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The Bro Code
What happens when you have to choose between love and friendship?
It's not something Nick Maguire has ever had to worry about.
He'd never betray his best friends, Carter and Austin, by breaking 'The Bro Code', and he knows they'd never do the same. They've got each others backs.
That is until Carter's sister, Eliza, returns from Australia. Unfortunately Eliza is, basically, incredible, and poor Nick almost immediately falls head over heels.
The two begin to form a bond that just crackles with electricity . . . and spells a whole lot of trouble.
Nick is about to find out that codes are made to be broken.
It's not something Nick Maguire has ever had to worry about.
He'd never betray his best friends, Carter and Austin, by breaking 'The Bro Code', and he knows they'd never do the same. They've got each others backs.
That is until Carter's sister, Eliza, returns from Australia. Unfortunately Eliza is, basically, incredible, and poor Nick almost immediately falls head over heels.
The two begin to form a bond that just crackles with electricity . . . and spells a whole lot of trouble.
Nick is about to find out that codes are made to be broken.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
76 people are currently reading
3902 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth A. Seibert
6 books96 followersElizabeth A. Seibert has been an author, sunscreen-obsessed lifeguard, barbecue-loving waitress, finance reporter, nine-to-five marketer, and aspiring superhero. Her stories on Wattpad have amassed over thirty million reads, and she’s been featured in Imagines: Celebrity Encounters Starring You (Simon & Schuster).
Elizabeth attended the University of Massachusetts Amerst and currently lives in Massachusetts, USA, where she attends Harvard University. Elizabeth loves to cook and play board games and ultimate frisbee. The Bro Code is her debut novel. Visit at www.elizabethseibert.com.
Elizabeth attended the University of Massachusetts Amerst and currently lives in Massachusetts, USA, where she attends Harvard University. Elizabeth loves to cook and play board games and ultimate frisbee. The Bro Code is her debut novel. Visit at www.elizabethseibert.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
September 6, 2020
NOTHING CAUGHT MY FANCY, NOTHING APPEALED TO ME
There was absolutely nothing I liked about this book - not the plot, the characters or the writing. The only reason why it got two stars instead of one is that at least it didn't offend me. It just made me want to stop reading.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Writing: Already from the beginning I was ticked off by the writing. It was so annoying! So many weird jumps all over the place. Strange, inserted sentences into the middle of other sentences. Very annoying and disturbing. Cringy, weird word choices that really showed that the author was trying too hard at being young and hip. It just made my toes curl. In a bad way.
Dialogue: Again, the choice of words was SO cringy! I sincerely hope that no one actually talks like that in real life.
The end?: I was only 20% into this book when I started thinking about giving up on it. I should have. It did not get better.
Touchy subjects: So many important subjects were handly really poorly - date rape, rape culture, #metoo, sexism, toxic masculinity. It just glazed over the whole bunch and even excused some of these things.
Characters: None of the characters were to my liking. Especially not the guys, Carter, Nick, Josh and Austin. They were total and utter douches, every one of them! Shallow, superficial idiots.
Predictable: Not once was I surprised by anything that happened in this book. It was utterly predictable and very unoriginal. I felt like I already new the story from countless other books, movies and high school TV-shows.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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There was absolutely nothing I liked about this book - not the plot, the characters or the writing. The only reason why it got two stars instead of one is that at least it didn't offend me. It just made me want to stop reading.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Writing: Already from the beginning I was ticked off by the writing. It was so annoying! So many weird jumps all over the place. Strange, inserted sentences into the middle of other sentences. Very annoying and disturbing. Cringy, weird word choices that really showed that the author was trying too hard at being young and hip. It just made my toes curl. In a bad way.
Dialogue: Again, the choice of words was SO cringy! I sincerely hope that no one actually talks like that in real life.
The end?: I was only 20% into this book when I started thinking about giving up on it. I should have. It did not get better.
Touchy subjects: So many important subjects were handly really poorly - date rape, rape culture, #metoo, sexism, toxic masculinity. It just glazed over the whole bunch and even excused some of these things.
Characters: None of the characters were to my liking. Especially not the guys, Carter, Nick, Josh and Austin. They were total and utter douches, every one of them! Shallow, superficial idiots.
Predictable: Not once was I surprised by anything that happened in this book. It was utterly predictable and very unoriginal. I felt like I already new the story from countless other books, movies and high school TV-shows.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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September 21, 2020
3.5 stars
Elizabeth Seibert has delivered a humorous and satirical look at a group of boys, the jocks of their high school, as they navigate the path from boys to men.
The boys were all about ‘the code’ and, as most teens are, all about themselves and the rules that they decided they should live by. These were a group of privileged white boys and I think they realised that. However, with no responsibilities they also seemed to lack respect.
One rule; ‘you don’t hit on a bro’s sister’ starts to cause division in the group as one of the boys starts to fall for his best-friend's sister.
As the story evolves and the boys mature they start to come to the realisation that their attitude towards girls has not been respectful.
There is plenty of humour as the boys hang out doing silly boy stuff, playing video games and eating pizza. However the book also explores many situations relevant to teens including the important topics of consent, respect and toxic masculinity although I feel these topics could have been explored further and I didn’t like that there were never any consequences for their actions.
The boys look back on events in the past and see with a more mature mind that things they did were not okay.
Sixteen year old Eliza, the sister of one of the boys, provides a good perspective of the female point of view and the harm that can be done by these disrespectful boys. I liked that Eliza was outspoken and called the boys out over their behaviour.
There is a really sweet romance running through the story and I love how Eliza chooses the course and pace of the romance.
The Bro Code is a light read that gets the message across in a subtle way. This is a story I hope will make young males see toxic masculinity as outdated and young girls to be strong and outspoken.
*I received a review copy
Elizabeth Seibert has delivered a humorous and satirical look at a group of boys, the jocks of their high school, as they navigate the path from boys to men.
The boys were all about ‘the code’ and, as most teens are, all about themselves and the rules that they decided they should live by. These were a group of privileged white boys and I think they realised that. However, with no responsibilities they also seemed to lack respect.
One rule; ‘you don’t hit on a bro’s sister’ starts to cause division in the group as one of the boys starts to fall for his best-friend's sister.
As the story evolves and the boys mature they start to come to the realisation that their attitude towards girls has not been respectful.
There is plenty of humour as the boys hang out doing silly boy stuff, playing video games and eating pizza. However the book also explores many situations relevant to teens including the important topics of consent, respect and toxic masculinity although I feel these topics could have been explored further and I didn’t like that there were never any consequences for their actions.
The boys look back on events in the past and see with a more mature mind that things they did were not okay.
Sixteen year old Eliza, the sister of one of the boys, provides a good perspective of the female point of view and the harm that can be done by these disrespectful boys. I liked that Eliza was outspoken and called the boys out over their behaviour.
There is a really sweet romance running through the story and I love how Eliza chooses the course and pace of the romance.
The Bro Code is a light read that gets the message across in a subtle way. This is a story I hope will make young males see toxic masculinity as outdated and young girls to be strong and outspoken.
*I received a review copy
June 6, 2021
„Der Bro-Code“ von Elizabeth A. Seibert ist ein super humorvolles, locker leichtes Jugendbuch, das aber auch ernste Themen (z.B. toxische Männlichkeit, sexuelle Übergriffe) anspricht.
Die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht von Nick erzählt, was man im Romantik-Genre eher selten antrifft - hat mir extrem gut gefallen und war eine tolle Abwechslung.
Ich musste sehr oft lachen und habe mich wirklich gut unterhalten gefühlt, eine perfekte Kombi aus Humor und Ernsthaftigkeit. ☺️
Die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht von Nick erzählt, was man im Romantik-Genre eher selten antrifft - hat mir extrem gut gefallen und war eine tolle Abwechslung.
Ich musste sehr oft lachen und habe mich wirklich gut unterhalten gefühlt, eine perfekte Kombi aus Humor und Ernsthaftigkeit. ☺️
June 1, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Bro Code was filled with endless bro codes. Oh lord, the whole bros before hoes was nauseating to deal with but eventually these little douches figure a way to pull their heads from their own asses. That being said, towards the end.. I eventually ended up liking Eliza and Nick.
I get it, they are in high school and have the rest of their lives to live. Yet, some of things that were vaguely mentioned or happened in this book were not okay. The whole taking advantage of a her girl without her consent rubbed me the wrong way. Even if alcohol was involved.
Then there's Eliza and she definitely got Nick to change his ways. Heck, maybe even Carter and Austin are going to be better people in the end. Other than that, it was pretty predictable and completely cheesy at parts.
In the end, I'm glad I got to dive into it even if I was expecting something completely different to go down.
The Bro Code was filled with endless bro codes. Oh lord, the whole bros before hoes was nauseating to deal with but eventually these little douches figure a way to pull their heads from their own asses. That being said, towards the end.. I eventually ended up liking Eliza and Nick.
I get it, they are in high school and have the rest of their lives to live. Yet, some of things that were vaguely mentioned or happened in this book were not okay. The whole taking advantage of a her girl without her consent rubbed me the wrong way. Even if alcohol was involved.
Then there's Eliza and she definitely got Nick to change his ways. Heck, maybe even Carter and Austin are going to be better people in the end. Other than that, it was pretty predictable and completely cheesy at parts.
In the end, I'm glad I got to dive into it even if I was expecting something completely different to go down.
September 16, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of The Bro Code in exchange for an honest review.
The Bro Code is an okay novel, though I had several issues with it. It was the classic rom-com--boy meets girl, falls in love, face problems and challenges, and live happily ever after. And it was too predictable for my liking. The plot was irregularly paced; some parts were too fast, and some too slow. I wandered away when I was through halfway. But I came back. I am a conqueror. Honestly, I wanted to enjoy this book because the blurb hooked me from the very start, but I was very disappointed.
In short--I strongly disliked the characters. They were not very emotional, and I didn't feel any connection to them. This book is whiter than a loaf of white bread. Most of the cast of characters were white and financially stable, so they weren't very relatable. And Nick. He was the MC, so I thought it would be easier to like him, but no, I didn't. He and his so-called "bros" are sexist, with all the "bros before hoes" nonsense, and rude to others. In addition, the relationship between Nick and Eliza was extremely underdeveloped and I didn't even feel a spark of chemistry between them. Then they kiss, and then I thought I missed something. But I didn't.
There is also a sense of forced diversity. According to Nick, the population of North Cassidy is "90% white, 8% Asian, and 2% anything else." I wanted to bang my head against the wall.
I was frustrated with the writing from the very start. There were too many details at some parts, and not enough details at others. I didn't enjoy this writing style much, and it was too confusing for me. I also thought that the chosen narrator was a bad choice. I wish Nick wasn't the narrator; I would have enjoyed Eliza's POV much more.
The Bro Code had so much potential, but it didn't use it. There wasn't anything special that stood out to me. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and there were too many bro codes. It made me want to fling my Kindle out the window. There were also way too many relationships to keep track of. Nick wants Eliza, so-and-s0 breaks up with so-and-so, and I was so confused that I kept mixing up the characters.
The Bro Code is an okay novel, though I had several issues with it. It was the classic rom-com--boy meets girl, falls in love, face problems and challenges, and live happily ever after. And it was too predictable for my liking. The plot was irregularly paced; some parts were too fast, and some too slow. I wandered away when I was through halfway. But I came back. I am a conqueror. Honestly, I wanted to enjoy this book because the blurb hooked me from the very start, but I was very disappointed.
In short--I strongly disliked the characters. They were not very emotional, and I didn't feel any connection to them. This book is whiter than a loaf of white bread. Most of the cast of characters were white and financially stable, so they weren't very relatable. And Nick. He was the MC, so I thought it would be easier to like him, but no, I didn't. He and his so-called "bros" are sexist, with all the "bros before hoes" nonsense, and rude to others. In addition, the relationship between Nick and Eliza was extremely underdeveloped and I didn't even feel a spark of chemistry between them. Then they kiss, and then I thought I missed something. But I didn't.
There is also a sense of forced diversity. According to Nick, the population of North Cassidy is "90% white, 8% Asian, and 2% anything else." I wanted to bang my head against the wall.
I was frustrated with the writing from the very start. There were too many details at some parts, and not enough details at others. I didn't enjoy this writing style much, and it was too confusing for me. I also thought that the chosen narrator was a bad choice. I wish Nick wasn't the narrator; I would have enjoyed Eliza's POV much more.
The Bro Code had so much potential, but it didn't use it. There wasn't anything special that stood out to me. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and there were too many bro codes. It made me want to fling my Kindle out the window. There were also way too many relationships to keep track of. Nick wants Eliza, so-and-s0 breaks up with so-and-so, and I was so confused that I kept mixing up the characters.
July 30, 2020
**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an E-ARC of this novel!**
This one started off slow for me, but by the end I was wanting the story to keep going! I wonder how things turned out...& the story gave me major nostalgia vibes for my high school days. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-the nostalgia it brought back about my high days...lol
-the connections between the characters...although this was problematic at points if they were backing each other regarding misogynistic or homophobic topics...the strength of the friendships also led to the growth of each character
-the slow burn of the romance...it made it that much sweeter when things picked up
-how the author called out the toxic masculinity! YAAAAASSSSS!
