Lyssa Kay Adams' Bromance Book Club series is one of my favorites, and "Isn't it Bromantic" has quickly become my favorite of the series to date. Vlad has always been a favorite character, and I was so excited to read his and Elena's story. It also made me really hungry for Russian food...

This was a great addition to the series. I feel like each book is better than the previous one, like the author's writing is progressing with each new title.

I think this may be the book fans have been waiting for. Focusing on favorite, The Russian, readers are introduced to his love story with wife Elena. This book has everything: conflict, true love, insecurity, compassion, heat, and even a little bit of mystery thrown in. We are introduced to some new characters, the Loners, a group of women, neighbors, and friends who share one thing in common, the loss of a husband whether by divorce or death. The group bring great laughter and personality to the story. The rest of the Bromance Book Club is there as well to support Vlad and Elena. Overall, the book was a great read. I initially worried this would be a 'be careful what you wish for' when it came to a book about Vlad. He is such a tender hearted character who brings a lot of comedic elements to the other stories in the series. Adams did his story justice and I think fans will be happy with the story she created.

Vlad. Oh sweet Vlad. From book one I have been hoping and praying that The Russian got his own HEA. I was thrilled with this book! I loved his character development and the supporting cast was perfection. The mystery subplot I felt didn't add too much to the series. It could have easily not been there and I wouldn’t have missed it. Overall still a highly enjoyable addition to the series.

4.5⭐

Hands down my new favorite of the series! My expectations were definitely high going into this sequel since Vlad was a favorite side character of mine from the previous books. And this book blew away all my self-induced expectations.

This had all of the best romance tropes smashed into swoon-worthy perfection - mutual pining, care taking, childhood friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, marriage in trouble, second chance romance. And on top of that, the chemistry and love between the main characters made my heart soar.

I loved the balance of the romance with the book club in this one! One of my favorite things about this series is the amazing friendship of the book club and watching them all be there for each other. So I loved that we got a lot of that in this one! But there was also still lots of time with the main characters so explore their fears and emotions. It was fantastically balanced and paced.

The one this that kept this from a 5 star, all time favorite, was Elena's journalism sub plot. It just didn't add much to the story in my opinion and it would have been just as strong without that ending portion thrown in.

I don't know if there are any more books planned for this series, but you better believe I'll read whatever Lyssa Kay Adams releases next!

Outstanding! How do these books get better and better?? I wasn't sure I was ready for the Russians story, but it was everything I never knew I needed. I don't want this series to end!

I have to be honest, I'm a little disappointed in this book. OK a lot disappointed. After having LOVED Crazy, Stupid Bromance along with the other two books in this series, I was ecstatic for this book. Even if I wasn't totally sold as The Russian as a romantic lead, I had faith that it would be as good as the others. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way.

Let's start with the good stuff. As always, the book club is what shines in this series. The camaraderie and friendship among this group of guys is the highlight of every book. I love the way they support each other and learn from each other. In this book especially they were there for Vlad and were bigger parts of the novel than in previous books.
I also liked Vlad a lot overall. My biggest complaint is that he reads as a completely different character than he was in the first three books but as a lead here, he was great. He's kind-hearted and loving and swoon-worthy enough to carry the book.

Now onto more negative things. I didn't really buy the relationship between Elena and Vlad. I didn't feel the same love for them as I did for the other couples. Even though I love the book club with all of my heart, I wish Vlad and Elena's relationship was a little more focused than on the help from the club. Their scenes together just didn't have the heart-pounding chemistry I expect by Lyssa Kay Adams.
And my biggest gripe of all: the sex trafficking subplot. It was random, poorly developed, and mess with the pacing of the entire book. I felt like screaming at the book during the last few chapters as they felt so out of place.

Overall, I am a die-hard Bromance Book Club fan and always will be, I just wish this book had the same charm as the first three.

I have been waiting for Vlad to get his own HEA for SO LONG NOW. It was everything I wanted and more. He's just amazing. If anyone has an idea where I can find my very own soft and tender romance novel reading (and writing!) Russian hockey player hit me up. The marriage of convenience in crisis really worked for me. I warmed up to Elena fairly quickly and was rooting for the two of them to turn things around.

