Nothing beats a Bromance book club read! I’ve been so excited to read the Russian’s story – he’s a fixture in every novel of hers and I was so happy to finally sit down and enjoy his own romance. I tore through this whole book on a single plane ride, I literally couldn’t put it down!

Vlad (the Russian) Konnikov is a bromance book club member with a big secret: his marriage is fake. When he left Russia to play hockey in the United States, he married his childhood best friend, Elena – but their marriage has never been real and their friendship grew further apart. Now, Elena is back from school, but she doesn’t want to give their marriage another shot…she wants to go home.

Elena lost her father when he was murdered while following a story as a journalist in Russia. The Konnikov’s raised her, and when her childhood best friend Vlad promises to whisk her away in the wake of that death, she takes it – but it’s not the love and companionship she always wanted. Instead, she goes away to school to learn to be a journalist herself, and finally solve the story that ended her father’s life.

Now, Vlad is injured and Elena sees caring for him as the last good deed she can do her friend before she returns home to move on with her life. But, it’s bringing them closer together: closer than they’ve been in years, to truly unpack their marriage.

Sorry for the long description, but there’s so much happening in this book! There’s a lot of different elements holding your attention and keeping you interested from moment to moment. There’s even more to it than I was able to describe here; just so many characters and plots and amazing intricacies this series has been able to pick up along the way.

You just can’t help but love anything Lyssa writes. Vlad is my favorite “bro” so far, honestly, and when the arc of the story finally came down to dealing with the problems in their marriage, I just didn’t want to believe he could be in the wrong! He’s just too adorable, like a big puppy. Elena’s actions felt hurtful and self motivated and I wanted to ruthlessly defend poor Vlad – but it’s fair to acknowledge he was also part of the problem. Communication, and communication issues, take a front seat in many of these books and even have me calling myself out on occasion. I learn so much reading these and their total dissection of the romance novel.

I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: if you haven’t listened to Lyssa on The Laydown Podcast with Gibson’s Bookstore out of Concord, NH, do it!! The interview will absolutely give you a whole new appreciation for this series and her ability to weave a good story. These are honestly underrated, even though they’re highly rated…(especially by me).

I loved that Vlad was also writing his own romance novel! The intermittent parts of the books that usually pull in the story the book club is reading instead take the form of Vlad’s own book, where he grapples with much of his own marriage and the things he’s learning about love. It was cute and creative, and again, highlights the softness of the Russian and the whole group.

Obviously, five out of five from me. Ten out of five, if my rating system went that high. I will read everything she ever publishes, honest to goodness. Please, please go get yourself a copy of Isn’t It Bromantic? on July 20, 2021.

A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The band of brothers trope and found family are just about my favorite themes in romances and the Bromance Book Club series is a five-star example of it. I've loved these characters in each book in the series, but this is the story about the Russian I didn't know I needed! Vlad is a fabulous character, a deep feeling, loving, affectionate,, and thoroughly decent guy, and the romance here is moving and unexpected. Another fantastic addition to the series.

This was a difficult book for me to get into. In all of the previous books of this series, Vlad seemed to be there only as comic relief, he never seemed like a complete person. Now he's suddenly worthy of having his own book? As a result, it took me a while to warm up to him, but I eventually came around & was rooting for love to prevail. I loved how his little bombshell of news was treated as being no big deal.
This book could probably be read as a stand-alone, but it would definitely provide a more nuanced reading if the previous books were read first.

I was so enjoying this book until the story’s momentum was interrupted by a novel within a novel that just did not work for me. It didn’t work for the characters, either. At that point, I was out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

Be still my heart - Vlad is so sweet!! It was wonderful to be able to read about the resident, emotional romantic of the Book Club. He feels everything so deeply and genuinely that you can't help but root for him. Vlad has finally decided that he wants to have a real marriage instead of a marriage of convenience. I loved seeing Vlad grow into someone who knows that he's worthy of love. And seeing how he and Elena make their marriage work.

This is such a lovely series, I just adore it and that includes this installment. I've loved Vlad since The Bromance Book Club and am so happy he finally got his book and the widows totally stole the show!! This is the perfect summer beach read around the pool and my library patrons are so jealous I got this sneak preview.

I had read the first three Bromance Book Club books, and I found them to be cute and sweet, but didn't have any real draw to the characters. Until this book. This book had me laughing out loud (Vlad is my favorite. And the cheese man, omg) It was sweet and tender and had real emotion and I absolutely adored how this manly man was completely unafraid to show all his emotion and to embrace his guy friends. I loved how his friends helped him and loved him and messed with him. I've read so so many books with the same male characters written over and over and this one was so refreshing.

I love love love the Russian's story! I was a bit hesitant before I read it because his character was always used as comedic relief for intestinal issues, but thankfully those were resolved before this story was being told. I just cannot even convey how much I love Vlad and Elena. While the miscommunication (or lack of communication as it is) trope is not my favorite, I was not mad about it in this novel. I love the Bromance Book Club, and I will read whatever Adams puts out.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The Bromance Book Club is a fun and sweet romance series that follows a group of guys that read romance novels and use those romance books to help them in their relationships. Each book follows a different member of that club. In Isn’t It Bromantic?, we follow Vlad, aka the Russian, as he is referred to in the other books. He is an emotional, sweet, gentle giant and he is struggling with his marriage. What his friends do not know is that his marriage was a marriage of convenience to his childhood friend Elena. She needed a new start after her father disappeared mysteriously while following a lead as a journalist. Vlad offered to marry her to bring her to America where he was playing professional hockey.