-the re-written Bro Code at the end of the novel :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-this story started out slow & took a while for me to get interested in
-the way the original Bro Code was overbearing in parts of the story...in the beginning of the story it was brought up so much that it felt very oppressive in the story (but this let up & changed as the character progressed)
-while enjoyed the romance...I found it slightly irritating that it took a relationship with the "right girl" for the main character to realize his demeaning views & comments regarding women
Overall, I gave this novel 3 stars. It was such a good way to break up my recent "adult" reads & remind me why I love YA so much. It made me smile & laugh. I think it would be a great read for those interested in reading novels with high school themes, rom-com vibes, & just an enjoyable & funny read.
This one started off slow for me, but by the end I was wanting the story to keep going! I wonder how things turned out...& the story gave me major nostalgia vibes for my high school days. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Things I Liked:
-the nostalgia it brought back about my high days...lol
-the connections between the characters...although this was problematic at points if they were backing each other regarding misogynistic or homophobic topics...the strength of the friendships also led to the growth of each character
-the slow burn of the romance...it made it that much sweeter when things picked up
-how the author called out the toxic masculinity! YAAAAASSSSS!
-the re-written Bro Code at the end of the novel :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-this story started out slow & took a while for me to get interested in
-the way the original Bro Code was overbearing in parts of the story...in the beginning of the story it was brought up so much that it felt very oppressive in the story (but this let up & changed as the character progressed)
-while enjoyed the romance...I found it slightly irritating that it took a relationship with the "right girl" for the main character to realize his demeaning views & comments regarding women
Overall, I gave this novel 3 stars. It was such a good way to break up my recent "adult" reads & remind me why I love YA so much. It made me smile & laugh. I think it would be a great read for those interested in reading novels with high school themes, rom-com vibes, & just an enjoyable & funny read.
August 19, 2020
I love rom coms, and this one delivered! Expected this book to be your typical high school love story where the jock falls for his best friend's sister, but for a surprising and important added value it has a whole social commentary subtext regarding toxic masculinity. Satire done well, you love to see it! You're clearly not supposed to like the way certain parts of the book go (but these make its messages all that much stronger), and I think that's what helps it to make such a strong stance against sexism. Overall, extremely entertaining and timely!
August 31, 2020
The Bro Code by Elizabeth A. SEIBERT is a story about a group of friends who live their life by following The Bro Code. So when Nick falls for his best friend sister that goes against The Bro Code. So they start meeting in secret.
I found this so cheesy and so repetitive. The saying Bros before hoes was repeated so many times that I found it so insulting to be reading this in a young adult book. I just couldn't give this a higher rating especially since Nick annoyed me so much.
Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad for a copy of this book for an honest review.
I found this so cheesy and so repetitive. The saying Bros before hoes was repeated so many times that I found it so insulting to be reading this in a young adult book. I just couldn't give this a higher rating especially since Nick annoyed me so much.
Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad for a copy of this book for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
I like that everything ties together so well in the end. This book is a conversation starter. The Bro Code as the title feels appropriate not only due to its content but its discussions about the toxicity of The Bro Code when there is nobody to regulate it. This book opens up the conversation about sexual assault and consent so this is a trigger warning you need to know about before diving into it. It talks about toxic masculinity and its relation to the bro code.
I went in expecting some harmless, light-hearted fun and left this book feeling not only reminded about the importance of us having this conversations but pleased that the author used their platform to tackle it in a contemporary YA book. Elizabeth A. Seibert used a platform to talk about these things and while the story was great (I'll talk about it in a second), it's these implementations that were inside that are leaving me with a solid impression on my mind that I will likely not forget for a long time.
The story and its characters were well-rounded and developed. The bromance was EVERYTHING. I adored the friendships in this book and different takes on whether it was worth risking your happiness to make a friend happy. I also appreciated the representation of different types of parents and even though some parents are emotionally unavailable, it was refreshing to not see them villainized to the point of no return.
I liked our main character's individual voice. I think it was something that really shone and became very prominent throughout this book. His narration of the events was fun to read and while sometimes it did feel there was too much explaining but that can honestly be chalked up to my own impatience, I genuinely felt that his way of telling the story was unique.
It was a really enjoyable read.
I'd like to thank Wattpad Books for sending me an ARC of this book but I do have to say that this is a very worthy purchase if I do say so myself.
I went in expecting some harmless, light-hearted fun and left this book feeling not only reminded about the importance of us having this conversations but pleased that the author used their platform to tackle it in a contemporary YA book. Elizabeth A. Seibert used a platform to talk about these things and while the story was great (I'll talk about it in a second), it's these implementations that were inside that are leaving me with a solid impression on my mind that I will likely not forget for a long time.
The story and its characters were well-rounded and developed. The bromance was EVERYTHING. I adored the friendships in this book and different takes on whether it was worth risking your happiness to make a friend happy. I also appreciated the representation of different types of parents and even though some parents are emotionally unavailable, it was refreshing to not see them villainized to the point of no return.
I liked our main character's individual voice. I think it was something that really shone and became very prominent throughout this book. His narration of the events was fun to read and while sometimes it did feel there was too much explaining but that can honestly be chalked up to my own impatience, I genuinely felt that his way of telling the story was unique.
It was a really enjoyable read.
I'd like to thank Wattpad Books for sending me an ARC of this book but I do have to say that this is a very worthy purchase if I do say so myself.
dnf
August 2, 2020Dnf at 15%
I tried but I just couldn't get into the book. There's too many silly bro code which I absolutely hate. And they pull this stupid prank on the heroine. It was total ridiculousness.
It just wasn't for me.
Arc provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I tried but I just couldn't get into the book. There's too many silly bro code which I absolutely hate. And they pull this stupid prank on the heroine. It was total ridiculousness.
It just wasn't for me.
Arc provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 3, 2020
I wish I liked this more. The bro code the guys live by is pretty ridiculous and sexist, although occasionally funny. The story felt a bit disjointed at times and didn't flow well. There's also a reveal at the end that ruined two of the characters for me and I had a difficult time caring after that.
The rules of bro code in general are known, but some of these were so random. A bro must like dodge ball, a bro must always finish telling his joke, things like that I found funny and there were a few laughs throughout. Nick is a pretty good guy and I liked his character. He's a good friend and his feelings for Eliza were sweet and honest. He works hard for what he wants and puts up with subpar parenting without much complaint.
