First of all, let us appreciate what an illustrated cover can be. Amongst all the faceless, joyless blobs, we occasionally get something beautiful like this.

So Opal wins the lottery. Enough money to change her life, but not enough to support her the rest of her days. Only enough, in fact, to buy a flower farm. From Facebook Marketplace. And when she arrives at her new flower farm (where she will establish her shoe painting business) she finds Pepper already living there and trying desperately to make her late-grandmother's farm a success. Pepper is not happy that Opal whirlwinds in with a pile of shoes and a dream. Opal is shocked to find that this place is not only her dream but Pepper's. An uneasy truce is called. An uneasy desire is experienced. An uneasy bargain is struck to work together to win a flower sculpture competition so that Pepper can buy back the farm.

There's a lot of ridiculousness in the shape of the plot, but I loved that. Both characters are neurodiverse - Pepper is autistic and Opal has ADHD and a tendency (in the past) to self medicate with drugs and alcohol. Both are trying to put their lives in order and fear the other has thrown it into disarray. There's some quasi forced proximity (as they end up living together) and some rivals to lovers going on.

This was a very nice read, with a moderately silly Hallmark plot. Three and a half stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Mazey Eddings novel truly is ‘sugar and spice and everything nice!’

I thoroughly enjoyed this sapphic romance that was filled with joy, vivid descriptions, witty banter, angst, insecurities, acceptance, artistry, friendships, sibling love, healing, flowers, spicy romance, and neurodivergent representation.

I loved that the characters didn’t try to change each other but worked to sort out their own and each other’s feelings (although they do avoid each other when embarrassed or unsure). I thought Opal and Pepper complimented each other really well, despite being opposites. This made for an entertaining read that had me laughing out loud at times. Opal’s sisters and Pepper’s friends are incredibly supportive, kind, and very entertaining adding an extra layer of depth.

I also thought that grief of a loved one was handled gently with a lot of heart and acceptance. And when you finish this book, if you want to talk about Pepper’s mother, I have a lot of thoughts, and I’m sure you will too.

I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading and really enjoyed both formats. The audiobook narrator was able to give the characters distinct voices, which really helped bring both Opal and Pepper to life. Though if I were reading this with others around I’d definitely use headphones or the ebook during the spice because those scenes are spicy!

<If you like a more chaste romance book, this might not be the tale for you>.

Thank you to NetGalley Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the advance ebook and audio books of this fantastic title. Mazey Eddings I loved “Late Bloomer!”

Available for preorder now and on shelves next Tuesday, April 16.

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Goodness. This book was truly wonderful. I adored Opal and Pepper and seeing them work through their problems both alone and with each other was such a joy. This is one of my favorite reads of 2024, and it caught me right at the moment I needed it. Eddings is dealing with big themes, but in her way, she is doing so gently and lovingly. Her love for her characters comes through every page, and this was really just a wonderfully gentle hug of a book. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Griffin Press and Mazey Eddings for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is a sweet, relatively easy read and I enjoyed it. I appreciate the neurodivergent rep because that isn’t very common in F/F romances. I also appreciate the non-diagnosed neurodivergent rep. The spicy scenes were excellent! I found the pacing seemed a little off in some places. There were a few places where the plot dragged a little bit for me and other places where there were time jumps that seemed to be a couple weeks long between chapters. Overall, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet and spicy sapphic romance.

“Perhaps it was at age 10 when I saw The Mummy (1999) for the first time at a sleepover and had felt… felt a lot for both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.”

This book had me on the first page. There were too many utterly relatable quotes and moments in this book for this to not be a 5 star for me. Winning the lottery, buying a flower farm, and having a hallmark love moment is the dream.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC, my review is as always honest and all mine.

When Opal, an artist, wins the lottery she purchases a flower farm sight unseen. Opal arrives at the farm to find that it’s not unoccupied. Pepper, the granddaughter of the flower farm owner, is surprised to find that her mom sold the farm without her knowledge. The cheerful Opal and grumpy Pepper live together on the farm. Opal wants to help Pepper earn money to buy back the farm and together they enter a flower competition.

Flowers, love and personal growth bloom in this book. I love the tropes - forced proximity and opposites attract. I was expecting the story to be a little more about saving the farm and their romance. Instead it was a lot about the characters self reflecting.