After watching all of his friends get their happy endings, Vlad decides that he finally wants a real marriage with Elena, who he has always loved. Unfortunately, it seems that Elena does not want that at all and instead she wants to go back to Russia, alone. When Vlad is hurt during a hockey game, Elena volunteers to take care of him. Now both of them have to learn to communicate and spend time together. On top of all of that, Vlad has two groups of friends meddling in their marriage, a group of widows around his neighborhood and the Bromance Book Club guys. Will they be able to help Vlad save his marriage?

This was a beautiful book. I have always enjoyed this series and I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future.

Going into this book I had so many different emotions. I was obviously excited, I love these Bromance boys and was PUMPED to get back to all their hijinks. But I was also 100% skeptical. The Russian?? The farting, crapping his pants, broken English character we’ve been laughing at for three books?! How in the name of Bromance was LKA going to make me fall for this man??

And even after reading it, I’m wondering how she managed to accomplish it AND somehow make him the swooniest of all the Bromance boys???

When I say I love Vlad, I mean I reaaaaally love Vlad!! I just wanted to wrap him up in a big hug and never let him go. He is the sweetest, pining, lovable hero I’ve ever read in a contemporary. There! I said it!! And I’m not taking it back!!

It’s so rare to find male characters that show a lot of emotion and Vlad was a character that broke my heart and had me sighing and awwwing the whole time! Man isn’t afraid to cry and I wasn’t afraid to love him all the more for it!

This book is now my favorite of the whole series. Marriage of convenience and best friends to lovers and a whole other mix of spoilery tropes that had me absolutely GIDDY!

I love you, Vlad and Elena. I. Love. You.

Do yourself a favor and PRE ORDER THIS GOODNESS!!!

This book was gifted to me by the publisher, the review is my own.

Vlad has been married 6 years to his teenage crush, Elena. But is it really marriage if they have never been intimate and she lives in another city? One day Elena shows up and asks for a divorce, wanting to return to Russia and continue her investigation of her father’s disappearance. Will Vlad fight for her to stay? Can his Bromance Brother Book Club and the Loners help repair their marriage?

I didn’t know this was a series, I just thought it sounded like a fun romance. This is a great standalone book, you don’t have to read the others to understand the relationships between the bromance book club. I lived in eastern Europe several years ago and spent much of the time with Russian speakers. I loved the food and culture, so it was fun to see it expressed in this novel. I even caught myself at times translating Vlad and Elena’s conversations into Russian in my head. The novel that Vlad is writing interwoven into the actual story is fun too. How he tries to work through his situation by writing about another’s. It was a charming story full of many laughs and entertaining characters.

Overall, I like the novel. There was one character I was not so fond of… Malcolm’s encyclopedia rants about gendered words or toxic masculinity had my eyes rolling. In regards to Vlad’s character, I never knew an emotional Russian. Most that I knew were so stoic, and the language is rough, that even innocent conversations sounded aggressive. The ending was silly. Who opens the door on the side that someone’s feet are? You are just asking to be kicked! If there was experience with kidnapping, shouldn’t you take that in to consideration? But everything turns out happy… just what the read is looking for. A sigh of contentment that the main characters struggles and hardship brought them together, more devoted and stronger than before.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. I think I will have to go check out the other books in this series… probably not one on Malcolm, if it’s ever written..

“It took me a long time to realize it wasn’t my job to convince him that I was worth fighting for.”

Our favorite bookclub is back! This time they need to fix our favorite friend Vlad, aka the Russian. When his wife of convenience decides she wants a divorce, Vlad is heartbroken. While each of them feels that the other doesn’t have real feelings for them, deep down they are both struggling. With the bookclub and the local group of widows, can they bring Vlad and Elena back together?

This line. Everything about this line! It spoke to me so hard. Throughout this series, Vlad was always the fun loving, goofy, bathroom issue having, athlete. This book quickly dove into his absolutely adorable, teddy bear, softer side. I loved both him and Elena so damn much and I wanted to smack them both and just shove them together! This one was probably my favorite of the series. I seriously could not love Vlad more. It’s also getting fun to guess who the next book will be about while reading! My guess is Colton and I think I may know his love interest too! If you have loved our bookclub bros, you will fall head over heals for our favorite Russians story!

SO MANY thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for this arc of Isn’t it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams!

Pub date: 7/20/21

This was BY FAR my favorite of the whole series. I had no idea I would walk out of this book obsessed with Vlad aka The Russian. Elena was such a good character and she seemed to fit right into their group while also making me very hungry. Once again, the guys’ friendship was my favorite piece of this story and I enjoyed seeing how they help each other grow. This story introduced a new group - the Loners and I was equally obsessed with them as well (even you Claud).

