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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Being around you makes me feel like myself, too.
I really appreciate how well-versed the author is in romance structure. This is a short book, about half the size of an average novel in this genre, and yet every story beat is hit at appropriate interval, creating a beautiful slow burn arc. Somehow, there’s even room left for setting exploration and for small subplots involving Edd’s friends (although admittedly, that last part is where the story meanders a bit).
The setting here is almost aggressively cozy, with the town being super inclusive and full of quaint small business where people just love offering the best to their neighbors. It’s kind of claustrophobically utopic, tbh, but also a fun escape from the real world and its troubles, when you’re in the right mood. I enjoyed all the descriptions of coffee/tea/ice cream shops, art events, and tomato gardens. Also, baking! There’s so much delicious baking. I want a strawberry bun.
Edd and Carey are a lovely pair, together and apart. Both of their arcs resonated with me in different ways. Carey’s anxiety is really well-written, and I found it easy to relate to Edd’s desire to fix all the problems for the people he loves and his frustration at being unable to do so. I liked how gradually they got to know each other, discovered things they had in common, and ultimately brought each other up. The third act breakup was painful, but in a good sort of way: it was so clearly not about the relationship, but about where each of them was as a person, especially Carey, plus about Carey’s need to let go of their past. In fact, it was actually a tool of bringing the couple closer together and making their HEA more believable—a great way to handle that beat.
One point against Edd, though, for all his charm and kindness: it was not a good move to bake sweet pastries for his elderly diabetic neighbor, and I wasn’t a fan of how it was framed as “letting the old person decide for themself.” There’s a difference between letting someone make decisions about their body/life and actively enabling them. This was one thing that weirdly keeps annoying me whenever I think about it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
So far so good with this series, I also quite enjoyed this second installment! This novella again felt like a fully fleshed out novel, which is so fun. The romance was a little slower to start but this gave a lot of room to the small town atmosphere and interacting with lots of interesting side characters. I also thought the main characters were both really interesting, especially Carey with their visible mending work, which sounded super creative.
This was such a lovely, low-heat, slow-burn read with quite a few gender nonconforming and nonbinary/agender characters. It is the second in the Clover Hill Romance Series , but I read it as a standalone and was able to follow who everyone is and how they relate to one another with no problem.
It follows the story of neighbours Edd - a baker, sunshine, patient, cheerful, wonderful friend, who has a killer sense of style, living their life free and open; and Carey - a textile artist, shy, a bit lonely, recovering from a divorce, learning who they are and creating a new life.
I loved how slowly and naturally Edd and Carey's relationship develops. This is most definitely a slow burn, but it feels natural for the characters and where they are in their lives. I got the feeling that both Edd and Carey treat their attraction to each other and their relationship as something so precious and in need of careful handling, and it was lovely to read.
Their love story was as sweet and heartwarming as the baking goods Edd delivers with love and as precious and valuable as the textiles that Carey repairs!
I will definitely be reading the rest of the Clover Hill series.
It follows the story of neighbours Edd - a baker, sunshine, patient, cheerful, wonderful friend, who has a killer sense of style, living their life free and open; and Carey - a textile artist, shy, a bit lonely, recovering from a divorce, learning who they are and creating a new life.
I loved how slowly and naturally Edd and Carey's relationship develops. This is most definitely a slow burn, but it feels natural for the characters and where they are in their lives. I got the feeling that both Edd and Carey treat their attraction to each other and their relationship as something so precious and in need of careful handling, and it was lovely to read.
Their love story was as sweet and heartwarming as the baking goods Edd delivers with love and as precious and valuable as the textiles that Carey repairs!
I will definitely be reading the rest of the Clover Hill series.
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is lovely; I've enjoyed this author's contributions to Shousetsu*BangBang, and it was great to get something longer. The romance is crowded out at times by all the neighborhood story lines, but I really recommend it for doing things differently. (This is the only romance novel I've ever read where I fully expect that they will never live together, but instead maintain residences next to each other forever and that is truly perfect for them.)
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
What a sweet romance!
I've admired this author's work before, so I hoped, but this is better than I expected. I loved each main character and all the side characters, I loved all the art talk, and how thoughtfully the author treated each element, and how real the friendships felt. It is low-key in the best sense, perfect for when you need sweet and some angst but no major challenges. It feels very personal, and accepting, and I loved it.
I've admired this author's work before, so I hoped, but this is better than I expected. I loved each main character and all the side characters, I loved all the art talk, and how thoughtfully the author treated each element, and how real the friendships felt. It is low-key in the best sense, perfect for when you need sweet and some angst but no major challenges. It feels very personal, and accepting, and I loved it.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Visible Mending is the second release in the interconnected Clover Hill Romance queer small-town romance series. It can be read as a stand-alone, as apart from a common setting, it stands independent of the first book.
While I haven’t read M. Arbon’s work before, I love what they have to offer, injecting their own style to this shared world. And with the goal of representing varied identities in Clover Hill, Arbon’s voice to represent a story that includes a non- binary lead is very welcome.
Edd is such a fun character, and I love how unapologetically himself he is. There’s an element of fantasy to his existence, but I love that he’s not troubled by much, and is able to express himself freely, which exemplifies the positive nature of Clover Hill as an environment.
Carey is a fabulous complement to Edd’s vibrant personality, as they also have an artistic soul. However, Carey is the newcomer of this narrative, dealing with the aftermath of a divorce. I love how poignantly the heartbreak and healing on their part is rendered. It also provides a perfect avenue for them to bond with Edd, who in friendly, open hearted neighbor fashion, is ready to comfort him with sweet treats…and maybe more.
I love seeing these two bond, with Edd helping Carey to heal and come out of their shell, while also negotiating the boundaries Carey needs while they completely put themself back together. There’s a very delicate balance between Edd providing support and Carey healing on their own terms, which I very much appreciated.
This book is super sweet, and a nice warm hug for queer people, especially any who have gone through heartbreak. If you’re looking for a heartwarming, queer-friendly, low-heat small-town romance, I recommend checking this out!
CWs: past divorce and related grief, elderly community member with dementia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Slice-of-life stories only work if you are really invested in the characters and maybe the setting. Sadly, this one did not work for me at all.
The writing was too descriptive but for no good reason. I am also not a visual reader at all so the excessive outfit updates did nothing for me.
The characters read more like amalgamations of quirky traits than fully realized people. I was not feeling the romance at all, just two people trying to make a connection. (And it still has a third act breakup.)
The story arc - this was so perfect and ideal that it feels a little uncanny? I don't know how to describe it but Clover Hill in Winning Move felt like it could exist somewhere, this Clover Hill felt a little too naive for my tastes.
The writing was too descriptive but for no good reason. I am also not a visual reader at all so the excessive outfit updates did nothing for me.
The characters read more like amalgamations of quirky traits than fully realized people. I was not feeling the romance at all, just two people trying to make a connection. (And it still has a third act breakup.)
The story arc - this was so perfect and ideal that it feels a little uncanny? I don't know how to describe it but Clover Hill in Winning Move felt like it could exist somewhere, this Clover Hill felt a little too naive for my tastes.