Review: The Setup (A Bro Code Standalone) by Rachel Van Dyken

Print Length:  pages

Publisher: Van Dyken Enterprises INC (December 28, 2019)

From Goodreads.com:  The first day she was sitting by herself — I felt sorry for her. After all, it couldn't be easy wrangling all the testosterone at Wingman Inc as one of the only female office managers.

The second day she literally counted her carrots during break — she had seven by the way, right along with seven sips of her drink in between taking seven tiny little bites of the first carrot.

Now I'm not one to brag, or maybe I am, but math and science fascinate me, so do problems. And this woman screamed puzzle from the way she ducked her head every time anyone looked at her, to the way she counted food and tapped the table when she didn't think anyone was watching.

I'd like to think I took pity on her that day when, in fact, she was the one that took pity on me and asked if I needed a friend. She assumed I had a learning disability since I'd been staring so damn hard.

Things would have ended there, except, my bosses need someone to test the new Wingman App and since I was the only single guy on the floor — I was nominated, right along with the only single woman, the same one who thinks I need to use my fingers to count.

Apparently rumors of my sexcapades throughout college reached even her ears, because she wants nothing to do with me, which makes beta testing a bitch. I have thirty days to win her over and prove myself to my bosses.

One thing's for certain, I'm going to have to buy a hell of a lot of carrots.

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

This. This was the ending that I had hoped for. And while I wish the story had been longer so it didn't have that rushed feeling that novellas often do (especially where the romance aspect is concerned), there was enough tension in this one to make it not seem like "insta-love". 

I knew from the way Finn acted in the last book that he was going to be getting his comeuppance in this one, and boy did he. Not only is Jillian just the kind of feisty woman that he needs, but she is also probably the first woman in history to ever tell him no. It was fascinating watching these two characters interact with each other (even if there were times when I had trouble following their logic). The addition of the others from this series (and featuring the OG Wingmen Ian and Lex) were full of laugh out loud moments. The kind that speaks to true friendship and the desire to see your friends as happy as you are. 

ALSO -  GRANDMA NADINE. Need I say more? You know where she is involved hilarity is going to ensure - and I was not disappointed. 

My one gripe with this story is the way it ended. I have questions that I need answers to! I feel like an epilogue would have finished this series nicely, but the way the author did choose to end this one was cute all the same. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                    The Set Up is available from Amazon.com