I feel like this book could have taken a stronger stance against sexism, harassment, and rape and chose to be funny instead. I was disappointed with how the revelation towards the end was handled, basically oops a guy made a mistake, oh well. With the climate we're in right now, I hoped for more female unity and accountability, but it's about 'bros' so I should have lowered my expectations.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The rules of bro code in general are known, but some of these were so random. A bro must like dodge ball, a bro must always finish telling his joke, things like that I found funny and there were a few laughs throughout. Nick is a pretty good guy and I liked his character. He's a good friend and his feelings for Eliza were sweet and honest. He works hard for what he wants and puts up with subpar parenting without much complaint.
I feel like this book could have taken a stronger stance against sexism, harassment, and rape and chose to be funny instead. I was disappointed with how the revelation towards the end was handled, basically oops a guy made a mistake, oh well. With the climate we're in right now, I hoped for more female unity and accountability, but it's about 'bros' so I should have lowered my expectations.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2020
LOVED this book!!!! I thought the writing style was so well done and SO FUNNY. I actually laughed out loud multiple times. It reminded me of my little brother and my own high school days. I really liked that it was a very quick read. Would definitely recommend to all young adults.
September 23, 2020
I was eager to read this book because 1. it’s in the POV of a guy which we don’t get enough of in YA and 2. it sounded funny and fresh. It didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
There was a little more backstory at the beginning than I would have liked. It’s essential to explain some things at the beginning because, as readers, we have to learn who all the characters are and their stories. However, I felt a little like I was being bombarded with backstory. I think it really could have been spread out more throughout the book.
As well, the writing was very bro-y. I know that’s kinda the point since this book is called THE BRO CODE and it’s about bro friends, but it got very annoying very quickly. I kinda felt like I was reading the thoughts of a stereotypical frat boy even though this guy is in high school.
There were, however, some fun parts to this point. My favorite was probably the bro rules at the beginning of each chapter. The gave a hint as to what was to come in the chapter and made things a little more interesting, especially when the rules were broken.
I also really liked that the book challenged the bros’ toxic masculinity. It was definitely made clear that the bro code is meant to be challenged and changed for the better. Seibert made a point of making her characters understand the importance of empowering women and supporting diversity in friendship.
Overall, this wasn’t one of my favorite reads. The idea was nice and I enjoyed the actual bro code, but it wasn’t executed very well.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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There was a little more backstory at the beginning than I would have liked. It’s essential to explain some things at the beginning because, as readers, we have to learn who all the characters are and their stories. However, I felt a little like I was being bombarded with backstory. I think it really could have been spread out more throughout the book.
As well, the writing was very bro-y. I know that’s kinda the point since this book is called THE BRO CODE and it’s about bro friends, but it got very annoying very quickly. I kinda felt like I was reading the thoughts of a stereotypical frat boy even though this guy is in high school.
There were, however, some fun parts to this point. My favorite was probably the bro rules at the beginning of each chapter. The gave a hint as to what was to come in the chapter and made things a little more interesting, especially when the rules were broken.
I also really liked that the book challenged the bros’ toxic masculinity. It was definitely made clear that the bro code is meant to be challenged and changed for the better. Seibert made a point of making her characters understand the importance of empowering women and supporting diversity in friendship.
Overall, this wasn’t one of my favorite reads. The idea was nice and I enjoyed the actual bro code, but it wasn’t executed very well.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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July 4, 2020
2.5*
I'm really struggling to get my thoughts across on this book because I have such mixed feeling about it. But overall, it's not the best book I've ever read but it's an ok debut novel and the writing style has a lot of potential.
Even though I have very mixed thoughts on this book it was definitely a cute cheesy romcom between our main character Nick and his 'Bros' sister, Eliza. I thought for the most part their relationship was cute and easy to read about. In fact, for a lot of the book I was able to enjoy most of the main set of characters.
I did find there were quite a few cringe worthy lines in the book, particularly at the start but it did improve as the book went on. Whether that was done on purpose or not I'm not sure. There were also a lot of pop culture references particularly to Harry Potter, which, as a massive Harry potter fan (but not a JK Rowling fan) was fun to read.
This book also dealt with toxic masculinity and for the most part I thought that was handled well and you could see the main characters growth from start to finish in terms of how closely he sticks to the 'Bro Code' and eventually ends up changing it.
However, there were a few moments towards the end where I felt like all the work that was done to develop these characters just completely unraveled. The first thing was a little comment the main character made that said 'LGB...letters. Yeah it's 2020 and I need to know the letters. I'll get there ok?' that made me uncomfortable and completely undid what I think the writer was trying to achieve.
My second issue was with how they handled more serious topics.
Ok so this book did deal with some pretty heavy topics mainly to do with the #metoo movement and personally, I think not all of it was handled well and in this day and age it needs to be handled with absolute care.
So first off, I thought the story Eliza told about her friend was really well done and showed off the exact issues with toxic masculinity and this movement and how gender standards come into play in situations to do with the #metoo movement. However, later on Nick talks to one of his friends and learned that his friend had done a similar thing and made another girl uncomfortable (sorry I'm trying to not give spoilers while describing spoilers). Once this story was told I thought that the two boys involved effectively got away with it. There was no justice for the girls and the girls just accepted it. And I'm not sure if this was social commentary or not but either way it wasn't handled brilliantly.
So, overall I have really mixed thoughts on this book and I'm sorry if my review doesn't always make the most sense. I'm not really sure what else to say really, other than this was an ok book and if it sounds like something that might interest you then go ahead and pick it up but otherwise, this book doesn't really bring anything new to the table and doesn't always handle complex situations well.
*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I'm really struggling to get my thoughts across on this book because I have such mixed feeling about it. But overall, it's not the best book I've ever read but it's an ok debut novel and the writing style has a lot of potential.
Even though I have very mixed thoughts on this book it was definitely a cute cheesy romcom between our main character Nick and his 'Bros' sister, Eliza. I thought for the most part their relationship was cute and easy to read about. In fact, for a lot of the book I was able to enjoy most of the main set of characters.
I did find there were quite a few cringe worthy lines in the book, particularly at the start but it did improve as the book went on. Whether that was done on purpose or not I'm not sure. There were also a lot of pop culture references particularly to Harry Potter, which, as a massive Harry potter fan (but not a JK Rowling fan) was fun to read.
This book also dealt with toxic masculinity and for the most part I thought that was handled well and you could see the main characters growth from start to finish in terms of how closely he sticks to the 'Bro Code' and eventually ends up changing it.
However, there were a few moments towards the end where I felt like all the work that was done to develop these characters just completely unraveled. The first thing was a little comment the main character made that said 'LGB...letters. Yeah it's 2020 and I need to know the letters. I'll get there ok?' that made me uncomfortable and completely undid what I think the writer was trying to achieve.
