Hopeless Bromantics

Love & Luck #4

by Isla Olsen

Wade

Here are some things I wish someone would have told me a few months ago:

1. Putting together an Ikea desk does not make someone qualified to help with home renovations

2. It’s impossible to un-teach a five-year-old the word ‘dildo’

3. Two straight guys messing around with each other is not as uncommon as people might think, so don’t freak out

Of course, I freaked out…

Moving back to Staten Island after my divorce was the simple choice, and hiring a contractor to help make my new place somewhat liveable was an even simpler one.

But I wasn’t expecting the contractor to be Brendan Kelly, an old high school buddy I’d lost contact with over the years. And I definitely wasn’t expecting what happened next…

Pay attention, folks--we're here to revolutionize the bromance!

Warning: this book is not appropriate for anyone who doesn’t like laughing, anyone who doesn’t like environmentally-conscious five-year-olds, and anyone who doesn’t like hot single dads and sexy contractors rekindling a friendship in an unexpectedly steamy manner.

*Happily Ever After included

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Audiobook, Gay For You

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2020

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopeless Bromantics is book four in the Love & Luck series by Isla Olsen. This is my very first book of this series so it can be read as a stand alone and it is also my very first book by this author. This book was offered in a temporary freebie deal a while back so I picked it up and I am just in love!!

Brendan Kelly is thirty two years old and is part owner of Hammer Time Construction along with his brother. Brendan is one of TEN siblings in the Kelly clan. Not having read the previous books, I do admit it was a little confusing with so many names to learn but I just decided to kind of let those slide and concentrate on the main characters. Brendan is straight. He actually wants to settle down and fall in love but has the worst luck dating.

Wade (Andy) Anderson is divorced and is the single dad to his amazing five year old son, Baxter. This little boy made this already wonderful book even more wonderful. He was adorable and so funny. Wade has decided to take his son back to Staten Island to live to be near his family after the divorce is final. He is a fifth grade teacher and when a job opening came up, he grabbed it.



Wade and Brendan were best friends growing up. But as often happens, they drifted apart after Wade moved away. When Wade hires Brendan’s company to fix up the house he will be living in, it is the perfect way for them to reconnect. It’s like they were never apart. Their friendship just started right up like they just saw each other the day before. A little friendly experimenting just for fun between the two of them soon becomes something more, and then something even more. Does this mean they are gay? Or bi? Or is it just something special between the two of them that was always meant to be? A special connection they won’t ever find with anyone else.

I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. Books like this are what I love the most. It made me smile and swoon and sigh and giggle. There two amazing epilogues and the ending couldn’t have been more perfect! This was pretty much angst free and just a wonderful way to spend my day. I also happen to have the next book, book five, Two Men and a Baby, which is Connor’s book. The cover is amazing and I can’t wait to jump in!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAFE with exception

Wade: 32, divorced and a single dad
Brendan: 32, single
Braxton: 5, Wade’s kid


Safety: they started their physical relationship having a threesome with a hot girl. There was no jealous, they both enjoyed it and it was a nice start for how they become intimate. There was some non intencional cock rubbing and they could feel each other during double penetration so they decided to do rub it again but without the girl

I loved Braxton and whenever Brendan had to exclaim something to him I laughed out loud. Wade is an awesome dad and I love how he was obviously hurt because his ex wife didn’t want to be a mother but he also understands how she never really want to have a kid and how he failed to noticed it. This author doesn’t slut shame and she doesn’t puts women down.

I loved their HEA and I fucking loveeeed reading about Heath and Declan too, their relationship is definitely amazing.

I decided to skip books 2 and 3 but now I’m going back to reading it because cmon I need more of Kelly’s family.

This is a case of double GFY, they don’t really feel attracted to other guys and took them a little while after being intimate to really feel it to each other. It’s funny how their cocks doesn’t really do it for them in the beginning and neither do their asses. They started their physical relationship the same time their friendship keeps growing and them they are in love and drooling at each other. It was nice, because sexuality is never black and white, there are a lot of grey areas and not everything needs an explanation. They are happy, they fucking love each other and the sex is amazing so there is no need to put labels on everything.


Everyone is amazing.


Kelly’s family:
- 11 siblings
~ Eight men and two women

[alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

two guys who identify as straight engage in “extended masturbation” to “revolutionize the bromance”—their words not mine 🤣🤣 BRO

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zero UST
ZERO CONFLICT
And hard to swallow.

Dual straight to lovers book.
Guys had no qualms going for a bromance with benefits & it was tough to believe this plot line.

Good points? I liked the guys. But I wish there would have been more buildup to them mutually jacking each other off.

This is another family of siblings who are mostly all queer, a la Lucy Lennox style. Those aren’t my favorite books, in general (the ones where everyone in the family is queer).

Fine narration by Michael Dean.

[Vanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 steamy-best friends-to-lovers Stars!! 💕❤️ I just can't stop reading Isla Olsen's highly addictive series. I think I have found a new favorite author..🤩 😍. In this book we get the story of Brendan (another brother from the Kelly clan of 8 brothers and 3 sisters 😳). All these love stories have a little bit of overlap which is very interesting to read, because we get a different perspective of the goings-on of the previous book.😉
Brendan is thrilled to reunite with his high-school friend Wade who has just moved back into town with his 5 year old son Baxter. While doing the renovation work on Wade's house, Brendan realizes how much he missed his friend. However after a crazy night at the bar, Brendan and Wade start a supposedly straight friends with benefits relationship (🙄OTT) But of course with sizzling 🔥hot 🔥chemistry come the doubts, fears and overthinking of labels..🤪 Feelings start to creep up between them inadvertently and despite still believing that they are both straight, Brendan and Wade confess their love for each other. But the road to their HEA is not without a few speed bumps. Divorce has scarred Wade and he fears another heart-break if for some reason things don't work out between the two. Brendan too has to make some life-changing decisions to stay in Wade's life. Will Wade have the courage and heart to claim Brendan? How will the Kelly family react when Brendan and Wade come out with their relationship? How cute is Baxter and will he and Wyatt find love 20 or so years from now? 😉😍
This is another charming and funny addition to an already great series. I think it can be renamed as The many Loves of the Kelly Klan 🤩 I love the steam index in each book.. some start hot right away and some have a little bit of a slow burn (like this one) I also love the many many nosy and hilarious messages the whole family exchanges on a regular basis. I'm also loving the fact that except the 3 already married siblings, the rest of them were single up until last year and now one by one they are all coupling up much to our delight. 4 down, 3 to go.. com'on Connor, Aidan and Finn 💕😍💘 hurry up and fall in love already 😉. Kidding apart, I know Connor is next in this line-up and from what we readers glimpsed in this book, he's already hot and heavy with Josh (Declan's ex) 😳 and will be getting a wonderful surprise gift soon 💝. Highly recommended to all fans of light, fun and somewhat OTT M/M romances👍👍

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I feel like I just ran a race. This book happened at warp speed.

There was a lot of telling. Wade and Brendan were best friends in high school so I understand why the author didn't want to dwell too much on the "getting to know you" portion, but it all felt so surface-level. At 17% Wade is invited to Brendan's birthday and it's implied how close they are again, but they never seem to interact on page? There are all these little blips of scenes. BAM! It's another day. Or another week. Aaaaaaaaaah!

The POVs are completely interchangeable and I kept getting the MCs confused. I also got the LI, Brendan, and the 5yo child, Baxter, confused on a few occasions. Not cool. Not cool at all.

There were so many additional characters. So. Many.

I probably should've known better when I opened the book and there was a whole cast list as well as a list of their books. I haven't read any of them so it was foolish of me to assume I could jump in at book 4 in a series where there are 10 siblings. Yes, 10. And their partners. And children. I was already struggling to differentiate the MCs, there's no way I was ever going to keep track of that many side characters.

I did appreciate the good communication and awkward honesty. They literally just ask for what they want, and then get it! Yay! Well...ok, it was a bit jarring. For example the whole fling starts when one MC comes out of his bedroom while the other is having cereal and just straight up asks if they can rub dicks because he liked how it felt during their threesome the prior day. My eyes were very wide and buggy at this but it worked so...yeah. Thanks to this abrupt communication, it was all extremely low angst.

This has 2 epilogues. That's illegal.

Anyway, here's to another book where really not much happens, and what little did happen has been mostly forgotten by me 5 days later. It passed the time well enough. Some days that's about all my brain can handle.

[Gustaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

As per usual when it comes to this series, this book is sweet, full of hilarious situations and very steamy. It's a light easy read and I totally love that. No angst, just a feel good story.

Wade and Brendan was best friends for a long time but then life happened and they drifted apart. After many years Wade is moving back to the city he grew up with his son Baxter. When he reconnects with Brendan he's happy to get his friend back, little does he know he's going to get much more than just friendship. I loved Baxter. He was a hoot.

