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Prove It
Warren and Silas meet for the first time at the age of five. It doesn't go well.
When they reach junior high they have a truce in place and Tal, a new guy in their class, acts as a catalyst, bringing them together as best friends. Together all through high school, they survive school plays, Tal's girlfriends, Silas' boyfriend and Warren's endless studying. College is more of the same, until Silas and Tal coax Warren out of the closet.
For Warren nothing changes, but for Silas the world has unexpectedly changed forever. He had no idea he was in love with his best friend at all, and when he finally tells Warren the reaction is another surprise.
Prove it.
Warren knows all about Silas, knows the tricks, the games, the very best and the very worst about him, and Warren loves him back. But Warren also knows that if they're going to be together it's got to be forever, and he can't just risk everything for what might be another one of Silas' whims.
Silas has to prove he loves Warren, and he wants to do just that. But how do you win the heart of someone who knows you better than anyone else?
When they reach junior high they have a truce in place and Tal, a new guy in their class, acts as a catalyst, bringing them together as best friends. Together all through high school, they survive school plays, Tal's girlfriends, Silas' boyfriend and Warren's endless studying. College is more of the same, until Silas and Tal coax Warren out of the closet.
For Warren nothing changes, but for Silas the world has unexpectedly changed forever. He had no idea he was in love with his best friend at all, and when he finally tells Warren the reaction is another surprise.
Prove it.
Warren knows all about Silas, knows the tricks, the games, the very best and the very worst about him, and Warren loves him back. But Warren also knows that if they're going to be together it's got to be forever, and he can't just risk everything for what might be another one of Silas' whims.
Silas has to prove he loves Warren, and he wants to do just that. But how do you win the heart of someone who knows you better than anyone else?
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Chris Owen
93Ìýbooks900ÌýfollowersI live and write in eastern Canada. I went to a bunch of schools, learned a lot of things, and now make stuff up because not to do so is unthinkable. I'm fond of fountain pens, Levenger's Circa system, and Steampunk fashions.
I'm inspired by the day to day minutia of life, and find beauty in the way words go together. I like texture and richness of experience. I'm not shy. I'm happy, I'm learning, I'm living.
I'm inspired by the day to day minutia of life, and find beauty in the way words go together. I like texture and richness of experience. I'm not shy. I'm happy, I'm learning, I'm living.
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July 24, 2020I really don't know how to rate Prove it , so I am not going to.
This is slow burn, arctic style.
As in the mc's do not even contemplate getting together until 70% and don't actually get together until ~98% mark When it does happen it's so incredibly anticlimactic that I skimmed their one and only sex scene.
It's as if all the withholding diminished my interest in their story.
Despite my whining, that's not to say it isn't a great story. ( see my dilemma) .
It's the perfect enemy-to-friend-to-lover story. MC's meeting as children, bonding through adulthood. This is my all-time favorite storyline, and it's really well done. YA for the first 40% and NA for the rest.
Despite the delayed gratification between Warren and Silas, that's not to say this is a low-steam story. Both mc's partake in multiple relationships with others throughout the book, some explicit some fade-into-dark or just a recounting of said act. Blah, that's how I feel about that.
The strength of this story was in the friendship and the bond between the three main characters of the book. Separately, idk. Warren is kind of cold, detached, calculating and there were literally only two moments of vulnerability/tenderness that I felt from him during the entire read. Silas is lovable, charming, enthusiastic and he shined. Tal is the balance between their two extremes. The one who brings them together, who mediates and keeps things copacetic. If it wasn't for him, those two would have probably never acknowledged their feelings for each other.
I.Dont.know.
The writing style is excellent. The pacing is well done. The friendship, believable. Character development, excellent. The romance, lacking. The ending, anticlimactic. I think this failed as an MM romance and succeeded as gay fiction.
I really wanted to love this, and there were moments I did, and moments I didn't.
Do I recommend this? I.Dont.Know.
This is slow burn, arctic style.
As in the mc's do not even contemplate getting together until 70% and don't actually get together until ~98% mark When it does happen it's so incredibly anticlimactic that I skimmed their one and only sex scene.
It's as if all the withholding diminished my interest in their story.
Despite my whining, that's not to say it isn't a great story. ( see my dilemma) .
It's the perfect enemy-to-friend-to-lover story. MC's meeting as children, bonding through adulthood. This is my all-time favorite storyline, and it's really well done. YA for the first 40% and NA for the rest.
Despite the delayed gratification between Warren and Silas, that's not to say this is a low-steam story. Both mc's partake in multiple relationships with others throughout the book, some explicit some fade-into-dark or just a recounting of said act. Blah, that's how I feel about that.
The strength of this story was in the friendship and the bond between the three main characters of the book. Separately, idk. Warren is kind of cold, detached, calculating and there were literally only two moments of vulnerability/tenderness that I felt from him during the entire read. Silas is lovable, charming, enthusiastic and he shined. Tal is the balance between their two extremes. The one who brings them together, who mediates and keeps things copacetic. If it wasn't for him, those two would have probably never acknowledged their feelings for each other.
I.Dont.know.
The writing style is excellent. The pacing is well done. The friendship, believable. Character development, excellent. The romance, lacking. The ending, anticlimactic. I think this failed as an MM romance and succeeded as gay fiction.
I really wanted to love this, and there were moments I did, and moments I didn't.
Do I recommend this? I.Dont.Know.
October 13, 2011
This look has all the feel of a Chris Owen book, but a totally different storyline. Warren and Silas meet when they are five years old. and instantly bond (with a child's love/hate relationship). Warren is an intellectual introvert, and Silas is a carefree spirit, liked by everyone. The pair bond with Tal, who completes the friendship by balancing the two extremes out. As the years progress, Tal becomes obsessed with girls and their girly parts, while Silas goes the other way. Warren, well, he withholds judgement for now.
When he does figure it out, and Silas figures HIM out, the title of the becomes clear.
This is a well written, insightful, funny, charming and ultimately very realistic view of what so many of us feel, want and go through as young men.
The ending leaves room for another book (or books, I hope) to follow.
Ms. Owen always delivers a quality product, and this is no exception. I always enjoy her storytelling, as she builds believable characters is real-life situations that the reader can relate to on a personal basis. She never goes over the top. and writes some of the best sex scenes I have read.
Give this one a read. You won't regret it.
When he does figure it out, and Silas figures HIM out, the title of the becomes clear.
This is a well written, insightful, funny, charming and ultimately very realistic view of what so many of us feel, want and go through as young men.
The ending leaves room for another book (or books, I hope) to follow.
Ms. Owen always delivers a quality product, and this is no exception. I always enjoy her storytelling, as she builds believable characters is real-life situations that the reader can relate to on a personal basis. She never goes over the top. and writes some of the best sex scenes I have read.
Give this one a read. You won't regret it.
January 27, 2012
This book goes right up near the top of my friends-to-lovers list. It begins like a great YA novel with Silas and Warren as children, but eventually moves into definitely adult territory. This is a book about self-discovery and taking time, about mistakes and expectations, about friendship and sweet love. It's one of those books that dragged me in so deep I resented everything that took me away from it, including my own writing. Chris Owen has a gift for creating characters who are not perfect and don't necessarily get it right, but who move right into my heart and take up residence there. Five stars all the way.
June 28, 2011
This was so wonderfully...oh how do I say this without making the book sound sappy sweet. It is delightful, fresh, and I was just happy to read it. There was no real angst...there was no sappy stuff, just a nice story about 3 best friends, 2 of which fall in love.
July 31, 2011
Reading this was very frustrating. I am one of those people who actually think about the rating while reading something. It's probably a bad habit, but it's what GR does to you.
While reading this I kept changing my mind between three stars and four. The reason? Well, there are a few. First of all, this book dragged. The childhood part just wouldn't end and it easily took over the first half of the story. But at the same time, without that beginning I'm sure I wouldn't have appreciated all three best friends the way I do now.
Reading about other boyfriends is again something which I'm not a fan of. Especially when the main couple takes forever to even realize there is something between them. We get to know all about relationships, unimportant conversations as well as big decisions, but the most interesting a in my opinion significant details got skipped. Again, for that, it would have been a three star read, but while I was annoyed by the boyfriends and the other load of excess information, it was written so nicely I laughed a lot of times and almost always had the though -Awww, that was so sweet.
The last thing, and the one I had the most issues with, was the actual development of the relationship. I found Warren's reasons to be lacking and his rules completely unnecessary. While I do understand to a point, I still think his take on the situation was wrong. It was really frustrating to read about and I actually took a break a few time. I can't say I thought it all worked out by the end, but the small conversations thrown into it, certain sentences and the overall feel of innocence and rightness made it somehow okay.
I've written a lot already but I still didn't give a real explanation, did I? That's because this book, while frustrating most of the time, and taking it's sweet time to get to the point, is filled with sweet moments, adorable situations and some amazing characters. Despite all of it's flaws, it's hard no to like it.
While reading this I kept changing my mind between three stars and four. The reason? Well, there are a few. First of all, this book dragged. The childhood part just wouldn't end and it easily took over the first half of the story. But at the same time, without that beginning I'm sure I wouldn't have appreciated all three best friends the way I do now.
Reading about other boyfriends is again something which I'm not a fan of. Especially when the main couple takes forever to even realize there is something between them. We get to know all about relationships, unimportant conversations as well as big decisions, but the most interesting a in my opinion significant details got skipped. Again, for that, it would have been a three star read, but while I was annoyed by the boyfriends and the other load of excess information, it was written so nicely I laughed a lot of times and almost always had the though -Awww, that was so sweet.
The last thing, and the one I had the most issues with, was the actual development of the relationship. I found Warren's reasons to be lacking and his rules completely unnecessary. While I do understand to a point, I still think his take on the situation was wrong. It was really frustrating to read about and I actually took a break a few time. I can't say I thought it all worked out by the end, but the small conversations thrown into it, certain sentences and the overall feel of innocence and rightness made it somehow okay.
I've written a lot already but I still didn't give a real explanation, did I? That's because this book, while frustrating most of the time, and taking it's sweet time to get to the point, is filled with sweet moments, adorable situations and some amazing characters. Despite all of it's flaws, it's hard no to like it.
June 24, 2011
I am such a sucker for friendship stories! I loved seeing the commitment and loyalty of these three young men. The story is a feel good read in that it showed us snapshots of only the good things in life and left out all the rest. Sometimes you need that!
The romance was definately tentative, but I appreciated the time it took for this aspect of the story to move forward and I enjoyed seeing the love start to bloom. An enjoyable read!
The romance was definately tentative, but I appreciated the time it took for this aspect of the story to move forward and I enjoyed seeing the love start to bloom. An enjoyable read!