My second issue was with how they handled more serious topics.
Ok so this book did deal with some pretty heavy topics mainly to do with the #metoo movement and personally, I think not all of it was handled well and in this day and age it needs to be handled with absolute care.
So first off, I thought the story Eliza told about her friend was really well done and showed off the exact issues with toxic masculinity and this movement and how gender standards come into play in situations to do with the #metoo movement. However, later on Nick talks to one of his friends and learned that his friend had done a similar thing and made another girl uncomfortable (sorry I'm trying to not give spoilers while describing spoilers). Once this story was told I thought that the two boys involved effectively got away with it. There was no justice for the girls and the girls just accepted it. And I'm not sure if this was social commentary or not but either way it wasn't handled brilliantly.
So, overall I have really mixed thoughts on this book and I'm sorry if my review doesn't always make the most sense. I'm not really sure what else to say really, other than this was an ok book and if it sounds like something that might interest you then go ahead and pick it up but otherwise, this book doesn't really bring anything new to the table and doesn't always handle complex situations well.
*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 7, 2020
A huge thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Ugh. I had to force myself through this book. The last 25% of the book was probably the only part I actually cared about and that was because characters were finally HONEST with each other. Whether they intended to be or not, it all started coming together.
I didn't like the way the characters talked. It drove me absolutely crazy because you could tell it wasn't a teenager talking, it was an adult trying to sound like a teenager. Using some current teenage vernacular was fine, but some of it was just too forced.
Some of the characters were extremely sexist so the only reason this gets the stars that it does is because of the honest conversations people had, calling others out on sexist behavior (THANK YOU) and letting guys know how some of their behavior is interpreted by women (THANK YOU).
I liked Eliza and Nik well enough, but I didn't feel any connection whatsoever to any of these characters and really didn't care how things played out, the plot was predictable enough that I saw 99% of it coming.
Ugh. I had to force myself through this book. The last 25% of the book was probably the only part I actually cared about and that was because characters were finally HONEST with each other. Whether they intended to be or not, it all started coming together.
I didn't like the way the characters talked. It drove me absolutely crazy because you could tell it wasn't a teenager talking, it was an adult trying to sound like a teenager. Using some current teenage vernacular was fine, but some of it was just too forced.
Some of the characters were extremely sexist so the only reason this gets the stars that it does is because of the honest conversations people had, calling others out on sexist behavior (THANK YOU) and letting guys know how some of their behavior is interpreted by women (THANK YOU).
I liked Eliza and Nik well enough, but I didn't feel any connection whatsoever to any of these characters and really didn't care how things played out, the plot was predictable enough that I saw 99% of it coming.
Want to read
May 8, 2020"i'm a prom king and the most popular guy in school and i'm in love with my bestfriend's sister"??????????? trope never gets old! yup sign me up!
July 5, 2020
Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
~Quick Statistics~
Overall: 1.5/5 Stars
Plot: 1/5 Stars
Setting: 1/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 Stars
Writing: 2/5 Stars
Memorability: 1/5 Stars
~Quick Review~
I really wanted to like this novel, however, I felt that everything was cliche and made the story such a common one. There was nothing special about it, and I just couldn’t get past the first half of the novel. This is one of my shorter reviews as I didn’t finish the novel, but I had a few thoughts on it that I wanted to express.
~Other Information~
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Page Count: 320 pages
Release Date: September 22, 2020
~Quick Synopsis~
Nick is friends with Carter and Austin, he sticks to their Bro Code, which must never be broken any under circumstances. That is until he has a crush on Carter’s sister and Austin’s ex, Eliza. He must decide whether he risks it all for Eliza or whether he stays true to his friends and their code of friendship.
~Characters~
I actually somewhat liked the characters. I totally see Eliza and Nick working out great together, they had great chemistry. However, I felt like all of the characters were written like how an adult imagined teenagers acting/interacting with each other. It just felt fake to me, but nevertheless I enjoyed the characters.
~Writing and Setting~
The writing style of The Bro Code was just not for me, and I found it very confusing. There were way too many details in a lot of places and too little detail in others, which I found very frustrating.
For as long as I read the novel, the setting had absolutely nothing to do with it. The Bro Code definitely takes place recently, but it just wasn’t important to the story, at all.
~Plot~
I was really interested in The Bro Code when I first requested it, and was so, so excited to read the novel. However, after reading through the first half of the novel, it became clear that this story was just like many others. There was nothing special about this novel, which really disappointed me. I cannot speak for the second half of the novel, as I did not finish it, but I was so disinterested that I could not continue reading.
~Overall Review~
I really wanted to like this novel, the book description had my expectations through the roof. This novel was just not for me, I just didn’t like it. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t like the novel. As I said, The Bro Code was just not my style.
Amazon
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
~Quick Statistics~
Overall: 1.5/5 Stars
Plot: 1/5 Stars
Setting: 1/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 Stars
Writing: 2/5 Stars
Memorability: 1/5 Stars
~Quick Review~
I really wanted to like this novel, however, I felt that everything was cliche and made the story such a common one. There was nothing special about it, and I just couldn’t get past the first half of the novel. This is one of my shorter reviews as I didn’t finish the novel, but I had a few thoughts on it that I wanted to express.
~Other Information~
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Page Count: 320 pages
Release Date: September 22, 2020
~Quick Synopsis~
Nick is friends with Carter and Austin, he sticks to their Bro Code, which must never be broken any under circumstances. That is until he has a crush on Carter’s sister and Austin’s ex, Eliza. He must decide whether he risks it all for Eliza or whether he stays true to his friends and their code of friendship.
~Characters~
I actually somewhat liked the characters. I totally see Eliza and Nick working out great together, they had great chemistry. However, I felt like all of the characters were written like how an adult imagined teenagers acting/interacting with each other. It just felt fake to me, but nevertheless I enjoyed the characters.
~Writing and Setting~
The writing style of The Bro Code was just not for me, and I found it very confusing. There were way too many details in a lot of places and too little detail in others, which I found very frustrating.
For as long as I read the novel, the setting had absolutely nothing to do with it. The Bro Code definitely takes place recently, but it just wasn’t important to the story, at all.
~Plot~
I was really interested in The Bro Code when I first requested it, and was so, so excited to read the novel. However, after reading through the first half of the novel, it became clear that this story was just like many others. There was nothing special about this novel, which really disappointed me. I cannot speak for the second half of the novel, as I did not finish it, but I was so disinterested that I could not continue reading.
~Overall Review~
I really wanted to like this novel, the book description had my expectations through the roof. This novel was just not for me, I just didn’t like it. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t like the novel. As I said, The Bro Code was just not my style.
