Late Bloomer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Macey Eddings

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Winning the lottery ruined Opal Devlin's life. She may have been able to leave her dead-end job, but now she's getting endlessly bombarded with people knocking at her door for a handout . . . and she can't seem to stop saying yes.

Opal realises she has a chance to follow her own dreams, and decides to spend almost all her new money on a failing flower farm in North Carolina where she can start her painting business. But her plans for isolation soon go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Boden is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states that she's the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and she isn't moving out.

There's not much else they can do except strike up an agreement of co-habitation, but they're soon butting heads at every turn. While they each have a reason to stay, can these two opposites find a way to plant some roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?

My Thoughts: All I saw was Mazey Eddings, and I said YES without any other information. I LOVE her books. Even though I am a straight person, I do enjoy reading queer romance, I think it is a tad more emotional, more combustible, and just more. I have a few queer romance authors I follow and Eddings is definitely one of them. Opal just won the lottery and now all of the sudden, everyone is her friend, and wanting a handout. Opal makes a decision to follow her dreams and buys a flower farm in Ohio, and spends most of her lottery winnings on this farm that she plans to sell her unique paintings out of. Lo and behold, upon arrival at her newly purchased land, Pepper is working in the field and claims she is the rightful owner of this flower farm, that was her grandmothers. They come to an agreement to live within the same place for the summer and re-evaluate at the end of the summer. The butt heads, cannot get along, and each has a reason to stay. Will they make it? Can they find some common ground? This follows the tropes of queer romance, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, and sunshine/grumpy.

This was a fun sapphic queer romance. The story is a dual narration between Opal and Pepper, from their respective perspectives. The combustible tension between Opal and Pepper is evident at the very first meeting. The angst among them is palpable. The cottage core vibes really fit this story perfectly. Opal and Pepper were chaotic, while being whimsical. Both Pepper and Opal were neurodivergent, yet the author approaches their character paths in different ways, which I loved. Both Opal and Pepper’s character had tremendous growth separately and together, it was so beautiful to watch. The author also does a tremendous job at balancing tender sweet moments with funny lighthearted moments.

Opal is a sweet, fun, lovable character that exudes sunshine. Pepper is loyal to a fault, cautious of others, and is hard to get to know, however, when she lets you in, you are in for life. The chemistry, even the angst chemistry, was off the charts for these two. The characters were created with depth, witty banter, chemistry, intrigue, and were creatively weaved throughout the story. The supporting characters of Opal’s sisters, and Pepper’s best friend really did elevate the story and hopefully an opening for another book. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, steamy/spicy, swoony, engaging, and just brilliant. I loved the pop culture references throughout the story. The author does a great job with the autism and neurodiversity representation. There is also the heavy topics of grief and healing that the author approaches with grace.

I had the pleasure of having both the digital and audio ARCs for this novel. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend to anyone who loves Anita Kelly, TJ Alexander, or Alison Cochrun.

I adore Mazey Eddings and her characters! In Late Bloomer, we meet Opal and Pepper, two women who couldn't be more opposite of each other. Opal is bisexual, has ADHD, is and artist, and recently won $500,000 from a scratch off lottery ticket. Pepper is a lesbian, autistic, and most at home among the massive amounts of flower at her Grandma Lou's flower farm. When Opal buys the Thistle and Bloom, looking for a fresh start, she didn't realize that it came with Pepper attached or that the two would fall madly in lust and then in love.

I absolutely loved this book! It includes all my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and, best of all NO third-act break up!

Opal and Pepper are both beautifully thought-out characters, as are all the characters that surround them.

Highly recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Maze Eddings delivered a spectacular sapphic romance. The characters were relatable and the story was engaging!

Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for the advance copy of the book!

I have been a fan of Mazey since the first book I read by her and she has continuously wowed me. I often found myself within the characters of her pages especially those that have ADHD. She just always finds ways to make her characters relatable to the average person. And just like with her other books, Edding does such a great job with queer & neurodivergent representation.

This is her first time writing a sapphic novel and I remember when the cover was announced, I knew that it was going to be a smash! Eddings comes up with such a creative way to make you get attached to the characters and their storylines. This story was such a unique one and yes I could suspend reality that someone would actually buy a flower farm in Asheville (which by the way is such a fun town). I love that Opal and Pepper had to work together to win a competition. I love that their relationship was a progression and then when it hit, it hit. One thing Edding knows how to do is write a love scene. She wrote Pepper's inexperience with such grace and Opal was so tender towards her and only wanted her to be comfortable.

This was not my favorite Mazey book but I did really enjoyed this & Mazey will continue to be an auto-buy author!

Read this if you enjoy flowers, forced proximity, queer rep all set at a flower farm!

mazey eddings never fails to write an incredible book! officially my fifth read of hers and my first queer romance and it was just stellar. there is so much going on within this story, from winning the lottery to getting scammed on facebook marketplace, making for an absolutely hilarious time yet the story itself is simultaneously the perfect cozy, low-stakes plot, allowing you to just savor the romance of it all.

the absolute winner for me was OBVIOUSLY the setting because who doesn't want to read a book that takes place on a flower farm??? the research that mazey put into this story was so evident and I loved the little intricacies throughout, from flower types to minute details about soil type and growing conditions. and then of course, the characters were so well written and their growth throughout was so wonderful to see. something about opal and pepper was just so harmonious and their chemistry just made the book flow so well - I genuinely flew through this book in the span of just a few hours, if that tells you anything!

this is such a unique and fun story with so many quirky plot elements and just has the best vibes ever - highly recommend!

Mazey Eddings is one of my favorite authors. I adored her A BRUSH WITH LOVE series and her YA romance TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR. I love Mazey Eddings’ writing style and the voices she writes for her characters.

🌈 LATE BLOOMER is a sapphic romance about two complete opposites who can’t help but fall in love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I loved the flower farm setting 💐 Opal’s sisters and Pepper’s friends were amazing side characters that added so much love & humor to the story.

🌸 dual POVs
🌸 autism & neurodivergence rep
🌸 forced proximity

I was hooked right away by the opening scenes and witty writing, but I did lose a bit of steam — and the ending felt rushed to me. I think this one could’ve been a smidge shorter with the ending drawn out a bit more.

Eddings continues to write characters who feel so real and relatable.

Counting down until Mazey’s 2025 release, which is a fake-dating rom-com 🩷

One of the best sapphic romances i have ever read! This book is for my bisexual-neurodivergent-people pleaser queens and i felt so seen and validated throughout my journey reading this one.

Mazey Eddings's writing is fun, beautiful and full of emotion. This book completely blew me away and felt like a big cozy hug. I love the characters, setting, plot and mental health representation. Opal and Pepper are some of the most relatable (maybe a little to much), vulnerable and authentic characters i have ever encountered. It felt as though i was meant to find them and they were meant to find me. The chemistry, connection and unwavering empathy towards each other is what i hope for anyone in a relationship. Both Opal and Pepper taught me how to be more compassionate, patient and understanding. They are a beautiful reminder that my mental illness, trauma and grief is just a small part of who i am and does not defy all of me. The representation in this book, the anxiety and the constant spiraling was so well done. Late Bloomer had some of the sweetest most tender moments that really pulled my heartstrings and made me cry multiple times. The spicy scenes were so wholesome and i was shocked at how hot but also tender the moments were. The tension was amazing!!! The chemistry!!! just everything about this book is perfect!!!

read if you love: queer romances, mental health rep, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, grief and healing, flower farm setting, autism representation, found family.

Content Warnings: Abusive & Absent Parent

For the sex repulsed, this book features multiple, graphic sex scenes, with the first one being multiple chapters long.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I wanted to like this book, as neurodivergent representation and LGBTQ+ representation matters a ton to me. I thought that Pepper’s neurodivergent variety (autism) was handled better than Opal’s (undiagnosed), though I know some neurospicy people may disagree. I didn’t mind Opal being undiagnosed as much as her making no moves to adapt her maladaptive (and self-destructive) behaviors aside from avoiding alcohol. Pepper, who falls under the general label of queer, and Opal as bisexual I thought were both done well.

The plot of this novel was beyond contrived, as neither winning a lottery nor wills/property sales work the way this book says they do – but even if suspend my disbelief on those areas, the rest of the story I found to be boring. Opal and Pepper’s relationship seems primarily physical, the most interesting idea of the novel (the flower competition) underdeveloped, and two sets of protagonists dropped in at the beginning and very end but with no real connection to the rest of the story.

I don’t think this book is bad as much as not to my taste, hence the 3 stars.

Late Bloomer was the perfect spring sapphic story that everyone should have on their TBR. I loved the whole atmosphere of the flower farm, Thistle and Bloom, that I wanted to visit it in real life! I have to say I related a lot to Opal since I am also a big people pleaser, not as bad as she is, but enough where it has hindered by everyday life and my friends are like WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!! So all the problems she dealt with, because of that, I related a 100% too. Also, Opal and Pepper did get into a lot of arguments throughout the book but I like how once they went over everything later and knew they were in the wrong, they would apologize to the other person and communicate how they were feeling in that moment and why they reacted the way they did.

It is so fun when an author puts a new twist on the traditional romance. Mazey Eddings introduces the reader to Opal Devlin, a recently single bi female who is striving to heal her heart from betray. On her birthday, she receives a scratch off lottery ticket which pays off. Soon, Opal's ex lover and ex best friend are eager to make amends. In an effort to escape temptation, she impulsively sinks the bulk of her winnings into a flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina. When she arrives at the property to set up her art studio, she discovers it is already occupied. Pepper Boden has lived and worked at the farm since she was a teenager and is unaware that her wayward mother has sold the farm out from under her. Pepper takes an instant dislike to Opal, who she sees as an interloper intent on stealing her future. Opal is ready to concede as she always does and attempts to work a compromise. No one is surprised when their dislike turns to attraction. Eddings is an adept author and know how to build tension between potential lovers. Eddings books are spicy and the payoff of the slow burn is a treat. One more book and I will be an Eddings completist. Hope she writes more soon.

I loved this book so much! I loved the flower farm, the art aspects, and the enemies to lovers romance! Pepper and Opal were complete opposites but I so enjoyed watching them fall in love.

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this one and can't wait for more Mazey Eddings books to come!

Late Bloomer, in true Mazey Eddings fashion, focuses on the capers of intensely written neurodiverse characters. This book features perspectives not only on ADHD and autism, but quite a few queer characters as well. This was a sweet enemies to lovers tale with lots of ups and downs and a cast of friends (and frenemies) that began to feel like family. It took me a bit longer to get through this one that some of her other stories, most likely due to the younger age of the characters and the focus on their own personal issues and lack of communication which causes frustration when reading. I enjoyed this book!

mazey eddings the writer that you are
i will read and LOVE anything she writes and I’m so glad she wrote this book, especially with that dedication
five million stars for opal, pepper and ever single flower on that farm

This was a sweet novel about the main character Opal trying to figure herself and her life out. She recognizes she has been being used by people and wants a fresh start. She found one, but then maybe she thinks been duped by this one she bought land from. She finds that Pepper is still living there. They are both confused but can figure out how to help one another. A sweet and nice novel. 3.5 - 4 stars.

Absolutely loved getting to meet Opal and Pepper and reading their story. Beautiful story about love, loss, adjusting to change and discovering your path when you feel lost.

3.75/5 stars rounded up.

This book was nothing groundbreaking, but super cute nonetheless.

I loved the flower farm setting and the neurodivergence representation through both our main characters. The romance was also super wholesome and made me awwww out loud on multiple occasions.

Overall, an adorable read perfect for this time of the year.

I’m such a big fan of Mazey Eddings’ books, with their amazing love stories, complex characters, and neurodivergent representation, I will read anything she writes!

Late Bloomer was such an anticipated read of mine and I had such a great time reading it! I loved the plot and the setting of a flower farm. It’s such a great read for spring/summer.

The pacing felt a little rushed to me with how the relationship between Opal and Pepper developed, but their love story was still beautiful and I really enjoyed reading it!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

2.5 stars
I had a hard time getting through this one but I'm glad I stuck with it!
Unfortunately, this book didn't have much in the way of plot and nothing about it really pulled me in. The first act felt like it was getting pulled in multiple different directions and I had a hard time gaining my footing once I had a grasp of where we were going. I had a hard time feeling compelled to finish it because of this. I thought the book felt a little juvenile and I didn't feel like the characters were super likeable either. I felt like I had more of a vested interest in the health of Opal's hair than any other part of the book. I really wish I liked this more, and maybe it was just the timing, but unfortunately this was really tough to get through for me.

I was excited about this one based on the hype and that it was sapphic but it just didn’t land as well as I wanted it to for me. I did LOVE Pepper’s vulnerability and how she and Opal communicated through everything.

Opal goes from minimum wage to millionaire overnight! Sounds like a dream come true, right? Wrong! Turns out, winning the lottery can be a total buzzkill, especially when everyone around you starts acting like dollar signs with legs. Opal decides to trade the city life for a fixer-upper flower farm except there's already a gorgeous (and admittedly grumpy) woman named Pepper living there and claiming ownership! Can Opal turn this blooming disaster into a blooming friendship (or maybe even a romance?)

I don’t think I liked Opal… or Pepper… so I couldn’t root for them necessarily. I did appreciate their vulnerable pasts but thought they were both kinda …. Not nice people?? IDK just didn’t work for me

Mazey Eddings has blown us all out of the water AGAIN. Opal and Pepper's story is so different and unique compared to other storied by Eddings (but in the best way possible). I loved this novel so much. I laughed so much and this story made my heart feel warm and fuzzy. Highly recommend!
💕
"I'm not sure the exact moment we switched roles, but Opal’s grumpiness makes it feel like sunshine is radiating through my veins." AHH!!