This was a sweet, cozy romance. This book is clearly a labour of love from the author. Her characters are built with heart and the care of someone that truly feels their experiences.
I did feel that Pepper and Opal were more suited to be best friends from lovers, however, the relationship that grows between them is genuine. Their contradictory personalities really did compliment one another.
Mazet Edding’s ability to handle difficult topics remains her greatest strength. This is her fifth novel and is have read them all. In this one she handles the grief that Pepper is feeling with love and care. Pepper is permitted to feel her grief and learn how to live with it, nothing is glossed over. Opal and her chaos swoop in and treat Pepper with love and respect from the very beginning.
This is a book where old, toxic friends are replaced with a loving, judgment-free found family. Upon the books closing, you can picture how everyone’s lives will continue on.
The book is funny and full of heart-felt moments.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an e-arc of the book. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Peak Mazey Edding fiction! It’s everything you come to expect from Mazey’s writing: humor, sweetness, and the normalization of differing abilities. 5 out of 5

This book. So freaking cute!! Pepper and Opal were both adorably awkward and quirky but healed each other’s battered hearts. Ahh the banter, the flower farm, the found family, the neurodiverse rep, the spice. Plus, I can’t resist a good grumpy x sunshine. Just love. I read the author’s notes in the back regarding the language of flowers and it added such a meaningful layer to when and how they’re mentioned in the story.

Also, the lavender massage? Obsessed.

Going into this book I expected a sweet fluffy sapphic time and that is indeed what I got, however, there was so much more. The explorations into grief were heart wrenchingly real and same for handling the topic of absent parents. There was also the important handling of having characters with autism and neurodivergence and doing it with care, showing how it manifested in different ways, and how they coped with it, unhealthy or not. The plot was simple yet well done, but I think this book really shines through its characters and all their quirks and flaws. Loved the flower research at the end and explaining how they related to the characters. It was such a cute touch.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

This book is so easy to get swept into. As an autistic human, I saw a lot of myself in Pepper, especially the way she second guessed herself. I loved the way their relationship developed and the way Opal matured. So so good

Late Bloomer had me smiling a lot. Mazey Eddings makes life suck a little less when you are traveling with Opal. This isn’t because Opal’s life is worse. Opal is such a positive person that you need that kind of hope and enthusiasm for when times are down that kind of light in a person is so beyond welcome. I just love Opal.

Now Pepper is Opal’s complete opposite (chuckle). This is truly a grumpy and sunshine story. I love their chemistry and their entire relationship from beginning to end.

There are some typos when it comes to Opal’s sister’s Olivia’s name. Other than that the book is fine.

The secondary characters are fun. I’m a little disappointed in how flat Laney and Miles are, but they are the stock characters they are supposed to be. Plus this tale focuses on Opal and Pepper.

The steam! Oh the steam is good. Eddings makes the wait worthwhile and fun. Consent is given many times. Conversation is had. I loved how everything is handled - no pun intended but that ended up being funnier than I intended (chuckle).

I totally recommend Late Bloomer.

I genuinely thought this was a YA. I’m glad I was wrong. First of all, can we all agree that this cover slays??? Like how could anyone not want to read this book with a cover like that? It’s so beautiful. You know what else is beautiful? Opal and Pepper’s relationship. Although they had a rocky start, they eventually became closer. As friends, colleagues, and partners to help sustain Pepper’s grandma’s flower farm. It was fun to see Opal and Pepper’s behaviour around each other. At first you see that Pepper is the grumpy one and Opal is the sunshine one. But when roles are reversed, it was so fun to see that. We get to see Pepper get all soft and lovey dovey when it comes to Opal. And Opal getting all fierce and determined to protect Pepper at all cost. Their relationship was so cute. The epilogue was so cute too. I’m so happy they eventually made the farm their home and build a life together.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Opal wins the lottery and buys a working flower farm with her winnings, only to find the farm is already inhabited by the prickly Pepper. The two women decide to co-habitate while they figure out how to solve the problem of ownership. Romance ensues.

I thought this was a cute premise and I LOVED the representation of neurodivergent main characters (both of them!). This is typical Mazey Eddings, and I'm here for it. The book also featured multiple queer characters, including a non-binary character.

What I didn't love was the rest of the book. The plot was predictable and I didn't really feel the chemistry between Opal and Pepper. I felt like I was slogging through each chapter, instead of being excited to find out what happened next. I even thought the jokes fell flat.

Overall this was a no for me, but might be enjoyed by someone who wants a romance with neurodiverse or LGBTQ+ representation.

This book was my first 5 star of 2024!! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Beautifully written with interesting characters. Loved that one of the main characters a voluptuous but the author didn't make it a thing. Great representation. And the romance!! TOP NOTCH! We need more sapphic romances. I will forever recommend this book and post a review on my social medias!

3.5 stars

*ARC Review*

I love Mazey Eddings' books. I love how she creates unique and detailed voices her for characters. She always handles topics of neurodiversity with grace and care.

Late Bloomer is no exception to my past statements, however I had a lot of trouble getting into this story. The book did not really grab my attention and I was having trouble rooting for the characters. I am not sure if it is because the story felt like it had a mash up of tropes that never really came to fruition (I think there was some enemies to lovers there?), or if it just because I couldn't relate to the characters. The relationship arc was choppy and did not really make a ton of sense to me, I think it may be because of the dual POV. I also am just not a fan of the hidden will story line.

I did love all of the talk of the flowers and the beautiful cover but I wish this novel was able to bloom to its full potential. It was cute and sweet but did not grab me and make me feel something like her others have. For what the story was the epilogue was quite satisfying which is always a good thing!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

Yes, yes, yes, 100% yes. I needed this book so much.

