Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams Book Review
“I’m a cynical a**hole who thinks everyone has an agenda, and you’re a g**damn ray of sunshine who automatically assumes the best intentions.”
(pg. 143)
About
Author: Lyssa Kay Adams
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Series: Bromance Book Club book 3
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Other Bromance Bookclub Book Reviews
Synopsis
Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.
Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.
Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.
Review
Spoilers Contained Below
To my bros,
Lyssa Kay Adams did it again!👏🏼😄
Her books are *Chef’s kisses.*
A-plus. Grammy worthy. Oscar winning. MTV award. Teen Choice award worthy amazing.
Her books keep getting better and better and I’m going to read them again and again like my life depends on it.
I mean, where do I even start?
I guess, let’s talk about Alexis’s because I gosh darn appreciate her! In previous books, we got glimpses of her, especially in Undercover Bromance we learned more about her story, which naturally made me want to know more. And I just loved how we got to understand her a lot better through this book and how there was so much depth to her. She honestly surprised me as a character I learned to love and someone who just has so much kindness and love to give. She puts everyone above herself, she cares for people deeply, and she has nothing but an open heart that has been hurt multiple times. And you know what they say . . .sometimes the kindest hearts have been the most hurt.
I really loved how she opened ToeBeans arms to survivors of sexual assault or harassment because those women or men, found solace in knowing there was someone and other people out there who experienced what they did. Alexis didn’t ask to be this martyr to everyone, but they were comfortable talking to her because she was so open and vulnerable about her story, and Alexis also never pressured anyone into feeling like they had to share if they weren’t ready. When someone just opens the door to talk, and holds out a hand, it makes it easier to speak to them because of their vulnerability. People want human connection and Alexis provided a lot of connection for all these survivors and I loved that. I also liked how she opened her doors to stray cats too! I’m not a cat person, doesn’t mean I don’t like them, but I’m more of a dog person 😅. But Alexis truly has a good heart.
“That’s just Alexis,” Noah said. “She has a soft spot for ugly and lonely creatures.”
“I guess that explains why she keeps you too.”
(pg. 240-41)
Even when she first met Candice/Cani, Alexis thought she was survivor who was shy to talk (nothing wrong with that!), and I just laughed with how Alexis created this whole scene of “struggling” to carry all these gardening materials so Candi would feel the need to help Alexis’s and then that would give Candi an in to talk to Alexis. I also really liked how she had these yoga sessions for survivors to reclaim their power and their body. I mean, Alexis wouldn’t go through all this effort or put all this care into helping survivors like her if she didn’t genuinely care about them. She is honestly so much braver than she gives herself credit for because she just made people feel welcomed, accepted, and heard, and that’s more than anyone could ever ask for.
But GOSH, KAREN!!!!!
Freaking KAREN! 😂🤪
I could not!
I genuinely feel so sorry for anyone who’s real name is Karen because I bet there are a lot of Karen’s out there who are genuinely good people, but it’s just unfortunate that society has chosen Karen as the name for the people who always have something to say/complain to the manager 😂. So no hate or shade to the real-name Karen’s out there, but gosh KAREN was every bad as the Karen’s we hear. . . even worse! Gosh this girl didn’t want to talk to the manager, she wanted to talk to the judge! As far as I know it’s not a crime to have people stay in your cafe and park. It’s good business👏🏼. Karen was just jealous!
I honestly just found it so freaking hilarious that Lyssa Kay Adams would name the annoying store owner across the street Karen of all names 😂. We know that was intentional and I love it!
“The Karen’s of the world—“
“Are not worth our time or energy,” Alexis finished for her.”
(pg. 274)
The thing that really rubbed me the wrong way about Karen besides how she complained about every little thing to Alexis was why she did it. Deep down this Karen was a jealous prick, but I didn’t like how she thought Alexis was purposefully taking business away from other businesses just because her café was a community/safe haven for survivors of sexual assault or harassment. Because even if that was the case, I see nothing wrong with that. Absolutely nothing wrong, because heck, isn’t it an amendment that people have the right to gather? I also didn’t like how Karen thought Alexis’s and the other women were doing all this for attention—-like they faked being assaulted or harassed. I mean, who would do such a thing to fake that? No one wants to be assaulted or harassed, so I don’t understand why anyone would blame the victim or act like they asked for it; no one goes around wanting that. No one. And it doesn’t bring positive attention for a woman to report being sexually harassed by a boss because there’s always this negativity surrounding woman that they were just making it up or they are too sensitive, but honestly if someone is uncomfortable in the way they are being touched, treated, or talked to in any setting, that person is valid in his/her/their feelings and there is no ands-ifs-or-butts about it. It just made me angry because far too often women or the victim do get blamed for the assault or harassment because “oh, they were asking for it,” or “oh, their clothes looked like they were leading me on,” or “oh, she was giving me the look.” If someone says no, it’s a hard no. And if someone says yes, that’s a yes, but ask again for clarity or confirmation. Those two words are proof, not someone’s ideas of what they think a person was saying to them without actually saying it.
And I can’t believe they actually humored such a case with Karen. And of course, Karen played all innocent, but we knew she wasn’t. She just didn’t like Alexis, for I don’t even know why. Honestly, if a person does not harm you or does anything to directly tick you off, then I don’t see why people start beef with them. DRAMA!🤪
“In the year since I came forward with my accusation against Royce Preston, Ms. Murray has found almost weekly reasons to complain about something at my café. . . I have been patient. More patient than most people would be, because I didn’t think it mattered what people like her thought of me. But I realize now that it does matter. It matters because attitudes like hers enable men like Royce Preston to get away with their crimes for so long. It matters because she is now trying to hurt people I care deeply about—women who have been victimized. . .”
. . .”I didn’t ask for any of this,” Alexis said. “I didn’t invite women to come to me to share their stories or to start gathering at my café to find support and strength in other survivors. But it happened, and I am so grateful for it. They have helped me, and I will make it my mission to ensure these women have a safe environment. And if that violates the zoning laws of this city, then the city needs to change its zoning laws. Because I am done hoping that I can change what is in Ms. Murray’s heart.”
(pg. 301)
POP OFF ALEXIS!!! PREACH IT!!! Can I get an AMEN?
My gosh, I completely loved how she stood up for herself and for the community of survivors she built. I also liked what she said about how the way Karen treated her mattered because if people like her continue to push down other women’s feelings or experiences because they claim to have been survivors, then that makes it seem like it’s okay for men to continue to sexually assault or harass because it’s not “real.” Or that it doesn’t “matter.” It does. Sexually abusing, assaulting, or harassing anyone is not okay and no amount of justification is going to make it okay. It is not okay to ignore the stories people say if they went through something so horribly wrong because that’s like saying someone shouldn’t feel an emotion when you do not know how a person feels. So who are you to say that what they went through wasn’t real?
But there are people out there in the world—-maybe not just the Karens—-who we can’t change their But there are people out there in the world—-maybe not just the Karens—-who we can’t change their heart or mindset of what they believe to be right in their minds. We can fight them all we want, we can argue, we can get angry. But we must never remain silent. Because as the great Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” So let the Karen’s of the world rage, let other people rage and think what they will, but I believe there are more good people in this world and we need to amplify those voices. Be and amplify the good. Stand up to what you know is morally right. And never feel like you can’t say anything because of someone’s ideas of who you are. Alexis could have stayed quiet, but she said something as a survivor, as a warrior, because she was strong and brave and vulnerable.
🧡Vulnerability is strength and unity is strength and I can’t express that enough. 🧡
I also loved seeing all my ladies in this book! From Sonia—-she is DEFINITELY getting a story in the future and I BET on it!—-Thea, Liv, Jessica, and Gretchen. I would thoroughly love—-Lyssa Kay Adams if you’re reading this 😉—-a girlmance book club with them because gosh they are strong, empowered women. Or maybe a Girl Gang 😉 where they take on more masculine tasks and it talks about how women can do everything and anything a man can? I would read. But I am manifesting a story for Jessica and Gretchen, and Del. Like I know Del has a wife already, but I love Del, I want to know him. And Colton, and these other dudes in the club. We need to do a full read of everyone 😂.
Anyway, Alexis’s went through HECK and over with this book 😅. First, was the family. Candi was her sister and Elliot was her dad who she never met, never knew about, but yet he needed a kidney to live and she was the last hope. I mean, that’s beyond so much pressure and obligation for Alexis to feel. I would feel overwhelmed and stunned. Candi literally threw her life for a loop and now Alexis was going to donate a kidney to a man who she never even knew. I knew Alexis was going to do it because she has such a caring heart to not do it. But I appreciated how her Dr., Dr. Jasmine sat her down and asked her why she was going to donate a kidney to Elliot. Dr. Jasmine reminded her it wasn’t her obligation to donate a kidney, but somehow, to me it felt like that was the sole reason Alexis was doing it. It was also because she didn’t want Candi to experience such a loss like Alexis had with her mother when she was younger, but Alexi didn’t need to save everyone. She needed to take care of herself. But gosh was that hard? To know that you were the last hope to save someone’s life. Let alone, your supposed father. But to me it also seemed ingenuine because it felt like he only wanted her for her kidney or that Candi reached out all these years later for the kidney too. I understand Elliot told Candi not to reach out or how he never reached out too, but he and Candi really could have before if they really wanted to make a connection with Alexis’s.
And here’s the thing. Alexis took this DNA ancestry test a long time ago and allowed it to be public to people, and deep down she did that because she wanted to find a family. She didn’t want to admit it to herself because I think she felt like it was a betrayal to her mom if she wanted to find other people in her life who were related to her. Alexis undoubtedly loved and loves her mom. I give nothing but the absolute props and credit for Alexi’s mom being a single mom, raising a daughter, and working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Those kinds of women or people deserve so much better. Because her mom was her sole parent growing up, that’s all Alexis ever knew or thought of as family and that’s why she kept insisting that she never wanted more family because she was happy with just her mom and her. It’s why Alexis said she never tried harder to find her dad, because she had her mom and that’s all she needed.
“Lonely creatures were almost always fighting a battle no one knew about.”
(pg. 53)
And this is beyond true. Alexi’s felt alone. She grew up alone.
She wanted a family.
She wanted more.
After the consultation with Dr. Jasmine, I felt it was impulsive for Alexis to meet the family because I felt she wanted to prove something to herself that she wasn’t just going to give a kidney to someone she didn’t know, but that she wanted to create a connection with them. But when she met them . . . gosh, CANDI, sis, you should have told your parents that you invited Alexis over and Candi should have told them who she was. It wasn’t fair to Lauren or Cayden and I think the way they reacted was as natural as it could be in this situation, but Elliot? Man, he SUCKED! I didn’t like that he called Alexi’s some “random friend” because that made her feel like she didn’t matter. I don’t care how thrown off guard he was, he should have acknowledged that Alexis was his daughter and to be honest about that. It also made my heart hurt with how Alexis viewed Elliot and his “perfect, wholesome” family and their big rich house. Because Alexis grew up not even being able to afford a lot and living in a small home, while her sperm donor was off living it up with another woman. That wasn’t fair to her and her mom deserved help or she deserved better. The story of how the mom dressed up like a clown made my heart cry! Because when you don’t grow up with a lot of money, you always feel guilty or bad for asking for something and then you stop asking for anything because you don’t want to be a burden to your parents. And it hurts when your parents can’t give you what you want because it feels like their fault 😥. I understood Alexis 🧡.
I don’t blame Alexis for being angry or bitter at Elliot because he knew about her at some point in his life, and yet he didn’t care to reach out until he needed it or someone needed to.
This kind of reminded me of the part in the Coming Home book Noah was reading:
“I’m willing to stand here and admit I should have tried harder if you are willing to admit it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
(pg. 180)
I thought this was such a profound thing to say because as people we never put ourselves at fault for something, but sometimes it is our fault. And we can always try harder with things, but even then, we never know what would have or could have happened if we did. Missy (from Coming Home) could have tried harder to get AJ to care and be in his daughter’s life, but at the end of the day, sometimes when you try that hard, the other person has to admit it wouldn’t have made a difference. But in this scenario between Alexis and Elliot, if the dad tried hard enough, I believe it would have made a difference in Alexis’s life to have someone else there. Trying does help. But it’s also the character of that person and if they are willing to meet you halfway to what you try.
Honestly, the part of the book that WRECKED me was when Alexi went to her mother’s grave and she talked to her 😭.
She was mad at her mom for not telling her who her dad was and for leaving her all alone in her life when she had a family.
“I don’t want to be sitting here like this, mad at her because of you. Do you understand that? . . . You stole something from me. Something so f******* precious. You stole my peace.”
(pg. 305)
Because now she had all these questions for her mom and her mom couldn’t even answer it. Alexi’s gives me the feeling like she’s the type of person who bottles up her emotions and when they come spewing out, they come SPEWING out. She was hurt and I felt this was her breaking point because she didn’t want to be mad at her mom, she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted love, she wanted a family.
OOOH, but the part where she yelled at Elliot to apologize to her mom, literally SOBS😭. I’m so sorry Alexis. Your mom deserved more.
I respected Elliot for remaining calm and collected as Alexis poured out her anger to him, and I liked how he didn’t want her kidney, but to be her father in some way. You know, we got off to a rocky start with him, but I could feel him trying and that’s better than nothing.
“I don’t . . . I don’t think I know what forgiveness actually is. I thought I did. I thought it meant being at peace and never feeling anger. But I. . . . I think maybe that’s not really forgiveness. I think I’ve been avoiding feeling anything bad for a long time. And it’s not the same thing, is it?”
. . . He chuckled. “No, it’s not the same. You have to let yourself feel all the bad things. Anger has its place. It protects us from being taken advantage of. But eventually, you have to let yourself stop hating whoever hurt you. Forgiveness means recognizing that you are a different person because of the pain but realizing that so are they because of the pain they caused. I think it’s deciding that the new people you are are better people and that together you’re worth something.”
(pg. 308)
I LOVED that. 🧡
What was said about forgiveness resonated with me a lot because there is one person in my life who it took me years to forgive her because of the pain and hurt I felt from her. I was angry at the way she treated me and made me feel. I tried to push down those “bad feelings” because people told me to just forgive and move on, but it’s difficult to forgive and move on when someone hurts you so deeply that you can’t help feeling all that anger and resentment and hurt. It hurt me to see her when I was forced to. I didn’t want to and it felt like someone kept stabbing my wounds. But I loved what was said about forgiveness because it’s not just about feeling at peace, it’s feeling that anger because it helps us learn and grow to understand that you can be hurt, but you can be more from and because of that hurt so you can grow and forgive. I have forgiven this person recently in my life and I know what I went through with her changed me forever and it changed her forever. It changed my family. And we are new people and we had to navigate who those people were. Do I think we’re better together? No 😂. Because when she left my life, I found peace. I found clarity within myself to know that situation wasn’t healthy for me or my family. And we are better apart, but still see each other, you know. And sometimes there are relationships where you know aren’t the best for you and that’s okay.
“The key to a lasting relationship is the ability to forgive over and over again.”
(pg. 308)
Especially in a relationship with ourselves. We have to forgive others at one point to let go of that hurt and to forgive ourselves.
I liked how Elliot and Alexis had this intimate heart to heart and how they were going to try to have a relationship because she chose to forgive him. She was angry, she was hurt, but she was different because of it. She was better. And I liked how she promised a maybe for being more than just a kidney donor to him. I have hope for their relationship.
It was also sweet how Candi and Alexis started to bond. At first, Alexis was weary of Candi, then she was PEEZED 😂 and angry, then she was sympathetic and understanding.
“Candi hadn’t asked for this situation any more than Alexis had. They’d both been tossed unwillingly into the game of parental mistakes and consequences, and they had both suffered in their own ways because of it.”
(pg. 253)
Once she started to see Candi as someone like her—just in the middle of a complex situation—-she couldn’t blame Candi for what she did. I liked how they were going to try be sisters 🧡
“But can we at least try?”
“Try what?”
“Being sisters.”
. . . .”I don’t know how to be a sister.”
“I do. It’s just like being friends. It’s a friend you’re related to.”
(pg. 257)
And then Alexis told her that she always wanted. sister, which I thought was cute ☺️. I also loved that Candi went to see her with the family album to introduce everyone, and how Candi created this album for Alexis to keep. Candi cares, she may not know how to show it in the most calm manner, but she does. And she wanted a family with Alexis as much as Alexis wanted it with her. Honesty, Candi should have started with the album instead of the ambush at the house 😂.
But Cayden?
