Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! I was so glad to hear that Lyssa Kay Adams would be writing Colton's love story because he was an absolute GEM. This book definitely got me in the Christmas spirit and had the heart and hilarity of the Bromance Book Club series. This one wasn't my favorite (Thea and Gavin still have that spot, sorry) but it had that 'tis the season spirit and I ADORED it. The perfect holiday/Christmas book, especially for fans of the series. The more of these hilarious and chaotic lovers, the better!

To simply start by saying Lyssa Kay Adams is a gifted writer is an understatement. Having read more romance books than I can count, it doesn't take much to write a romance - as Colton says "It's a romance novel. A happy ending is the only requirement". But here's the thing, Adams doesn't just met the requirement of a happy ending. She takes you on a journey of love, friendship, hope, disappointment, heartache, family, and truth. She pulls you into a world where relationships aren't easy and happily ever afters are earned, not gifted. She brings together a group of men (and women) who have each gone through their own pilgrimage to learn what it takes to be a spouse, a lover, a partner, or just a true supportive and loyal friend. The beating heart of this brotherhood and the growing family we have witnessed throughout the previous four books is why Lyssa Kay Adams is one of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure reading.

It's also my pleasure to say that the highly anticipated "A Very Merry Bromance" is no exception to what magic she can do with a holiday troupe.

I will start by mentioning that reading the previous novels is a must. In some cases with a series, you can just pickup wherever and figure it out but not with the Bromance group. These stories are continuations and to truly know this group, this family, you need to start from the beginning (or at least from A Undercover Bromance where Gretchen is first introduced).

The story picks up at Mack and Liv’s wedding (well the following morning). After an amazing night together, Colton awakens to find Gretchen lying next to him. Life couldn’t be sweeter for our favorite country boy…until Gretchen awakens to find Colton and bolts! A year later, a much desired opportunity causes their paths to cross again and through methods not appreciated by the Bromance, Colton is determined to pick up where the two left off.

What I loved about this book: Words…there are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I snorted (yes it is that funny), and I gasped. This…book…has…everything! Knowing Gretchen from previous stories, when Colton tried to convince her to go to Belize the morning after the wedding, I knew he was just doing the same thing Mack did and for someone like Gretchen, it was the fastest way to be left behind. What I didn’t expect AT ALL was Gretchen’s background (cue the gasp). I would have never have guessed who Gretchen really was based on who she is as a person, her values, her friendships, and her cause. Lyssa did a marvelous job with that sly reveal without destroying the image of what Gretchen had become for the reader. I also enjoyed Colton getting a taste of his own medicine (especially after all the grief he had given Noah when it came to Alexis). To get past the cool, confident Colton Wheeler and see who he really was, his uncertainties, his insecurities, it just made you fall in love with this character even more. And the guys! You get those guys together and it is a guaranteed good time! The dialogue/banter between that group alone is the main reason why I read these books. I love these guys! Malcom’s wisdom by itself could be a bestselling self-help book! I also enjoyed the callbacks Adams did through the book to previous setups and conversations. Those were guaranteed smile moments.

What I’m indifferent about but feel I should mention: The one thing I wish I saw more of in this book was Gretchen leaning on the women for support. This was her story as much as Colton’s but I completely understand that would have been counterintuitive to who Gretchen was. She didn’t depend on people, she didn’t lean on people, the idea of a caring, supportive family was so foreign to her that to rely on Liv, Alexis, and Addison in anyway would have felt like betrayal to her identity. We do witness her close relationship with her Uncle Jack but she pushes even him away eventually.

What I’m sad (and hopefully wrong about): In each book, we are introduced to a new character that continues the story. With this one, I felt like we wrapped up everyone’s story which makes me fear that this will be the end of the series. My hope is that we skip a few years into the future and are reintroduced to J.T. He was the only character I felt was involved enough with a main member of the Bromance that he could potentially be brought into the group. That or Lyssa does a prequel and we find out how it all began (we already have an idea of this but it would allow the chance to learn Del and Malcolm’s story.)

One of the last things I will say about a Very Merry Bromance - while Lyssa Kay Adams knows how to write a steamy scene, she also knows how to make them so much fun!! I have never laughed so hard during a hot and heavy scene and didn’t feel like it took away or interrupted the story.

