Mazey Eddings is one of the best writers out there for romance with neurodivergence and mental health at the center. Her characters and the way their brains and emotions work feel so real and relatable, threaded through the book without ever overdoing it. Opal and Pepper are a true grumpy/sunshine pairing that isn't just basic personality but the contrasting ways they're wired, coming through in both their worldviews and need for energy and optimism or safety and pessimism. Her writing is also so funny as always, from Opal's chaotic humor to Pepper's sharper jokes. The pair stumble through their messy situation of flower farm ownership into figuring out a shared future.

The only real drawback to me was that I think some parts were a bit too easy or quick, a lot of ideas introduced - for example: Opal as a recovering people pleaser with people trying to take advantage of her, Pepper and her history with her mother, even their brief friends with benefits situation - that weren't given enough time or development. Otherwise I still loved reading a new book by Mazey Eddings, whose work I jump to read every time and know I'll have a wonderful time.

I had such a good time reading this. The romance felt real, it had some good sexy scenes, and I appreciated that the characters were complex people who were also neurodivergent. I don’t know if people still make scratch and sniff stickers but I would love to be smelling all the beautiful flowers in this book as I read. If you’re looking for a sweet and sexy book that makes you feel like a warm, summer day, read this book.

Late Bloomer is a wonderful sapphic love story. This was such a unique read. I want to start by saying that Ellie Gossage narration of this book was FANTASTIC! I love the emotion and inflection she brought to Opal and Pepper (and even Trish) was just - FANTASTIC!! Everything about this pairing was wonderful. I think it's the best way to experience this novel.

This was such a unique story and I'm so happy that I read/listened to it. This story has so many things! From grief and loss, letting go of what was and stepping into what is, a precious flower farm with an amazing found family, forced proximity ( there's only one cabin), autism rep, neurodivergent rep, sexual awakening, first love, the messiness of our self-doubt to the power of seeing our strengths and talent.

Eddings wrote such beautiful characters all the way around. I loved the Thistle and Bloom crew. They were such a fun, diverse group of people and their connection and love for each other was so fun to read. Opal's family was also just lovely. Her sisters had me laughing out loud several times.

Pepper and Opal are such a great couple. I loved watching them grow on each other. I really enjoyed the dual POV in this book because there was something so special about seeing each character through the other character's eyes. Eddings did a great job highlighting that some of the things we dislike about ourselves turn out to be the things someone loves most about us.

This book was such a feel-good read. The ending was just like stepping out into the sunshine a spring day. It feels like meandering on a flower farm.

Thank you to Netgalley, McMillian Audio, & Mazy Edding for an e-arc and advanced copy of the audiobook of this wonderful story.

I wanted to like this so badly, but I could never get around to liking Opal:( She is whiney and spineless, and I can’t stand a people pleaser. I’ve loved all of Mazey’s other books, and I would’ve loved this one too if I could have related to Opal at all. 😔

And I’m learning that I reallyyyy don’t like the grumpy x sunshine trope. Mazey did it it well, but I just find it unrealistic.

Sweet romance with excellent neurodivergent representation. I really enjoyed the tropes at play here, and I loved the amount of spice included.

Obsessed. I love Mazey and I loved this book. The grumpy sunshine, the humor, the perfectly flawed characters. Chefs kiss. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early.

3.5 stars!

There were so many things that I really liked about this book, and there were also a few things that I didn't like so much. Starting with the positive, I loved the amazing representation, the grumpy x sunshine trope, and the way that the characters were each fighting their own personal battles to accompany the main romance!

This was definitely a cute and comfy read, but I think it might have been too comfy? There was some conflict that was immediately resolved with very little tension overall. I know some people might like this, but I think I may have been looking for more angst coming from the characters. I LOVE the moment when the characters haven't gotten together yet but they're literally obsessed with each other you know?

Overall not a bad read! a very cute and comfy palate cleanser book

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

dnf. i already knew from the first chapter that i would not like this book. i hate when female main characters are pushovers

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and ebook! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, LGBTQ representation, opposites attract, forced proximity, neurodivergent representation, steamy

I received the audiobook and the ebook. I went between them. The audiobook was perfectly narrated. Pepper and Opal are lovable and well-developed characters. I love Opal's sisters, too. "Hot chocolate colored hair" made me laugh. I'm not sure it was supposed to. This is a very fluffy, sweet read. I recommend this!

