I need to find a way to inject this entire book into my veins - it was so good! The characters, the unfolding of their love story, their acceptance of one another. I'm going to need more of Opal and Pepper or at least another re-read before I read something else by Mazey Eddings because this was amazing!

I really enjoyed this book. It took a while for me to connect with the story because the lottery plot wasn't of much interest to me, but once the characters really opened up to each other and we got more backstory, I really enjoyed this read! Was definitely spicier than I had anticipated based on Mazey Eddings previous books, and it was well written. I look forward to reading more from her!

Overall, Late Bloomer is a beautifully written, uplifting story about embracing life's imperfections and finding love and purpose in unexpected places. Mazey Eddings once again proves her talent for writing stories that resonate long after the last page is turned.

This is a fun sapphic romance with a deep emotional core. Mazey Eddings does it again.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Another 5-star read from my favorite author! Sapphics falling in love on a flower farm?!?! Who could ask for anything better!!

Absolutely, 5 stars. Forever and ever, Mazey Eddings will get 5 stars from me. Her witty banter and dialogue is honestly to die for. I love how she makes her characters come to life and Late Bloomer was no exception. I honestly can't believe this was her first sapphic romance. Cannot wait to read more from her. I need a sequel with these characters!!

This was an adorable sapphic grumpy sunshine romance that I absolutely flew through. This book follows Opal a aspiring shoe artist who recently won a scratch off, who bought a flower farm on a whim wanting to change her life. When she goes to the flower farm she realizes the owners daughter Pepper was living and working the farm and had no idea her home was sold out from under her. The two move in together and work towards a flower contest that could help Pepper buy the farm back from Opal. This was such a cute romance Opal was so relatable and I loved the banter between her and Pepper. I loved the writing in this book it was easy to follow and quick witted. The pacing felt a little slow in the middle but I still really enjoyed this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

mazey is for sure one of my fav romcoms writers and this book was so lovely. seeing mazey opens herself to queer characters was exactly what I needed to fall even more in love with her talent and work. this book was such a breathe of fresh air and I loved being immersed in it!

At this point I feel confident that Mazey Eddings writing just isnt for me because I should have LOVED this and instead I DNF'd at 50%
No chemistry, the humor was just not funny to me, and these characters were so frustrating.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet romance, albeit quite wildly unrealistic. Also not sure how these two awkward individuals turned into sex gods the minute they fell into bed together. But, hey, what's a little unreality in romance?

I liked this book but I didn't love it. Someone buying property in cash sight unseen made this immediately unbelievable to me and removed a whole lot of empathy for me. Some of the plot points were out there, and I can usually forgive out there plot points in romance, but this was enough to take me out of the reading mania.

The pacing was a little slow and it took me too long to get into the story. I don't think this book was for me, but I think other could really enjoy it.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I think I like the author’s writing style and I think I also like the characters on their own, but they have no romantic chemistry. They have some sexual chemistry, but that’s really it. Also, nothing really happens in the book. It just kind of goes along until there’s a little conflict and then it keeps moving and then there’s another little conflict, and then there’s a big conflict or two at the end that get resolved pretty quickly and then it’s kind of over. So I can’t say I was really impressed by the story itself. I do think I will probably try another book by this author but not right away.

Another delightful read from Mazey Eddings! I really enjoyed Opal and Pepper, also the people pleaser in Opal really spoke to me, and watching there story play out. Will-they won't-they has got to be one of the best tropes out there and Mazey Eddings does it so well. I look forward to reading whatever she does next.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

*Late Bloomer* by Mazey Eddings offers a heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and personal growth. The story follows a woman navigating her late-blooming romantic journey, offering moments of charm and vulnerability. Eddings’ writing is warm, and the characters are relatable, with well-crafted dialogue and authentic emotions. However, the plot can feel predictable at times, and the pacing slows in the middle, making it harder to stay fully engaged. While the book has plenty of sweet, tender moments, it doesn't break new ground in the romance genre. It's a pleasant read, but lacks the depth to leave a lasting impression.

I love Maizey Eddings normally but I could not get with these vibes. I just felt the characters were not good. I don’t mind characters who aren’t likeable but it just didn’t work for me. I might try again in the future but now it’s a dnf.

This particular Mazey Eddings book was more my kind of book than one or two others of hers that I've tried. I was really happy to reading a F/F romance about characters that don't fit into a typical box. I enjoy the way she portrays neurodiverse characters, too. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I am a big Mazey Eddings fan and yet again, this book delivers with a heartfelt celebration of personal growth with well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and opposites attract sapphic romance. I loved that this story is set on a flower farm in Asheville, NC! What a delightful backdrop for a lighthearted plot filled with queer and neurodivergent representation.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

More Like 3 and ½ Stars ✨

I really liked this. I don't know what took me so long to get to it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Griffin for my advanced copy of Late Bloomer.

I love Mazey Eddings. I will always read and recommend her books. She is amazing.
I listened to this book on audio and the narration was fantastic. The story was very easy to follow and I had no problem multitasking.

I really loved Opal as a character and Pepper slowly grew on me. They were a great couple and I was rooting for them while reading this book.
There was a good bit of steam which I appreciated.

This just wasn't my favorite Mazey book and I can't put my finger on exactly why.
As much as I wanted these characters together nothing really made me swoon.

I look forward to Mazey's next release. It is already added to my TBR

I was not able to read past the first chapter. Mazey Eddings' writing style was simply not appealing to me. The storyline and dialogue seemed clunky and forced, and a sarcastic reference to mental illness seemed honestly a bit lazy in regards to effort towards creativity and originality. I could not finish this book. Since I didn't actually read it, and it does currently have a modest average review rating of 3.7 stars, I went ahead and ranked it 2 stars instead of 1 star because perhaps the storyline and writing style would have grown on me if I was willing to spend more time reading further than the first chapter. NOTE: I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.