Gavin Scott and his wife Thea have hit a rough patch in their marriage. He’s a professional baseball player who travels a lot…it comes with the job. And when he’s home, it’s difficult for them to go anywhere without avid fans fussing over him and asking for autographs. Thea sacrificed a lot for Gavin to pursue his major league dream, putting her own college aspirations on hold to become the dutiful baseball wife and raising their two daughters. But a recent revelation in the bedroom proves to be the last straw that drives a wedge between them. Gavin moves into the guest room and Thea is talking divorce.
Gavin is miserable and will do anything to save his marriage. His teammates come to his rescue with a most unexpected remedy, their tried and true solution, historical romance novels. They invite Gavin into their book club, supply him with novels and swear him to secrecy. Gavin has his doubts but he’s desperate enough to give it a try, and he sets his sights on winning Thea back one chapter at a time.
Readers will find this first book in Adams’ Bromance Book Club series to be an over-the-top fun read, a total home run. The clever story premise comes with great characters and dialog, loads of humor, drama, conflict, and some more humor. Absolutely loved it!

A quick, fun little romance. It was enjoyable to see the characters evolve into how you felt they should be..

When their marriage hits the rocks, baseball star Gavin Scott reluctantly turns to his teammates, who share their secret to a happy marriage: a top-secret romance book club just for men. This was an over-the-top read, but I love the idea that men would go to such lengths to identify with and understand the women in their lives. A fun read that's ripe for a sequel!

Wow, I enjoyed the heck out of this breezy romantic comedy that actually has some interesting things to say about relationships and literature. I'm a latecomer to the romance genre myself, in spite of the fact that my very intelligent grandma read them by the pallet. So I sympathize with the clueless Gavin Scott, professional sports guy (note to self: why have I read so many contemporary romances featuring sports guys lately?) and mediocre husband. Gavin's facing divorce, and the only thing that can save him is book club.

<i>Romance</i> book club.

Whose other members are a bunch of tough, manly, often flatulent, sports dudes who seem to have unlocked the secret to saving his marriage. At least, that's what they claim.

Quote: "Men are idiots. We complain that omen are so mysterious and shit, and we never know what they want. We fuck up our relationships because we convince ourselves that it's too hard to figure them out. But the real problem is with us. We think we're not supposed to feel things and cry and express ourselves. We expect women to do all the emotional labor in a relationship and then act confused when they give up on us."

I mean, this book is all feminist fanservice. I'm here for that. Men supporting men and helping each other become better people. That's hot. As Mack, my new book soulmate, says, "That shit is feminist as fuck."

My favorite exchange, between Mack and Gavin, which sums up why you'll probably enjoy this book too:

"What is this?"
"I don't know."
"Can I eat it?"

I can't wait for the sequel! (And then someday the movie, starring Chris Hemsworth.)

The Bromance Book Cub is delightfully meta and made for a really fun read. I appreciated that the central couple was already married and the overt respect with which the romance genre was treated. My only regret is that I read it so far in advance of the pub date that I know I'll be waiting forever for the next book to come out.

I wish there were another category under recommended yes/no. I would recommend this with reservation/caution. There are still a number of people who might enjoy this story if the language was toned down. I realize that many phrases are used very commonly today, but that doesn't mean everyone wants to hear or read a steady diet of it. Does it indicate a form of stereotyping to think any time a group of males get together that they have to use coarse language and curse? A few phrases sprinkled lightly would have been ok, but a liberal use detracts from my enjoyment.

This is my first read of this author, so I don't know if this is her norm. That being said, the story is lol funny at points and does present a different perspective from many romances. I can picture this as a movie better than a read because that medium might express some of the ideas with a few more subtleties.

This was just plain fun, although, actually, some of the issues addressed about open communication and sexual needs being met were handled fairly well. not perfectly, and of course, there's an HEA. But I loved the men gathering around to tell Gavin what he had done wrong and help him fix it. That was a beautiful way to flip a lot of the usual romance tropes around in a super fun way. I read this in a day.

5 amazing star!
What a unique and amazing book ! This was beyond 5 stars for me! I haven't loved a book this much in a very long time. It had a cute and different plot line. The writing was amazing and the book was hilarious!

Gavin and Thea' were a average couple who was going through some stuff. Gavin won my heart. OMG widths man make me believe in love again.


I laughed, I cried, and then I was completely won over by this book!

Thank you Berkley for the chance to read and review and early copy of The Bromance Book Club! This book was surprising, refreshing, endearing, and funny! I really cannot wait to read more from this series.