Ahhh this was so cute!!!
I absolutely love Opal and Pepper.

Opal wins the lottery and is ready for a new start She gave up her dreams and now with all this money and single it is finally her time to make it happen. She fine a flower farm for sale and thinks it will be perfect inspiration.

Pepper is going through a hard time. Her mom is trash and her grandmother who raised her recently passed away and she is left to care for a struggling flower farm. She is also autistic and not great with feelings.


Opal shows up and finds that Pepper is there and it is a surprise to both of them. After some time they eventually grow on each other and have to tackle a huge project together.

If you are looking for a super cute, fun and spicy book this one is for you!(:

Loved this book! Mazey never misses. This was a fast read that still managed to give the FMCs depth. Loved the neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ rep, and the colorful setting.

First off, this book has a stunning cover and stunning autistic/neurodivergent representation, it's light-hearted and hopeful, and will definitely make you want to go buy yourself a bouquet of flowers.
When Opal wins a considerable amount of money off of a lottery scratcher, she quits her minimum wage job with plans to go be a full time artist... only problem is she literally buys a property off of Facebook Marketplace completely sight unseen?? No. No one does that. Not even a 25 year old who just came into a couple hundred thousand dollars. When we meet Pepper and realize the flower farm was sold because Grandma Lou died and no one could find the will, Opal tries her best to smooth over the situation in all the ways her people pleasing mind allows. 
This read is really low on angst and conflict but high in lack of communication. With dual POV, the reader is getting all of the second-guessing/self-sabotaging that both of our FMCs are doing. Sometimes I find lack of communication worse than miscommunication... The conflicts with Trish and then Miles/Laney both felt so forced and weird but just there to give both women a moment to stand up for the other instead of having the conversations about how they feel.
If you're looking for a quick, summer love, this one should be at the top of your list! 
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What a sweet and fun concept for a romance book! Buying a flower farm not knowing someone else was currently living on it. Then falling for that prickly person you are forced to live with!

Read this for:
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Just a hookup
- Neurodivergent rep
- Only one bed situation
- Roommates
- Workplace

What would you do if you won the lottery? But a flower farm site unseen of course! That is what Opal does and finds out that things were not as legitimate as she thought buying off Facebook Marketplace.

Pepper is trying to get through the loss of the one person she could count on, her Grandmother. Then her life is upended when some pink haired sunshine artist shows up at her door saying she bought the place.

The two become forced roommates and slowly start to uncover the real raw bits about one another. As they get to know one another, they think a just bang it out relationship will help them. Of course the hooking up turns more serious and each one is consistently denying their feelings.

I enjoyed the wild and fun hilarious moments these two had and the friend group that surrounded them. Mazey painted a beautiful picture of the scenery and the farm, and the moments Pepper had remembering her Grandmother were so sweet.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

SMPRomance eARC
What I've come to love about Eddings' books is how I know I'll get an adorable romance with plenty of depth and neurodivergent characters. This was one was so much fun and a book all about self-discovery and starting over. Opal bought a flower farm after winning the lottery, but Pepper was living there. It was so much fun to see how these two would figure out their situation while both trying to get what they want. This is a dual POV which made the story so fun, and I highly recommend the audio. While there was only one narrator, the voices were incredible and it was always so easy keeping the two characters straight. Such a great sapphic romance, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

The cover is absolutely beautiful and it was just begging me to read this book. This was my first sapphic romance and it was so fun to read! I loved the vulnerability the MC’s showed and how they talked through their insecurities with each other.

As a people pleasure, Opal’s struggles with letting people walk all over her was so relatable. Seeing her work through that and be able to stand up for herself in the end was so rewarding. I will say that she irked me in the beginning with her decisions but I think she made up for it in the end. Pepper’s story with grief hit home. I really enjoyed her POV and she felt more real to me. I loved the appearance of Opal’s sisters but wished there was more constant communication throughout the book. It seemed like they popped out of nowhere during the competition. Laney and Miles were written a little too good, I was fuming every time I saw them on the pages.

For me, the downfall of this book was how unbelievable Opals decisions were at the beginning of the book. I found it very silly that she would just meet up with a stranger and write her a check for a place she has never seen.

I adored Mazey’s notes at the end about naming this book and the symbolic meaning of the flowers mentioned in the book.

My favorite quotes from this book:

“I hate that hate. I have endless grace for everyone in the world, but none for myself. Why am I not allowed to make mistakes? Why does my compassion stretch to strangers but stop at my own front door?”

"I love you in the most basic and complicated and overwhelming and simple and Meritable way possible."

Thanks Netgalley for sending me this gem a little early!

I am so sorry I could not get past the idea of buying a farm like this as a person with agricultural experience.

The writing overall was decent but that one detail was something I couldn’t get past.

Opal could be the posterchild for a wallflower - at least at the beginning. She has a dictatorial boyfriend and a minimum wage job despite having an arts degree. She wins the lottery and decides to live her life by buying a flower farm. Several roadblocks turn up not the least of which is people who now want to be friends due to her winnings. The flower farm has its own issues including the resident farmer. The story then revolves around the relationship of Opal with the resident farmer.

I swear every single book Mazey writes is my new favorite and honestly, this one brought my heart so much joy.

Lets start with how gorgeous the cover is, then quickly jump into talking about the title and how Mazey included a whole afterwords about how it was originally going to be titled Lavender Haze and then one Miss Taylor Alison Swift screwed any and all SEO for anything titled that (but honestly SUCH A PERFECT TITLE FOR A SAPPHIC ROMANCE) and how this book went through many chaotic renamings until we ended up with perfection that is Late Bloomer…that journey is much like the beautifully chaotic love story that is Late Bloomer.

Opal, one of our leading ladies, is neurodivergent in that she has ADHD and anxiety and impulses that are hard to control. She wins the lottery and after a lot of people pleasing she decided to just BUY A FLOWER FARM OKAY?! What she doesn’t know is that the flower farm is the one place our other leading lady, Pepper, has ever felt at home. She is autistic and this farm is her purpose and her only remaining tie to her late grandma figure. So naturally when Pepper finds out that Opal now owns her home, farm, and honestly everything, she is simply baffled.

Even more baffling is why she would be drawn to someone who is her polar opposite and has accidentally wrecked her life. But attracted is kind of an understatement. Watching these two women fall into a messy yet beautiful sort of love while learning to let someone in and to communicate those BUG FEELINGS was equal parts beautiful and omg-I-just-need-to-wrap-y’all-in-bubble-wrap-and-force-y’all-to-stop-being-dense.

Set in the beautiful mountains surrounding Asheville, NC with glorious flowers oozing off every page, Mazey put so much heart and thought into every aspect of this story. The meanings of the flowers during different moments are so poignant, that truly this book is a work of love and art.

I am bereft. This book is over, and I have no clue what Mazey Edding's next release is going to be. Opal is a whirlwind firecracker. She's loud and impulsive and hilarious and relatable. When her impulsiveness leads her to buy a struggling flower farm she brings her brand of chaos to Pepper's front door. Pepper is struggling to keep things going after the death of her grandmother. She's quiet and preferers to keep to herself and her flowers. The last thing she wants or needs is a human tornado in her home. Let the grumpy/sunshine battle ensue.

I adored these two, both feeling lost and doing the best they can to hold on. Pepper made my heart ache, she's full of grief and trying to cope the only way she knows how.. Her dry sense of humor was the best. Opal is trying to follow her dreams and pursue art and find her place in the world but feeling aimless. The painting, cue the tears. I loved watching them fight their feelings and each other and eventually give in. It's spicy and sweet and will leave you with a warm happy feeling.

This book was a super sweet and spicy sapphic romance. Both Pepper and Opal were really interestingly crafted characters. The strength of this book lies in all the different types of representation it includes from neurodivergence to migraines. It was really neat to see the author include both a character diagnosed with Autism and someone who finds that neurodivergent fits better as a label where ADHD and/or Autism symptoms are present. I loved that the author didn't just stick to one type of neurodivergence because that can be a very broad group. Opal's people pleasing was painfully relatable and Pepper's trust issues were heartbreaking and I so wanted a happy ending for her. As much as I loved all that the author included in the book I found that I wasn't as convinced by the actual romance as I wanted to be. The attraction I definitely believed and the smut was top tier (clearly I need to be reading more sapphic books!!) However the romance wasn't as successful with me because I found certain aspects of the characters a bit frustrating. Opal was too naïve and Pepper came across as mean when she kept taking out her frustration at the situation out on Opal. Despite some frustration with the characters at times I found the book to be both very soft and sexy in perfect balance and I definitely recommend it to those who are looking for ADHD or Autism rep.