3.5 stars
The blurb: Opal wins the lottery and immediately her best friend and ex boyfriend (who are now dating) go after her for money so she buys a flower farm in Asheville from a FB app, not even knowing if it was a phishing scheme. She then discovers that the woman’s daughter, Pepper is the one who lives there and runs the farm. Opal allows Pepper to remain and work out a payment schedule to pay her back. In the meantime, things develop between them— but they never talk about their feelings and wind up having a ridiculous fight at the end that, in true contemporary fashion, was just a prelude to the grand gesture HEA.

I wanted to love this book so much but it was a mixed bag for me. The narration was great. I also loved the neurodivergent rep and the sapphic spice level. I didn’t love the contrived drama/situations.

*Thanks to St Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance reader and audio copies.

Mazey Eddings always writes a good romance and this is the fifth book of hers that I have read. I was especially excited for this one, with the flower farm setting. The main characters were well portrayed with some great rep. Opal and Pepper are both, at the start of the novel, closed off in different ways. Opal spends too much time taking care of other, to the detriment of herself. Pepper is autistic with a few good friends but has trouble putting herself out there. Their personalities clash when they first meet, especially because Opal has unknowingly bought Pepper's flower farm. Pepper's Grandmother has recently passed and the will is missing, so Pepper's terrible mother is the one to sell the farm Opal. But, with both Pepper and Opal low on funds and nowhere to go, they decide to live together until Pepper can buy Opal out. Of course they fall in love and have a happily ever after. The story was a reasonable length, sweet, and there was not a major last quarter breakup/fight. Will be recommending to other romance readers. (Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC)

Oof. Truthfully, a DNF. This was just fine-- I need more conflict, and Opal especially felt very juvenile and too naive. I couldn't suspend my disbelief.
Also, standing in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press reviewer boycott, I will not promote this book on social media at all.

🦇 Late Bloomer Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite type of flower? ❓

🦇 Synopsis

💜 Oh. My. (Sappho.) Goddess. You may think you know Mazey Eddings' writing style, but I assure you, you do not. Many of us read The Plus One and/or Tily in Technicolor last year, but let me assure you, Eddings has far exceeded herself with this one. As a neurodiverse author, Eddings' stories often have some element of neurodiversity / mental health, shining a light on the different ways people's brains work while embracing those differences through beautiful, realistic characters. Opal and Pepper are no different, both on the spectrum yet unique in their behaviors and view of the world. These women are not predictable, pre-programmed components of a story; they are ever-blooming, learning how to plant roots alongside one another, share sunlight, and rise despite being different species. Both plants, growing and adapting to different elements, yet very much the same. While Opal and Pepper have always struggled to fit in with the world around them, they manage to cultivate a safe, healthy garden for one another.

💜 This is one of those overwhelming, layered, awe-inspiring sapphic stories that will tug at your heartstrings long after you read it. Eddings' language leaps off the page, making it a little reminiscent of One Last Stop (be still, my little sapphic heart). I've beyond annotated Late Bloomer, when I'm usually selective about choosing quotes. You don't just see love blossom between these two women; you feel it. It made me smile, laugh, get all messy and misty-eyed. As I said, neither woman is predictable. Opal feels directionless at the story's start, allowing her (fake) best friend and (on/off) ex step all over her. I expected her to be the wallflower, especially with the BITE we see from Pepper (pun unintended) in her first chapter, but the two balance each other out. When Pepper feels uncertain or anxious, Opal steps forward, bold and unwavering. When Opal begins to crumble, Pepper holds her up. They support each other, never allowing the other to wilt.

💙 Unfortunately, this book relies heavily on miscommunication. Both women are eager to hide their real feelings at the risk of scaring the other. That lack of communication continues until almost the last chapter,

🦇 Recommended for fans of One Last Stop and Imogen, Obviously. Side note: please, please read the author's note. Good goddess.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🌼 Neurodivergency/Autism Spectrum
🌸 Sapphic Romance
🌷 Grief/Healing
🌹 Forced Proximity
⚡ Spicy/First Time
🪻 Cottage Core Vibes
🪻 One Bed
⚡ Touch Her and You Die
🌹 Dual POV
🌷 Miscommunication
🌸 Flower Competition
🌻 Grumpy/Sunshine

🦇 Major thanks to the author @mazeyeddings and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #LateBloomer

💬 Quotes
❝ I’m constantly trying to define myself, to fit nicely and neatly into the boxes and spaces I attempt to occupy. All I’ve ever really wanted to do was belong. Somewhere. Anywhere. ❞
❝ Slowly, she leans toward me, and my heart pounds so violently in my chest that my head swims. Is she . . . It almost seems like she’s going to press that smile to my mouth. Teach me how it tastes. ❞
❝ I gave up perfection in any other aspect of my life long ago. It’s simply not possible with a brain like mine. But my art is different; it’s the better version of me, the one I wish people could know me by. ❞
❝ Ah. There’s the you I missed. ❞
❝ I used to stress over finding a label that fit me. Lesbian. Bisexual. Pan. Demi . . . I’ve filtered through them all many times over, none ever feeling quite right. Just say queer and move on with your life, Diksha finally told me late one night after what was probably my sixth sexual identity crisis of my early twenties. But what does that mean? I’d wailed, draining more boxed wine into my plastic cup. My brain loves order and labels and concise frameworks to understand things, and not knowing where I fit feels unbearable. It means you’re you, and only you get to decide who you like and when you like them, Tal had said from their chair in the corner. The name of your feelings isn’t anyone’s business but yours. ❞
❝ But instead, she reaches out to me— opening her hand like a flower unfurling its petals to the sun. I stare at it. The ink stains and calluses and chipped nails and bitten cuticles. For a moment, that hand looks like a second chance. ❞
❝ Fuck anything and anyone that made you have to survive instead of live. You deserve a life so peaceful it feels deliciously boring. A life filled with flowers and sunny days and people that show you all the time that you’re valued and worthy. You deserve it all.” ❞
❝ “Her poems spoke softly— as intimately as confessions between lovers—about the terrible, wonderful ache of being in love.” ❞
❝ Messy and radiant and ours. ❞

I need more people to know about the greatness that is Mazey Eddings. She never fails to knock me off my feet.

You can always tell the care and the research that goes into her characters is so thoughtful. She is a master at proper representation. Opal might be one of my favourite characters she has ever written... "Why did you buy a flower farm Opal... for the vibes" YES QUEEN. More thorough thoughts to come, but this book was a 13/10

I have mixed feelings on this one. For me, it was one of those romances with 'not enough plot.' There was a lot of sex and not a whole lot of talking between Opal and Pepper. For real, WAY TOO MANY sex scenes. They're attracted to each other, we get it. What about emotional connection? If I finish a book where the two MCs are engaged at the end, I would hope I have an understanding of how they will face any hardships or struggles that come their way. Opal ran away at one point, so you know that annoyed me. I loved watching Pepper stand up to her mom, though, and seeing Opal help Pepper through a horrendous migraine. Eddings's way of including the one bed trope was clever, too. Overall, it was a nice romance, but without the plethora of sex scenes it might have been labeled as YA due to the characters' minor developments and weak growth. I needed more substance.

Opal finds herself looking for a fresh start after winning big on a scratch ticket. After buying a house on a flower farm, sight unseen, she finds it already occupied by Pepper, the granddaughter of the previous owner. Always the people pleaser, Opal devises a plan. Pepper can stay, run the farm, and pay her over time to buy it back. And Pepper’s friend has a perfect plan of how they can make some extra money by entering a flower art contest!

Pepper is autistic, and Opal describes herself as Neurodivergent. The two don’t always see eye to eye, and don’t always understand the needs of the other. But their journey to understanding and supporting each other is wonderful. Both characters have relatable attributes that had me reflecting on my own feelings.

And on a side note: the author’s note at the end about trying to find a title for this book had me cackling!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I didn't know I needed this book, but this book knew I needed it! It's so cute and lighthearted but also full of character depth and growth. It hit every spot my hopeless romantic side needed in life right now, and I greatly enjoyed every moment of it!

I love the grumpy x sunshine vibes of this and the way that Opal and Pepper are so different yet fit together so perfectly that it seems like it was fate itself for them to meet. Then there's the neurodivergent representation and the way that they allow each other to be who they truly are no matter the circumstances. The way that they talk about neurodivergence is such a great example of how healthy relationships should be in real life and how to treat people who are different. I loved every second that I could see their neurodivergence shine and the ways that it made them even more loveable!

There was some added depth with their family backgrounds, and I loved that this added dimension to them. It made everything even more emotional, and they definitely made me love them even more for all of it.

If you're looking for a sweet sapphic story with some big feelings, get your hands on this book now!

Opal’s life is feeling a bit out of sorts. She finds herself the winner of a lottery and impulsively buys a farmhouse where she can work on her art. Imagine her surprise when she shows up at the farmhouse to find that the grumpy resident is claiming to be the owner of the estate. Pepper is the grumpy granddaughter of the owner of Thistle and Bloom, a floundering flower farm. Imagine her surprise when she finds her estranged mother has sold the farm out from under her, without the will. Opal and Pepper agree to stay on the farm together while they work out who the true owner is. Can these two opposites live cohesively or will the arguing be too much?

