mazey is for sure one of my fav romcoms writers and this book was so lovely. seeing mazey opens herself to queer characters was exactly what I needed to fall even more in love with her talent and work. this book was such a breathe of fresh air and I loved being immersed in it!

At this point I feel confident that Mazey Eddings writing just isnt for me because I should have LOVED this and instead I DNF'd at 50%
No chemistry, the humor was just not funny to me, and these characters were so frustrating.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet romance, albeit quite wildly unrealistic. Also not sure how these two awkward individuals turned into sex gods the minute they fell into bed together. But, hey, what's a little unreality in romance?

I liked this book but I didn't love it. Someone buying property in cash sight unseen made this immediately unbelievable to me and removed a whole lot of empathy for me. Some of the plot points were out there, and I can usually forgive out there plot points in romance, but this was enough to take me out of the reading mania.

The pacing was a little slow and it took me too long to get into the story. I don't think this book was for me, but I think other could really enjoy it.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I think I like the author’s writing style and I think I also like the characters on their own, but they have no romantic chemistry. They have some sexual chemistry, but that’s really it. Also, nothing really happens in the book. It just kind of goes along until there’s a little conflict and then it keeps moving and then there’s another little conflict, and then there’s a big conflict or two at the end that get resolved pretty quickly and then it’s kind of over. So I can’t say I was really impressed by the story itself. I do think I will probably try another book by this author but not right away.

Another delightful read from Mazey Eddings! I really enjoyed Opal and Pepper, also the people pleaser in Opal really spoke to me, and watching there story play out. Will-they won't-they has got to be one of the best tropes out there and Mazey Eddings does it so well. I look forward to reading whatever she does next.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

*Late Bloomer* by Mazey Eddings offers a heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and personal growth. The story follows a woman navigating her late-blooming romantic journey, offering moments of charm and vulnerability. Eddings’ writing is warm, and the characters are relatable, with well-crafted dialogue and authentic emotions. However, the plot can feel predictable at times, and the pacing slows in the middle, making it harder to stay fully engaged. While the book has plenty of sweet, tender moments, it doesn't break new ground in the romance genre. It's a pleasant read, but lacks the depth to leave a lasting impression.

I love Maizey Eddings normally but I could not get with these vibes. I just felt the characters were not good. I don’t mind characters who aren’t likeable but it just didn’t work for me. I might try again in the future but now it’s a dnf.

This particular Mazey Eddings book was more my kind of book than one or two others of hers that I've tried. I was really happy to reading a F/F romance about characters that don't fit into a typical box. I enjoy the way she portrays neurodiverse characters, too. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I am a big Mazey Eddings fan and yet again, this book delivers with a heartfelt celebration of personal growth with well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and opposites attract sapphic romance. I loved that this story is set on a flower farm in Asheville, NC! What a delightful backdrop for a lighthearted plot filled with queer and neurodivergent representation.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

More Like 3 and ½ Stars ✨

I really liked this. I don't know what took me so long to get to it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Griffin for my advanced copy of Late Bloomer.

I love Mazey Eddings. I will always read and recommend her books. She is amazing.
I listened to this book on audio and the narration was fantastic. The story was very easy to follow and I had no problem multitasking.

I really loved Opal as a character and Pepper slowly grew on me. They were a great couple and I was rooting for them while reading this book.
There was a good bit of steam which I appreciated.

This just wasn't my favorite Mazey book and I can't put my finger on exactly why.
As much as I wanted these characters together nothing really made me swoon.

I look forward to Mazey's next release. It is already added to my TBR

I was not able to read past the first chapter. Mazey Eddings' writing style was simply not appealing to me. The storyline and dialogue seemed clunky and forced, and a sarcastic reference to mental illness seemed honestly a bit lazy in regards to effort towards creativity and originality. I could not finish this book. Since I didn't actually read it, and it does currently have a modest average review rating of 3.7 stars, I went ahead and ranked it 2 stars instead of 1 star because perhaps the storyline and writing style would have grown on me if I was willing to spend more time reading further than the first chapter. NOTE: I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Such a cute sapphic romance following a woman who decides to spontaneously buy a farm and the grumpy woman who is still living there. They start up a begrudging partnership and of course fall in love.

Sigh. Swoon. Grin like a loon. Just some of the things this book made me do!

I love Mazey Edding's writing and Late Bloomer was no exception. This is a sweet sapphic romance that made my heart feel all the feels. Mazey writes fantastic banter between her characters and Opal and Pepper's is *chef's kiss*. And as always with Mazey, there is also great neurodivergent representation.

Forced proximity is one of my favorite romance tropes and it's done well in Late Bloomer, complete with a beautiful flower farm in Asheville, one of my favorite towns. What an idyllic setting. Family dynamics are also abound, with Opal's sisters and Pepper's mother being focal points in the book's conflict. Late Bloomer's powerful main characters navigate things together though and and fall head over heels in the process.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Sweet and Whimsical Romance

Late Bloomer is a charming and heartwarming romantic comedy that celebrates individuality and the power of love. Opal, a quirky and endearing protagonist, navigates the complexities of love and friendship with humor and grace.

The author's lighthearted tone and relatable characters make for an enjoyable read. The romance between Opal and Pepper is sweet and believable, and their chemistry is palpable. While the fast-paced nature of the relationship may not appeal to all readers, it adds a sense of youthful energy and excitement to the story.

The book's focus on neurodivergent representation is commendable, and the author handles the topic with sensitivity and understanding.

The audiobook narration for Late Bloomer is excellent. The narrator skillfully brings the characters to life, capturing their unique voices and personalities. This enhances the listening experience and makes the story even more enjoyable.

Overall, Late Bloomer is a delightful and feel-good read that is perfect for those seeking a lighthearted and romantic escape.

4 stars

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amazing book. mazey outdid herself on every single book. thank you for this book ! you are amazing and I am very obssesed with this
sapphic >

This book had all the classics. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, grump and sunshine, but with a queer twist and also flowers. What more could you ask for. I loved reading this book, i loved the characters and I loved the warm fuzzies it left me with.

I went into reading this book with a positive heart, but a skeptical mind. I have read two other books by this author, one in which I was pleasantly surprised that I liked so much, and the other was not my favorite. I even met her at a book signing last year, so I was trying to go into this book with positive juju. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations. Opal is surrounded by shitty "friends" and when she hits the jackpot on a scratcher ticket (like the lottery) she decides to buy a flower farm in North Carolina, sight unseen. She responds to a Facebook ad about the farm and agrees to meet up with the seller in person. Please tell me why there were no real estate agents involved in this transaction? to be honest, I feel like she deserved what she got. I don't care if you are first time home buyer, you use a real estate agent. Whatever. Her stupidity drove me crazy from the beginning, and her interactions with Pepper were not helping. I had to DNF this book because I was so annoyed with all of the characters. If you like this author's other works, then you will probably like this book, but it missed the mark for me, probably because I was on the fence about this author's writing and themes.

Mazey writes in her dedication “This one I wrote for me” but this also feels very much like a love letter written for neurodivergent sapphic babes.

I fell in love with Opal immediately and Pepper not long after that. Pepper’s friends and Opal’s sisters are also fantastic.

There’s some heavier stuff in here… grief from a loved one’s passing, toxic parenting, a really shitty (non) best friend & boyfriend, trauma related to trying to fit into a neurotypical world. But it’s very well balanced out by the humor and heat in the book. I’m never going to not laugh at the line “every garden needs a hoe”.

I started this in ebook but switched over to audio. Ellie Gossage’s narration is fantastic. The way she so distinctly voices all the characters sometimes made me forget there was only one person narrating.

**I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**