Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - A Very Merry Bromance

This was a surprisingly frustrating and blood-boiling reading experience that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

This series has a great fun premise, and I naively keep hoping that it will start living up to it, but so far - no luck.

There is a lot of lip service to progressive ideas in each book, but the characters' actions (even those of the protagonists and sympathetically portrayed characters) are full of internalized misogyny, toxic masculinity, patriarchal BS and rich entitled elitism.

I wish this idea landed in the hands of a better author or that this one would make some self improvement efforts, but I should accept that this wish is not going to be granted. Not even at Christmas.

This book has another relationship which survives entirely on the power of "magical" sex, because outside of it there is nothing that could possibly keep these characters even interested in each other. They are not a good match, they do not treat each other with respect or understanding, they keep making wrong decisions for and on behalf of the other, and they never really learn from their mistakes - they just plaster it all over with more intense supposedly passionate sex.

There was a detail in this book which made me incandescent with rage - the main female character is supposed to be competent and a lawyer, yet all effective decisions in her life are made for her by different men around her - aside from making a coffee house order, nothing she does by herself or of her own free will sticks - not a single thing throughout the whole book! What. The. Hell?!?!

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rachelmerrie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I’m biased because I love this series. This was my least favorite of the series because there were hardly any scene with the actual book club, which was my favorite part of the others. I enjoyed reading about what the men discussed in their club and how to work through gender roles and expectations. This book really had none of that, if anything it encouraged gender roles. Additionally, any time the book club tried to give the main male character advice, it didn’t really go anywhere. I wasn’t a fan of how they immediately fell for each other then abruptly got engaged at the end in the midst of an argument.

Overall, the writing is great and keeps me engaged. I love the characters and their development and the ties from past books.

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krisalexcole's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

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karenmsecrest's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

This entry in the Bromance Bookclub series about a Nashville superstar falling in love with an immigration attorney hits all the right notes (Ha!): Grumpy/sunshine, brilliant heroine dedicated to her job, overcoming a cold childhood, friends as chosen family, cute banter, a rich asshole villain, grand gestures, with a Christmas backdrop. It’s basically the book version of a cup of hot chocolate with a splash of whiskey (for added heat).

The Bromance Bookclub universe has many characters and backstories, so this book is probably best enjoyed after reading the others for context (especially the books about Mack and Noah).

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1990sjc's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

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littledidtheyknow's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

This is another sweet installment of The Bromance Bookclub with some heavier material with character backstory and their present. It is my favorite of the five stories so far.

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le3713's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

Lots of fun returning to this cast of characters (even if I can't keep them entirely straight). The Christmas setting of this one was charming, and I love the interactions of the friend groups. I found the external conflict in this one somewhat over the top, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Quick seasonal romance with some emotional substance.

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