I adored this book! 🌷💕

Opal wins the lottery and spontaneously buys a flower farm. She meets Pepper who works and lives on the farm. The two begrudgingly come together to save the failing farm. It’s not long until their friendship turns into more..💜

This is a cute and fun read but it also had a lot of depth. Both of these characters are relatable and complex. The neurodivergent representation was handled well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a happy feel good book! If you enjoy small town romance and the LGBTQ this is definitely for you! A few times were a little cliche and it was pretty cheesy but I enjoyed it thoroughly. The cover is amazing, the narrator was fantastic!

Not great but not awful. A pretty run of the mill contemporary romance. Great sapphic and neurodivergent representation. The general plot is very Hallmark-y and really sweet.
It meets the usual cringe threshold for this type of book and I try to be forgiving of it as it’s just to be expected but I really have a hard time with it.
If you’re looking for a cute and lighthearted story this one is if you.

I think this was my first audiobook by this narrator and I liked them a lot. Pepper and Opal had very distinct personalities through their voice and I really enjoyed the performance.
Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the audio arc.

This was such a cute, and steamy grumpy x sunshine romcom!

Opal and Pepper are thrown together into a making the best of it situation after Opal purchases Pepper’s flower farm from the latter’s manipulative mother.

The instant connection between the two is electric, and while the push and pull was short, it was still angsty enough for my liking.

Pepper and Opal are both neurodivergent. While Opal discusses the hardships of trying to find a diagnosis (time, money) and decides to settle on simply calling herself neurodivergent, Pepper is autistic. Autism rep in books has come such a long way in the last 10 years, with a ton of added nuance to the characters and the diverse spectrum that is autism. I thought the author handled this well!

I found the romance to be adorable really endearing. These two are so into one another, but keep refusing to give in to the feelings they have. The physical burn was fast, but the emotional burn was much slower.

There are a couple TW’s I could think of with this book, specifically: gaslighting, manipulation, death of a loved one and discussions of alcohol dependency.

I thought this was so cute and steamy sapphic read, and would totally recommend this romcom to others!

Late Bloomer is such a sweet sapphic romance novel between Opal and Pepper. I loved reading about the character’s growth individually and reading how they grew together as well. There were so many funny moments throughout the novel, but also some moments that really made me reflect on my upbringing and childhood. I am one of three girls so I love that Opal has two sisters :) Overall, a wonderful book that kept me interested from the start! Ellie Gossage did a wonderful job narrating this book! Thank you NetGalley, Mazey Eddings, and Mcmillian Audio for an audio ARC of Late Bloomers for an exchange of my honest review!

This was a lovely romance book. It was sweet and passionate and I enjoyed listening to it thoroughly. It was incredibly cheesy as a fluffy romance book should be. I appreciate that books like this for a sapphic audience exists.
There was a lot that was good and sweet and overall I enjoyed it. A lot of the conflict between them felt very manufactured. I know it’s easy when looking in from the outside to point out that one or both of them is being unreasonable/unnecessarily internal. All the times Opal assumed what Pepper was thinking or wanted I wanted to rip my hair out, not just because I knew that wasn’t what pepper was thinking but because I couldn’t understand why Opal would behave that way! Again, of course it’s easier to see from the outside looking in, and I know part of the conflict was that they were both working through issues and feelings of inadequacy, but the conflict felt too manufactured at times.
I was very confused when they set up their rules for hooking up because I didn’t understand why they were setting hard boundaries when they so obviously liked each other. It seemed like they didn’t know either.
All in all it was a fun nice book. I was NOT expecting the smut when it popped up since the book had been clean and romantic for a full half of the book but it was very well written and felt true to sapphic love.

After Opal wins the lottery, she packs up her bags and buys a flower farm, site unseen. The problem? The woman she bought it from, her daughter still lives there…

My Thoughts:
My favorite thing about Mazey’s books is how she writes neurodivergent representation so, so well. She writes these amazing characters that I just want to hug.

This one wasn’t my favorite of hers though. A lot of things just didn’t add up to me - for example she won some lottery money, not a lot, and ALL her acquaintances come out of the woodwork to use her for such an amount, the My Chemical Romance references when they’re 24 and would have been 5 when MCR was popular, how much of a doormat Opal was. BUT it was a cute light read, and had me chuckling several times. If you like flower farms and want a light read, it’s great for that.

