I enjoyed this lighthearted read overall! The setting was incredibly tangible; the flower farm was such a beautiful and fun setting for a romance with relatively little tension. I also appreciated that the plot once at the farm was very believable and natural. However, I struggled with following the characterization of both of the main characters to some extent. It seemed at times that Pepper, and especially Opal's personality and way of interacting in the world would change from chapter to chapter. While some of that can be chalked up to people seeing us differently than we see ourselves, it seemed extreme to the point where at times I had to check whose perspective I was reading to keep track.

4.5 stars

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book was much as I did, but I LOVED the setting and both MCs.

Opal and Pepper fit together so well and complement each other in every possible way. Their interactions were beautiful and mesmerizing. Pretty much an unputdownable book which I relished. Pepper is uncomfortable around Opal and dislikes her from the start. Opal in her own words- is a chronic people pleaser, ready to do anything to help Pepper even though the situation is not to her liking either. This is somewhat of an opposites attract romance and I really enjoyed it.

There's some great mental health rep thrown in there and Eddings has given adequate emphasis on the backstories. I instantly liked the MCs and the side characters and rooted for them. Nothing about them was a red flag and the way the showed their care and affection for each other was endearing. I liked the way the climax was resolved too, everything felt cozy and believable. My only issue was with Trish, and her initial portrayal verses the image Pepper painted later on. I'd like it if there was some light shed on her background too.

Eddings has put together a list of book titles that were on hold in the writing process as well as the significance of the different flowers referenced in the book. I was certainly not expecting that, and it was a pure delight to get that added joy to my reading experience. My first book by the author and it won't be my last!

This book made my heart hurt and I felt so much for each character. Opal, a quirky artist, has always been "walked over" and doesn't feel like she has any true friends, so when she ends up living in the same house as Pepper, a flower farmer struggling to keep her business Thistle & Bloom afloat, she wants to help and make a connection. When that connection slowly opens up, blooms, and catches fire in a lovely sapphic romance that respects late bloomers, who are just learning what they desire, I fell for this book. Pepper's found family, memories of her grandmother Lou, combined with Opal's sisters fierce and protective love gave this book such a lovely well-rounded cast of characters. Throw in a floral art installation competition and I was a goner! Give this book a try!

Opal has just won the lottery. So, of course, she buys a flower farm just outside of Asheville. The only problem is that the farm apparently comes with Pepper, the daughter of the woman who sold Opal the farm. And Pepper doesn't like change. But the two of them strike a (somewhat) uneasy deal: they both stay at the farm, and Pepper slowly buys Opal out. They'll enter a big flower competition together, and if they win, the prize money will go toward Pepper buying the farm back from Opal.
And then they strike another deal, one that will hopefully help with the tension building between the two of them. And it does help, but it also makes it harder for both women to ignore their feelings.

Mazey Eddings is one of my favorite authors, so I had high hopes for this book--and it ended up being every bit as good as I expected. The characters felt very real (including Opal's pretty online way of speaking, which felt very natural and not at all forced, which is always a worry). I loved that the sunshine was sometimes grumpy and the grump was sometimes sunshiney--it really added to both of the characters to have them be so multi-faceted. I also loved that Pepper was explicitly stated to be autistic, and that Opal was more vaguely undiagnosed neurodivergent (but that she knew and acknowledged that). Both were written very well and both of those are things we need more good representation of.
And, on top of the rep and the characters feeling so real, it was just all-around sweet and fun (and at times frustrating and heartbreaking, as complicated family and interpersonal relationships can be). Late Bloomer is (unsurprisingly) another really good Mazey Eddings book.

Late Bloomer does such an exceptional job at representing sapphic love between two neurodivergent women who are unapologetically who they are. It's a slow burn, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for this story, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The pacing is done well, the setting is so immersive, and the overall read is warm and comforting. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a heartwarming sapphic romance.

This author is hit or miss for me, and while not completely a miss this time, it did veer that way for me. Overall, I felt like too much was packed into both of the character’s arcs individually that it felt like there wasn’t a clear growth or development with either of them, and it left the romance not enough time to blossom. Autism, ADHD, abusing drugs and alcohol, depression, family death, family abandonment, shitty friends, a shitty ex - like, that’s just way too much, and everything felt half-assed because of it.

I will say though, the plot was a good one.

IN MAZEY EDDINGS WE TRUST!!!!
Mazey never leaves me disappointed. If this cover doesn’t convince you to read this, then allow me! Low conflict & very comforting to read. Always happy to read stories with loads of neurodivergent rep.

Chef kiss!!

Thank you to the publisher, author, & NetGalley for a copy of the ARC!

Initially I was intrigued by the plot of the book. Unfortunately the writing style made it hard to turn the page and give it a fair shot.

Cute, low angst read.. I normally love Mazey’s books but something was missing from this to make me enjoy it more.

What a fun book. I have never read anything by this author, so it was a total surprise. I thought it was funny and messy in the best way. Both MC's have self-esteem issues and just life issues. I did not think that they could figure out how to live together and help each other. I love how both struggled to communicate and try to help each other move forward. Neither ever gives up and they eventually figure out how to move forward together. I will be looking for other books by this author. I think you should read this book! It is really good and an interesting dynamic between the two main characters.

