Thank you to the publisher for the eArc.

I had such a good time with this book and I’m so glad because I was highly anticipating it and THAT COVER 😍.

This book was super cute and a little cheesy in the best way! Both Opal and Pepper had distinct voices which I appreciated and can sometimes run into trouble with in multi-pov books. The writing was a lot of fun and bursting with personality, adding to the humour running throughout.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a really fun and cute sapphic romance with the perfect vibe for spring!

2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romance that finds a lottery winner uses her windfall to buy flower farm and get a fresh start only to realize the sale's not on the up-and-up and the rightful owner's not moving out.

1/5 stars: Eddings' 2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romance is a great opposites-attract romance that features a people pleasing artist who wins the lottery and an autistic owner of a failing flower farm who wind up having to live and work together when circumstances thrust the two together. Eddings tackles some heavy topics, so take care and check the CWs. Eddings' writing and character work are nicely done. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 17%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

3.5 Rounding Up

This was definitely cute and sweet! Opal and Pepper are more alike than they originally thought and seeing their relationship develop as they worked through their own issues was great!

I was not connecting with the beginning before Opal makes it to the farm and was worrying this really wasn’t going to be for me. But eventually I did connect and ended up having a lovely time. This did feel very low-stakes though, and even the competition didn’t feel like it gave us an issue or problem to solve.

I loved this cute, adorable sapphic romance. Opal and Pepper were SO cute and their story unfolded in the most precious way.

I have chosen to withhold my review of Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings in accordance with the marketing boycott of reviewing and platforming titles published under St. Martin’s Press and associated imprints. As a company, St. Martin’s Press has yet to meaningfully acknowledge and address the harm caused by a marketing employee who perpetuated Islamophobic sentiments against those of Palestinian descent specifically, and has a documented history of discriminating against readers of Arab heritage in general. As a reader, I refuse to participate, even passively, in perpetuating harm against my fellow readers in an activity all should be able to enjoy.

Once action is taken by St. Martin’s Press as a company to address the harm caused and how they will be dedicated to a decisive plan of action to address needs for diversity, equity and inclusion, I will upload my review of Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC!
This book was very sweet and cheesy at times, like all romances are. I love the sapphic, neurodivergent relationship between Opal and Pepper. It’s all of the opposites attract/found family/forced proximity/grumpy x sunshine tropes wrapped into one lil story and I loved it.

While I have ADORED every other Mazey Eddings book, this one did not hit the mark for me as I hoped.

When Opal wins the lottery, she decides to buy a flower farm and become an artist. Everything seems wistful but for the flower farm's "actual" owner: Pepper. Pepper has helped her grandma on the farm since she was young. She promises to buy the farm from Opal as soon as possible. Yet, Opal isn't what Pepper expected as she agrees to help her in a flower contest with recognition and money that will lead to buying Pepper out. Opal is just happy to help out, no matter that she has heart eyes for Pepper. Everything is whimsical on the farm, especially when the two cross friendship lines. But will it be enough when everything comes crashing down right in front of them?

While I loved the whimsical flower farm and laughed at Opal's hijinks (who hasn't wanted to dye their hair at least once), I found I had no emotional connection with either main character. I loved the autism representation and could definitely relate to needing those important items right in front of me so they stay at the top of my mind. I just wasn't convinced that Pepper and Opal's relationship would last. While this wasn't for me, many may love and I recommend those who enjoy romances pick this one up! It's got a fun nod to Lizzie Blake!

Late Bloomer is the book my heart has been yearning for…achingly tender, heart wrenchingly relatable—this was BEAUTIFUL. It had me crying almost immediately and barely a moment of dry eyes all the way through. Both the queer rep and the neurodivergent rep were so, so good. Books like this, where I feel so seen and a little less alone in my experience of the world, are…everything. They’re everything. I need more stories from this author and will absolutely be picking up her previous books and keeping an eye out for new ones!

Once started I could not put this down! I instantly fell in love with both Opal and Pepper, and found parts of them to be fully relatable. Also, the spicy scenes were the perfect amount of spice and I couldn't really ask for anything else!

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!