Cayden was. PRICk 🙃.
I did not like him and I did not know what Candi saw in him 😂.
He first wanted to create beef with Noah and then he brought his assumptions to Alexis at the café and raged like a proper Karen. And then he has the AUDACITY to tell Alexis they don’t want her kidney because somehow because she’s associated with Noah, she sucks. I mean, Cayden, YOU SUCK. Did not like him. And then he has the audacity to act all guilty on the day of the surgery. I’m sorry, you need to apologize to Noah and Alexis and grovel for your whiny, prudish butt.
Gosh, his kids were better. I loved his kids and how they created drawings for Aunty Alexis! My heart! 🥺
Alexis has her own anger and peace to deal with, and so did Noah.
Noah, Noah, Noah.
Noah is freaking HILARIOuS! I LOVE THAT!
Let’s list his finer qualities
1. He’s funny as heck.
2. He’s respectful and chivalrous.
3. He goes to his woman at the drop of a pin.
4. He is calm and collected.
5. He has a mouth on him.
Honestly, I never knew he was this funny.
Noah was a hacker—-a hacktivist if you will—-which I mean, go Noah! I just didn’t understand why people gave him so much sheez for something that happened in the past. I mean, if something happened X amount of years ago, can’t people just move on and pull an Elsa and let it go? Honestly, Noah’s pretty cool, so what if he hacked into the FBI when he was younger? He did it out of this anger he felt. I also didn’t feel like having Marsh around was helpful either. Marsh is an example of someone who grew up with the same lessons of what it means to be a “man” and the fact that he told Noah he tried to raise him to “be a man” made me angry. Because being a man isn’t about being strong, providing, or fixing everything. Being a man is being open, honest, vulnerable, respectful, compassionate, gentle, and kind. So being a man is just like being any other person out there in the world and it’s unfair to tell men that they shouldn’t cry or they have to have a six-pack of abs to be strong because that’s not realistic or fair to them. There are gender expectations on both sexes and its wrong of us to fit men or women into a box of what they can and cannot be. When Marsh slapped Noah. . . it was a no from me. Good for Noah’s mom telling Marsh to leave because Marsh stepped out of line.
The bromance book club truly had Noah’s back because when his whole world fell apart with Alexis and himself, they were there to just listen. And I just loved that. We say girls supporting girls, but we also need to preach men supporting men. Because we don’t hear about men getting together to talk about their feelings or gossip like women, but you know as a woman who has done that with other women, it helps to talk to someone and to have someone who listens. Most time we hear about men just drinking beer talking about women and sex and then gambling or smoking. Or talking about some sport or stocks or technology. Never just true, honest, raw emotions or experiences. We need to normalize that.
So I loved the scene where the bromance guys went to pick up Noah after he had his look like sh** moments like Gavin and Mack had 😂. I loved how they listened and cared. They never judged him, but they always asked him questions to get to the why.
“I love how they [books] can make us cheer for pretty much any character if we just understand why they’re doing something. We’ll let them get away with pretty much anything—including pushing away the woman they desperately want—if they have a strong motivation. The why behind their actions.”
(pg. 176)
Because it’s always the why.
People act for a reason and we books are beautiful because we get to understand the journey and the reason for why they do something.
So I liked the support these men had for each other and when the Russian hugged Noah 🥺. And then Colton was like:
“It’s okay, man,” Colton said. “Cry. Let it out. Cry until you’re okay.”
(pg. 317)
It’s okay to cry, my men!
Cry until you’re okay.
I loved that. 🥺
Again, we always tell men that crying is a weakness, or that we make others feel like crying is a weakness, when it’s not. We have to feel those bad things to let in the good things. Crying does help. And we need to make that known and to make it okay. Cry until you’re okay.
“I’ve wasted so much time being mad and never dealing with the anger that I’ve started to forget the good things, the things that mattered.”
. . . “You just have to clear away all that bad stuff to let the good stuff out.”
(pg .319)
And once Noah understood why he hacked the system when he was younger—-out of anger for his father—he was able to find his peace because he was hurt and he thought he could get back at the world for his dad not keeping the promise that he would find peace in the letter the dad wrote to him. Gosh, the letter got me! 😭 And Noah needed to let go of his anger, and then he would find his peace and healing.
“Gosh, how he wanted to be okay. Not good. Not great. Not even happy. For the first time since that chaplain had appraised at his door, he was ready to just be okay.”
(pg. 317)
And this made me think about how sometimes in life we can say we want all the riches, all the fame, all the luxuries, but as I have gotten older and have dealt with a lot of things, I realized all I want is to be okay. All I want is to be happy. Because no amount of money or fame or luxury can make me happy or okay. And there was a period in my life where I felt like I had to be sad all the time or I felt numb and I was just walking through life without living. And during one of the lowest points in my life, I wanted to be okay. And sometimes we all just need that. We need to feel like we’re going to be okay when we’re going through it. 💙 I knew Noah was going to be okay.
Because he had a woman and a bunch of bro’s!!!!
Here’s the fun part where we talk about Noah and Alexis!!! Oh the bros? Should we talk about the bros or Alexis?
Ladies first!🤪
Alexis and Noah were great friends who turned even greater lovers.
But what truly cracked me up was the amount of times that Alexis or Noah said, “What’re friends for?” 😂
I swear, someone will start a drinking game with it!!!!
I counted how many times they said it in the book, but I might be off. But if you know, leave your answer or guess in the comments! hahahahaha.
