This book was so cute! Opal is a lovable mess and Pepper is a relatable grump. I loved how Opal always chose to support and help Pepper just because it was the right thing to do. And watching Pepper learn how to trust Opal was just so sweet 🥹 These two are so endearing and made for such a cute romance! I absolutely could not get enough of this adorably sweet and dorky duo!

Gorgeous writing, gorgeous characters I came to love immediately. I really wished there was a bit more plot or tension, though. I felt like around the 30% mark it’s all sorted emotionally. They both know the other is a good person, we know the issue of who gets the farm will be resolved when they fall in love (or Pepper finds the will she didn’t really look for that hard), and there’s just their low self-esteems in the way of them being together. I wanted to fall in love with the book, especially given that cover, but I lost some interest halfway through. That could just be me, though. I think people who like low-stakes and books that are focused more on the MCs working on their false beliefs will really love this one.

I thought this book was so sweet. I couldn’t put it down when I started reading it. My only critique is that I had a harder time coming up with a visual picture of Pepper in my head but maybe that was intentional on the writer’s part as her character was definitely more unknown and took more time to develop throughout the story. I enjoyed the fact that this was a neurodivergent love story. I loved the intimacy that developed between Pepper and Opal. I love a good book that makes you feel things. I thought the spice factor was perfect and those scenes were well written. Overall, this is a sweet and spicy wlw love story. I would love to read more of this author’s work in the future!

Pepper and Opal just melt my heart. I loved this sweet romance and seeing how they came together. I am kind of hoping we get to the other to O sisters fall in love in their own books because I loved their characters almost as much as the main ones. The only thing I would’ve enjoyed seeing was maybe a few dates? I feel like pepper and Opal just kind of go straight to the bed and when the feelings come nothing really changed all that much.

This was sweet and steamy and sapphic and all around wonderful. A cheerful rom com that makes you want to keep reading and reading. Sometimes I felt that the dual POV kind of dampened the romantic tension, but overall it was a great, funny romantic read.

Opal is sweet in that sugar-creates-a-cavity sort of way, but I wasn’t interested in following her story and stopped after chapter 2 (6%). That said, it’s easy to read and easy to follow. Easy three to four stars for the target, five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

3.5. This is a tough one for me. The characters were handled with such tender care mixed with humor. The flower farm setting was perfect. I actually really enjoyed everything about this, in particular the representation, sibling relationships and found family, but at the same time it didn’t seem quite up to par with what I have come to expect from Mazey Eddings.

This was such a fun book. So cute. I loved crazy Opal and brutally honest Pepper. I love each of their inner monologues/narration. They are definitely opposites attract but that's what makes this story all the better. This was a quick, easy and delightful read. I have only read a couple of sapphic romance novels and this is definitely my favorite. I'll definitely be adding Mazey to my must read authors.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mazey Eddings for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Pepper and Opal were so cute and I love a good sapphic read and this absolutely hit the spot! I love a good healing story that also involves finding love again and allowing yourself to be open to it. Gonna give some of Mazey's other books a shot!

a gorgeous cover but entirely stilted writing and a weak at best attempt at enemies to lovers. i’m so tired!

I was enamored by this book by the dedication alone which reads, "This One I Wrote for Me". For some reason I knew I was going to be in for a ride. The story was so unique and the characters so charming. Opal & Pepper really come alive on the pages with their quirky, quippy dialogues and tender interactions with each other. I love the relationship between Opal, Ophelia and Olivia and Peppers protective cast of friends. Of all the books I have read this year (and there have been over 100) this one I have the most annotations for. Every other page had me highlighting something that made me laugh or pulled at my heartstrings. Everything about this book is delightful from the way we meet Opal to the unusual circumstances leading to her and Pepper meeting. While there are laughs a plenty, this book does come with warnings for some heavy topics such as grief of a loved one, complicated relationships with alcohol and parental neglect/abandonment. The tough topics make the sweet topics that much sweeter as we watch these characters wade through the murky waters of life while finding themselves and each other. I cannot say enough good things about this story and cannot wait for its release in April of 2024.

Late Bloomer is a sapphic romance that follows Opal and Pepper on their individual journeys toward peace and healing, which ultimately bring them together on a flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina. Mazey Eddings effortlessly blends the messy parts of life (e.g. grief, crappy friends, crappier parents) with moments of tenderness and heart. The chemistry between the two MCs is electric. Opal and Pepper are as flawed as they are charming, which makes the story feel refreshing and real.

Late Bloomer comes out April 16th, 2024. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings offers readers a refreshing and engaging premise that combines elements of romance, humor, and personal growth. Opal Devlin's life takes an unexpected turn when she wins the lottery, and the story takes off from there.

The book delves into the complex and relatable theme of handling newfound wealth and the challenges that come with it. Opal's decision to buy a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina, to escape the pressures of her newfound fortune, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Her desire to let the flowers flourish while pursuing her passion for painting is a unique and appealing twist.

The introduction of Pepper Boden, who claims ownership of Thistle and Bloom Farms, sets the stage for a dynamic and possibly explosive relationship. The clash of personalities and the development of their unlikely co-habitation agreement promise a mix of humor and tension that keeps readers engaged.

"Late Bloomer" seems to be a story of personal growth, self-discovery, and the unpredictable nature of life and love. It offers an intriguing blend of character-driven storytelling and a charming setting, making it a promising read for those who enjoy contemporary romance novels with a touch of humor and a lot of heart.

4.5 stars!

Winning the lottery ruined Opal Devlin's life. After being bombarded by people asking for money, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, including buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, NC. But her plans go awry when the "rightful", owner of Thistle & Bloom, the gorgeous Pepper Smith is waiting on her doorstep and isn’t going anywhere. The two agree to co-habitate but will their head-butting turn into something more and save the farm in the process?

~
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is a queer found family (imo), grumpyxsunshine romance that encompasses loss, failed relationships, and learning to love one's self. Deeper themes aside, this was sooo cute, wholesome, and lighthearted!!!!
I will add that buying a flower farm in Asheville is like a total dream. Throw in a coffee shop/bookstore combo and you have my retirement plan set so I knew immediately after reading the synopsis and the tropes that I wanted to get my hands on this as soon as possible and it did not disappoint! As someone that came out later in life and doesn't have much relationship experience, Peppers autistic self was my favorite characters. The way her feelings were explained - and her vulnerability portrayed - was relatable in more ways than one. The other character, especially Pepper’s best friends, listened and validated her and it so refreshing to see a nontoxic friendship between women.
I was super close to both of my grandmothers growing up so i felt pepper’s heartbreak at losing hers. (I’ve tried to expand on this and get a little toooo emotional so I’ll leave it at this: the loss is handled well and it was appreciated.) I also looooved that Pepper gives off "looks like they could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll"vibes. Opal on the other hand gives off the opposite vibe (so they’re obviously a perfect match from the get go). I really really really wanted to like Opal more than I did but she felt like two entirely different people without the character development to match. I can see how that was intentional to show her character growth(?) but the timeframe for it didn’t entirely feel authentic. But Asheville Opal to the end was lovely and the relationship with Pepper was so wholesome (most of the time👀). I haven’t read many books with one of the mcs as an artist so it was so cool to get that dynamic and perspective.

Overall, I LOVED! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Mini playlist:
Lavender Haze - Taylor Swift (iykyk💜)
She - Dodie
Silk Chiffon - MUNA


Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Story: C
Prose: A
Characters: B
World: A
Theme(s): B-
Enjoyment: B

The Good:
Fun prose. Eddings' writing is DELIGHTFUL to read. It's vibrant and personal, while remaining readable and conversational. It flows quite nicely, and Eddings' practice and experience as an author shows.
Charming main characters. Opal is an impulsive people pleaser. She's bubbly and sweet. Eddings tempers Opal's hasty (and sometimes irritating) decisions with an earnest desire to bring joy to those she cares for. Pepper is closed off and grumpy: the world isn't a kind place to autistic folks to start with, and Pepper's flaky, absent mother has shredded her heart and her trust. Both young women feel genuine and real, and it's heartwarming to watch Opal's kindness in action with Pepper.
Charming supporting cast. Eddings' characterization of the supporting cast is sharp. They're a fun bunch, and Diksha is great opposite Pepper without taking Opal's role.
Great concept. So much goodness pre-baked into the concept. The grumpy x sunshine. Opposites working together. The flower farm setting. Catching feelings for someone you live with but have a complicated situation with. The flower farm again! I'm sorry, it's just so cute and Eddings handles it perfectly!
Stardew Valley vibes. The little farm, the storms, the preparation for a competition? Honestly, BIG Stardew Valley vibes from Late Bloomer, and I love it.
Neurodivergent MCs. Pepper is autistic and Opal is neurodivergent, unspecified, maybe AuDHD.

The Bad:
Important item (& Convenience Plot Points.) There's an important item of Grandma Lou's. Incredibly important. Stupidly, ridiculously important. It's plot-altering, life-altering important, and Pepper CANNOT find it. But then she finds it in the world's most obvious spot, at a stupidly convenient time? It's cheap plotting and makes the characters look stupid.
Some parts feel thrown in. Thematically, part of the title refers to Pepper's struggle with defining her sexuality. But that paragraph feels sort of tossed in there. It's disconnected from her character arc or anything that happens after.
Not much happens in second half. There's a distinct lack of plot in the second half. Things still happen, but what the few things that do happen are heavily padded with internal monologues. It also throws the pacing out of whack.


YMMV:
Opal's spirals. Opal falls into self-pity spirals whenever she screws up–or even so much as THINKS she's screwed up. They're relatable… to a degree. At some point they cross the line from "oof, that sucks, I feel ya" to "your issues are comparatively minor… could you suck it up and gain some perspective, this once, PLEASE?"
Bad communication. There's a lot of poor communication between Pepper and Opal. (Pepper struggles with cues that are obvious to others, and Opal jumps to conclusions she doesn't share outloud.) It makes sense for the characters to make these mistakes, but it's frustrating for readers.
Won't work long-term. Honestly, although Pepper and Opal are a sweet couple, it's hard to imagine them lasting longer than five minutes. (Based on where they are emotionally, etc., at the end.) Their latest miscommunication is solved solely through serendipity, and that's not a reliable long-term tactic. Any ending is soured (for me) by the thought, "And what happens the next time they miscommunicate?"

Final thoughts:
I'm reading a ton of romcoms lately (Sept 2023) that start off adorable and sweep me off my feet for the first 75% and then just… end on a tepid note.
So, Late Bloomer: adorable, funny, exquisite Stardew Valley vibes, but relies too much on luck to resolve problems. And, maybe I'm a Scrooge, but I don't think these two will last.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

You cannot put "two women forced together at a flower farm falling in love" near me and expect me NOT to lose my entire goddamn mind over it, are you KIDDING me? I love, love, loved this so much.

The neurodivergent representation is done so wonderfully, and I found myself relating to Pepper and Opal because of it, which I don't find often in books. That gets a gold star from me.
Both girls had well-written out backstories that came back up occasionally and it didn't feel like they were thrown to the side, which was nice.

I will say that it was sometimes hard to tell who was speaking. The inner monologues of both girls were very similar, and I would have to go back a little bit to figure out who said what a couple of times. It wasn't too bad, though.

Overall, absolutely wonderful read that was just so fun. I can't believe I have to wait until April 2024 to buy a physical copy of this. (ALSO THE COVER!!! GORGEOUS!!!)

✨book review✨
🪻🌸Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings🌸🪻


This book absolutely SHOCKED me in the best way. This is my first book by Mazey Eddings and I will definitely continue to read her books in the future. Let’s start with the amazing visual descriptions in this book. Most of this book is set on a flower farm and Mazey makes you feel like you are in the middle of the blooms

“These flowers are wrapped around my bones. They’re pieces of me…The beautiful pieces at least.”

“Every piece of you is beautiful.”

TEARSSSS.

I am an absolute sucker for a sapphic/queer rom-com with a grumpy/sunshine element and this book absolutely hit the mark for me. I LOVE the neurodivergent aspect to both of the FMC and it just melted my heart. The growth and change the MC’s went on together and the realization of how they are the perfect balance to each other. They were each others light in the dark of the never being able to rely on someone else, they found each other at the most opportune time in their lives. The grand gestures in this book were AMAZING and had me crying. I LOVE Opal with my whole heart and her witty banter and her chaotic inner thoughts melt me to a puddle and made me laugh, I love how she comforts Pepper effortlessly. The amount of times happy tears came out of nowhere while reading this book, I could not begin to count. Please, please add this book to your TBR. You will not be sorry.

But let’s not forget that GREENHOUSE SCENE. 🔥🥵

This book will be released on April 16th 2024.

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC copy, in return for an honest review.

This is the most beautiful trade romance cover I have ever seen I love women and women kissing and flowers and this type of retro-style art. It is pure, distilled romance.

I was literally SO excited to read this book. Sapphics AND disability AND flowers? Love. Unfortunately (and I feel like I start of my Mazey Eddings reviews like this), it just didn't work for me. The relationship between the two fell really flat for me and it felt like a bunch of stung-together, loosely related bits instead of a strong, cohesive story. I did love the flower symbology though.

Thanks to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this ARC.

As always thank you to publishes and Netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit I use romance novels for pure escapism, however I can be extremely picky with them. A third act miscommunication and pointless third act breakup can absolutely kill a romance book for me, no matter how good. This novel however was such a breath of fresh air.

Opal and Pepper are forced to make do with each other's presence after Opal purchases a flower farm (in an attempt to change her admittingly depressing life) from a woman, only to find out that the woman's daughter is actually still living there. And is her absolute opposite in so many ways. Instead of “forcing each other out” of the house they agree to become roommates until they can figure something else out and thus, romance and chaos ensues. I loved these girls and their characterization, while at points i felt it was a bit tropie i easily was able to get through it and absolutely loose and enjoy myself. Pepper and Opal are so understanding and compassionate with each other while still accepting and loving each other's differences and god i just love them! This is a beautiful book showcasing love between some lovely neurodivergent sapphics and how to stand up to people who are genuinely just bad for you, I absolutely recommend it.

Late Bloomer is a cute and cosy romance between two women who find themselves unexpectedly on the same flower farm. For me, I enjoyed the read, and I thought Opal and Pepper had a sweet arc to romance, but I was a little underwhelmed by some aspects. First - once their relationship started heating up, Opal and Pepper's personalities started to merge for me, and they felt eerily similar to each other. This was especially disappointing since at the start of the book, I could clearly see them as two very distinct characters. Second - certain aspects of the story felt a little old-fashioned? I can't quite describe it, but it almost seemed like it was a period piece, despite being a contemporary story.

I do always appreciate Mazey Edding's neurodiversity rep, and that is on display here! Three stars for me, but others may enjoy this one more! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.