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takarakeireads's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Ableism and Infidelity
bingypup's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, and Alcoholism
ronan_lesh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
bookmonster's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Ableism
perchoirdehiboumystique's review against another edition
2.0
Cute story once you get past the stereotyping. The story could have benefited from more picture painting than telling. Oh and it is very spicy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
2.5
I felt a lot of dept was missing in this one. There was no background or understanding about what lead to events. The interactions felt odd and out of place. For me, it was an easy, mindless read. I am not sure I will remember it much past that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, and Cursing
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It's a nice romance novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Mental illness
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed Mazey’s work, when this book was announced and I saw that it was a sapphic read, I instantly pre-ordered it. This book was so sweet and adorable.
This book has two points of view. The first is Opal Devlin. She has just won the lottery. And it has ruined her life. She is quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she is bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash, and Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes. With her heart thoroughly abused, Opal decided to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business. There is just one flaw in her plan, Pepper Smith isn’t aware that her farm has been sold to this stranger. Pepper is the second point of view, and she states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation and they are butting heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing and growing attraction burn the whole place down?
I will forever love dual POV in romance books and I liked the depiction of grief and autism within this book. I love Pepper’s growth and I just wanted to hug her throughout the book. I love how the relationship grew between Pepper and Opal. I love the Opal’s sister and the friends that Pepper has and how protective they are over Pepper. Unlike some of Mazey’s previous work, this book did have some form of miscommunication, but it was the way it described Pepper’s autism and Opal’s overthinking. I liked that they were both feeling the same thing, but they were both struggling to tell each other. I loved the cameo from Lizzie’s bakery and how they are always getting the vulgar cakes each year for Pepper’s birthday.
There were a few times during the book where even though we knew whose chapter it was from their point of view; they were both similar and the writing was the book that it got confusing at time. It wasn’t like two distinctive voices, it just kind of blended into one during the middle of the book.
I would love another book with Opal’s sisters find their own love stories and to see how Opal and Pepper are doing in a few years and where Pepper went to college and what courses she did and if they ever entered the competition again and if they win.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
vailtoset10's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was given an ARC of this book and wow, it was such a beautiful, heartwarming book that made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think, and most importantly…I felt seen.
Pepper is an autistic woman who is hyperfixated on her late Grandma Lou’s flower farm, adorably named Thistle and Bloom. She wants her quiet routine, and she wants to live on her farm in peace…if only she could find Lou’s will.
Opal is an artsy girl who is working a dead end job and feels like she has no future. She has severe ADHD and I understood all of her decisions, I understood why she acted the way she did.
When Opal accidentally wins the lottery and buys the farm Pepper lives on, sapphic chaos ensues. I appreciate that the author played with the useless lesbian trope but they aren’t actually useless lesbians. They’re two neurodivergent girls who communicate and interact with the world in VASTLY different ways.
I very much enjoyed the twist of the U-Haul Lesbian as well. Opal moves in before she’s even met Pepper! It also was a nice way to really highlight just how different neurodivergent people are, and how despite having similar issues, can struggle with communication on a immense level that has severe consequences they can’t stop running into.
I loved seeing myself in these two characters. I loved seeing queer neurodivergent characters that use words like autism and ADHD, and the real implications of not learning ways to work with your abilities instead of against them can cause you a million problems such as Opal’s brush with drugs and struggle with not becoming an alcoholic.
The book is realistic, but it’s still a joyful read. It’s a gay romcom with neurodivergent disaster gays. This book was basically written for me. If you’re a gay/queer neurodivergent who’s been searching for a romcom that features you, you’ve come to the right place.
Pepper is an autistic woman who is hyperfixated on her late Grandma Lou’s flower farm, adorably named Thistle and Bloom. She wants her quiet routine, and she wants to live on her farm in peace…if only she could find Lou’s will.
Opal is an artsy girl who is working a dead end job and feels like she has no future. She has severe ADHD and I understood all of her decisions, I understood why she acted the way she did.
When Opal accidentally wins the lottery and buys the farm Pepper lives on, sapphic chaos ensues. I appreciate that the author played with the useless lesbian trope but they aren’t actually useless lesbians. They’re two neurodivergent girls who communicate and interact with the world in VASTLY different ways.
I very much enjoyed the twist of the U-Haul Lesbian as well. Opal moves in before she’s even met Pepper! It also was a nice way to really highlight just how different neurodivergent people are, and how despite having similar issues, can struggle with communication on a immense level that has severe consequences they can’t stop running into.
I loved seeing myself in these two characters. I loved seeing queer neurodivergent characters that use words like autism and ADHD, and the real implications of not learning ways to work with your abilities instead of against them can cause you a million problems such as Opal’s brush with drugs and struggle with not becoming an alcoholic.
The book is realistic, but it’s still a joyful read. It’s a gay romcom with neurodivergent disaster gays. This book was basically written for me. If you’re a gay/queer neurodivergent who’s been searching for a romcom that features you, you’ve come to the right place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness