If you love the other books in the Bromance Book Club series, you’ll absolutely love this one too. It has everything: our favorite Russian, cats, humor and hijinks, lovable side characters, steamy scenes, and of course, the other members of our favorite book club.

I wasn’t a fan of Elena’s though. She was super immature and flakey and I’m so tired of the worn-out romance trope where one of the lead characters runs away every time there’s a disagreement or a miscommunication. Stop buying plane tickets to Chicago every time one of Vlad’s comments rubs you the wrong way and then having angsty monologues about how he let you leave. Please. I’m literally begging you.

I also felt like the author attempted to make this book move into the romantic suspense genre, but the suspense arc (and literally everything having to do with Elena’s dad and Elena’s own journalistic endeavors) was super, super abrupt and ultimately fell flat. Honestly, that whole storyline could have been completely omitted without really changing anything in the story.

As soon as I got this book I stopped everything I was doing to read it. As soon as I read that Vlad was getting a book I was excited and his story gave me everything I was looking for. We know Vlad as the sentimental Russian with some tummy issues from the first three books, but we had no idea what he was hiding under that crazy exterior. Vlad has a wife, a wife that he hasn't seen in years but is hopelessly in love with. He joined the Bromance Book Club in hopes to make his marriage a real marriage and learn what Elena would want.
He married Elena six years ago when he came to the United States from Russia. She had to get away after her father disappeared and she knew she wasn't safe there. Vlad was her childhood best friend and there was no one else she would rather be with, but she questions how much he is doing out of duty to her and isn't he actually loves her. This sets in motion a string of events that last six years, until Vlad is ready to make this a real marriage. He is tired of having Elena so far away, but she doesn't want to burden him anymore than she already has and suggests they divorce instead. Vlad is crushed, but when he gets injured playing hockey six months later, Elena is by his bedside when he wakes up. She says she will stay to help him recooperate, and with the help of his bookclub as well as the Loners (a group of widowers he has befriended) these two will have to face feelings they have been hiding for years.
I enjoyed seeing all the guys from the bookclub band together to help Vlad. It's funny that we can see things so clearly outside our own situation, but when we are in it things get murky and we let our feelings overshadow what is right in front of our faces. Vlad didn't think he was good enough for Elena, he loved her for so long but she seemingly didn't want to be with him, but it was clear from the outside looking in that she cared for him deeply. The forced proximity pushed these two to communicate and face their fears. This love story was probably my favorite of the series because Vlad is just such an intensely complicated character.
Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley and the author for an early copy of this highly anticipated book for me!

This series gets better with every book. Readers will appreciate the thoughtful complexities of endearing characters who create a social commentary in swoon worthy sentences. Sexy, smart, and completely addictive.

I am so glad I got to read an ARC of this book, but I'm also sad because it makes it that much longer before I can read a (hopefully!) 5th book in the series. It always bothered me a bit that the Russian's gastrointestinal problems were used as some sort of comic relief. As someone who also suffers from a gastrointestinal disease I really (and literally) felt the Russian's pain. So I'm glad in this book he is on the mend in that respect! He's such a gentile giant of a man and a great emotional character. I'm glad he got his own happy ending! It's not my favorite in the series, but that doesn't mean it's not a good book! It was fun to read and really moving at times.

Finally!! A book about the Russian! This was so tender and sweet. I was thrilled to learn more about the Russian and his story.

Another fun book about the "Bromance Book Club." This book tells the story of Vlad - the Russian - as he's know in the group. In this fun story you get to learn more about Vlad's past and his personality. The new characters that Adams introduces are fun and made me wonder who will show up in the story.
I really enjoy these characters and their stories. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. #isntitbromantic

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Full review will be up on Pop-Culturalist the week of publication :)

Vlad is a Russian hockey player and despite his appearance he is a sensitive guy. He’s sweet, caring, and loves cats!! This book is adorable and funny. He has a marriage of convenience and helped his wife continue her education financially. He waited patiently for her to come back and during that time she fell in love with him. However, she never came back. I’m not a fan of the other protagonist, Elena but overall this book was a lot of fun to read! I will be doing a more in-depth review in July.

This book made me laugh, cry and cheer. Thank you for writing a book about The Russian Vlad - I’ve read every single book in the series and this is my favorite one by far. (And thank you for allowing him to find a diagnosis for his unfortunate flatulence and shitcedences)
Not gonna lie - 2021 has been tough, but being able to be transported back into the Bromance Book Club world where good and decent men insist on treating women with kindness and respect.... it was a balm to my heart that I didn’t know I so desperately needed. Thank you Ms Adams!

The Russian finally has his book! Marriage of convince to lovers, childhood friends, Russian mobs, hockey, and Vlad makes for one of the best in this series. It’s funny, swoon worthy, and brought all of the best from the bromance book club. I can’t wait for the next 2 installments.