I received a free copy for an unbiased review.

A sweet romance. Opal wins the lottery and impulsively buys a flower farm with the bulk of her winnings. When she arrives she is confronted by Pepper, granddaughter of the previous farm owner. Pepper insists the farm belongs to her and refuses to budge. Soon, and despite all odds, these opposites attract.

The author, as usual, does a great job of creating a cozy ambiance and compelling side characters.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Late Bloomer is a really fun grumpy/sunshine romance. Pepper and Opal paths cross unexpectedly and immediately butt heads.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Opal and Pepper were such fun characters to read and I absolutely loved this story! There was also some pretty great representation in this book and I can’t recommend reading this one more!

This title is sweet, tender, and kind. The flower farm setting is as dreamy as the romance <3. Another fab romance from author, Mazey Eddings.

I think I was expecting more from this book than what it gave, and I'm willing to admit that's on me for hoping the title meant there would be more of an exploration of someone's sexuality, or more of a discussion of what its like to be older and still not have sexual experience.

I really loved Opal's sisters, I thought they were funny and chaotic, as well as Pepper's friends. It was a little difficult to distinguish between Pepper and Opal's voices, but I appreciated that this book was low angst and straightforward. Also I'm still very obsessed with the cover, as we all should be.

I liked A Brush With Love & Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake, but LOVED The Plus One by Mazey Eddings, so I was excited to read this sapphic love story. It definitely lived up to my expectations. I appreciate the way that Mazey handles mental health with her characters. They have so much depth and you truly feel like you know them.

The story of two women who meet right as each faces a crossroads in their personal lives. They are both immediately irritated by each other, but those feelings slowly turn to attraction the more time they spend together.

This was an excellent rom-com of a book that I throughly enjoyed! While the characters may have met under contrived circumstances, Opal and Pepper’s story develops at a natural medium burn pace. Opal and Pepper obviously get a lot of time together, but I liked how they were also given space alone to sort out their own thoughts and feelings. They are separate people whose identity is not solely based on the other. The story also had the right amount of spice. The scenes were authentic and weren’t just all about the sex. Each one helped the characters to evolve personally and together.

My only complaint is random people from the characters’ past showed up towards the end of book. This parts felt forced to me and didn’t really get their purpose.

This is an excellent book worth the read, however.

MAZEY EDDINGS DOES IT AGAIN. I was thrilled when I got approved for this book. I love the premise, I love the characters, I just love this whole darn thing. Everyone needs this book in their life.

How sweet and lovely this was!

The characters were so relatable and I love how well written this representation was. I am not always a fan of grumpy/sunshine, but it’s be honest, it didn’t feel like that description fit the characters too well, so it didn’t not bother me.

It did feel a little slow at times, and some of the writing/phrasing was repetitive. I loved seeing the ADHD and autistic representation, but at times I did get frustrated with how their inner monologues did not match up with how they interacted. Namely, near the end, Pepper reflects on what happened after the competition and what she should have said, how she could have comforted Opal, etc, but in the next chapter, she said she didn’t know why they weren’t talking. It felt disconnected from her previous thoughts on what happened.

I did love the little queer found family, the explorations of grief, and the steamy scenes. Overall, a great book that I can’t wait to recommend when it hits the shelves!

How sweet and lovely this was!

The characters were so relatable and I love how well written this representation was. I am not always a fan of grumpy/sunshine, but it’s be honest, it didn’t feel like that description fit the characters too well, so it didn’t not bother me.

It did feel a little slow at times, and some of the writing/phrasing was repetitive. I loved seeing the ADHD and autistic representation, but at times I did get frustrated with how their inner monologues did not match up with how they interacted. Namely, near the end, Pepper reflects on what happened after the competition and what she should have said, how she could have comforted Opal, etc, but in the next chapter, she said she didn’t know why they weren’t talking. It felt disconnected from her previous thoughts on what happened.

I did love the little queer found family, the explorations of grief, and the steamy scenes. Overall, a great book that I can’t wait to recommend when it hits the shelves!

This is the loveliest, sweetest, most special grumpy/sunshine story I've ever read! Pepper and Opal are two of the most lovable characters I've ever read. I wanted to give both of them the biggest, warmest hugs. Opal especially I wanted to be her best friend. My heart ached for her, probably because I related to it so much, as she tries to connect so deeply with everyone. I loved her story of finding her self-worth, self-acceptance, and strength in her voice to stand up for herself as she navigates her new start at life on the flower farm. And Pepper had to grow up so fast, I love that her friends and Opal give her a chance to rely on others, learning to trust in other people, in love, and in the possibility of finding her own happily ever after with Opal. The way Pepper and Opal fit together like actual soulmates was my favorite part of this story. The complement each other perfectly and I loved seeing them grow so much for the better as they navigate each other in the beginning, start a friendship, and eventual relationship. There is so much love, acceptance, joy and happiness, mingled with the harsh and sucky moments that come with life, that make this story so lovingly realistic and hopeful. This story, like most of Mazey Edding's stories, give me the joyous and giddy hope in real life love, friendship, and happily ever afters in all their glorious forms. One of my absolute favorite stories ever!
Thank you for the arc :)