As always, Adams books are a wonderful balance of being whimsical, insightful, and endearing. If this is the end of her journey with the Bromance, it has been one heck of a ride and if not, I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Grump and Sunshine
Holiday Romance
Celeb Romance

I really enjoyed this newest installment in the Bromance series. I was excited when I saw it was a holiday themed story (something we hadn’t had before in the series) and intrigued when I saw it was Colton’s book.
Add to that that our love interest was one we’d seen previously and I was super excited to dive in.

In this case, we pick up with Colton (our resident country music star) and Gretchen (non-profit, immigration lawyer) having hooked up at a Bromance wedding. In a surprising move, Gretchen ditches Colton after the one night, until they are thrown back together in an unexpected way.

I really enjoyed watching Colton and Gretchen’s relationship develop, as well as the fleshing out of each of their characters and backstories. I loved that Colton had surprising depths and insights – his take on his fame was refreshing, and I adored that he was the Sunshine in the trope. Gretchen had such a complicated background in terms of family issues, and I really felt for her. It was nice to see all sorts of family dynamics play out in the book.

This was a fun, festive romp and a great addition to the series. Even if it was a small appearance, I still loved Vlad’s moment(s) with a certain suit 😊
Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This one was very up and down for me. I found Gretchen to be a bit of a frustrating character for me, and I really didn't see what attracted Colton to her. However, these books are always a delight to read. I love the meta commentary on romance tropes. Ultimately it gave me that nice feel good feeling I want from these books.

More shenanigans and love from the usual cast of characters in this next in the series about a group of wealthy Chicagoians and their elite circle. Country music superstar Colton needs to find his muse for his next album or lose his contract, and chases after Gretchen, a wedding hookup and one-night stand that happens to be his buddy Mack’s ex-girlfriend that Colton thinks might be the One. Gretchen wants nothing to do with Colton…until she’s tasked by her family with bringing him on as the face of one of their artensial whiskies. While she tries to keep it professional, he resorts to calling on his book club buddies for help. Or do they just meddle whether he wants their help or not?

As with other books in the series, there is plenty of humor and quick pacing, a strong culture of brotherhood, and almost unimaginable wealth in this elite circle of friends. Set during the Christmas holidays, the use of Hallmark movie tropes to tell this seasonal story is playful and well-executed, if predictable, and satisfying.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #AVeryMerryBromance from #NetGalley.

Lyssa Kay Adams, I would read any book you would be willing to put out for this series. Or any other series. This is my favorite comfort reads of all time. Please keep going forever, thanks.

The Bromance boys. They have my heart and always will! This book was adorable! It had me laughing and cheery throughout the entire book. A must read for all of the BBclub followers out there. It’s the season and get to reading!

4.5 Stars

A holiday romance full of Bromance Book Club characters? The answer will always be YES. A Very Merry Bromance was so much fun. There was a lot to love about it. We're finally getting country music star Colton's story and it couldn't have been sweeter. 

I am not sure what I was expecting from Colton Wheeler, but I loved his character. He might have been famous, but he was also down to Earth. Colton knew fame was fleeting and was thankful for the things in life that mattered. I loved his relationships with his friends and his family. The way he felt about Gretchen was sweet. I loved how he approached the challenge of winning her heart. 

Gretchen was a tough nut to crack. She was the grump in the grumpy-sunshine mix of this book. Her life growing up had been just as hard as it had been easy. I loved how she wanted to do good in the world. I also liked how Colton wedged his way into her heart.

Colton and Gretchen together were so much fun. There was a great push and pull to their relationship. The way the explored a relationship and got to know each other better was highly entertaining. I loved their emotional connection.

One of my favorite things, of course, were all the friends and family included in Colton and Gretchen's romance. I will never get enough of the band of brothers supporting each other from the book club. Their wives/significant others also show up in great ways. Then there were the new additions of Colton's family and Gretchen's family. Both were great for opposite reasons. And then there was the not quite book club member Cheese Man. Yes, he's back and just as cheesy as ever. It was a smorgasbord of great side characters. 

As for the holidays, since this is a holiday romance and all... I loved how it was very Christmas-y without going overboard. There was the right amount of holiday references and cute holiday moments without taking over the story in a bad way. I liked how it all tied into Colton and Gretchen's story. 