So both Wade and Brendan identifies as straight. Neither of them have been with a man before. And while this is a trope I usually don't want anything to do with, I figured I had to read this book since I'm really enjoying this series. Well I didn't love that part of the story. I didn't even like it. It made me queasy. It started out with Brendan going on a date with a woman. I was like okay it makes sense. You are straight. But I don't like it. Then it happens. The whole thing getting Wade and Brendan together for the first time. A threesome. With a girl. And why we didn't get it on page (thank god) we still got it described in way too many words for my liking afterwards. At this point I am like nope, this is not what I signed up for. I don't want any encounters with women in my M/M romances. It left me a bit queasy for the rest of the book. And while there was a woman involved in the first book in this series too, that happened on the very first page and by the end of it I was able to let go and just enjoy it, this happened later in the book and I wasn't. It's a me problem but I can't rate this book any higher than three stars because of that. I mean I should have been prepared for it, shouldn't I? I knew what I was getting into. Anyway, I'm rambling. Don't take this part too serious. It's just me.

[M.I.A]

Will finish this at some point, unfortunately my attention just keeps drifting away but it's not a reflection of the book. Still pretty fun and entertaining Read.
TBR

[Papie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was crazy, OTT, sexy, sweet and hilarious! Another amazingly fun ride with the Kelly family. I loved Wade and Brendan. Best friends to lovers, double GFY, single dad, adorable kid? Yes yes yes!

Is it believable? No. Is it fun? Hell yeah!

The only reason it’s not a full five stars is because I hated Lisa too much. It broke my heart a little and made me angry.

I can’t wait for Connor’s book! This series keeps getting better and better.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Tropes:
- best friends to lovers
- sexual awakening

Recently divorced Wade moves back to Staten Island with his son, and reconnects with his high school best friend Brendan. After a night reminiscing at a bar, the pair have a threesome and decide to see if theres chemistry without a female in the mix—there is. They spend the next few months hooking up and catching feelings and live happily ever after.

I didn’t realize it was part of an interconnected series when I grabbed it on audio, so there are minor spoilers about previous couples in the other books, but I still really loved it & thought it was hilarious.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can anyone write books with a kid like five year old Baxter more pleaseeee???
Of all the series, though I didn't really like the denial part of Brendan and Wade (no, they're not gay, they're just two straight guys who happened to fall for each other), Baxter safe the story with his too adorable personality.
I don't mind having kids like Baxter, or grandson in my case :)
The Kelly's family chat is still hilarious, and Brendan and Wade wasn't really bad with relationship as well, despite, yeah, the denial.
My favorite part of this book of course Baxter! I'll probably would read this again just for the sake of Baxter :)

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this one. I really enjoyed the previous book in this series but this one wasnt as good. It was all a little too unbelievable and rushed. It was still an easy enjoyable read but there was just something missing.

[Caipi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying this lighthearted sometimes hilarious series.
Now this part with Brandon and Wade, two "straight" best friends falling in love is definitely a sweet fiction. Unfortunately, as so often with this trope for me, the author couldn't convince me.

Nonetheless I'm looking forward to the next book! :)

3.5 stars

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

sla Olsen continues the Love and Luck series with book 4, Brendan and Wade’s story. This series revolves around the many siblings in the Kelly family. The timelines for the books overlap and pieces of stories are introduced throughout the series. That is one of the things I like about this series and it would read best to start from the beginning of the series for the overall story arc of the family.

Wade and Brendan lost touch and they reconnect quickly. The entire book moves fast and their relationship escalates quickly. A night out has them wanting to experiment more and, at first, it’s all physical. But the men also like hanging out together and when they realize they are catching feelings as well, they both think it’s only them. Wade is also raising his five-year old son, who had enough cute page time to be visible, but didn’t take over.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I said the last book was my favorite, but I liked this book even more. I just come to love the Kelly clan and also the writing of Ilsa Olsen.

These books are light stories with very little angst. They just make me feel good. I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can read Conner’s story. Hopefully there will be one for Aiden as well.

[kitamikeita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not utterly bad, but I didn't like it too much. The story wasn't so amazing to make me overlook other small things I didn't enjoy.

For example, the whole thing was too sudden and with no believable progression.

But mainly, I really don't like it when it's a series with a lot of companion books about a family with many brothers/relatives and 99% of them are gay/queer/etc. Only because it so unlikely that it pulls me from the story, making me see the hand of the author that wanted to do a long series with already established characters and world. I always try to enjoy such stories regardless, but there are many series done this way that it makes it even more unremarkable and believable, and repetitive.

