This is currently my favorite book of 2024 and it might even stay that way!
The overall story was very sweet and warm, while there were also things discussed that were more serious, like grief and having a strained relationship with your parent. I loved all of the characters a lot and I really enjoyed seeing that relationship between the MCs bloom!

There was a clear plotpoint that we were working towards with some smaller storylines sprinkled in between. Like the storyline of Pepper's complicated relationship with her mother. It made me so angry and frustrated and it sometimes made me want to yell at my screen. Which I think is a good sign. The characters felt so real. I loved Pepper's character development and Opal's bubbly personality! Their personalities sometimes clashed, but they always come back to each other. I can't speak on representation from experience, but I did like to read about an autistic x neurodivergent relationship.

By the end I was fully sobbing, my heart full and blooming.

I can't wait to read more of Mazey Edding' stories very soon!

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I ended up finding both characters annoying and generally couldn't see why either would want to be with the other. I really liked the flowers part of the story. I just wish there had been something deeper.

Thank you to the author Mazey Eddings, publishers St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of LATE BLOOMER. All views are mine.

Laney flips me off as she peels down the gravel driveway, and I shoot the gesture right back. I giggle as I glance over my shoulder and see Pepper doing the same. Real classy broads, the pair of us. Loc.3799

I loved this book, for so many reasons! Firstly, thank you so much to the author, Mazey Eddings, and publishers, St. Martin's Press, for providing content warnings in the front matter of the book. This makes books so much easier to read for individuals like me, so thank you!

I've forgotten a lot of the story, to be honest. I really struggled with the alternating first-person POVs, especially when the chapter transitions didn't always introduce a new speaker.

But the characters are definitely memorable, as evidenced by my selected quotes. I love the fierceness that comes out when Laney and Pepper come togather. They bring so much out in each other, and they represent such important matters– mental health visibility, and the loneliness of creating.

And I do remember the spicy scenes. I usually skip these, because I'm really not into it. But I thought these scenes were sexy, creative, and a little dirty, but at the same time not too explicit. I appreciate the balance Eddings strikes in this book and I plan to read more of her books!

Recommend to fans of spicy romcom, open door romance, Sapphic romance, and romances with creative leads.

I know this comedown—this crash—after putting so much of yourself into a piece of art, then releasing it to the public. It’s like the tether that holds you to earth snaps, and you float aimlessly into space, having no idea where you’ll land. If you’ll land. It’s terrifyingly lonely. Loc.3539

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for putting content warnings in the front matter. This kind of thing greatly improved the reading experience for me!

2. The narrative voice is slightly absurd and very ironic. It's quite wonderful! I hope she keeps it up! *The speaker is reacting to the scene, but I do still like the voice!

3. Some really excellent mental health awareness content in this book, such as at loc.259:I know nothing about this will change unless I find the courage to make the next move. But stagnation is comfortable. Making a change takes bravery, a willingness to declare what I want then be swept into the unknown consequences of it. If I never move, nothing ever changes, but if nothing ever changes, I can’t be crushed by the disappointment of it not working out. Also, I am impressed by the accuracy of mental illness representation, at least at this early stage in the manuscript. I hope this element remains impressive!

4. I'm hooked on this narrative. The plot work is solid!

5. Interesting premise, interesting writing: "What about...feelings?" The last word comes out like a curse. Loc.1993

6. Love this bit of writing, riveting! I finally pull my eyes away, looking at Opal as panic mounts in my chest. I hate the pain. I hate the memories. I hate the sudden hook of a reminder pulling my chest apart. I search for words, but they’re stilted and sharp, too many clogging my throat as I continue to stare at her. Loc.2662

7. This book makes a clear statement about the isolation artistry and making art: I know this comedown—this crash—after putting so much of yourself into a piece of art, then releasing it to the public. It’s like the tether that holds you to earth snaps, and you float aimlessly into space, having no idea where you’ll land. If you’ll land. It’s terrifyingly lonely. Loc.3539

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. I had to take a 3 day break from this book for unrelated reasons. Returning to it was like coming in cold. Nothing stuck! *Finished fast after this though!

2. Repetitious images: bubblegum-pink hair and a too-earnest smile Loc.1089

3. Alternating POV's with narrators being first person main characters who oppose each other in the conflict can get hard to follow sometimes!

4. I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, which plays a big part in this play.

5. This isn't quite how 529 education savings accounts work...but who cares?

Rating: 🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨 /5 pieces of art
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Jul 2 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👭🏽 Sapphic romance
👩‍💻 boss-subordinate relationship trope
😶 silent treatment
👥️ alternating first-person POVs
🚪 open door romance

Really enjoyed this one - took me a bit to adjust to the author's style, but once I settled in I really liked it! Love the cover as well.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book! I loved getting to root for our two main characters, Opal and Pepper, not only in their relationship but also in their own lives. I loved seeing Opal shed her people pleasing tendencies and follow her passions, and I loved seeing Pepper come out of her shell. I loved that these characters fell for one another but still allowed for plenty of space for each of them to work through their own things. I also really appreciated the portrayal of neurodiversity.

