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jackiereadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Grief, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism
chelseazhao's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
4.0
I was really excited to read this book after reading, and loving, The Plus One last year.
Let me start by saying that I really appreciated the autism/neurodiversity representation in this story. I loved how different both Pepper and Opal were even though they were both on the spectrum. I feel like this is something that we need to see more often, and I loved that it made the characters feel more real.
I will say that I struggled a little bit with the romance because we do have more of a lust first romance second relationship. I really would have liked more development of the actual romance, because we didn't get to see that as much on page. Once the physical relationship started there were at least 3 big sex scenes that were very involved (for whomever wants to know).
I also thought that the near-ending/third act break up/misunderstanding felt contrived and not as important as it would have needed to be.
I also don't actually know if this is a spoiler, butPepper is a virgin. I know that this book is called Late Bloomer and I should have guessed. But I didn't. I felt like the reason that she was a virgin was because she was autistic and I wasn't sure I really liked the whole reasoning. I do think that you can be an older virgin with no problem. But something about it rubbed me the wrong way.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that I really appreciated the autism/neurodiversity representation in this story. I loved how different both Pepper and Opal were even though they were both on the spectrum. I feel like this is something that we need to see more often, and I loved that it made the characters feel more real.
I will say that I struggled a little bit with the romance because we do have more of a lust first romance second relationship. I really would have liked more development of the actual romance, because we didn't get to see that as much on page. Once the physical relationship started there were at least 3 big sex scenes that were very involved (for whomever wants to know).
I also thought that the near-ending/third act break up/misunderstanding felt contrived and not as important as it would have needed to be.
I also don't actually know if this is a spoiler, but
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death and Infidelity
battyaboutbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🦇 Late Bloomer Book Review 🦇
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
❓ #QOTD What's your favorite type of flower? ❓
🦇 Synopsis
💜 Oh. My. (Sappho.) Goddess. You may think you know Mazey Eddings' writing style, but I assure you, you do not. Many of us read The Plus One and/or Tily in Technicolor last year, but let me assure you, Eddings has far exceeded herself with this one. As a neurodiverse author, Eddings' stories often have some element of neurodiversity / mental health, shining a light on the different ways people's brains work while embracing those differences through beautiful, realistic characters. Opal and Pepper are no different, both on the spectrum yet unique in their behaviors and view of the world. These women are not predictable, pre-programmed components of a story; they are ever-blooming, learning how to plant roots alongside one another, share sunlight, and rise despite being different species. Both plants, growing and adapting to different elements, yet very much the same. While Opal and Pepper have always struggled to fit in with the world around them, they manage to cultivate a safe, healthy garden for one another.
💜 This is one of those overwhelming, layered, awe-inspiring sapphic stories that will tug at your heartstrings long after you read it. Eddings' language leaps off the page, making it a little reminiscent of One Last Stop (be still, my little sapphic heart). I've beyond annotated Late Bloomer, when I'm usually selective about choosing quotes. You don't just see love blossom between these two women; you feel it. It made me smile, laugh, get all messy and misty-eyed. As I said, neither woman is predictable. Opal feels directionless at the story's start, allowing her (fake) best friend and (on/off) ex step all over her. I expected her to be the wallflower, especially with the BITE we see from Pepper (pun unintended) in her first chapter, but the two balance each other out. When Pepper feels uncertain or anxious, Opal steps forward, bold and unwavering. When Opal begins to crumble, Pepper holds her up. They support each other, never allowing the other to wilt.
💙 Unfortunately, this book relies heavily on miscommunication. Both women are eager to hide their real feelings at the risk of scaring the other. That lack of communication continues until almost the last chapter,
🦇 Recommended for fans of One Last Stop and Imogen, Obviously. Side note: please, please read the author's note. Good goddess.
✨ The Vibes ✨
🌼 Neurodivergency/Autism Spectrum
🌸 Sapphic Romance
🌷 Grief/Healing
🌹 Forced Proximity
⚡ Spicy/First Time
🪻 Cottage Core Vibes
🪻 One Bed
⚡ Touch Her and You Die
🌹 Dual POV
🌷 Miscommunication
🌸 Flower Competition
🌻 Grumpy/Sunshine
🦇 Major thanks to the author @mazeyeddings and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #LateBloomer
💬 Quotes
❝ I’m constantly trying to define myself, to fit nicely and neatly into the boxes and spaces I attempt to occupy. All I’ve ever really wanted to do was belong. Somewhere. Anywhere. ❞
❝ Slowly, she leans toward me, and my heart pounds so violently in my chest that my head swims. Is she . . . It almost seems like she’s going to press that smile to my mouth. Teach me how it tastes. ❞
❝ I gave up perfection in any other aspect of my life long ago. It’s simply not possible with a brain like mine. But my art is different; it’s the better version of me, the one I wish people could know me by. ❞
❝ Ah. There’s the you I missed. ❞
❝ I used to stress over finding a label that fit me. Lesbian. Bisexual. Pan. Demi . . . I’ve filtered through them all many times over, none ever feeling quite right. Just say queer and move on with your life, Diksha finally told me late one night after what was probably my sixth sexual identity crisis of my early twenties. But what does that mean? I’d wailed, draining more boxed wine into my plastic cup. My brain loves order and labels and concise frameworks to understand things, and not knowing where I fit feels unbearable. It means you’re you, and only you get to decide who you like and when you like them, Tal had said from their chair in the corner. The name of your feelings isn’t anyone’s business but yours. ❞
❝ But instead, she reaches out to me— opening her hand like a flower unfurling its petals to the sun. I stare at it. The ink stains and calluses and chipped nails and bitten cuticles. For a moment, that hand looks like a second chance. ❞
❝ Fuck anything and anyone that made you have to survive instead of live. You deserve a life so peaceful it feels deliciously boring. A life filled with flowers and sunny days and people that show you all the time that you’re valued and worthy. You deserve it all.” ❞
❝ “Her poems spoke softly— as intimately as confessions between lovers—about the terrible, wonderful ache of being in love.” ❞
❝ Messy and radiant and ours. ❞
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
❓ #QOTD What's your favorite type of flower? ❓
🦇 Synopsis
💜 Oh. My. (Sappho.) Goddess. You may think you know Mazey Eddings' writing style, but I assure you, you do not. Many of us read The Plus One and/or Tily in Technicolor last year, but let me assure you, Eddings has far exceeded herself with this one. As a neurodiverse author, Eddings' stories often have some element of neurodiversity / mental health, shining a light on the different ways people's brains work while embracing those differences through beautiful, realistic characters. Opal and Pepper are no different, both on the spectrum yet unique in their behaviors and view of the world. These women are not predictable, pre-programmed components of a story; they are ever-blooming, learning how to plant roots alongside one another, share sunlight, and rise despite being different species. Both plants, growing and adapting to different elements, yet very much the same. While Opal and Pepper have always struggled to fit in with the world around them, they manage to cultivate a safe, healthy garden for one another.
💜 This is one of those overwhelming, layered, awe-inspiring sapphic stories that will tug at your heartstrings long after you read it. Eddings' language leaps off the page, making it a little reminiscent of One Last Stop (be still, my little sapphic heart). I've beyond annotated Late Bloomer, when I'm usually selective about choosing quotes. You don't just see love blossom between these two women; you feel it. It made me smile, laugh, get all messy and misty-eyed. As I said, neither woman is predictable. Opal feels directionless at the story's start, allowing her (fake) best friend and (on/off) ex step all over her. I expected her to be the wallflower, especially with the BITE we see from Pepper (pun unintended) in her first chapter, but the two balance each other out. When Pepper feels uncertain or anxious, Opal steps forward, bold and unwavering. When Opal begins to crumble, Pepper holds her up. They support each other, never allowing the other to wilt.
💙 Unfortunately, this book relies heavily on miscommunication. Both women are eager to hide their real feelings at the risk of scaring the other. That lack of communication continues until almost the last chapter,
🦇 Recommended for fans of One Last Stop and Imogen, Obviously. Side note: please, please read the author's note. Good goddess.
✨ The Vibes ✨
🌼 Neurodivergency/Autism Spectrum
🌸 Sapphic Romance
🌷 Grief/Healing
🌹 Forced Proximity
⚡ Spicy/First Time
🪻 Cottage Core Vibes
🪻 One Bed
⚡ Touch Her and You Die
🌹 Dual POV
🌷 Miscommunication
🌸 Flower Competition
🌻 Grumpy/Sunshine
🦇 Major thanks to the author @mazeyeddings and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #LateBloomer
💬 Quotes
❝ I’m constantly trying to define myself, to fit nicely and neatly into the boxes and spaces I attempt to occupy. All I’ve ever really wanted to do was belong. Somewhere. Anywhere. ❞
❝ Slowly, she leans toward me, and my heart pounds so violently in my chest that my head swims. Is she . . . It almost seems like she’s going to press that smile to my mouth. Teach me how it tastes. ❞
❝ I gave up perfection in any other aspect of my life long ago. It’s simply not possible with a brain like mine. But my art is different; it’s the better version of me, the one I wish people could know me by. ❞
❝ Ah. There’s the you I missed. ❞
❝ I used to stress over finding a label that fit me. Lesbian. Bisexual. Pan. Demi . . . I’ve filtered through them all many times over, none ever feeling quite right. Just say queer and move on with your life, Diksha finally told me late one night after what was probably my sixth sexual identity crisis of my early twenties. But what does that mean? I’d wailed, draining more boxed wine into my plastic cup. My brain loves order and labels and concise frameworks to understand things, and not knowing where I fit feels unbearable. It means you’re you, and only you get to decide who you like and when you like them, Tal had said from their chair in the corner. The name of your feelings isn’t anyone’s business but yours. ❞
❝ But instead, she reaches out to me— opening her hand like a flower unfurling its petals to the sun. I stare at it. The ink stains and calluses and chipped nails and bitten cuticles. For a moment, that hand looks like a second chance. ❞
❝ Fuck anything and anyone that made you have to survive instead of live. You deserve a life so peaceful it feels deliciously boring. A life filled with flowers and sunny days and people that show you all the time that you’re valued and worthy. You deserve it all.” ❞
❝ “Her poems spoke softly— as intimately as confessions between lovers—about the terrible, wonderful ache of being in love.” ❞
❝ Messy and radiant and ours. ❞
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
finnelyslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely adored Tilly in Technicolor and so Late Bloomer having autism and adhd rep+being sapphic put it at my number one most looked forward to release of 2024. So thank you to St.Martins Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read it early as an eARC. It was really complex and the characters were really well developed. There were some characters who felt trope forced, like Opal's 'best friend' and ex. Pepper's best friend crossed the line of protective/supportive to infantilising and just kept calling out her autistic traits as things to work on. Along with invading her no-touch preferences, so she wasn't my favourite character. All in all though, this was a really lovely read and Opal and Pepper will stay in mind as though they're old friends of mine.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Ableism
wlw, autistic, adhdjessicastephenson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has the absolute best premise - what's better than a sapphic romance set on a flower farm? I also loved that both the main characters were neurodivergent and that it was clearly stated that they were; there was no guessing or hey maybe they are neurodivergent. I hate when authors side step around declaring a character is neurodivergent and just says they are "quirky" or "different" so this was a nice change.
I feel like Opal and Pepper clicked so well together as a couple, and there was a good balance of spice and sweet. I can relate a ton to both characters being neurodivergent myself, but also I could really understand Pepper's journey through grief as I am experiencing the same thing. Also, what is more relatable than Opal's chaotic hair journey?
The cover was also a 10/10 for me, it's so beautiful! And the author's note at the end really made me love Mazey Eddings (the endless list of flower puns for the title made me giggle) so I'm intrigued to read the author's other books.
I feel like Opal and Pepper clicked so well together as a couple, and there was a good balance of spice and sweet. I can relate a ton to both characters being neurodivergent myself, but also I could really understand Pepper's journey through grief as I am experiencing the same thing. Also, what is more relatable than Opal's chaotic hair journey?
The cover was also a 10/10 for me, it's so beautiful! And the author's note at the end really made me love Mazey Eddings (the endless list of flower puns for the title made me giggle) so I'm intrigued to read the author's other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Alcohol
the_lesbrarian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Opal is floundering in indecision in her mid-twenties— stuck at what she promised herself was a short-term job, recently single, living alone and broke in her hometown. When she wins a life-changing amount of money, she puts it all towards a flower farm where she can pursue her dream of being an artist. However, she arrives to find that the farm is already occupied by a disgruntled gardener named Pepper. Her new start on life quickly complicates as the two women find that they have more in common than they realized.
Such a sweet relationship develops between the two main characters, the reader can’t help but fall in love along with them.
While there are certain aspects that I wish the author spent more time on, such as Pepper’s chronic migraines, or her complex relationship with her mother, I do appreciate that the books limited handling of these issues maintained its overall feel as a gooey, feel-good romance. This novel has no homophobia, internalized or otherwise, which is a very welcome deviation from most other contemporary lesbian romances, and allows the reader a lovely true romance novel escapism experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and for the opportunity to honestly read and review the eARC of Late Bloomer.
rep
- chronic illness (migraines)
- autistic LI
- neurodivergent mc
- non-binary sc
- wlw main relationship
- sapphic side relationship
- mlm side relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, and Alcoholism
narcissistic abuse from a parent alcoholism trigger is referring to main character’s complicated relationship with substances grief due to death of grandparent is central to novel, but off-page, before story beginsmaggie_the_ferocious_reader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Firstly, the cover is so gorgeous it makes me want to swoon. Opal is chaotic good embodied, Pepper is very much a measured rule follower, when you combine the two in one cabin on a flower farm you get this lovely romance. Mazey Eddings continues to improve with every book she writes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
Minor: Death
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