My favourite series!!!! I loved getting another book from another bromance book club members view, and this time Vlad! It made me laugh and feel warm hearted and definitely ties with the first book as the best for me!

an incredibly slow burn romance full of passion, friendship deeper than family, and tantalizing descriptions of Russian food and pastries. This is my favorite from the series yet! Vlad Konnikov is that huggable teddy bear who recites Pushkin poems from memory but also can probably break a man's spine just from a hug. I'm glad he finally got to tell his own love story.

I always knew Vlad was my favorite of the bros, but this book cemented this for me! I loved getting to know the teddy bear Russian more and Elena was adorable as well. The heart and weirdness of this couple made me smile ear to ear the whole book. I will recommend the heck out of this.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Finally, Isn’t It Bromantic? is the story of one of my favorite characters in the Bromance Book Club series. Vlad, the Russian defenseman, a gentle giant, with many gastrointestinal catastrophes, and cheese fanatic is getting his HEA… hopefully – well at least the one that he is writing. We shall see if his personal HEA comes to fruition.

Vlad married Elena (his best friend) initially to assist with visa issues. Once they arrived from Russia (Vlad has been pursuing his professional NHL hockey career in Nashville for the past six years), Vlad and Elena lived apart as Elena went to university in Chicago. As a member of the Bromance Book Club, Vlad has the support of his “brothers” when the true nature of Vlad’s marriage comes out. And his buddies are all too willing to help him in his romantic endeavours to win over Elena as a true wife in all that it entails. Alas, the story is of course more convoluted. Elena has some personal demons that she must address and work through.

As a result of an injury on ice, Vlad needs some personal care so Elena comes from Chicago to help Vlad. And thus, the fun starts. At first, the two are awkward around each other but as time progresses, a peaceful co-existence emerges – though you can tell that Vlad would really like something more.

I really enjoyed watching both Vlad and Elena swim through the muddy waters of their relationship. With Vlad’s Bromance Book Club members as well as “the Loners” (a group of divorcees and widows who have befriended Vlad) working in concert – how did Elena and Vlad stand a chance of not getting together! I love the addition of the Loners and certainly hope they are in future books! There is of course, misunderstanding and angst between the two and all I wanted to do was scream at Vlad and Elena and say ‘just talk to each other!’.

Also glad that Vlad has finally solved his gastrointestinal issues…a huge relief – both for himself and his friends! And I had the biggest chuckle when the big cheese secret was divulged. Additionally, we got a bit of an education on Russian cuisine… Yummy is all I can say.

There is some heart-stopping drama as Elena addresses her issues with her relationship with her father and her past. So this story is not just romance, but a bit of adventure as well. I look forward to the next installment of the Bromance Book Club series with baited breath. Here is hoping it is Colton’s turn? We shall see.

If you like a romance with humor (you will have some laugh-out-loud moments) and a wee bit of drama, then I suggest you pick up Isn’t it Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams, get a beverage of your choice, and settle down for a really enjoyable read.

I really liked Vlad's story. He's a character readers really fall in love with. This series has been such a good one for light-hearted reads and wonderful friendship.

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ...
𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵: 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘸𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦" -Pushkin

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
-Russian Vlad Konnikov, star defenseman for the Nashville Vipers, married his childhood friend, Elena, enabling her to safely leave Russia after her journalist father mysteriously disappeared.

-Elena has been studying journalism in Chicago. She believes it's too late for her and Vlad and has asked him for a divorce so she can return to Russia.

-Vlad has never shared his true feelings with Elena and, with hope fading for a "real" marriage, he turns to the Bromance Book Club for help.

-After Vlad suffers a season-ending injury, Elena postpones her return to Russa to care for him. This gives the bros, and a group of widows called the Loners, a chance to help Vlad win Elena's heart.

𝗜 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁
-This is the 4th book in the 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 series, and while it works fine on its own, I think readers might enjoy this story more if they have at least read the first book, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯.

-Vlad's 'gentle giant' demeanor, in contrast to his tough play on the ice, has endeared him to many, yet his friends are dismayed to learn he has been hiding his loneliness and heartbreak and are determined to help.

-This book is my favorite of the four. Previously known simply as "The Russian," it's fitting that he is now called Vlad as we learn there's more depth to his character than we've seen in previous books.

