Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my #gifted copy of Late Bloomer!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

Mazey Eddings! You are amazing! Late Bloomer was so adorable and while I’ve absolutely loved every single book by this author, this one is my new favorite! Everything about this book was just pure perfection. The setting, the characters, the premise, the competition. All of it. Just so perfect and so well done. I cannot recommend this one enough!

After winning the lottery on a scratch off ticket, Opal decides to get away from everyone knocking on her door for a handout, and puts all of her new money into a failing flower farm in Asheville, NC. Her plan is to use the cabin on the property to start her own painting business. But upon her arrival, she’s greeted by a gorgeous, but grumpy woman she comes to find out is Pepper, who states she is the owner of the farm is refuses to move out. The two strike up a an agreement and plan to both stay on the farm together. Will Pepper and Opal be able to work out their differences and be able to live together on the farm? Or is there more at risk?

Seriously, this book is just so good! I loved the flower competition aspect and how that brings Opal and her sisters and Pepper and her friends together. I also really love how the grief aspect is intertwined into the story. I just felt like everything was so well done. And the notes on flowers at the end! Don’t skip that part!

🌺Grumpy x Sunshine
🌺Forced Proximity (Roommates)
🌺Neurodiverse Representation
🌺Sapphic Romance
🌺Lots of Spice!
🌺Grief and Healing
🌺Enemies to Lovers

Posted on Goodreads on April 9, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 16, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 16, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Late Bloomer was a very endearing sapphic read. Opal and Pepper are both facing their own challenges with both their sexuality and their neurodivergence, and the issues that come along with both. As a neurotypical person, I think the author did an excellent job explaining some nuances of autism and neurodivergence that I personally don't experience, and explained it in a way that made complete sense to me while I was reading the book.

I enjoyed the difference in personalities between Opal and Pepper; they were oil and water but fit together like puzzle pieces. Both of these women experienced so much growth within this story and it was a joy to see them grow together. This was a solid 4 star read for me and I would read other works from this author.

This was a very good read but also a bit tough for me to personally get through. I saw a lot of my self in both characters and with all my own issues that made it a bit tough to read when reading is my escape to get away from those things. the writing was wonderful and i'll definantly check out this authors other work base on the writing quality.

I adore Mazey and I adore her writing. I think this book was heavy on the chaotic and I just had a hard time with Opal and Pepper. I did enjoy it but found myself skim reading the last 25%.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest, spoiler-free review!

Representation: Queer and autistic MC who suffers from migraines, neurodivergent and bisexual MC

Okay, so I’m just going to keep this review fairly brief. But overall, I really enjoyed the book. I loved the neurodivergent representation and I think that’s really important in literature. (It’s cooler that the author is neurodivergent herself!) I thought it was pretty well done. And also, I appreciate the representation of Opal being a late/self-diagnosed neurodivergent because hey, anyone of any age can find out they’re neurodivergent.

In terms of the characters, I loved both Opal and Pepper. Opal is quite impulsive and a people-pleaser, but I can tell that she genuinely wants to do good and really cares about those she loves. Pepper is stingy at first but has a soft heart. Pepper is also grieving and I also thought that the representation was great. In terms of chemistry, I’d say that both Pepper and Opal balance each other out and make each other better.

Finally, for the plot of the book, it was your nice lovely sapphic romance. I’d say that at times, it deals with heavier themes, but overall, is a light and predictable read if you’re into that stuff.

Overall, 4.5 stars

Opal just won the lottery. So what does she do? Buys a flower farm, of course! Except Pepper is still living on the flower farm, trying to keep it going. This is opposites attract, cozy, sapphic romance.

This book just wasn't for me. The characters felt cringey and the plot moved way too slow. By halfway through, it felt like nothing happened.

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.

#romancefiction #romance #sapphicfiction #stmartinspress #stmartinsgriffin #romanticcomedy #mazeyeddings #latebloomer #macmillanaudio #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgeek #booknerd #romancereader #comingsoon #sapphicromancebooks

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.