This was 3.5-4 stars for me!

I loved the sapphic dynamics and the plot itself was cute. I just felt like it was a bit cringe at times and the pop culture references were many.

The overall story flowed well and the characters were likeable, but the overall vibes just weren't my cup of tea.

I am sitting here having just finished this story and just feeling. Feeling calm. Feeling happy. Smiling. This book was amazing. I loved the descriptions of the Thistle and Bloom, I felt like I could close my eyes and when I opened them I would be there. I wish I could be there. Both MCs are neurodivergent representation and there’s no holding back, no trying to gloss over the reality of being neurodiverse. These characters shine off the page and discover how to be confident and proud of who you are as well as how to navigate the changes that occur as their interactions become more than just tolerance. It’s very well written, the narration was fantastic! Thank you!

This is the first time i listen to an audiobook in English. That might play a role into the way I enjoyed the story.
I laughed out loud when the narrator spoke for the men in the story.
I have to admit it took me a while to learn everybody's names. Probably because my memory is more visual.
I didn't know there were going to be sexual scenes but now i know I don't like listening to it on an audiobook.
I liked the differences in the voices of the main characters but I did find it weird the way the voices fluctuated when the narrator was speaking their thoughts.
I did find the narrator voice really soothing. It actually put me to sleep in some occasions.
Now about the book itself.
At first Opal was really infuriating. They are going to fool you around sooo much and you are not gonna realize it?????? I understand that she is a people's pleaser but cmon...
Besides, buying property through FACEBOOK???? girl you are looking to be scammed.
Anyways, it was a really nice story. Even though I wouldn't act the way the main characters did, I really enjoyed it.
It's a cute book with a loving ending and a little bit of spice. And I love TS references.

I had just read this book in an ebook arc, and know I had the privilege to re-read it in audiobook and I loved it even more! The voice actor is amazing, so I fell in love with the story and the characters all over again.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc.

I absolutely loved this book. Pepper and Opal were lovable in their own ways. I loved the intersection of their neurodivergence and the way they balanced and challenged each other. The humor as their personalities clashed was on point, and though they were often baffled by each other, they were always respectful. I appreciated the fact that even though their interests were at odds in the beginning, they were never intentionally unkind to each other. Their conflicts were realistic and understandable. Pepper's complicated relationship with her mother was heartbreaking. Opal's difficulty standing up for herself against so-called friends and lovers was relatable and frustrating, and it was nice to watch her ability to stand up for herself evolve over the course of the book. The love between the two main characters felt natural as it progressed from simple physical attraction to love. The audio production/narration was well done and added to the enjoyment. I will definitely be recommending this widely. Side note: I love the extra note at the end about the evolution of the title. I wish more authors included peeks behind the scenes like this!

I have really loved all of Mazey Eddings books, so I was super excited to read Late Bloomer! I really liked it! Opal and Pepper were a delight and I loved their story. The flower farm setting was great and I enjoyed the plot. Definitely would recommend it!

The audiobook was good. The narrator did a great job. My only thing is that I prefer dual POV books to have a narrator for each character, so that would have been nice. Macmillan, y’all hired two narrators for all of Mazey’s MF books so why not this one?

"There is no happy ending that could ever, ever come from this nightmare."

Surprise! Opal and Pepper DO get their happy ending and it's beautiful. When Opal wins the lottery off a scratch off, she decides to use the money for a fresh start and a flower farm. Pepper's grumpy welcome is no match for Opal's bright and sunshine-y personality. This is a beautiful story of growth and family and grief.

Ellie Gossage did a phenomenal job portraying both Pepper and Opal and the audiobook was very well produced!

This book was such a fresh breath of air. I absolutely loved everything about it. Eddings creates two distinct voices of messy, honest, compelling women. And the side characters are just PERFECT. This book made Eddings an auto buy for me and I can't wait to read her back list!

A fun and thoughtful book that addresses life upheavals and how differently people deal with them. I loved how Opal took her new life in her hands and made it work for herself. Pepper's struggles with grief were so real and relatable that it was easy to cheer her on. Opal and Pepper were a fun pair to watch grow together and into each others lives.

I loved this cute, adorable sapphic romance. Opal and Pepper were SO cute and their story unfolded in the most precious way.
Pepper and Opal were the cutest and were absolutely perfect together—the way they understood each other and were there for each other was wonderful. Their chemistry was off the charts and they had great banter.

Mazey Eddings has a way with words. Every book she writes and releases will leave you wanting more and this book is no different. The story, the characters.. it’s all beautiful.