Anyway, I felt like they kept saying that because they wanted to reassure themselves that they were just friends. We all knew they liked each other. I mean, they acted like a couple. I thought it was cute how Alexis baked him his favorite cake and cooked the family’s favorite meal and how she was invited to his birthday dinner already like she was part of the family. I also liked how Alexis got him a Lego set so they could build it together or how they would watch movies or say good morning and good night to each other. No guy goes out of his way to do all these things if he doesn’t like you. I also liked how Noah would do anything to be with Alexis and if Alexis’s needed him, he would be there because . . . say it with me,
“What’re friends for?” 😂
I’m crying 🤪. But they had such a cute relationship—-they seemed like an old married couple and they might as well be. But they both kept denying their feelings because they didn’t want to “ruin the friendship” or they didn’t want to “change the friendship.” Or they were best friends and they didn’t want that to change or they didn’t think one friend liked the other. It was a bunch of back and forth and denial and I wasn’t here for it . Everyone else knew they liked each other besides them.
“His feelings for her were real, and seeing her vulnerable like this was making it impossible for him to deny it. But one thing Noah knew about garnering was that there was a small window of time when roots could grow. He’d missed the window with her. Breaching friendship now would be crazy. Stupid.”
(pg. 48)
You know what would be crazy stupid Noah?
Not telling the girl you love you love her because you’re too gosh darned scared to ruin your friendship when it could be more than friendship! That’s dumb!!!! You didn’t miss a window with her, heck if a window’s open, it stays open until someone closes it. And when those windows open, you still have a chance to sneak in there and try. And Noah, my friend, was not trying. He was avoiding the window. He needed to pull a reckless teen move and jump through that window. Sneak in! 😆
OoOOOOh, and don’t even get me started on when Alexis saw him in his shirtless glory 😂. That was freaking FUNNY! I could not. I mean, work that hacking bod Noah! Who knows. And Alexis was basically boggling him and that was FUNNY.
You know what really cracked me up? Chapter Nine!! I LOVE Mack, the Russian, Del, Colton, Malcom, Gavin, and all the bros. They are such a wholesome and funny group, and together they are HILARIOUS. LOVE 🧡. I loved how the day after Alexi ogled him, he had this dance practice for Mack’s wedding with Liv, and honestly I LOVED the gender reversal in how Mack was doing everything for the wedding because most guys don’t. I mean, I would make.the man plan the wedding so I don’t have to stress and they know what that feels like 😂. Liv’s smart. But Mack’s such a whole-hearted, wholesome guy and he wanted the best wedding for Liv and for himself. But when Noah has an attitude, he has an attitude 👌🏼. He was unamused and didn’t want to be there. But then the Russian started dancing and moving his hips and Noah’s reaction had me rolling on the floor. And when the Russian was like “You are in a bad mood,” I could not. I also like how Colton always calls everyone out if they look horrible or if they look like sh**. I mean, get you a friend who’s honest 😂. But I LOVED when they went to the diner to eat and discuss wedding things and Mack, of all things, was talking about flower colors for the boutonniere’s and how he wanted to change the flowers because he realized certain flower colors have meanings. And then everyone was like, “Yea, go with the white ivy,” and the Russian was like “It’s ugly.” And then Mack was like, “You think it’s ugly.” 😂
Freaking I LOVE the Russian. He’s so funny. And then like a bunch of schoolgirls gossiping, they talked about why Noah was so angry because Alexis saw Noah shirtless and they were all hounding him with questions of why he was shirtless. And then what got me was when Noah was like, “Any questions,” and the Russian, the RUSSIAN, raised his hand 🤣. This is ridiculous! And then the Russian was like, “Did she sniff you?” WHAT EVEN? And then everyone was like “Where did she stare.” Noah was soooo uncomfortable with personal questions and then all the bros came in with their two senses to be like she was staring. 😂 I guess guys have their code words for things too. Because girls have this thing where we know guys give us the look or other girls give us the look. But apparently guys know when girls stare/check them out. Apparently it’s called the happy trail.
“‘The happy trail is like catnip to women.”
Noah gaped at him. “The happy what?”
The Russian lifted his shirt and pointed to his stomach. “The line of hair from your belly button to your pork and beans.”
Mack leaned left to whisper, “Frank and beans.”
The Russian looked baffled. “Who is Frank?”
(pg. 175)
I CAN’T 🤣.
I swear, Pork and Beans. I don’t want to type what I was going to type 🙈.
My gosh was this part just HILARIOUS. I also liked Noah’s argument interaction with Mack because we gotta love Mack. Because Mack wanted Noah to read the book he bought him because it would help him with knowing what to do. And Mack loves to help the lost puppy boy, so our boy Noah was getting initiated into the club so he knew how to win over Alexis and get over his fear of ruining their friendship.
But the invitation of Noah into the Bromance Book Club had to be one of my utmost favorite parts. It was chef’s kisses 👌🏼😘. It honestly felt like a cult initiation and hyenas have nothing on how much I laughed 😂. I could not. Could not could not. It was so funny. I loved how serious and stoic everyone was and how Noah had to take an oath, but he was being sassy about it. And Mack was like,
“Book club is very serious.”
(pg. 125)
And then they had an interrogation round 😂. I mean, why did he need to be interrogated to join a book club? 😆 I get it, but I mean, for any other “normal” book club, they don’t interrogate you. But I appreciated it here. It was funny when Noah would give smart answers to Mack and the bros, but it was his way of deflecting how awkward and nervous he felt, which is natural for guys (not to generalize!).
“You’re resorting to sarcasm because you’re uncomfortable with a man expressing himself so openly. We get it. One of the most insidious ways that toxic masculinity destroys men is that it strips us of the ability to express your emotions to connect. Not just with women, but with other men. Because real men don’t do that, right?”