I just really love this entire series. I was nervous about getting to the Russian as he hasn't been my favorite of the boys (the competition is stiff), and yet I loved every page and totally devoured the book in one sitting.

Getting a better view of Vlad's world - with neighbors, and pets - really just drove home what a sweet, gentle, and romantic soul he is. Reading him flirt was one of my favorite things.

Elena. ELENA! What an amazing character. Strong, feisty, loyal, loving and deeply complicated. My only question is how do we get Lyssa to bless us with a book on Elena's time in Chicago?

I was skeptical of The Russian as a romantic lead--in the earlier books of this series, he's mainly a flatulent comic relief, who has surprisingly deep insights into the romances the guys read. But hockey star Vlad gets redemption here (as well as meds for his gluten allergy), as he finally admits that he wants his marriage of convenience with childhood friend Elena to be real. For her part, Elena is determined to make her own way, and not be too dependent on the sweet and caring Vlad.

Parts of this worked well. Vlad and Elena's mutual yearning was poignant. The men's friendship was as strong as ever. The subplot of Elena's journalistic endeavors was less successful. It seemed like Adams wanted to write a romantic suspense novel, but the danger never had any real teeth, and Elena's investigation was forgotten for whole chapters at a time.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I love this series! This book was so cute! Vlad is on of my favorite Bros. I thought the introduction of "the Cheese Man" was interesting. Possible new addition to the bookclub? Maybe his own book? Lyssa Kay Adams can't put books in this series out fast enough for me.

It is so great to see a character who was comic relief for the past 3 books finally get his HEA! The author flips the marriage of convenience trope by having the heroine as the undecided and self doubting character and the hero as the virgin, pining away for his lawfully wedded wife. Ya gotta love The Russian!

I have been waiting for the Russian’s book, and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it's my favorite of the series now! I just love Vlad so much, and Elena is his perfect match. I wanted to shake some sense into both of them, but they got where they needed to be with some help from his book club guys and the Loners (who I absolutely loved)! Such a great second chance at a first chance, really!

When Elena showed up at Mack's wedding in search of Vlad aka "The Russian," there was no way I could have dreamt up the story behind their romance. Lyssa Kay Adams is an expert at weaving a story within a story and the bro-support in this book is at its best. Get ready to laugh out loud, tear up, be on the edge of your seat and even learn a little Russian in this latest installment of the Bromance Book Club.

Yesss!!! Yesss!!! And yesss!!! We got the best book of the series! Vladimir a.k.a Russian, my favorite member of the bromance book club, our sweet teddy bear, gentle and emotional giant finally had his own book! At the ending of my each reviews, I kindly requested, chanted for him to have his own love story and I’m so happy Ms. Adams listened to Vlad’s fans and made their wishes come true!

Vlad is giant Russian, a star hockey player but he’s unconventional hero: first of all don’t get fooled by his intimidating appearance! He is sensitive man: he cries at the weddings, he loves to hang out with stray cats, dogs, even with chickens at his house. He’s addicted to cheese even though he’s suffering from serious gluten intolerance ( we saw the ugly and smelly results when he ate wrong kind of food at the previous books) He’s like a cheerful, gold hearted child trapped in a man’s body! He’s still sweet, honest, a little immature and mostly stubborn!

He only loved one woman in his life, his wife Elena and he attended to the book club to win her heart by reading romance books and learn the ways how to make his own wife fall for her!

Yes, their marriage of convenience to help his wife stay in the states when she had troubled time after her father’s killing in Russia. He supported her education and he patiently waited for her to complete her degree in Chicago and come back to him! But she never did. And when he offered her to stop pretending and trying to have a real marriage, she rejects his offer, telling him she’ll return back to Russia, breaking his heart into millions of pieces!

After this back story, I was a little biased about Elena because she truly hurt my lovely giant! ( I truly agree with the Loners at first, our lovely giant deserves better!) She keeps secret from him, investigating her journalist father’s death who gained so many political enemies, chasing his last unfinished story about sex trafficking, planning to finish it as a tribute to his memory!

But Vlad’s unexpected injury at his last hockey match brings two of them together! Elena offers to take care of him! Vlad doesn’t want her feel responsible to look after him reluctantly and Elena feels rejected! Finally these two ultra stubborn and prideful people decide to live together till Vlad gets healed!

Vlad’s neighbors : a group of senior citizens, meddling widows act so protective around him and judge Elena a little harshly at the beginning. But Vlad’s backup team: our delicious boys club save the day by working on a romantic plan to solve unresolved issues and misunderstandings of the lovers ( there are tons of them!)