-A subplot involving Elena and some nefarious characters who want to keep her from discovering the truth about her father's disappearance adds some depth to Elena's character but felt a little clunky at times.

-If you enjoy friends-to-lovers meets fake-relationship meets second-chance romance and a serving of artisan cheese, then you will enjoy this book!

Vladimir is a hockey player in Tennessee. Originally from Russia, he married Elena, whose father disappeared years ago. Their marriage was primarily to protect Elena, whom Vladimir has been friends with since they were children, but their relationship is hollow without feelings of true love. Vladimir joined the Bromance Book Club seeking a magical elixir of literature that would evoke romantic sparks of love. Yet so far, all that has met Vladimir in his search for love is a brick wall and plenty of evaporated dreams. Seeking an outlet for his lovelorn hope, he begins to write of what he yearns for, and wonders if he can manifest the happiness he deserves from the written pages. The Bromance Book Club is by his side, and Vladimir begins to see where his life can go, only for dark shadows of the past to loom over all that Vladimir and Elena need. Can Vladimir keep Elena safe and discover the love that he deserves, or will they be torn asunder in the end?

This remains one of the best series that I keep kicking myself for not reading sooner. Each book adds something new and great, and this one is no exception! In previous stories, the book club will read a romance story, but here they actually help Vladimir work through his romantic ennui by helping him to write his own romance novel. The friendship that the club continues to build with its members is just awesome, and many recurring characters return, along with bringing in the new Loners, a couple of previously married women. A central theme of this series is that masculinity is defined by more than trite phrases like, "Man up!" or "Be a man!", and I appreciate that it's examined from many different angles as these stories continue being told.

This story is my second favorite in the series so far, nearly tied with the first story. I couldn't get enough of it, which is part of why I think the ending felt a little abrupt, and I wanted more questions answered at the end to wrap things up nice and tidy. However, I imagine there will be another entry in this series, and maybe some questions will be answered then. I'm hoping the next story will be about Colton! Isn't It Bromantic? is another heartwarming, soul-searching, stereotype-breaking winner from Lyssa Kay Adams, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who like to see men step outside their comfort zone for the sake of love, who enjoy stories where characters must confront their internal struggles in tandem with the plot, and who like to see groups that support each other when the going gets tough. Keep the bromance going!

4.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this book! I love the Bromance Book Club series, and this was another fun installment with lovable characters. I love the Russian and loved getting to dig deeper into his story and see the friendship between the bros grow and the relationship with Elena and Vlad. I docked a star because I felt like the relationship with Elena and Vlad wasn't fully set up in the beginning so I was confused about their history and how that got them where they were at the start of the story. I also felt like some of the side plots (Elena's investigation into her dad's work, the cheese man) went too in detail and didn't add much to the story. But this was still a fun, quick read, and I loved how they set up the next bro to be the lead of the next book in the series and am already anxiously awaiting it! This series is an automatic read for me and think you'll enjoy it if you loved the others!

4.5 rounded up to 5.

"Vlad, love changes everything." - Vlad's mom, Isn't It Bromantic?

Vlad Konnikov - otherwise known as "The Russian" to the members of The Bromance Book Club - finally gets the chance to tell his story in Isn't It Bromantic, and trust me when I say to drop what you're doing and pre-order it now (or get those early hold requests in at your local library) because this book will steal your heart away.

This story has a little bit of everything - a childhood friendship; a marriage of convenience; mysteries to be solved; a romance novel waiting to be written; mouth-watering Russian dishes; a great group none as The Loners; an underground cheese operation; and, of course, the hilarious, heartwarming antics of our favorite romance-novel-reading dudes.

We may know Vlad for his bathroom-destroying ways, but y'all, as you get to know this big teddy bear of a guy, your heart will melt, and you'll come to love and appreciate the Bromance boys even more in this installment. You'll definitely laugh, you may tear up, and as you close this book, you'll be eager to devour the next one!

Bravo, Lyssa Kay Adams! Like a fine wine (or cheese!), this series just keeps getting better and better!

*Review goes live on 8/2/2021 8am EST

THE 411...