What You’ll Find In This Book:
🌸 Sapphic Romance
🌸 Flower farm
🌸 Opposites Attract
🌸 Only One Bed
🌸 Forced Proximity
🌸 Neurodivergent Rep

3.5 Stars // I love Mazey Eddings. I think she's so talented and I'm always pulled into her stories. Late Bloomer was no exception. There was SO much to love about this story. Queer/bisexual rep, mental health rep, autism & neurodivergent rep, grump x sunshine main characters, great humor and banter, etc. That said, the story fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure why? I think the plot just wasn't big enough. I needed more and was a bit bored.

That said, I still enjoyed this story and do recommend adding it to your LGBTQIA+ TBR. I also loved the audiobook. Ellie Gossage did a wonderful job and I'd absolutely listen to an audiobook narrated by them again!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

This was my first book by Mazey and the narrator, Ellie and wow. What a dream team. One, the book was absolutely hilarious and the writing was incredible. I appreciated the various little details that totally pulled me into the story and made me fall in love with the characters right away. Two, I have never read a romance book where both of the characters were neurodivergent and I have never felt more validated. The narrator did incredible job separating the two main characters, like incredible! So often I have to pause an audio book and mentally remind myself who is talking, but with this audio version I didnt have to do that at all, because their voices and tones were so different. I wish I had 5 more books with to read from Mazey and Ellie together.

This book was exactly what I expected it to be based off of the cover, and I lowkey love that predictability. If you are a fan of a typical "grumpy/sunshine" or "forced proximity" romance, queer and neurodivergence representation, and a lil bit of spice, then this book is definitely one for you! It was cozy and cute, and the characters felt real and relatable. I could see myself in the characters of this story, and that made it a quick and easy read!

My only criticisms come in the *slightly* cringy dialogue, coupled with the easily resolved conflicts... but honestly, isn't that the point of a cozy romance novel? I did think that the "villains" of the story were unnecessary, as they really didn't do much to drive the plot, other than giving Pepper the opportunity to stand up for Opal. That may just be me, though!

I've never read anything by this author before, but I will definitely be reaching for another one of her books! Thank you NetGalley, the author, and her publisher for the ARC! I truly enjoyed my time with this story! 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for this rating!

P.S. the narrator's voice for Pepper was IT!!! 10/10 on that alone!

mazey eddings is one of those authors that when i pick up one of her books i am guaranteed to have the best time. her novels/couples stick with me and leave me *feeling* all the feels. she writes mental health in such a relatable way that you can’t help but feel seen within the pages of her novels and late bloomers did just that.

there was something so special about this book. getting to witness opal + pepper (my neurodivergent cuties) bloom into their truest selves while over coming many obstacles together was so heartwarming. i related to opal, a chronic people pleaser, with her constant need of saying yes (even if she didn’t want to), craving others love, and just wanting to feel wanted and cherished. watching their chemistry and tension build was 🥵!!!! did i mention this is all taking place on a freaking flower farm? talk about a DREAM!!!!! 🌷☁️🎨☀️

the cover is truly one of my favs ever. like 🤩

i got approved for the audio arc and it was so well done and executed. the voice actor did an amazing job portraying opal and pepper!!!

pub date: april 16th!!!

Late Bloomer is a wonderful sapphic love story. This was such a unique read. I want to start by saying that Ellie Gossage narration of this book was FANTASTIC! I love the emotion and inflection she brought to Opal and Pepper (and even Trish) was just - FANTASTIC!! Everything about this pairing was wonderful. I think it's the best way to experience this novel.

This was such a unique story and I'm so happy that I read/listened to it. This story has so many things! From grief and loss, letting go of what was and stepping into what is, a precious flower farm with an amazing found family, forced proximity ( there's only one cabin), autism rep, neurodivergent rep, sexual awakening, first love, the messiness of our self-doubt to the power of seeing our strengths and talent.

Eddings wrote such beautiful characters all the way around. I loved the Thistle and Bloom crew. They were such a fun, diverse group of people and their connection and love for each other was so fun to read. Opal's family was also just lovely. Her sisters had me laughing out loud several times.

Pepper and Opal are such a great couple. I loved watching them grow on each other. I really enjoyed the dual POV in this book because there was something so special about seeing each character through the other character's eyes. Eddings did a great job highlighting that some of the things we dislike about ourselves turn out to be the things someone loves most about us.