June 24, 2011
This was a sweet story, and I enjoyed reading it. My rating reflects my personal preference for a higher level of intensity (both sexual and emotional), which this didn't meet. It's a very atypical Chris Owen book in that respect.
September 15, 2011
Prove It is a sweet tale, filled with a lot of humor and background. It’s short and easy to read in one sitting, but the romantic connection never really worked for me. I like the slow build up and the extensive background information on all the characters. I like the use of the third best friend and his gf quite a bit but overall the main romantic connection felt more like an afterthought and awkward than real and important. I still enjoyed reading this story for a number of reasons but never really bought into the late added romance.
The story starts with how the three boys became best friends. It shows how Warren and Silas competed, annoyed, and flattered each other before finally bonding when Tal shows up on the scene. The three boys become inseparable as well as having relationships and interests that are unique to them. Their individual personalities emerge, as well as various relationships and hookups, but the three friends seem to navigate this with ease. Until the day Tal and Silas decide to force Warren out of the closet and Silas realizes he’s been in love with Warren all along.
The friends to lovers theme is very familiar and popular for good reasons. In this case, the story does an excellent job of showing the friends aspect. We see incredibly adorable scenes of the boys when they’re young, exploring the world and wanting adventures. These continue into high school and college as the three men find their places while still maintaining their close friendship. In fact this is more a story about friendship than anything else. Best friends Tal, Silas, and Warren understand each other, respect each other, and ultimately love each for the people they are.
In just about every way this is a very accepting story. There is zero angst from parents or friends about Silas and Warren being gay. In fact Silas comes out in high school and becomes a local hero/spokesperson. There is in fact very little tension anywhere in the story. That’s ok because the slow pace of the story fits with the evolution of the three men’s lives. Where the story definitely starts to stumble is pairing Warren and Silas up so late in the story. By then, most of the story had been told and the remaining tension keeping these two apart feels silly and manufactured.
Warren especially left me cold with his focused attention on his studies and assuming that Silas will wait for him and eventually they’ll be together. On the one hand, this fits with Warren’s very cold and rational intellect. Yet on the other it makes no sense to assume that Silas wouldn’t find someone else in the meantime (a very real possibility). I thought the whole romance was awkward, forced, and very slow. It just didn’t fit the story in my opinion. Although I was definitely charmed by the various characters and wanted them to find happiness, I just couldn’t really see Warren and Silas together as the main romance.
Other than that, the story is pretty enjoyable to read. It has a slower pace with numerous obvious editing mistakes (if that kind of thing annoys you). Yet watching these three boys and their friendship develop is lovely. As a novella about the strength and power of friendship, this story definitely wins. The romance aspect didn’t work at all for me but I’m still glad I read this.
The story starts with how the three boys became best friends. It shows how Warren and Silas competed, annoyed, and flattered each other before finally bonding when Tal shows up on the scene. The three boys become inseparable as well as having relationships and interests that are unique to them. Their individual personalities emerge, as well as various relationships and hookups, but the three friends seem to navigate this with ease. Until the day Tal and Silas decide to force Warren out of the closet and Silas realizes he’s been in love with Warren all along.
The friends to lovers theme is very familiar and popular for good reasons. In this case, the story does an excellent job of showing the friends aspect. We see incredibly adorable scenes of the boys when they’re young, exploring the world and wanting adventures. These continue into high school and college as the three men find their places while still maintaining their close friendship. In fact this is more a story about friendship than anything else. Best friends Tal, Silas, and Warren understand each other, respect each other, and ultimately love each for the people they are.
In just about every way this is a very accepting story. There is zero angst from parents or friends about Silas and Warren being gay. In fact Silas comes out in high school and becomes a local hero/spokesperson. There is in fact very little tension anywhere in the story. That’s ok because the slow pace of the story fits with the evolution of the three men’s lives. Where the story definitely starts to stumble is pairing Warren and Silas up so late in the story. By then, most of the story had been told and the remaining tension keeping these two apart feels silly and manufactured.
Warren especially left me cold with his focused attention on his studies and assuming that Silas will wait for him and eventually they’ll be together. On the one hand, this fits with Warren’s very cold and rational intellect. Yet on the other it makes no sense to assume that Silas wouldn’t find someone else in the meantime (a very real possibility). I thought the whole romance was awkward, forced, and very slow. It just didn’t fit the story in my opinion. Although I was definitely charmed by the various characters and wanted them to find happiness, I just couldn’t really see Warren and Silas together as the main romance.
Other than that, the story is pretty enjoyable to read. It has a slower pace with numerous obvious editing mistakes (if that kind of thing annoys you). Yet watching these three boys and their friendship develop is lovely. As a novella about the strength and power of friendship, this story definitely wins. The romance aspect didn’t work at all for me but I’m still glad I read this.
September 10, 2011
I LOVED this book. I finished with a dreamy sigh and wanted to start over. There were several scenes that shined.
The things I loved about this book:
The love felt real. It built and took you along for the ride. As the reader, I fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other.
Also, the friendship between the three men is fantastic. It felt ‘manly� and yet, was emotional too. A perfect blend.
I do also love that there was very little angst (I’m a big fan of angst, normally) and not a complicated plot (I usually like that too), and it still kept me engaged in the outcome of the characters.
It’s not without it’s warts, however. It starts in an omniscient POV. It was extremely frustrating for me to read because that section was not written well: it had structure issues, extreme telling and lost me in places. Thankfully it didn’t last long.
After that, it slips into 3rd, which seemed to get rid of all the issues I had. Thank god, because I would have missed out on a fantastic book.
