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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the idea of the book and some parts were really good.
But I didn't like how some parts felt forced and too fast, while still feeling a bit boring to me. It just wasn't really a book for me.
But I didn't like how some parts felt forced and too fast, while still feeling a bit boring to me. It just wasn't really a book for me.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, but the plot fell flat for me a little bit. Love a small town romance, love a low-stakes plot, but it didn't suck me in the way I wanted it to.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
She was fun! I kind of wish it was longer, because we barely saw anything of Opal’s art which was the whole point of her move.
If books could talk, Late Bloomer would scream “Girls are just superior!” before you even crack the spine—and honestly, it’s not wrong.
Mazey Eddings has absolutely outdone herself with Opal and Pepper’s story. This book is soft, spicy, and packed with heart in all the best ways. It explores intimacy, grief, trauma, neurodivergence, and identity with such tenderness, while still managing to be warm, hopeful, and full of charm. Opal, the bubbly, too-nice artist who’s just won the lottery, buys a flower farm in a well-intentioned, impulsive move—only to find Pepper, the sharp-edged, autistic florist already living and working there. Cue forced proximity, queer yearning, and flower-fueled tension.
Their romance is a slow burn that feels grounded in reality—awkward spirals, unmet expectations, unspoken truths, and all. Both characters are beautifully layered, and you can feel how much care went into writing their neurodivergent traits and emotional journeys. Opal’s gentle optimism and Pepper’s fierce protectiveness are a match made in chaotic, tender heaven.
That said, the dual POVs did blur together a bit. Opal and Pepper’s inner voices are very similar, which occasionally made it hard to tell who was narrating. And while the book was filled with sweet moments and genuine care, some readers might crave a little more tension or fire between them—it’s light and fluffy with flashes of spice, but leans more toward emotional comfort than dramatic highs.
Still, it’s a gem. The setting is lush and cozy (seriously, I want to move to a flower farm now), the supporting cast is delightful, and the themes around self-worth and the power of kindness hit hard. “Hope doesn’t hurt you. People do.” That line alone? Oof, straight to the heart.
You can feel Mazey’s soul in this book. It’s vulnerable and vibrant, and I’m so glad it exists. Bring on whatever she writes next—because I’m all in.
Mazey Eddings has absolutely outdone herself with Opal and Pepper’s story. This book is soft, spicy, and packed with heart in all the best ways. It explores intimacy, grief, trauma, neurodivergence, and identity with such tenderness, while still managing to be warm, hopeful, and full of charm. Opal, the bubbly, too-nice artist who’s just won the lottery, buys a flower farm in a well-intentioned, impulsive move—only to find Pepper, the sharp-edged, autistic florist already living and working there. Cue forced proximity, queer yearning, and flower-fueled tension.
Their romance is a slow burn that feels grounded in reality—awkward spirals, unmet expectations, unspoken truths, and all. Both characters are beautifully layered, and you can feel how much care went into writing their neurodivergent traits and emotional journeys. Opal’s gentle optimism and Pepper’s fierce protectiveness are a match made in chaotic, tender heaven.
That said, the dual POVs did blur together a bit. Opal and Pepper’s inner voices are very similar, which occasionally made it hard to tell who was narrating. And while the book was filled with sweet moments and genuine care, some readers might crave a little more tension or fire between them—it’s light and fluffy with flashes of spice, but leans more toward emotional comfort than dramatic highs.
Still, it’s a gem. The setting is lush and cozy (seriously, I want to move to a flower farm now), the supporting cast is delightful, and the themes around self-worth and the power of kindness hit hard. “Hope doesn’t hurt you. People do.” That line alone? Oof, straight to the heart.
You can feel Mazey’s soul in this book. It’s vulnerable and vibrant, and I’m so glad it exists. Bring on whatever she writes next—because I’m all in.
Okay, so I’d like to first qualify my review by saying that I am on the high-functioning end of the spectrum. I also have two children that are on the spectrum. Suffice it to say I had a bit more skin in the game concerning Late Bloomer’s content. So a reader who is neurotypical and/or doesn’t have any autistic loved ones *might not* be as impacted as I was.
All that to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK TO DEATH ❤️❤️❤️
It spoke volumes to me that these were characters that I could relate to in so many ways that made me feel seen. Opal and Pepper are both adorable, and the entire time I just wanted to constantly give them both big hugs.
I loved the perspective of the novel, first person, bouncing back and forth between the two main characters. It really made the story that much more personal and meaningful, and you have a much better look into how each of them thinks and processes the world around them.
The story itself was adorable, albeit not my typical fare. I’m usually an avid horror/suspense reader, so the fact that no one got stabbed in the face in Late Bloomer was a much welcomed breath of fresh air. My entire life has been shaped profoundly by women, and lesbians/bisexuals tend to be some of my favorite people. This helped me really get involved and sucked into the story.
There really wasn’t much about this book that I didn’t like. It was well-paced, had beautiful characters, a fun/endearing/relatable story, and was wonderfully understated with its themes of neurodivergence/autism.
Absolutely PERFECT job, Mazey! I cannot wait to read the rest of your work!
All that to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK TO DEATH ❤️❤️❤️
It spoke volumes to me that these were characters that I could relate to in so many ways that made me feel seen. Opal and Pepper are both adorable, and the entire time I just wanted to constantly give them both big hugs.
I loved the perspective of the novel, first person, bouncing back and forth between the two main characters. It really made the story that much more personal and meaningful, and you have a much better look into how each of them thinks and processes the world around them.
The story itself was adorable, albeit not my typical fare. I’m usually an avid horror/suspense reader, so the fact that no one got stabbed in the face in Late Bloomer was a much welcomed breath of fresh air. My entire life has been shaped profoundly by women, and lesbians/bisexuals tend to be some of my favorite people. This helped me really get involved and sucked into the story.
There really wasn’t much about this book that I didn’t like. It was well-paced, had beautiful characters, a fun/endearing/relatable story, and was wonderfully understated with its themes of neurodivergence/autism.
Absolutely PERFECT job, Mazey! I cannot wait to read the rest of your work!
hopeful
relaxing
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
lighthearted
medium-paced
fast-paced