems like a device to create drama in a story. I can’t explain it, but that really comes through in these books better than others. And I really love that level of honesty in a rom com.

Loved this one. ❤️

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bookworm247's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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booksareoxygen's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was hesitant to read the second book in this series, but when I saw the description of this one, the third in the series, I decided to take a chance. Well, this one had more parallel plot lines than the previous novel, the first book focused exclusively on the pair of individuals, I was intrigued because I got to see more of the community and ecosystem, in which all of these characters live. I also snorted exactly twice at one of the other characters commentary, so I will be picking up the book that focuses on that particular character soon! 3.5/5

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martamae77's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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kathigh86's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed this book, not as much as the previous one though. I enjoyed the romance and the family dynamics but I feel like there was a lot of emotional processing that attempted to fit within 350 pages.

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