The audiobook of Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is an absolute delight, bringing Tilly’s journey of self-discovery and slow-burn romance to life with warmth and charm. The narration perfectly captures her anxious, quirky inner monologue, making her struggles and triumphs feel even more intimate and relatable. Pair that with the dreamy, tender chemistry between her and Rowan, and you have an audiobook that feels like a cozy hug. With its blend of neurodivergent rep, grumpy/sunshine romance, and self-acceptance, this story shines in audio format, making every heartfelt moment even more immersive. A must-listen for romance lovers!

I reviewed this book last year on 5/1 but it somehow didn’t transfer here. This book was great, I loved how it showed the different sides of mental health and neurodivergence. I don’t feel like there are enough books showing this representation! Very good book!

"No one's ever said that to me before; that they're sorry they hurt me."

"...and then I do something I swore I'd never do, I let myself feel."

All the emotions are raw in the sweet sexy sapphic Late Bloomer by profoundly aware masterful romance author Mazey Eddings.

Sweet Opal's life changes when she wins the lottery. To get away from greedy relatives, acquaintances and once bullies now wanting to be friends, Opal buys a flower farm unseen to let the flowers grow wild while she paints. But before she's even moved in, grumpy Penny is on her doorstep proclaiming she is the rightful owner of the farm.

To say Penny is shocked when Opal suggests they live there together until it's sorted out is an over simplification. Other than her Grandma Lou, who just passed away, no one, including her abhorrent con artist mother, has ever been kind to her.

The first time listening to voice actress Ellie Gossage was a delight. She brought the innocence but also the gutsiness of Opal and the guarded heart of Penny to life. Dealing with Neurodivergent issues Opal needs quiet moments. Penny's migraines and possible ADHD needs a calming presence.

Once again, this writer brings sensitivity to real life ordeals with grace, humor and OMG spicy scenes. I mean I was blushing listening and had to switch to reading those romantic encounters. Opal and Penny's emotional love life may have developed late but they are in full bloom in the bedroom. Also, please check out the writer's hilarious notes about rejected names for this fun, steamy, sapphic romance.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In Late Bloomer, Opal wins the lottery and is quickly approached by everyone for a handout. On a whim she purchases a flower farm on Facebook Marketplace to set up her shoe painting business. But it’s not that easy because Pepper believes the farm was left to her by her grandmother. They agree to a roommate situation while they uncover the true owner and discover if they can both live out their dreams and plant roots.

This was a cozy sapphic romcom with cottage core vibes full of steam, charm, and pop culture references galore. Opal and Pepper’s messiness as they fell in love mfurther endeared them to me. It gave off the same feeling of being enveloped in a soft, fuzzy sweater and was a cute read with low angst.

What you can expect:
🌸 sapphic romance with bi representation
🌸 forced proximity
🌸 cottage core vibes
🌸 neurodivergent rep
🌸 Sunshine x grumpy
🌸 Dealing with trauma and grief

Do yourself a favor and make sure to read the Author’s Note at the end for the increasingly funny potential titles. I also loved the discussion on flower meanings and why certain flowers were used in the book.

I enjoyed Ellie Gossage’s narration and felt there was clear delineation between the main characters.

I haven't yet met a Mazey Eddings book I didn't love! Late Bloomer might be my favorite yet. Opal and Pepper are both wonderful characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their romance... dare I say... blossom?
Dad jokes aside, this was a great read and most definitely one I'll read again.

This book was such a comfort read for me. I went into it expecting your typical sapphic romance, but got so much more. I loved the ADHD and Autism rep in this and felt it added to the story and wasn't just shoehorned in to check some boxes. It obviously helps that the author is neurodivergent herself, but that doesn't always mean they get it right. This one did (for me). It was both sweet and spicy and such a delightful listen. I enjoyed the audiobook sooooo much - it felt that the actors did the two characters perfectly. I don't typically love the miscommunication, but I felt this one was done well and wasn't distracting or infuriating the way many other romance authors do it. I will definitely be re-reading this book in the future.

Unfortunately a DNF for me. I went through half of the book and it was just not for me and couldn’t keep my attention. I will not be recommending this book to my followers but I hope other readers enjoy this one more than I did

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Following winning the lottery, Opal wants to follow her dream of owning a farm and she ends up in a predicament with Pepper, who is currently living there and had no idea that it had sold.

Late Bloomer is chock full of fun moments for those that enjoy small town romance, forced proximity and want a book with neurodivergent representation. The cover is absolutely stunning, the narration is great and the moments are heartfelt. I highly recommend this book and look forward to future releases from this author!

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.

I really enjoyed the narration. Felt the reading pace was enjoyable and the dialogue brought the characters to life.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute sapphic romance that featured not just one but two strong female leads! Both leads are neurodivergent as is the author and that lends an authenticity to the voices of these two characters.

I enjoyed the flower farm setting even if the overall premise was pretty wild! There was a lot going on which made some of the plot hard to follow. I enjoyed where this one ended up though. The characters felt so genuine that it just really made me smile to read it.

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

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #latebloomer #mazeyeddings

cute! not a ton of chemistry between the leads in my opinion, which made it a little hard to really root for them. would like to read more lgbtq main couples from mazey!

This book has everything: lottery winnings gone wrong, a flower farm escape, and a grumpy-sunshine romance that’ll hook from go. Opal Devlin thought winning the jackpot would solve her problems—wrong. Now, she’s fleeing with a bruised heart, big dreams, and a failing flower farm. Enter Pepper the rightful owner who refuses to vacate the premises. Their argument are infuriating and hilarious.

- flower chaos
- an artist's soul
- sizzling chemistry
- tension, banter, and reluctant teamwork

Opal is soft and a little lost, while Pepper is all bark, but with the deepest of roots. Watching these two find common ground—and themselves—while trying not to fall in love is pure joy.

This is a story about fresh starts, healing from heartbreak, and the beauty of finding someone who sees you for who you really are. If you love slow burns, stubborn heroines, and stories full of heart, this one’s for you!

Four stars rounded up because of the sex scenes. The missing star is because I hate it when the big breakup scene is due to simple miscommunication. It felt even more so in this one because Opal should have expected Pepper's reaction.

I spent the day at home, as I am not feeling well and did not go to work. I was going to pick up this one between periods of rest, but instead I read it in one sitting instead of resting! Sure Opal is too naïve and sure the book has a Hollywood ending, but it does not enter Hallmark movie territory. (I still cannot with In the Event of Love my eyes will never not roll when I think of how sickly sweet that one was.)

When I finished reading this one I wondered if we are in a Renaissance of Sapphic romances. It feels like so many authors are producing great stories with diverse representation. I cannot wait to see what Alison Cochrun, Ashley Herring Blake, and Jennifer Dugan will have in store!

Such an adorable book. Listened while travelling even though normally I'm not a huge audiobook fan. Sure to be a sapphic classic in the romance sphere!

I’m such a Mazey Eddings fan, and loved this opposites attract, sapphic romance! The flower farm, the great cast of characters, and the swoony story. I ate it right up

I paired the book and audio and loved them both, great narration, and highly recommend.

*many thanks to SMP, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I requested this because I really enjoyed Edding's books before, and I live for a good sapphic romance. while I liked both characters individually i wasn't super invested in their relationship, and I found they lacked chemistry which was honestly super disappointing for me. The narrator does okay but I did feel a lot of their voices for side characters where very similar which did make some parts hard to follow because I couldn't tell who was supposed to be talking.

I love Mazey and this book was no different!

Late Bloomer was just the book I was looking for. Opal and Pepper are perfect for each other and them maintaining a lower farm together is such a cute idea!

The audiobook was done well, I enjoyed the production thoroughly.

Late Bloomer was a fun read. I enjoyed the aesthetic and I think the main couple work well together. I did, however, think the pacing could have been better, particularly in the last thirdish of the book, and I felt that the characters, especially the side characters, were quite one dimensional. I also wish more was done with Opal’s shoe painting career, as it was so hyped up but we barely got to see it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this but don’t plan on reading it again.

Docking one star for a little too much spice for my taste.

Cutesy, fun, and queer. These two characters are so very different, but somehow were made to be together. The journey from start to finish was up and down, but very enjoyable. I would heartily read the sequel to this book. Can we make this happen, Mazey?

I really appreciated the flower lexicon at the end of the book, as well as the background story from the author about how the book’s title was chosen. It was a nice touch to end with.

Recommended to readers of queer romance who enjoy some sapphic spice.

(I received this ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.)