I love Colton, but this installment in the series fell flat for me. Mostly because I couldn't stand Gretchen. I get that she had childhood trauma, but she's 35 years old. Time to grow a pair. And her parents and brothers were such one dimensional bad guys. What was their driving force? How did Gretchen escape from that family somewhat normal?

I was also sad that the "Book Club" book didn't feature more in this story. It seemed like an afterthought more than anything else.

That said, it's always fun to catch up with the Bromance Crew, and Colton was adorable. It was worth reading for that alone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

As much as I've enjoyed the previous books in this series, this one just didn't work as well for me. I love grumpy/sunshine but this one was difficult to fully enjoy just due to the chemistry. I didn't find it believable. Overall, I do recommend this series to anyone that enjoys funny characters and fun romances.

Can we call this a retelling of A Christmas Carol? Maybe?

Our favorite book club is back to tell the story of sunshine Colton the country music star and grumpy immigration attorney Gretchen. This second-chance romance is full of chemistry, Christmas spirit, and all the found family goodness that this author keeps delivering. You'll need all the laughs the characters provide to keep you from launching your kindle (book) due to the toxicity that is Gretchen's family. A fun holiday read for any time of the year.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for my advanced copy!

Lyssa Kay Adams’ Bromance Book Club series takes on a holiday-tastic tale with its fifth volume. This book definitely bounces back from the series’ mid-stream doldrums, becoming the best I’ve read in the series since book two, Undercover Bromance. Even better: this is Colton’s book.

The previous Christmas, country superstar Colton Wheeler had a one-night stand with immigration lawyer Gretchen Winthrop, whom he hooked up with after Mack and Liv’s (Undercover Bromance) wedding. Colton wants his time with Gretchen to be anything but a one-time thing. Sure, their romance is complicated by the fact that she’s the ex-girlfriend of his friend Mack, but he knows what’s happened between the two of them is special. Unfortunately for him, Gretchen refers to their encounter as a “mistake” and in spite of their warm banter, walks away from his motel room and stays out of touch.

A year passes, and Colton is coping with a career that’s in an iffy spot and he is still hung up on Gretchen. He’s just completed a new set of demos which will take his sound in a new direction, but his record company wants more of the same and refuses to release what he’s sent them. They call him in to renegotiate his contract, and tell him that if he won’t work with the songwriters they’ve handpicked for him to produce some radio friendly singles, he’ll be found in violation of his contract.

Meanwhile, Gretchen – who hates the holidays and is severely estranged from her family - is suddenly called home at Christmastime, a notion that feels like a scene from her own personal hell. Recently offered an exciting job opportunity in Washington, D.C., the last thing she wants to do his head back to the family’s homestead. Her brother Evan wants her to return to the family nest because a seat on the board of the family’s charitable foundation is finally opening up, something Gretchen has always wanted to take part in. The family business – a centuries old whiskey company named Carraig Anonair – also requires another favor of her: to coax Colton Wheeler into being the brand’s new ambassador.

Colton agrees to help out if Gretchen will agree to go out on three dates with him, thus giving him a chance to land her after their bungled one-night stand. With the support of his fellow Bromance Book Club members, can Colton woo grumpy Gretchen into his arms for good? Or will their business and family lives wreak havoc on their romance?

A Very Merry Bromance works because the relationship between good-guy people pleaser Colton and Gretchen, who will not compromise to save her life, truly works.

Colton is a genuinely great guy who wants to be a good musician and really likes Gretchen, but he can’t stop shoving his own foot into his mouth. Gretchen is brittle and closed-off sometimes. They need each other to help them grow and improve.

It’s a good romance that moves at the right pace and makes absolutely perfect sense. And the book is just as brightly funny as the rest of the series, though there are a couple of moments that veer toward humiliation humor. The rest of the Bromance Book Club guys pop up throughout the novel, as do their spouses and significant others, to offer advice and absorb some gossip. Colton’s family is predictably great while Gretchen’s is particularly awful, and the holiday atmosphere is cheery without being overdone.

What doesn’t work as well is the book’s sudden third-act turn toward family business melodrama. Additionally, some of the dialogue is a little clunky and stagey. But overall, A Very Merry Bromance is worth stuffing your stocking with. It squeaks out a DIK from me.

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The best book club is back, this time with a Christmas setting! I loved doing this series binge back in the fall and I'm excited to continue on with A Very Merry Bromance, but I have to tell you I was not all that excited to focus on Colton this go around seeing that he wasn't my favorite side character throughout the other books. But I am happy to say that this story changed my mind on him a bit as we met his family and were provided more of a backstory to him. I also liked his love interest, Gretchen, but oh my goodness was her family unbearable. They gaslighted her, manipulated her, and made her to feel like scum her entire life. She had no need to talk to these horrible people.