The pacing could have been a little stronger. There was a huge build-up to get the characters together and then it was finished. The epilogue felt tagged on and incomplete.
If there were a sequel announced, I’d preorder. *hint, hint*
The things I loved about this book:
The love felt real. It built and took you along for the ride. As the reader, I fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other.
Also, the friendship between the three men is fantastic. It felt ‘manly� and yet, was emotional too. A perfect blend.
I do also love that there was very little angst (I’m a big fan of angst, normally) and not a complicated plot (I usually like that too), and it still kept me engaged in the outcome of the characters.
It’s not without it’s warts, however. It starts in an omniscient POV. It was extremely frustrating for me to read because that section was not written well: it had structure issues, extreme telling and lost me in places. Thankfully it didn’t last long.
After that, it slips into 3rd, which seemed to get rid of all the issues I had. Thank god, because I would have missed out on a fantastic book.
The pacing could have been a little stronger. There was a huge build-up to get the characters together and then it was finished. The epilogue felt tagged on and incomplete.
If there were a sequel announced, I’d preorder. *hint, hint*
July 30, 2011
I LOVED this book. Would it be considered romance? Maybe not. It's not really coming-of-age, either, though it has elements of both. It's a story about the ways in which relationships are built and how they change as people develop.
.
There were no wasted characters, not even random names mentioned. Everyone had a role in moving the plot forward and creating dynamic characters. Even Tal, who in many ways could be mistakenly viewed as a third wheel to Silas and Warren's romantic relationship was integral to the story.
.
I felt good reading this book. I felt like I was getting to know these three lovely boys and watching them grow up to become lovely men. I was happy for them and the places they were going. The story spans 17 years, from when the Warren and Silas are 5. In middle school Tal comes along and the trio become inseparable. While it covered a lot of time, the book wasn't particularly long, but I never felt like anything was missed. All of the important moments were hit, all of the characters fully developed. And, unlike a lot of romances, everything seemed plausible. I love how the three boys' personalities balanced each other out.
.
The sex scenes were graphic without being crude, were integral to the plot, and were creatively executed. Let me explain what I mean by that: too many times the sex scenes in M/M fiction follow a basic formula, repeated with each encounter. Ms. Owen explored different aspects of physical intimacy, paying as much attention to a brain-melting kiss or frottage as to actual intercourse. And none of it was gratuitous or over-the-top.
.
The only criticism I have deals with the pacing of the story when Warren and Silas realize that their love was different than the "just friends" love they shared with Tal. I think the time between the "I wonder if" to the declarations of love went too fast. I would have liked a little more build up to the declaration, even a bit more soul-searching, particularly by Warren. Silas's leap from "love" to "IN LOVE" actually fit well with his personality. Warren, however quiet and private he kept his thoughts, was a little too abrupt in his declaration.
.
I've only read one other book by Ms. Owen--Bareback--which was fabulous, emotionally draining, and downright painful--and while this book had the same quality writing, the feel of it was lighter, more positive. It's clear that Ms. Owen is a master at building authentic, relatable relationships and I know I'm going to be checking out some of her other works.
.
This is totally a 4.5 star book! I absolutely recommend it to others
.
There were no wasted characters, not even random names mentioned. Everyone had a role in moving the plot forward and creating dynamic characters. Even Tal, who in many ways could be mistakenly viewed as a third wheel to Silas and Warren's romantic relationship was integral to the story.
.
I felt good reading this book. I felt like I was getting to know these three lovely boys and watching them grow up to become lovely men. I was happy for them and the places they were going. The story spans 17 years, from when the Warren and Silas are 5. In middle school Tal comes along and the trio become inseparable. While it covered a lot of time, the book wasn't particularly long, but I never felt like anything was missed. All of the important moments were hit, all of the characters fully developed. And, unlike a lot of romances, everything seemed plausible. I love how the three boys' personalities balanced each other out.
.
The sex scenes were graphic without being crude, were integral to the plot, and were creatively executed. Let me explain what I mean by that: too many times the sex scenes in M/M fiction follow a basic formula, repeated with each encounter. Ms. Owen explored different aspects of physical intimacy, paying as much attention to a brain-melting kiss or frottage as to actual intercourse. And none of it was gratuitous or over-the-top.
.
The only criticism I have deals with the pacing of the story when Warren and Silas realize that their love was different than the "just friends" love they shared with Tal. I think the time between the "I wonder if" to the declarations of love went too fast. I would have liked a little more build up to the declaration, even a bit more soul-searching, particularly by Warren. Silas's leap from "love" to "IN LOVE" actually fit well with his personality. Warren, however quiet and private he kept his thoughts, was a little too abrupt in his declaration.
.
I've only read one other book by Ms. Owen--Bareback--which was fabulous, emotionally draining, and downright painful--and while this book had the same quality writing, the feel of it was lighter, more positive. It's clear that Ms. Owen is a master at building authentic, relatable relationships and I know I'm going to be checking out some of her other works.
.
This is totally a 4.5 star book! I absolutely recommend it to others
September 7, 2016
This was sweet story about childhood friends become lovers. Personally I feel that for those who haven't yet read any glbt stories or read yaoi before this maybe one good book to pick up and read. It fairly light in details about sexual encounters compared to other books.
What I loved about the book?
What I loved about the book?
March 9, 2016
A review.
