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A review by andra_mihaela_s
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
2.5 stars
"Undercover Bromance" follows Liv and Mack's enemies-to-lovers storyline.
Liv, the younger sister of Thea (female main character form book 1 of the series), is a pastry chef for Royce Preston at the most expensive restaurant in Nashville. Her personality consists in being cagey, brash, always choosing loneliness and hardship due to pride and insecurities..not to mention, she's the kind of girl that acts first, ask questions later. So you could say, Liv is a though girl to like.
Mack, on the other hand, is the owner of a nightclub chain and the founder of the Bromance Book Club. He is charming, perfect with women and very much an amazing guy. And that's exactly his problem.
CW: harrasment, sexual abuse
I don't know how to address all my problems with this book without transforming the review into a rant, but I will try.
Negative aspects:
- the major issue I had , and the root cause for all the others in my opinion, is too little pages for both a romance that is already hard to sell in first place, and an subject that is extremely important and in need of proper time on page to be fully fleshed out.
- I've noticed that Adams has really strong beginnings and low endings with the 2 books I read from her...I don't know if this is specific to her writing style/ plot development, but I already have the 3rd book and I will be looking out for this. I will not have a problem with a less then fantastic conclusion, if not for the fact that the main issues our characters have are resolved there.(we are lead to believe they have some extremely important info or trauma/motif/etc, but when it is addressed...i'm quite underwhelmed :( )
- It felt like we have 2 books: one- the romance; the other - the investigation/solving of the issue.Again, I don't usualy mind, but I need a connection between them that is more than one character messing things up and hurting everyone...speaking about that, Liv is really insensitive to others and throws her values in your face way to much. This is called out, but I wasn't satisfied with the cliche of everyone forgiving the main character. :(
- side characters changing sides for the sake of moving the plot along....neither Jessica (who was extremely against helping Liv succeed in her endeavour due to fear and victim mentality), neither Geoff had any reason to switch their views like that (due to poor pacing...it seemed they sided with Liv overnight!)
- Mack's issue with his mother is not resolved at all...and it also translates to his behaviour with Liv...I thought we are reading the Bromance Book Club series!!..how come we barely alude to the book???? not to mention, loose an important aspect of what makes a relationship work!!! especially in their case!!!! >..< ..infuriating!
Negatives due to personal preference:
- too much internal dialog confirming how horrible they are for the other..>..>...give me a break with this stupidity...
- the guy moments were a little over-the-top and super cheesy for me
- people don't comunicate enough!
Positive aspects:
- Rosie and Hop!!!!!
- Randy the cock and his appetite for girls:)))
- Noah...although I cannot explain how Mack ended up knowing him....>..>
- moments when toxic masculinity and horrible people were dealt with
Overall, I feel sorry to give less then 3 stars for such a good book in concept...I think that if you enjoy prickly heroines, some fluffly moments here and there and high-paced action you will for sure enjoy this book more than I did. Once again, fewer pages sometimes costs the book it's impact.
Enjoy
"Undercover Bromance" follows Liv and Mack's enemies-to-lovers storyline.
Liv, the younger sister of Thea (female main character form book 1 of the series), is a pastry chef for Royce Preston at the most expensive restaurant in Nashville. Her personality consists in being cagey, brash, always choosing loneliness and hardship due to pride and insecurities..not to mention, she's the kind of girl that acts first, ask questions later. So you could say, Liv is a though girl to like.
Mack, on the other hand, is the owner of a nightclub chain and the founder of the Bromance Book Club. He is charming, perfect with women and very much an amazing guy. And that's exactly his problem.
CW: harrasment, sexual abuse
I don't know how to address all my problems with this book without transforming the review into a rant, but I will try.
Negative aspects:
- the major issue I had , and the root cause for all the others in my opinion, is too little pages for both a romance that is already hard to sell in first place, and an subject that is extremely important and in need of proper time on page to be fully fleshed out.
- I've noticed that Adams has really strong beginnings and low endings with the 2 books I read from her...I don't know if this is specific to her writing style/ plot development, but I already have the 3rd book and I will be looking out for this. I will not have a problem with a less then fantastic conclusion, if not for the fact that the main issues our characters have are resolved there.(we are lead to believe they have some extremely important info or trauma/motif/etc, but when it is addressed...i'm quite underwhelmed :( )
- It felt like we have 2 books: one- the romance; the other - the investigation/solving of the issue.Again, I don't usualy mind, but I need a connection between them that is more than one character messing things up and hurting everyone...speaking about that, Liv is really insensitive to others and throws her values in your face way to much. This is called out, but I wasn't satisfied with the cliche of everyone forgiving the main character. :(
- side characters changing sides for the sake of moving the plot along....neither Jessica (who was extremely against helping Liv succeed in her endeavour due to fear and victim mentality), neither Geoff had any reason to switch their views like that (due to poor pacing...it seemed they sided with Liv overnight!)
- Mack's issue with his mother is not resolved at all...and it also translates to his behaviour with Liv...I thought we are reading the Bromance Book Club series!!..how come we barely alude to the book???? not to mention, loose an important aspect of what makes a relationship work!!! especially in their case!!!! >..< ..infuriating!
Negatives due to personal preference:
- too much internal dialog confirming how horrible they are for the other..>..>...give me a break with this stupidity...
- the guy moments were a little over-the-top and super cheesy for me
- people don't comunicate enough!
Positive aspects:
- Rosie and Hop!!!!!
- Randy the cock and his appetite for girls:)))
- Noah...although I cannot explain how Mack ended up knowing him....>..>
- moments when toxic masculinity and horrible people were dealt with
Overall, I feel sorry to give less then 3 stars for such a good book in concept...I think that if you enjoy prickly heroines, some fluffly moments here and there and high-paced action you will for sure enjoy this book more than I did. Once again, fewer pages sometimes costs the book it's impact.
Enjoy
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment