"These flowers are wrapped around my bones. They're pieces of me; the beautiful pieces, at least."

"I miss her. I'll always miss her, but ... it's a beautiful ache, a sacred, precious reminder of how much love I hold for her."

"My love for you exists because you exist."

On Wednesdays we read pink! Talk about a sweet, heartwarming, and utterly vulnerable sapphic romance. How beautiful is that book cover too?!?

Mazey Eddings' characters are just so human and lovable, and the fact that both Opal and Pepper are neurodivergent (Opal with ADHD and Pepper with autism) endeared them to me even more. Mazey has the incredible knack of writing stories that are inclusive and help break the mental illness stigma. She and her characters have such strong voices, and Opal and Pepper are no exception. They simply want to be loved for who they are, and I was so happy that they found each other.

The Thistle and Bloom, a gorgeous flower farm in North Carolina, was the perfect setting for this story. Though I'm a terrible plant mom, simply reading about this farm's blooms made me want to give it another go because Mazey writes about them with such gentle, beautiful detail. It's clear that she is a flower lover herself, and I could almost smell the sweet fragrances the various flowers emitted as I read Late Bloomer. Pepper's flashbacks and memories of Grandma Lou teaching her how to nurture plants and flowers touched my heart, as well.

The romance between Opal and Pepper was steamy, but in my humble opinion, it could have developed a little more slowly. While I appreciated and enjoyed the romantic plotline, I found myself more captured by Opal and Pepper's relationships with Pepper's friends and Opal's sisters, as well as the living art floral competition and the efforts to keep the Thistle and Bloom afloat. That's where the story really shined for me.

Mazey also crafted some truly unlikable characters in Miles, Trish, and Lainey. Barfola.

And I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved @elliegossage 's narration! Her voices for both Opal and Pepper were distinct, and I was also impressed with her English accent!

Lastly, I adored Mazey's explanation of how she came to the title Late Bloomer, and appreciated the symbolism of the flowers used throughout the book.

Late Bloomer hits shelves April 16, so get those pre-orders and library holds in now, and if you can, give the audiobook a listen because it is a treat!

Let’s start with what this book is about—Opal strikes it lucky when she wins the lottery and impulsively purchases a flower farm in Asheville. Little does she know her luck was quite short lived as a beautiful girl named Pepper was already living there. To make things right, Opal proposes a plan for Pepper to stay and work together on the farm to make back the money she’d spent buying the place. From there, this book took me through quite a ride.

For starters, the things I liked about the book, I really liked! From the nuance of alcoholism, to the incredible complexity of the autistic mind and the struggles that come along with it, to grief and the hardship of being too empathetic—too people-pleasing. All of these topics were handled beautifully and for that, I really loved this book.

However, I didn’t feel that the characters were particularly fleshed out early on in the book, causing me to not feel connected to them—though, sharing similar struggles, I felt I *should* have felt that way.

Overall this was a lighthearted read with a bit of romance and a loose plot—a nice book to read if you’re looking for a sapphic romance and want something that will be easy and quick to read.

This was a very cute story that I think most people looking for a sweet, sapphic romance will enjoy. There's nothing super memorable about it, but that's okay! Not every book needs to hold so much weight that it sticks in your mind forever - this is a nice way to turn your brain off for a few hours and just enjoy life.

Pepper and Opal are both flawed characters who work well together when they're not having constant miscommunication issues. Pepper is autistic and Opal might be too (she doesn't have a proper label, which is okay), so neither is very good about bringing up their feelings to avoid conflict. Instead, they try to avoid conflict by talking around their feelings which then leads to more miscommunications.

Overall, this is a 3.5 that I rounded down to a 3 for a few reasons.

1) Side characters are introduced and given pretty good personalities... and then they just disappear. Literally - all the "villain" characters don't exist until they're needed to move some form of plot along, and all the friends/sisters hang out for one or two scenes before disappearing. It just felt weird... where did they go?
2) The CONSTANT miscommunication gets annoying to read about, even if it may be more plausible in real life.
3) Dialogue felt a bit silly at times (but overall, I think this book did a good job speaking about hard topics)
4) There is character growth at some points but most of Opal's issues resolve themself without her doing much (at least in my opinion - others may disagree and that's okay! It didn't take me out of the book)

I think that most people will like this book - just be prepared that it is VERY spicy at times, so don't expect closed door romance. Lots of fun, would recommend!

Friends, this book was so freaking cute. A Sapphic romance with a bit of forced proximity that I thoroughly enjoyed! It was one for the books!

We have Opal, one of our FMC's whose comes upon an unreal opportunity to finally take control of her life and cater to her own wants and needs - only to have that choice clash with the life of Pepper, our other FMC who runs the Thistle and Bloom Flower Farm - and currently navigating a farm crisis.
Considering the story takes place on a flower farm, there was so much astounding imagery implemented throughout the entire book - from the description of the thistle and bloom farms to the BLOOMing relationship between Pepper and Opal - I was just enveloped in this story.
Opal and Pepper's relationship can literally be described as LOVE IN BLOOM - and I ate this up.

Their blooming of their relationship coincided with their own personal blooming and the becoming of the flower farm in general- and it was just *chefs kiss.* How they felt their relationship out, how they navigated their denial and eventual acceptance of their feelings - was explored in such a wholesome way. There is a neurodiverse aspect in this book that I think the author explored so well. Specifically with Pepper's Autism and how she communicates thoughts and feelings with others. There was patience and balance from all sides in the story and it's something you have to appreciate!

The supporting characters were both incredibly wonderful and completely horrible in the best way (I honestly wish we got a bit more side character action though). The storyline was fun, the story was enticing and enjoyable. The narrator, Ellie Gossage, was incredible and did an unreal job of capturing each character while ensuring you get the full emotional range of the story while listening!

lastly, the authors note at the end of the book provided so much wonderful insight for the intentionality behind the use of all the flowers and their placement in each part of the story - and only makes you appreciate the love and thoughtfulness put into the story after you finish.
Overall, LOVE.

Favourite quotes from the book:
"I'd play any type of fool to make her laugh"
"I used to love silence more than oxygen. But for some unhinged reason, I like noise when it’s coming from opal”
"Sappho didn’t recite epic tales or yell at gods, Her poems spoke softly, as intimate as confessions between lovers, about the terrible wonderful ache of being in love "
" She holds my heart. And nothing is perfect but everything is right."


Thank you @macmillanaudio and @netgalley for the ARC of Late Bloomer!!

I'm obsessed with Opal and Pepper. This is the second Mazy Eddings book I've read and I plan on reading more. Their story was sweet and I loved that it had the depth of both characters cared deeply for the well-being of their partner. Sometimes I feel that is overlooked in a lot of romances but this hit it perfectly.

This book started off so well, but it really lost me in the middle. These characters take forever to make any decisions and it really started to annoy me. I also think I would have liked this more if I hadn't read any other books by the author, but since i have, this seemed very similar and repetitive.

This book hit me right in the FEELS! The premise was great-a young woman wins the lottery, impulsively buys a flower farm, finds out the farm wasn't quite as unoccupied as she was led to believe, and then is forced to live with and team up with the woman who runs the farm. The characters were really well rounded and I was extremely invested in their lives and feelings. Mazey Eddings writes really fleshed out characters who I want to read about! The tropes in the book were great-enemies to lovers + forced proximity + friends with benefits= ooops we caught feelings! The chemistry between the two main characters, Pepper and Opal, was really believable, as was the way the romance progressed as the story went on. I loved the two of them together, and how they stood up for each other. There was also great neurodiversity rep in the book, and while I can't speak from experience, the way Eddings wrote about her neurodiversity characters was with real respect and care. Other things I loved in the book-there was a Lizzie Blake shoutout! And a caretaking scene, which are my absolute favorite. The side characters were also great, I really hope we get to revisit them and their stories in future books!
The audio narration for this book was AMAZING. Even though it was one narrator, she had a different voice for each main characters, and it was easy to tell which character was speaking. Even the side characters voices were distinct. The whole audiobook was dynamic and kept my attention the whole way through! Definitely would recommend listening to it on audio.

This was a cute story! I loved the neurodivergent rep and that it was about to women finding love. This was definitely more of a feel good romance and I really enjoyed it. Grumpy sunshine trope was done really well. The narrator was really good and I loved the changing povs!

Did I pick this up because the cover is gorgeous? Maybe. But I also love Mazey Eddings, especially Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake, so that factored into my decision as well!

I absolutely loved it. At first I was concerned because Opal is surrounded by some terrible characters at first, and I just can’t handle reading a book where someone is getting bullied by their “friends” the whole time. But, her roommate might be a nightmare but here sisters are super supportive and delightful - so the book quickly turned around for me.

The set up was fantastic - the stakes for the flower farm were perfect for a romance. The opposites attract was everything I could ever want. The found family? So wonderful.

I wish I could go into more depth but I read it so quickly that all I really have are vibes to give you.

🎧 Narrator Ellie Gossage does an excellent job creating a cast of characters that is easy to distinguish between. Late Bloomer was excellent as an audiobook!

A dreamer of an artist collides with a second generation flower farmer in this slow burn queer romance set on a beautiful flower farm in Asheville.

Opal Devlin has dreams of moving to NYC to pursue her art, while languishing in a demeaning minimum wage job surrounded by less than stellar friends. After winning the lottery, she impulsively buys a flower farm in Asheville off of Facebook Marketplace (girlie pop, what!). There she meets Pepper Smith, the granddaughter of the recently deceased owner (and daughter of the deadbeat seller). Pepper is less than thrilled by the prospect of being left homeless and jobless so Opal offers Pepper a way to buy back the farm, including letting her stay at the cabin. Romantic hijinks quickly ensue as the two women are thrust together.

The romance between Opal and Pepper heats up with Opal breaking down Pepper’s facade - Pepper is the prototypical black cat girlfriend, standoffish to Opal’s sunny, optimistic disposition. Actually, Pepper is insanely stand-offish lol. Not sure if that was meant to be a character trait of her autism (she doesn't trust people because she has trouble reading them maybe), but her initial distrust of Opal is pretty deep despite the fact that she agrees TO LIVE in the SAME cabin as her?? Regardless, they eventually act on their attraction, entering into a "no feelings" sex relationship (because we all know "banging the tension out" never ends in catching the feels right??).

My take: The spicy scenes are top notch, kudos to Mazey, A+, no notes! The two MCs also find ways to communicate their needs despite their vast differences, and support each other as they grow in their relationship (Pepper telling off Opal's horrid friends, for one!). Opal’s sisters are also an absolute highlight - everyone deserves a hype team like that.

The only real (small) bone I have to pick with this book is the fact that Opal’s family doesn’t sit her down after winning the lottery to make sure she was READY for the RESPONSIBILITY - ugh. I knew it was coming and I understand it as a plot device (and a demonstration of Opal's impulsive behaviors) but still. Financial responsibility is sexy, ok?? But I supposed without it, we wouldn't have this lovely romance so I'm not going to complain.

Financial literacy not withstanding, this is a feel-good romance that will leave you aching for a trip to North Carolina!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the ARC.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. To be published soon! April 16th! Mark your calendars!

This book was an absolute riot of fun. First things first, just a disclaimer from me to you: don’t tell people if you win the lottery in the real life. Just don’t. Chances are you will not have a meet ugly with the hot local lesbian and end up cohabiting with her on her adorable flower farm. I just… had to get that out there. I did really enjoy this book though, as a fellow ADHD whose partner is on the spectrum, some of this was very relatable. I too once changed my hair color at the drop of a hat just to feel something. Because I have a unique perspective of this, I did have some minor cringe and second hand embarrassment a couple times. Communication is key in any relationship, but oh my god, please do not assume that your autistic partner has picked up on something. They haven’t. I can almost guarantee you that they probably haven’t.

But honestly? Other than the second hand embarrassment, I don’t have much bad to say about this book. I was a little concerned considering how much Opal lets people walk over her to start with (hi, yes, also a chronic people pleaser here) but that did improve pretty quickly. This was a very cute novel with an adorable premise and some surprisingly intense spice. Definitely would recommend!

5⭐️

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally for an honest review.

oh my god… am I Opal?? This book was cute, cheesy, and everything I wanted it to be. The cover is just as beautiful as its content! As a neurodivergent gal myself, I loved the representation and several accurate takes of how our brains work. Ellie does an amazing job with her narration bringing this story to life, making you feel everything as deeply as our characters. 1000 times yes to everything in this book, possibly my favorite sapphic book I’ve read.

A forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine sapphic romance -- need I say more? Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me a bit. While I adored the premise I just couldn't quite connect with the characters or their relationship. Too insta-lusty? Not enough emotional connection? Not enough conflict or angst? I just felt like I needed more from all of it.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narration was really enjoyable! The narrator did a great job at portraying both characters (I honestly thought there were two narrators!) and brought the story to life. It was easy to listen to and I binged the audiobook in a couple of sittings.

With all of that said, this is great for someone looking for a light, cozy romance. The writing was great, the LGBTQ & neurodivergent rep was great, and I certainly will be checking out more of Mazey's work in the future.

ALC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copies of Late Bloomer!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

Mazey Eddings! You are amazing! Late Bloomer was so adorable and while I’ve absolutely loved every single book by this author, this one is my new favorite! Everything about this book was just pure perfection. The setting, the characters, the premise, the competition. All of it. Just so perfect and so well done. I cannot recommend this one enough!

After winning the lottery on a scratch off ticket, Opal decides to get away from everyone knocking on her door for a handout, and puts all of her new money into a failing flower farm in Asheville, NC. Her plan is to use the cabin on the property to start her own painting business. But upon her arrival, she’s greeted by a gorgeous, but grumpy woman she comes to find out is Pepper, who states she is the owner of the farm is refuses to move out. The two strike up a an agreement and plan to both stay on the farm together. Will Pepper and Opal be able to work out their differences and be able to live together on the farm? Or is there more at risk?

Seriously, this book is just so good! I loved the flower competition aspect and how that brings Opal and her sisters and Pepper and her friends together. I also really love how the grief aspect is intertwined into the story. I just felt like everything was so well done. And the notes on flowers at the end! Don’t skip that part!

🎧I started with the physical book, but quickly moved to the audiobook once I realized it was narrated by Ellie Gossage. I LOVED Gossage as the narrator. I loved how smoothly she flowed between Opal and Pepper and just felt like her performance was flawless. I cannot recommend this audiobook enough. You are in for a real treat with Gossage as the narrator. Seriously. Listen to this one if that’s an option for you. You will not be disappointed!

🌺Grumpy x Sunshine
🌺Forced Proximity (Roommates)
🌺Neurodiverse Representation
🌺Sapphic Romance
🌺Lots of Spice!
🌺Grief and Healing
🌺Enemies to Lovers

Posted on Goodreads on April 9, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 16, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 16, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Did I enjoy this book? Eh. But is that solely due to the fact that I just think I don't care for contemporary books that much? Yes. For what the book is, it did the job. But for me? The lack of action coupled with the only conflict being a staggering and honestly annoying amount of miscommunication was driving me up the wall. At least with some other contemporary books I've read at least a little something happens but I felt like absolutely nothing happened.

TLDR; If you like contemporary Sapphic books then read this. You'll enjoy it. It's fun and sweet and has some descriptive sex scenes. It just wasn't personally for me because I like a bit more action in my stories.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I thought the narration was well performed and fit the characters personalities. The mix of emotion, love and humor was a perfect balance. So glad to get the opportunity to listen to this sapphic romance!

A Mazey Eddings novel truly is ‘sugar and spice and everything nice!’

I thoroughly enjoyed this sapphic romance that was filled with joy, vivid descriptions, witty banter, angst, insecurities, acceptance, artistry, friendships, sibling love, healing, flowers, spicy romance, and neurodivergent representation.

I loved that the characters didn’t try to change each other but worked to sort out their own and each other’s feelings (although they do avoid each other when embarrassed or unsure). I thought Opal and Pepper complimented each other really well, despite being opposites. This made for an entertaining read that had me laughing out loud at times. Opal’s sisters and Pepper’s friends are incredibly supportive, kind, and very entertaining adding an extra layer of depth.

I also thought that grief of a loved one was handled gently with a lot of heart and acceptance. And when you finish this book, if you want to talk about Pepper’s mother, I have a lot of thoughts, and I’m sure you will too.

I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading and really enjoyed both formats. The audiobook narrator was able to give the characters distinct voices, which really helped bring both Opal and Pepper to life. Though if I were reading this with others around I’d definitely use headphones or the ebook during the spice because those scenes are spicy!

<If you like a more chaste romance book, this might not be the tale for you>.

Thank you to NetGalley Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the advance ebook and audio books of this fantastic title. Mazey Eddings I loved “Late Bloomer!”

Available for preorder now and on shelves next Tuesday, April 16.

#romancefiction #romance #sapphicfiction #stmartinspress #stmartinsgriffin #romanticcomedy #mazeyeddings #latebloomer #macmillanaudio #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgeek #booknerd #romancereader #comingsoon #sapphicromancebooks

This is one of my favorite sapphic romances I’ve ever read. It was just so cute. I loved opal and her people pleasing self. Watching her starting to put herself first was just so idk perfect. The representation in this book was excellent as well. Spice was great. I will definitely recommend this book and be checking out other books by Mazey.

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 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!

So everything above this is back from when I reviewed the ARC and after listening to the ALC, I've some more thoughts. Yup, I still like the MCs and love the scenery, but the book's lost some of its initial spark. Sometimes I felt there was too much emphasis on a character's emotions- telling instead of showing. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I was too in love with everything the first time and now without the rose-tinted glasses, I see how this is far from perfect.

When Opal, an artist, wins the lottery she purchases a flower farm sight unseen. Opal arrives at the farm to find that it’s not unoccupied. Pepper, the granddaughter of the flower farm owner, is surprised to find that her mom sold the farm without her knowledge. The cheerful Opal and grumpy Pepper live together on the farm. Opal wants to help Pepper earn money to buy back the farm and together they enter a flower competition.

Flowers, love and personal growth bloom in this book. I love the tropes - forced proximity and opposites attract. I was expecting the story to be a little more about saving the farm and their romance. Instead it was a lot about the characters self reflecting.

The characters are quirky and very likable. I thought them starting out as no strings attached as a little odd because they clearly had an undeniable romantic connection. Their sexual attraction and the spice was top notch. This book was a nice, easy romance read.

I enjoyed the audiobook. The voices captured their personalities nicely and helped me differentiate the POVs.

At the end of the book the author gives an explanation of the flowers and it was really interesting. I also enjoyed her commentary on the book title controversy.

I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of Mazey Eddings, sapphic romances and opposites attract love stories.