#20 Read a book about books (fiction or nonfiction).

This book, the entire series actually, is a perfect blend of sweet romance and humor. The way the series approaches books is what makes it perfect for this challenge. The books read by the men in The Bromance Book Club teach them about themselves and how to be better boyfriends and husbands.

The series is set in the Nashville area. As someone who recognized all the parts of town and the restaurants mentioned and alluded to, it feels very authentic to the area so much so that I was surprised to read that the author lives in Michigan.

But the actual plot and couple dynamic of this book is pretty unique. The couple is already married. Gavin, the male lead, loves his wife, but their relationship has become strained. His wife Thea, the female lead, asks for a divorce. So he joins the Bromance Book Club to become a better husband and partner in an attempt to save his marriage.

This book also gets at the main criticism that’s given to romance novels: that the men and the relationships are unrealistic. The book club, and the reading of a steamy regency romance, helps him realize what his wife has been needing in their relationship: good communication, showing his affection with words as well as actions, and making their relationship a priority.

It also shows how important it is to continue to work on your relationship within your marriage. It is easy to become complacent in any relationship: friendship, familial, or romantic. It is easy to start to take the other person for granted. But when you love someone, truly love them, you need to put in the effort to make sure that they know.

The men in this series are not afraid to make themselves look silly or put themselves out there to do that. And it’s all because of the help of romance novels.

I cannot recommend this series enough.