My only complaint is one that I also had with the last one. There's a book within a book here. With this story already being in third person, it was hard to transition from the "real" couple to the "fictional" one. I didn't feel passages from the book they were reading needed to be included. It didn't do anything to the story for me other than distract. They took time away from Colton and Gretchen.

I loved A Very Merry Bromance. It was a solid addition to this series. This is a series I will never get enough of. The Bromance Book Club characters are like a family I want to be a part of. They're the best of friends, supportive of each other (even when one of them is being stupid), and they read romance novels. It's always a good time. I hope there are more books to come.

This was a heartwarming grumpy/sunshine holiday romance featuring all our favorite Bromance Book Club friends. In this story we get to know Colton Wheeler, a famous Country Music singer and Gretchen Winthrop, a non-profit immigration lawyer. These two had an amazing one night stand at a wedding and Colton has been pining for a year after Gretchen ran off the the next morning and ghosted him.

I love this series, so I was really excited to check out this new addition! It did not disappoint. The story follows country singer Colton Wheeler as he tries to win over immigration lawyer Gretchen Winthrop after their one night together. But Gretchen is bogged down by family issues and doesn't want to let Colton in. I liked the deeper dive into both characters after getting to know them in earlier books. The core group of men in the book club once again star in some of the best scenes, and their conversations either had me laughing out loud, cheering out loud, or pumping my fist in agreement. I love the way they look at romance novels and discuss the deeper themes, and how they come together to help one another and remind them when they're being dumb. This is a great addition to the series!

Colton and Gretchen 4EVA! This book was the adorable, heartwarming, Christmas romp that I didn't know I needed. I read this in September and I felt like I could feel the crisp air of winter and imagine the lights and decorations so well.

The reasons Gretchen and Colton are perfect for each other are too numerous to name, but it's a definitely grumpy one - sunshiney one book trope and a found family for Gretchen. I could do some serious damage to some members of Gretchen's family if they were real. I loved the kindness and patience of the characters of this book. So well thought out with their motiviations, issues, and desires for their future.

Lyssa Kay Adams has done it again with her Bromance Book Club series. You definitely don't have to read them all to enjoy them and this one will be perfect for winter time (or anytime). The fact that the guys read romance really lends us to see them as capable and thoughtful instead of entirely reactionary, which is so often how men in books and movies are portrayed. This one might be my favorite of the series so read it quickly!!

This just may be in the running for one of my favorites in this series (although I don't think Vlad's book will ever be topped). I have been eagerly awaiting for Colton's book ever since he first popped up and let me just say I was not disappointed. It was everything I wanted from his book and so much more but I was not prepared for the punch in the cut that was Gretchen's story.

I fell in love with the premise behind this series almost immediately. I found the idea of a bunch of grown men meeting to read and discuss romance novels hilarious. Throw in the fact that they often refer to them as "guidebooks" to help fix their troubled relationships and I was hooked from the start. I have enjoyed reading each individual book in the series and I love how the author keeps bringing back the characters we love (even after their story has been told). The characters in this series have become a great big happy family and they will stop at nothing to make sure that each member of the book club gets their very own happy ending.

Reading these books always feels like a giant warm hug. I can not get enough of these characters and I look forward to whatever the author puts out next.

A big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the digital copy.

Lyssa Kay Adams does it again! This installment of the Bromance Book Club does not disappoint. The characters are lovable, and the appearances from past novels enhance the storyline. I’ll be recommending this to all my library users and friends!
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy*

Hard to get into a Christmas book in August, but I did really enjoy this one. I attribute that more to the sweet world that Adams has made with this Bromance Book Club and less to the romance here though. I had hoped to get a book for this hero for quite a bit and then I think it just wasn't quite like I had expected so that is on me.

A fun romance, set at Christmas, that's a solid addition to the Bromance series. It's always great to return to the world of these best guy friends, and find out what's new.

Let me start this off by saying that The Bromance Book Club is one of my favorite (and most-recommended) rom-com series. I've read all of the books, in order, and I truly love the cast of characters, their wild stories, and how they all blend together to create this fantastic world of inspiration, inclusivity, humor, and of course--spice. They're some of the most unique contemporary romance novels I've read and that's a huge reason why I love them so much. They've never ceased to bring a smile to my face.

