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Crazy Stupid Bromance
by Lyssa Kay Adams
3.5 stars
Crazy Stupid Romance is the third instalment in the Bromance Book Club series and I'm sad to say that I feel like it still hasn't lived up to the first book in the series, which really feels like the high-point so far. This time around, the story takes on the trope of best-friends-turned-lovers and is centred around Alexis Carlisle and Noah Logan, characters whom had briefly appeared in [b:Undercover Bromance|52655000|Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #2)|Lyssa Kay Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566943887l/52655000._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71888253] and who have since formed a solid friendship.
Alexis is a survivor of a celebrity chef's sexual harassment and who had come forward publicly about what he did to her, which required a lot of bravery and which led other women in the community to seek her out to talk about their own pasts. When Alexis meets another nervous young lady at her cafe, she initially assumes that she's here for the same reason as those before her. However, it turns out that she claims to be Alexis' half-sister and is there because their father needs help bringing up a slew of complicated emotions in Alexis, who has never known her father.
Meanwhile, Noah also has a complicated relationship with his father's memory. His father had died while in service and in his teenage anger, Noah had done something very stupid that had landed him on FBI's attention. Now grown up, Noah runs his own computer security company but can't seem to outrun his past. When Alexis tells him about her dilemma - on whether or not to donate her kidney to her father - the situation is complicated by Noah's feelings for her and his own relationship with his father.
Crazy Stupid Bromance felt like maybe it was attempting to do too many things in one story and that the elements maybe didn't gel that well together. For example, I wished that we'd gotten to see some of Alexis' interactions with her mother and why she'd decided against telling Alexis more about her father, especially when it's clear that Alexis wanted to know about her dad. The subplot concerning Noah's family drama also troubled me a little, because it's clear that he didn't have much of a male role model (unless you consider him a model in toxic masculinity) Furthermore, aside from being told that Noah and Alexis have built a really close connection since they became friends after taking down Royce Preston together, I wished that we got to see a little more of their friendship because the book quite quickly delves into the will-they-or-won't they, with the romantic tension introduced fairly early on.
However, the book still has many elements that are enjoyable, notably the banter between the guys of the Bromance Book Club. I found Noah's induction into it hilarious and loved how tropes in the romance genre are constantly pointed out.
I know that Lyssa Kay Adams is capable of writing great romance, especially since I'd loved the first book in the series so much. I just wish that the rest of the series can live up to it and am looking forward to the Russian's story next.
Crazy Stupid Romance is the third instalment in the Bromance Book Club series and I'm sad to say that I feel like it still hasn't lived up to the first book in the series, which really feels like the high-point so far. This time around, the story takes on the trope of best-friends-turned-lovers and is centred around Alexis Carlisle and Noah Logan, characters whom had briefly appeared in [b:Undercover Bromance|52655000|Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #2)|Lyssa Kay Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566943887l/52655000._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71888253] and who have since formed a solid friendship.
Alexis is a survivor of a celebrity chef's sexual harassment and who had come forward publicly about what he did to her, which required a lot of bravery and which led other women in the community to seek her out to talk about their own pasts. When Alexis meets another nervous young lady at her cafe, she initially assumes that she's here for the same reason as those before her. However, it turns out that she claims to be Alexis' half-sister and is there because their father needs help bringing up a slew of complicated emotions in Alexis, who has never known her father.
Meanwhile, Noah also has a complicated relationship with his father's memory. His father had died while in service and in his teenage anger, Noah had done something very stupid that had landed him on FBI's attention. Now grown up, Noah runs his own computer security company but can't seem to outrun his past. When Alexis tells him about her dilemma - on whether or not to donate her kidney to her father - the situation is complicated by Noah's feelings for her and his own relationship with his father.
Crazy Stupid Bromance felt like maybe it was attempting to do too many things in one story and that the elements maybe didn't gel that well together. For example, I wished that we'd gotten to see some of Alexis' interactions with her mother and why she'd decided against telling Alexis more about her father, especially when it's clear that Alexis wanted to know about her dad. The subplot concerning Noah's family drama also troubled me a little, because it's clear that he didn't have much of a male role model (unless you consider him a model in toxic masculinity)
Spoiler
and yet, Noah somehow decides to forgive the guy without him really apologising for anything in their past?However, the book still has many elements that are enjoyable, notably the banter between the guys of the Bromance Book Club. I found Noah's induction into it hilarious and loved how tropes in the romance genre are constantly pointed out.
Spoiler
At one point when the gang runs to Alexis' hospital room, this is pointed out a typical romance Grand Gesture which cracked me up.I know that Lyssa Kay Adams is capable of writing great romance, especially since I'd loved the first book in the series so much. I just wish that the rest of the series can live up to it and am looking forward to the Russian's story next.