This book was an absolute joy to read. I zipped through it in one afternoon, enthralled by the antics between Gavin and Thea. I laughed out loud, teared up once or twice, and nearly every other page had to cover my eyes from secondhand embarrassment, mostly for poor Gavin, whose fumbling but heartfelt attempts to reconnect are met with bewilderment by a strong-willed Thea.
I know they both had a hand in messing up their marriage, but for the most part I was just yelling "COMMUNICATE, YOU IDIOTS!" at my screen like a crazy woman. Really, if Gavin and Thea had both been just the tiniest bit less hasty to draw conclusions (like Thea, girl, just because he phrases something a little off-target does not mean you need to storm for the nearest exit - just ask him to clarify for crying out loud) then there would have been no need for a book club at all.
But I'm very glad there is a club, where I got the chance to meet all of these big, soft-hearted losers who work so hard to learn the tools to love their partners, tools that the patriarchy and toxic masculinity won't give them. This book is a modern and charming bridge between the beloved escapist bodice rippers we confide in and the real-life romance stories that we plant roots in.

P. S. My one and only hang-up in this book is the very bizarre treatment of Yan's bilingualism. Why is he randomly using Spanish in conversation with people who, as far as I can tell, don't speak Spanish, given that they always reply in English? It's clunky and weird and doesn't really make sense, and there are plenty of other ways to let the reader know that Yan is Hispanic, if that's the reason why the Spanish is included. It just reads as rather clumsy and very obviously written by a monolingual person.

When Gavin and Thea's storybook wedding falls apart he finds help in an unlikely source, a romance book club whose participants are professional athletes. A story of unlikely friendships and inspiration that has you rooting for the characters.

This was a feel-good romance with some meat on its bones. A book club made up of major league baseball players who read regency romance novels to learn how women think and how to improve their relationships with their wives & girlfriends (WAGs).

Overall I liked the characters and felt like they were fairly well developed. Gavin was fairly clueless to begin with, but grows throughout the book (as any good male protagonist will do in a romance novel). And Thea is definitely a woman who is Done. With. This. Sh*t. But who also comes to realize that she has played a role in allowing their relationship to get where it is. I really appreciated that personal growth and responsibility were explicit parts of the plot line.

Several of the other characters were great, but were definitely secondary in their level of development. Liv was an awesomely protective and supportive little sis. Her loyalty seemed a bit too blind at times, but given the sisters’ past, it makes sense. Del was a good best friend (also loved his wife Nessa and would like to know more of their Backstory), and Mack was an interesting antagonist who it would appear the author has plans for in a future novel. Though, considering antagonists in need of a novel of their own, Rachel and her husband Jake would be an excellent follow up to this one. She was such a bitch, she could really benefit from a chance at redemption.

Malcolm was the one that always pulled me out of the story and made me realize I was reading a book. You know that feeling, when you’re so engrossed in what’s going on, you feel like you’re a fly on the wall watching people you know and care about. And then this guy comes in with very insightful commentary on romance novels and feminism and makes you go, WTF?! He sounds like a Women’s Studies professor teaching a class on “Underlying Feminist Themes in Modern Romantic Literature”, except he’s supposed to be one of Gavin’s teammates. I’m glad he’s so enlightened, but there was no explanation as to why he was, which made it weird enough that it detracted from the storytelling.

I would definitely read more from this author. Looks like it is the first in a series, so hopefully we’ll get to revisit some of these characters (& meet some new folks) in upcoming installments.

Professional athletes reading romance novels to save their relationships? Seriously, color me intrigued.

Gavin and Thea's marriage is down to it's last thread and just when it seems that there may be no saving it, enter the Bromance Book Club - fellow professional athletes (just like MLB player Gavin) who use romance novels to better understand women - not just in the bedroom but overall.

Lyssa Kay Adams writes a novel that hooked me from page one and kept me turning the pages faster and faster until the very last one. Her writing is fresh and her characters are endearing, plus let's face it, the woman can surely write some steaaaaam. Adams is a new voice to me and I was happy to learn the Bromance Book Club will continue as a series, because I know I will be preordering ALL of them in the future.

I read this book early thanks to Net Galley.

This book was funny, romantic, and a new take on romance novels! I really enjoyed it,so much so that I immediately went out and got my first "Regency
Romance" book. The characters were fun, and I was pulled into the plot quickly. I hope this becomes a series! #ARC #NetGalley

This book is HILARIOUS! Gavin is a pro-baseball player and his marriage is on the rocks. His fellow ball players come up with an idea to read romance books in order to find out what women want and save Gavin's marriage. I found this book laugh out loud funny. I loved how much Gavin loved Thea and how hard he tried to win her back.