4 stars
This is one of those friends to lovers stories that will melt your heart! I will tell readers, though, that this is not your traditional m/m romance for several reasons. First, this story starts out with Warren and Silas at age five meeting each other and it is anything but “friends� for the two of them. Initially, I thought maybe this was an enemies to lovers storyline, as it took until these two were in junior high to form a truce with one another. For me, this background story really helped me, as a reader, to believe that these two were destined for one another.
Secondly, unlike other gay romance stories, this story really is that of three friends: Tal, who loves women; Silas, who loves men; and Warren, who seems to be somewhat asexual and interested in only studying. Yet readers figure it out early on the Warren isn’t as asexual as he appears and has very strong feelings towards Silas. What I liked best about this story was the connection all three characters had with one another and how they complimented one another � yet, at the same time, there was always something different about Silas and Warren’s relationship with one another.
Thirdly, unlike many gay romance stories, this story features two women � Warren’s mom and Tal’s girlfriend � who are shown in positive lights as non-judgmental and supportive.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety .
4 stars
This is one of those friends to lovers stories that will melt your heart! I will tell readers, though, that this is not your traditional m/m romance for several reasons. First, this story starts out with Warren and Silas at age five meeting each other and it is anything but “friends� for the two of them. Initially, I thought maybe this was an enemies to lovers storyline, as it took until these two were in junior high to form a truce with one another. For me, this background story really helped me, as a reader, to believe that these two were destined for one another.
Secondly, unlike other gay romance stories, this story really is that of three friends: Tal, who loves women; Silas, who loves men; and Warren, who seems to be somewhat asexual and interested in only studying. Yet readers figure it out early on the Warren isn’t as asexual as he appears and has very strong feelings towards Silas. What I liked best about this story was the connection all three characters had with one another and how they complimented one another � yet, at the same time, there was always something different about Silas and Warren’s relationship with one another.
Thirdly, unlike many gay romance stories, this story features two women � Warren’s mom and Tal’s girlfriend � who are shown in positive lights as non-judgmental and supportive.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety .
September 8, 2011
The first two-thirds of Prove It is a wonderful coming-of-age story about two best friends, Silas and Warren. The novel is their journey from childhood to adulthood and how that relationship grows and evolves.
I have to admit I loved the first 60 pages of Silas and Warren as kids and teenagers. And when they added Tal to their group, the threesome clicked as forever friends. The ups and downs of childhood are vividly described and Silas� coming out in high school was funny and poignant at the same time. However, it was when Silas and Warren got to college, the plot went a little fuzzy for me.
Since this is supposed to be a romance, I expected more of the novel to be about Silas and Warren’s growing attraction for one another and how they move from friends into lovers. But, most of their college life is spent with them being with other men, not each other. In fact, according to my Kindle, only 25% of the book is about Silas and Warren as a couple. For a 178 page book, I expected a little more of the novel to be focused on their developing love affair rather than other sexual entanglements. But despite that, I was still rooting for Silas to get his man by the end.
Overall, I liked Chris Owen’s Prove It, although I had some issues with the lack of time that was spent on Silas and Warren’s relationship, the first half of the book makes up for that. A genuine feel good tale of best friends finding love together.
Dark Divas Reviews
I have to admit I loved the first 60 pages of Silas and Warren as kids and teenagers. And when they added Tal to their group, the threesome clicked as forever friends. The ups and downs of childhood are vividly described and Silas� coming out in high school was funny and poignant at the same time. However, it was when Silas and Warren got to college, the plot went a little fuzzy for me.
Since this is supposed to be a romance, I expected more of the novel to be about Silas and Warren’s growing attraction for one another and how they move from friends into lovers. But, most of their college life is spent with them being with other men, not each other. In fact, according to my Kindle, only 25% of the book is about Silas and Warren as a couple. For a 178 page book, I expected a little more of the novel to be focused on their developing love affair rather than other sexual entanglements. But despite that, I was still rooting for Silas to get his man by the end.
Overall, I liked Chris Owen’s Prove It, although I had some issues with the lack of time that was spent on Silas and Warren’s relationship, the first half of the book makes up for that. A genuine feel good tale of best friends finding love together.
Dark Divas Reviews
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2012
4 stars. A definite tear jerker. Very nice slow buildup from preschool to grad school. Hard to imagine college kids with that much self control. Warren yes, Silas no. But when you have your goal in sight and know what you have to do to achieve it, then maybe so. Would love to visit them in a few years. Being best friends for most of your formative years is great to know each other, living with such a tightly controlled person like Warren day in and year in wold be trying on any relationship. Could be interesting to visit them 10 years down the line.
July 6, 2011
Im a bit devastated that I didnt like this story more :(
It just seemed very long and dragged on in places. We literally see their lives from age 5 till 23ish.... all in 82 pages (pdf pages).
I thought it would have been better to cut out alot of the childhood and concentrate on adulthood more....
It just seemed very long and dragged on in places. We literally see their lives from age 5 till 23ish.... all in 82 pages (pdf pages).
I thought it would have been better to cut out alot of the childhood and concentrate on adulthood more....
June 28, 2011
I adore the Bareback series. Bareback was 'heavy' for me, this felt 'light'. I saw the friendship however I didnt see the change that led from love to in-love. It almost felt like because they were gay they were to be together. However, I did enjoy the book. I really like the friendship between the three boys/men and how they related to one another.
March 13, 2021
Loved it, loved it, loved it! A little different from the other Chris Owens' books that I have read but in no way was that a bad thing. This shared the story of two boys who met at age 5, despised each other, liked each other, fought, made up, met the third musketeer in junior high and never looked back.