Late Bloomer was one of my most anticipated romance reads of the year! It follows Opal, a recent lottery winner, with her biggest endeavor yet- buying a flower farm… Where she meets Pepper, the rightful owner of the flower farm Opal has just bought. We follow these two neurodivergent women as they’re forced to live, work, and grow together.
This book 100% lived up to the hype that I had built up in my head. I was so interested in the plot, the characters, and the characters around them. Sprinkled with humor, wit, and romance I felt like this book was the perfect mix of everything I like in a romance. An event that link our main characters together, a big problem they’ve got to solve, and chemistry that is undeniable.
I liked that Pepper and Opal both had their issues and things to work through, I feel like it made them interesting and got me invested in them as characters… I don’t like characters who are too perfect! It doesn’t feel real. Pepper and Opal’s imperfections made them so realistic. All of their interactions felt so real, and I felt like I was right on that flower farm with them. I found myself kicking my feet together and wanting nothing more than them both to just get together and live happily ever after- but I love a book that makes you work for it and takes a journey for you to get there.
The only thing that I found took me out of the story was that certain phrases or sentences could feel textbook at times. I wish the author had taken the ideas or phrases and rephrased it in a way that sounded more like the character's voices, and more like something someone in real life would say. It unfortunately took me out of the story in the moments that it happened, though the book quickly plunged me back into Pepper and Opal’s lives. It was nothing that made me want to put the book down.
Overall, I devoured this book and loved it a lot. It truly feels like the perfect spring read. A quick, fun, but not overly fluffy book. It checked all the sapphic boxes for me, and now I can’t wait to read more of Mazey Eddings’ books!

***Thanks to Macmillan Audio through NetGalley for providing me an ARC for my honest review***

This was so cute and a great exploration of mental health & its implications on all aspects of our lives. I was so rooting for Opal and Pepper. Mazey Eddings wrote them with such care so they really shine as individuals on the page (in audio). This had some traditional drama but you know it comes from a place of past trauma and insecurity and it's hard to imagine i would act any differently than these characters. I loved this. Sapphic - full of flowers - small town setting - family drama - and a lovely group of found family. I want more.

This book is such a wonderful representation of the Autistic/ADHD queer experience! Opal and Pepper, while very different people, are such an endearing couple and the plot keeps the reader so engaged!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. It was quirky, funny, sweet, and all-around enjoyable. While parts of the story are predictable, it is still a very enjoyable escape from everyday life. It takes place in North Carolina, initially in Charlotte and then in Asheville. Being from NC, I always like being able to hear a story told about my state. The audiobook narration was fantastic. The narrator provided energy and real voices to the characters, making the story that much more fun to listen to. This is one of my favorite books of the year thus far.

"Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings is a sapphic (f to f) rom com with an enemies to lovers trope.

I really disliked the beginning. I found the main character, Opal, extremely immature, even juvenile, and she made poor decisions. Seriously, don't buy a house sight unseen! If I had not been listening to this for a review, I would have DNF'd it. But I was, so after a break, I kept listening.

I like Pepper, who lives in the flower farm Opal bought. Eventually, we find out Pepper is on the autism spectrum. After that, we find out Opal has ADHD. I wish this was revealed at the beginning. Both young ladies, Opal and Pepper, are neurodivergent. This leads to several frustrating misunderstandings.

I love flowers and enjoyed the talk about the flowers and the floral design competition.

The spice is really HOT and very well written!! The love story develops more slowly, but it is very sweet.

Characters - 2/5 Opal
5/5 Pepper
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 3/5
Ellie Gossage mixed up the voices of main characters enough to confuse me. She read the spice well.
Cover - 4/5

If you want to read a spicy sapphic romance, this is a good one.. but more for younger women.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Mazey Eddings for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

It's a great, witty book that pulls at the heartstrings. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes romcoms.

Cute and quirky. Each of the characters stood on their own with individual personalities and interests. This is low stakes, cozy vibes, and perfect for spring. I do wish their had been more done with the shoe art element, it seemed kind of forgetten by the end of the book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5 (3.5 Stars)
Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (two-three steamy scenes with graphic description)

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Narration: I’ve had this narrator before and they do a great job of the voices and narrating the book!

No spoiler review 👇🏻

This was a cute FF romance read! It was steamy and a perfect spring read.

Overall it was a fun read. Forced proximity, set on a flower farm, with some hilarious moments!

I loved the diversity of the characters and how it was written! Sapphic representation as well as ADHD and autism. Diverse stories/characters are important and great!

I enjoyed the characters and it was a fun read!

A bit of the middle dragged, and it took me a bit to get through, so for that my rating is 3.5 stars.

CW: parental abandonment, grief, toxic relationship (past), death of a family member (past)

A cute sapphic romance between two unlikely 20-somethings. Both main characters struggle with mental health and finding a balance in their lives. What they didn’t expect was to figure things out while being forced together. Add the backdrop of a quaint flower farm then some quirky side characters, and you’ve got Late Bloomer. This was the perfect spring read full of laughs and heartwarming moments.

The audiobook read by Ellie Gossage provided individual vocals that kept me from getting characters confused and highlighted their personalities well. They are easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and author Mazey Eddings for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.