The Bromance Zone

By: L. Blakely, Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Evan Parker, Michael Crouch - epilogue

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A friends-to-lovers romance performed by Audie winner Vikas Adam and introducing the award-winning Ron Butler narrating as Evan Parker!

Two great friends. One road trip. And eight inches...of snow that night at the cabin. 

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Friends don't bang friends. I want my friends to stay in my life, especially that flirty, clever, outgoing best friend of mine. It's a darn good thing Owen and I made a pact in college to never ever sleep together, or else I'd be tempted. Trouble is, eight years later, I've been wondering what his kisses taste like. And I've been curious if our chemistry would extend into the bedroom. If he might feel the same risky pull. But I don't want to lose Owen, and history says there's no way a tryst between friends can end well. So as long as I avoid the bedroom with him, I won't break that hard-as-steel rule.

The Bromance Zone is a deliciously flirty, red-hot sexy, friends-to-lovers MM romance about the charming guy next door who's sworn to never date a friend, the flirty hot nerd who's been secretly crushing on that friend forever, and one night snowed in in a cabin. This book comes fully equipped for your listening pleasure with sexy banter, a super awkward dinner party, and a scene in front of a fireplace that proves just how dangerous the friend zone is. You'll also find an epilogue performed by Audie winner Michael Crouch, as well as the bonus novella Maybe This Time, performed by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan.

©2021 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2023 Lauren Blakely Books

✫✫ 4.5 Stars ✫✫

Lauren Blakely has once again given us a heartwarming sexy MM Romance. I love that her books always leave my heart happy and swooning. I am a huge fan of friends to lovers romance.
River & Owen have been friends for years but made a pact that they will never sleep together because it never works and they want to remain friends. Years later they are both wondering if that pact should stay in place or if time has changed them both enough that they could make it work. I loved that part of this story takes place stranded in a cabin during a snow storm and I also really liked all of the friends and how much they support each other. River & Owen's love story made me smile a lot, swoon even more and require a fan the entire time. Loved the HEA.

As always Lauren doesn't just give us one story, we get a few in this audiobook. Dr. Good In Bed which is a very short story for Toby, I loved it and NEED MORE. This story was narrated by Michael Crouch who was perfect for Toby. Then we get Maybe This Time, which is a short bonus prequel for One Time Only, a quick glimpse into when Jackson & Stone meet for the first time. If you haven't listened to Jackson & Stone... do yourself a favor and do it now!

Sweet Friends to Lovers MM Romance!

This is a sweet and steamy friends-to-lovers MM romance. I liked the flirt, the friendship, and the romance. Vikas Adam and Evan Parker did a great job with the narration. I liked the epilogue narrated by Michael Crouch. I liked the bonus novella Maybe This Time, narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan.

I loved it!

I really loved River and Owen's story so much that I did not want it to end. They are best friends that are hiding their feelings from each other all due to a pact they came up with to protect their friendship. This is so deliciously hot that the sexual tension between them is off the charts, but it's also very cute and sweet. It's so amazing when they finally admit how they feel. Lauren writes such deep characters and is so damn good at keeping that sexy vibe going through the story.
I cannot say enough of how wonderful Vikas and Evan are in this book. Perfectly cast for Owen and River!

Hottest game of Would you Rather🔥

Owen & River are so freaking cute and scorching🔥🔥🔥 They are the best of friends & have been there for each other for years but now they are both at the point where they want more. Yet neither knows how to let the other know their feelings.

One road trip, game of Would you rather and a ‘Chateau Fight Club Sex Cabin’ and their college pact is broken. {side note where can one find a Chateau Fight Club Sex Cabin? Asking for me;) not a friend lol}

I am counting the days until the audio comes out🥵

Fave quotes:
‘Owen takes a step closer, then slides his thumb along my jaw. Holy f@<k. It’s just his thumb on my face, but it’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever felt. I shudder. Everywhere. His hand stops and he cups my face. “Would you rather kiss me tonight or never kiss me?” This is the line. My eyes float closed as the thrill and the danger of his question beckons me to cross the line.’—-Yes! Just Yes!

“I’m so in love with you. And I want you to be my friend, and my lover, and my boyfriend. You’re the one man I want to be good to, and I really hope you’ll let me.”—-💕💕💕💕

i love all laurens m/m

i don't know if its that i love seeing the love stories work out or if its hot cause its m/m but either way laurens books r amazing and this is no different. i like the narrators too. wish this one was a little longer a little.more in depth with the happy ever after maybe? but im glad yo see it work out for river cause hes amazing in grants story. cant wait for the next one!!!

Loved it - Great story and great narration

Having read and listened to a number of Lauren Blakely’s MM romances I couldn’t wait to dive into the The Bromance Zone. I knew that it would be an entertaining book and I was not disappointed in any way. Owen and River are such charismatic characters as are the secondary ones.

What’s the worst that could happen when best friends embark on a road trip? They promised one another that they would never let anything get in the way of their friendship and have followed that for Owen has had feelings for River for years, having kept them at bay he is now finding it harder to ignore them. He is both excited and dreading the road trip but decided to sit back and just go along for the ride.

Complications arise when they are stranded thanks to a snowstorm. What Owen doesn't realize is that River has begun to see him in a different light. Passion ignites between them and what follows is a beautiful awakening of emotions. Their kissing scenes were so beautiful and I’m not sure who was anticipating their first kiss, Owen, River or me.

The narration by Vikas Adam and Evan Parker was outstanding and they certainly did justice to the playfulness of the characters.

Dr Good In Bed: A bonus quickie at the end of the audio of The Bromance Zone and was the icing on the cake.This was Toby, the knight in shining amour who rescued Owen and River from the cabins story and I couldn’t wait to listen. My only complaint? I would have loved him to have a full story, he was just a delightful character. Narrated by Michael Crouch who is new to me,he suited the character of Toby and was easy to listen to.