This book was such a feel-good read. The ending was just like stepping out into the sunshine a spring day. It feels like meandering on a flower farm.

Thank you to Netgalley, McMillian Audio, & Mazy Edding for an advanced copy of the audiobook of this wonderful story.

Synopsis: After winning the lottery, Opal decides to purchase a failing flower farm in North Carolina. She is ready for a change of scenery, as she just quit her job. What she didn't expect was Pepper, who claims she is rightful owner of the farms and has no intention of leaving. This unlikely duo decides to compromise by both living at Thistle and Bloom Farms. As we know, opposites + forced proximity is the perfect recipe for romance...

Thoughts: I loved the combination of sapphic romance with Mazey's neurodivergence representation. Both Pepper and Opal have their quirks, and while they certainly butt heads, they also learn from one another. Overall, another solid book from Mazey!

Read if you like
-Sapphic romance
-Neurodivergent rep
-Steam
-Opposites attract
-Forced proximity
-Flowers

I wanted to like this so badly, but I could never get around to liking Opal:( She is whiney and spineless, and I can’t stand a people pleaser. I’ve loved all of Mazey’s other books, and I would’ve loved this one too if I could have related to Opal at all. 😔

This is the ooey gooey sapphic book of your dreams. Pepper & Opal are absolutely adorable, and the setting of a flower farm is wonderful. I loved listening to this one. The narrator was great, and the story felt quick and light. Good reps, too. Highly recommend!

4.25⭐️

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and ebook! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, LGBTQ representation, opposites attract, forced proximity, neurodivergent representation, steamy

I received the audiobook and the ebook. I went between them. The audiobook was perfectly narrated. Pepper and Opal are lovable and well-developed characters. I love Opal's sisters, too. "Hot chocolate colored hair" made me laugh. I'm not sure it was supposed to. This is a very fluffy, sweet read. I recommend this!

I adored this book so much. The two main characters are so sweet and I loved their journey falling for each other. This is definitely for fans of grumpy / sunshine. After winning 500k on a lottery ticket, Opal quits her minimum wage jobs and buys a flower farm to start a new life. What she didn't expect was a beautiful (but angry) woman named Pepper to already be living there. Pepper's grandma passed away and with no will to be found, Pepper's mom sold the farm out from under her. The two women come to an agreement to both stay living there but it is not without many bumps along the way. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking into more books from this author.

Late bloomer was a really fun read! The not ideal situation love story that happens both made me smile and cringe at the relatable moments. I’m not a plant expert at all, but I am sure anyone who loves flowers will adore Peppers care and knowledge about them! I think that both the MCs neodivergent aspect added so much character and charm to the story, it wasn’t at all what I had been expecting and it made a fun dynamic of Opal and Pepper!! Even the more sensitive subject of parental neglect/emotional abuse was not as heavy as it could have been and I really appreciate the content warning before hand too! The narrator also did a wonderful job, made every character(main or side) feel as real as they were written!

SMPRomance eARC
What I've come to love about Eddings' books is how I know I'll get an adorable romance with plenty of depth and neurodivergent characters. This was one was so much fun and a book all about self-discovery and starting over. Opal bought a flower farm after winning the lottery, but Pepper was living there. It was so much fun to see how these two would figure out their situation while both trying to get what they want. This is a dual POV which made the story so fun, and I highly recommend the audio. While there was only one narrator, the voices were incredible and it was always so easy keeping the two characters straight. Such a great sapphic romance, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

This opposites attract book was set with two neurodivergent characters, Pepper, ADHD and the autistic Opal.
Opal was the sweetest, most generous, but gullible pixie with pink hair. She won five hundred thousand dollars with a scratch-off lottery ticket. Suddenly, people who had ignored her in the past were wanting a piece of her prize.

Opal wanted a new start on life, but with no financial adviser, purchased Thistle and Bloom Farms with the intention of starting a business of painting creative designs on shoes.
When she went to move in, the current occupant refused to leave, insisting that the property was rightfully hers. That set the stage for some enlightening moments when the truth was unfolded.

They agreed to cohabitate until things could be sorted out, but butted heads. Once they learned to communicate, they began to cooperate and grow on each other, providing many enjoyable moments of give and take. In addition to learning to help each other, there were precious moments of love and steamy romance.

Late Bloomer was a delightful book which was enhanced by listening to the audiobook narrated by Ellie Gossage, who added her personality to the charm.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.