(pg. 127)
There’s so many things I liked about what was said here because, again, toxic masculinity is real, and we assume and have taught our boys that they shouldn’t cry or express emotions because it’s somehow “weak” or “feminine.” And that’s completely wrong to think men are not capable or shouldn’t show emotions. Real men express emotion.
Malcom continued. “How many times have you been told in your life to be a man?”
(pg. 127)
And this is something that resonated a lot with my thinking. Because I grew up with a pretty masculine dad and a brother. I have watched my dad tell my brother countless times to “be a man” or to “suck up his tears,” or that “real men don’t cry.” All these things that made a man a man, and yet it made an inhuman. Because men are people and I don’t know who ever said that a man had to be the epitome of strength, protection, and stoicism. They don’t. And it just breaks my heart that so many boys grow up feeling like they have to be “a man,” when the very men telling them are enabling this toxic cycle of masculinity to continue—-when the very men who tell them to be “a man” are not true men themselves. They are only men that society has built over this social construct of what they believe is manly. No one said those were the qualities of a man, yet alone a great one.
Being a man is not something to tell anyone because being a man is not an example of a person, it is an unrealistic and harmful expectation. It needs to stop.
“But there’s a big f****** difference between what society teaches us what a real man does and what a good man does. And good men are willing to do hard, emotional labor on themselves to be strong partners to the people we love.”
“But we can’t do that alone,” Del said. “We need our friends to help us.”
(pg. 128)
There is a difference between a real man and a good man. A real man is someone people expect and a good man is someone who works on himself, physically, spiritually, and most importantly emotionally. Because a man is as good as his emotions and his mind. And too many men push down their feelings thinking that that is what it means to be a man. They bottle it up or drain their emotions from a bottle and that does not fix the real problem of what they feel. And we should not expect women to be their temporary fix to the real issue of toxic masculinity. Sex isn’t the answer, drugs isn’t the cure, gambling isn’t the fix. None of it is. It is looking within ourselves to understand why we act or feel a certain way. But we haven’t given the men of society the chance or the freedom to do so, and we need to. A relationship is two people and it can’t be carried by a woman holding a man’s emotional baggage and rage. It can’t.
And it can’t be done alone. And that’s why it is so important to not only preach girls supporting girls, but men supporting men. They need people just as much as anybody to talk to about their emotions without feeling this shame or embarrassment or feeling like any less of a man. Honestly, not a lot of men read this blog, but if you do, I want you to know emotions are part of being a man, a good man. Don’t be afraid to feel them, and don’t fear talking about them. You are not alone in how you feel and do not think for a second that you need to be what society expects a man to be. You don’t need to act like a real man, but a good one.
“Women aren’t rehab centers for emotionally stunted man-babies who think the key to a serious relationship is to just wait for the right woman to come along. You have to be ready to be uncomfortable, to stretch yourself, to be vulnerable.”
(pg. 127)
Can Lyssa Kay Adams scream it louder so the stunted man-babies in the back can hear it? 🤣
I SWEAR POP OFF 👏🏼👏🏼.
Women are not men’s emotional outlet or facility. We have our own issues and emotional things to deal with and we do not need stunted man-babies acting like we can fix them when they need to be honest with themselves and work on themselves first.
“Do some hard work on yourself and figure out the why of your actions.”
(pg. 178)
Exactly.
But after being interrogated he was able to admit why he wanted to be there because he wouldn’t have gone to the initiation if part of him didn’t want help.
“I’m here because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with my best friend.”
(pg. 126)
He loved her 🥺 and she didn’t even know how much.
And him speaking that vulnerably was the first step to becoming a man. But what was so sweet-cute was when they asked Noah to tell them something embarrassing so Noah could practice talking to other men. And Noah was like, I liked the Moana soundtrack and how he blasted it, and then everyone started to sing How Far I’ll Go to get Noah to sing with them 😂. Get you men who will sing with you. Honestly, I love the Moana soundtrack too.
I also liked the conversation with Colton and Malcom about the reason they read books because, golly, do these men understand!
“”How do you think this book ends, Noah?”
“It’s a romance. I would assume they end up together and live happily ever after.”
Malcom nodded. “Exactly. All romances end that way. Even though readers know the minute they pick up romances how they’re going to end, they still read them loyally. Why do you suppose that is?”
“The sex?”
Colton slapped the table again. “No. Wrong answer.”
“It’s the journey, “Malcom said. “It’s how they get to that happily ever after that matters and makes these books so special and instructive.”
“The journey,” Noah repeated.
“There is no more universal story than of two people working through their sh** to overcome huge obstacles to find their way to happiness,” Malcom said. “But every journey is different, every obstacle unique. And it’s in that unique journey we find lessons for our own lives.”
(pg. 130)
I’m sorry, is Colton or Malcom married? 😂
I would love to.
And the “No. Wrong answer.” I COULD NOT.
All jokes aside, I can tell you as a reader, and if you too are a reader, we read countless stories knowing there are going to be romance and travesties, but no matter how similar a plot is, the journey and the story is always different and that’s what makes reading so enjoyable. Because yea, we want our couples to find happiness and love, and we know they will, but it’s all about how they get there and what they learn. And I can’t tell you how much I have learned from books. I can’t express how much I have gained from reading—-the lessons, the love, the heartache, the pain, the loss, the healing. All of that within pages of someone’s story—-stories that are fictional—-but come from truth and experience. At the end of the day, stories come from people who connected with what they wrote, and they connect with others who have experienced or felt the same way. Books have the power to connect and teach. And that’s why reading is such a beautiful outlet to learn and consume 🧡.
