Kendall Ryan’s latest contemporary romance novel Bro Code is a fun read for fans of forbidden romance and the best friend/younger sister trope.

Bro Code by Kendall Ryan follows the typical romance tropes of forbidden romance along with the heroine being the little sister of the hero’s best friend.

In this particular novel, the hero, Barrett, is a lawyer living in Chicago. He goes back to his hometown and stays with his best friend Nick’s family, including Nick’s younger sister Ava.

Ava happens to have just recently moved back home to live with her parents after taking over the family business. That means that the two are going to be under the same roof after not having seen one another in a few years.

For Ava, this means having to deal with the close proximity of the guy she had a crush on growing up. And for Barrett, this means having to hide the lust he feels whenever Ava is around – you know because of the “bro code.”

Not surprisingly, they both suck at keeping their feelings tampered down. Especially after Ava accidentally walks in on Barrett after he’s showered which quickly leads to teasing and flirting.

But when they get some time alone, Barrett is the one to make the first move despite his belief that they shouldn’t cross that line. From there on out it’s a back and forth of the couple trying to deal with the attraction and pull they feel towards one another vs. the idea that they think they’re doing something wrong.

I do have to add that Barrett ended up doing something that drove both Ava and myself away. Like the blurb gives away, Bennett ends up representing a client that sues Ava’s company.

Perhaps that should have been a red flag for me but it seems out of place given how he acts the rest of the book. For most of Bro Code Barrett is very kind and attentive to Ava, believing in her when some others have doubts.

But then his actions later on in the book really bothered me. I don’t want to give away too much but I will say that if I wasn’t so far along in the book I probably would have just stopped reading. I did finish the rest, but it was with a chip on my shoulder towards Barrett.

This might not even be something that bothers other readers, but it left a sour taste in my mouth.

On the upside, Ava was a great heroine. She takes a big leap of faith in taking over running her father’s business after he has a heart attack. Despite her family bothering her about settling down, Ava’s sights are set on saving the business. Not just for herself, but for all of the jobs in the community the business provides as well.

Despite all this pressure at work she still has time to help her family, and get cozy with Barrett despite the risks.

For the most part, Bro Code has a really light hearted and fun feel to it. It’s not quite a romantic comedy but there are moments that will make the reader smile and laugh. There’s also plenty of sizzle thanks to Ava and Barrett’s great chemistry.

The plot line is somewhat predictable but nonetheless enjoyable. I wasn’t dying to turn the next page but I wasn’t bored either. I would say that it’s a great book for when you’re looking for an easy read, but maybe not one that needs to jump to the top of your TBR pile.

Bro Code by Kendall Ryan will be released on May 1! Pre-order now from Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo. And don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads!