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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
*2.5 i hate this trope. just talk to each other. (except the autistic gemini we do no wrong xx)
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Ahhh this was so cute!!! I am always looking for a good sapphic romance, as well as books with neurodivergence representation, and this book checked both boxes. I saw so much of myself in Opal—it was actually insane (and made me very happy). I am also a huge fan of Mazey’s writing style, and I can’t wait to read more of her books!
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A cute and smutty sapphic romance that consists of neurodiversity, gardening, art, and a lovely farm.
Mini summary:
Opal wins the lottery and wants to change up her life. She buys a flower farm through sketchy deal, and doesn’t realize it comes with a permanent roommate, Pepper. They each believe they’re rightful owners of the place, so they strike a deal. In the end they get together to compete in a flower competition, in hopes of getting the money that was spent on the farm, back. Some smut, some cringe, some love, neurodiversity, and very sapphic.
Maybe an unpopular opinion: I love the representation of the neurodiversity but I don’t love that it’s the main characters’ entire personality. Also, the amount of smut after every lovey thing being said is unrealistic.
Mini summary:
Opal wins the lottery and wants to change up her life. She buys a flower farm through sketchy deal, and doesn’t realize it comes with a permanent roommate, Pepper. They each believe they’re rightful owners of the place, so they strike a deal. In the end they get together to compete in a flower competition, in hopes of getting the money that was spent on the farm, back. Some smut, some cringe, some love, neurodiversity, and very sapphic.
Maybe an unpopular opinion: I love the representation of the neurodiversity but I don’t love that it’s the main characters’ entire personality. Also, the amount of smut after every lovey thing being said is unrealistic.
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I...did not like this book.
I bought it quite some time ago and was excited to read it with my bookclub now for some fun, spring-summer sapphic vibes. I actually enjoyed the first couple of chapters. I really related to Opal in her people-pleasing ways whilst still feeling that yearning for someone who really understands her and is there for her without having to feel like you have to do everything for that person to accept you. I also didn't read the blurb again, so I was surprised by the plot twist ofPepper still living at the Thistle and Bloom. I also liked that there would be autism-spectrum and ADHD rep, and I always love family plotlines, whether that's Opal's relationship with her sisters or Pepper's with her mother. Unfortunately, that's where the things I liked ended.
First of all, as soon as Opal arrived at the Thistle and Bloom, she started feeling like an entirely different character. Suddenly she was super sure of herself and was very much able to express her boundaries (for the most part), which she wasn't before. Next, I did not understand why these two were lusting after each other and were already feeling things when they were honestly kind of mean to each other (and not in the "you're mean but hot"-kind of way).
I also felt that this book did not profit from the dual POV. Each time a character does something unkind or not smart, it felt like the author thought she needed to immediately justify why that character acted this way, or at least show that the character knew she was wrong for the way she acted. For example, both of them are on the spectrum of ADHD or Autism andany of the ways the characters act are based on this. It would have been much more meaningful and applicable to real life if the reader and the main character had later on found out that they had prematurely judged the other character after finding out their reasoning or why misunderstandings happened. Due to the dual-pov, however, there was never any room for guessing or proper misunderstandings the way they happen in real life, or even yearning and the thrill of wondering if the other character feels the same way romantically because the author already told the reader everything. Just such a missed opportunity, especially since it could open up such a great conversation of how struggles with disabilities can impact people in their interactions with others, especially if these disabilities aren't visible on the outside.
My next problem was honestly the writing style. Too many interjections that unfortunately were not my humor and dated the book quite badly (alongside the many pop references). It was also very easy to guess the author's interests from that, and (what I consider to be unfortunate), the acknowledgements read the same way the book did, with no real voice for especially Opal, who read the same as the author's voice. Also, some of the jokes made in this book almost made me quit reading, especially when the other character would then go into a full paragraph of describing how funny that joke was. Also, I NEVER want to read "noice" in a book again. Especially not twice within a paragraph, no matter how much the author loves quirky interjections.
Additionally, I thought the reason for the third act breakup was incredibly stupid.There's no way these two did not even ONCE consider they might lose to the point that Opal would be THIS upset at losing...
I did like that Opal had awful hair accidents and I enjoyed the showdown with their friends (though it was very romance-clichee to do the "my girl" thing). And I lovedthat the epilogue for once wasn't them getting engaged (which they alr ady were but oh well) but instead Opal gifting Pepper a college tuition fund. THAT I think more books should have.
Finally, I kinda thought this would be a small town romance setting...it was not. 90% of the book took place on that farm and instead of visiting even just the Café that's owned by a friend of Pepper's, they visit A WAFFLE HOUSE?????? No.
I bought it quite some time ago and was excited to read it with my bookclub now for some fun, spring-summer sapphic vibes. I actually enjoyed the first couple of chapters. I really related to Opal in her people-pleasing ways whilst still feeling that yearning for someone who really understands her and is there for her without having to feel like you have to do everything for that person to accept you. I also didn't read the blurb again, so I was surprised by the plot twist of
First of all, as soon as Opal arrived at the Thistle and Bloom, she started feeling like an entirely different character. Suddenly she was super sure of herself and was very much able to express her boundaries (for the most part), which she wasn't before. Next, I did not understand why these two were lusting after each other and were already feeling things when they were honestly kind of mean to each other (and not in the "you're mean but hot"-kind of way).
I also felt that this book did not profit from the dual POV. Each time a character does something unkind or not smart, it felt like the author thought she needed to immediately justify why that character acted this way, or at least show that the character knew she was wrong for the way she acted. For example, both of them are on the spectrum of ADHD or Autism andany of the ways the characters act are based on this. It would have been much more meaningful and applicable to real life if the reader and the main character had later on found out that they had prematurely judged the other character after finding out their reasoning or why misunderstandings happened. Due to the dual-pov, however, there was never any room for guessing or proper misunderstandings the way they happen in real life, or even yearning and the thrill of wondering if the other character feels the same way romantically because the author already told the reader everything. Just such a missed opportunity, especially since it could open up such a great conversation of how struggles with disabilities can impact people in their interactions with others, especially if these disabilities aren't visible on the outside.
My next problem was honestly the writing style. Too many interjections that unfortunately were not my humor and dated the book quite badly (alongside the many pop references). It was also very easy to guess the author's interests from that, and (what I consider to be unfortunate), the acknowledgements read the same way the book did, with no real voice for especially Opal, who read the same as the author's voice. Also, some of the jokes made in this book almost made me quit reading, especially when the other character would then go into a full paragraph of describing how funny that joke was. Also, I NEVER want to read "noice" in a book again. Especially not twice within a paragraph, no matter how much the author loves quirky interjections.
Additionally, I thought the reason for the third act breakup was incredibly stupid.
I did like that Opal had awful hair accidents and I enjoyed the showdown with their friends (though it was very romance-clichee to do the "my girl" thing). And I loved
Finally, I kinda thought this would be a small town romance setting...it was not. 90% of the book took place on that farm and instead of visiting even just the Café that's owned by a friend of Pepper's, they visit A WAFFLE HOUSE?????? No.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was okay? I had a decent time reading it and the spice was good, but so much of it was just GOOFY that it took me out of it. Girly would not have over $300k to drop on a property she’s NEVER SEEN because it would be TAXED, and all of that to…paint SHOES?? Who is buying custom GARDEN CLOGS?? And then this flower competition is giving the winner ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS?? Does this author have no concept of money because I would have to win Family Feud 5 times to win that much money, and this random flower organization is just giving that away