The characters are quirky and very likable. I thought them starting out as no strings attached as a little odd because they clearly had an undeniable romantic connection. Their sexual attraction and the spice was top notch. This book was a nice, easy romance read.

At the end of the book the author gives an explanation of the flowers and it was really interesting. I also enjoyed her commentary on the book title controversy.

I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of Mazey Eddings, sapphic romances and opposites attract love stories.

Mazey Eddings can do exactly no wrong, and this is evidence of such. I have seen criticism that the characters skew too young in this title, and I would argue that it makes the experience more real. Our FMCs have had experiences with substance abuse, and are sexual-I think these are both areas that are so very real and raw, and a lot of writers are afraid to go there. Mazey handles these topics with grace and still allowing the experiences to shine.

A sapphic opposites-attract romance!

Opal wins the lottery and is immediately asked for money from numerous people. As she gives her money away, she decides to protect herself by buying a flower farm. However, when she meets the gorgeous Pepper, things take a turn.

There is a lot of adult content in this one. It was almost too much because it didn't leave a lot of room for emotional connections. I definitely enjoyed this and would say to give it a go!

Out April 16th, 3024

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

*I received an advanced copy for review.*

Late Bloomer is the cottagecore, sapphic flower girl book of my dreams.

Opal is a chaotic disaster; she's a people pleaser, letting her "friends" walk all over her. Until she wins the lottery and buys a flower farm.

Pepper lives on the flower farm, and it should've gone to her when her grandmother dies. In the midst of her grief, a pink-haired stranger appears, upending her world. The flower farm is in danger of going under, and if artist Opal's ideas can help them win a floral competition, she can buy the farm back and get back to her new solitary existence.

Except.

Except they find themselves falling for each other despite their differences and difficulties.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

A chaotic neurodivergent optimistic artist and an autistic pessimistic flower farmer find love in this sapphic rom com with a flower competition, garden puns , emotion, delicious steam and a happy ending. I loved both Opal and Pepper and their supporting cast, especially Opals sisters they were fantastic. I appreciated the way Mental Health and grief was handled. While slightly cheesy at times , I very much enjoyed this one .

Late Bloomers is about Opal and Pepper finding love on a little flower farm. After Opal wins the lottery and sick of being taken advantage of by her friends, she searches Facebook marketplace and finds a flower farm that would be prefect for her to focus on her art at. When arriving to the flower farm the previous owners grand-daughter is there, Pepper, and refuses to move out. Both Opal and Pepper will learn how to live together. An agreement was made early on in their journey to only have "fun" with each other without feelings getting involved. Like every good love story feelings are bought into the mix and can complicate things. This Sapphic love story had me kicking my feet and squealing. I very much enjoyed my time and would recommend you read this for fun spring read!

4.5 stars

Every once in a while, something in my brain gets a bit resistant to starting a new rom-com novel (something about not being prepared for all the emotional ups and downs, probably), but then I begin a book like this one, and I wonder why I ever read anything else. I’ve quite enjoyed all my books from this writer. She has an impressive ability to pull me into her stories right away, she crafts interesting and relatable characters, and she includes intentional and meaningful representation of diverse identities. Plus, this one was set on a flower farm- I love it. As with other books I’ve read from the writer, this story contains a mix of sweet romance, spicy interludes, funny moments, angsty scenes, heavy topics handled with care, and a happy ending. Plus, the cover is beautiful, and I’m a fan of the title she eventually settled on. Love it all!

I absolutely adored the bond between Opal & Pepper. From their awkward banter to their willingness to fight for each other; they are perfectly matched. I'm in love with this queer flower farm and adore the neurodivergent goofy gals who run it!
Late Bloomer is a sweet, steamy & charming. 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley & St. Matrin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Late Bloomer was a cute and fun read. Opal is kind of a spineless mess before she wins some money in the lottery and decides to buy a farm on Facebook Marketplace as a way to start over. She arrives and discovers the granddaughter (Pepper) of the late owner is still living there. Enter, forced proximity trope for the win.

Sparks flew between Opal and Pepper immediately, even though there was some dislike on Pepper’s side. Both characters are a bit neurodivergent, and I love the representation and how it was handled in Late Bloomer.

