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A review by mspilesofpaper
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Late Bloomer was another read for Sapphic September but oh dear, it was such a disappointment. (Though after checking out other books by the author, I realised that it wasn't my first book from the author and I was disappointed by the other book as well.)
While the story blurb sounded like a fun and cute sapphic read, the actual read was ... well, something. If I have to describe it briefly, it would be basically "someone mixed tons of pop culture references, even more Taylor Swift references, with modern slang and a romance idea that could come from TikTok".
The summary highlights already some of my main issues with the book: there are tons of pop culture references (mostly Taylor Swift related but not limited to it) and modern slang (e.g., "noice"). If social media teaches us anything, it is that pop culture references do not age well and are utterly limited to a certain generation or time period. I might put myself as older here but there used to be a time when there were references to the American Pie movies everywhere ... You might guess it already but if you use those nowadays, only a few people would get it. It will be the same issue for this book.
Aside from the pop culture references and the modern slang, the relationship between the two young women has no chemistry. It goes from "I do not like and trust you" to "I want to bone you"/"I like you"/"I love you" extremely quickly with no actual scenes where the reader sees why they start to like each other. It is instant attraction, lust and love in one package. Aside from it, both characters have zero characteristics aside from their neurodivergence. Pepper is autistic and Opal has ADHD/autism (undiagnosed) and that's their entire defining character trait. Their hobbies are their jobs and are directly based on their neurodivergence. They don't have another hobby or anything aside from it. Pepper deals with a bit of grief as she lost her grandmother but that's it. In all honesty: both should just go to therapy instead of hurling themselves into this situationship/relationship. If you care about sex scenes: you can find plenty of them in the book. By far too many for the measly amount of plot to be honest. They were also boring, repetitive and a virgin is apparently a sex goddess at oral sex and fingering. I skipped over them at one point because just ... bleugh.
As for the ADHD & autism representation: books like this one are the reason why I would rather have no representation than such a horrible one. It's such a stereotypical representation and brushed over most of the time unless it could be used as a device to create some tension. If you want an example: Opal doesn't get a diagnosis because "I know who I am" but basically medicates herself with alcohol and drugs to feel "normal". Yes, people with ADHD have addiction issues (Hello sugar, you are the bane of my ADHD existence.) but the author implies that it's ok not to get a diagnosis and professional help because "I know who I am".
As for the bisexual representation (because Opal is bisexual): it is so stereotypical and she is a caricature of a bisexual character as she incorporates the three traits of every stereotypical bisexual character: messy commitment issues, loves to dye their hair in unusual colours (pink, green, ...) and loves casual sex. I hate it. And Pepper ... I feel like the author also put all stereotypes about lesbians into her and called it a day. (Although she doesn't get labelled because "What if I like a man one day!?". Bitch, please.) To be honest: the entire book reads as if it is a sapphic romance written through the male gaze.
(And please, for everything that is holy, do not ever get me started on the author's note. The book's working title was "Lavender Haze" because the author is a Swiftie.)
While the story blurb sounded like a fun and cute sapphic read, the actual read was ... well, something. If I have to describe it briefly, it would be basically "someone mixed tons of pop culture references, even more Taylor Swift references, with modern slang and a romance idea that could come from TikTok".
The summary highlights already some of my main issues with the book: there are tons of pop culture references (mostly Taylor Swift related but not limited to it) and modern slang (e.g., "noice"). If social media teaches us anything, it is that pop culture references do not age well and are utterly limited to a certain generation or time period. I might put myself as older here but there used to be a time when there were references to the American Pie movies everywhere ... You might guess it already but if you use those nowadays, only a few people would get it. It will be the same issue for this book.
Aside from the pop culture references and the modern slang, the relationship between the two young women has no chemistry. It goes from "I do not like and trust you" to "I want to bone you"/"I like you"/"I love you" extremely quickly with no actual scenes where the reader sees why they start to like each other. It is instant attraction, lust and love in one package. Aside from it, both characters have zero characteristics aside from their neurodivergence. Pepper is autistic and Opal has ADHD/autism (undiagnosed) and that's their entire defining character trait. Their hobbies are their jobs and are directly based on their neurodivergence. They don't have another hobby or anything aside from it. Pepper deals with a bit of grief as she lost her grandmother but that's it. In all honesty: both should just go to therapy instead of hurling themselves into this situationship/relationship. If you care about sex scenes: you can find plenty of them in the book. By far too many for the measly amount of plot to be honest. They were also boring, repetitive and a virgin is apparently a sex goddess at oral sex and fingering. I skipped over them at one point because just ... bleugh.
As for the ADHD & autism representation: books like this one are the reason why I would rather have no representation than such a horrible one. It's such a stereotypical representation and brushed over most of the time unless it could be used as a device to create some tension. If you want an example: Opal doesn't get a diagnosis because "I know who I am" but basically medicates herself with alcohol and drugs to feel "normal". Yes, people with ADHD have addiction issues (Hello sugar, you are the bane of my ADHD existence.) but the author implies that it's ok not to get a diagnosis and professional help because "I know who I am".
As for the bisexual representation (because Opal is bisexual): it is so stereotypical and she is a caricature of a bisexual character as she incorporates the three traits of every stereotypical bisexual character: messy commitment issues, loves to dye their hair in unusual colours (pink, green, ...) and loves casual sex. I hate it. And Pepper ... I feel like the author also put all stereotypes about lesbians into her and called it a day. (Although she doesn't get labelled because "What if I like a man one day!?". Bitch, please.) To be honest: the entire book reads as if it is a sapphic romance written through the male gaze.
(And please, for everything that is holy, do not ever get me started on the author's note. The book's working title was "Lavender Haze" because the author is a Swiftie.)