Finally when I learn Elena’s side of story, I stopped hating her! She was also sensitive, resilient, insecure but still likable character and I loved their childhood romance as well!

At the previous books, we saw the funny side and special sense of humor of Vlad. He’s natural, unique, childish, sweetheart! And this book helps us to see very romantic side of him!

Some parts of the book are truly entertaining. Especially the secret speak-cheesy operations of Vlad and his cravings made me laugh a lot!

Overall: I was so sure this would be the best book of the series and I planned to give five million stars before I started the book! I’m so happy I trusted my intuitions! They never disappoint me!

I love these boys! I love this series! But mostly I love Russian! That’s my truly favorite book of the series!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. And special thanks to Lyssa Kay Adams to give my favorite character his own book!

Vlad, aka the Russian started a marriage of convenience to protect his childhood friend, and bring her out of Russia. But they have spent 4 years in different cities, and he's ready for more. He wants his own happily ever after, and all his study in the Bromance Club has prepared him to ask for what he wants. Elena's father fought corruption as a Russian journalist until he disappeared. She came to America with Vlad, but she's also pursued her education to become a journalist too. When Vlad's injured they have a second chance to start their marriage.
Vlad's support group includes the Bromance Bros, a neighborhood groupd of widows, and a couple of stray pets... and with luck he can convince Elena that they can be her support group too.

Why I started this book: I jumped at the chance to read Adam's latest addition to her Bromance Book Club... I was so eager to cheer for the Russian, and marriage of convenience is one of my guilty pleasures genre reads.

Why I finished it: Charming, goofy and it surprised me into laughing out loud, this book was a delight to read. What a blessing to have so many people ready to help you be your best self; to cheer you on, and demand that you do better. Vlad and Elena's romance was good, but I am here for the friendships, the Bromance Club and all their craziness. Plus, I need to find a Russian restaurant near me because everything sounded delicious.

Sometimes ARCs sit on my kindle until right up to or after release day ... but I am obsessed with this world and characters that inhabit it. So I read it as soon as the ARC dropped onto my account.

When I found out that book 4 was going to be about The Russian, I was mildly skeptical about how it was going to work. Up until this point, I felt like his character was a running gag. Simply there in the background to bring the fart jokes and the levity. So I was unsure about how this all was going to go with him being a main character.

To my complete joy (and relief), I loved this just as much as the previous three. This effortlessly transitioned Vlad from the chuckle eliciting secondary character to an emotionally vulnerable hero seeking out his own happily ever after. Vlad has probably eclipsed Noah as my favorite hero brought forward by this series so far.

The story also brings about a fresh twist on the interspersed romance novel chapters we have seen in previous volumes.

And now even though this doesn’t even release until July, I will sit in quiet vigil as I await (impatiently) an announcement of a book 5.

❤️

❣️Isn’t it bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Vlad and Elena have been best friends since childhood. Following Elena’s father’s mysterious death, she and Vlad agreed to a marriage of convenience so she could escape danger and leave Russia for the United States. After years of miscommunications, their marriage of convenience is heading for trouble. Vlad will need to rely on the bromance book club and his meddlesome neighbours for help.

This is the forth instalment of the Bromance Book Club series. If you haven’t read yet, what in the world are you waiting for!? I’ve been waiting for Vlad’s (the Russian’s) book ever since the first bromance book! I had no idea what kind of story precious Vlad would have, and let me tell you, it’s everything! 😍

Here are just a few things I loved:

💓The relationship between the bros is always the highlight for me. Their banter never fails to put a smile on my face. There were so many laugh out loud moments 🛁

💓Vlad is the softest, most precious hero you’ll ever read. He’s the true hero of the club and pushes the hardest for everyone else to get their HEA, which is why he was SO easy to root for. He and Elena’s relationship hit me with the feels. And Elena is perfect for him 😭

💓The Loners killed me 🤣

💓The animals!!! There’s always an animal in these books and they’re amazing.

💓 Cheese (if you know, you know)

💓As always, these books are feminist A F, challenging gender stereotypes and serious subject matter in a meaningful way while still being entertaining and hilarious.

I cannot wait for everyone to read this and for the next instalment! Seriously it’s so good 🤩 Massive thank you to @berkleyromance, @netgalley and @lyssakayadams . This book really made me smile.💓

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC.

I am a little surprised this worked so well for me. I was worried that "the Russian's" book was going to be one long poo joke based on my least favorite parts of the previous books in the series. Plus, this series skirts the line of being a little too self-aware of the meta-commentary on romance novels and conversations about gender (these parts of the book are often correct, but not exactly how people talk most of the time). AND YET, they work and I like them. They have a lot of heart and found family at their core, and really do value kindness. It's nice! I will continue to read the series, I am sure, and I guess maybe Michelle is next?