Amazon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC of The Bro Code by Elizabeth Seibert!
This story was a fun and fluffy romantic comedy that not only tackled the friends-to-lovers trope, but also spoke about the power of friendship, revamping the sexist 'Bro Code' and speaking about the #metoo movement.
Our story follows our main character Nick MacGuire who has been best friends with Carter O'Connell since they were in Kindergarten. The two "bros" are on the soccer team together and do everything together, including apply and try out for the same soccer team at a college that they are both hoping to get full-rides too. The catch? Carter has a younger sister Eliza who has always been "off-limits" but the more time Eliza and Nick spend together, the deeper their feelings become and the romantic tension between them grows.
Oh and fun fact? Elizabeth wrote this book originally in 2012 (when she was still in high school) on Wattpad and it was so popular, a publisher picked it up and thus we have her debut novel hitting shelves on September 22, 2020.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot. I thought it was fun to follow each of the characters and Nick's POV was hilarious. There were a lot of pop culture references and jokes (especially Harry Potter) and the author tackled the #metoo movement very well and integrated it into the overall story line making it more than just a fluffy romantic comedy, providing depth for the reader. We also see how powerful friendship can be, and each chapter is labelled after one of the Bro Code rules (ex: Rule Number 22: A bro shalt cheat only on his homework. Never on an exam, a girlfriend, or himself) which I thought was super creative! At the end of the book we see new Bro Code rules that Austin, Carter and Nick create to pass along to the soccer team once they graduate.
I enjoyed this book overall. I liked how complex the story line was, and the themes that were present intertwined within themselves throughout the story. I found myself invested in the characters because they were so relatable and their relationships with one another were so realistic and fun. I would love to see a companion novel following Austin and his sexuality, or even Carter's POV as he starts college with Nick. I could see this book becoming very popular and a hot topic of conversation because of the themes that Elizabeth tackles in regards to sexism and sexuality. It was inspiring and I honestly was rooting for each of our main characters, except Nick's dad because fuck him.
Overall, this is a solid 4 star book for me!
This story was a fun and fluffy romantic comedy that not only tackled the friends-to-lovers trope, but also spoke about the power of friendship, revamping the sexist 'Bro Code' and speaking about the #metoo movement.
Our story follows our main character Nick MacGuire who has been best friends with Carter O'Connell since they were in Kindergarten. The two "bros" are on the soccer team together and do everything together, including apply and try out for the same soccer team at a college that they are both hoping to get full-rides too. The catch? Carter has a younger sister Eliza who has always been "off-limits" but the more time Eliza and Nick spend together, the deeper their feelings become and the romantic tension between them grows.
Oh and fun fact? Elizabeth wrote this book originally in 2012 (when she was still in high school) on Wattpad and it was so popular, a publisher picked it up and thus we have her debut novel hitting shelves on September 22, 2020.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot. I thought it was fun to follow each of the characters and Nick's POV was hilarious. There were a lot of pop culture references and jokes (especially Harry Potter) and the author tackled the #metoo movement very well and integrated it into the overall story line making it more than just a fluffy romantic comedy, providing depth for the reader. We also see how powerful friendship can be, and each chapter is labelled after one of the Bro Code rules (ex: Rule Number 22: A bro shalt cheat only on his homework. Never on an exam, a girlfriend, or himself) which I thought was super creative! At the end of the book we see new Bro Code rules that Austin, Carter and Nick create to pass along to the soccer team once they graduate.
I enjoyed this book overall. I liked how complex the story line was, and the themes that were present intertwined within themselves throughout the story. I found myself invested in the characters because they were so relatable and their relationships with one another were so realistic and fun. I would love to see a companion novel following Austin and his sexuality, or even Carter's POV as he starts college with Nick. I could see this book becoming very popular and a hot topic of conversation because of the themes that Elizabeth tackles in regards to sexism and sexuality. It was inspiring and I honestly was rooting for each of our main characters, except Nick's dad because fuck him.
Overall, this is a solid 4 star book for me!
Read
August 29, 2020The narration style of this book was challenging for me, just because while I understood that the entire basis of this book was based on "bro culture," it was different to read everything from such an inflated bro-based lens.
I didn't really have any particularly strong connections with any of the characters, especially the "bros" and how their behavior was always excused for in certain ways, and by the time some of the toxic aspects of the culture were addressed I was already tired of it all. It didn't feel like a monumental moment for Nick either, just like an "oh."
In general, I appreciated the steps that the author took to try and write that moment and create it when so much of the book involved heavy influences of the bro culture, but I don't think that the pacing and overall narrative style worked for me this time.
I didn't really have any particularly strong connections with any of the characters, especially the "bros" and how their behavior was always excused for in certain ways, and by the time some of the toxic aspects of the culture were addressed I was already tired of it all. It didn't feel like a monumental moment for Nick either, just like an "oh."
In general, I appreciated the steps that the author took to try and write that moment and create it when so much of the book involved heavy influences of the bro culture, but I don't think that the pacing and overall narrative style worked for me this time.
May 21, 2020
This young adult book focuses on Nick, a high school senior soccer star, who starts to develop feelings for his best friend Carter's sister, Eliza. Nick, Carter, and their friend Austin have a bro code that includes things like bros before hoes, don't date a bros sister, etc... This book deals with toxic masculinity and how that can be confronted and changed to protect and empower women. This book touches on timely issues such as the Me Too movement and non-consent. What's interesting is that the male characters come to understand their roles in this toxic paradigm, and they change and influence others to adapt a new "bro code" that respects women.
I think this book is so timely and was a quick, entertaining read. The romance between Nick and Eliza is sweet, and you are rooting for them. The romance is secondary though to a lot of other plot points - college acceptances, friendships, relationships with parents, etc...
I think the one thing I didn't expect was the amount of sex and drinking in this age group.
Overall, I think this book deals with complex themes in our current day news in an entertaining and redeeming way. The character growth we see in not only Nick but also his other male friends is really remarkable, but still believable. There is some diversity representation with a bisexual character that comes out later in the book, but Nick makes a point of pointing out to the reader how non-diverse his school is - and recognizes that this influences his perspective.
Trigger warning: sexual assault
ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review.
I think this book is so timely and was a quick, entertaining read. The romance between Nick and Eliza is sweet, and you are rooting for them. The romance is secondary though to a lot of other plot points - college acceptances, friendships, relationships with parents, etc...
I think the one thing I didn't expect was the amount of sex and drinking in this age group.