I loved any moment with the book club, honesty.
I loved when Noah raged to Mack and the bros after he and Alexi’s had their big kissing moment and Alexis ran away because she felt she was being rejected, but he was really just having some self-control. But if I was Alexis, I would have felt what she felt too.
But Noah really went ham with throwing that book down and Mack was like, “You broke the spine, man.” 😂 I wonder what Mack’s reaction to dog-eating a page would be like 😂. But what really got me, I swear, was when everyone started calling Noah an idiot!
“You idiot!” Mack finally sputtered.
Colton snorted and shook his head. “Your Elaine you’re a giant f******* moron, right?”
(pg. 175)
Honestly, that was my reaction to Noah too! Lyssa Kay Adams writes what the reader feels or would say, and that’s why her writing is so relatable or fun to read. But they all talked some sense into Noah to see where Alexis was coming from, and I liked how they told him to respect her request for space and so he could also figure things out for himself.
But I also liked when the girls bombarded Alexis when she was in a funk too. We love women unity and we love Sonia 😆.
“Because he’s a man, and men are stupid sh**s.”
(pg. 187)
I have never laughed harder.
But Thea really said it right when she said:
“Because sometimes the scariest thing in the world for a man to do is to admit how he feels.”
(pg. 187)
And it goes back to that idea of toxic masculinity and what we engraved in men for so long—-that they And it goes back to that idea of toxic masculinity and what we engraved in men for so long—-that they can’t share or emote. And that’s why it is so hard for them to open up about their feelings because in a way feelings are intangible and not something that can easily be fixed by someone else. It has to be fixed by us—ourselves. And that’s scary for any person, let alone a man to do, because they’ve been told by society that emotions are a weakness and to keep it in. So they push it so far down that they have to dredge it back up, and when they do it’s foreign and weird to them. It’s new. It’s scary. Feelings are scary. But they are strong too.
“I can’t live without her.”
“Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough.”
(pg. 198)
It was a literal pain for Noah not to talk to Alexis, and I thought it was cute and funny how Noah got a hug from the Russian at the airport when they were going to the bachelor/bachelorette weekend. I LOVED the Russian and him laughing like a child at the raccoon eating pictures 😂. I swear, the Russian is my favorite man-baby and I’m here for it. But the Russian is so in tune with his feelings and he’s honestly one of my favorite characters. But I found it funny how the bros and gals schemed together to get Noah and Alexis together. What true friends do not care that their best friends were doing it up instead of celebrating their wedding. Liv’s such a good friend. But during their whole doing it scene at the hotel, I kept waiting for the Russian to walk in and interrupt because that screamed something the Russian would do 😂.
OOOOOH GOSH, do NOT even get me started on the spa day 🤣. Literally, this book just kept getting funnier and funnier. First, there was the whole mix-up confrontation with the desk lady at the spa who thought the men were going to the strip club later. Mack’s response had me 💀😂. I swear, the lady was probably shamed and uncomfortable and I don’t blame her. But gosh, Mack was spot on. Mack’s a good one. A good man.
“No strip clubs. I don’t like the idea of using my impending wedding as an excuse to sexually objectify women as if this is my last gasp of freedom.”
(pg. 193)
We love a self-respecting, humble man! 👏🏼 👏🏼
Liv’s got a good man.
But I COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING AT HOW THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE SPA 🤣!!!! I mean, I don’t blame them, I haven’t been to a spa either, so I wouldn’t know what to do, but it was written so HIlARIOUSLy that I could not contain my laughter! They didn’t know if they should take a shower first, and they kept asking each other. And then the Russian, was like I should take a shower because he stinks. And then they were all like, do we get bare-butt naked 😂. And then they texted Thea about it and she straight up laughed at them 😂, which is what I would have done. And then they started talking about if they are bare-butt naked, if someone touching them would make them hard, and then they started talking about if someone managed them, what happens if they can’t control their farts 😂. I swear, why are they thinking about their farts? And they asked about who farts during sex, and then three people said yes and Mack was like, “Who the f*** said yes?” 🤣. I don’t even know 🤪. And then Noah was like, screw it, I’m going full commando 😂. Then the vegetables! They were like, where do we put the carrots? 😂 They are sooooo hilarious. It was funny how they were also thinking of all the ways to get out of the spa day instead so they didn’t look like fools. I would have liked to read more about their so-called spa day.
Suffice to say, their spa day was probably an experience.
But when Alexis and Noah got back to her house, it was kind of sweet how comfortable they were with each other already and how they were playing house. But I really liked how gentle Noah was with Alexis and the moment Alexis said she was happy 🥺. What really got in the way of them being together was the peace they both needed to find before dating each other. And then Cayden the prick accused Noah of leaking some files about Elliot, when Elliot leaked those files himself to make up for the regret and loss he felt about being part of the reason Noah lost his dad. Elliot was taking responsibility for his actions and it proved how he wanted to do better for Noah as well. Alexis for one second thought Noah leaked those files because Noah’s a hacker, but doubting Noah’s character really wrecked him, and understandably so. Because everyone had this image of Noah and he thought Alexis trusted him, but her questioning his character made him question himself too.
He said a lot of hurtful things to Alexis and I mean, when you feel that hurt, you try to hurt people the way they hurt you. But when he called her a coward. . . . I was like, “Noah, you’ve gone too far.”
Alexis was already thinking she was a coward for pushing him away the first time, but when she said she needed space a second time, I got it, but I would think Noah would be more hurt in this situation because she doubted him. She had a right to feel hurt by what he said, but she needed to apologize for thinking he was in the wrong and there was someone that needed to be worked on in both of them.
