I have been anxiously awaiting this book since "the Russian" was introduced in The Bromance Bookclub as a pro hockey player with intestinal issues and a love of romance novels. Humorous and heartwarming, Isn't It Bromantic? did not disappoint. This was such a soft and sweet second chance romance about gentle giant Vlad and his estranged (marriage of convenience) wife Elena. So happy to see Vlad get his own book and finally get an HEA!

You know, here's the thing. I may have thought the subplot with Elena's dad was a little rushed and unnecessary, and there are too many bros to really have distinct personalities, but I just really love them all coming together and tackling toxic masculinity. For that alone, the Bromance Book Club is a unique series.

The Bromance Book Club is back! I'll admit that I was a little apprehensive about this one, since Vlad (aka the Russian) has been mostly comic relief over the previous installments, but I shouldn't have worried. His and Elena's relationship is one you root for from the beginning, and this book has a couple of the most romantic scenes in the whole series.

There were a couple of things I wasn't a fan of - the whole cheese subplot (yes, cheese) was hard to take seriously, and the story that Elena is investigating takes such a backseat for so much of the book that it's a little too much of a surprise when it comes back near the ending (but what an ending it is!). But the most important thing in a romance book is the romance, which is wonderful throughout.

CW: injury, hospital stay, kidnapping, past parental deaths (including a murder), car crash, discussion/investigation of sex trafficking

Isn’t It Bromantic? is the fourth novel in the Bromance series that final features Vlad (the Russian). This has been one my most anticipated summer reads! The romance troupe in this one focuses on marriage by convenience. I loved this one! Out of all the Bromance series, I think this may be my favorite tied with Undercover Bromance. I really liked that the author didn’t shy away from Vlad’s vulnerable side and it was wonderful to see him grow throughout the books. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Elena but I did enjoy how the author made her character grow as well. The only part I didn’t like was that I felt the ending was a bit too rushed, but other than that, I really enjoyed that we caught glimpses of characters from previous novels and there were snippets of their relationships progressing.I’m really hoping that we get Colton’s love story next! I’m curious who he will end up with. I highly recommend picking this up if you’re a fan of the Bromance series. This is definitely a book you can read as a stand alone, but I think you’d enjoy it more if you read the previous books. Lastly, I’m super stoked for the movie which I can’t wait to be released!

I don't know how to rate this book. It's very soft and cute. The tropes BANGGG and I loved the romance between Elena and Vlad. But by the end, with the subplot of Elena's whole plan, I was not feeling it. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read but definitely missed on some parts.

If you have never read a Bromance book but wanted to read this one, you can. Take it from someone who has not read any of them until this one. I do recommend maybe picking it up the first one, which I heard it's the best one out of the ones that are currently out, so you get a feel of the story. Still, if you are only interested in this one, go ahead, you can totally understand it! There are a lot of different characters tho omg. So many names! I don't even know if they have been introduced before or not because of the fact I haven't read any of the Bromance books before, but this cast is HUGE.

Vlad and Elena are married but have a marriage of convenience. They are practically estranged, haven't seen each other in six years, but now Vlad wants a real marriage with her. When he's about to tell her, she throws him a bomb: "I want a divorce." But before she goes back to Russie, Vlad gets hurt playing hockey and needs someone to take care of him for a short time. Elena thinks it's the perfect opportunity to give back everything he has given her. But Vlad wants his wife back. So with the help of his Bromance book club and his suburban soccer mom neighbors, he's about to seduce his wife.

The tropes bang as I am telling you.
- Marriage of convenience
- Estranged spouses
- Childhood friends
- Sports romance
- Gentle giant
- Virgin hero who is writing his first romance novel

Isn’t It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams is the 4th book in her Bromance Book Club series. Having enjoyed the first three books in this series, I looked forward to reading Isn’t It Bromantic and happy to say it was equally as good. This is a fun romantic series that centers around a male book club group, most being athletes, and how they read and discuss romance novels to help teach each other how to handle women with care and love.

Vlad (aka the Russian) takes center stage in this book. He is a famous professional hockey player, who was well loved by his friends, neighbors and animals. We got to see him in earlier books as having major stomach issues, but now he is on a gluten free diet, and things have gotten better. But Vlad is still very much in love with his wife, Elena, but their marriage is on the rocks, as she is never home, at school to learn to be a journalist; both being stubborn thinking neither of them love each other.

