A fairly fast-paced comfort read that has a bit of everything for sapphic-loving romance readers! I enjoyed Pepper and Opal's "real" reactions to the things going on in their lives, it was sugar-coated or overblown but the perfectly believable- yep, this is so how they would spiral in that moment.

The topics can be a bit heavy but the author showed a lot of respect in handling the subject matter and giving our leading ladies space to grow together and individually. I will definitely be reading more by Mazey after this one.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.

This book was delightful, the premise was one that doesn't get explored a lot and it was very interesting to see Eddings' take on it. The characters felt fresh and were enjoyable to get to know, I felt myself rooting for them early on. Overall, honestly, the writing just felt like a breath of fresh air. It felt like a book I hadn't even dreamed of before, so beyond my realm I couldn't even hope to predict what may happen next. It's not often you come across books that truly remind you why you love to read again, so this was a treat.

Loved this! it was so romantic and it was cool to see a romance blossom between two characters whose worlds are as different as night and day, but whose connection is undeniable.
What makes this book so special is the delicate balance between the personal growth of both characters and the slow-burn romance that unfolds between them.

“Hope doesn’t hurt you, Pepper,” she whispers. “People do.” […] “I want your hope, Pepper. I’ll do everything in my power to protect that hope if you let me. Put it all on me.”

I’ve had this book for forever so it felt like I should finally pick it up. So I did… but it wasn’t it.

It was hard to distinguish the two POVs, they seemed as though they could easily be the same person. There wasn’t much tension and, unfortunately, I didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry either. I lost interest somewhere in the middle of the book and it never truly picked back up.

2.5⭐️

Late review, but I absolutely loved this. Mazey knows how to weave a story that compels you and draws you in. Opal and Pepper's banter, and the shift from "no strings attached" to "I love you" gripped my heartstrings. I loved the neurodivergent representation and whimsical, almost cottage-core kind of vibes from the book! All in all, an amazing read.

Hounded by fairweather friends after winning the lottery, Opal impulsively buys a flower farm amid cottagecore visions of opening her own studio. But there is already someone living at the Thistle and Bloom - thorny farmer Pepper, who has no clue that her home has been sold out from under her, and is certainly not happy to learn about it.

Firstly, take a good look at that cover. It is so pretty that I returned to it multiple times over the course of reading this book, just because I wanted to look at it again. I am a sucker for flowers, folks. Also cottagecore sapphics.

This is a comfortable, low-angst romance about two young women who feel like they've never properly fit in with the rest of the world, and how they put together their own. I loved the premise, the banter and chemistry between Opal and Pepper, and the humor. I also enjoyed how the author wrote their neurodivergence - how it comfortably and realistically permeated their perspectives without being depicted as a drawback.

However, I thought the characterization of Opal was inconsistent, and that both her sisters and Pepper's friend group were rather thinly sketched. The pacing also felt uneven, with the first half of the story moving leisurely, and the second half galloping through the evolution of Opal and Pepper's relationship. I liked where things ended for them, but I wish it felt more earned.

I read this book in one sitting! I absolutely loved it from beginning to end!

This was a heartwarming story, with loveable characters who put a smile on your face. Mixed throughout were some tougher topics, but they were handled with grace, and it all felt real and authentic. I loved seeing Opal's relationship with her sisters, and I enjoyed the growth both her and Pepper encountered throughout. I also felt the autism representation was very well done, and made Pepper that much more relatable.

This was my first book by this author, but guaranteed it will not be the last! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy!

So so cute!!!!! The characters were well fleshed out and the writing style was very easy to get through. Mazy Eddings always writes the sweetest romances ever, I’m so happy I was able to read this

I love a good first line! The ones that shock me and the ones that make me laugh are my favorite. This first line nailed it!

Mazey Eddings is one of my must-read authors after falling in love with Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake which I highly recommend.

Late Bloomer takes place on a flower farm which to me sounds like heaven. 💐
It also includes:

-grumpy/sunshine
-neurodivergent rep
-found family
-LGBTQ

Thank you to #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good sapphic romance and this one did not disappoint. It was fun, romantic and just an enjoyable read.

I gave Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings 3.75 stars (upgrading to 4starson this grid).

I really liked the heroines in this sapphic romance. Plus the side characters. The plot was missing something for me. I loved all the other books from this author and will continue reading her.