It's a great story about friendship and love. But, mostly, it's about love.
It's a great story about friendship and love. But, mostly, it's about love.
August 27, 2012
This story worked really well for me. I liked the slow built up for Silas' and Warren's relationship,how they started as friends and became more later. What I especially liked about this book was the emphasize on the friendship between the two guys (and later Tal's girlfriend Olivia)!
September 20, 2013
This was such a sweet story....I think I needed an Epilogue or maybe another book as much build up to the relationship as there was I didn't really get to see them function in a proper relationship so I feel kinda cheated.....that only means I really loved this story and just want more
June 29, 2011
Not as good as Im used to by Chris Owen. Felt more like a teenage book...maybe it was and I missed that part of the discription. Was not bad but not what I was expecting.
July 17, 2011
Enjoyable and a fun read, totally refreshing and I wasn't bored for a minute. Sequel maybe, hopefully?
October 13, 2017
What a sweet and delightful book about friends who become more. Chris Owen writes romance like the beautiful fairytale it should be but also manages to add a touch of realism. The result is full of the feels.
February 10, 2022
Hard to get the book, but great work :)
June 6, 2012
It's taken me a few days to analyze my reaction to this one. Without question it is the most unique take on the friends to lovers trope I've yet encountered.
Silas and Warren meet in preschool. They're basically enemies until 4th grade when they're finally placed in separate classes. They don't actually become friends until after a new boy, Talbot, moves to town when they're all in junior high. Warren is being bullied in the hallway, Silas and Talbot help him and just like that the three musketeers are created.
The characters in this book are all amazingly real. Each of the boys is different, has a different personality, different goals, different interests, yet they're all so vivid and so real. And Olivia! LOVE her!
What made this different from every other friends-to-lovers story I've read is that it was basically backwards. the traditional approach has the friends suddenly discovering an attraction, possibly acting on it, and then reacting to their new emotions until they eventually realize they're in love.
This one has the boys realize they're in love (at vastly different points in their lives, but still, they both do realize it) but wait to act on anything until they're sure that they're ready and at a point in their lives where they can devote adequate attention to a relationship as important as they know theirs will be. I loved that they respected each other and their friendship enough to be willing to do that.
I loved how Silas was able to do for Warren exactly the things he needed to feel loved without coming across as either manipulative or smothering.
I loved how Warren realized he wasn't ready for a relationship with Silas, no matter how much he loved him, and that it would be selfish to keep him from having relationships with other people in the meantime. However, this is what kept this from getting 5 stars for me. I know Silas didn't do it on purpose, because he had no idea how he or Warren felt, but most of this book felt like I was on the outside with Warren watching Silas flaunt his boyfriends for so many years. It made most of the book not very fun to read, always waiting for them to finally get to be happy instead of getting to actually see them be happy.
And I do like that the book ends with them on their way to being together and HEA, but I would have liked to have seen more of that part and less of the tortuous (and sometimes torturous) journey toward that point.
Silas and Warren meet in preschool. They're basically enemies until 4th grade when they're finally placed in separate classes. They don't actually become friends until after a new boy, Talbot, moves to town when they're all in junior high. Warren is being bullied in the hallway, Silas and Talbot help him and just like that the three musketeers are created.
The characters in this book are all amazingly real. Each of the boys is different, has a different personality, different goals, different interests, yet they're all so vivid and so real. And Olivia! LOVE her!
What made this different from every other friends-to-lovers story I've read is that it was basically backwards. the traditional approach has the friends suddenly discovering an attraction, possibly acting on it, and then reacting to their new emotions until they eventually realize they're in love.
This one has the boys realize they're in love (at vastly different points in their lives, but still, they both do realize it) but wait to act on anything until they're sure that they're ready and at a point in their lives where they can devote adequate attention to a relationship as important as they know theirs will be. I loved that they respected each other and their friendship enough to be willing to do that.
I loved how Silas was able to do for Warren exactly the things he needed to feel loved without coming across as either manipulative or smothering.
I loved how Warren realized he wasn't ready for a relationship with Silas, no matter how much he loved him, and that it would be selfish to keep him from having relationships with other people in the meantime. However, this is what kept this from getting 5 stars for me. I know Silas didn't do it on purpose, because he had no idea how he or Warren felt, but most of this book felt like I was on the outside with Warren watching Silas flaunt his boyfriends for so many years. It made most of the book not very fun to read, always waiting for them to finally get to be happy instead of getting to actually see them be happy.
And I do like that the book ends with them on their way to being together and HEA, but I would have liked to have seen more of that part and less of the tortuous (and sometimes torturous) journey toward that point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2011
3.5 stars
Warren and Silas have been friends since pre-school. They are opposites, Warren likes calm and order, Silas is a charmed whirlwind of activity, a few years later Tal moves in and they become a tight threesome all through Jr. High and high school, even all going off to college together. Silas came out as gay in high school, and although Warren is gay he never really says it,except to his mother. Finally when he turns 21, his friends demand to know and if he's seeing someone. Warren is all about school though, he has friends with benefits but has no intention of starting a relationship with anyone. Finally it comes out that Silas wants him and vice-versa, but he refuses as he's finishing up university a semester early and heading off to California for grad school and doesn't want a relationship until after he's done his Ph.D. He want Silas to prove he loves him, which means no pressure. The story is interesting as you follow them for a large part of the story through their childhood, and you get to know them all. Warren is the main lead, but you find out about Silas and Tal and their boyfriends/girlfriends. I found Warren a bit annoying. Millions of people graduate college and have relationships. It's not like they are mutually exclusive. Also "prove it" but he didn't say "how" exactly. It's a no-win situation when you are vague like that. Although it all worked out in the end. There wasn't much conflict per se, everyone accepted them as gay, their families were fine, Tal didn't care, friends didn't shun them, it wasn't until near the end when Silas and Warren finally admitted feelings, that things go a bit more angsty. A fun read though when you're in the mood for something lighter and with a lot of emphasis on the main characters' histories together.
Warren and Silas have been friends since pre-school. They are opposites, Warren likes calm and order, Silas is a charmed whirlwind of activity, a few years later Tal moves in and they become a tight threesome all through Jr. High and high school, even all going off to college together. Silas came out as gay in high school, and although Warren is gay he never really says it,except to his mother. Finally when he turns 21, his friends demand to know and if he's seeing someone. Warren is all about school though, he has friends with benefits but has no intention of starting a relationship with anyone. Finally it comes out that Silas wants him and vice-versa, but he refuses as he's finishing up university a semester early and heading off to California for grad school and doesn't want a relationship until after he's done his Ph.D. He want Silas to prove he loves him, which means no pressure. The story is interesting as you follow them for a large part of the story through their childhood, and you get to know them all. Warren is the main lead, but you find out about Silas and Tal and their boyfriends/girlfriends. I found Warren a bit annoying. Millions of people graduate college and have relationships. It's not like they are mutually exclusive. Also "prove it" but he didn't say "how" exactly. It's a no-win situation when you are vague like that. Although it all worked out in the end. There wasn't much conflict per se, everyone accepted them as gay, their families were fine, Tal didn't care, friends didn't shun them, it wasn't until near the end when Silas and Warren finally admitted feelings, that things go a bit more angsty. A fun read though when you're in the mood for something lighter and with a lot of emphasis on the main characters' histories together.
June 25, 2011
I've read many childhood-friends-become-gay-lovers stories. A lot. And this one still blew me away in many fronts. In its sweetness--not in a sappy way, but in romantic way. The friendships. Not only between the lovers, but also among the three main characters. (So happy the author didn't make the three men love each other and engage in menage). The persistence. Not in stalking-kind, but in commitment-way.
Warren and Silas have known each other since they were five years old. They went to school together, and at one point in grade school, Talcott (Tal), the third member of their group, came to their school and joined them. In high school, Silas realized he was gay, came out, and dated boys. Tal started to be attracted to girls. Warren, however, was not sure. He used the bookwarm excuse whenever his best friends asked him about his love life.
They went on to a same university. Here, Tal got a steady girlfriend, Olivia. Silas had several boyfriends. Slowly, Warren started to admit to himself (and later to his friends) that he, too, was gay. So, now, two of three are gays. Silas started to make move on Warren, but knowing how 'easy' Silas dallied with his boyfriends, Warren put him into a challenge: Prove it that Silas is serious with him. The rest of the book is on Silas' efforts to prove his love to Warren.
Warren and Silas have known each other since they were five years old. They went to school together, and at one point in grade school, Talcott (Tal), the third member of their group, came to their school and joined them. In high school, Silas realized he was gay, came out, and dated boys. Tal started to be attracted to girls. Warren, however, was not sure. He used the bookwarm excuse whenever his best friends asked him about his love life.
They went on to a same university. Here, Tal got a steady girlfriend, Olivia. Silas had several boyfriends. Slowly, Warren started to admit to himself (and later to his friends) that he, too, was gay. So, now, two of three are gays. Silas started to make move on Warren, but knowing how 'easy' Silas dallied with his boyfriends, Warren put him into a challenge: Prove it that Silas is serious with him. The rest of the book is on Silas' efforts to prove his love to Warren.
December 2, 2014
synopsis:
warren and silas met when they were in kindergarten, and were close to enemies until junior high, when tal becomes friends with both of them. everything has always come easily to silas; he's the golden boy, has lots of friends, has no problem figuring out that he's gay, and no problem being out. warren is studious and knows that if he comes out, he will have a hard time. this continues through colllege, with warren's two best friends finally getting warren to admit to them that he is gay. silas realizes that he loves warren, but warren knows that silas falls in and out of love easily, and doesn't want to be a causualty.
what i liked: i liked the fact that warren and silas didn't become friends until tal entered the picture, and that then the 3 of them were best friends. i liked the friendship between them. i liked the fact that none of them really changed when they were in college; warren was still studious and kept his business to himself, silas was the golden boy and tal was the connection between them both.
what i didn't like: even though it took place over many years, the relationship felt rushed. you never quite know until quite late that warren has always loved silas. silas goes through his period of thinking things out and realizing it, but warren is a lot more contained within his thoughts until he just blurts it out with the other two there. and even though warren was supposedly trying to make things harder for silas so that he doesn't always get what he wants when he wants it, he caves relatively quickly.
warren and silas met when they were in kindergarten, and were close to enemies until junior high, when tal becomes friends with both of them. everything has always come easily to silas; he's the golden boy, has lots of friends, has no problem figuring out that he's gay, and no problem being out. warren is studious and knows that if he comes out, he will have a hard time. this continues through colllege, with warren's two best friends finally getting warren to admit to them that he is gay. silas realizes that he loves warren, but warren knows that silas falls in and out of love easily, and doesn't want to be a causualty.
what i liked: i liked the fact that warren and silas didn't become friends until tal entered the picture, and that then the 3 of them were best friends. i liked the friendship between them. i liked the fact that none of them really changed when they were in college; warren was still studious and kept his business to himself, silas was the golden boy and tal was the connection between them both.
what i didn't like: even though it took place over many years, the relationship felt rushed. you never quite know until quite late that warren has always loved silas. silas goes through his period of thinking things out and realizing it, but warren is a lot more contained within his thoughts until he just blurts it out with the other two there. and even though warren was supposedly trying to make things harder for silas so that he doesn't always get what he wants when he wants it, he caves relatively quickly.
April 26, 2012
This was great! The book has a lot going for it, at least as far as Kate's Particular Romance Sweet Spots go. These are: a) It's a childhood-friends-to-lovers story. I'm a total sucker for that trope, and it was done very well here. b) The pairing is a variation on what I think of as The Rogue and the Bluestocking. So we've got Silas, a larger-than-life, out-and-proud energetic, outgoing guy who can have any man he wants; and we've got Warren, a quiet, studious guy who is not in the closet but keeps things so close to the vest he might as well be. But, of course, they've been in love with each other since childhood. The writing is great, the build up is great, I really enjoyed it.
Niggles: The crisis point doesn't quiiite live up to all that wonderful build up, to the point where I wondered a little why Warren was holding out on Silas. There are reasons presented in the story, good ones, but in the end, I wanted to shout at him, "You could be happy! Why are you doing this to yourself?" Second, and this is just me, because I have full confidence in the HEA as it's presented, but I would have liked an epilogue or something that showed these boys further in the future. I felt like the book ended a little too soon.
Otherwise, it was great! Really fun read.
Niggles: The crisis point doesn't quiiite live up to all that wonderful build up, to the point where I wondered a little why Warren was holding out on Silas. There are reasons presented in the story, good ones, but in the end, I wanted to shout at him, "You could be happy! Why are you doing this to yourself?" Second, and this is just me, because I have full confidence in the HEA as it's presented, but I would have liked an epilogue or something that showed these boys further in the future. I felt like the book ended a little too soon.
Otherwise, it was great! Really fun read.
August 7, 2013
This is a pretty standard take on coming-of-age stories, but it's a good take on the in-love-with-my-best-friend trope. My favorite parts were in the first half of the book when the three guys are growing up, and then Warren and Silas start kind of circling each other, very gradually falling in love even though they don't acknowledge that that's what it is. Other than the really jumpy, disjointed POV switching (that's only at the very beginning, thankfully)it's handled really well.
However, towards the end things start to fall kind of flat. I think a lot of it has to do with how Warren becomes super confident once they start college. It just kind of loses the heart that he had earlier and we hear a lot less of what he's thinking and more of just standard college events and experiences. It's just kind of cold-feeling. The main POV once they reach late high school/college ends up being Warren. I wish there were more Silas sections, because his were usually full of character, and we don't get to see much of his personal life once Warren takes over.
The writing is easily better than most published M/M books. It's kind of stiff, but it's well done, easy to read, and doesn't throw you off.
However, towards the end things start to fall kind of flat. I think a lot of it has to do with how Warren becomes super confident once they start college. It just kind of loses the heart that he had earlier and we hear a lot less of what he's thinking and more of just standard college events and experiences. It's just kind of cold-feeling. The main POV once they reach late high school/college ends up being Warren. I wish there were more Silas sections, because his were usually full of character, and we don't get to see much of his personal life once Warren takes over.
The writing is easily better than most published M/M books. It's kind of stiff, but it's well done, easy to read, and doesn't throw you off.
June 30, 2014
4.5 stars. I so enjoyed this story :)
What a lovely book! I LOVE friends-to-lovers stories! The only thing I felt was missing for this YA/NA book is the angst. The period in which Silas was proving his love to Warren was short and really lacked that strong uncomfortable feeling of doubt mixed with wanting that Silas and Warren should have been enveloped in. I didn’t get the feeling of an emotional roller coaster that I expect and wanted. Seriously, where was the angst?!?!?
For the most part, this was a well written friendship story rather than a romance. Tal was as much a main character as Silas and Warren. Their boyhood and then college days is something to be envied in that it was as near perfect as one can wish for and their friendship and loyalty to each other is much the same. Even though they had great mothers/parents and family, these three guys were each other’s� family too. I love that they experienced the ups and downs of growing up together and that they had each other for support, love, and a kick in the ass when necessary. I think it would be awesome to see where these characters end up and how they are as adults as they enter another phase in their life.
This is my first book from this author and I look forward to reading more.
What a lovely book! I LOVE friends-to-lovers stories! The only thing I felt was missing for this YA/NA book is the angst. The period in which Silas was proving his love to Warren was short and really lacked that strong uncomfortable feeling of doubt mixed with wanting that Silas and Warren should have been enveloped in. I didn’t get the feeling of an emotional roller coaster that I expect and wanted. Seriously, where was the angst?!?!?
For the most part, this was a well written friendship story rather than a romance. Tal was as much a main character as Silas and Warren. Their boyhood and then college days is something to be envied in that it was as near perfect as one can wish for and their friendship and loyalty to each other is much the same. Even though they had great mothers/parents and family, these three guys were each other’s� family too. I love that they experienced the ups and downs of growing up together and that they had each other for support, love, and a kick in the ass when necessary. I think it would be awesome to see where these characters end up and how they are as adults as they enter another phase in their life.
This is my first book from this author and I look forward to reading more.
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