Late Bloomer

3.5 stars!

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings is my second novel by the author, although it’s my first adult one. I previously read Tilly in Technicolor, her debut YA novel, which I adored. Late Bloomer is a sapphic, open door, dual point of view romance with extra spice! I have to be honest, what really drew me to this one was the stunning cover. It looked like the perfect book for spring! It doesn’t get much more spring-y than a flower farm, right?! I did enjoy plenty about Late Bloomer, but it never quite reached the five-stars I gave Tilly.

What I enjoyed most about this one was the setting. I’m a sucker for a farm, orchard, or winery setting. Anywhere they work with the land or outdoors to grow and produce things. I can’t help but get sucked in to the magic of it all. It’s a perfect setting for romance!

I also loved the representation. Opal is neurodivergent and Pepper is autistic, and of course, this is a sapphic novel. Eddings is wonderful at capturing the beauty in all of our individual differences. And while I liked both the characters, and especially liked their backstories, I did find both of their voices too similar sometimes, having to stop and figure out who was speaking. They were very different characters—it is an opposites attract romance—but sometimes their words or actions didn’t seem to match the speaker’s personality.

I did also like most of the side characters, especially Opal’s sisters and Pepper’s friends, who could all probably have their own books.

Much of the conflict between our love interests arises from lack of communication, which is not a favorite trope of mine. If it’s done well, I don’t mind it so much, but I found myself wanting to yell at these two to just talk to each other already. It wasn’t long or drawn out, though, so that was good. It was understandable for Pepper’s character who is more reserved, having put up walls, but Opal is super outspoken, except when it’s most important apparently, which was frustrating.

Even with these little frustrations, I found myself rooting for these two to find their much-deserved happiness together. There are plenty of lighthearted—and romantic—moments, as well, which had me smiling!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

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#popsugarreadingchallenge2024 (prompt #45 - A LGBTQ+ romance novel)

10/10 book, zero notes. I laughed. I cried. I yearned. I felt so represented and understood by these characters in a way I haven’t felt with other books. As a “late bloomer” lesbian myself, which I realized around the time of losing my dad, this book was everything I’ve felt the last few years described in a way I could never find the words for.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for my honest review.

WHAT I LOVED:
1. Mazey put the meaning of different flowers at the back of the book.
2. The Anatomy of a Title section was hilarious!
3. Heck, the entire book had me laughing out loud like an utter geek!
4. The sex scenes were hot!
5. I could relate to the insecurities of the main characters…so much had my eyes watering and my heart squeezing.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC!

I will admit that it takes a lot more for me to get invested in a romance book than most other types of books, as I’m not the most romantic person. But I do like one every now and then between the “serious” literature. Everyone needs to be whisked away in a happy ending sometime and I appreciated the unhappy bits balancing that out throughout the story.

Personally, I could have done with a little less in terms of sexual content, but I get that’s the direction the genre is going in and everything else I did enjoy. The characters were fun and had personalities of their own that were clear throughout the book. My only constructive feedback would be to build out the supporting cast a little bit more. When it’s just the relationship it doesn’t always feel like real life.

Also kudos to the author for sharing the (hilarious) list of would be titles at the end. Had a good laugh at those.

Overall, definitely on the upper end of romances. 4/5

A charming sapphic romance with art and farming. What more could you ask for. Opal and Pepper aren't just complete opposites they're the Ying to the others Yang a perfect balance of scheduled routine and untold chaos.