Now, let me get into why I struggled with A Very Merry Bromance. The number one reason? It didn't feel like it was part of this series I've come to know and love. Despite the whole cast making appearances throughout the book, it felt wholly disconnected. If those recognizable character names hadn't shown up, I don't think I ever would've associated this installation with the rest of the books.

Despite being a bit of a self-absorbed celebrity who's unused to being told "no," Colton doesn't really take the primary spotlight in the book (even if he should have - for all the work his character needed). He also doesn't receive his advice from the romance books as the bros have in all of the other stories. He does, however, loan a romance book to Gretchen (which, by the way, we never really see have any affect on her) and constantly mentions A Christmas Carol, a story that supposedly had a huge impact on his own life and way of celebrating Christmas. So yes, there's mentions of reading, but it doesn't hold much sway on either of the characters, unless you count them both admitting they're part of a "grump and sunshine" trope a few times.

Gretchen has a lot of family issues. I mean a lot. If you're uncomfortable with the topic of familial abuse, this is not the book for you, since the story relies heavily on that element of her life. I wanted to see more growth in her character, since I loved her heart, but it felt more like Colton fought her battles for her (and not very well, I might add). I honestly wanted more of Uncle Jack!

Truthfully, I expected to walk away from this book with giddy good feelings and a tummy ache from all the laughter. Instead, I was frustrated with the protagonists, disconnected from the story as a whole, and frankly, just irritated at how different it was from the rest of the series. I wouldn't say that I hated it, and there were some things I really enjoyed (mostly the side characters--and visualizing Vlad in a Santa suit), I was disappointed by the book as a whole and can't imagine that I'd pick it up again. This one was a bit of a bust for me, sadly.

[CW: (major) Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content, (moderate) Alcohol, Infidelity, Classism, and Alcoholism]

“Apparently, romances were the can’t eat just one of literature. One chapter became just a few more pages until it was suddenly two a.m.”

MY BOYS ARE BACK!! 🥹🫶🤩 if you’re new around here there’s one thing you should know - I loooove this series! It has my whole heart. If @lyssakayadams wants to write 16 Bromance books it still wouldn’t be enough for me. There wasn’t a chance I was waiting for the holiday season to read this one 🎄

The 5th installment is Colton’s story! Country music star, golden boy, and all things sunshine. At Liv and Mack’s wedding he hooks up with Gretchen, friend of the Bromance group and tough as nails immigration lawyer. He is ready to dive into a relationship but she isn’t interested. A year later Colton is still pining and agrees to listen to Gretchen’s (very wealthy) family’s offer only if she agrees to go on a date with him. It’s a sunshine-grumpy, opposites attract Christmas romance and I ATE IT UP!! It’s full of heart, humor, and holiday joy. The chemistry, the sarcasm, the setting! It had the perfect mix of a deep emotional plot and romance. Gretchen’s family is on par with the worst fictional families I’ve ever read about but the found family themes? Chefs kiss.

I’ve given it all 5⭐️s - I loved it! I just adore these characters, the books within the books, the banter, and the butterfly-inducing relationships. I understand these books aren’t actually *perfect* but they just WORK for me, ya know? Plus I’m a HUGE Christmas girly so I’m probably bias towards this one 😅 if you haven’t read any of these yet PLEASE DO! You don’t technically need to read them I order but I suggest you do!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for this eARC! It’s out everywhere 11/1 so get your preorders in now!

Another good addition to the Bromance series - Adams brings in current events and topics with a mostly deft hand, while making snarky but true observations about men and women and relationships. Always fun.

The next Bromance Book Club books is finally here, and it's Colton's story and a holiday romantic comedy, like, did Lyssa Kay Adams read my diary? This book had such witty and funny banter and starred the same lovable dorks of the Bromance Book Club, IYKYK. Adams writes with such compelling language that has me dying to keep reading. Told in dual perspectives, this has shaped up to be a super-cute holiday romcom with a grump/sunshine twist. It's so much fun with so much banter, and I dug it SO FREAKING MUCH. Like, I seriously did not want to stop reading or the book to end.

I'm so glad to have been approved for this latest installment in the Bromance series. I really enjoyed it.

I think this one touched some on heavier topics such as abuse. I love the guy friend group. It sort of makes me wish my husband and I had a friend group like this one.