Visible Mending

Clover Hill Romance #2

by M. Arbon

When next-door neighbours Carey and Edd’s slowly blossoming romance starts to fray, they’ll both need to use their skills at fixing things to save it.

Edd’s self-expression through pretty dresses and sparkly jewellery leads some people to misjudge him, and his soft spot for strays has bitten him on the keister in the past. But when his shy new neighbour Carey, who turns threadbare fabrics into works of art, seems to need help settling into their new town, Edd can't help but offer a hand.

Rebuilding their life after a crushing divorce, Carey buys a little house in queer-friendly Clover Hill. Their cute neighbour, Edd, keeps bringing them delicious baked goods, and soon even the sound of his knock on their door makes Carey happy. But Carey’s breakup made it obvious how unworthy they are of a relationship, and anyway, Edd's probably just being kind. Isn’t he?

Yet Carey begins to flourish in their new life as cheerful, patient Edd shows them around town. Edd finds in Carey a gentleness he's always craved, and a slow, sweet attraction takes root between the two of them.

Then news from Carey’s ex shatters their fragile confidence. How can they be a good partner to Edd when they failed so badly the last time? Edd is torn between giving Carey comfort and keeping the distance Carey says they need, even when it’s making them both miserable.

Can Carey and Edd work together to mend their relationship? Or can some things just not be fixed?

Genres: Romance, Novella, Genderfluid, LGBT, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

I write stories, mostly queer, often sexy, featuring people who try hard not to be jerks. My stories have appeared in His Seed: An Arboretum of Erotica and Best Gay Stories 2017, and as stand-alone volumes.

Reviews

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visible Mending is book two in the Clover Hill Romance series. This series CAN be read out of order / as standalones. I could be wrong, but I believe the series is set around having LBGTQ+ charcters, which I absolutely LOVE. How often do you find that?

Visible Mending features TWO non-binary / agender / non-conforming main characters - Edd & Carey. And all I can I say is how important representation is to so many. This is fabulous to see.
I absolutely adored the characters in this book. Edd is a long-time resident of Clover Hill and is super crafty. Carey has moved to town after a not-so-great divorce. I loved watching their relationship develop. The banter between them was adorable. I loved how supportive and caring they both were.
By the end of the book, I felt like I knew both of them in real life... and man, I'd love to have them both as besties in real life, haha. Edd and Carey are both total sweethearts, but definitely quite opposite. Edd knows exactly who they are... extroverted, accessorized and dressed to the nine, dresses and nice jewelry, etc. Carey ... tries to blend in as much as they can. Carey questions whether he can be or is worthy of a healthy relationship due to the damage his marriage caused him, and Edd is a bit of a caretaker.

Ultimately, they sort it out and have an amazing, healthy, caring relationship... I'm happy for them. <3

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew]

Pleasant low-key romance between cross-dressing Edd and non-binary Carey though the emphasis is less on their gender identities than their several insecurities. The plot is slight, allowing Arbon's characters time to develop against the (rather self-consciously zany) background of small-town Clover Hill. A particular strength is Carey's profession (bringing old clothes to life through imaginative mending—the textile version of Kintsugi), which is lovingly described and hugely enjoyable to read about.

Clover Hill features in a number of romances by other authors which accounts, I would imagine, for the gratuitous number of secondary characters whose stories bump clumsily into Edd & Carey's.

I've read others of Arbon's short stories and while none of them are DIK's, they were thoughtful and repaid the read.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Saleena Longmuir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and sweet

I didn't know what to expect with this, but I am so glad I tried. The romance is slow and sweet and old fashioned. Arbon has fashioned a beautiful and believable story with two gender non-conforming individuals that made me feel warm and happy....just like the cakes Edd makes. I wish Clover Hill was real, I would move today.

[Littlebookterror · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.





I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren loves llamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the first book in the Clover Hill series, so I was so excited to start the next one, especially when I saw it had a nonbinary crafty main character. While there’s not much overlap between the two books, it was still a joy to read a romance set in a very queer-friendly small town.

Edd spends his days baking and delivering his desserts to his various friends in Clover Hill, or hanging out with his artist friends. He’s not much of an artist himself – well, if you don’t count dressing stylishly – but he loves helping them with their various projects. A lifelong resident, he’s happy enough where he is and couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than artsy queer Clover Hill. Carey is new to Clover Hill and struggling to settle in next-door to Edd. After a bad divorce that left them questioning their life, the last thing they needs is to jump into a new relationship, even if the cinnamon-roll-delivering next door neighbor is super cute. But when exploring the possibilities between them becomes a real prospect, can they both see through their past hurts to the relationship they could have?

“Carey’s understanding of their own gender had come gradually, a paring away of unwanted possibilities. Edd was so carefree in the way he presented himself now, they imagined his insight as having come early, or maybe been bestowed upon a young Edd like a queen’s crown.”

This is very much an opposites-attract romance. Edd is outgoing and a fan of bright colors and accessories. No dress is complete without an armful of bangles or a headband. He’s very sure of himself and who he is, though he knows people may think of him in different ways since he’s a man who prefers dresses and sparkly things. Carey, on the other hand, is much more introverted, preferring to dress to fade into the background. The wreckage of Carey’s marriage has left them doubting themselves, convinced that they’re not a person who can be in a relationship without hurting the other person. As for Edd, it’s no secret that his “relationship catnip” – as his friend Ozzie puts is – is caretaking. He loves baking for those he cares for. And if his next door neighbor looks like he could do with a few good meals? Well.

Carey’s job is mending sentimental objects, like a beloved hand-knitted sweater or a family quilt, but in a very unique way. I’ve never heard of visible mending before but I absolutely loved the concept. Instead of attempting to return a damaged item to its original state, the repairs are meant to be seen. In some cases, it highlights the damage, that an item is well-worn and loved, and sometimes the mending serves to bring new meaning to an old piece. Carey insists that what they do isn’t art, but anyone who’s seen their work knows better.