Overall, I think this book deals with complex themes in our current day news in an entertaining and redeeming way. The character growth we see in not only Nick but also his other male friends is really remarkable, but still believable. There is some diversity representation with a bisexual character that comes out later in the book, but Nick makes a point of pointing out to the reader how non-diverse his school is - and recognizes that this influences his perspective.
Trigger warning: sexual assault
ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review.
September 26, 2020
This story was a fun rom com! The character development was well done. In the beginning, Nick is your typical teenage boy, but as the story goes on he matures and it's so nice to watch. While, The Bro Code is mostly fun, it also touches on some important topics in such a way that it brings light to their importance without taking from the story. I enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what this author does next!
May 8, 2021
It was a great quick beach read with a happy ending!
November 16, 2020
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
TRIGGER WARNING: rape, rape culture, toxic masculinity, sexism
Ugh, I really hate it when I have to say I couldn't really get into this one.
It's a shame too since I'm such a romance and contemporary fan. Hand me a super cheesy fluffy YA and I'll be all over it with 5 star reviews flooding your Goodreads feed. Unfortunately, as much as I love YA romance, I draw the line when things get too predictable for me. When I can see something coming from the start and can already work out how it ends, a three star rating is the highest you'll be getting from me. Especially if you don't subvert my expectations with a completely original plot twist!
That's what happened in The Bro Code. I, for starters, couldn't get into it for some reason. There were pop culture references galore which I appreciated (especially when it came to Mrs Doubtfire, my favourite movie) but I couldn't get past the dialogue between the characters who said lines repetitively like "bros before hoes" which was said so many times I inwardly cringed. I just couldn't relate with the characters and I didn't really like their dialogue either. There also were mentions of things to do with rape culture, #metoo and toxic masculinity that sometimes were glazed over by the characters. The characters also seemed to be really shallow too if you couldn't tell from the aforementioned motto. At times I didn't mind the banter between Austin, Carter, Josh and Nick, but it didn't excuse their jerk-like behaviour.
With Nick, it felt super insta-lovey when he fell in love with Eliza after she returned back from a school exchange to Australia. Everything went quickly from there. Although I loved the forbidden romance trope the author interweaved in this, I couldn't appreciate it as much as I could've because of everything that happened with the other characters and the predictability of the novel.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.4 STARS
TRIGGER WARNING: rape, rape culture, toxic masculinity, sexism
Ugh, I really hate it when I have to say I couldn't really get into this one.
It's a shame too since I'm such a romance and contemporary fan. Hand me a super cheesy fluffy YA and I'll be all over it with 5 star reviews flooding your Goodreads feed. Unfortunately, as much as I love YA romance, I draw the line when things get too predictable for me. When I can see something coming from the start and can already work out how it ends, a three star rating is the highest you'll be getting from me. Especially if you don't subvert my expectations with a completely original plot twist!
That's what happened in The Bro Code. I, for starters, couldn't get into it for some reason. There were pop culture references galore which I appreciated (especially when it came to Mrs Doubtfire, my favourite movie) but I couldn't get past the dialogue between the characters who said lines repetitively like "bros before hoes" which was said so many times I inwardly cringed. I just couldn't relate with the characters and I didn't really like their dialogue either. There also were mentions of things to do with rape culture, #metoo and toxic masculinity that sometimes were glazed over by the characters. The characters also seemed to be really shallow too if you couldn't tell from the aforementioned motto. At times I didn't mind the banter between Austin, Carter, Josh and Nick, but it didn't excuse their jerk-like behaviour.
With Nick, it felt super insta-lovey when he fell in love with Eliza after she returned back from a school exchange to Australia. Everything went quickly from there. Although I loved the forbidden romance trope the author interweaved in this, I couldn't appreciate it as much as I could've because of everything that happened with the other characters and the predictability of the novel.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.4 STARS
August 18, 2020
This review contains spoilers.
I’ll start by saying that I loved the writing style in this book. It was awesome. Very quick wit, easy to read, flows super well. The love interests, Nick and Eliza had great chemistry too. There were some great references to toxic masculinity that I appreciated.
As a very outspoken advocate for sexual assault and survivors, there were a few things that upset me while I was reading. First off, I could see what the author was going for here, the growth of a typical adolescent male and his immature biased thoughts which then become more developed and respectful.
However, two of the main male characters admit to sexually assaulting girls in the past and it’s basically swept under the rug. Near the end there’s a paragraph that addresses one of the main characters apologising to his victim.
“I talked to Sarah a couple weeks ago.”
Grease rolled down Carter’s wrist. He ignored it.
“I didn’t think I had it in me. Turns out I was only a blip on her radar. She thought how I treated her was normal.”
“Geez,” I said.
“I gave my whole apology anyway. Broke down during it. Maybe she and I are even now. I told her she deserves better. I hope she finds it now.”
My heart is pounding just reading that again. It’s the only acknowledgment we have to what this character did and I’m sorry but it’s not enough. Sexual assault is not a blip on anyone’s radar. It’s severely damaging no matter the extent of it. And to then say “perhaps she and I are even now.” How could they be even? He hasn’t faced any consequences. The victims to both boys in the book just forgive and forget as if it’s no big deal and I think YA needs better representation when it comes to assault.
I love the author, Elizabeth, she’s great and the book was an enjoyable read but I’m far too passionate about assault representation to ignore what I read.
I’ll start by saying that I loved the writing style in this book. It was awesome. Very quick wit, easy to read, flows super well. The love interests, Nick and Eliza had great chemistry too. There were some great references to toxic masculinity that I appreciated.
As a very outspoken advocate for sexual assault and survivors, there were a few things that upset me while I was reading. First off, I could see what the author was going for here, the growth of a typical adolescent male and his immature biased thoughts which then become more developed and respectful.
However, two of the main male characters admit to sexually assaulting girls in the past and it’s basically swept under the rug. Near the end there’s a paragraph that addresses one of the main characters apologising to his victim.
“I talked to Sarah a couple weeks ago.”
Grease rolled down Carter’s wrist. He ignored it.
“I didn’t think I had it in me. Turns out I was only a blip on her radar. She thought how I treated her was normal.”
“Geez,” I said.
“I gave my whole apology anyway. Broke down during it. Maybe she and I are even now. I told her she deserves better. I hope she finds it now.”
My heart is pounding just reading that again. It’s the only acknowledgment we have to what this character did and I’m sorry but it’s not enough. Sexual assault is not a blip on anyone’s radar. It’s severely damaging no matter the extent of it. And to then say “perhaps she and I are even now.” How could they be even? He hasn’t faced any consequences. The victims to both boys in the book just forgive and forget as if it’s no big deal and I think YA needs better representation when it comes to assault.