A perfectly paced romance, a sweet group of characters (plus some random animals), and an abundance amount of LOL moments - Lyssa Kay Adams has knocked this one right out of the park.

Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for a copy of the book. I am so excited to read The Russian’s story and it did not disappoint! The story of marriage of convenience and would it end in a divorce or can they get over the last 6 years. I love how gentle Vlad is and he is unabashed with his feelings. So many tender moments but also so many funny moments too. To see all the Bromance come together and help Vlad with his situation is what makes this series so special. And I need to find my own cheese man to get try some special cheese.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lyssa Kay Adams, and Berkley publishing for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

My honest review is this... you could not have penned a better novel about the Russian and his beautiful heartache and joy. Vlad aka the Russian did not just join the Bromance Book Club because he had free time. He did to improve his marriage, his failing marriage. Elena has been chasing ghosts these past six years they've been married and is determined to not cause Vlad any more heart break. All that changes when there is an accident on the ice and Elena must take care of her long time friend and husband. How will this change their relationship? What secrets do we learn about the Russian? Will their marriage survive?

I have loved each of the Bromance Book Club books and this one is no exception. It is a beautiful serving of wholesome nontoxic masculinity, communication both bad and good, some gloriously passionate flirting and sex scenes, and a deeper story being told underneath.

My favorite part about all of these books is that there is always something deeper. More meaningful connections, discussions on abuse, abandonment, and in this one, a father gone missing. Romance on it's own is fine and dandy but Adams delivers romance and story in spades. Her writing remains consistent and a delight as we delve deeper into the members of the club. The Russian has always intrigued me, but his story is such a wonder. He's the largest teddy bear and his passion for Elena is breath taking.

11/10 would recommend this book to romance lovers, mystery enjoyers, and anyone looking to chuckle a little while they swoon.

I really have loved this entire series, and could not wait for the Russian's story to finally be told. It's so cute and adorable just how in love he is, and how much he loves the concept of love. His wife is super sour sometimes, and I feel like certain things could've been improved/ or bettered, but this is such a cute book and I recommend this series to any romance fan, or anyone that wants a good laugh.

From the beginning of this series, I loved the Russian aka Vlad. He was humorous and romantic. I’m so glad that the author decided to give him his own book because he deserves all the love and happiness that this book had to offer!

One thing I always enjoy about these books is the dual point-of-view. We already know Vlad but we know nothing about his mysterious wife, Elena. I liked getting to know her and the feelings she has towards Vlad both before and after their marriage of convenience. Also that trope was exceptional in this book!

Elena is very passionate about journalism and uncovering her father’s truth that is connected with his disappearance. When it comes to this series, this was the most intense. I do like seeing the continual theme of how women can be poorly treated whether it’s a work environment or being trafficked from another country in hopes for a better future. Trafficking is such an important issue and I’m glad to see it get page time.

Vlad is the best cinnamon roll in the world. His love life wasn’t what I was expecting at all but it made me appreciate him more. I also love his love for animals because it’s exactly how I am, haha. Give me all the animals! His life doesn’t just revolve around hockey either. Since Vlad is passionate about romance novels, he has decided to write his own. It’s always nice to get snippets of what the men are reading or in this case, working on.

Their relationship is rocky from the beginning. They tiptoe around one another and don’t have the best communication. I loved seeing them work through their problems slowly and get the help they need from those around them.

Another trope I loved in this book was the found family. Not only is the Bromance Book Club always there for their members but Vlad also had another group made up of ladies who had lost their husbands and were alone. They also came to the rescue for his marriage and worked with Elena. It just gave me all the feelings.

Overall, this was my favorite book so far. I’m glad I finally sat down to read it as it was so worth it! I am curious if there will be more books. I feel like there was a hint at a new relationship but only time will tell!

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

This is my official petition to never let this series end ever.

I was a little bummed to not get to hear from Thea & the girls in this one, but the new characters introduced definitely does soothe the hurt. Vlad and Elena's story was so sweet I really had to slow my roll and not rip through this in one day. Can't wait for the release to listen to the audio!!

If you aren't reading Lyssa Kay Adams' Bromance Book Club series, you are missing out! They are all standalone books, but I definitely recommend you read the prior ones to enjoy the full experience and get the entire backstory.

Like a mother can't have favorites, I can't have them either with this series, BUT I do particularly adore the hero Vladimir in Isn't it Romantic?

Vlad is a rugged, sexy hockey player with an intensively sensitive core. Sigh. He may have married the heroine, Elena, in order for her to stay in the States, but he fell for her and his membership in the book club was a strategic move to win her heart. He's been patient and supportive with her throughout their marriage of convenience, so when she ultimately rejects his offer to make a real go at their marriage, it breaks his heart. It seems as things are at a dead end for them, but they are brought together again when Vlad is injured. Sparks fly and feelings develop. Both are a bit stubborn with high walls around their hearts and refuse to acknowledge their developing feelings.

There is sigh-worthy romance with highly entertaining secondary characters, laugh-out-loud comedy, and all the feels—basically everything you could ask for in a standout romance novel. Lyssa Kay Adams is a gem and Isn't It Bromantic? truly delivers.