Title: The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: TKA Distribution
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 213 pdf pages
Book Rating: B+
Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Women have been known to lament, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” For Johnny Smith, the problem is, “Always a Best Man, never a groom.”
At age 33, housepainter Johnny has been Best Man eight times. The ultimate man’s man, Johnny loves the Mets, the Jets, his weekly poker game, and the hula girl lamp that hangs over his basement pool table. Johnny has the instant affection of nearly every man he meets, but one thing he doesn’t have is a woman to share his life with, and he wants that desperately.
When Johnny meets District Attorney Helen Troy, he decides to renounce his bro-magnet ways in order to impress her. With the aid and advice of his friends and family, soon he’s transforming his wardrobe, buying throw pillows, ditching the hula girl lamp, getting a cat and even changing his name to the more mature-sounding John. And through it all, he’s pretending to have no interest in sports, which Helen claims to abhor.
As things heat up with Helen, the questions arise: Will Johnny finally get the girl? And, if he’s successful in that pursuit, who will he be now that he’s no longer really himself? THE BRO-MAGNET is a rollicking comedic novel about what one man is willing to give up for the sake of love.
The Review:
Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s The Bro-Magnet is a refreshingly lighthearted romance that is highly entertaining and laugh out loud funny. What does a man have to do to catch the woman of his dreams? Follow the advice of friends and family and completely reinvent yourself into the man you think she wants. At least that’s what Johnny Smith does when he falls for Helen Troy.
A well-developed cast of characters brings The Bro-Magnet vibrantly to life. Loyal to his friends and dedicated to his small family, Johnny is an appealing protagonist. His eagerness to win Helen’s heart results in some very hilarious and often touching situations. Though sometimes skeptical, Johnny acts on his friends’ advice and by the novel’s end he is a bit more mature. He has also gained some valuable knowledge about himself and relationships.
Helen is a delightful surprise. She is from a large close-knit family and while she has an air of sophistication, she is down to earth. She is pretty agreeable to any date Johnny proposes. When some of those dates don’t turn out quite as expected, Helen rolls with the punches and has a good time.
While Johnny has a lot of male friends, Johnny’s best friend is lesbian gal pal Sam. As relationship challenged as he is, Sam does not understand women any better than Johnny does. Some of The Bro-Magnet’s best and funniest scenes take place between Sam and Johnny.
Written in first person from Johnny’s perspective, The Bro-Magnet is a wonderful change of pace. With plenty of self-deprecating humor, witty dialogue and charming characters Lauren Baratz-Logsted fully engages her readers in this fast-paced and unique romance. It is a fun read that will keep you laughing as Johnny and Helen find their happily ever after.
