touch like velvet

by ciders

It was easy for Will Byers to fall in love with Mike Wheeler.

The trouble came when he had to pretend it wasn't real.

476 pages, ebook

Published December 3, 2023

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me embarrassingly long to read (following the mourning period from the finale) for how good it was. The writing was absolutely mystical magical and absolutely mogged the actual show - this is the ending they deserved 💔💔💔.

Shoutout to post-it notes

[Măli · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love my stupid byler life

[Anna Deniaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si shakespearien et très similaire à “Young Mungo”

[maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

mike queerler

[aedan · Rating 5 out of 5]

sobbed a solid few times while reading this, the perfect antidote to post-s5 blues, and a wonderfully written love story

[Sariah Vesterfelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is fanfiction so much better

[Emma Kathleen W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the first thing I’ve read in the year of 2026 a fanfic? Yes. Yes it is. So beautifully written and exactly what I needed. This will go down as one of the top best fanfics I’ve read.

[Sophie Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hands down one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I have not cried while reading since I was 14 and I am now 23.

This book had everything from textbook yearning, to drama, to trauma, and love and everything in between. It was more than a joy to read, it was life changing.

If you read these V (the lovely author), thank you for writing something so unbelievably gorgeous that I’m shocked it’s free online. You are inspiring and tell people’s stories so well. I look forward to your other published works and new material you plan on writing for touch like velvet.♥️

[Cultclassics13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fic is insane, I almost ditched it at first because Mike and will didn’t already know eachother (their history is what makes the ship so special to me) but I’m so glad I did not put this down. The characters were written to have so many intimate moments in just the way they speak to each other. “The best kind of strange” is going to stick with me. It is the perfect representation of queer relationships in the 80’s with a balance between the wholesome romantic moments to battling homophobia from others and internally. Super well written!

[lavender haze · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best byler fic ever. The slow burn was so beautiful. The angst, the mutual pining, the yearning absolutely in point. Beautifully written.

[hiaelde · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh wow- after mostly reading byler fluff in fics, this hit like a TRAIN. beautiful, beautiful work though.
extremely intense, i would disagree a bit on the “hurt/comfort” tag, prepare for angst after angst after angst hahaha (not complaining though! it hits hard!), even it there is still comfort to be fair…
still mourning the loss of what will and mike could have canonically been💔but hey, when did that ever stop anyone from shipping? especially with so much proof to back us up, if anything, them not being endgame only adds fuel to the fics & fan-related content😼doomed yaoi will never not work i’m sorryyyy

[Viv · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first ever Byler fic and it was amazing! Beautifully written, pure angst and I couldn’t stop reading. This one will forever have a place in my heart.

[inthecabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so well written that it doesn’t even feel like a fic

[Emily Marcheschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was absolutely life changing. the prose deeply resonates. literally stared at a wall for a good amount of time after I finished this.

[Hannah Bredemeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written I forgot it was a fan fic half way through

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh they cooked with this!!!!

[Amudhini Siddharth · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% BEST Byler fanfic i've ever had the privilege and pleasure of reading. Will's taste in music is peak, Mike is so zesty I loved it so much I wish gay ppl were real

[madi! · Rating 4 out of 5]

byler brainrot doesn’t stop.

[rosetta!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELLO?????? BEST FIC IVE EVER READ?????? SOBBING??????

[Stella ⋆🔮˚꩜｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so beautiful. #byleriscanon

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

5

[victoria ☆! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this au so much i need it on my goodreads