Mazey Eddings does such a good job at writing neurodiverse characters that are raw and real. She creates real angst and hate between characters, but they still can tunnel themselves into each other’s hearts and lives. I loved watching all the moments that Opal and Pepper get to know and understand each other and the true opposites friendship they strike up. I also love how through this friendship, and eventual relationship, these two have each other’s back so much. I love how fiercely protective they are of each other and will do anything for the other.

In this book, like her others, Mazey wrote unique characters and you can’t help but root for them. I wanted both Opal and Pepper to succeed both separately and together. From the moment I sat down to read this book I was entranced and the pages seemed to fly by. I loved the extra characters from Pepper’s friend group to Opal’s sisters. They brought the laughs and were all truly unique.

This was a great book that I truly enjoyed. I look forward to continuing to read all that Mazey writes! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Read if you like: grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, force proximity, slow burn

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is a sapphic romance and the story of Opal and Pepper.
 
Opal’s life is good, but she doesn’t really follow her dreams of being a full-time artist. But by pure luck she wins the lottery and finally chases her dreams, and I loved the little push it gave her. Opal is such a kind and loving person who gives a lot to other people even if they don’t return it and I liked how she slowly learned to leave toxic friendships behind. In addition, I loved all the scenes with her two sisters.
 
Opal ends up buying the Thistle and Bloom flower farm and to start over, but she didn’t expect another person there. Pepper’s grandma built the farm from the ground up and Pepper grew up in this amazing space. Her flower shop is struggling at the moment, and I loved seeing how they bring it back to life throughout the book. Pepper is also on the spectrum, and I really liked how that was shown throughout the story. She is a lovely person as well.
 
Opal and Pepper arrange to stay at the farm, and they slowly get to know each other. All the little moments like the morning coffee ignited little sparks and I also loved how they worked together. They support and love each other endlessly and their romance blooms more with each page and day and I absolutely loved that.
 
Overall, Late Bloomer gave me the perfect spring vibes and Opal and Pepper‘s story is such a heartfelt story and comfort read to me. I absolutely adore this book and highly recommend checking it out. 5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Late Bloomer is sapphics on a flower farm, and if that isn't enough to get you in, it's a neurodivergent romance full of mutual pining (get it, more flora jokes), attraction, and learning to work together through some truly wild circumstances that bring Pepper and Opal together (very, 'oh my god they were roommatessssssss') and to work together, not just as roommates but as something like business partners and learning to work with and around each others' quirks. It was good! It was cute, I laughed aloud a couple of times at some of the Opal-isms.

As soon as I marked this book as "read" on the requisite tracking sites I was like, "that was 400 pages??" It sort of flew by and there wasn't much extraneous sceneage, just flowing from one thing to the next including some developments I was hoping would occur but also didn't expect to occur so that was nice! Sometimes I see people on Twitter/Instagram complaining about cultural references dating a book but honestly, that's fine? Not all books are timeless and especially contemporary romances deserve those cultural references -- it helps us understand the characters more and the time period the book was set in if we read it years later, which can be a nice nostalgia warmth! It's a good thing, and Late Bloomer wasn't really very heavy handed with these references either.

Enjoyable romp, enjoyed the flower language notes in the back, thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/St Martin Griffin for the eARC in exchange for review!

‘Late Bloomer’ by Mazey Eddings
The ever spontaneous Opal suddenly comes into a large sum of money, life changing amount of money. She decides to spend her new fortune on a fresh start, buying a flower farm in Asheville, where she can spend her days working on her art. Upon arriving to her new home she discovers that someone is already living there. In comes Pepper, flower farmer who was raised on the farm and hates changes. As the two work through the challenges of living together, they decide to enter a flower sculpture contest to help Pepper afford to buy the struggling farm back from Opal.
The neurodiversity representation in this book was truly comprehensive. It felt very authentic and well done. I am sure a lot of readers will find themselves represented through this book.
I struggled with Pepper and Opal’s romantic relationship. I did not feel the spark I was hoping to see from these two passionate characters. The physical tension between them was evident, the spice was well done. But I felt like the romantic connection was lacking and could have been a bit more intense.
The growth in the character’s individually was well done. I felt their growth and it was done authentically. It was inspiring to see them work for the changes they wanted in life and from each other.

I received the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book took awhile for me to get into it, I admit it took me several months to read. The beginning really dragged and I admit because while it’s advertised as opposites-attract, I misread it as enemies to lovers, which it is not.

There was a slow burn with these characters, but it paid off. Both Opal and Pepper were very charming and their love was beautiful. I loved all of the side characters, too!