Their relationship moves a little fast once the sexy times kick in, but dang did I enjoy the spicy scenes. So well written and fit the story so well. My favorite part, though, was the side characters. Opal’s sisters were so supportive and encouraging, and Pepper’s best friends were definitely ride or die.

Overall, Late Bloomer was an adorable read that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the review copy.

Late Bloomer was a sweet romance. It included different forms of representation and I felt like each was well done. I love gardens and florals and this book takes place on a flower farm! I haven’t read many books that include florist but I loved it. This one also got bonus points from me because it took place in one of my favorite places. Asheville, North Carolina! 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Late bloomer
3.5
First of all, I have to say I love the cover. It’s so soft and pretty. It was what made me want to pick up this book. When I realized it featured a flower farm, I was fully in.

I wish there was more chemistry between them. I never really felt a connection. They didn’t have any major bonding moments or conversations before they hooked up for the first time.

I did like how they were accepting of each other and didn’t try to change the other.

Sapphic
Opposites attract
Forced proximity
Flower farm
Dual POV
Neurodiverse representation
Grumpy/sunshine

This premise for this book immediately grabbed my attention. I think it’s a fresh, new way to look at romance. The cover art is also gorgeous and eye-catching. If someone were to judge a book by this cover, they would pick it up!

While I love Mazey Eddings and have read every thing she has ever published, I had to DNF this book at 40%. I just could not connect with these characters and was not engaged in the storyline. I felt like Opal was too bubbly and kind all the time. Pepper was cold and stubborn. Their communication styles were so totally different that I couldn’t see how they’d work out. I also was bored of the same landscape of the flower farm up to that point? I wish there were more visual cues to let me know what I was actually looking at? I am sad that I am unable to finish the book at this time but hope to revisit it in the future. I lover Mazey and have already preordered this book and hope in the future I will be more receptive to this storyline,

FIRST, Mazey Eddings is an incredible, lovely human being.

"Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings is a poignant and relatable contemporary novel that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and finding one's place in the world. Set in a small town in the Midwest, this coming-of-age story follows the journey of protagonist June as she navigates the challenges of adolescence and the discovery of her own sexuality.

The novel opens with June, a high school senior, grappling with the realization that she might be gay. As she begins to explore her feelings and desires, she is confronted with the fear of rejection from her conservative family and the close-knit community she has always known. Eddings captures June's internal struggles with sensitivity and empathy, portraying her inner turmoil with authenticity and nuance.

One of the strengths of "Late Bloomer" lies in its portrayal of family dynamics and the impact of societal expectations on individual identity. June's strained relationship with her parents, particularly her overbearing mother, adds depth to the narrative and highlights the tension between familial obligations and personal autonomy. Eddings skillfully explores the complexities of love and acceptance within the family unit, offering a nuanced depiction of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in conservative environments.

The supporting cast of characters adds richness to the story, with June's friends and classmates providing both support and conflict as she navigates her journey of self-discovery. The romantic subplot between June and her classmate Sarah is tenderly depicted, capturing the uncertainty and excitement of first love with sensitivity and authenticity.

While "Late Bloomer" tackles important themes with grace and sensitivity, there are moments where the pacing feels uneven, and certain plot points are resolved too neatly. Additionally, some readers may find the ending somewhat predictable, with loose ends tied up a bit too neatly for the sake of closure.

Overall, "Late Bloomer" is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that tackles themes of identity, acceptance, and self-discovery with honesty and compassion. Mazey Eddings has crafted a compelling coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds, offering a timely exploration of the complexities of adolescence and the journey toward self-acceptance. While it may not break new ground in the genre, "Late Bloomer" is a touching and memorable read that leaves a lasting impression.

Not going to lie, this cover called to me and it is gorgeous.

This one was definitely more of a slow burn, grumpy sunshine, small town, saphic romance. I did love the autistic and other non-neurotypical representation, and it definitely had some spice. Also loved the Asheville setting.

Opal is down on her luck when she wins the lottery. She buys a flower farm on Facebook Marketplace (much to her family's dismay and horror) and moves there to create her shoe art. She meets Pepper, who was under the impression this farm was left to her in her Grandma's will. They butt heads, they are opposites, but oh do they attract.

There was a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding, which is not my favorite.

I will say I definitely learned a thing or two.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio for an ALC, and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.