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A review by theespressoedition
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Let me start this off by saying that The Bromance Book Club is one of my favorite (and most-recommended) rom-com series. I've read all of the books, in order, and I truly love the cast of characters, their wild stories, and how they all blend together to create this fantastic world of inspiration, inclusivity, humor, and of course--spice. They're some of the most unique contemporary romance novels I've read and that's a huge reason why I love them so much. They've never ceased to bring a smile to my face.
Now, let me get into why I struggled with A Very Merry Bromance. The number one reason? It didn't feel like it was part of this series I've come to know and love. Despite the whole cast making appearances throughout the book, it felt wholly disconnected. If those recognizable character names hadn't shown up, I don't think I ever would've associated this installation with the rest of the books.
Despite being a bit of a self-absorbed celebrity who's unused to being told "no," Colton doesn't really take the primary spotlight in the book (even if he should have - for all the work his character needed). He also doesn't receive his advice from the romance books as the bros have in all of the other stories. He does, however, loan a romance book to Gretchen (which, by the way, we never really see have any affect on her) and constantly mentions A Christmas Carol, a story that supposedly had a huge impact on his own life and way of celebrating Christmas. So yes, there's mentions of reading, but it doesn't hold much sway on either of the characters, unless you count them both admitting they're part of a "grump and sunshine" trope a few times.
Gretchen has a lot of family issues. I mean a lot. If you're uncomfortable with the topic of familial abuse, this is not the book for you, since the story relies heavily on that element of her life. I wanted to see more growth in her character, since I loved her heart, but it felt more like Colton fought her battles for her (and not very well, I might add). I honestly wanted more of Uncle Jack!
Truthfully, I expected to walk away from this book with giddy good feelings and a tummy ache from all the laughter. Instead, I was frustrated with the protagonists, disconnected from the story as a whole, and frankly, just irritated at how different it was from the rest of the series. I wouldn't say that I hated it, and there were some things I really enjoyed (mostly the side characters--and visualizing Vlad in a Santa suit), I was disappointed by the book as a whole and can't imagine that I'd pick it up again. This one was a bit of a bust for me, sadly.
Now, let me get into why I struggled with A Very Merry Bromance. The number one reason? It didn't feel like it was part of this series I've come to know and love. Despite the whole cast making appearances throughout the book, it felt wholly disconnected. If those recognizable character names hadn't shown up, I don't think I ever would've associated this installation with the rest of the books.
Despite being a bit of a self-absorbed celebrity who's unused to being told "no," Colton doesn't really take the primary spotlight in the book (even if he should have - for all the work his character needed). He also doesn't receive his advice from the romance books as the bros have in all of the other stories. He does, however, loan a romance book to Gretchen (which, by the way, we never really see have any affect on her) and constantly mentions A Christmas Carol, a story that supposedly had a huge impact on his own life and way of celebrating Christmas. So yes, there's mentions of reading, but it doesn't hold much sway on either of the characters, unless you count them both admitting they're part of a "grump and sunshine" trope a few times.
Gretchen has a lot of family issues. I mean a lot. If you're uncomfortable with the topic of familial abuse, this is not the book for you, since the story relies heavily on that element of her life. I wanted to see more growth in her character, since I loved her heart, but it felt more like Colton fought her battles for her (and not very well, I might add). I honestly wanted more of Uncle Jack!
Truthfully, I expected to walk away from this book with giddy good feelings and a tummy ache from all the laughter. Instead, I was frustrated with the protagonists, disconnected from the story as a whole, and frankly, just irritated at how different it was from the rest of the series. I wouldn't say that I hated it, and there were some things I really enjoyed (mostly the side characters--and visualizing Vlad in a Santa suit), I was disappointed by the book as a whole and can't imagine that I'd pick it up again. This one was a bit of a bust for me, sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Classism, and Alcoholism