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
Contemporary sapphic romance. New adult.
Opal Devlin likes to do things for people. Even when she can’t afford it herself. Winning the lottery is a surprise bonus she never expected. She also didn’t expect friends to immediately expect a handout. Opal takes the money and buys a farm, thinking she can finally make her art into a business. But when she gets there, she finds that the farm is still actively growing flowers and Pepper didn’t know her mother had sold the property out from under her. Opal and Pepper agree to coexist on the farm while they both make decisions on their future.

Lots of life planning, some angst, a bit of loving, and quite a few flower arrangements and metaphorical flower analogies.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook when reading this story. The audiobook is narrated by Ellie Gossage. The performance is well done with distinct voices for Opal and Pepper as well as a couple of the secondary characters. Both the print version and audio also have chapter headings that tell you whose POV is being told. The different temperaments of Pepper and Opal come through clearly in the audio which helps in getting to know them both.

I enjoyed the sisterhood closeness and support of Opal’s sisters, Ophelia and Olivia. They are overjoyed at Opal’s winnings and drop everything to travel to her when she calls.
I’m glad Opal saw through her so called friend.
I also thought it was great that Opal was so supportive of the farm and the business.

Opposites attract romance with several depths of love and friendship and affection.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This book feels like how I imagine hugging Mazey Eddings would be like - Soft, warm, and delightful. The narrator did SO well that I honestly thought that there were 2 females narrating. A flower farm in North Carolina is such a fun setting, and I almost wished that we had more book to explore the flower fields and area more. There's a decent amount of steam, though I do feel like I could've done with more. Like how often do you get a natural opportunity to get it on in a flower field? Regardless, this book is full of quotes that made my heart ache and feel so wholly seen as a person. Felt like Opal wasn't the only one who won the lottery.

I loved how this book exists in the same Mazeyverse and I really hope that this gets picked up as a series because I'd love to see Olivia and Ophelia's stories as well.

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is perfect for fans of opposites attract, forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine. Everytime I pick up a book by Mazey I’m instantly happy and rooting for the characters she’s written to find all the happiness in the world that they deserve – and Opal and Pepper deserve ALL the happiness and love. Opal is living at home with her parents and struggling with what’s next in her life when luck should strike and she wins the lottery. And what does she do with those winnings, but of course by a flower farm that our dear Pepper lives on. Opal and Pepper both have struggled with “fitting in” and finding where they truly belong and that they are deserving of love and just being worthy. Seeing these two bloom (see what I did there) into their relationship and fumbling through living together and finally realizing they are enough and of just being who they are – it was just perfect (4.5 stars!).

Definitely recommend you pick this one up immediately, and I’d pretty much read anything Mazey Eddings writes at this point because she always knocks them out of the park.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Mazey Eddings and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

This is a fun sapphic romance. I really appreciated how complex and developed the two main characters are, and I adore a multiple perspective romance. I also loved the found family.

You have to suspend disbelief in the set-up to this sweet, opposites attract romance. When Opal wins the lottery, her impulsive nature leads her to spend most of her winnings on a flower farm she buys sight unseen on Facebook Marketplace. Somehow this is not a scam but the sale comes as a surprise to the farm’s caretaker and long-term resident, Pepper. Any guesses what happens when Opal shows up and becomes Pepper’s new roommate? There’s also a floral sculpture competition, some charming side characters, and an evil mother and toxic ex thrown in for good measure.

Overall, I think I ended up liking the characters, especially Pepper and her friends, a whole lot more than the story. There isn’t a whole lot of conflict or angst in the relationship itself and all external problems seemed to quickly appear before being easily resolved. So this is perfect when you just need something charming and comforting to read.

I was a little worried when I saw that the audiobook had a single narrator even though the chapters alternate between Opal and Pepper’s POVs. This was ultimately handled well by the narrator, who was able to give both characters a distinct voice, but I think this would have been better with two different actors.

I’d give the story 3.5 stars and the audiobook 4 stars.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the neurodivergent rep in this and it was nice to see characters in an adult novel navigating sex for the first time. Overall, this was a fun time and I loved the North Carolinian/ flower shop setting, but I found the romance pacing a little strange. It felt really slow and way too fast all at once so it threw me off a bit. I might be checking out more from Mazey Eddings though because I found the characters so endearing!

Hell Yes.

I got exactly what I wanted and needed. This was so lovely. You did have to dispend a little bit of belief because as much as I want to believe that this girl was just going to buy property off of facebook marketplace... with zero lawyers involved... yikes... lol. Once you get past it, the rest of it is just lovely. It had perfect amounts of neurodivergence, flower puns, and close friend group that made this the perfect read.

Seriously a great time. The audiobook was a great way to recieve the book, and I'm going to be digging into Mazey Eddings backlist for sure.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Negalley and Macmillian Audio for an early copy.