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A review by nothingforpomegranted
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I loved The Bromance Book Club (the first in this series) when I read it in the fall, and I have had this on hold from the library for months, looking forward to continuing the series. Sadly, this did not live up to the hype.
Braden Mack is the founder of the Bromance Book Club, an undercover group of prominent athletes and businessmen in Nashville who read and discuss romance novels to help them navigate their love lives. Liv Papandreas is a fierce feminist, working as a pastry chef at one of the city's most exclusive and expensive restaurants and living with a sweet grandmotherly woman on a tiny farm.
First connected through Mack's interference in Liv's sister Thea's marriage to baseball player Gavin (the subjects of the first book), Liv and Mack have a playful rivalry that turns into much more when Liv gets fired from her job after dropping a $1000 dessert on Mack's date--and walking in on her boss sexually harassing another employee. Furious with the world, Liv has no interest in Mack's guilt over her unemployment or his efforts to help her bring down her boss, but he just keeps showing up until she has no choice but to let him help, and they embark on a mission that, of course, fuels a love story.
While The Bromance Book Club made me laugh out loud while addressing serious issues--childhood trauma, insecurity and bullying, communication in relationships and marriage--Undercover Bromance was a bit too heavy-handed for me. Sexual harassment in the workplace is horrible and far too common, and while I loved both Mack and Liv's commitment to seeking justice, their schemes just felt farcical. I didn't believe their chemistry, whether it took the form of hatred or love. Furthermore, this entire book just felt angry. It seemed like every third sentence was yelled or shouted, or that someone was banging their fist on the table or against the wall. Again, I understand that the subject matter is infuriating, but I prefer my romance with more snark than actual anger and certainly more light-hearted humor.
I will probably read the next in the series at some point (also, Andrew Eiden's narration is really perfect for these books), but I haven't yet requested it at the library, and I'm not in any rush.
Braden Mack is the founder of the Bromance Book Club, an undercover group of prominent athletes and businessmen in Nashville who read and discuss romance novels to help them navigate their love lives. Liv Papandreas is a fierce feminist, working as a pastry chef at one of the city's most exclusive and expensive restaurants and living with a sweet grandmotherly woman on a tiny farm.
First connected through Mack's interference in Liv's sister Thea's marriage to baseball player Gavin (the subjects of the first book), Liv and Mack have a playful rivalry that turns into much more when Liv gets fired from her job after dropping a $1000 dessert on Mack's date--and walking in on her boss sexually harassing another employee. Furious with the world, Liv has no interest in Mack's guilt over her unemployment or his efforts to help her bring down her boss, but he just keeps showing up until she has no choice but to let him help, and they embark on a mission that, of course, fuels a love story.
While The Bromance Book Club made me laugh out loud while addressing serious issues--childhood trauma, insecurity and bullying, communication in relationships and marriage--Undercover Bromance was a bit too heavy-handed for me. Sexual harassment in the workplace is horrible and far too common, and while I loved both Mack and Liv's commitment to seeking justice, their schemes just felt farcical. I didn't believe their chemistry, whether it took the form of hatred or love. Furthermore, this entire book just felt angry. It seemed like every third sentence was yelled or shouted, or that someone was banging their fist on the table or against the wall. Again, I understand that the subject matter is infuriating, but I prefer my romance with more snark than actual anger and certainly more light-hearted humor.
I will probably read the next in the series at some point (also, Andrew Eiden's narration is really perfect for these books), but I haven't yet requested it at the library, and I'm not in any rush.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content