You win some, you lose some.Back at home with half a college degree after the fiasco of the century sent her packing, it’s safe to say that Renee Nyobé is losing some. She’s a hot mess, and not the cute kind. No, if hot messes had categories, hers would be ‘littering the stairs of the metro station with your sweaty underwear because you were too busy rushing to the job interview you’re already … you’re already late for to zip up your yoga bag.’
A job—any job—is just what she needs to get her life back on track, and it might as well be at Montreal’s most famous dive bar, Taverne Toulouse.
Dylan Trottard is winning some. As Taverne Toulouse’s new manager, he’s got one rule for himself: don’t screw up. Following that rule gets a lot harder when the woman he’s spent the past three years trying to forget starts working behind the bar.
They were never supposed to want each other, and they sure as hell aren’t supposed to want each other now. She’s the girl that got away before he even had her, and he’s the guy she didn’t think would ever give her a second glance.
Now they can’t keep their eyes off one another, and the stakes are even higher than before. There’s a lot to lose, but as the pull between them gets harder and harder to ignore, Renee and Dylan start asking how much winning is worth.
Glass Half Full is part of the Barflies series, a set of standalone dramedies that chronicle the lives and loves of the staff at a Montreal dive bar.
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Taverne Toulouse is back again and bringing people together in this next book Glass Half Full. And I got to say Katia Rose has done it again and we readers are falling in love all over again.
Dylan and Renee’s story is quite the romance. Young girl with a crush on an older man. Only to be separated and brought back together unexpectedly.
Renee is a wonderful girl with a beautiful mind. But her mind is ripped apart and she loses something that means so much to her. Her voice. But as always, Taverne Toulouse works it’s magic and she may just find her voice again.
Dylan is a wonderful guy. He is smart and easy going. He is definitely a people person and many respect him. Being the newly appointed manager at Taverne Toulouse may be more than he bargained for. There is plenty of passion in Dylan and I believe that he just needs to discover it.
Together Dylan and Renee discover there is more to life than what hands they have been dealt. They only have to reach out and grab it. It is not an easy road, but together they can shine.
If you are a fan of Katia Rose then you will continue to be with this book. She has a wonderful way of creating and developing beautiful characters that draw you into the story and hold your attention. Her characters are very relateable and once you are hooked there is no turning back. Bravo Ms. Rose! Another beautiful romance for the books.
A great story with valuable lessons to learn. Don’t let your past decide your future; If your glass is half filled, it is half full, not half empty.
I loved Dylan and Renee, and the whole Taverne Toulouse gang. They made sure everyone was welcome there and treated everyone like family. Dylan and Renee had their share of ups and downs but they didn’t let anything bring them down. Though they struggled at times, they brushed themselves off and continued to live their lives to the fullest, whether it was writing poetry, bartending, or pretending to be a radio announcer, they didn’t take life for granted at all, because their glass was half full.
Holy Wow Katia, you’ve gone and done it again!!!
I loved this book with everything in my body! It was soooooooooo great!!!!
Thank you for letting me read it!
I was waiting on their story, and I can’t wait for more of the Barflies to come to life as well!
Renee and Dylan knew each other from back in the day, and he’s a little bit older than her. They met while doing poetry slam, and then she moved away. He stayed back in town. s
Renee returns and finds herself applying for a job at a bar, and low and behold, looks who works there. DYLAN!!! Dylan can’t believe his eyes when she walks in!! And Monroe loves her, and wants her to work there. Can Dylan make it work with her there? He’s the manager after all.
Renee has hidden from slam poetry for some time now due to some things that happened. Can Dylan bring her out of her shell again? Can she let him in on what’s happening?
I loved their chemistry together, but oh man poor Dylan! He’s so beside himself.
Can they work together?
Can they reignite that spark that was there years before?
Can Renee get over the anxiety of performing again?
Oh and Katia, I love the poem you put in the book!!!
Some of my fave quotes from the book:
1. I am Renee. Hear me roar. – I love that she tries to pep talk herself into things! She is a strong woman, and she even needs to pep talk herself!
2. “See him? Oh, I saw him all right.” – LOL!! When Renee seen Dylan again for the first time and talking with her bestie!
3. I wanted to do more than kiss her. I wanted to breathe her in. I wanted to inhale her. – Oh Dylan!!!!!
4. “So don’t.” She tilts her head back to look at me. “Don’t let go of me.” – AWE! I love this so much!! But can they keep it going with working together?
