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deb248211's review against another edition
5.0
What a brilliant Christmas story about learning to love oneself, even if it does require something of a kickstart from somebody else first.
Crowley has such low self esteem - about his weight, and undoubtedly expounded by his mother's...grr. Dislike. But anyway, it's safe to say he isn't expecting 'love' to blossom in the way that it does.
Averell is Crowley's roommate's twin, and he's awesome. That's all you need to know. He's not a slacker, he's a dude with a cool attitude, taking life just as it comes.
This best have a sequel, Raine, or I might just have to write one myself!
Amazing story, lots of sweet, gorgeous Raine O'Tierney loveliness, with a few tearful moments. Recommended Christmas reading, but will lighten the darkest day all year round!
Crowley has such low self esteem - about his weight, and undoubtedly expounded by his mother's...grr. Dislike. But anyway, it's safe to say he isn't expecting 'love' to blossom in the way that it does.
Averell is Crowley's roommate's twin, and he's awesome. That's all you need to know. He's not a slacker, he's a dude with a cool attitude, taking life just as it comes.
This best have a sequel, Raine, or I might just have to write one myself!
Amazing story, lots of sweet, gorgeous Raine O'Tierney loveliness, with a few tearful moments. Recommended Christmas reading, but will lighten the darkest day all year round!
hdmartin88's review against another edition
4.0
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Bowl Full of Cherries is Book 1 in Raine O'Tierney's The Avona Tales series. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed her writing style and the humor she brings to the story.
Crowley is a young, single man living in Avona with his best friend Tyler. Crowley has never had a boyfriend, his size keeping men from seeing the real him. He's planning to spend Christmas with his mom, sister and niece just like he does every year when his mom lets him know he won't be welcome. Sad and upset he heads back to his apartment with plans of wallowing alone over the holidays. Tyler isn't having it though, and buys him a ticket to spend the holidays with his family, only Crowley is arriving a day earlier than Tyler. At the train station, Tyler is picked up by Tyler's twin brother, Averell. Averell is the complete opposite of Tyler and nothing like what Crowley expected.
Averell is not happy that he has to pick up his brother's best friend from the train station. Tyler's brought people home with him before and it's never been enjoyable. Averell is surprised by Crowley, who is nothing like Tyler. Though Averell has never been interested in men before, he's fascinated with Crowley and is attracted to him. Though both men are attracted, they both are going to have to work through big hang ups for each of them, plus deal with Tyler.
I really enjoyed Crowley and Averell's characters. Though they were both young, they were able to provide the support that they each needed and someone to see who they really were. I thought their interactions were sweet, fun and eventually hot! I really enjoyed Averell and Tyler's family, and thought they were the type of family you'd want to be on the sidelines to watch the craziness. I was not a fan of Tyler and found it him annoying throughout the book. Overall, this was fun and enjoyable story that's easy to read!
Rating: 4.0 stars
Bowl Full of Cherries is Book 1 in Raine O'Tierney's The Avona Tales series. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed her writing style and the humor she brings to the story.
Crowley is a young, single man living in Avona with his best friend Tyler. Crowley has never had a boyfriend, his size keeping men from seeing the real him. He's planning to spend Christmas with his mom, sister and niece just like he does every year when his mom lets him know he won't be welcome. Sad and upset he heads back to his apartment with plans of wallowing alone over the holidays. Tyler isn't having it though, and buys him a ticket to spend the holidays with his family, only Crowley is arriving a day earlier than Tyler. At the train station, Tyler is picked up by Tyler's twin brother, Averell. Averell is the complete opposite of Tyler and nothing like what Crowley expected.
Averell is not happy that he has to pick up his brother's best friend from the train station. Tyler's brought people home with him before and it's never been enjoyable. Averell is surprised by Crowley, who is nothing like Tyler. Though Averell has never been interested in men before, he's fascinated with Crowley and is attracted to him. Though both men are attracted, they both are going to have to work through big hang ups for each of them, plus deal with Tyler.
I really enjoyed Crowley and Averell's characters. Though they were both young, they were able to provide the support that they each needed and someone to see who they really were. I thought their interactions were sweet, fun and eventually hot! I really enjoyed Averell and Tyler's family, and thought they were the type of family you'd want to be on the sidelines to watch the craziness. I was not a fan of Tyler and found it him annoying throughout the book. Overall, this was fun and enjoyable story that's easy to read!
Rating: 4.0 stars
fritz42's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful, beautiful, kind-hearted Crowley had severe body image problems. Bullied cruelly in high school about his weight and body, he had never really accepted himself as beautiful, even after losing some of his weight.
Fun-loving, free-spirited Rell couldn't keep a job if he tried, and he really, really never tried. He was back living with his mother right before Christmas.
The two of them are brought together by Tyler, Crowley's hipster roommate and Rell's twin brother, over Christmas when Crowley's plans were abruptly changed by his family. It was Rell who was sent to pick Crowley up at the train station, and from that moment on, both of them knew they had found a kindred spirit.