Things will change when Vlad suffers a serious injury playing hockey, and his concern that he will never be able to play again. Elena, who was making plans to go back to Russia, decides she owes Vlad for all the things he has done for her, to pay for everything, and takes over nursing him back to health. Will this save their marriage?
I did like both Vlad and Elena, but found them both equally annoyingly stubborn, with both having so many misunderstandings and communications that constantly stop them from realizing that they both are very much in love with each other.

Elena took over full control of nursing Vlad, giving her the chance to meet all the boys from the book club, as well as neighbors, which in time, the boys will push Vlad to learn how to open up more towards Elena, and the girls becoming closer to her, also pushing her to see how much he truly loves her. This was the fun part, as both groups were truly hilarious. I even got a kick out the neighbor dog or cat who was always at the house, and the chicken. The Cheese Man was a riot, and wild fun.

What follows is a fun story, especially with the guys and girl groups trying to help, and the hilarious situations they find themselves in. Lots of fun. Vlad was in the process of writing a romance novel, which when the boys discover, they push themselves to help him use the book to learn how to treat Elena. Elena also had her own secret of investigating the disappearance of her journalist father years before, which also puts her in danger.
Isn’t It Bromantic was another humorous fun story line, with a fantastic group of alpha men and female neighbors that had me laughing throughout. Lyssa Kay Adams did a wonderful job writing this fun story, which you need to read. I know I will be waiting for the next book in this series.

I wrote an article for literary Hub titled "Romance Novels for Hot-Everybody Summer" and listed Isn't It Bromantic? as one to read.
https://lithub.com/romance-novels-for-hot-everybody-summer/

I absolutely adored this book and "The Russian's" story. It was something that was desperately needed. Vlad is such an important character in the Bromance. Getting to know Vlad on a deeper level in this book was an absolute delight.
Isn't it Bromantic shows us the mysterious and always absent wife of Vlad, her name is Elena. She is beautiful, lethal, brave, and can cook up some delicious Russian dishes.
We get the whole array of how these two met, they are life long friends which is just so endearing and adorable. Elena has a difficult upbringing and had always counted on Vlad and his family for support. I truly loved getting to know this woman that captivated such a wonderful man's heart.
So far every new book in this series is my newest favorite, with this book though, it only solidifies that 'Lyssa Kay Adams truly knows how to build such a beautiful and intertwined story that will forever mark my heart and mind.
FIVE HUGE SPARKLING stars for this book, I cannot wait to see what she gives us next.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the beginning. When I heard that the Russian was getting his own book I was a little uncertain. To be fair Vlad has only been used as comedic relief up until this point.

But oh man did I fall in love with him. He is a tender hearted gentle giant. He’s unapologetically prone to tears and he’s also writing his own romance novel which makes a fun plot device. Elena is kind and fierce and stubborn and strong and smart. Love her.

This book is adorable. It’s romantic and funny (the cheese man!!! 🤣🤣) but it’s also really cool the way this group of men love each other. Can’t wait for the next one !!!

Things to Berkley for a complementary copy of this novel. All opinions on my own.i

Just when I think I know which book in this series is my favorite, Lyssa Kay Adams releases another amazing installment! I absolutely adored this one! Vlad's story is hands down my favorite one so far! I adored his and Elena's story and need more of them in my life! Adams really knocked it out of the park with their backstory and made me love both of their characters so much more!! And The Cheese Man!! Talk about hilarious! Heck all of the new supporting characters in this one were fab! Definitely can't wait to read more from Adams!

Like many fans of the series, I have been eagerly awaiting the Russian's story and wondering about his relationship with his wife. But I also wondered how Vlad would translate to being the hero of his own story. He has such a wonderful, tender heart, but he has also provided a lot of the comic relief for previous books. So what would be the balance, and how would it work when it's all about his romance? I am delighted to report that it's perfect. He is the greatest romantic hero.

And Elena is such a wonderful female protagonist. She is strong and brave and driven. Through her, the story tackles really important topics of immigration law and sex trafficking. I have always appreciated that this series not only deals with issues of toxic masculinity but also other difficult challenges.

I always enjoy the book within a book aspect of the Bromance Book Club series. This was the best yet by far. I can't say why without giving away too much, but it was such an incredible progression for the club. Plus the found family and amazing cast of side characters were so funny and heartwarming. I loved everything about this book. I read it in a single afternoon and can't wait for Lyssa Kay Adams' next book.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

I am going to start with, I am a big fan of this series. I suspected this one would be about Vlad but had absolutely no inkling how it would go. What a wonderful surprise! I always liked Vlad but now he might be my favorite. We get to find out the story of Vlad and his mysterious and absent wife, Elena. Another humorous and heart-warming story from the Bromance Book Club series. I am already looking forward to the next one.

I really enjoy this series and I love that each new book just continues to be so enjoyable but also brings something new to the table. This one includes a relationship that started as childhood friends in Russia and then a marriage of convenience that allowed them to bring Elena to America where they continue to be friends. Obviously, this is a romance, so they spend the book working through things and end up together again. It was sweet to see how strongly they felt about each other, a little frustrating at times, and always filled with good chemistry. I'm just so glad we finally got to see more of Vlad and that he got more of a storyline besides being the sweet friend with good advice and an upset stomach.
The one thing that did start to bother me with this one was how repetitive it was getting in the middle. It felt like a constant 'I like them but they don't like me so I can't say anything' from each person without either ever sharing how they felt. And that's one of my pet peeves in books like this. So I was getting a little worried that I wouldn't like it in the end, but as soon as they got past that, I was happy again.
The sub-story in this one was also not the strongest. But the relationships between the guys in the book club and the friends that Vlad had made along the way that all came together in this book really made up for the other parts.
I don't know if they'll be more books in this series but I hope so. It's just such a fun, escapist romance series that's kind of wacky and full of great characters. If there are more, I hope Colton's story is next!

THE RUSSIAN HAS HIS OWN BOOK!

I was so excited when I saw that the Russian was getting his own book! As a lover of this book series, I felt like this one was the best yet.

The childhood friends to lovers and miscommunication between Vlad and Elena was actually adorable. And of course there were some seriously laugh out loud parts from the rest of the book club members.

Overall, I loved this book and it makes me want to go back and reread the other books in the series.

I loved Vlad and Elena’s story in Isn’t it Bromantic. I wasn’t always sold on Vlad in the other Bromance books, but seeing him with Elena and their chemistry I was hooked. Vlad was different than I first thought. He was actually really sweet and caring and just wanted to make Elena happy and to feel loved. For that reason alone I would read Bromantic again. Seriously 10/10 for all the Vlad and Elena. But what I wouldn’t read it again for was the end. This book was well on its way to a solid 4 stars and then the last like 15-ish% killed it for me. It just didn’t work for me and felt like it was out of place in the whole series. It might feel weird for me to say I would 100% recommend this, since I am only giving it 3.5 stars, but I would just for Vlad and Elena alone. Just be warned the end was a little hokey and you’ll be good to go.

I feel like we have known probably the least about the Russian this entire series. But with Isn't it Bromantic? Adams changes all that. Adams weaves a story about emotional vulnerability, second chance romance, and childhood crushes all in one. Talk about a story that was going to tug at every heart string I have. Combine that with the fact that I was so drawn to this book once I saw the heart of Vlad. I felt like before he was kind of used as a punchline and comic relief, but in this book we see the softness of his heart.

All these thread of love, yearning, and fear. The ways that, yes we have made a mistake of it, but it also takes another person to be willing to hear our apology. After Isn't it Bromantic? I think Vlad might be my favorite of the Bromance Book Club - what a comeback! Plus this rich cast of side characters enhanced this almost family like feel that Adams has been establishing. And don't get me started on how much I enjoyed Elena's POV.

Another great addition to the bromance book club!

I’ll admit, I was a little surprised when Vlad got his own book because his character never seemed to expand much outside of comic relief in the other books. But, now I’m glad he got his own book and that we got to see him with Elena. This book had all the romance, bromance, and fun of the other books (luckily, minus the digestive problems).

The only thing that confused me was the introduction of so many new characters that felt a little unnecessary considering the bromance book club (along with their wives) already consists of a lot of characters. It makes me wonder if maybe there’s another book in the works where those characters may be more utilized!

I would recommend this one!

This was an okay entry in the Bromance Bookclub series but it wasn’t great. I was glad to see Vlad used as more than flatulent comic relief and I did genuinely like the core of his relationship with Elena but the level of contrivance and, frankly, weirdness in the subplots was too much for me. I could’ve done without the bizarre Cheese Man stuff and I didn’t really understand why the Loners existed since their function could’ve also been served by the book club guys. Vlad writing a romance novel was fun and cheeky in a meta way but we definitely could have done without the novel within a novel chapters.

Oh Vlad, I have wanted your book forever. This book was everything I want from the bromance of the guys to Vlad seeing the light in how to get Elena. Vlad is the romantic who deserves to be swept off his feet after trying to connect with Elena. The chemistry between the two and tie in strong Russian heritage made for a great read.

I'll keep it short - I liked this book. I've liked the whole series. But the plot felt a little rushed and new character additions felt underutilized. Fun ideas all around though. A good edition to the Bromance Book Club but not my favorite.