River's story was 100% worth the wait!!!

We met River back in Scoring with Him book one in the Men of Summer series and he instantly became one of my favorites supporting characters. He was always there for Grant as a friend and then later when they became business partners so I knew that it would take someone entirely wonderful to steal his heart.

River & Owen have been friends for eight years now and all those years ago when they first met, they made a deal that they would never sleep together or do anything nefarious that could ruin their friendship. Now, though River is feeling things for his best friend that he should not be feeling. He learned a long time ago that sleeping with your friends is bad but falling for them is even worse. River has to figure out a way to let these feelings go before he ruins the one friendship that helps keep him going when those dark days come along.

Owen has always been attracted to River, even all those years ago as college kids but now it is something else entirely. River takes up space not only in his mind but in his heart but he knows how River feels about crossing that line, so he won't do it, but it is becoming harder to keep his feelings to himself.

On their way to a Friendsgiving trip, they get snowed in at a cabin River is supposed to be checking on for his friends Declan & Grant. Being locked in with Owen has never sounded better but it has also never sounded worse because being this close to him can only mean that his hold on his feelings is only going to crack. Can one night in a cabin change everything for River & Owen or will they risk losing their friendship?

This was my first time listening to both Vikas Adam & Evan Parker, but they did these characters justice. Especially Evan with River's deep laugh and the vulnerability that Vikas was able to put into Owen's feelings. Both men just jumped to the top of my narrator faves list which is turning into quite the lengthy list if I am being honest.

Finally getting River's HEA was everything I thought it would be and more. We've known since Scoring with Him that he was in love with his best friend, but Lauren gave us the story we all had been hoping for with so much more!!

Scorcher!

Loved this. Cannot get enough of Lauren Blakely’s stories. And this one in particular! It is tender and scorching hot with a little humor. Didn’t want this to end. Exceptionally sexy Narration by Vikas Adam and Evan Parker, with a steamy epilogue by Michel Crouch. Plus Lauren added an really steamy bonus novella! Super hot!

Great Sweet Story

Excellent M/M story for River & Owen. I couldn’t wait for River’s HEA as he was such a big part of Grant & Declan’s story. While the narration was good. I found myself forgetting which character was which for some reason. I didn’t mind these two narrators but I have my faves. Teddy, Jacob/Zachary, Jason Clarke & Christian Fox. I feel like maybe those would have fit better. I’ll wait before I pre-order so I can see who is narrating.

Melt your heart romance

Best friends can fall in love and make the best couples. When River and Owen become friends in college they make a pact to remain friends and never date. Friends that date they felt would end of loosing not only their love but their friend in the end. After eight years they have held strong to that pact but both of their resolves are fading and when they are trapped together in a snow storm with the perfect set up their truths finally come out and they find they are not only best friends but truly love each other.

What a great love story about two fun and flirty men that are ready to settle down with their love and when they do fall they are all in. Lots of heat and lots of feelings and fears of what they can loose and the willingness to risk it all for love. They win.

Vikas Adam and Evan Parker are both new to me and were fantastic. I loved listening to both of these men and they really brought River and Owen's story to life.

This also has bonuses at the end of this book that you will love. Absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.

Such a great romance story!

This was another great romance by Lauren Blakely! I loved Owen and River, I’ve been curious about whether they would ever take the risk in the Men of Summer books where we met them, and what a great way to do it! The balance between worry for their friendship and the need to do something about their feelings was very well done. They made me laugh, they made me swoon, what else do you need?! It’s always great to meet back up with characters from the other books in the Men of Summer and Rules of Love series, but this book does not require you to read any of the others. I do recommend reading them though, just because they’re great!

Are you a BMW or a Bugatti?

A completely feel good friends to lovers m/m romance following bar owner River and his best buddy Owen. I have to say I’ve been intrigued to listen to River’s story, after all, he’s been one of the main characters in so many of Lauren Blakely’s books, it was only a matter of time before he graced my audio library, and he did not disappoint. Evan Parker and Vikas Adam did standup jobs narrating River and Owen, it’s always a joy listening to LB’s narrators, they are picked with the characters in mind and are always true to the role. When two best friends go on a road trip together (both unwilling to break their friendship pact), you know things are going to get complicated, and guess what? They did. And I loved every minute of it. A fun, flirty romance with all the feels, oh, and of course not forgetting all the down and dirty bits. I loved every last word. And because it’s Lauren Blakely we get lots of added extras at the end. Another epilogue, a whole new prequel to another certain m/m romance, and a preview of an up and coming m/m romance. I can’t wait. All the stars from me. I received an advanced listener copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Another great book by Lauren

I really enjoyed this book and the extras at the end. Well worth a listen

Bad casting

It’s such a shame the narrators were so badly cast. And sound like they are father and son and not the same age. The worst though is that one sounds like Morgan Freeman. Not the voice u want for an intimate MM scene

fantastic

what a beautiful book loved everyminute of this book narrators where amazing bringing everything to life 😍 thank you lauren blakely you are amazing ❤️

So much to listen to

First off, the Bromance Zone was a lovely book. Kept screaming “just tell him how you feel!” 😊.
Then a snip from upcoming book
Then a prequel (I just went straight to Amazon and bought the audible)

Mehhh....

I was super excited with this one cuz I'm a fan of "best friends" love stories, but this one was sooooooo boring, I had to force myself to listen to it.
if they're not talking about Clueless or whining about how sad they are cuz a pie isn't perfect, they are just weird. bad weird.
it feels like they're 15 years old girls instead of grown men.
there's no tension, no chemistry, no story, nothing.

couldn't listen past chapter 10... I'm returning this book