I made a goal this year to clear out my NetGalley backlog, and I am kicking myself now. This one shouldn't have sat on my shelf for so long.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. ARC courtesy of NetGalley

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: LGBTQIA+ Romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Opposites attract, autism representation, slow burn, flowers as a love language.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Opal wins the lottery. And like so many things in her life, she uses that money on a whim to buy a flower farm, where she believes she will live out her days making art. But when she gets there she meets Pepper, the rightful owner of the farm. The two decide to share space and work toward helping to save the struggling farm.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: This book left me absolutely raw.

Late Bloomer was my first Mazey Eddings book - and I am impressed. Opal and Pepper are a lesson in creating excellent, relatable and layered characters. Opal is this heavily emotional whirlwind of color and energy. Pepper is reserved, scared, and deeply settled into her routine and her grief. The dual POV shows they're both extremely self-aware, and their internal doubts were relatable and heartbreaking at the same time.

This is one of those books you literally can't wait for the two main characters to find happiness. I wanted so badly for them both to have peace. The entire book was on this beautiful backdrop of flowers, which made it even more romantic.

I have a few other Mazey Eddings books on my shelf that I can't wait to dig into now.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Rating: 5 Stars
Publication Date: April 16, 2024
HEA: Yes

Late Bloomer follows Opal after she makes an impulse decision to use her recent lottery winnings to buy a flower farm in Asheville, NC. Upon arriving, she finds out that she may be getting more than she bargained for with its current resident, Pepper.

This book made me giggle and kick my feet so many times, and also the spice was 🫠🫠. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Pepper and Opal and I related to bits of both of them. I loved how carefree Opal seemed in contrast to Pepper. Opal had peak chaotic bisexual energy (I know because she is me in many ways). Pepper squeezed at my heartstrings though. I’ve now read two books this year with characters who don’t seem to believe they have worth outside of what others find in them and that just makes me wanna give them a big hug.

I originally picked this book up because 1)it’s sapphic and looked hella cute, and 2) my mom owns a flower farm. I absolutely loved reading scenes like when they go to pick flowers and having moments like “oh I’ve also been fussed at for cutting too low and damaging the regrowth for the season.” I can honestly say a lot of this book is like working on a real live flower farm and it just felt like home.

If you need any other reasons to pick up this book, this book is quite Taylor Swift coded and in the authors note at the end she mentioned it had a working title of Lavender Haze as a nod not only to Taylor but to the queer and sapphic history around the term. I absolutely loved this tidbit of information at the end because it truly made a lot of sense to me.

Anyway, it’s a cute and spicy read that fully transports you into small town North Carolina, into the fields of a flower farm, watching two unlikely ladies fall in love.

Soft DNF. I wasn't loving either character very much and didn't find the conflict particularly interesting.

I loved this book! I think my favorite part of this was all of the meanings behind the different flowers mentioned!

Opal's start in this book is a little cringe and anxiety driven, and the whole lottery plotline is a little silly - but if you just take those things at face value and get into the relationship side of this book I enjoyed it! Sapphic romances have really been a struggle for me recently - I haven't found that I understand why the MCs are truly into each other beyond just a sexual attraction. But I thought the development of Opal and Pepper's relationship more realistic. Both MC's go on a journey of learning to trust each other because of past partner/family dynamics - and to me that felt very authentic. I've I think only read one other (non queer) book by this author but I find that Mazey is really good at writing complex well-rounded characters that have real, relatable struggles to overcome on their journeys to love.

-neurodivergent rep
-forced proximity
-sexual awakening
-grumpy/sunshine
-complex parental dynamics

3.75/4 stars

The cover is so gorgeous and the idea was so fun and unique. I wish I could have felt a stronger connection between our love interests. I liked them both separate, but together it was tough to see. It was a nice and easy read though and I’d likely try another book by this author.

Rating: 3.5/5

Late Bloomer was my first book by Mazey Eddings and it’s probably one of my favorite queer romances next to The Pairing by Casey McQuiston. Opal Devlin needs to get away from her life or she will keep repeating the same bad patterns over and over again. Pepper, who is as spicy as her name suggests, is struggling to keep her flower farm from going under. Grumpy/Sunshine is one of my favorite romance tropes and Late Bloomer utilizes it perfectly while also respectfully handling mental health issues, neurodivergence, and family struggles. I loved reading about Opal and Pepper as they grew not only on their own but together as a sweet and spicy couple. I loved this book, it was so sweet, I loved the setting of the flower farm, and for lack of better words I just really loved this love story.

I adored this sweet story and was so invested in Pepper and Opal's story. Flower farm, chaotic/stoic, neurodivergent characters, art, creativity, sunshine, learning to trust that someone can love you. My only complaint is that I wanted so much more of the side characters. Overall a wonderful book.