Isn’t It Bromantic? (Bromance Book Club, #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams
Pub Date: July 20, 2021 by Berkley Romance
[Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Bookshop]
SYNOPSIS
With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.
Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.
Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.
The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.
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Initial Thoughts 🧠
My, oh my! We’re finally in Vlad’s book!!! Vlad Konnikov aka The Russian has been my favorite Bro since the first book. I’m so glad that readers thought the same about him, well enough that Adams wrote him his own book! Sure, I knew he was the comic relief for the first three books but I was actually surprised to learn that he wasn’t originally planned to have his own book, but he stood really great in this series!
Isn’t It Bromantic? was really cute and soft! I fell in love with Vlad and Elena from the very start, and their romance just ticked a lot of boxes in my favorite romance tropes! Childhood friends turned estranged spouses, a marriage of convenience, and mutual pining just to name a few! 🥰
Second Chance at Love
Besides Vlad’s charming personality, him seeking his own happy ending was the thing that really drew me in. He married Elena not only for her convenience, but also because she loves her, but they didn’t exactly have a conventional marriage. Plus, Vlad wasn’t really open to his feelings for her. I really had a great time exploring Vlad and Elena’s story and the road to taking their second chance at a real and proper marriage wasn’t easy, but it was damn entertaining!
Gods, all the domestic fluff and Elena’s fussiness over Vlad made me grin like an idiot. They were just too sweet and caring for each other. Though we knew that about Vlad, I’m just glad that Elena was just the same. They really are perfect for each other! Two idiots in love unbeknownst to each other. I love seeing them so stupidly jealous!
I just really loved them together, and them getting together at the end was so stupidly funny, grand gestures and all. And the Cheese Man and the Loners??? 🤣🤣 Everything was just so lovely about this book!
I really enjoyed the side story, Vlad’s novel, Promise Me. It was a histrom set in World War II, if I remember correctly. For some reason, it just gave me a lot of Captain America vibes (WW2, and Russia). My mind works in mysterious ways really. 🤣 Going back, I loved the bit where the Bros helped Vlad finish his story by giving critiques. Vlad really lucked out with his critique partners in that aspect. 😂 Promise Me really mirrored Vlad and Elena’s story clearly.
A Missed Subplot
Elena wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps as a journalist covering human trafficking, amidst the danger. I actually applaud Elena for this, and I love her character and the layers she had. My only issue with this was it felt too rushed and crammed at the end.
I liked this added romantic suspense aspect in the book, but I wish it was laid out earlier in the story, just to give balance to the whole thing and make the narrative more cohesive. It felt like it was split into two parts and the difference was honestly a little jarring.
There’s a big difference between letting someone go because you have faith that they’ll come back to you and letting someone go because deep down you’re convinced they won’t.
isn’t it bromantic? by lyssa kay adams
Overall Thoughts 💡
Lyssa Kay Adams’s consistent writing full of sweet and steamy scenes, coupled with hilarious antics from the boys across four books is an amazing feat. I’m really glad she decided to listen to her readers and give Vlad his own story! I wish she does Colton next!
Isn’t It Bromantic? is my favorite among the four books in the Bromance Book Club Series. True to his character, Vlad just emits this big gentle cheese-loving Russian bear vibe that everyone will surely enjoy getting hugs from. I love how he’s always true to his emotions and a big crier, it was so adorable! Elena’s character growth was a delight to see as well. I loved their romance, with how patient Vlad was and how Elena took the initiative when it came to intimacy! It was Elena who made Vlad comfortable as it was his first time.🔥 (Okay, virginity is a social construct and all but maybe I do like virgin heroes??)
Do I recommend this? Duh??? In case you haven’t noticed how much I’ve been raving for the past few paragraphs.
It really hits a lot of marks and had me stupidly grinning like an idiot. It was such a fun, heartfelt read. Vlad and Elena will surely worm their ways to your heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lyssa Kay Adams read her first romance novel in eighth grade after swiping one from her grandmother’s book shelf and was hooked forever. After a nearly 20-year career as a journalist, her dreams of writing and publishing her own HEAs came true in 2015 with the release of her first novel, Seventh Inning Heat, followed by the RITA-nominated novella, Wild in Rio. Today, she writes full-time from her home in Michigan with a pesky, fluffy K9 assistant named Domino who spends most of his day snoring on her desk (that is, when he’s not burying things around the house).
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Let’s Chat! 💬
Have you read Isn’t It Bromantic? What is your favorite kind of cheese?
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