5. He isn’t ready for me. He isn’t ready for us. It’s as simple as that. – Renee, Dylan was torn in two with everything that was going on. Don’t give up on him just yet!
6. I even Googled ‘what does it mean when your boss asks you to get coffee’ last night. – LOL!!! Oh Renee LOL!!!
Glass Half Full is the second book in Katia Rose’s Barflies series. A standalone book, we still get glimpses of characters from book 1. Dylan is now manager of the newly remodeled Taverne Toulouse, a Montreal dive bar. He is doing the best he can but finds that his past is always interrupting his present. This is especially the case when Renee Nyobé comes looking for a job at the bar.
Renee Nyobé is just starting to get her life back in order after a trip abroad to attend school ended badly. To assist in the process, Renee has finally reached a point where she feels obtaining employment will help. She walks into a dive bar in Montreal for an interview and comes face-to-face with the guy who stole her heart a few years ago.
The don’t want to want each other but as the days pass, both Renee and Dylan realize that the pull between them is so much more than superficial. They realize how important the other was before and increasingly more now. Starting a relationship is risky for many reasons and when the bad part of Dylan’s past rears its ugly head, Dylan may just decide to end everything before it’s even had a chance to begin.
This book is so emotional. I teared up in several places. As a person who suffers from anxiety (but not to the degree of Renee’s character), I empathized and sympathized with the feelings, thoughts, and mannerisms that go along with anxiety. I also felt Dylan’s pain as he tried to come to terms with his past and how he felt like he wasn’t good enough for Renee.
The author did such an excellent job with descriptions and emotions in this book. I enjoyed the smooth, descriptive narrative. Glass Half Full is written with true feelings and real emotion. I loved Dylan and Renee’s story as much as Monroe and Julien’s from book 1. There is a lot of very important self-discovery for both Renee and Dylan separately and together. Glass Half Full is a must read for lovers of contemporary romances.
I was provided a copy of this book to read
Seeing Dylan perform on stage set me off. As I watched him stand on that stage and capture every breath and heartbeat in the room, I knew I was looking at the start of a tidal wave crashing toward me, and there is no way to stop a force of nature like that. I’ve never wanted anyone like this, in so many senses of the word. I want his body, his mind. I want the deepest depths of him, and I don’t know how to ask for that. I don’t even know if I can.
1)Thank you Katia for letting me read this book early and 2) THANK YOU for writing a book where the main character suffers from anxiety and anxiety attacks. I could 100% relate to Renee. I absolutely loved Dylan and Renee’s story. From the beginning I was routing for the both of them! I really enjoyed that both of the characters had a past and something that they needed to work through. It wasn’t just some sweet little love story. Yes, there were some steamy romance going on but the characters also grew as people. I might have shed a few tears here and there but again from the beginning I was routing for both of them! Definitely check their story out on January 8th.
Renee ends up leaving college and needing a job. She works at Taverne Toulouse with Dylan. Dylan is the guy she never thought she would have a chance with and she is the woman Dylan never had but always wanted for himself. It was so entertaining to see these two hookup and how they end up. A truly great read.
Ah! What an entertaining read! Glass Half Full is the second installment in the Barflies series, which can be read as a standalone. I absolutely adored the first book, The Bar Next Door, and I’m so excited to say that this book doesn’t disappoint, either! Glass Half Full takes place in Taverne Toulouse, an exotic dive bar in Montreal (which is also a city I’ve wanted to visit in real life!), featuring Dylan and Renee, our main romantic ship characters, along with some beloved roles from The Bar Next Door such as Monroe, the bar owner.
What I love most about this story is the down-to-earth personality from Renee. She’s undoubtedly a badass, who’s strong enough to battle against anxiety. Besides, I’m completely taken aback by the raw emotions from Renee’s vivid description of panic attacks and nervous breakdowns because I can easily resonate with her during my lowest lows.
Thankfully, with the company of Dylan, Renee is able to pluck up her courage and find her inner strength. Also, Katia once again surprises me with all those glorious chapter titles and poetry slam ideas; they’re truly the icing on the cake!!
All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GLASS HALF FULL and please go check it out if you had spare time! I hope you’ll enjoy this book/series as much as I do.
***Thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!***
What a sweet, sweet read. This one had me pretty emotional. We follow Dylan and Renee and I absolutely adored them. I don’t think there have ever been two people who were genuinely good and who I wanted nothing more but for them to be together and have their HEA. The story is raw, real, and relatable (I definitely didn’t do that on purpose ). The overall story, the character development and the pacing of this book was absolutely perfect. I really enjoyed this sweet read. I’ve been reading a lot of dark romance lately and this was definitely a nice cleanser for me. I am a new reader to Katia Rose and I’m so happy she messaged me about reading her book. Her author voice is definitely unique and unlike any others that I’ve read before. I can’t wait to pick up another book by her.
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This book is absolutely amazing!! If you are looking for something that makes your heart happy and joyous because it broke it while you were reading, you need to read Glass Half Full RIGHT NOW! This is my first book by the author and I am hooked, she has a forever fan now.
Glass Half Full speaks directly to my soul and tackles a few serious issues that you don’t really expect in a romance read, not for it to go so DEEP. This is a second chance romance when the first chance did not even feel like a chance and the second does not look too promising either. If you like your books a bit on the deeper side (that makes you FEEL) and has a touch of comedy, you need this book in your life- 5 HUGE stars from me!
PS: Thank you so much to Katia for allowing me an ARC of the book to read and review honestly, it was absolutely perfect! <3
Love! Love! Love Glass Half Full!
I loved watching Dylan and Renee grow into the great people they were always meant to be.
I loved how Taverne Toulouse is a safe haven and the people there are welcoming like family.
I absolutely loved how inspiring this book was!
Yes, I said love about a billion times in this review, and that’s because each and every LOVE is well deserved. This is truly an amazing read! I can’t wait to read more in this Barflies Series.
Glass Half Full was definitely a satisfying drink! Dylan and Renee both knew just what the other needed, even if they didn’t have confidence in themselves. Their imperfect halves came together to make one perfect whole. And Katia has now proven herself a triple threat…she’s gracefully athletic (see her Instagram), writes mesmerizing stories, AND weaves beautiful poems too! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion….and I honestly LOVED IT!
This is BY FAR one of my favorite books so far this year!!! Katia’s writing is so truly amazing. I feel like I really need to use a Thesaurus, because it’s all I keep saying about this book (wink wink), but it’s so true! I LOVE how lyrical and full of heart her writing is. It’s just so deep. You can tell that she, herself, is a true poet with how she wrote this book. And, for that matter, all of the books before this. From song lyrics to slam poems, she’s just so creative! I made a comparison yesterday to her and Kennedy Ryan. These two have such a special way to expressing themselves in writing. It’s lyrical, it’s powerful, it’s truthful and deeply profound.
For those of us who have been following Katia for a long time, we’ve truly fallen in love with Monroe and Taverne Toulouse, so I was super excited for another character to get their turn. Dylan is someone who I really stared to love as a character and I was super pumped to see him get his promotion. Then, add in Renee. On man, that was the surprise of the century for these two to see each other again!!
When we were introduced to Renee I was really curious about her, and the new got to see her reaction to Dylan my stomach started getting some serious butterflies!! The way that Katia was able to express, in words, the reaction, was phenomenal! I don’t think I’ve ever been able to express a reaction like that and I’ve felt it! The chemistry between these two was so out of this world. Then we also got some major inside depth into Dylan. From his beginning of shift “Radio” sessions to his serious doubts about himself. It was just very profound. I can’t even say deep, because it was on a totally different level, so profound is as close as we get.
The love between these two was everything. The amount of growth that Dylan and Taverne Toulouse was able to give Renee was so powerful. But, just like anything, there’s always a downfall. Katia gave us the perfect rollercoaster with this story. We got the happiest of highs and we really got to experience the major doubt and sadness all within the same book. Oh man and the hard topics that Katia wrote about. She’s one of the best at this. This story has hard topics of overcoming an incriminating past and some deep anxieties. The way Katia wove those topics into her story was pretty magical. She has this amazing way of pulling something that people deal with (including myself) and helping people with her writing. She’s written on more than one topic I can relate to, and it’s like a breath of fresh air!
As you can see, I completely adored this book. I’m so sad that I didn’t get to read it sooner, and I can’t wait for the next one!
My first read from Katia Rose, but definitely not my last! Such great characters set in such a tightly knit and intimate setting. I particularly loved the vivid and exact descriptions of the city of Montreal and the slow yet intense burn between the two MCs.