As has been the case with several of the Bromance books now, there are just a few things that I have to hold back from cringing about. One being the main characters instantly going from "pretend enemies but really crushing on each other" to full blown couple. Do people really ask others who begin dating someone whether they're madly in love and how far into the relationship they've gone so far? Not just their friends doing it, but uncles and horrible brothers. I also don't care for the big "breakup" before the grand finale, and I honestly thought we were going to get away with not having one this round based on the events that occurred, but fear not reader! The formula for this series still holds true and it just rubbed me the wrong way for this story.

The Christmas atmosphere was such a fun inclusion, especially for the secondary characters. I would love to see this entire series turn into a tv show just so I could see Vlad in a Santa suit. And if the next book doesn't involve the Cheese Man, I am rioting!

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

An absolutely delightful, charming, and heartwarming read that wraps up this series beautifully and makes me want to visit (or move?) to Nashville. I need more in this series!

Another delightful addition to a playful series. Beloved tropes and emotionally evolved heartthrobs make for a witty, flirty holiday read.

I read a Christmas book in the summer...and it worked. I’ve been reading this series since the very first book came out, Adams hasn’t disappointed me with a single instalment. And what do you know, a very merry bromance was no exception to that either. The romance was flawless and of course with the combination of so many of my favourite tropes, I had a blast.

Ugh, I love this series so much that I’m so depressed that I’ve caught up. A Very Merry Bromance is the fifth installment in the the Bromance Bookclub series and it’s SO GOOD! 😭

I love this series (and this book in particular) because the characters need to face the trauma from their past in order to accept the love they deserve. Colton and Gretchen have amazing chemistry and this book really got me in the Christmas spirit! (Even though it’s July.)

It’s hard to choose my favorite in the series but this one is in a three way tie with with Undercover Bromance and Isn’t it Bromantic?.

The only “critique” is that the romance story that mirrors this story kinda fell off at the end in comparison to the other books in this series. This isn’t that big of a deal though because the main storyline is so fantastic.

Thank you so much Net Galley and Berkley Publishing for this digital reviewer copy. The best Christmas in July present EVER!

The Bromance is back!!
The holiday setting is dreamy, the sparky chemistry between Colton and Gretchen was delicious, and even The Cheese Man made an appearance! Ms Adams is an automatic read for me and after all I’ve gushed about it, my husband is about to start the series!
Bravo once again! It’s another hit for me!

This series consistently delivers for me! In this one we have a sunshine hero with a grumpy heroine all wrapped up in a balance of intense family drama and Christmas festivities ... including Vlad in a Santa suit. You don't want to miss it!

Despite being completely ghosted afterwards, a one-night stand one year ago left country music star Colton Wheeler enamoured by immigration attorney Gretchen Winthrop. Unexpectedly crossing paths once again, Gretchen is given an ultimatum by her brother to obtain Colton as a brand ambassador for the family owned whiskey line.

But of course, Colton cannot let this opportunity pass without his own fun. Forcing cheer into Gretchen's Christmas-hating heart, Colton is the most lovable pest, determined to prove his commitment even when Gretchen continually pushes him away. Their chemistry is hot, hot, hot!

And you know the Bromance Book Club added their hilarious, blunt opinions along the way! I really loved the strong, heartwarming message of found family in this one. A wonderful addition to the series!

The Bromance Book club - holiday edition - is definitely a very awesome and irreverent take on a Christmas Romance. It takes a Christmas Carol and gives it a whole new take with all the best elements of a holiday romance thrown in. And not to mention all the usual funny antics of the guys in the book club. This book focuses in on Colton - the happy-go-lucky, easygoing country super star. Colton has definitely been a favorite character of mine along the way. Seeing him love all of Gretchen was lovely. He definitely "got her" in a way that clearly no one else in her life really did. Colton hasn't had an easy road to get where he is now - but ultimately - things have been pretty easy for him lately. Until he spends one night with Gretchen and she pretty much breaks his heart.

The most interesting thing about this series - well beyond a bunch of guys reading romance and using them as instruction manuals to help them in their lives - is how freaking unlikeable most of the women in the books are. Gretchen really is not a typical girl in a romance book. She is an austere, workaholic who hates Christmas and has no patience with anything she considers wasteful. She comes from a very wealthy background, but has all but rejected that now (with VERY good reasons). The issue is - she really comes across to most people as a self-righteous, judgmental person who looks down at us mere mortals who like frivolous things. Even though this really isn't her intent - she's so deep in her own world that she can't see beyond her laser focus on helping immigrants.

Gretchen's attitude towards romance and love is consistent with all the women in these books. Its somewhat of a role reversal - and always pushes me to really consider why flipping the script in this way makes things challenging for me as a reader! There is really so much to love about the book - and especially the way both Colton and Gretchen grow as people over the course of the book - even though it really takes place over a pretty short period of time.

The entire series has been great - and this book is no exception. I definitely recommend to fans of the series - and if you haven't read any of the other books, that's no biggie. You could very much start here - you'll end up reading all the others soon after!

I received this via NetGalley as an ARC, but these opinions are all my own.

4 stars. Look, you either love emotional found family romances or you don’t. For me, that’s basically my catnip. This instalment of the Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams features oft mentioned side character Colton Wheeler, a country music superstar who’s been a bit dried up in recent years. At the end of the last book in this series, we see Colton eyeing Gretchen Winthrop, the immigration lawyer who also previously showed up in a few books, notably as the casual date of Braden Mack. At Braden and her friend Liv’s wedding, Colton and Gretchen hook up. And then she ghosts him for a year, believing that they are too different and she’s basically out of his league. But circumstances with her (pretty crappy) family force them back in proximity, and then…watch out. Colton is going to have Christmas romance no matter what Grinchy Gretchen says.

Did I like this one? Absolutely. The focus on Christmas romances this time was really fun, full of tree decorating, galas, and silly Santa antics with the rest of the crew. But what I really liked was the idea that the Bromance Book Club was an anchor and found family for Colton, who had a mostly happy but financially constrained childhood. His foil is Gretchen, who has the opposite: grew up in a cold household with tons and tons of wealth. They are, indeed, total opposites and their sparring is really fun.

This is definitely one of the most predictable of this series, but hey, so are most Christmas romances. The goal here is enjoyment, a cozy hug of a story that you will love and sink into at Christmas time. For that, you can’t beat A Very Merry Bromance. I absolutely binged it like a champ, and you will, too. Hopefully while you’re sitting by a fireplace, eating roasted chestnuts and drinking hot chocolate while the snow falls gently outside.

Everyone’s favorite book bros are back with Colton’s story, A Very Merry Bromance.

Colton and Gretchen are a sunshine/grump couple but since this is a holiday story it’s Santa and Scrooge.

Gretchen first comes onto Colton’s radar at Mack and Liv’s wedding. After a hot night she runs out on the country charmer. He’s too high profile as a singing superstar and she needs to stay out of the limelight to avoid her family. Toxic doesn't even begin to describe Gretchen’s family. A year later Colton still cannot stop thinking about her and then she walks onto a bar and approaches him in need of a favor. Let the Christmas magic commence.

Always enjoyable to return to the Bromance Book club world created by Lyssa Kay Adams

With each book Adams always introduces unique supporting characters and this time it is Duff, a bartender at a Nashville dive bar, and Peggy who takes her role as a Silver Streakers instructor very seriously.

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

Lyssa Kay Adams is back with her Bromance series....this time with hunky country music star Colton's love story! And it's a Christmas romance too!!

A Very Merry Bromance was full of all the trademark elements that the Bromance series is known for: powerful friendships, authentic + endearing protagonists, slapstick comedy and witty quips, discussion of romance tropes, steamy chemistry between love interests, and the swoonworthy grand gesture. Not to mention the encouragement of effective communication, healthy coping, independent heroines and hunky, feminist heroes makes my heart burst. This series is fresh, fun and I appreciate how the author explores deeper sensitive topics (mental health, family stressors, etc) in a respectful yet hopeful way. I especially loved the use of the grump/sunshine trope in this romance and thought it tied in perfectly with the Christmas theme. I hope this series never ends!!

Thank you so much to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for my copy!

While I have enjoyed the previous books in this series, this one felt a little flat to me. I like the “grumpy/sunshine” trope (and how Adams often gets pretty “meta” with the tropes), but this one felt a bit stilted. I didn't feel the chemistry with Colton and Gretchen, especially given that Adams can certainly write chemistry that lights pages on fire! The tragic backstories also felt a little trite and didn't seem to go anywhere other than popping up to further the plot. While I still enjoyed the read, and other lovers of this series will probably enjoy it too, it just didn't feel like it lived up to how great a book I know this author can produce.

I enjoyed this installment in the Bromance Book Club series by Lyssa Kay Adams. It's a little odd reading a Christmas book in the middle of summer, but I found myself getting into the holiday spirit while reading. Colton and Gretchen have good chemistry and I enjoyed Colton being attracted to Gretchen's grumpy personality. The book has a grumpy/sunshine trope happening but with gender role reversal, which was a nice change. Usually, it's the female with the 'sunshine' personality, so this was a nice and refreshing change. Overall, it was a cute read and I would recommend!

I was absolutely thrilled to receive an ARC of the latest installment in Lyssa Kay Adams’ Bromance Book Club series. BONUS: it’s a Christmas Bromance! 🎄 🎅🏼

Colton Wheeler, a mega country music star, and Gretchen Winthrop, a boss babe immigration lawyer, have a single amazing night together but then she ghosts him. He’s left confused and pining to reconnect. She is adamant to leave it in the past but finds herself making a deal that leads her back to him.

I keep coming back to this series because I cannot get enough of the bromance book club bros. They are dumb and hilarious and outrageous and somehow super thoughtful and insightful. However, this one is a bit heavier on the MCs personal drama while the book club takes a backseat. I missed the bros’ antics a lot. I didn’t LOVE this one as much as the others in the series but I wouldn’t have passed on it either. Feeling neutral about it I guess. There was a small twist I didn’t see coming and then I just simply could not read fast enough. I binged the last third of the book in one sitting.

Things you’ll find in this Christmas Rom Com:
🎄cute Christmas dates
🎄 Grinch and Cindy Lou Who vibes
🎄 funny bro banter
🎄grand gestures
🎄 LOTS of family drama
🎄 Medium-High spice 🌶

While I think you could like this book as a stand alone Christmas rom com it is definitely best enjoyed as a series. So while you’re waiting for this one to come out (November 1) grab The Bromance Book Club and get caught up!

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.

Gretchen is forced to reach out to Colton when her brother gives her an ultimatum to get Colton on board as the face of their family Whiskey brand in exchange for a seat on their Charitable Foundation - something Gretchen has wanted for years. More than happy to see Gretchen, Colton agrees to entertain the idea if Gretchen will agree to go on a series of dates.

Full of holiday charm and lots of great chemistry, this was another win for one of my favorite romance series!! Found family, enlightened men, tons of A Christmas Carol references and LOTS of laughs. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of getting to know these romance reading guys you are MISSING out! Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance review copy. This book will be on the top of my Christmas list this year!

Once again my dear bookish boys are back in town! I was dying to read Colton’s story for a long time ! ( I always visualized him as Jensen Ackless during my readings and he’s my second favorite character after Vlad! )

I love the idea of Bromance Book Club idea from the beginning. And as I read more books from the series, my adoration keeps growing for those characters who are best friends, closer than family. The situation they put themselves into make me laugh so hard. And each member’s own lighthearted romance story gives you so much hope, warning your heart, helping you to keep your spirits up!

This book gives great vibes of sunshine meets the grump trope! Or let’s make a correction: this is mostly a pocketful of sunshine hero meets the grinch who hates Christmas heroine!

I could give this book five stars because of sunshiny and rainbow characterization of Colton but I truly get irritated by Gretchen from the beginning. Yes, it was unacceptable for her to jump to the bones of Colton and ghosting him the very next day even though he shows his best intentions to turn this one night stand into serious relationship!

But Gretchen acted like she had stick up her arse, lecturing about inequality, unfairness, taking everything extremely serious, ignoring the fact you can choose your own family by creating your inner circle with your loved ones.

Colton struggles with his upcoming album after getting ultimatum from his recording company that forces him to work with another song writer and start recording a new album from the beginning. He also suffers from hurting ego after the rejection of a Gretchen!

Grinch Gretchen ( I liked the name choice of the author because her name truly reminds you of GRINCH) , an immigration lawyer with 10 years experience, having second thoughts about job offer she has taken from her old friend from D. C. She’s a bona fide heiress of Winthrops: one of Tennessee's richest and most influential families. But she never feels a part of family’s famous liquor brand: Carraig Aonair Whiskey.

When unexpected offer to become a member of company that will help her use funds to distribute the people suffer from poverty, she feels delighted. But the offer came with a BIG CATCH! She has to convince Colton Wheelers to become the brand ambassador of the company. Yes, the same man she jumped on during her ex Mack’s wedding and the same man she ignored his texts and calls.

When she makes the offer to Colton, he makes a counter offer: he’ll be their company star in exchange going on dates with her!

Grumpy Gretchen who is great portrait of Scrooge reluctantly accepts his offer and his efforts to help her discover the true magic of Christmas!

I loved this book! I enjoyed to see the boys in action! Colton is mud pie! Gretchen is absolutely dislikable! But the attraction, smart banters between them are still adorable! I cut one point because I hated the guts of heroine so I’m giving four Christmas magic stars!

I’m looking forward to read more books from the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.