4.5 stars - What a hoot & unique book! You've got to give a high-five to the author & her interpretation of what men think about why women read romance novels. The characters (all of them) we engaging and the "bromance" club was quite funny. Gavin and Thea's marriage struggles are something anyone can relate to and the book approached it honestly. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

Okay, guys. Get ready for me to gush about The Bromance Book Club! There wasn't a thing I didn't love about it, so this one is going to be a fun review to write / read. I don't even think I can fit in everything I loved about it without giving you a play by play, so I'm going to try to break it down a bit. Here we go!

The writing: I am not one for third person narration, but it worked for me in this book. The transitions between points of view were smooth and there was all the emotion I normally only get from first person.

The characters: I really loved Gavin's character. He wasn't perfect. He had some hard truths to face in this book, but I loved how he was willing to do anything and everything to save his relationship with Thea. Thea was a little harder to love only because I wanted her to give into Gavin so much earlier. The reasons she didn't were important, though, and I liked how she also had some things to learn. The character development was great.

The story: I liked how real and raw the story felt. Gavin and Thea were married, had small children, and some of the possible issues that come with that. Gavin finding out that Thea had been faking it was the straw that broke the camel's back, but there was so much more to what was going on in their marriage. They had bigger issues to deal with.

Both Gavin and Thea needed to not only work on their marriage, but themselves as well. Thea needed to take a deeper look at herself. I could relate to some of Thea's thoughts and feelings. It's very easy to "lose yourself" when devoting all your time and energy to your children. I can see how it would be even more overwhelming when your partner travels most of the time for work. Gavin needed to listen to Thea and think about why he reacted to things the way he did. It was all so true to what happens in many marriages. I loved that.

Their family: Thea and Gavin's twin daughters were adorable! I love how they worked into what Gavin and Thea were going through. Thea's sister, Liv, also played an important part of this story. Her character was spot on. She resembled the friend or sister everyone has one of when going through a breakup. I also really liked Gavin's dad.

The Bromance Book Club: "But wait!" you say, "What about the book club?" The Bromance Book Club was such a clever thing to have in this story! I loved how Gavin was initiated and how these guys helped him out. It was funny and cool to read about these super successful men reading romance novels to understand their wives.

Overall: This book deserves all the hype it's getting. The Bromance Book Club was a delight to read. I basically read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. It was both adorable and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved every moment I spent with it. I am really hoping this book is the start to a series because I would love to read more set in this world. I found a new book to add to my favorites of 2019.

Great, quick, and fun summer read! Such a unique story line for a romance novel with great characters and a well developed main couple.

Pub date: Nov 5
4.5 This is a super funny contemporary romantic comedy with a great male character in Gavin (several others too - I can see spin offs, especially with Mack)! The complicated relationship issues that happen when not being honest in a marriage, with your spouse or yourself, was a bit sobering but it added that necessary tension. I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more. Highly recommended for those who love Christina Lauren and Helena Hunting.

A massive thank you to Berkley Romance for my early review copy of THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB by Lyssa Kay Adams! This is one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2019 and I cannot tell you how ecstatic I was when it showed up unexpectedly at my doorstep.

I read it on my trip last month and I’m so happy to say that it did not disappoint! I tried to temper my expectations just because I was SO EXCITED about it that I didn’t want to self-sabotage. It had me laughing and falling for the book club guys right from the start. The story follows Gavin and Thea as Gavin tries to save their marriage, with the help of a historical romance and a group of romance reading guys.

Gavin and Thea had a whirlwind of a relationship. After only dating a few months, they got unexpectedly pregnant and decided to get married. Now three years later things are not as perfect as they seemed to be. Thea has been faking it in bed, and when Gavin finds out, let’s just say he doesn’t take it well. Enter a funny, fantastic, supportive group of romance reading guys to lend Gavin a hand. Gavin’s friends really band around him to help him not only save his marriage but show him the error of his ways.

This book is about more than just a couple who has problems in the bedroom. At the core, I think this book is about two vulnerable and broken people who are working through some deep-seated issues that have affected their marriage in many ways. Two people who have to basically learn how to communicate with each other all over again. So this book is about much more than just a couple sorting out their bedroom-related problems.

It does have a great balance of fun and lightness as well as depth. I haven’t read many romances that feature married couples but I find that I really enjoy them. I like the different perspective and that the story arc doesn’t end with the couple finally getting together. I love getting a glimpse into what happens after the (so-called) HEA, where things are rarely perfect. THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB does a fantastic job of giving us this different perspective.

I will have lots more thoughts to share as we get closer to release day (November 5th!) but know you should definitely pre-order this one. It will be the perfect book to escape with when family becomes too much over the holidays.