Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is a stunning novel. It has everything. Flowers and sapphics and a tense relationship that develops into more.
You can tell the effort that Mazey puts into her research and that makes the book so much better. Truly she did work and I am so happy about it.
This story reminds me of One Last Stop, minus the paranormal/sci-fi elements. It has women who love women, tropes of found family and strained relationships with parental figures. It’s just good.

Sapphic. Enemies to lovers. Neurodiverse characters. Bi rep.

Then you put it in a FLOWER FARM? Sold.

Opal and Pepper had me rooting (pun not intended) for them right out of the gate. While we had a liiiiittle miscommunication plot (not my favorite), they were quick to resolve and discuss.

Also, a sucker for the fact that they made rules primarily to break them.

Over all an above average rom com- had a few moments that took me out of the book, though. The representation of neurodivergence in this book made it really stand out (and I mean the spice level was ideal so BONUS).

This was a cute sapphic romcom filled with emotion and flowers. I loved the relationship between Opal and Pepper. From a terrible first meeting, to just getting it out of their system, to falling in love, these two are meant for each other. There’s just something about being with the right person, the one who gets you and understands you and has seen you at your worst and is still there for your best. What makes this relationship work though is that both Opal and Pepper grow so much and so well during this book. And some of that is due to their new circumstances living with each other and the relationship and trust they have with the other.

Overall, this is a great and emotional sapphic romcom that I recommend!

Read if you like…
•wlw
•opposites attract
•forced proximity
•mental health rep
•🌶️

Another soft, steamy, and angsty romance with incredible mental health and neurodivergent rep from Mazey Eddings. Pepper and Opal perfectly completed each other. I loved watching them come into their own in so many ways.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the earc.

This is my second sapphic book and I was intrigued with the premise of flower farm meet lottery winner. What I got was a neurodivergent girls who can't talk to each other, which I guess is fitting? Overall I really liked this story, there was a lot of the miscommunication trope partnered with maybe a bit of being a little too immature on both fronts.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship, the angst included, and the build up to the big contest. The narcistic mom was a touch that added more drama to the story, and made more sense why Pepper was as she was. This was a combination or finding your true self, and learning how to stick up for yourself.

I’ve really loved the other books I’ve read by Mazey Eddings, but sadly this one wasn’t great. I hated the beginning. Opal was the biggest pushover of all time, all while telling the reader in first person present that she knows she’s the biggest pushover of all time. I think it was supposed to be funny?? Instead I was either rolling my eyes hard or wanting to yell at her.

I only kept reading because I’ve liked Mazey Eddings in the past. There were some good scenes in there that made me feel like it would get better and they would work as a couple…but I never felt invested in the characters and they never figured out how to communicate. In the end I didn’t believe their HEA. I think this was the first romance epilogue that I didn’t bother to read.

I enjoyed the middle enough to keep going, so I’ll give 3 stars. I generally don’t give below 3 stars unless I’m truly angry at the book or think it’s problematic.

This was a sweet two-sit read for me! Chaotic sapphics on a flower farm is great energy, and I really appreciated the connection between the two main characters and how their individual weirdness (and issues) fit together. I've got some quibbles with the format - two first-person POVs is just tough to pull off - and miscommunication is my least favorite plot device, but on a whole this is a very devourable read.

Bonus points for: hilarious expletives, weird body-part cakes, neurodivergent rep, and the *chef's kiss* list of alternate titles at the end that had me absolutely dying when I finished the book.

Thanks to netgallery and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Opal and Pepper never expected one another- and they fight their feelings for a bit- in this delightful (albeit trope-y) romance between two interesting women, It's fun and funny. You'll root for these two as they work their way to happiness. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I really wanted this to work because I’ve loved Mazey Eddings’ other books, but Opal was not the FMC for me. I did like Pepper, but I felt like the focus of the book was more on Opal. The writing was still great, and Mazey still kills it with neurodivergent rep. If you can suspend your disbelief enough to get over Opal buying a flower farm, sight unseen, off Facebook Marketplace at the age of 24 for ~the aesthetic~, then you’ll have a better shot at this book being a success for you than I did.

Opal Devlin ends up winning the lottery when her friend gifts her the ticket as a belated birthday present. Once people find out that she’s won money, Opal is contacted by more than one person calling to insert themselves into her life. She decides she needs a fresh start and purchases a flower farm in North Carolina where she plans on painting nature for a living.

What Opal doesn’t expect when she arrives at her new farm is to already find it occupied. Pepper Boden lived there for years with her grandmother and on her own after her grandmother’s recent passing. Opal has the deed to the house and land, but Pepper assures her that the farm was meant to be hers albeit she hasn’t found her grandmother’s will. They agree to share the living space until they get it sorted out, not knowing if the space is big enough for the two of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #LateBloomer

“Late Bloomer” by Mazey Eddings is a heartwarming story about newfound purpose and unexpected love. Opal’s journey from lottery winner to flower farm owner is filled with humor, chaos and heart, especially when she begins to fall for Pepper. Their unlikely partnership and eventual romance make for entertaining and heartwarming reading.

However, what sets Eddings apart is her portrayal of Pepper as more than just a character defined by her autism. While Pepper’s struggles with a large break in her routine and letting new people into her life are integral to the plot, Eddings focusing more on her estranged mother and how the flower farm is the only place she’s been able to call home goes beyond stereotypes to create a fully fleshed-out character with depth and complexity.

While some plot points may feel rushed towards the end, “Late Bloomer” ultimately delivers a satisfying and uplifting read that will leave readers rooting for Opal and Pepper long after they’ve turned the final page. If you’re looking for a fast paced read to welcome the beginning of Spring, this April 16th release is for you!

PS. If you have the ARC, read the author’s notes so you know why I picked this song for the post! I’ll admit I’m usually one to ignore these, but Edding’s notes were an excellent companion to the story!

Thank you for the digital ARC! Late Bloomer is a sweet love story filled with some of my favorite tropes - found family, enemies to friends to lovers, growing into yourself. I enjoyed reading Opal and Pepper's story and found that I related to both of them quite a bit. The characters feel like real people. The story really pulls you in and makes you want to know what will happen next. If you're looking for an easy, romantic read, this is the perfect book for you!

Posted on Goodreads (E.R. Neufeld)

This book had my emotions all over the place! Opal and Pepper were such beautifully written characters whose journeys to loving themselves (and each other) were done with such care. I loved the dual POVs, especially seeing how differently Opal and Pepper saw each other vs how they saw themselves. The romance was honestly top notch and I loved their talks of insecurities and also wants/needs, especially during the steamy scenes. I did think that the story dragged the slightest bit in the middle, but I still wanted to keep reading and see these two thrive. Also, the humor in this book was excellent. I cackled many times. For the flower girlies, there’s an index in the back that lists all the flowers mentioned in the book plus what they mean, which I thought was really cool! Overall, such a sweet romance with two amazing characters!
CW: mentions of death of a grandparent, body shaming, emotional abuse, grief, child abandonment, panic attacks, gaslighting, alcoholism, toxic friendships

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute story and I loved that it really showed the battle that neurodivergent people can go through just trying to get their point across or trying to feel. I loved how once they were able to speak up for themselves they spoke up for each other as well. Also loved the connection that the Grandma had with Pepper that made this even more special.

Unfortunately did not hit the mark! It was mostly the internal narration….. “I hate that I’m attracted to guys, I would ask any girl to sit on my face though” is my biggest pet peeve for bi characters!!!!!

So genuinely sweet and funny--so many lessons to be gleaned. It was unexpected in the best ways. Mazey's writing style and humor was a breath of fresh air.

Mazey's signature humor shines through once again in this latest work. Opal and Pepper's names might sound like they belong to cats, but their story takes a unique turn. Opal, self-diagnosed as neurodivergent, impulsively buys a flower farm after winning the lottery. In contrast, Pepper, who works on the farm, is torn when she realizes it's been sold to Opal. Despite legal ownership issues, Opal suggests they become roommates, leading to unexpected developments. Pepper grapples with grief, while Opal navigates her uncertainties. Their evolving relationship is heartwarming, though I found it hard to connect with the plot, given the unusual circumstances fully. Nevertheless, the story offers Mazey's trademark blend of humor and good mental health representation, with hints at future tales involving Opal's sisters.

Late Bloomer is my favorite book from Mazey Eddings yet! When Opal wins the lottery, she finally has the opportunity to do what she wants for herself. As a people pleaser, Opal often finds herself helping people whether she wants to or not. When she decides to buy a flower farm, she is shocked to find the farm is already inhabited. Pepper is a bit of a grump, though Opal soon learns she has very good reasons to be. When it appears that they’ve both been scammed, Opal and Pepper must work together to save the flower farm. Surely any feelings they catch along the way are only temporary…?

Late Bloomer is such a delightful sapphic romance. There’s forced proximity, shenanigans, and a sunshine/grump dynamic. Opal and Pepper have a lot to learn from each other and I enjoyed watching them gradually open up. Pepper is dealing with a lot of grief from the passing of her grandmother, one of the only loving and stable adults in her life. The way Mazey Eddings writes about grief is heartfelt and realistic. There is also excellent anxiety, autistic, and ADHD rep. This all seemed very thoughtfully done. The ensemble cast of characters created a warm and loving found family for Pepper and Opal. Opal’s sisters were also great and I enjoyed how they refused to let Opal get back with her terrible ex!

Late Bloomer is a cozy romance, perfect for Stardew Valley lovers who romanced Emily or Leah (or anyone who imagines what it would be like to live on a flower farm!). I would highly recommend Late Bloomer to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance, forced proximity, and a sunshine/grump dynamic. Can’t wait to see what Mazey Eddings writes next!

Thank you to Mazey Eddings, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Storygraph, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

This was one of my first sapphic romances! It was a bit of a fluffy read for me and sometimes that is just exactly what I need. This was low-angst and cozy and perfect for me for a reading slump.

Opal is looking to essentially start over. She buys a flower farm but lo and behold, she has a tenant she didn’t expect - Pepper. When Pepper refuses to leave, they come to a mutual agreement that Pepper can stay. Over the next year, they fall in love in this slow burn contemporary sapphic romance!

I love the neurodivergent representation. I loved the forced proximity between Pepper and Opal. I’m usually one for way more angst and less misunderstanding tropes but this one worked for me!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the review copies.

I love Mazey so much, and I will read anything she writes. There were things I loved about Late Bloomer - the descriptive flower settings, Opal’s chaotic inner monologue, Pepper’s orderly approach to life and her friend group. There were definitely parts of each character that I found myself relating to throughout the book, and the ADHD & Autism representation felt authentic and realistic. However, I had a hard time connecting to the story itself and was not very invested in what was happening throughout the book. If you are looking for a soft, sapphic romance based on a flower farm that is mostly just vibes, then I think you will love Late Bloomer.