“I don’t like to think that anything’s beyond hope.” Carey moved behind Edd to slide the jacket off his shoulders. “Just because something’s worn or damaged doesn’t mean we should get rid of it. I kind of like things that are imperfect.”

The way they reduce their labor of love and art to nothing special is just one symptom of how deep their hurt goes, and that insecurity affects their romance with Edd as well. That’s not to say that Edd doesn’t have his own issues to overcome. Edd doesn’t want to subject Carey to his moods when Carey’s obviously dealing with their own problems, and Carey is fearful of reading more into the relationship than is warranted. They both think of themselves as nothing special and both of them are fearful of being vulnerable, of showing their flaws to another person – something that dovetails quite well with Carey’s visible mending. Bleak moment aside, I loved how well they navigated the start of their relationship, how they both agreed to move slowly and were careful to check for consent and respect boundaries.

Overall, this was a sweet, low-heat romance and another lovely entry into the Clover Hill series. I’m looking forward to seeing what aspect of the town is explored next!

I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Content notes: misgendering (by elderly person with dementia)

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt immensely out of touch -- I have never been and will never be hip enough to hang with the group of artisans that populates this story -- but I was charmed by the glimpse into an ideal, accepting locale. Clover Hill is the kind of place I'd love to live: a small town that's queer-friendly, diverse, and full of darling tea shops and fascinating festivals and resale shops full of treasures. And now it's a setting for four modern romances. This was the first I read, but it won't be the last.

The characters and story are very much a fantasy. Edd doesn't have to work, so he has time to put together fabulous old-fashioned femme outfits and bake delicious treats for his neighbors.

Carey, his new neighbor, is less present as a character, but that's the personality that provides the conflict. They are hurt and hiding away, having lost all confidence after divorce, so it's harder to get a handle on them. They practice the visible mending of the title, a way of making the fixes part of the story of the antique blanket or garment being repaired. It's a bit of an obvious metaphor, but I found myself wishing I had pictures of their art, because it sounded gorgeous.

This is not your grandmother's romance novel, as you might have gathered, and at times, there were a lot of things very different from what I was familiar with or expected of the genre. It could get a little overwhelming, as everyone had their quirk or art, but I liked this way of learning about diverse lifestyles and self-expression. The romance was less important to me than hearing about more of the various fashions or creations or yummy dishes the characters put together.

However, at the core, it's two people we know belong together needing some time to figure that out. Underneath the very modern activities and personalities, I'm still rooting for them to just! talk! to! each! other! There's definitely a happy ending, although it's much quieter than the rest of the book.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! If you enjoy “no plot, just vibes”, it will probably work well for you. That’s not so much my thing, however, so I was hoping for something more to propel this neighbors-to-lovers plot along.

Deeper characterization would have been appreciated, instead of endless scenes of Edd baking and visiting elderly people and talking to Ozzie (exhausting) or Harriet (lovely). In contrast, Carey is a fiber artist and I loved learning more about visible mending and how they’ve turned it into a career. I would have been more interested in a Carey-centered story, although I do wish they were in therapy.

A personal preference: There was no reason for Carey’s ex-husband to call OR for said phone call to derail them so completely. I wasn’t clear why they hadn’t progressed further in healing or what the point was in having the ex call at all. It kind of defeated all the vibes up to that point and the romance didn’t recover. Carey would have been better off doing some intensive counseling sessions. Edd too, for that matter, since his personality consists of him trying to fix other people’s problems.


Characters: Carey (they/she) is an agender/nonbinary white fiber artist and vintage blanket and clothing seller. Edd (he/him) is a gender-nonconforming white lottery winner, amateur baker, vegetarian, and unofficial volunteer with the elderly. This is set in Clover Hill.

Content notes: divorce one year ago (Carey was married 10 years), misgendering by character with dementia, secondary character with dementia, elderly friends with various illnesses, diet culture, Edd’s parents had difficulty conceiving and adopted four children before getting pregnant with him, implied intellectual disability (Edd’s brother), past death of Carey’s grandfather (dementia), fade to black/nonexplicit sex, mentions of alcohol (Carey doesn’t drink, Edd can take it or leave it)

[Sophie Reads Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, definitely want to move to Clover Hill. I said that after the first book and it's even more true now. I mean, Edd is the most patient, kind person and bakes, Carey is a genius with fabric and just needs the warmth of Edd's sunshine to blossom. These two and other folks we meet in town are delightful and the author's vivid descriptions let me see/smell/taste everything. The less said about people like Carey's ex- who only wants to hurt others the better. Thank goodness there are folks for Carey who become their refuge and support. Clover Hill and its citizens lets people become strong and self-confident. Bring on more stories from there!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sam Hirst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romance. I thought it dealt with a lot of the complexities of their relationships and pasts well. I'd have love the pace to stay as slow at the end as it was at the beginning because it felt like the things they still needed to work on for their relationship got swept slightly to one side. However, this really was sweet, slow, kind and with two characters that were deeply loveable. I was invested in the happiness of both from the get-go.

[A. Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, thoughtful book. "Visible Mending" is both literal and metaphorical. Sometimes when I read fiction about artists, the artwork described doesn't compel me? This was definitely not one of those times.

Bias disclosure: I have worked with M. Arbon as a contributor to the Clover Hill Romance series

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

rtc.

I received an arc in exchange for a review.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters and their lives, how they're trying to be more in the fact of each other (and how they need help outside of the relationship to do so). Plus it got me excited about sewing again!

[Scooby2]

DNF-writing isn't working for me

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.)