Reviews

Mended with Gold by Lee Welch

jemzero's review

5.0

I read this book in one sitting. It was one of the most poignant, emotional slow burn/pining friends-to-lovers romances I've ever had the delight of reading. Joe is... impossibly good. I fell in love with him a little bit, too. Absolutely brilliant story.

upsidedown10's review

emotional lighthearted 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

3.0

This was a quick little novella but I still managed to love the characters and their relationship. It was a great little introduction to what makes Lee Welch a good writer. 

demckee's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

claudiereads's review

4.0

4.5

Lovely story. Unassuming but powerful. Beautiful writing.

eemms's review

4.0

I had this sitting on my to-read shelf for a while after finishing SALT MAGIC, SKIN MAGIC and finally got around to it. I really enjoyed reading it. It's set in a rural ocean-side town in New Zealand, and the calm, peaceful sense of the location really comes through in the book.

Both the MCs have past trauma, and Alex has flashbacks (minor spoiler cw at the end of this review), but the book never felt angsty or overly dramatic. The characters were very human, very realistic, and so was their journey together. I don't want to say I would've liked it to be longer because that sounds like the pacing was off (it wasn't!), but I would absolutely read more about these characters and their little town. This is a high 4 for me.

Spoiler

Alex has PTSD from witnessing someone killed and dismembered by a bomb, which is described when he has a flashback

millah's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

3.75

The writing was lovely and I enjoyed the story a lot. Actually, this story sort of snuck up on me, and I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Before I picked up the book, I had feared that the age gap would bug me, but I didn't mind it that much. I liked the main characters and I loved to see them find something they needed in each other. I'd like it even more if we got to know them both better. The shift between the slow-burn romance and the "hot times" felt slightly abrupt to me. I'm not sure if it felt like that because of the pacing or because of a shift in voice or tone. All in all, though, this book was a pleasant read. 

terriaminute's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

5.0

Mended with Gold -- gorgeous. Atmospheric, with tender, sharp PTSD rep and how changing one's life can help, and a romance despite an also-wounded love interest who I want to adopt. Seriously. That last paragraph is short and straight-up perfect. 

Out Loud -- is one of the best epilogues I've ever read. It's from Joe's POV, just as good, just as amusing, even sweeter. 

aku_no_yume's review

5.0

I love this book so much,
It's so tender and raw and human.

I'm not one for writing reviews but I wholeheartedly recommend it.

jasminenoack's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

alisonalisonalison's review

4.0

What a lovely story. This book is so New Zealand. The tone, the characters, the descriptions, the dialogue, the atmosphere--everything about it is so vividly *New Zealand* and I loved that as a half-New-Zealander. I used to live not far from where this story takes place and the writing captured the location so vividly. I really enjoyed this. I read it more than two months ago and it remains fresh in my mind. I'm so pleased to see another skilled New Zealand author writing queer stories. Looking forward to more from this author.