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pssteffy's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Grief
nstinch54's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
** I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Netgalley backlog: publication date - April 16, 2024
What a sweet sapphic romance. I love unique locations with book, and this one takes place in the Appalachian Mountains of Asheville, NC. Asheville is a place I've always wanted to visit (and I love when books let me "travel" to new places). And as someone who wants to know more about flowers, this one was also interesting. I love Opal and Pepper's characters and I truly love it when characters seem to grow with one another during the course of a book!
Netgalley backlog: publication date - April 16, 2024
What a sweet sapphic romance. I love unique locations with book, and this one takes place in the Appalachian Mountains of Asheville, NC. Asheville is a place I've always wanted to visit (and I love when books let me "travel" to new places). And as someone who wants to know more about flowers, this one was also interesting. I love Opal and Pepper's characters and I truly love it when characters seem to grow with one another during the course of a book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
nataliegray's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death
emiserable's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death and Infidelity
smorz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
4.25
This book was a fun Saphic romance. The characters are diverse and it's nice to have main characters that are not neurotypical. I enjoyed all of the characters and their personalities. I love the story and the setting. The reason this book didn't get 5☆ from me is that both of the main characters POV reads similarly even though they are such different people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
jennafur's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
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
estimpert's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
niftyreads's review against another edition
5.0
Mazey Eddings’s books make me happy, which is the point of reading, right? LATE BLOOMER had me first smiling at the cover. It’s a perfect fit for the book. Then, as I read, more smiles came at the awkwardness between Opal and Pepper because it was written to make them seem so ordinary in their neurodivergent ways. I loved it!
One of my absolute favorite things about Mazey Eddings as an author is that she makes neurodivergence normal—it’s just life. I think that is why I enjoy her books so much because I see people living with things I have and having good lives. It feels good even if they are having a frustrating moment.
LATE BLOOMER was also fantastic for me because it had excellent migraine representation. People either get it or don’t, and Eddings got right on the page. The weather changes affect the head, from brightness to the aura and more—migraines aren’t easy, and I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. They aren’t just a headache, nor can you just pop a Tylenol and continue on with the day. So, I’m happy when they are represented well in books to help people understand.
Opal and Pepper had an excellent grumpy/sunshine relationship with the added perk of forced proximity. I couldn’t stop smiling from the cover to the very end.
Content Warnings: (per the author in the book) grief after the loss of a loved one, complicated relationships with alcohol, parental neglect/abandonment
One of my absolute favorite things about Mazey Eddings as an author is that she makes neurodivergence normal—it’s just life. I think that is why I enjoy her books so much because I see people living with things I have and having good lives. It feels good even if they are having a frustrating moment.
LATE BLOOMER was also fantastic for me because it had excellent migraine representation. People either get it or don’t, and Eddings got right on the page. The weather changes affect the head, from brightness to the aura and more—migraines aren’t easy, and I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. They aren’t just a headache, nor can you just pop a Tylenol and continue on with the day. So, I’m happy when they are represented well in books to help people understand.
Opal and Pepper had an excellent grumpy/sunshine relationship with the added perk of forced proximity. I couldn’t stop smiling from the cover to the very end.
Content Warnings: (per the author in the book) grief after the loss of a loved one, complicated relationships with alcohol, parental neglect/abandonment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
bdingz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The characters felt real. I enjoyed the flower symbolism woven in.
The “does she like me?” did grate on me after a while.
The “does she like me?” did grate on me after a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death and Infidelity
I know Opal doesn’t describe her problematic relationship with alcohol as “alcoholism,” but it’s the closest CW I could include. She only goes into it a couple of times and she doesn’t consume alcohol over the course of the book.