I adored both of these two guys. My heart hurt for the damage inflicted on Crowley when he was younger. I loved the whole hearted passion that Rell felt for Crowley, never once faltering in his new feelings for a man. They brought out totally different sides in each other, and it was fun to watch them grow.
Rell and Tyler's family are a loud and wonderful mess that lent a lot to the story. I can't wait to read Tyler's story, [book:The 12 Days of Hipster|33128867], and see how his hipster pretentiousness is affected.
And I'll confess. I'm looking forward to seeing how Rell and Crowley are faring a year later.
Fun-loving, free-spirited Rell couldn't keep a job if he tried, and he really, really never tried. He was back living with his mother right before Christmas.
The two of them are brought together by Tyler, Crowley's hipster roommate and Rell's twin brother, over Christmas when Crowley's plans were abruptly changed by his family. It was Rell who was sent to pick Crowley up at the train station, and from that moment on, both of them knew they had found a kindred spirit.
I adored both of these two guys. My heart hurt for the damage inflicted on Crowley when he was younger. I loved the whole hearted passion that Rell felt for Crowley, never once faltering in his new feelings for a man. They brought out totally different sides in each other, and it was fun to watch them grow.
Rell and Tyler's family are a loud and wonderful mess that lent a lot to the story. I can't wait to read Tyler's story, [book:The 12 Days of Hipster|33128867], and see how his hipster pretentiousness is affected.
And I'll confess. I'm looking forward to seeing how Rell and Crowley are faring a year later.
cmira2027's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely story - Parts of this story really resonated with me.
piperclover's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is sweet and very touching. Rell struggles to find passion or motivation which leaves him aimless and mooching off people while Crowley is following a path he doesn't even like bc its the "correct" path. They teach each other about following their dreams, personal responsibility, and happiness. Crowley has been horribly bullied for his weight as a kid and teen so he has disordered eating habits and extremely poor self-esteem. Rell doesn't fix it but he makes it clear to Crowley that he is attractive in all ways and it gives Crowley the space to grow. It felt a little too long and I wasn't fully connected to the characters which is really my only gripe.
Rell's twin and Crowley's roomamate is infuriating and insufferable. He's genuinely awful and reading so much about him made me annoyed. I think he might have his own book but I want nothing to do with him. The Libby summary was extremely misleading and vague which really annoys me.
Rell's twin and Crowley's roomamate is infuriating and insufferable. He's genuinely awful and reading so much about him made me annoyed. I think he might have his own book but I want nothing to do with him. The Libby summary was extremely misleading and vague which really annoys me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
leelee68's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Crowley, he was so sweet and I loved when Crowley and Averell met. They just clicked even when they just started as friends. It was so sweet watching them fall in love. I loved how they both realized that they had more going for themselves. I really hope I end up liking Tyler, because he annoyed the hell out of me. I really didn't like him in this book. Like dude take the stick out your ass...
cmira2027's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely story - Parts of this story really resonated with me.
regencyfan93's review against another edition
3.0
I like Crowley, a real size person. Rell was entertaining, but I didn't always understand him.
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My rating - 5 outstanding, 4 - I liked this and will re-read it, 3 - I enjoyed it though may not re-read, 2 - I kept going because I had to see how it ended, 1 - Whatever time I spent with this book is time I'll never get back to my regret.
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My rating - 5 outstanding, 4 - I liked this and will re-read it, 3 - I enjoyed it though may not re-read, 2 - I kept going because I had to see how it ended, 1 - Whatever time I spent with this book is time I'll never get back to my regret.
bfdbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
ok, let me start my review saying i LOVED rell...a lot! i love his happy go lucky, fly by the seat of my pants, do what makes me happy attitude. i love that he has such a wonderful attitude and love for life even after being told what a slacker and idiot he is by his family (to whom he's very close) for most of his adult life. he is completely misunderstood and under appreciated - until crowley walks into his life. (sidebar: i absolutely LOVE his nickname for crowley!)
crowley is so sweet and kind hearted, his struggles really break your heart. he has always struggled with his weight and even though he is controlling it better now, the emotional damage was done long ago and is still not healed - until he meets rell and his family.
the two of them together are absolutely perfect for each other and i hope they are together forever!
all of the secondary characters are fantastic! rell and tyler's family makes me wish i had a big family like that to be a part of! tyler is probably more of a main character than secondary. his relationship with his twin makes you laugh out loud quite a bit but you know the love is there. and tyler and crowley truly love each other as only best friends can.
the epilogue is a bit of a tease and leaves you anxious for the next story!
crowley is so sweet and kind hearted, his struggles really break your heart. he has always struggled with his weight and even though he is controlling it better now, the emotional damage was done long ago and is still not healed - until he meets rell and his family.
the two of them together are absolutely perfect for each other and i hope they are together forever!
all of the secondary characters are fantastic! rell and tyler's family makes me wish i had a big family like that to be a part of! tyler is probably more of a main character than secondary. his relationship with his twin makes you laugh out loud quite a bit but you know the love is there. and tyler and crowley truly love each other as only best friends can.
the epilogue is a bit of a tease and leaves you anxious for the next story!