The way that I absolutely resonated with Opal. The way that Pepper was the most endearing person to me. The way that they both grew as human beings and made each other better, despite their crappy situation. I absolutely, completely, wholeheartedly loved this book.

Seriously. I cannot stop gushing about it. I am a literal ball of happiness that this book exists. 5 stars, 10/10, two thumbs enthusiastically way up, absolutely no notes. This was perfection.

What a cute and funny read! I too will now be referring to my hangry moods as “becoming a cuntasaurus Rex”
If you are looking for a close proximity, opposites attract, small town romance this is your book. Perfect for lovelight farms fans but looking for something a little more sapphic!

"Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that follows the journey of a young woman named Nora who feels like she's always lagging behind her peers in life milestones. As she navigates through the challenges of adulthood, Nora learns to embrace her unique path and discovers that success and fulfillment don't always adhere to societal timelines. Through her experiences, she finds the courage to pursue her passions and redefine what it means to bloom in her own time.

Many people can empathize with the feeling of being a late bloomer or feeling like they're not meeting societal expectations. Stories like this often resonate with readers because they offer reassurance and encouragement to embrace one's unique journey and timeline in life. It seems like "Late Bloomer" could be an inspiring and uplifting read for those seeking validation in their own paths to success and self-discovery.

LOVE THIS. give me more summer sapphic romances! loved the characters as well as the story. found a new favorite author in this one! thank you so much for the arc.

This is a lighthearted and enjoyable sapphic romance between two people who unexpectedly become roommates when they each believe they are the rightful owners of the same flower farm. They wind up as lovers while living together and working on a big project.

Both Opal and Pepper are characters that are easy to like for their own reasons, and the building of the romantic and sexual tension was well done so that I was ready for them to finally get together when they did.

If you're looking for a romance with a bit of drama but also a happily ever after (and are willing to suspend some disbelief about how two people might actually deal with a situation where they thought they owned the same house) then this book is a good one to pick up.

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. These opinions are my own.

I am so pleased that Mazey Eddings wrote a sapphic romance featuring two neurodivergent characters. Opal wins the lottery and decides to buy a flower farm to use as a studio for her art. But when she arrives, she finds that Pepper lives there and believes she owns her grandmother's farm.

I absolutely loved all the discussion of flowers and art. I love to garden and all the puns and growing really spoke to me. I was also a huge fan of the found family that Pepper has. It spoke so well to the kinds of safe spaces that queer people can create. I equally enjoyed Opal's sisters and would have loved to see more flashbacks of Pepper's grandmother. The secondary characters really stole the story for me.

But some parts of the book felt a bit too outlandish for me. I struggled with suspending disbelief from the initial lottery win through some of the various choices that followed. And the climax in particular really lost me.

Ellie Gossage narrated beautifully and captured the spirit of both main characters. I expect many people to love this book.

3.5 stars rounded up

When Opal wins the lottery all sorts of “friends” come back into her life out of nowhere. As a notorious people pleaser, Opal struggles with this new popularity and decides the best way to protect herself is through a fresh start. So she buys a flower farm on Facebook marketplace. When she arrives at the farms she’s surprised to find Pepper is already living there and claims to be the rightful owner. They strike a deal, Pepper can stay there while she tries to save the farm from bankruptcy and eventually buy the farm back from Opal, meanwhile Opal will also stay there and start her new show business. But how can they cohabitate when they seem to argue over every little thing?

I just love Mazey Eddings’ writing - her characters are always incredible and authentic. They are a bit chaotic and messy, but also so compassionate and caring at heart. Opal and Pepper are the perfect examples of this. This book features autism and ADHD representation and is done so beautifully. In so many ways, both Pepper and Opal are misunderstood, but as you get through their many layers, you find the sweetest characters and I wanted them to succeed in life from page one. I loved the premise of this - from Opal winning the lottery and chaotically buying a flower farm, to her teaming up with Pepper to save the farm, this was the grumpy and sunshine romance of my flower loving dreams. I want to visit Thistle and Bloom farm immediately - or at least buy a bouquet from them. This was the sweetest journey of two women healing from their past traumas and finding their paths in life and I loved that they were able to find those paths together.

I loved the audiobook narrated by Ellie Gossage. While she did a phenomenal job bringing the story to life, I do wish there had been 2 narrators to more clearly distinguish between Pepper and Opal’s points of view. There were a few times I got confused about who’s perspective I was listening to.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copies.

I've been a fan of Mazey's for a while now, even before she became an author. She's funny, she's sweet, she's just such a delight to watch.
She brings so much of her personality into the books she writes, it's no wonder I end up adoring them all and this was no exception.

This was such a good sapphic grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers romance. It's so heartfelt. I loved how soft it was, but also how spicy it was too. The pacing was perfect for me in an enemies to lovers. It's not Opal's fault she's in the situation she's in and she's really trying to not make Pepper's life difficult, which Pepper gradually comes to terms with.

Overall, I loved it. It's beautifully written and I continue to look forward to anything Mazey writes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Amazing!!!

The writing was everything! Mazey really is such an amazing author. This book was so good! The plot, the characters, and the spice!!! I could not get enough of it!

First things first, I went into this without any idea other than I loved the author’s last book, which was YA. This was definitely for the adults and absolutely no complaints from me about that! I hadn’t read a steamy romance in a minute and this just made me giddy.

I loved everything about it. The neurodivergent rep was perfection, the spice was spicing, and I want to be besties with Opal and Pepper. Do yourself a favor and go grab this one today!!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.