So, overall I was unimpressed.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy, quick, low-angst read about two straight best friends who fall in love. Wade and Brendan were pretty easy going. And Wade's 5-year-old son was adorable. (I usually avoid romances with kids in them.) It was great seeing the couples from the previous three books in the series.

[Boyanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

(22.10.'22 audiobook re-read)
same goes here as the first one of the series. Nice and chill read, would recommend to fans of silly plots and cheesy rom-coms.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read. It had some hilarious moments which I've come to expect with this series.

I think what threw me in this one was how these two started together. They are both straight. While they were great and funny together, I just didn't buy how they started out messing around together.

I really did love the easiness with which these two are together. Braxton was funny. I do love the banter with the Kelly family. Always has me laughing.

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brendan & Wade

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this one before. These two bff’s starting a straight ‘bromance’ that definitely develops into more but neither realizes the other wants that. Luckily this story has extremely minimal angst. This was my first of this series and while it can be read as a stand-alone it would be beneficial to read the others as there’s ALOT going on in the family and a lot of names to keep track of. Also Baxter’s mom is trash.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't connect with the characters in this book as much as I have with others in the series. I thought there was a lot of summarization in the storytelling--telling the events immediately after they've happened instead of narrating them as they happened--and it just felt lazy and amateurish. I also never got a good feel for what the characters looked like, and it was sort of instalove-y for my taste. All in all I would say it's not the best in the series though I think fans of Love and Luck will like it.

This book is not a standalone and can't be read without reading all the other books in the series first.

[Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is the third book I’ve read in this series and I really enjoyed Brendan and Wade’s story! This could definitely be read as a standalone as I didn’t feel lost at all with not reading book 3! This story does have a very unbelievable plot line but honestly I thought it was fun and I really enjoyed their connection. It was cute to see their feelings develop.

Both of these characters were fun and I loved the addition of Wade’s son Baxter. He brought some really humorous scenes to this story! Their HEA was super cute and I loved how it worked out for them. Definitely recommend this story!

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this at work and had to message a friend because I was afraid I was going to howl with laughter during their first scene together.

They had a narrator with kind of a Jersey accent and I have been snickering at “can I touch ya dick?” all morning long. Followed up by “so unfair straight guys don’t get to do this.”

I liked they didn’t put labels on anything and that falling in love was the natural progression for them.

[Fny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah no. It was so short so I could listen through in a couple of hours but otherwise this was just meh. The first book in this series was okey while this one was just cringe all over the place. (1,5-2/5⭐️)
If it wasn’t such a short read I would have dropped it but I powered through but it wasn’t a story for me. I was honestly so bored half of the time tbh...

[~BookNeeds~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite in the series thus far. I think it was super romantic both mc’s were “straight” for each other.

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. The Kelley family shenanigans are really very entertaining.
I especially love their group SnapChats.

Wade/Andy and Brendan are friends from way back that reconnect when Wade needs work done on his house.
Initially they are just friends, then something happens and it changes both of their perspectives. AND the self-discovery portion of the story... I got to say was very HOT!

The only nit picky thing I have is, I wish there was an explanation of why Brendan suddenly started calling Wade the nickname Andy. At first I was like, huh🤔 ??? I know it’s a nickname but Anderson as a last name doesn’t necessarily an Andy make.. so that really my only “note”.

Wade’s son is a scene stealer too. So cute to call Brendan, BeeBee. I loved their interaction.

Another great book in the series! I highly recommend all of them!

[Calila · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*

Cute and not too serious. It's nice. Nothing to complain about. I do warn that if you're not caught up on the series (I've missed at least one book) then you may be lost with all the people and references made. I was a bit confused at times. But the story isn't that deep that you need to know every detail. The dedication both characters have to the label of being straight is a bit.....okay whatever dudes but then, that's also how some people feel so I'm not gonna roll my eyes too hard. But you know, other sexualities besides straight, gay, bi exist and maybe would've been apt. Labels aren't required though, I'm just saying. Baxter was a cute kid. Present enough but not obnoxiously precocious. Nice read all in all.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like this one should’ve been awkward but the duo pretty much had a Declan and Heath let’s do it vibe, so it’s a masturbation bromance revolution. Bren and Wade were sweet and I liked how Wade pretty much got noped for trying to break up. Plenty of funny moments. Favourite part as always was the family group chat. Looking forward to the next one.

[Isla Olsen]

Now available on KU! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089W2Q632