Men, Marriage & Mistakes: Bromance Book Club Review

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Last updated on February 10th, 2024

In this Bromance Book Club review, we’ll dive into Lyssa Kay Adams’ unique and inventive take on saving a relationship using romance novels as manuals.

Told from dual POVs, this is a delightful romantic comedy that will have you laughing out loud and holding onto your heart in anticipation of their happy ending. 

Synopsis

The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw in their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him. 

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage.

But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

Characters

Both MCs were great parents. The way they seamlessly worked together to care for their twin girls was a delight to read. It was like watching a well-coordinated dance. 

And they’re some of the most authentic characters I’ve read. I loved the quiet moments of honesty they shared in the dark.

They’re forced to be vulnerable with each other in a way they’ve never done before in their marriage, which can be scary.

Lyssa Kay Adams beautifully penned these moments in such a romantic and genuine way that you cannot help but root for them to make it work. 

Gavin

Gavin’s efforts to save his marriage are commendable. He sets aside his pride and wounded ego to rebuild the broken pieces between himself and Thea. But at the same time, I loved that he understood when the ball was no longer in his court and accepted that. 

As mentioned above, he is a wonderful father to his girls. He has so many sweet moments with them that will have you swooning, like the one where he’s helping them make pancakes in the kitchen. I swear my ovaries skipped a beat with that one. 

Giving him a speech problem (i.e., stuttering) was a great addition to the story because male MCs are usually not given physical flaws in books.

“From the moment I first saw you, I have been half a man because the other half belongs to you.”

For more great quotes from Gavin and the rest of the characters, check out the quotes collection from Lyssa Kay Adams.

Thea

The female MC may be frustrating to some readers. But her reluctance to give in to Gavin was understandable based on her backstory.

She does soften as she gradually trusts her husband again, and you can’t help but empathize with her fears along the way. 

Side Characters

The BROS were hilarious, and their scenes were some of my favorite parts. Their teasing and shenanigans balanced out the serious marital issues so well. It was very refreshing to read about guys who stood up and refused to conform to toxic masculinity. 

LIV is Thea’s older sister, and she is overprotective of Thea, but she may come off as a bit rude. She’s one of those characters that you either like or don’t, depending on how you take her. But I look forward to digging into her backstory in the second book – Undercover Bromance.

Plot

This is an easy read that can be finished in one sitting. Despite dealing with heavy marital issues, this book doesn’t leave you feeling overwhelmed, and I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages. 

I liked how each argument they had, dug into a deeper issue of their marriage, allowing the story to progress seamlessly.

Though a bit cheesy, the ending was a swoon-worthy conclusion to the story. 

Writing

The Bromance Book Club uses one of my favorite formats – a story within a story – using the inner story to influence and progress the outer one. And the dual perspectives help to better understand their marriage from both sides without judgment. 

Kudos to the author for writing flawlessly in two different language styles – regency (e.g., Bridgerton) and modern. And Gavin’s inner voice dialogues were a great comedic addition to the story. 

There’s a lot of sexual innuendo throughout this book which augments the humor, and the spicy scenes are pretty good.

Conclusion

Lyssa Kay Adams’ first book of the Bromance Book Club series is a funny, sweet, and sexy read filled with genuine characters that will tug on your heartstrings.

If you love second-chance romances about two characters fighting to save their marriage, then this book is for you. 

Enjoyed this Bromance Book Club review? Then, be sure to add it to your TBR. And if you have already read this book and have some thoughts to share, drop them in the comments below. I would love to hear them!