I love the author, Elizabeth, she’s great and the book was an enjoyable read but I’m far too passionate about assault representation to ignore what I read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
I would first love to shout out a huge THANK YOU to the publishing company, Wattpad Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of The Bro Code by Elizabeth A. Seibert.
Congrats to the author for her debut novel! I’m wishing her the best. I truly admire young authors following their writing dreams. True inspirations <3
Nick is friends with Carter and Austin and they all follow the Bro Code (which must never be broken). However, this all changes when Nick has a crush on Carter’s sister and Austin’s ex, Eliza. He must then decide whether to risk it all for Eliza or follow the code and stay true to his friends....
When I read the blurb for this, I expected a cute and fun rom com. I love rom coms, because they always manage to bring a little joy into my life. And boy was this a cute read! Not only did this book make me grin like a cheesy idiot, but this book had me laughing out loud! Yet, this book had so much more to offer than a teenage love story. This book dealt with such important and empowering teen issues such as toxic masculinity, privilege, consent, respect and the power of one’s voice...I’ll admit the beginning was slow, but halfway through I flew by the rest. I really like how the romance was built. Great character chemistry. Eliza was one of my favourite characters in this. Love how outspoken she became and just fought for what she believed in. However, what really got me was the end. A true sign of change! (which you must read to find out ;))
Congrats to the author for her debut novel! I’m wishing her the best. I truly admire young authors following their writing dreams. True inspirations <3
Nick is friends with Carter and Austin and they all follow the Bro Code (which must never be broken). However, this all changes when Nick has a crush on Carter’s sister and Austin’s ex, Eliza. He must then decide whether to risk it all for Eliza or follow the code and stay true to his friends....
When I read the blurb for this, I expected a cute and fun rom com. I love rom coms, because they always manage to bring a little joy into my life. And boy was this a cute read! Not only did this book make me grin like a cheesy idiot, but this book had me laughing out loud! Yet, this book had so much more to offer than a teenage love story. This book dealt with such important and empowering teen issues such as toxic masculinity, privilege, consent, respect and the power of one’s voice...I’ll admit the beginning was slow, but halfway through I flew by the rest. I really like how the romance was built. Great character chemistry. Eliza was one of my favourite characters in this. Love how outspoken she became and just fought for what she believed in. However, what really got me was the end. A true sign of change! (which you must read to find out ;))
June 29, 2020
I struggled a bit with this book. I really liked the love story between Nick and Eliza, and for me, that was the saving grace of this book. I liked their characters and interactions. But so much of the book focused on the "bro code," which was often sexist and played into the toxic culture of masculinity that we have today. Thankfully that was addressed at various points in the book, but I still feel like the final code was not quite where it needs to be. I think it was a good effort at addressing the bro culture in the time of the #MeToo movement, but I just don't think it completely hit the mark.
Overall, I liked the story and the romance plot, but I just feel like some of the details could have been better. The story often felt disjointed and I had a hard time paying attention at times.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book!
Overall, I liked the story and the romance plot, but I just feel like some of the details could have been better. The story often felt disjointed and I had a hard time paying attention at times.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book!
August 18, 2020
This book sucks. Like seriously sucks. And I was willingly to just power through for the lols until I got to the part where the main character (aka the male love interest) thought 'we don't have to pull out the Me Too card' after another character implied he got a girl drunk before making out with her. Disgusting.
September 20, 2020
As a female, we all know the girl code where we don't date guys that our friends have commented that they like and it's friends before bros, etc. Well, it seems that guys have a code as well called The Bro Code. Meet a group of male friends who are in High School - we have Austin, Nick, Carter who are the best of friends. Enter Eliza - she is Carter's older sister and has just come back from spending a year in Australia on a student exchange and she has gotten hotter over the past year and Nick has his eyes set on her but of course he can't break the bro code, so, for now, he has to sit back and be her friend. However, if he's not careful he might lose Eliza to a jerk named Josh Daley. Can Nick navigate his high school year and friendships with Carter and Eliza without technically breaking the "Bro Code" and ruining his "bromance" with Carter? The Bro Code was lad lit and a perfect read for teen boys out there. As a female, I found it a bit too male-orientated for myself and wasn't a favorite and struggled a little to get through the book. I think if I was younger and in my teens then I would have enjoyed it a bit more. The Bro Code is written for teens aged 14-16+. Any older, you may find the characters a tad juvenile and immature as most teenage boys are at this age.
Read
September 11, 2020DNFed at 11%. Digital review copy provided by Netgalley.
February 22, 2013
RATED 3.5 STARS(Who the fuck ends a book like that??)
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REVIEW:First the book started out amazing. Nick was the charming asshole who everyone loved and I totally loved his character. And then she comes into the picture. All of the sudden the cool-and-sexy player Nick turns into this walking mess that can't stop thinking about her. I do have to admit that the first kiss that they shared was pretty amazing and very detailed. Kudos for that. I also liked the little "OH SHIT!" moments that kept me reading until the end.
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Throughout the whole book I couldn't figure out what exactly I felt about this book. It was a fun read but some parts were completely boring. For example, when Nick was going over and over about how it's so good to be with her and how he can't stop thinking about her. OMFG!!!!!! We get it! It did get better later on when the author was describing the soccer match. No spoilers or anything but that was A-FUCKING-MAZING! BOOM!
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Overall, I would read this book again but only about 95% of it because the last 5% absolutely suck. I didn't know that one last page of the book could ruin it. But there is a reason for my 3.5 star review because at the end, if the author wrote something else, I'd totally read it. Love the relaxed and refreshing style. And it's nice to have a view of a relationship from a guy's point of view.
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REVIEW:First the book started out amazing. Nick was the charming asshole who everyone loved and I totally loved his character. And then she comes into the picture. All of the sudden the cool-and-sexy player Nick turns into this walking mess that can't stop thinking about her. I do have to admit that the first kiss that they shared was pretty amazing and very detailed. Kudos for that. I also liked the little "OH SHIT!" moments that kept me reading until the end.
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Throughout the whole book I couldn't figure out what exactly I felt about this book. It was a fun read but some parts were completely boring. For example, when Nick was going over and over about how it's so good to be with her and how he can't stop thinking about her. OMFG!!!!!! We get it! It did get better later on when the author was describing the soccer match. No spoilers or anything but that was A-FUCKING-MAZING! BOOM!
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Overall, I would read this book again but only about 95% of it because the last 5% absolutely suck. I didn't know that one last page of the book could ruin it. But there is a reason for my 3.5 star review because at the end, if the author wrote something else, I'd totally read it. Love the relaxed and refreshing style. And it's nice to have a view of a relationship from a guy's point of view.
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