I found at times the two voices of Opal and Pepper were not sufficiently distinct for me and for brief moments in some chapters I had to double check which perspective I was reading (but usually this was brief).

Overall I was just super happy reading this book. It was sweet, lighthearted, and really lovely. Would absolutely recommend for anyone looking for a heartwarming easy sapphic read!

3.5/5
A disaster bisexual artist and a lesbian flower farmer team up to save the farm, win the local flower contest, and try to not fall in love. Yes, this is basically a gay Hallmark movie!
Opal is a down on her luck artist who wins the lottery and buys a flower farm to restart her life. However, it is revealed that the flower farm was illegally sold and Pepper, the owner, wants nothing to do with Opal. This book is duel POVs, showing each girl’s inner struggles while trying to admit they aren’t attracted to one another. While some of the lines and villains are cheesy, this was an enjoyable read with some very hot sex scenes

While I generally enjoyed Mazey Eddings' books in the past, this one just didn't do it for me. The characters felt like a weird mix of stale and absurd and the romance felt jumbled. I wanted to like it but felt like I ended up skimming most of the ending and even that felt like too much.

Ummm why do I want to move to a flower farm now!?

I really loved this one. The two heroines meet because one buys a flower farm the other one lives at and works at. It wasn't supposed to be sold, but they compromise and she moves in while the other continues to live and work there. They're both going through a lot, but they quickly realize how attracted to each other they are. They know they shouldn't get involved, but they do! The cast of characters in here was really great and I loved how they both had to confront things in their lives and also their feelings for each other. The setting of this was perfect and this audiobook was just great!!

I felt immediately connected to Opal, and was not surprised when she admitted to being neurodivergent, likely with ADHD, being a late in life adhder myself. I saw a lot of myself and how I am in relationships in this character. Loved the Thistle and Bloom, loved that pepper and opal each battle their ghosts and came out on top. Highly recommend.

I love a good sapphic romance but this one just felt very ok. I was reading it and mostly just skimming it towards the end because I felt like it should have already been over.

DNF'ed at 30%. I wanted to love this, but it fell so flat. The writing was immature, the story was so under researched (you can't legally buy property from someone on fb marketplace...) and I felt absolutely no chemistry between Pepper and Opal *also those names... I usually don't like leaving reviews without anything positive, but I really can't think of anything positive to share for this one.

Loved this book. 4.5 stars! Our FMCs were chaotic and I loved them.
forced proximity is one of my all time favorite tropes!

I thought the characters were interesting but they didn’t belong together. The plot was really slow and there was a large portion where it didn’t feel like much was going on.

Mazey writing chaotic characters falling in love is my religion. Every time I pick up one of her books, I just know I'll be seeing myself in one or more characters, and it wasn't different this time. Opal is me. I'm Opal.

I have completed this book but as it is published by an imprint of St. Martin's Press I will be withholding my thoughts until they respond to the boycott.

Thank you for the early copy, apologies for the delayed review. I really loved this book. I didn’t want it to end. I felt like when I picked it up I only wanted to read a few pages at a time, I didn’t want it to be over. We follow Opal and Pepper, who fit the sunshine/grumpy trope very well in my opinion. Opal is all about seeing the positive in everything while pepper is worrying about every possible thing that could go wrong. They were such opposites it was fun watching them open up and reveal themselves to each other emotionally. There were lots of twists with the plot which I think helped keep the pace of the story. I enjoyed this one for the sweet moments, and the emotional reveals. I would definitely recommend.

I just love Mazey Eddings, her books are my confort books.

And I really loved this one! It deals with some heavy topics related to family members but in a very fun way.

I really loved this book! I thought the concept was fun, the characters were nuanced and the right amount of chaotic, and the setting was interesting and whimsical without being unbelievable. Opal and Pepper’s relationship was great to witness unfold, and Mazey Eddings did not disappoint with her writing style, pop culture references, and ability to create emotions and root for Pepper and Opal to work things out.

I really enjoyed this quirky read. The characters were interesting and the plot was engaging. There were some awkward scenes that made me cringe while reading but that was all important to the plot. If you are looking for a light spring read this is a great book to pick up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Mazey Eddings had yet to disappoint me with any of her reads, and Late Bloomer was no different!
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You will fall in love with Opal and Pepper as individuals and as a couple. You will be rooting for them from start to finish!
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You’ve got neurodivergent rep, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and so much more in this queer rom-com!