What really helped Noah heal besides the bros who came to see him, was Noah’s mom. Noah’s mom was a real one. She helped him realize how Noah was like AJ from the Coming Home book he was reading because AJ and Noah were both scared to lose the things that mattered to them, so they pushed them away. And that’s something Alexis also did when she’s scared or hurt—she pushes people away. If there’s one thing I would have liked to see or understand more with this book, it was this part because the Coming Home was his guide of sorts, but I never really felt or saw the connection to Noah. And even this realization Noah had didn’t fit with what I felt about Noah. I felt like AJ was scared of trying or something, or maybe AJ and Missy’s story fit more with Alexis and Elliots’ story as I talked about earlier, so I don’t know if Coming Home was the book for Noah to read and learn.
But the end was sooooo fun!
It truly wouldn’t be. Lyssa Kay Adams book without a dramatic grand gesture run to the girl!!! 👏🏼😆 I was expecting it and I will always live for the end of an LKA book!
“This is the grand gesture. We always run for grand gesture!”
(pg. 327)
Alexis was about to go into surgery for the transplant and I loved that moment where Elliot and her held hands for a second. Very movie-esque and touching.
But freaking CBut freaking Colton was FUNNY! He had to get ice cream from the vending machine on the way up and then he had the audacity to say they could have gotten there faster if they took his helicopter. But noooo Noah said to drive fast 😂. I could not with Colton 🤪. I was kind of bummed Noah got there late because usually the guy gets there right on time, but Noah was slacking! Joking! But I was not joking when Noah suddenly had an epiphany to cut his freaking hair! 🤪
I’m sorry, I don’t understand where you get a haircut in the middle of all this?
Like stories go, they forgave each other and were honest about their emotions. And I’m proud of Noah. Started from the bottom and now he’s here talking about how he loved her this whole time and how he wanted to talk to her about what he felt. Mack would be proud. The bros would be proud!👍🏼. I’m proud. And I loved how Alexis was all jokey about how hot Noah was with his new haircut. For someone who just gave a kidney to someone, she sure was doing good, which is good! Alexis is strong. I also liked the family moment between Candi, Lauren, and Alexis and how Lauren gave Alexis the family ring. Noah, you best be proposing with that ring 😉. I also appreciated the openness of how Alexis was going to try give their family a chance—-to give family a chance with them.
But I forgot to mention this, but one of the reasons I loved Noah and Alexis together was how they could relate over losing people they loved when they were younger.
“Memories are unfair, you know? They don’t tell us until it’s too late that this one , this detail, is the thing you need to hand on to. Why do we remember the weird little stuff but not the big things?”
(pg. 146)
Which she’s right. It’s hard because we can remember all these little moments, when sometimes we hope to remember the bigger moments too. And it’s hard because we try to remember as much as we can, but even then our memories can get fuddled or mixed with what we shape them as the truth. But the memories we do have are so special. To cherish them. To live in the moment.
The epilogue was super cute! And I’m here for the dancing scene, would have loved an exact play by play of it. Did they sing How Far I’ll Go too? 🤪
“But even the most noble men would struggle to listen when the woman who held his entire heart was finally opening her own.”
(pg. 150)
“And where did you learn these new fun things?”
He turned her face toward his. And just before lowering his mouth, he murmured, “The Bromance Book Club, honey.”
(pg. 342)
YEA YOU DID!!!💖
I would have loved more of Noah reading and learning from the bro’s because we got moments here and there, and I loved every second of it, but again, I would have liked to see a clearer connection between the book and Noah. But I loved how wholesome the end words were.
We love the Bromance Book Club.
And truly, I have been saying that the Russian needs a book . . . and you cannot understand how loud I screamed when I Googled and the next book is the Russian’s story 🥺. I’M HYPED. I’M RUSSIAN HYPED.
I felt like the next book was going to be about him from the way Colton would throw in how he didn’t believe the Russian’s wife was real and how he asked Noah to do some investigation with the Russian to see if he was. And Colton has no filter to ask the Russian at any point if his wife was coming or something about his wife 🤪. Colton! And then his shock when the wife was at the wedding. I was shocked too. Why did she storm out? Trouble in paradise? Honestly, the Russian has such a softie heart, I’m curious about his story and his wife? Hmmmmm 🧐. Interesting.
I have until July to think.
But we can’t forget the star of the book: Beefcake.
We love an angry, aggressive cat😂. Noah would not let up about teasing Beefcake as the enemy as it was hilarious. And I could not when Beefcake nestled onto Noah’s chest, and Noah was like “It’s called tenderizing the meat” (pg. 235). Like Beefcake was going to eat him 😂. Or even the part where it was literally three men against one cat 😂. The Russian tried to rub Beefcake’s belly and Beefcake naturally lashed out and they were all shaking. I would be too. But we gotta love the cat!
I just loved everything about this book from the laughter, family drama, and heart. The bros are true gems and are good men. And the gals are also greater people too. I will say this over and over again, but someone can sign me up for the Bromance Book Club or at least its honorary fan club member. Because I’m obsessed! 🥰
Anyway, what was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite part? Are you a cat or dog person? Anything I mentioned that you want to discuss more about? Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕
I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.
And as always, with love,
Rating
5 Full Bloom Flowers and More
Characters: I would love to be friends with all these characters because they always say to surround yourself with good people, and these characters are good people.
Plot: Everything to love and more: bros, gals, cats, Karen’s, no strip clubs, and a Russian.
Writing: Lyssa Kay Adams writes like how the reader would think or feel, and it’s what makes her stories so laughable, lovable, and enjoyable.
Romance: We love a friends to lovers romance