Who else has been counting down the months for the release of The Russian's story arc?!?! I couldn't wait, I just knew there was more to him than the comedic scenes we saw him in when reading the other Bromance Book Club books. Happy to report that there is Book Lovers! Vlad aka The Russian is perhaps the ultimate hopeless romantic in the club but he's running out of that hope that has kept him in a marriage of convenience to Russian journalist Elena Konnikova. Vlad is a famous hockey player who has done well for himself in the United States, marrying Elena who was his childhood best friend was something he was happy to do at the time. Life for Elena in the states has been a mix of both good and not necessarily bad but definitely a big adjustment mixed in with a yearning for home. Vlad takes the approach of giving her space to find her way in her new normal which includes at one point going to Chicago in order to pursue her degree in journalism. The time away from each other doesn't really help either of them come together in their marriage. We see them stumble through interactions while trying to learn each others boundaries. This changes when Vlad suffers a sports injury and Elena sees this as an opportunity to show him gratitude for all that he's done for her. In the background we also learn that Elena is actively investigating the mysterious disappearance of her father who was also a journalist. She decides to pick up where he left off with his story on a sex trafficking ring but as we've seen in the other installments in this series, things get a bit dark and complicated along the way. 

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS...

Vlad and Elena's story is not just a marriage of convenience, it's also friends to lovers and SUPER slow burn. I would say around the 52% mark is when we see our characters really start to make progress in their feelings towards one another. It's not filled with cute moments or steamy scenes, instead we get their backstory in Russia and the childhood memories that pretty much makes their love story feel destined to be. Elena can be a bit stand offish and is self aware that she's not as warm as other women she comes across. However, if I had to take a guess at her love language I'd say it's a combo between acts of service and physical touch. The latter posing an issue since Vlad is SUPER respectful of Elena and would NEVER think to even kiss her for fear of pushing her away. As for acts of service, my girl Elena LOVES to cook and bake all of Vlad's favorite Russian dishes and just so happens to have learned them from his own mother! I was fully invested in their love story and would go as far as saying that it is the most fleshed out from the other couples in the club simply because they share so much history. The fellas reconvene to help The Russian who is adamant about NOT being their next project but eventually gives in because he still has hope for his own love story. Also, Vlad has a project of his own he's keeping under wraps (won't say what cause SPOILERS) but I was both surprised and cheesy smiling when reading about his passion. What I didn't love? I always find the subplots in these books to be very interesting, having the potential to cover some hard hitting topics. That being said, I always end up feeling like the subplots aren't quite as developed as the romance. The sex trafficking ring we learn about in this book sucked me right in but it quickly wraps up at the end of the book. I would've like to see Elena's journalistic skills come into play some more. What I loved? the healthy dose of our fellas in action, comedic relief, the continued efforts towards fighting toxic masculinity, supportive male AND female friendships as well as our couple in the kitchen cooking together. I'm NEVER quitting the Bromance Book Club!

It’s no secret to people who have been around my page that The Bromance Book Club series is one of my favorite romance series ever - it features men who read romance novels to improve their relationships with the women in their lives. When I got an ARC of the latest book, Isn’t It Bromantic, I flipped out and dove in pretty much right away.

The biggest hurdle this book had was to make Vlad into a romantic lead from the comedic relief character he had been in the previous books. Fortunately, right from the first pages, the book began fleshing him out as a deep and multi-faceted character. He was a total cinnamon roll - deeply compassionate and caring towards everyone in his life. I loved that part of his story was his writing his own romance novel - it made a ton of sense character-wise.

I loved Elena and Vlad’s unconventional love story - they started as a green card marriage to get Elena into the USA. They lived apart for most of their marriage - and when Vlad tried to make their relationship real, she shot him down. They were forced back together when Vlad was injured and needed someone to care for him - this forced proximity really helped highlight the chemistry the two already had, even after being apart for years. As they got to know each other again and discussed their shared history, their chemistry only grew and grew. As they each worked through their personal hangups, it was clear that they were definitely meant to be together. When they finally got together, it felt like great payoff after all of the build up.

I’m so, so glad that Vlad got such an amazing story - he became a well rounded character and is definitely my fave member of the Bromance Book Club. I can’t wait for the next story in the series. If you haven’t read any of the books in this series yet, you have some excellent reading ahead of you. 5/5

I read this in a day and cried several times. Oh the Russian, you are officially my favourite story in this series.